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。〃
__________________________________________________________________
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 among
the learned； and few among the unlearned！ Few in palaces； and few in
cottages！ It is an abiding sorrow with all true Christians that they
meet so few with whom they can pray； and praise； and read the Bible；
and talk of spiritual things。 They often feel to stand alone。 Many are
the people who never go to any place of worship from the first day of
January to the last day of December； and seem to live without God in
the world。 Few are the municants in any congregationa mere handful
pared to those who never go to the Lord's table at all。 Few are the
men and women who do anything for the cause of Christ upon earth； or
appear to care whether those around them are lost or saved。 Can any one
deny these things？ Impossible！ Yet here is our Lord Jesus Christ
saying； 〃Many shall sit down in the kingdom of heaven。〃
Now； why did our Lord say so？ He never made a mistake； and all that He
says is true。 Let me try to throw some light on this question。
（a） There shall be 〃many〃 when all are gathered together who have died
in the Lord； from Abel； the first saint； down to the last who is found
alive when the trumpet sounds； and the resurrection takes place。 They
shall be a 〃multitude which no man can number〃 （Rev。 7：9）。
（b） There shall be 〃many〃 when all the infants who died before they
knew good from evil； or their right hand from their left； are called
from their little graves； and assembled。 Few； probably； are aware what
an enormous proportion of children never live for a year！ They shall be
〃a multitude which no man can number。〃
（c） There shall be 〃many〃 when all the believers of every name； and
nation； and people； and tongue； the Old Testament saints； like Enoch；
and Noah； and Abraham； and Isaac； and Jacob； and Moses； and David； and
the prophets；the saints of the New Testament； like the Apostles； the
saints among the primitive Christians； and the Reformers；… when all
these are brought together； they will be 〃a multitude which no man can
number。〃
（d） There will be 〃many〃 when the true Christians are gathered
together； who are now scattered over the face of the globe； and not
known either by the Church or the world。 There are not a few who belong
to no congregation； and are not numbered on any list of municants；
though their names are in the Lamb's book of life。 Some of them live
and die in great neglected parishes unknown and unvisited。 Some of them
get hold of the truth by hearing the gospel preached by missionaries at
home or abroad； though the preacher has never known them； and they have
never been formally enrolled in the list of converts。 Some of them are
soldiers and sailors； who stand alone in regiments and on board ship；
and are not understood by their panions。 There are myriads of such
persons； I believe； who live the life of faith； and love Christ； and
are known to the Lord； though not known by men。 These also will make a
large addition to the 〃multitude which no man can number。〃
The plain truth is； that the family of God will be found at last much
larger than most of us suppose it is。 We look at the things； we see
with our own eyes； and we forget how much there is going on in the
world； in Europe； Asia； Africa； and America； which our eyes never see
at all。 The inner life of the vast majority of all around us is a
hidden thing； of which we know nothing。 We do not think of the ages
that are past； and the countless millions who are now 〃dust and ashes；〃
though each in his turn fell asleep in Christ； and was carried to
Abraham's bosom。 No doubt it is perfectly true； that 〃 wide is the
gate； and broad is the way； that leads to destruction； and many there
be which go in thereat〃 （Matt。 7：13）。 It is fearful to think what an
immense majority of all around us appear dead in sin； and utterly
unprepared to meet God。 But； for all that； we must not underrate the
number of God's children。 Even supposing they are in a minority； when
judged by human estimate； they will still prove at last to be very many
in the kingdom of glory； an enormous pany； 〃a multitude which no man
can number。〃
Is any reader of this paper disposed to laugh at religion； because
those who profess it decidedly are few in number？ Are you secretly
inclined to despise those who read their Bibles； and make a conscience
of keeping their Sundays holy； and trying to walk closely with God？ Are
you afraid of making a profession yourself； because you think there
will be so few with you and so many against you； and you do not like to
be singular； and stand alone？ Alas！ there have always been many like
you！ When Noah built the Ark； there were few with him； and many mocked
at him； but he was found to be in the right at last。 When the Jews were
rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem after the return from Babylon；
Sanballat and Tobiah scoffed at them； and said； 〃What do these feeble
Jews？ 〃When the Lord Jesus Christ left the world； only a hundred and
twenty disciples met together in the upper chamber in Jerusalem； while
the friends of the unbelieving Pharisees； and scribes； and priests were
numbered by tens of thousands。 But the disciples were right； and their
enemies were wrong。… When bloody Mary sat on the throne； and Latimer
and Ridley were burnt at the stake； the friends of the gospel seemed
very few； and their enemies were a great majority。 Yet the Reformers
were right； and their enemies were wrong。Take care what you are
doing！ Beware of judging vital Christianity by the small number of
those who seem to profess it。 You may have the crowd with you now； and
the laugh may be on your side。 But a day is ing when you will open
your eyes with amazement； and find out； perhaps too late； that the very
people whom you despised were not few； but 〃many；〃 a vast pany； 〃a
multitude which no man can number。〃
Is any reader of this paper disposed to be cast down and discouraged；
because he loves Christ； a