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！
obedience。〃
Said Mary： 〃Ye interpret the Scriptures in one manner； and they ＇the Roman
Catholic teachers＇ interpret in another； whom shall I believe； and who shall
be judge？〃
〃Ye shall believe God； that plainly speaketh in His word；〃 answered the
Reformer； 〃and farther than the word teaches you； ye neither shall believe
the one nor the other。 The word of God is plain in itself； and if there
appear any obscurity in one place； the Holy Ghost； which is never contrary
to Himself； explains the same more clearly in other places； so that there
can remain no doubt but unto such as obstinately remain ignorant。〃David
Laing； The Collected Works of John Knox； vol。 2； pp。 281； 284。
Such were the truths that the fearless Reformer； at the peril of his life；
spoke in the ear of royalty。 With the same undaunted courage he kept to his
purpose； praying and fighting the battles of the Lord； until Scotland was
free from popery。
In England the establishment of Protestantism as the national religion
diminished； but did not wholly stop； persecution。 While many of the
doctrines of Rome had been renounced； not a few of its forms were retained。
The supremacy of the pope was rejected； but in his place the monarch was
enthroned as the head of the church。 In the service of the church there was
still a wide departure from the purity and simplicity of the gospel。 The
great principle of religious liberty was not yet understood。 Though the
252
horrible cruelties which Rome employed against heresy were resorted to but
rarely by Protestant rulers； yet the right of every man to worship God
according to the dictates of his own conscience was not acknowledged。 All
were required to accept the doctrines and observe the forms of worship
prescribed by the established church。 Dissenters suffered persecution； to a
greater or less extent； for hundreds of years。
In the seventeenth century thousands of pastors were expelled from their
positions。 The people were forbidden； on pain of heavy fines； imprisonment；
and banishment； to attend any religious meetings except such as were
sanctioned by the church。 Those faithful souls who could not refrain from
gathering to worship God were compelled to meet in dark alleys； in obscure
garrets； and at some seasons in the woods at midnight。 In the sheltering
depths of the forest； a temple of God's own building； those scattered and
persecuted children of the Lord assembled to pour out their souls in prayer
and praise。 But despite all their precautions； many suffered for their
faith。 The jails were crowded。 Families were broken up。 Many were banished
to foreign lands。 Yet God was with His people； and persecution could not
prevail to silence their testimony。 Many were driven across the ocean to
America and here laid the foundations of civil and religious liberty which
have been the bulwark and glory of this country。
Again； as in apostolic days； persecution turned out to the furtherance of
the gospel。 In a loathsome dungeon crowded with profligates and felons； John
Bunyan breathed the very atmosphere of heaven； and there he wrote his
wonderful allegory of the pilgrim's journey from the land of destruction to
the celestial city。 For over two hundred years that voice from Bedford jail
has spoken with thrilling power to the hearts of men。 Bunyan's Pilgrim's
Progress and Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners have guided many feet
into the path of life。
Baxter； Flavel； Alleine； and other men of talent； education； and deep
Christian experience stood up in valiant defense of
253
the faith which was once delivered to the saints。 The work accomplished by
these men； proscribed and outlawed by the rulers of this world； can never
perish。 Flavel's Fountain of Life and Method of Grace have taught thousands
how to commit the keeping of their souls to Christ。 Baxter's Reformed Pastor
has proved a blessing to many who desire a revival of the work of God； and
his Saints' Everlasting Rest has done its work in leading souls to the
〃rest〃 that remaineth for the people of God。
A hundred years later； in a day of great spiritual darkness； Whitefield and
the Wesleys appeared as light bearers for God。 Under the rule of the
established church the people of England had lapsed into a state of
religious declension hardly to be distinguished from heathenism。 Natural
religion was the favorite study of the clergy； and included most of their
theology。 The higher classes sneered at piety； and prided themselves on
being above what they called its fanaticism。 The lower classes were grossly
ignorant and abandoned to vice； while the church had no courage or faith any
longer to support the downfallen cause of truth。
The great doctrine of justification by faith； so clearly taught by Luther；
had been almost wholly lost sight of； and the Romish principle of trusting
to good works for salvation； had taken its place。 Whitefield and the
Wesleys； who were members of the established church； were sincere seekers
for the favor of God； and this they had been taught was to be secured by a
virtuous life and an observance of the ordinances of religion。
When Charles Wesley at one time fell ill； and anticipated that death was
approaching； he was asked upon what he rested his hope of eternal life。 His
answer was： 〃I have used my best endeavors to serve God。〃 As the friend who
had put the question seemed not to be fully satisfied with his answer；
Wesley thought： 〃What！ are not my endeavors a sufficient ground of hope？
Would he rob me of my endeavors？ I have nothing else to trust to。〃John
Whitehead； Life of the Rev。 Charles Wesley； page 102。 Such was the dense
darkness
254
that had settled down on the church； hiding the atonement； robbing Christ of
His glory； and turning the minds of men from their only hope of
salvationthe blood of the crucified Redeemer。
Wesley and his associates were led to see that true religion is seated in
the heart； and that God's law extends to the thoughts as well as to the
words and actions。 Convinced of the necessity of holiness of heart； as well
as correctness of outward deportment； they set out in earnest upon a new
life。 By the most diligent and prayerful efforts they endeavored to subdue
the evils of the natural heart。 They lived a life of self…denial； charity；
and humiliation； observing with great rigor and exactness every measure
which they thought could be helpful to them in obtaining what they most
desiredthat holiness which could secure the favor of God。 But they did not
obtain the object which they sought。 In vain were their endeavors to free
themselves from the condemnation of sin or to break its power。 It was the
same struggle which Luther had experienced in his cell at Erfurt。 It was the
same question which had tortured his soul〃How should man be just before
God？〃 Job。 9：2。
The fires of divine truth； well…nigh extinguished upon the altars of
Protestantism； were to be rekindled from the ancient torch handed down the
ages by the Bohemian Christians。 After the Reformation； Protestantism in
Bohemia had been trampled out by the hordes of Rome。 All who refused to
renounce the truth were forced to flee。 Some of these； finding refuge in
Saxony； there maintained the ancient faith。 It was from the descendants of
these Christians that light came to Wesley and his associates。
John and Charles Wesley； after being ordained to the ministry； were sent on
a mission to America。 On board the ship was a company of Moravians。 Violent
storms were encountered on the passage； and John Wesley； brought face to
face with death； felt that he had not the assurance of peace with God。 The
Germans； on the contrary； manifested a calmness and trust to which he was a
stranger。
255
〃I had long before；〃 he says； 〃observed the great seriousness of their
behavior。 Of their humility they had given a continual proof； by performing
those servile offices for the other passengers which none of the English
would undertake； for which they desired and would receive no pay； saying it
was good for their proud heart