莱尔主教holiness





   return。 His treasure is in heaven; his good things are yet to e。 The
   world is not his rest; but an inn; and an inn is not home。 He knows
   that 〃He that shall e will soon e; and will not tarry。〃 Christ is
   ing; and that is enough。 (Heb。 x。 37。)

   This is indeed a 〃blessed hope!〃 (Titus ii。 13。) Now is the
   school…timethen the eternal holiday。 Now is the tossing on the waves
   of a troublesome worldthen the quiet harbour。 Now is the
   scatteringthen the gathering。 Now is the time of sowingthen the
   harvest。 Now is the working seasonthen the wages。 Now is the
   crossthen the crown。

   People talk of their 〃expectations〃 and hopes from this world。 None
   have such solid expectations as a saved soul。 He can say; 〃My soul;
   wait thou only upon God; my expectation is from Him。〃 (Ps。 lxii。 5。)

   In all true saving religion Christ is all: all in justificationall in
   fortall in hope。 Blessed is that mother’s child that knows it; and
   far more blessed is he that feels it too。 Oh that men would prove
   themselves; and see what they know of it for their own souls!

   IV。 One thing more I will add; and then I have done。 Let us understand
   that Christ will be all in heaven。

   I cannot dwell long on this point。 I have not power; if I had space and
   room。 I can ill describe things unseen and a world unknown。 But this I
   know; that all men and women who reach heaven will find that even there
   also 〃Christ is all。〃

   Like the altar in Solomon’s temple; Christ crucified will be the grand
   object in heaven。 That altar struck the eye of every one who entered
   the temple gates。 It was a great brazen altar; twenty cubits broadas
   broad as the front of the temple itself。 (2 Chron。 iii。 4; iv。 1。) So
   in like manner will Jesus fill the eyes of all who enter glory。 In the
   midst of the throne and surrounded by adoring angels and saints; there
   will be 〃the Lamb that was slain。〃 And 〃the Lamb shall be the light〃 of
   the place。 (Rev。 v。 6; xxi。 23。)

   The praise of the Lord Jesus will be the eternal song of all the
   inhabitants of heaven。 They will say with a loud voice; 〃Worthy is the
   Lamb that was slain。 Blessing; and honour; and glory; and power; be to
   Him that sitteth on the throne; and to the Lamb for ever and ever。〃
   (Rev。 v。 12。 13。)

   The service of the Lord Jesus will be one eternal occupation of all the
   inhabitants of heaven。 We shall 〃serve Him day and night in His
   temple。〃 (Rev。 vii。 13。) Blessed is the thought that we shall at length
   attend on Him without distraction; and work for Him without weariness。

   The presence of Christ Himself shall be one everlasting enjoyment of
   the inhabitants of heaven。 We shall 〃see His face;〃 and hear His voice;
   and speak with Him as friend with friend。 (Rev。 xxii。 4。) Sweet is the
   thought that whosoever may be wanting at the marriage supper; the
   Master Himself will be there。 His presence will satisfy all our wants。
   (Ps。 xvii。 15。)

   What a sweet and glorious home heaven will be to those who have loved
   the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity! Here we live by faith in Him; and
   find peace; though we see Him not。 There we shall see Him face to face;
   and find He is altogether lovely。 〃Better〃 indeed will be the 〃sight of
   the eyes than the wandering of the desire!〃 (Eccles。 vi。 9。)

   But alas; how little fit for heaven are many who talk of 〃going to
   heaven〃 when they die; while they manifestly have no saving faith; and
   no real acquaintance with Christ。 You give Christ no honour here。 You
   have no munion with Him。 You do not love Him。 Alas! what could you
   do in heaven? It would be no place for you。 Its joys would be no joys
   for you。 Its happiness would be a happiness into which you could not
   enter。 Its employments would be a weariness and a burden to your heart。
   Oh; repent and change before it be too late!

   I trust I have shown how deep are the foundations of that little
   expression; 〃Christ is all。〃

   I might easily add to the things I have said; if space permitted。 The
   subject is not exhausted。 I have barely walked over the surface of it。
   There are mines of precious truth connected with it which I have left
   unopened。

   I might show how Christ ought to be all in a visible Church。 Splendid
   religious buildings; numerous religious services; gorgeous ceremonies;
   troops of ordained men; all; all are nothing in the sight of God; if
   the Lord Jesus Himself in all His offices is not honoured; magnified;
   and exalted。 That Church is but a dead carcase in which Christ is not
   〃all。〃

   I might show how Christ ought to be all in a ministry。 The great work
   which ordained men are intended to do; is to lift up Christ。 We are to
   be like the pole on which the brazen serpent was hung。 We are useful so
   long as we exalt the great object of faith; but useful no further。 We
   are to be ambassadors to carry tidings to a rebellious world about the
   King’s Son; and if we teach men to think more about us and our office
   than about Him; we are not fit for our place。 The Spirit will never
   honour that minister who does not testify of Christwho does not make
   Christ 〃all。〃

   I might show how language seems exhausted in the Bible; in describing
   Christ’s various offices。 I might describe how figures seem endless
   which are employed in unfolding Christ’s fulness。 The High Priest; the
   Mediator; the Redeemer; the Saviour; the Advocate; the Shepherd; the
   Physician; the Bridegroom; the Head; the Bread of Life; the Light of
   the World; the Way; the Door; the Vine; the Rock; the Fountain; the Sun
   of Righteousness; the Forerunner; the Surety; the Captain; the Prince
   of Life; the Amen; the Almighty; the Author and Finisher of Faith; the
   Lamb of God; the King of Saints; the Wonderful; the Mighty God; the
   Counsellor; the Bishop of Soulsall these; and many more; are names
   given to Christ in Scripture。 Each is a fountain of instruction and
   fort for everyone who is willing to drink of it。 Each supplies
   matter for useful meditation。

   But I trust I have said enough to throw light on the point I want to
   impress on the minds of all who read this paper。 I trust I have said
   enough to show the immense importance of the practical conclusions with
   which I now desire to finish the subject。

   (1) Is Christ all? Then let us learn the utter uselessness of a
   christless religion。

   There are only too many baptized men and women who practically know
   nothing at all about Christ。 Their religion consists in a few vague
   notions and empty expressions。 〃They trust they are no worse than
   others。 They keep to their church。 They try to do their duty。 They do
   nobody any harm。 They hope God will be merciful to them。 They trust the
   Almighty will pardon their sins; and take them to heaven when they
   die。〃 This is about the whole of their religion!

   But what do these people know practically about Christ? Nothing:
   nothing at all! What experimental acquaintance have they with His
   offices and work; His blood; His righteousness; His mediation; His
   priesthood; His intercession? None: none at all! Ask them about a
   saving faithask them about being born again of the Spiritask them
   about being sanctified in Christ Jesus。 What answer will you get? You
   are a barbarian to them。 You have asked them simple Bible questions。
   But they know no more about them experimentally than a Buddhist or a
   Turk。 And yet this is the religion of hundreds and thousands of people
   who are called Christians; all over the world!

   If any reader of this paper is a man of this kind; I warn him plainly
   that such Christianity will never take him to heaven。 It may do very
   well in the eye of man。 It may pass muster very decently at the
   vestry…meeting; in the place of business; in the House of mons; or
   in the streets。 But it will never fort you。 It will never satisfy
   your conscience。 It will never save your soul。

   I warn you plainly that all notions and theories about God being
   merciful without Christ; and excepting through Christ; are baseless
   delusions and empty fancies。 Such theories are as purely an idol of
   man’s invention as the idol of Juggernaut。 They are all of the earth;
   earthy。 They never came down from heaven。 The God of heaven has sealed
   and appointed Christ as the one only Saviour and way of life; and all
   who would be saved must be content to be saved by Him; or they will
   never be saved at all。

   Let every reader take notice。 I give you fair warning this day。 A
   religion without Christ will never save your soul。

   (2) Let me say another thing。 Is Christ all? Then LEARN THE ENORMOUS
   FOLLY OF JOINING ANYTHING WITH CHRIST IN THE MATTER OF SALVATION。

   There are multitudes of baptized men and women who profess to honour
   Christ; but in reality do Him great dishonour。 They give Christ a
   certain place in their system of religion; but not the place which God
   intended Him to fill。 Christ alone is not 〃all in all〃 to their
   souls。No! It is eithe