The Christian religion is plainer than the Jews' religion; that is, if the one leads us into the Holy place, the other leads us into the Most Holy. If life and immortality were but dimly seen in the days of Ahab, they are brought to light by the Gospel. If sin did abound then, grace doth much more abound now. If halting between two opinions was a crime in those days, what must it be in these? The blessed Saviour has made the doorway to heaven so plain, that it requires wilful malice to shut it out from sight. If they escaped not (the prophets of Baal for instance) how shall we escape? They only despised Elijah, we must despise Jesus Christ. Strange to say, the evil hath kept pace with the good, and halting between two opinions seems like an hereditary disease, descending from father to son. It will continue so to the end, for when the Son of man cometh will He find faith on the earth? Gather together Christendom -the Roman Church-the Greek Church-the Protestant Church-all that bear the Christian name. The great bulk of the mighty assembly are halting between two opinions. Doubt cramps the energies. of their heart, and they repeat their creed with a stammering tongue. The Roman Church infallible! Alas! Alas! the souls of men from under her altar make too loud a noise. The Greek Church firm and sound! Alas! Alas! not much better, if any, than her proud sister, if sisters they are. Protestants all right! Alas! Alas! parties and sects in worldly rival ry bite and devour one another. What is the root of the disease? Want of love to Christ. What with trammels of worldliness; what with fleshly lusts; what with deceit of the Evil One, the spouse of Christ hath a toilsome journey through this wilderness world. We should do very well if we did not halt between two opinions. If the worldly would worship the world outright; if the covetous would bow down to Mammon; if the votaries of pleasure would keep always to their own gods, we should see men in their true characters. But when at one time they pay court to these idols (for they are idols) and at another time draw nigh to the Blessed One, and say, Hail, Master," and kiss Him; this halting between two opinions baffles the keenest search of our minds, and so we go on in ignorance along the hard roadway of time, and are lost for ever from human gaze through the portals of eternity. You say perhaps in the secret of your heart, the preacher is wanting in sympathy and tenderness; he will but annoy and chafe our spirit, telling us this. Oh, my brethren, the preacher is no better than his hearers. He knows, he feels full well, that the stock is twisted, and that even the regenerate are forced to say-"When I would do good, evil is present with me." Faltering in the service of Christ is part of the infirmity of our nature. But we must not make this a plea for indolence, nor a screen for sin. We must not base our want of zeal on the sand of way wardness, and say we cannot help it, for a voice is heard from heaven, saying "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His own good pleasure." A doubtful mind is a constant annoyance. To be infirm of purpose is to be the sport of accidents. Unstable as water thou shalt not excel. The soul which is ever in a flutter, not knowing its present state, nor future prospects, must, of necessity, be the prey of misery and wretchedness. When a Christian is asked by his Saviour-" Lovest thou me more than these?" to be compelled to say—“I cannot tell—I am not sure I do not know." Oh, this is dreadful! In some minds here this is the state of things— Consciousness that religion should have the whole heart, and yet that she has it not. Consciousness that a firm stand must be made against certain things and ways, and yet that that stand is not made. Consciousness that Christ's service is perfect freedom, and yet that that freedom is not experienced. Indolence, idleness, fear of man, want of faith, minister nourishment to indecision, and the old state of things will continue, and there will be a halting between two opinions still. That holy table to day is covered, and you are invited to a feast. Many will turn away, saying-"I am not worthy," which means-"I am not willing." "I halt between two opinions". How long? The Holy Spirit strives within, saying, "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? Turn at My reproof." The mute inglorious answer is-"We have a form of godliness." Oh, why deny the power? The voice from heaven says-" My Spirit shall not always strive with man." You are halting between two opini ons .... How long? The blessed Saviour stands at the door of our hearts, He is very nigh to us now. We know him well enough to be assured that in His presence is fulness of joy; and that for Him to dwell in our hearts by faith is for us to be happy, and yet perhaps now, one half this congregation, if not more, will bid this Holy One take His departure, and welcome in His stead, Carelessness, Worldliness, Frivolity, Forgetfulness, Sin. Here is a strange halting for Christian people . .. Oh, how long? |