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to read the Bible like a man in earnest； and never rest till you bee
familiar with it。 Read what the law of God requires； as expounded by
the Lord Jesus in the fifth of St。 Matthew。 Read how St。 Paul describes
human nature in the first two chapters of his Epistle to the Romans。
Study such passages as these with prayer for the Spirit's teaching； and
then say whether you are not a debtor to God and a debtor in mighty
need of a Friend like Christ。
Perhaps you are one who has never known anything of real； hearty；
business…like prayer。 You have been used to regard religion as an
affair of churches； chapels； forms； services； and Sundays； but not as a
thing requiring the serious； heartfelt attention of the inward man。
Take my advice this day and change your plan。 Begin the habit of real；
earnest pleading with God about your soul。 Ask Him for light； teaching；
and self…knowledge。 Beseech Him to show you anything you need to know
for the saving of your soul。 Do this with all your heart and mind； and
I have no doubt that before long you will feel your need of Christ。
The advice I offer may seem simple and old…fashioned。 Do not despise it
on that account。 It is the good old way in which millions have walked
already and found peace to their souls。 Not to love Christ is to be in
imminent danger of eternal ruin。 To see your need of Christ and your
amazing debt to Christ is the first step towards loving Him。 To know
yourself and find out your real condition before God is the only way to
see your need。 To search God's Book and ask God for light in prayer is
the right course by which to attain saving knowledge。 Do not be above
taking the advice I offer。 Take it and be saved。
（3） In the last place； if you really know anything of love towards
Christ； accept two parting words of fort and counsel。 The Lord grant
they may do you good。
For one thing； if you love Christ in deed and truth； rejoice in the
thought that you have good evidence about the state of your soul。 Love；
I tell you this day； is an evidence of grace。
What though you are sometimes perplexed with doubts and fears？ What
though you find it hard to say whether your faith is genuine and your
grace real？ What though your eyes are often so dimmed with tears that
you cannot clearly see your calling and election of God？ Still there is
ground for hope and strong consolation if your heart can testify that
you love Christ。 Where there is true love； there is faith and grace。
You would not love Him if He had not done something for you。 Your very
love is a token for good。
For another thing； if you love Christ； never be ashamed to let others
see it and know it。 Speak for Him。 Witness for Him。 Live for Him。 Work
for Him。 If He has loved you and washed you from your sins in His own
blood； you never need shrink from letting others know that you feel it；
and love Him in return。
〃Man；〃 said a thoughtless； ungodly English traveller to a North
American Indian convert； 〃Man； what is the reason that you make so much
of Christ； and talk so much about Him？ What has this Christ done for
you； that you should make so much ado about Him？〃
The converted Indian did not answer him in words。 He gathered together
some dry leaves and moss and made a ring with them on the ground。 He
picked up a live worm and put it in the middle of the ring。 He struck a
light and set the moss and leaves on fire。 The flame soon rose and the
heat scorched the worm。 It writhed in agony； and after trying in vain
to escape on every side； curled itself up in the middle； as if about to
die in despair。 At that moment the Indian reached forth his hand； took
up the worm gently and placed it on his bosom。 〃Stranger；〃 he said to
the Englishman； 〃Do you see that worm？ I was that perishing creature。 I
was dying in my sins； hopeless； helpless； and on the brink of eternal
fire。 It was Jesus Christ who put forth the arm of His power。 It was
Jesus Christ who delivered me with the hand of His grace； and plucked
me from everlasting burnings。 It was Jesus Christ who placed me； a poor
sinful worm； near the heart of His love。 Stranger； that is the reason
why I talk of Jesus Christ and make much of Him。 I am not ashamed of
it； because I love Him。〃
If we know anything of love to Christ； may we have the mind of this
North American Indian！ May we never think that we can love Christ too
well； live to Him too thoroughly； confess Him too boldly； lay ourselves
out for Him too heartily！ Of all the things that will surprise us in
the resurrection morning； this； I believe； will surprise us most： that
we did not love Christ more before we died。
__________________________________________________________________
XVI。
WITHOUT CHRIST
〃Ye were without Christ。〃Ephes。 ii。 12。
THE text which heads this paper describes the state of the Ephesians
before they became Christians。 But that is not all。 It describes the
state of every man and woman in England who is not converted to God。 A
more miserable state cannot be conceived！ It is bad enough to be
without money； or without health； or without home； or without friends。
But it is far worse to be 〃without Christ。〃
Let us examine the text this day； and see what it contains。 Who can
tell but it may prove a message from God to some reader of this paper？
1。 Let us consider； in the first place； when it can be said of a man
that he is 〃without Christ。〃
The expression 〃without Christ；〃 be it remembered； is not one of my own
invention。 The words were not first coined by me； but were written
under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost。 They were used by St。 Paul
when he was reminding the Ephesian Christians what their former
condition was； before they heard the Gospel and believed。 Ignorant and
dark no doubt they had been； buried in idolatry and heathenism；
worshippers of the false goddess Diana。 But all this he passes over
pletely。 He seems to think that this would only partially describe
their state。 So he draws a picture； of which the very first feature is
the expression before us： 〃At that time ye were without Christ。〃
（Ephes。 ii。 12。） Now what does the expression mean？
（a） A man is 〃without Christ〃 when he has no head…knowledge of Him。
Millions； no doubt； are in this condition。 They know not who Christ
isnor what He has donenor what He taughtnor why He was
crucifiednor where He is nownor what He is to mankind。 In short；
they are entirely ignorant of Him。 The heathen； of course； who never
yet heard the Gospel e first under this description。 But unhappily
they do not stand alone。 There are thousands of people living in
England at this very day who have hardly any clearer ideas about Christ
than the very heathen。 Ask them what they know about Jesus Christ； and
you will be astounded at the gross darkness which covers their minds。
Visit them on their deathbeds and you will find that they can tell you
no more about Christ than about Mahomet。 Thousands are in this state in
country parishes； and thousands in towns。 And about all such persons
but one account can be given。 They are 〃without Christ。〃
I am aware that some modern divines do not take the view which I have
just stated。 They tell us that all mankind have a part and interest in
Christ； whether they know Him or not。 They say that all men and women；
however ignorant while they live； shall be taken by Christ's mercy to
heaven when they die！ Such views； I firmly believe； cannot be
reconciled with God's Word。 It is written； 〃This is life eternal； that
they might know Thee the only true God； and Jesus Christ； whom Thou
hast sent。〃 （John xvii。 3。） It is one of the marks of the wicked； on
whom God shall take vengeance at the last day； that they 〃know not
God。〃 （2 Thess。 i。 8。） An unknown Christ is no Saviour。 What shall be
the state of the heathen after death？how shall the savage； who never
heard the Gospel； be judged？in what manner will God deal with the
helplessly ignorant and uneducated？all these are questions which we
may safely let alone。 We may rest assured that 〃the Judge of all the
earth will do right。〃 （Gen。 xviii。 25。） But we must not fly in the face
of Scripture。 If Bible words mean anything； to be ignorant of Christ is
to be 〃without Christ。〃
（b） But this is not all。 A man is 〃without Christ〃 when he has no
heart…faith in Him as his Saviour。 It is quite possible to know all
about Christ； and yet not to put our trust in Him。 There are multitudes
who know every article of the Belief； and can tell you glibly that
Christ was 〃born of the Virgin Mary； suffered under Pontius Pilate； was
crucified； dead； and buried。〃 They learned it at school。 They have it
sticking fast in their memories。 But they make no practical use of
their knowledge。 They put their trust in something which is not
〃Christ。〃 They hope to go to heaven because they are moral and
well…conductedbecause they say their prayers and go to
Churchbecause they have been baptized and go to the Lord's Table。 But
as to a lively faith in God's mercy through Christa real； intelligent
confidence in Christ's blood and righteousness and intercessionthese
are things of which they know nothing at all。 And of all such persons I
can see but one true account。 They are 〃without Christ。〃
I am aware that many do not admit the truth of what I have just said。
Some tell us that all baptized people are members of Christ by virtue
of their baptism。 Others tell us that where there is a head…knowledge；
we have no right to question a person's interest in Christ。 To these
views I have only one plain answer。 The Bible forbids us to say that
any man is joined to Christ until he believes。 Baptism is no proof that
we are joined to Christ。 Simon Magus was baptized； and yet was
distinctly told that he had 〃no part or lot in this matter。〃 （Acts
viii。 21。） Head…knowledge is no proof that we are joined to Christ。 The
devils know Christ well enough； but have no portion in Him。 God knows；
no doubt； who are His from all eternity。 But man knows nothing of
anyone's justification until he believes。 The grand question is； 〃Do we
believe？〃 It is written； 〃He that believeth not the Son shall not see
life； but the wrath of God abideth on him。〃 〃He that believeth not
shall be damned。〃 （John iii。 36； Mark xvi。 16。） If Bible words mean
anything； to be without faith is to be 〃without Christ。〃
（c） But I have yet one thing more to say。 A man is 〃without Christ〃
when the Holy Spirit's work cannot be seen in his life。 Who can avoid
seeing； if he uses his eyes； that myriads of professing Christians know
nothing of inward conversion of heart？ They will tell you that they
believe the Christian religion； they go to their places of worship with
tolerable regularity； they think it a proper thing to be married and
buried with all the ceremonies of the Church； they would be much
offended if their Christianity were doubted。 But where is the Holy
Ghost to be seen in their lives？ What are their hearts and affections
set upon？ Whose is the image and superscription that stands out in
their tastes； and habits； and ways？ Alas； there can only be one reply！
They know nothing experimentally of the renewing； sanctifying work of
the Holy Ghost。 They are yet dead to God。 And of all such； only one
account can be given。 They are 〃without Christ。〃
I am well aware； again； that few will admit this。 The vast majority
will tell you that it is extreme； and wild； and extravagant to require
so much in Christians； and to press on every one conversion。 They will
say that it is impossible to keep up the high standard which I have
just referred to； without going out of the world； and that we may
surely go to heaven without being such very great saints。 To all this I
can only reply； What saith the Scripture？ What