mark behind them。 Martin Luther； and John Wesley； and William
Wilberforce were hated and lightly esteemed while they lived； but the
work they did for Christ will never be forgotten。 They were
〃altogether〃 Christians。
These are the kind of men who enjoy true happiness in their religion。
Like Paul and Silas； they can sing in prison； and； like Peter； they can
sleep quietly on the very edge of the grave （Acts 12：6； 16：25）。 Strong
faith gives them an inward peace which makes them independent of
earthly troubles； and pels even their enemies to wonder。 Your
lukewarm Laodicean Christians have little fort in their religion。 It
is the 〃thorough〃 men who have great peace。 The first Marian martyr；
John Rogers； when he was going to be burned alive for Protestantism； is
said to have walked to the stake in Smithfield as cheerfully as if he
were going to his wedding。 The outspoken； courageous words of old
Latimer； before the faggots were lighted； in the day of his martyrdom；
in Broad Street； Oxford； are not forgotten to this very day。 〃Courage！
Brother Ridley；〃 he cried to his fellow…sufferer； 〃we shall light a
candle in England to…day； by God's grace； which shall never be put
out。〃 These men were 〃altogether〃 Christians。
He that would be safe and prepared to meet his God at a moment's
notice； at evening； at cock…crowing； or in the morning；he that would
enjoy felt peace in his religion； peace unaffected by sicknesses；
bereavements； bankruptcies； revolutions； and the last trumpet's
sound；he that would do good in his day and generation； and be a
fountain of Christian influence to all around him； influence known and
recognised long after he has been laid in his grave；let that man
remember what I tell。 him to…day； and never forget it。 You must not be
content to be an 〃almost〃 Christian； like Agrippa。 You must strive； and
labour； and agonize； and pray to be an 〃altogether〃 Christian； like St。
Paul。
And now； let us leave these three pictures with self…inquiry and
self…examination。 The time is short。 Our years are quickly passing
away。 The world is growing old。 The great assize will soon begin。 The
Judge will soon appear。 What are we？ To whom are we like？ Whose is this
image and superscription upon us？ Is it that of Festus； or of Agrippa；
or of St。 Paul？
Where are Festus and Agrippa now？ We do not know。 A veil is drawn over
their subsequent history； and whether they died as they lived we cannot
tell。 But where is St。 Paul； the 〃altogether〃 Christian？ That question
we can answer。 He is 〃with Christ； which is far better〃 （Phil。 1：23）。
He is waiting for the resurrection of the just； in that paradise of
rest where sin and Satan and sorrow can trouble him no more。 He has
fought the good fight。 He has finished his course； he has kept the
faith。 A crown is laid up for him which he will receive in the great
review day of the Lord's appearing （2 Tim。 4：7…8）。
And； let us thank God； though St。 Paul is dead and gone； the Saviour
who made St。 Paul what he was； and kept him to the end； still lives and
never changes；always able to save； always willing to receive。 Let the
time past suffice us； if we have trifled with our souls hitherto。 Let
us turn over a new leaf。 Let us arise and begin with Christ； if we
never began before。 Let us go on with Christ to the end； if we have
begun with Him already。 With the grace of God； nothing is impossible。
Who would have thought that Saul the Pharisee； the persecutor of
Christians； would ever bee the 〃altogether Christian〃 himself； would
bee the great Apostle of the Gentiles； and would turn the world
upside down？ While there is life there is hope。 The follower of Festus
and AgripPsalms may yet be converted； and live for years； and lie down
in the grave at last an 〃altogether〃 Christian like St。 Paul。
__________________________________________________________________
＇10＇ This paper contains the substance of a sermon； preached in April
1881； at St。 Mary's； Oxford； before the University； and at the Chapel
Royal； St。 James's； London。
＇11＇ Luther； Beza； Grotius； Poole； Bengel； Stier； and Dean Howson。
__________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER XI
John 6：68。
〃TO WHOM？〃
＇12＇
〃Then Simon Peter answered Him； Lord； to whom shall we go？ Thou hast
the words of eternal life。〃John 6：68。
THE chapter containing the text which heads this page； is singularly
rich in matter。
It begins； we must remember； with that well…known miracle； the feeding
of five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes；a miracle which
some early writers call the greatest which Christ ever worked；the
only miracle which all the four Evangelists alike record；a miracle
which exhibited creative power。
It goes on to show us another miracle of hardly less striking
character； the walking of Christ on the waters of the sea of
Galilee；a miracle which exhibited our Lord's power； when He thought
fit； to suspend the so…called laws of nature。 It was as easy for Him to
walk on the water as it had been to create land and sea at the
beginning。
The chapter then carries us on to that wonderful discourse in the
synagogue of Capernaum； which St。 John alone； of all the four Gospel
writers； was inspired to give to the world。 Christ； the true bread of
life；the privileges of all who e to Him and believe；the deep
mystery of Mary's； in the year 1880。 It is now published with some
omissions and alterations eating Christ's flesh and drinking Christ's
blood； and the life which that flesh and blood convey；what a wealth
of precious truth lies here！ How great the debt which the Church owes
to the fourth Gospel！
And； finally； as the chapter draws to a close； we have the noble
outburst of the warm…hearted Apostle St。 Peter；〃Lord； to whom shall
we go？ Thou hast the words of eternal life。〃 In this remarkable verse
there are three points to which I now propose to invite the attention
of all into whose hands this paper may fall。
I。 In the first place； I ask you to observe the occasion of these words
being spoken。 What made this fiery； impulsive disciple cry out； 〃To
whom shall we go？〃 The verses which precede our text supply an answer。
〃From that time many went back； and walked no more with Him。 Then said
Jesus to the twelve； Will ye also go away？〃
There you have recorded a melancholy and most instructive fact。 Even
from Christ Himself； who 〃spake as never man spake；〃 and did works of
matchless power； and lived as no one ever lived； holy； harmless；
undefiled； and separate from sinners； even from Christ many； after
following Him for a time； went away。 Yes！ many； not a few； many in the
noontide blaze of miracles and sermons； such as earth had never seen or
heard before； many turned away from Christ； left Him； deserted Him；
gave up His blessed service； and went back；some to Judaism； some to
the world； and some； we may fear； to their sins。 〃If they did these
things in a green tree； what may we expect in a dry？〃 If men could
forsake Christ； we have no right to be surprised if His erring； weak
ministers are forsaken also in these last days。
But why did these men go back？ Some of them； probably； went back
because they had not counted the cost； and 〃when tribulation or
persecution arose because of the word〃 they were offended。 Some of them
went back because they had totally misunderstood the nature of our
Lord's kingdom； and had dreamed only of temporal advantages and
rewards。 Most of them； however； it is very clear； went back because
they could not receive the deep doctrine which had just been
proclaimed；I mean the doctrine that 〃eating Christ's flesh and
drinking Christ's blood〃 are absolutely necessary to salvation。 It is
the old story。 As it was in the beginning； so it will be to the end。
There is nothing which the dark； natural heart of man dislikes so much
as the so…called 〃blood theology。〃 Cain turned away in his proud
ignorance from the idea of vicarious sacrifice； and the Jews who fell
away from our Lord； 〃went back〃 when they heard that they must 〃eat the
flesh and drink the blood〃 of the Son of man。
But there is no denying the fact that these Jews who 〃went back〃 have
never been without followers and imitators。 Their succession； at any
rate； has never ceased。 Millions in every age have been admitted into
the Church by baptism； and begun life as professing Christians； and
then； on ing to man's estate； have turned their back altogether on
Christ and Christianity。 Instead of 〃continuing Christ's faithful
soldiers and servants；〃 they have bee servants of sin； the world；
and unbelief。 The defection is continually going on： it is an old
disease； and must not surprise us。 The heart is always deceitful and
desperately wicked； the devil is always busy； and seeking whom he may
devour； the world is always ensnaring； the way of life is narrow； the
enemies many； the friends few； the difficulties great； the cross heavy；
the doctrine of the gospel offensive to the natural man。 What
thoughtful person need wonder that multitudes in every age go back from
Christ？ They are brought within the outward fold of the Church in
childhood； and then； on ing to manhood； they throw off all religion；
and perish miserably in the wilderness。
Yet I am bold to say that the disposition to go back from Christ was
never so strong as it is in these days。 Never were the objections to
vital Christianity so many； so plausible； and so specious。 For it is an
age of free thought and liberty of action； an age of scientific
inquiry； and determination to question and cress…examine ancient
opinions； an age of greedy pursuit of pleasure and impatience of
restraint； an age of idolatry of intellect； and extravagant admiration
of so…called cleverness； an age of Athenian craving for novelty and
c