莱尔主教upper_room-第103章
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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 which despitefully use you and persecute you〃 （Matt。 5：44）； let us
believe and obey。 I always thank God that our time…honoured Prayer Book
contains such a grand specimen of intercession as the Litany。 I believe
the last day alone will show how the prayers of God's elect have
affected the history of this world； and influenced the rise and fall of
nations。 There was deep truth in the saying of unhappy Mary Queen of
Scots〃 I fear the prayers of John Knox more than an army of 20；000
men。〃 So； when we kneel to pray for ourselves； let us never forget to
pray for others。
II。 Concerning the special duty of praying for kings and all that are
in authority； I must not omit to say something。 But once again my words
shall be few。
A moment's reflection will tell us that St。 Paul's injunction to 〃pray
for kings〃 is a very singular and remarkable one。 For consider in whose
hands the government of the world lay at the time when the Epistle to
Timothy was written。 Think what a monster of iniquity wore the imperial
purple at RomeNerowhose very name is a proverb。 Think of such
rulers of provinces as Felix and Festus； Herod AgripPsalms and Gallio。
Think of the ecclesiastical heads of the Jewish Church Annas and
Caiaphas。 Yet these were the men for whom St。 Paul says Christians were
to pray！ Their personal characters might be bad。 But they were persons
ordained by God to keep some outward order in this sin…burdened world。
As such； for their office' sake； they were to be prayed for。
After all； we must never forget that none are so truly to be
pitiednone in such spiritual dangernone so likely to make shipwreck
to all eternity… and none stand in such need of our prayers； as the
kings of this world。 Few out of the many who criticise their conduct
seriously consider the enormous difficulties of their position。
Think of the temptations which surround them。 Seldom advised； seldom
contradicted； seldom warned； they dwell in bodies like our own； and
have like passions with ourselves； and are liable to be overe by the
world； the flesh； and the devil； just like other men。 I do not wonder
to read that when Buchanan； once tutor to James the First； was lying on
his deathbed； he sent a last message to his royal pupil； 〃that he was
going to a place to which few kings and princes ever came。〃 If it be
true； as of course it must be； because our Lord said it。 How hardly
shall a rich man enter the kingdom of God；〃 how much more hard shall
entrance be for a king！
Think of the countless knots which a king has to untie； and the awkward
questions which he often has to decide。 How to arrange differences with
other countries；how to promote the prosperity of all classes of the
munity； how to decide when to tighten the reins of government； and
when to loosen them；how to select the right men to fill vacant
posts；how to deal fairly and justly with all ranks； sorts； and
conditions of men； attending impartially to all and neglecting
noneall these are difficulties which the poor fallible occupant of a
throne has to face every week of his life。 Can we wonder if he makes
mistakes？ Well might a poet of our own say …〃Uneasy sleeps the head
that wears a crown。〃
Think of the immense responsibility of a king's office； and the
tremendous issues which depend on his decisions。 A single error in
judgment in managing a negotiation； a want of temper in dealing with an
ambassador； a hasty reliance on erroneous informationany one of these
things may involve his subjects in a war attended by fearful bloodshed；
losses abroad； discontent at home； heavy taxation； and； finally
perhaps； revolution and deposition from his throne。 And all may e
from one man's mistake。'
Yes！ we may well be exhorted to 〃pray for kings。〃 If we could only
believe it； of all the children of Adam they most deserve our daily
intercessions。 Raised above their fellows by their position； they find
themselves； like the Alpine traveller who scales the Matterhorn；
fearfully alone。 In the nature of things； they can have no equals with
whom to exchange hearts and sympathies。 They are surrounded by those
who are tempted to be flatterers and sycophants； and to make things
pleasant to royal ears。 They seldom hear the whole truth。 They are only
human beings like ourselves； needing the same Christthe same Holy
Spirit。 Yet they are expected never to err； and are blamed if they do。
Yes！ we may well 〃pray for kings。〃 It is easy to criticise and find
fault with their conduct； and write furious articles against them in
newspapers； or make violent speeches about them on platforms。 Any fool
can rip and rend a costly garment； but not every man can cut out and
make one。 To expect perfection in kings； prime ministers； or rulers of
any kind； is senseless and unreasonable。 We should exhibit more wisdom
if we prayed for them more； and criticised less。
III。 Let me now invite your attention to the special subject which
calls us together this day； viz。 the celebration of the Royal English
Jubilee。 This very day our gracious Queen Victoria pletes the
fiftieth year of her reign。 I ask you to e with me and look back on
the half century which is just concluded。 My aim is to show you as
briefly as possible some of the great reasons why we ought to be a very
thankful people this day。 In a fallen world like ours there always will
be many unredressed evils； and murmurers and plainers will be found
in every quarter。 For myself； I can only say that； on a calm retrospect
of the last fifty years； I see so many causes for national
thankfulness； that I find it hard to know what I should select； and
where to begin。 Let me； however； try to name a few。
（a） First and foremost among the reasons for thankfulness； let me
mention the stainless and blameless personal character which our
gracious Sovereign has borne during the long fifty years of her reign。
In all the relations of life as a mother and a wifein the high moral
standard which she has maintained in her Court and householdin her
scrupulous and diligent discharge of the countless daily duties which
her high office entails upon her in her boundless sympathy with the
sorrows of her humblest subjectswhere； in the long roll of English
sovereigns； will you find one who can be pared with our good Queen
Victoria？
I believe we do not realize sufficiently the immense importance of a
Sovereign's personal character in the present day。 The character of a
ruler； like the insensible pressure of the atmosphere on every square
inch of our bodies； will always have a silent； quiet influence on the
conduct of subjects。 The lives of sovereigns are an open book which all
can read； and the example of a crowned head often does more than legal
enactments。 There can be no doubt that the enormous immorality of the
French Court in the eighteenth century was the true cause of the first
French Revolution； and the Reign of Terror。 During the last half
century the foundations of not a few governments in the world have been
rudely shaken； and some have been pletely overturned。 Nothing； I
suspect； had contributed so largely to the stability of the British
throne as the high character of the Royal Lady who has occupied it。 A
revolutionary spirit； we all know； has been frequently in the air
during the last fifty years； and a disposition to pull down all
established institutions； and substitute new…fangled schemes of
government； has repeatedly shown itself。 The rise and progress of
Chartism and Socialism have often made many afraid。 Nothing； I firmly
believe； has kept the ship of the British State on an even keel so much
as the inner life of our beloved Queen。 If that inner life had been
such as the lives of some of the Plantagenets； Tud
