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Almighty Master and Saviour。 But when he looked away to the winds and
waves； and reasoned； and considered his own strength； and the weight of
his body； he soon began to sink； and cried； 〃Lord； save me。〃 No wonder
that our gracious Lord； while grasping his hand and delivering him from
a watery grave； said； 〃O thou of little faith； wherefore didst thou
doubt？〃 Alas！ many of us are very like Peter；…we look away from Jesus；
and then our hearts faint； and we feel sinking （Matt。 14：28…31）。
Think； last of all； how many millions of men and women like yourself
have got safe home during the last eighteen hundred years。 Like you；
they have had their battles and their conflicts； their doubts and their
fears。 Some of them have had very little 〃joy and peace in believing；〃
and were almost surprised when they woke up in Paradise。 Some of them
enjoyed full assurance； and strong consolation； and have entered the
haven of eternal life； like a gallant ship in full sail And who are
these last that have done so？ Those who have not only held their
profession between finger and thumb； but have grasped it firmly with
both hands； and have been ready to die for Christ； rather than not
confess Him before men。 Take courage； believer。 The bolder and more
decided you are； the more fort you will have in Christ。 You cannot
have two heavens； one here； and the other hereafter。 You are yet in the
world； and you have a body； and there is always near you a busy devil。
But great faith shall always have great peace。 The happiest person in
religion will always be that man or woman who can say； with a true
heart； like St。 Paul； 〃The life that I live in the flesh； I live by the
faith of the Son of God； who loved me； and gave Himself for me。〃 In
myself I see nothing； but I keep ever looking to Jesus； and by His
grace I hold fast my profession （Gal。 2：20）。
And now I cannot leave this great and solemn subject without offering
to all who read it a parting word of warning about the times in which
we live。 I will try to explain briefly what I mean。
I believe； then； that for three centuries there has not been an age in
which it has been so needful to urge professing Christians to 〃hold
fast〃 as it is at this time。 No doubt there is plenty of religion of a
certain sort in these days。 There are many more attendants on public
worship all over the land than there were thirty years ago。 But it may
well be doubted whether there is any increase of vital Christianity。 I
am greatly mistaken if there is not a growing tendency to 〃hold fast〃
nothing in religion； and a disposition to hold everything as loosely as
possible。 〃：Nothing fast！ Everything loose！〃 seems the order of the
day。
How is it in matters of faith and doctrine？ It used to be thought
important to hold clear and distinct views about such points as the
inspiration of the Scriptures； the atonement； the work of the Spirit；
the personality of the devil； the reality of future punishment。 It is
not thought so now。 The old order of things has passed away。 You may
believe anything or nothing on these subjects； so long as you are
earnest and sincere。 Holding 。fast has given way to holding loose。
How is it in matters of worship and ritual？ It used to be thought
important to be content with the plain teaching of the Prayer Book。 It
is not thought so now。 You must have the Lord's Table called an altar；
and the sacrament called a sacrifice； without the slightest warrant in
the Prayer Book； and a ceremonial fitted to these novel views。 And then
if you plain； you are told that you are very narrow and illiberal；
and that a clergyman ought to be allowed to do and say and teach
anything； if he is only earnest and sincere。 Holding fast has given way
to holding loose。
How is it in the matter of holy living？ It used to be thought important
to 〃renounce the pomps and vanity of this wicked world；〃 and to keep
clear of races； theatre…going； balls； card…playing； and the like。 It is
not thought so now。 You may do anything and go anywhere you please； so
long as you keep Lent； and occasionally attend early munion？ You
must not be so very strict and particular！ Once more I say； holding
fast has given way to holding loose。
This state of things； to say the least； is not satisfactory； It is full
of peril。 It shows a condition of Christianity which； I am certain；
would not have satisfied St。 Paul or St。 John。 The world was not turned
upside down by such vague； loose doctrine and practice eighteen
centuries ago。 The souls of men in the present day will never receive
much benefit from such loose Christianity either in England or anywhere
else。 Decision in teaching and living is the only Christianity which
God has blessed in the ages that are past； or will continue to bless in
our own time。 Loose； vague； misty； broad Christianity may avoid offence
and please people in health and prosperity； but it will not convert
souls； or supply solid fort in the hour of sorrow or sickness； or on
the bed of death。
The plain truth is； that 〃sincerity and earnestness〃 are being the
idol of many English Christians in these latter days。 People seem to
think it matters little what opinions a man holds in religion； so long
as he is 〃earnest and sincere；〃 and you are thought uncharitable if you
doubt his soundness in the faith！ Against this idolatry of mere
〃earnestness〃 I enter my solemn protest。 I charge every reader of this
paper to remember that God's written Word is the only rule of faith；
and to believe nothing to be true and soul…saving in religion which
cannot be proved by plain texts of Scripture。 I entreat him to read the
Bible； and make it his only test of truth and error； right and wrong。
And for the last time I say； 〃Hold fast； and not loose；hold fast your
profession。〃
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CHAPTER XIII
Matt。 8：11。
MANY
〃Many shall e from the east and west； and shall sit down with
Abraham； Isaac； and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven。〃Matt。 8：11。
THE words of Scripture which head this page were spoken by our Lord
Jesus Christ。 You may take them either as a prophecy or as a promise。
In either point of view they are deeply interesting； and contain much
food for thought。
Take the words as a prophecy； and remember that they are sure to be
fulfilled The Bible contains many predictions of things most unlikely
and improbable； which have yet proved true。 Was it not said of Ishmael；
the father of the Arabian race； that he was to be a 〃wild man； his hand
against every man； and every man's hand against him〃？ （Gen。 16：12）。 We
see the fulfilment of those words at this very day； when we look at the
tribes in the Sudan； or observe the ways of the Bedouins。Was it not
said of Egypt that it was finally to bee 〃the basest of kingdoms；〃
and its inhabitants a people who could neither govern themselves nor be
governed？ （Ezek。 29：15）。 We see the fulfilment of those words at this
very day along the whole valley of the Nile； and every statesman in
Europe knows it to his sorrow。 It will be just the same with the
prophecy before our eyes。 〃Many shall sit down in the kingdom of
heaven。〃
Take the words as a promise。 It was spoken for the encouragement of the
Apostles； and of all Christian ministers and teachers down to the
present day。 We are often tempted to think that preaching； and
teaching； and visiting； and trying to bring souls to Christ does no
good； and that our labour is all thrown away。 But here is the promise
of One who 〃cannot lie；〃 and never failed to keep HIS word。 He cheers
us with a gracious sentence。 He would have us not faint or give way to
despair。 Whatever we may think； and however little success we may see；
there is a Scripture before us which cannot be broken； 〃Many shall sit
down in the kingdom of heaven。〃
I。 We have first in these words the number of those who shall be saved。
Our Lord Jesus Christ declares that they shall be 〃many。〃
How strange that word 〃many〃 sounds！ Will any be saved who are not born
again； washed in Christ's blood； and sanctified by the Holy Ghost？ Will
any be saved （except infants） who have not repented of sin； believed on
the Lord Jesus for forgiveness； and been made holy in heart？ None；
none； certainly none。 If men and women can be saved without repentance；
faith； and holiness； we may as well throw the Bible away； and give up
Christianity altogether。
But are there many people of this kind to be seen in the world？ Alas！
there are very few。 The believers whom we see and know are 〃a little
flock。〃 〃Strait is the gate； and narrow is the way； which leadeth unto
life； and few there be that find it〃 （Matt。 7：14）。 Few are to be seen
in towns； and few in country parishes l Few among the rich； and few
among the poor！ Few among the old； and few among the young！ Few