莱尔主教upper_room-第102章
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repeated is not a perfect and plete thing。 You spoil the priestly
office of Christ。 If there are priests that can offer an acceptable
sacrifice to God besides Him； the great High Priest is robbed of His
glory。You spoil the scriptural doctrine of the Christian ministry。
You exalt sinful men into the position of mediators between God and
man。 You give to the sacramental elements of bread and wine an honour
and veneration they were never meant to receive； and produce an
idolatry to be abhorred of faithful Christians。Last； but not least；
you overthrow the true doctrine of Christ's human nature。 If the body
born of the Virgin Mary can be in more places than one at the same
time； it is not a body like our own； and Jesus was not the second Adam
in the truth of our nature。 Our martyred Reformers saw and felt these
things even more clearly than we do； and； seeing and feeling them；
chose to die rather than admit the doctrine of the Real Presence。
50。 But may not these unhappy divisions about the； Lord's Supper be
healed and laid to rest by sanctioning a policy of general promise
ant toleration；？ Why should not Churchmen agree to allow every
clergyman to believe and teach just what he likes about the Lord's
Supper？ Why not proclaim by authority； that for peace' sake one
clergyman may call this ordinance a sacrament； and another clergyman in
the next parish may call it a sacrifice； one man may tell his people
that there is a real corporal presence of Christ on the Lord's Table；
and another tell his people that there is no such presence at all？ Why
not permit all this for the sake of peace？ Why not sacrifice all
distinct doctrine in order to avoid controversy？
The answer is plain and obvious。 This 〃policy of promise and
toleration〃 would bring no peace at all； but would rather increase；
emphasize； crystallize； and solidify our unhappy divisions。 It would be
regarded by the laity of the middle and lower classes as a deliberate
attempt to bring back the Romish Mass； and get behind the Protestant
Reformation。 It would： split the clergy of every diocese into two
distinct bodies； neither of which would hold any munion with the
other。 It would increase the difficulties of bishops tenfold； and make
it impossible to examine any candidate for orders about the Lord's
Supper。 Above all； this policy of universal toleration would sooner or
later bring down the displeasure of God； and ruin the Church of
England。 Peace； cessation of controversy； free thought； and liberty in
administering sacraments； are excellent things to talk about； and
the）…look beautiful at a distance。 But they must have some bounds。 The
Church which； in zeal for peace； throws creeds and rubrics overboard；
and regards Deism； Socinianism； Romanism； and Protestantism with equal
favour or equal indifference； is a mere Babel； a city of confusion； and
not a city of God。 This is what the Church of England will e to； if
she ever gives up the principles of her martyred Reformers about the
Lord's Supper。
51。 What is the Real Presence that the Church of England specially
needs in these latter days？
It is the presence of God the Holy Spirit。 This is of far more
importance than any corporal presence of Christ。 Our question in every
place of worship should be； not； 〃Is Christ's body here？〃 but； 〃Is the
Spirit； the forter； here？〃 Excessive craving after Christ's material
bodily presence before the Second Advent is in reality dishonouring the
Holy Spirit。 Where He is； there will be God's blessing。 Where He is；
there will be true honour given to the body and blood of Christ。 What
the Church of Christ needs everywhere is the real presence of the Holy
Ghost。 If the Holy Spirit is not present； the highest show of reverence
for the consecrated bread and wine in the Lord's Supper is useless
formality； and pletely worthless in God's sight。
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CHAPTER XXI
1 Thess。 2：1…2。
〃FOR KINGS。〃
〃I exhort； therefore； that； first of all； supplications； prayers；
intercessions； and giving of thanks； be made for all men；
〃For kings； and for all that are in authority。〃1 Thess。 2：1…2。
THE words which head this page are taken from a passage of Scripture
which is eminently suitable to the solemn occasion which gathers us
together； the Jubilee of our gracious Sovereign Queen Victoria's reign。
A royal Jubilee is a very rare event in history； and in all human
probability this is the only one in England which any of us will ever
live to see。 Let us lay this seriously to heart in to…day's service of
prayer and praise！
The words of the text occur in the first direction which St。 Paul gave；
by inspiration of the Holy Ghost； to his young friend Timothy about the
conduct of public worship。 〃First of all；〃 he says emphatically〃
first of all； I exhort that supplications； prayers； intercessions； and
giving of thanks； be made for all men； for kings； and for all that are
in authority； that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life。〃
I might say something about the striking contrast between the elaborate
and minute ritual of the Old
1。 The paper now in the reader's hands contains file substance of a
sermon preached in Liverpool Cathedral； on June 20th； 1887； on the
occasion of the Jubilee of Queen Victoria； before the Mayor and leading
inhabitants of Liverpool。
Testament Church under the ceremonial law； and the remarkable
simplicity and brevity of the ritual provided for the Church of the new
dispensation。 It is a contrast easily explained。 The worship of the Old
Testament was designed for the Jews alone；for one single nation
practically cut off from the rest of mankind；and was full of types
and emblems of good things to e。 The worship of the New Testament
was intended for all the world； and as the Thirty…fourth Article of our
Church has wisely said〃 Ceremonies may be changed according to the
diversities of countries； times； and men's manners。〃
One thing； however； is very certain。 The rule； or rubric； laid down by
St。 Paul for the guidance of Timothy at Ephesus； is meant to be a rule
of perpetual obligation as long as the world stands； and until the Lord
es。 Whenever Christians meet together for public worship； there
ought to be 〃prayers and intercessions for all men；〃 and specially 〃for
kings；〃 as well as 〃thanksgiving for mercies received。 This primary
rule you are invited to observe this day。
I。 Concerning the general duty of praying for others； I think it useful
to say something。 But my words shall be few。
I suspect the thought crosses some minds…〃 What is the use of my
intercession？ What am I but a debtor to Christ's mercy and grace？ How
can the prayer of such a poor sinner be of any use to others？ Praying
for myself I can understand； but not praying for another。〃
The answer to all such thoughts is short and simple。 It is the mand
of God； and it is a plain duty to obey it。 In this； as in many other
matters； it bees a mortal man to believe that the light of the last
day shall make all clear。 In the meantime； the 〃how〃 and the 〃why〃 and
the 〃wherefore〃 had better be left alone。 What we know not now we shall
know hereafter。 The practice of almost every saint in the Bible； of
whom much is recorded； ought to silence all objections。 Patriarchs；
prophets； kings； and apostles have left us examples of intercession。 Do
we know more than they did？ Do we think they wasted their time when
they named others before God？ Are we wiser than they？
I have a firm conviction that in this matter God tests our faith and
our love。 Do we believe that the eternal God is too wise to make any
mistake？ Then； when He says 〃Pray for others；〃 let us not stand still；
reasoning and arguing； but do as He tells us。 When our Lord Jesus
Christ says the best proof of a high standard of love is to 〃Pray for
them w
