莱尔主教holiness-第20章
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guard。
III。 The last thing I have to say is this： True Christianity is a good
fight。
〃Good〃 is a curious word to apply to any warfare。 All worldly war is
more or less evil。 No doubt it is an absolute necessity in many
casesto procure the liberty of nations； to prevent the weak from
being trampled down by the strongbut still it is an evil。 It entails
an awful amount of bloodshed and suffering。 It hurries into eternity
myriads who are pletely unprepared for their change。 It calls forth
the worst passions of man。 It causes enormous waste and destruction of
property。 It fills peaceful homes with mourning widows and orphans。 It
spreads far and wide poverty； taxation； and national distress。 It
disarranges all the order of society。 It interrupts the work of the
Gospel and the growth of Christian missions。 In short； war is an
immense and incalculable evil； and every praying man should cry night
and day； 〃Give peace in our time。〃 And yet there is one warfare which
is emphatically 〃good；〃 and one fight in which there is no evil。 That
warfare is the Christian warfare。 That fight is the fight of the soul。
Now what are the reasons why the Christian fight is a 〃good fight〃？
What are the points in which his warfare is superior to the warfare of
this world？ Let me examine this matter； and open it out in order。 I
dare not pass the subject and leave it unnoticed。 I want no one to
begin the life of a Christian soldier without counting the cost。 I
would not keep back from anyone that if he would be holy and see the
Lord he must fight； and that the Christian fight though spiritual is
real and severe。 It needs courage； boldness； and perseverance。 But I
want my readers to know that there is abundant encouragement； if they
will only begin the battle。 The Scripture does not call the Christian
fight 〃a good fight〃 without reason and cause。 Let me try to show what
I mean。
（a） The Christian's fight is good because fought under the best of
generals。 The Leader and mander of all believers is our Divine
Saviour； the Lord Jesus Christa Saviour of perfect wisdom； infinite
love； and almighty power。 The Captain of our salvation never fails to
lead His soldiers to victory。 He never makes any useless movements；
never errs in judgment； never mits any mistake。 His eye is on all
His followers； from the greatest of them even to the least。 The
humblest servant in His army is not forgotten。 The weakest and most
sickly is cared for； remembered； and kept unto salvation。 The souls
whom He has purchased and redeemed with His own blood are far too
precious to be wasted and thrown away。 Surely this is good！
（b） The Christian's fight is good； because fought with the best of
helps。 Weak as each believer is in himself； the Holy Spirit dwells in
him； and his body is a temple of the Holy Ghost。 Chosen by God the
Father； washed in the blood of the Son； renewed by the Spirit； he does
not go a warfare at his own charges； and is never alone。 God the Holy
Ghost daily teaches； leads； guides； and directs him。 God the Father
guards him by His almighty power。 God the Son intercedes for him every
moment； like Moses on the mount； while he is fighting in the valley
below。 A threefold cord like this can never be broken！ His daily
provisions and supplies never fail。 His missariat is never
defective。 His bread and his water are sure。 Weak as he seems in
himself； like a worm； he is strong in the Lord to do great exploits。
Surely this is good！
（c） The Christian fight is a good fight； because fought with the best
of promises。 To every believer belong exceeding great and precious
promisesall Yea and Amen in Christpromises sure to be fulfilled；
because made by One who cannot lie； and has power as well as will to
keep His word。 〃Sin shall not have dominion over you。〃〃The God of
peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly。〃〃He that has begun
a good work will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ。〃〃When thou
passeth through the waters I will be with thee； and through the floods；
they shall not overflow thee。〃〃My sheep shall never perish； neither
shall anyone pluck them out of my hand。〃〃Him that eth unto Me！
will in no wise cast out。〃〃I will never leave thee； nor forsake
thee。〃〃I am persuaded that neither death； nor life； nor things
present； nor things to e； shall be able to separate us from the love
of God； which is in Christ Jesus。〃 （Rom。 vi。 14； Rom。 xvi。 20； Philip。
i。 6； Isa。 xliii。 2； John x。 28； John vi。 37； Heb。 xiii。 5； Rom。 viii。
38。） Words like these are worth their weight in gold！ Who does not know
that promises of ing aid have cheered the defenders of besieged
cities； like Lucknow； and raised them above their natural strength？
Have we never heard that the promise of 〃help before night〃 had much to
say to the mighty victory of Waterloo？ Yet all such promises are as
nothing pared to the rich treasure of believers； the eternal
promises of God。 Surely this is good！
（d） The Christian's fight is a good fight； because fought with the best
of issues and results。 No doubt it is a wa薄n which there an；
tremendous struggles； agonizing conflicts； wounds； bruises； watchings；
fastings； and fatigue。 But still every believer； without exception； is
〃more than conqueror through Him that loved him。〃 （Rom。 viii。 37。） No
soldiers of Christ are ever lost； missing； or left dead on the
battlefield。 No mourning will ever need to be put on； and no tears to
be shed for either private or officer in the army of Christ。 The muster
roll； when the last evening es； will be found precisely the same
that it was in the morning。 The English Guards marched out of London to
the Crimean campaign a magnificent body of men； but many of the gallant
fellows laid their bones in a foreign grave； and never saw London
again。 Far different shall be the arrival of the Christian army in 〃the
city which hath foundations； whose builder and maker is God。〃 （Heb。 xi。
10。） Not one shall be found lacking。 The words of our great Captain
shall be found true： 〃Of them which Thou hast given Me I have lost
none。〃 （John xviii。 9。） Surely this is good！
（e） The Christian's fight is good； because it does good to the soul of
him that fights it。 All other wars have a bad； lowering； and
demoralising tendency。 They call forth the worst passions of the human
mind。 They harden the conscience； and sap the foundations of religion
and morality。 The Christian warfare alone tends to call forth the best
things that are left in man。 It promotes humility and charity； it
lessens selfishness and worldliness； it induces men to set their
affections on things above。 The old； the sick； the dying； are never
known to repent of fighting Christ's battles against sin； the world；
and the devil。 Their only regret is that they did not begin to serve
Christ long before。 The experience of that eminent saint； Philip Henry；
does not stand alone。 In his last days he said to his family； 〃I take
you all to record that a life spent in the service of Christ is the
happiest life that a man can spend upon earth。〃 Surely this is good！
（f） The Christian's fight is a good fight； because it does good to the
world。 All other wars have a devastating； ravaging； and injurious
effect。 The march of an army through a land is an awful scourge to the
inhabitants。 Wherever it goes it impoverishes； wastes； and does harm。
Injury to persons； property； feelings； and morals invariably
acpanies it。 Far different are the effects produced by Christian
soldiers。 Wherever they live they are a blessing。 They raise the
standard of religion and morality。 They invariably check the progress
of drunkenness。 Sabbath…breaking； profligacy； and dishonesty。 Even
their enemies are obliged to respect them。 Go where you please； you
will rarely find that barracks and garrisons do good to the
neighbourhood。 But go where you please； you will find that the presence
of a few true Christians is a blessing。 Surely this is good！
（g） Finally； the Christian's fight is good； because it ends in a
glorious reward for all who fight it。 Who can tell the wages that
Christ will pay to all His faithful people？ Who can estimate the good
things that our Divine Captain has laid up for those who confess Him
before men？ A grateful country can give to her successful warriors
medals； Victoria Crosses； pensions； peerages； honours； and titles。 But
it can give nothing that will last and endure for ever； nothing that
can be carried beyond the grave。 Palaces like Blenheim and
Strathfieldsay can only be enjoyed for a few years。 The bravest
generals and soldiers must go down one day before the King of Terrors。
Better； far better； is the position of him who fights under Christ's
banner against sin； the world； and the devil。 He may get little praise
of man while he lives； and go down to the grave with little honour； but
he shall have that which is far better； because far more enduring。 He
shall have 〃a crown of glory that fadeth not away。〃 （1 Pet。 v。 4。）
Surely this is good！
Let us settle it in our minds that the Christian fight is a good
fightreally good； truly good； emphatically good。 We see only part of
it as yet。 We see the struggle； but not the end； we see the campaign；
but not the reward； we see the cross； but not the crown。 We see a few
humble； broken…spirited； penitent； praying people； enduring hardships
and despised by the world； but we see not the hand of God over them；
the face of God smiling on them； the kingdom of glory prepared for
them。 These things are yet to be revealed。 Let us not judge by
appearances。 There are more good things about the Christian warfare
than we see。
And now let me conclude my whole subject with a few words of practical
application。 Our lot is cast in times when the world seems thinking of
little else but battles and fighting。 The iron is entering into the
soul of more than one nation； and the mirth of many a fair district is
clean gone。 Surely in times like these a minister may fairly call on
men to remember their spiritual warfare。 Let me say a few parting words
about the great fight of the soul。
（1） It may be you are struggling hard for the rewards of this world。
Perhaps you are straining every nerve to obtain money； or place； or
power； or pleasure。 If that be your case； take care。 Your sowing will
lead to a crop of bitter disappointment。 Unless you mind what you are
about your latter end will be to lie down in sorrow。
Thousands have trodden the path you are pursuing； and have awoke too
late to find it end in misery and eternal ruin。 They have fought hard
for wealth； and honour； and office； and promotion； and turned their
backs on God； and Christ； and heaven； and the world to e。 And what
has their end been？ Often； far too often； they have found out that
their whole l
