where is thy sting？〃 when they die。
（a） In conclusion； I entreat every one who reads this paper to ask
himself whether he is going away from Christ； like the Jews； or
clinging boldly to Christ； like Peter。 You live in dangerous days。
There was a time when irreligion was scarcely respectable； but that
time has long ceased to be。 But even now Christ continues to knock at
the door of your hearts； and asks you to ponder your ways and take heed
what you do。 〃Will ye go away？〃 Dare to set up an assize in your heart
of hearts； and look within。 Resist the lazy Epicurean feeling which
bids you never scrutinize your inward character。 Depend on it； an hour
will e when you will feel the need of a great Friend in heaven。
Without Him you may live tolerably： without Him you will never
fortably die。
You may tell me； perhaps； that you do not really mean to forsake
Christ； although you are not at present all that you ought to be。 But
there are some things in religion about which you cannot make up your
mind； and are waiting for more light。 Or you are working hard for some
special object； and have not time just now； and hope； like Felix； for
〃a convenient season。〃 But； oh！ waiting； lingering soul； what is
neglect of Christ's word； and ordinances； and day； but 〃going away from
Christ〃？ Awake to see that you are on an inclined plane； and are
gradually going downward。 You are drifting； drifting daily； further；
further away from God。 Awake； and resolve； by God's help； to drift no
more。
（b） But； next to having no religion at all； I entreat every reader of
this paper to beware of a religion in which Christ has not His rightful
place。 Let us never try to satisfy ourselves with a little cheap；
formal Christianity； taken up carelessly on Sunday morning； and laid
aside at night； but not influencing us during the week。 Such
Christianity will neither give us peace in life； nor hope in death； nor
power to resist temptation； nor fort in trouble。 Christ only has
〃the words of eternal life；〃 and His words must be received； believed；
embraced； and made the meat and drink of our souls。 A Christianity
without living； felt munion with Him； without grasp of the benefits
of His blood and intercession； a Christianity without Christ's
sacrifice and Christ's Priesthood； is a powerless； wearisome form。
（c） Let us； finally； 〃hold fast the profession of our faith without
wavering；〃 if we have reason to hope we are Christ's true servants。 Let
men laugh at us； and try to turn us away as much as they please。 Let us
calmly and humbly say to ourselves at such times： 〃' After all； to whom
can I go if I leave Christ？ ' I feel within that He has ' words of
eternal life。' I see that thousands find them meat and drink to their
souls。 Where He goes； I will go； and where He lodges； I will lodge。 In
a dying world； I can see nothing better。 I will cling to Christ and His
words。 They never failed any one who trusted them； and I believe they
will not fail me。〃
__________________________________________________________________
＇12＇ The substance of these pages was originally preached as a sermon
before the University of Oxford； in my turn as Select Preacher at St。
＇remainder of note missing＇。
__________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER XII
Heb。 4：14。
OUR PROFESSION
〃Seeing then that we have a great High Priest； that is passed into the
heavens； Jesus the Son of God； let us hold fast our profession。〃Heb。
4：14。
A CAREFUL reader of the Epistle to the Hebrews can hardly fail to
observe that the words 〃let us〃 are found no less than four times in
the fourth chapter。 In the first verse you will read； 〃let us
fear；〃in the eleventh verse； 〃let us labour；〃in the fourteenth
verse； 〃let us hold fast；〃and in the sixteenth verse； 〃let us e
boldly to the throne of grace。〃 We should take note of this。
Now why did the Apostle St。 Paul write in this way？ He did it because
the Hebrew Christians； to whom he wrote； were a peculiar people； and
occupied a peculiar position。 They were not like Gentile converts； who
had been brought up to worship idols； and had never received any
revelation from God。 The Jews were a people who had enjoyed the special
favour of God for fifteen hundred years。 All through that long period
they had possessed the law of Moses； and an immense amount of spiritual
light； which had not been given to any other nation on earth。 These
privileges had made them very sensitive and jealous at the idea of any
change。 They needed to be approached very gently and delicately； and to
be addressed in a peculiar style。 All this St。 Paul； himself born a
Jew； remembered well。 He puts himself on a level with them； and says；
〃Let us；I speak to myself as well as to you； lest I should offend
you。〃
But this is not all。 I might add that the Jewish Christians had very
peculiar trials to undergo。 I suspect they were far more persecuted and
ill…used after their conversion than the Gentile Christians were。 ：No
doubt it was a hard thing for a Gentile to turn from idols。 But it was
a much harder thing for a Jew to profess that he was not content with
the ceremonial law of Moses； and that he had found a better priest； and
a better sacrifice； even Jesus of Nazareth； and the blood of the cross。
This also St。 Paul remembered well； and he cheers and encourages them
by placing himself by their side； and saying； 〃Let us fear；〃〃 let
us labour；〃〃 let us hold fast；〃〃 let us e boldly；〃〃 I am as
you are； we are all in the same boat。〃
I shall confine myself in this paper to the text which heads it； and I
shall try to answer three questions。
I。 What is this profession of which St。 Paul speaks？
II。 Why does St。 Paul say； 〃Let us hold fast〃？
III。 What is the grand encouragement which St。 Paul gives us to 〃hold
fast〃？
Before I go any further； I ask my readers to remember that the things
we are about to consider were written by inspiration of the Holy Ghost
for the benefit of the whole Church of Christ in every age down to the
end of the world。 They were meant to be used by all true Christians in
England； and by all classes； whether high or low； rich or poor； in
London； or Liverpool； or in any part of the earth。 The Epistle to the
Hebrews is not an old worn…out letter which only suits the Jews of
eighteen centuries ago。 It is meant for you and me。
We all need to be exhorted to 〃hold fast our profession。〃
I。 Let us begin by considering what is meant by 〃our profession。〃
When St。 Paul uses this expression； there can be little doubt about his
meaning。 He meant that public 〃profession〃 of faith in Christ and
obedience to Him； which every person made when he became a member of
the Christian Church。 In the days of the Apostle； when a man or woman
left Judaism or heathenism； and received Christ as a Saviour； he
declared himself a Christian by certain acts。 He did it by being
publicly baptized； by joining the pany of those who had been
baptized already； by publicly promising to give up idolatry and
wickedness of all kinds； and by habitually taking part with the
followers of Jesus of Nazareth in all their religious assemblies； their
ways； and their practices。 This is what St。 Paul had in view when he
wrote the words； 〃Let us hold fast our profession。〃
Profession in those days was a very serious matter； and entailed very
serious consequences。 It often brought on a man persecution； loss of
property； imprisonment； and even death。 The consequence was that few
persons ever made a Christian profession in the early Church unless
they were thoroughly in earnest； truly converted； and really believers。
No doubt there were some exceptions。 People like Ananias and Sapphira；
and Simon Magus； and Demas； crept in and joined themselves to the
disciples。 But these were exceptional cases。 As a general rule； it was
not worth while for a man to profess Christianity if his heart was not
entirely in his profession。 It cost much。 It brought on a man the risk
of a vast amount of trouble； and brought in very little gain。 The whole
result was； that the proportion of sincere； right…hearted； and
converted persons in the Church of the Apostle's days was far greater
than it ever has been at any other period in the last eighteen
centuries。 There was a very deep meaning in St。 Paul's words when he
said； 〃Let us hold fast our profession。〃
In the days in which we live； 〃profession〃 is a very different thing。
Millions of people profess and call themselves Christians； whom the
Apostle would not have called Christians at all。 Millions are annually
baptized； and added to the rolls and registers of churches； who have
little or no religion。 Many of them live and die without ever attending
a place of worship； and live very ungodly lives。 Many more only go to a
church or chapel occasionally； or once on Sunday at the most。 Many
others pass through life without ever being municants； and live
and die in the habitual neglect of that Holy Sacrament which the Lord
manded to be received。 Most of these people are reckoned Christians
while they live； and are buried with Christian burial when they die。
But what would St。 Paul have said of them？ I fear there can be no doubt
about the answer。 He would have said they did not deserve to be
reckoned members of any Church at all！ He would not have addressed them
as 〃saints and faithful brethren in Christ Jesus。〃 He would not have
called upon them to 〃hold fast their profession。〃 He would have told
them they had no profession to hold fast； and that they were 〃yet dead
in trespasses and sins〃 （Eph。 2：1）。 All this is sorrowful and painful；
but it is only too true。 Let those deny it who dare。
Let us； however； thank God that there are not a few to be found in
every part of Christendom who really are