按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
fast in the faith： quit you like men； be strong。〃〃War a good warfare；
holding faith and a good conscience。〃 （1 Tim。 vi。 12； 2 Tim。 ii。 3；
Ephes。 vi。 11…13； Luke xiii。 24； John vi。 27； Matt。 x。 34； Luke xxii。
36； 1 Cor。 xvi。 13； 1 Tim。 i。 18； 19。） Words such as these appear to me
clear； plain； and unmistakable。 They all teach one and the same great
lesson； if we are willing to receive it。 That lesson is； that true
Christianity is a struggle； a fight； and a warfare。 He that pretends to
condemn 〃fighting〃 and teaches that we ought to sit still and 〃yield
ourselves to God；〃 appears to me to misunderstand his Bible； and to
make a great mistake。
What says the Baptismal Service of the Church of England？ No doubt that
Service is uninspired； and； like every uninspired position； it has
its defects； but to the millions of people all over the globe； who
profess and call themselves English Churchmen； its voice ought to speak
with some weight。 And what does it say？ It tells us that over every new
member who is admitted into the Church of England the following words
are used〃I baptize thee in the name of the Father； the Son； and the
Holy Ghost。〃〃I sign this child with the sign of the cross； in token
that hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ
crucified； and manfully to fight under His banner against sin； the
world； and the devil； and to continue Christ's faithful soldier and
servant unto his life's end。〃Of course we all know that in myriads of
cases baptism is a mere form； and that parents bring their children to
the font without faith or prayer or thought； and consequently receive
no blessing。 The man who supposes that baptism in such cases acts
mechanically； like a medicine； and that godly and ungodly； praying and
prayerless parents； all alike get the same benefit for their children；
must be in a strange state of mind。 But one thing； at any rate； is very
certain。 Every baptized Churchman is by his profession a 〃soldier of
Jesus Christ；〃 and is pledged 〃to fight under His banner against sin；
the world； and the devil。〃 He that doubts it had better take up his
Prayer…book； and read； mark； and learn its contents。 The worst thing
about many very zealous Churchmen is their total ignorance of what
their own Prayer…book contains。
Whether we are Churchmen or not； one thing is certainthis Christian
warfare is a great reality； and a subject of vast importance。 It is not
a matter like Church government and ceremonial； about which men may
differ； and yet reach heaven at last。 Necessity is laid upon us。 We
must fight。 There are no promises in the Lord Jesus Christ's Epistles
to the Seven Churches； except to those who 〃overe。〃 Where there is
grace there will be conflict。 The believer is a soldier。 There is no
holiness without a warfare。 Saved souls will always be found to have
fought a fight。
It is a fight of absolute necessity。 Let us not think that in this war
we can remain neutral and sit still。 Such a line of action may be
possible in the strife of nations； but it is utterly impossible in that
conflict which concerns the soul。 The boasted policy of
noninterferencethe 〃masterly inactivity〃 which pleases so many
statesmenthe plan of keeping quiet and letting things aloneall this
will never do in the Christian warfare。 Here at any rate no one can
escape serving under the plea that he is 〃a man of peace。〃 To be at
peace with the world； the flesh and the devil； is to be at enmity with
God； and in the broad way that leadeth to destruction。 We have no
choice or option。 We must either fight or be lost。
It is a fight of universal necessity。 No rank； or class； or age； can
plead exemption； or escape the battle。 Ministers and people； preachers
and hearers； old and young； high and low； rich and poor； gentle and
simple； kings and subjects； landlords and tenants； learned and
unlearnedall alike must carry arms and go to war。 All have by nature
a heart full of pride； unbelief； sloth； worldliness； and sin。 All are
living in a world beset with snares； traps； and pitfalls for the soul。
All have near them a busy； restless； malicious devil。 All； from the
queen in her palace down to the pauper in the workhouse； all must
fight； if they would be saved。
It is a fight of perpetual necessity。 It admits of no breathing time；
no armistice； no truce。 On week…days as well as on Sundaysin private
as well as in publicat home by the family fireside as well as
abroadin little things like management of tongue and temper； as well
as in great ones like the government of kingdomsthe Christian's
warfare must unceasingly go on。 The foe we have to do with keeps no
holidays； never slumbers； and never sleeps。 So long as we have breath
in our bodies we must keep on our armour； and remember we are on an
enemy's ground。 〃Even on the brink of Jordan；〃 said a dying saint； 〃I
find Satan nibbling at my heels。〃 We must fight till we die。
Let us consider well these propositions。 Let us take care that our own
personal religion is real； genuine； and true。 The saddest symptom about
many so…called Christians is the utter absence of anything like
conflict and fight in their Christianity。 They eat； they drink； they
dress； they work； they amuse themselves； they get money； they spend
money； they go through a scanty round of formal religious services once
or twice every week。 But the great spiritual warfareits watchings and
strugglings； its agonies and anxieties； its battles and contestsof
all this they appear to know nothing at all。 Let us take care that this
case is not our own。 The worst state of soul is 〃when the strong man
armed keepeth the house； and his goods are at peace〃when he leads men
and women 〃captive at his will；〃 and they make no resistance。 The worst
chains are those which are neither felt nor seen by the prisoner。 （Luke
xi。 21； 2 Tim。 ii。 26。）
We may take fort about our souls if we know anything of an inwar