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good：〃 the wheat never grows without tares。 But for all that； there is
much to gladden us； more Evangelical preaching than there ever was
before in the land； more work done both at home and abroad。 If old
William Romaine； of St。 Anne's； Blackfriars； who stood alone with some
half…a…dozen others in London last century； had lived to see what our
eyes see； he would have sharply rebuked our faintheartedness and
unthankfulness。 No！ the battle of the Reformed Church of England is not
yet lost； in spite of semi…popery and scepticism； whatever jealous
onlookers without and melancholy grumblers within may please to say。 As
Napoleon said at four o'clock on the battlefield of Marengo； 〃there is
yet time to win a victory。〃 If the really loyal members of the Church
will only stand by her boldly； and not look coolly at one another； and
refuse to work the same fire…engine； or man the same lifeboatif they
will not squabble and quarrel and 〃fall out by the way；〃 the Church of
England will live and not die； and be a blessing to our children's
children。 Then let us set our feet down firmly and stand fast in our
position。 Let us not be in a hurry to quit the ship because of a few
leaks： let us rather man the pumps； and try to keep the good ship
afloat。 Let us work on； and fight on； and pray on； and stick to the
Church of England。 The Churchman who walks in these lines； I believe；
is the Churchman who 〃understands the times。〃
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XX。
〃CHRIST IS ALL〃
〃Christ is all。〃Colossians iii。 11。
THE words of the text which heads this page are few； short； and soon
spoken； but they contain great things。 Like those golden sayings； 〃To
me to live is Christ〃〃I live； yet not I； but Christ liveth in me
〃they are singularly rich and suggestive。 （Phil。 i。 21； Gal。 ii。 20。）
These three words are the essence and substance of Christianity。 If our
hearts can really go along with them； it is well with our souls。 If
not； we may be sure we have yet much to learn。
Let me try to set before my readers in what sense 〃Christ is all〃； and
let me ask them； as they read； to judge themselves honestly； that they
may not make shipwreck in the judgment of the last day。
I purposely close this volume with a paper on this remarkable text。
Christ is the mainspring both of doctrinal and practical Christianity。
A right knowledge of Christ is essential to a right knowledge of
sanctification as well as justification。 He that follows after holiness
will make no progress unless he gives to Christ His rightful place。 I
began the volume with a plain statement about sin。 Let me end it with
an equally plain statement about Christ。
I。 First of all； let us understand that Christ is all； in all the
counsels of God concerning man。
（a） There was a time when this earth had no being。 Solid as the
mountains look； boundless as the sea appears； high as the stars in
heaven lookthey once did not exist。 And man； with all the high
thoughts he now has of himself； was a creature unknown。
And where was Christ then？
Even then Christ was 〃with God 〃and 〃was God〃and was 〃equal with
God。〃 （John i。 1； Phil。 ii。 6。） Even then He was the beloved Son of the
Father： 〃Thou lovedst Me；〃 He says； 〃before the foundation of the
world。〃〃I had glory with Thee before the world began。〃〃I was set up
from everlasting； from the beginning； or ever the earth was。〃 （John
xvii。 5； 24； Prov。 viii。 23。） Even then He was the Saviour
〃foreordained before the foundation of the world〃 （1 Peter i。 20）； and
believers were 〃chosen in Him。〃 （Ephes。 i。 4。）
（b） There came a time when this earth was created in its present order。
Sun； moon and starssea； land and all their inhabitants； were called
into being and made out of chaos and confusion。 And； last of all； man
was formed out of the dust of the ground。
And where was Christ then？
Hear what the Scripture says： 〃All things were made by Him； and without
Him was not any thing made that was made。〃 （John i。 3。） 〃By Him were
all things created； that are in heaven and that are in earth。〃 （Colos。
i。 16。） 〃And Thou； Lord； in the beginning hast laid the foundation of
the earth； and the heavens are the works of Thine hands。〃 （Heb。 i。 10。）
〃When He prepared the heavens； I was there： when He set a pass upon
the face of the depth： when He established the clouds above： when He
strengthened the foundations of the deep： when He gave to the sea His
decree； that the water should not pass His mandment： when He
appointed the foundations of the earth： then I was by Him； as one
brought up with Him。〃 （Prov。 viii。 27…30。） Can we wonder that the Lord
Jesus； in His preaching； should continually draw lessons from the book
of nature？ When He spoke of the sheep； the fish； the ravens； the corn；
the lilies； the fig…tree； the vineHe spoke of things which He Himself
had made。
（c） There came a day when sin entered the world。Adam and Eve ate the
forbidden fruit； and fell。 They lost that holy nature in which they
were first formed。 They forfeited the friendship and favour of God and
became guilty； corrupt； helpless； hopeless sinners。 Sin came as a
barrier between themselves and their holy Father in heaven。 Had He
dealt with them according to their deserts； there had been nothing
before them but death； hell； and everlasting ruin。
And where was Christ then？
In that very day He was revealed to our trembling parents； as the only
hope of salvation。 The very day they fell； they were told that 〃the
seed of the woman should yet bruise the serpent's head；〃that a
Saviour born of a woman should overe the devil and win for sinful
man an entrance to eternal life。 （Gen。 iii。 15。） Christ was held up as
the true light of the world； in the very day of the fall； and never has
any name been made known from that day by which souls could be saved；
excepting His。 By Him all saved souls have entered heaven；