18. THE CHRISTIAN LIVES BY RULE
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A great man of the last century said, "He who lives not by rule, lives not at all." Perhaps there is more truth in that assertion than some are at first disposed to admit. Life is very short. A very great work is to be done—or we shall be forever undone. Confusion is very bad. It greatly hinders all good things. There is no example of success without a plan. Method is essential to a good habit, and good habit imparts vigor to character.
Living by rule does not consist in gathering and remembering many notions, though it does presuppose some acquaintance with good maxims. So men who are renewed in heart are correct in life to some extent, before they know all the rules that should govern human conduct. Still, maxims are good and should be studied. Some of the rules of God's Word are prudential. Such are many things in the Book of Proverbs. Some are devotional, as in the Sermon on the Mount, and in many epistles; some are practical, as in the twelfth chapter of Romans; some are experimental, as in the Psalms. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable in some way to advance the Divine life in the soul. The following rules would be very helpful to many:
1. Set the Lord always before you. Live as seeing Him, who is invisible. Often say—God, You see me. To God we must give account. In Him we live and move and have our being. From Him is our fruit found. He is our Rock, our Refuge, our High Tower, our Strength. Blessed is he who frames his doings to please his Maker. Some professed Christians live very much as if they thought there was no God.
2. Know, believe, and practice the whole Word of God. Indulge no prejudices against any portion of the Bible. All of it is truth—all of it is precious truth. The part of Scripture which you slight, probably contains the very truth most needful for the correction of some of your faults. The threatenings warn, the precepts guide, the promises encourage, the doctrines instruct, the examples draw, the histories illustrate, the poems delight. "The law of Your mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver." "I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food."
3. Adopt the pure Gospel scheme of doctrine. Begin not in the Spirit, and then hope to be made perfect by the flesh. It is very sad to see men turning away from the glorious Gospel of the blessed God to fables, however cunningly they may be devised. Whereunto you have attained in evangelical knowledge, hold fast. Never yield first principles; never be beguiled into any form of unsound words. What is the chaff to the wheat? As long as Christ is all in all to you, you are safe; but when you delight in any other way of life, you are guilty of spiritual harlotry. In no way can we more offend God than by slighting His Son.
4. Put a just estimate on both time and eternity. On time, because it is so short, because its earthly pursuits are so vain, because on the right use of it depend everlasting consequences. On eternity, because it is eternity—it has no bounds, it is more vast than the sea. Eternity gives to hell its most impenetrable gloom; and to heaven the unfailing fixedness of its joys.
5. Do whatever is incumbent each moment as it passes. Gape and gaze not after the duties of a future which may never arrive. Waste not life in idle regrets over a past which cannot be reclaimed. Just do present duty. Stand in your lot. Be at your post. Watch and pray. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. No one has or gives so good assurance that in the future he will be found faithful, as he who is now steadfast with God and righteous in all his ways.
6. Do good to all men as you have opportunity. Deal out kindnesses and favors with an unsparing hand. Make others happy, and see if that does not make you truly blessed. I saw a little child asked to share its apple with its playmate. It refused, and at once frowned and looked miserable. I saw another child asked to do the same thing, and with a benignant smile that told of inward joy, it called on its mother to divide the luscious fruit. All the malevolent passions are self-tormentors; all the benevolent affections conduce to happiness.
7. Another good rule to live by is this: Never make a mock at sin and never jest with sacred things. Let holiness to the Lord be written on His day, His word, His worship, His name, His cause.
8. Never attempt to find out how near you can come to sin without sinning. He who loves danger shall perish therein. Sam Patch made many a foolish leap, but it was only the last that was fatal. In abhorring evil and in cleaving to that which is good, there is no danger of excess.
9. Never expect great things from sloth, nor regard carelessness as the parent of any good. Feeble efforts cannot produce powerful results. It is the hand of the diligent that makes rich.
10. Steadfastly set your face against needless delays in doing any work for the honor of your Master, for the good of your fellow men, or for your own edification. A dilatory spirit is one of the most delusive of all the temptations of the Great Destroyer. It proposes merely to postpone, perhaps, for an hour or a day. It would shudder at the thought of final and utter neglect of what it thus defers. Do this very day and hour the duties which this hour and day demand.
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