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！
Apostle Paul preach！ But one believed and was baptisedthe other
〃cared for none of those things。〃 （Acts xviii。 17。）
Look at the world around you。 See what is going on continually under
your eyes。 Two sisters will often attend the same ministry； listen to
the same truths； hear the same sermons； and yet only one shall be
converted unto God； while the other remains totally unmoved。 Two
friends often read the same religious book： one is so moved by it； that
he gives up all for Christ； the other sees nothing at all in it； and
continues the same as before。 Hundreds have read Doddridge's Rise and
Progress without profit： with Wilberforce it was one of the beginnings
of spiritual life。 Thousands have read Wilberforce's Practical View of
Christianity and laid it down again unaltered： from the time Legh
Richmond read it he became another man。 No man has any warrant for
saying； 〃Salvation is in my own power。〃
I do not pretend to explain these things。 I only put them before you as
great facts； and I ask you to consider them well。
You must not misunderstand me。 I do not want to discourage you。 I say
these things in all affection； to give you warning of danger。 I do not
say them to drive you back from heaven。I say them rather to draw you
on； and bring you to Christ； while He can be found。
I want you to beware of presumption。 Do not abuse God's mercy and
passion。 Do not continue in sin； I beseech you； and think you can
repent； and believe； and be saved； just when you like； when you please；
when you will； and when you choose。 I would always set before you an
open door。 I would always say； 〃While there is life there is hope。〃 But
if you would be wise； put nothing off that concerns your soul。
I want you to beware of letting slip good thoughts and godly
convictions； if you have them。 Cherish them and nourish them； lest you
lose them for ever。 Make the most of them； lest they take to themselves
wings and flee away。 Have you an inclination to begin praying？ Put it
in practice at once。 Have you an idea of beginning really to serve
Christ？ Set about it at once。 Are you enjoying any spiritual light？ See
that you live up to your light。 Trifle not with opportunities； lest the
day e when you will want to use them； and not be able。 Linger not；
lest you bee wise too late。
You may say； perhaps； 〃It is never too late to repent。〃 I answer〃That
is right enough： but late repentance is seldom true。 And I say further；
you cannot be certain if you put off repenting； you will repent at
all。〃
You may say； 〃Why should I be afraid？the penitent thief was saved。〃 I
answer〃That is true： but look again at the passage which tells you
that the other thief was lost。〃
III。 The third lesson we are meant to learn from these verses Is this：
The Spirit always leads saved souls in one way。
This is a point that deserves particular attention； and is often
overlooked。 Men look at the broad fact that the penitent thief was
saved when he was dying； and they look no further。
They do not consider the evidences this thief left behind him。 They do
not observe the abundant proof he gave of the work of the Spirit in his
heart。 And these proofs I wish to trace out。 I wish to show you that
the Spirit always works in one way； and thatwhether He converts a man
in an hour； as He did the penitent thief； or whether by slow degrees；
as He does othersthe steps by which He leads souls to heaven are
always the same。
Let me try to make this clear to everyone who reads this paper； I want
to put you on your guard。 I want you to shake off the mon notion
that there is some easy； royal road to heaven from a dying bed。 I want
you thoroughly to understand； that every saved soul goes through the
same experience； and that the leading principles of the penitent
thief's religion were just the same as those of the oldest saint that
ever lived。
（a） See then； for one thing； how strong was the faith of this man。
He called Jesus 〃Lord。〃 He declared his belief that He would have a
〃kingdom。〃 He believed that He was able to give him eternal life and
glory； and in this belief prayed to Him。 He maintained His innocence of
all the charges brought against Him。 〃This Man。〃 said he； he hath done
nothing amiss。〃 Others perhaps may have thought the Lord innocentnone
said so openly but this poor dying man。
And when did all this happen？ It happened when the whole nation had
denied Christshouting； 〃Crucify Him； crucify Him： we have no king but
Caesar；〃when the chief priests and Pharisees had condemned and found
Him 〃guilty of death；〃when even His own disciples had forsaken Him
and fledwhen He was hanging； faint； bleeding； and dying on the cross；
numbered with transgressors； and accounted accursed。 This was the hour
when the thief believed in Christ； and prayed to Him I Surely such
faith was never seen since the world began。 ＇44＇
The disciples had seen mighty signs and miracles。 They had seen the
dead raised with a wordand lepers healed with a touch the blind
receiving sightthe dumb made to speakthe lame made to walk。 They
had seen thousands fed with a few loaves and fishes。 They had seen
their Master walking on the water as on dry land。 They had all of them
heard Him speak as no man ever spake； and hold out promises of good
things yet to e。 They had some of them had a foretaste of His glory
in the mount of transfiguration。 Doubtless their faith was 〃the gift of
God；〃 but still they had much to help it。
The dying thief saw none of the things I have mentioned。 He only saw
our Lord in agony； and in weakness； in suffering； and in pain。 He saw
Him undergoing a dishonourable punishment； deserted； mocked； despised；
blasphemed。 He saw Him rejected by all the great； and wise； and noble
of His own peopleHis strength dried up like a potsherd； His life
drawing nigh to the grave。 （Ps。 xxii。 15； lxxxviii。 3。） He saw no
sceptre； no royal crown； no outwar