莱尔主教upper_room-第12章
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himself； 〃I was with you in weakness and fear； and in much trembling〃
（1 Cor。 2：2…3）。 But by the grace of God he did not flinch。 He says； 〃I
determined not to know anything among you； save Jesus Christ and Him
crucified。〃
Nor did the case of Corinth stand alone。 Wherever the great Apostle of
the Gentiles went； he preached the same doctrine； and put it in the
forefront of his preaching。 He addressed very different hearers； and
people of very different minds。 But he always used the same spiritual
medicine； whether at Jerusalem； or Antioch in Pisidia； or Iconium； or
Lystra； or Philippi； or Thessalonica； or Berea； or Athens； or Ephesus；
or Rome。 That medicine was the story of the cross and the resurrection。
They crop up in all his sermons and Epistles。 You never go far without
ing across them。 Even Festus； the Roman governor； when he tells
AgripPsalms of Paul's case； describes it as hinging on 〃One Jesus；
which was dead； whom Paul affirmed to be alive〃 （Acts 25：19）。
（a） Now let us learn for one thing what were the leading principles of
that religion； which eighteen centuries ago came forth from Palestine；
and turned the world upside down。 The veriest infidel cannot deny the
effect that it produced on mankind。 The world before and the world
after the introduction of Christianity were as different worlds as
light and darkness； night and day。 It was Christianity that starved
idolatry； and emptied the heathen temples；that stopped gladiatorial
bats； elevated the position of women； raised the whole tone of
morality； and improved the condition of children and the poor。 These
are facts which we may safely challenge all the enemies of revealed
religion to gainsay。 They are facts which form one of the gravest
difficulties of infidelity。 And what did it all？ Not； as some dare to
say； the mere publication of a higher code of duty； a sort of improved
Platonic philosophy； without root or motive。 No！ it was the simple
story of the cross of Calvary； and the empty sepulchre in the garden；
the marvellous death of One 〃numbered with transgressors；〃 and the
astounding miracle of His resurrection （Isa。 53：12）。 It was by telling
how the Son of God died for our sins； and rose again for our
justification； that Apostles and apostolic men changed the face of the
world； gathered mighty churches； and turned countless shiners into
saints。
（b） Let us learn； for another thing； what the foundation of our own
personal religion must be； if we really want inward； spiritual fort。
That the early Christians possessed such fort is as plain as the sun
at noonday。 We read repeatedly in the New Testament of their joy； and
peace； and hope； and patience； and cheerfulness； and contentment。 We
read in ecclesiastical history of their courage and firmness under the
fiercest persecution； of their unplaining endurance of sufferings；
and their triumphant deaths。 And what was the mainspring of their
peculiar characters；characters which excited the admiration even of
their bitterest enemies； and puzzled philosophers like Pliny？ There can
only be one reply。 These men had a firm gasp of the two great facts
which St。 Paul proclaimed 〃 first〃 and foremost to the Corinthians； the
death and resurrection of their great Head； Jesus Christ the Lord。 Let
us never be ashamed of walking in their steps。 It is cheap and easy
work to sneer at 〃 dogmatic theology〃 and old…fashioned creeds and
modes of faith； as if they were effete and worn…out things； unfit for
this enlightened nineteenth century。 But after all； what are the fruits
of modern philosophy； and the teaching of cold abstractions； pared
to the fruits of the despised dogmas of distinctive Christianity？ If
you want to see peace in life； and hope in death； and consolation felt
in sorrow； you will never find such things except among those who rest
on the two great facts of our text； and can say； 〃I live by faith in
the Son of God；〃 who died for my sins； and was raised again for my
justification （Gal。 2：20）。
II。 Let me turn now to another view of the subject before us。 We have
seen what the truths were which St。 Paul proclaimed 〃first of all〃 to
the Corinthians； and what were the effects which they produced。 Let us
now try to grasp and examine the reasons why he was led to assign them
such a prominent position。
The inquiry is a very interesting one。 I cannot hold； with some； that
St。 Paul adopted this course only because he was missioned and
manded to do so。 I think the reasons lie far deeper than this。 Those
reasons are to be sought in the necessities and condition of fallen
human nature。 I believe that man's wants could never have been met and
satisfied by any other message than that which St。 Paul brought to
Corinth； and if he had not brought it； he would have e thither in
vain。
For there are three things about man in every part of the world which
force themselves on our notice； whenever we sit down to examine his
nature； position； and constitution。 He is a creature with a sense of
sin and accountableness at the bottom of his heart…a creature
continually liable to sorrow and trouble from his cradle to his grave；
and a creature who has before him the certainty of death； and a future
state at last。 These are three great facts which stare us in the face
everywhere； in Europe； Asia； Africa； and America。 Travel all over the
world； and they meet you； both among the most highly educated
Christians and the most untutored savages。 Go about our own country；
and study the family life of the most learned philosophers and the most
ignorant peasants。 Everywhere； and in every rank and class； you will
have to make the same report。 Everywhere you will find these three
things； sorrow； death； and the sense of sin。 And the position I boldly
take up is this； that nothing can be imagined or conceived more
admirably suited to meet the wants of human nature than the very
doctrine which St。 Paul began with at Corinththe doctrine of Christ
dying for our sins and rising again for us from the grave。
It fits the needs of man； just as the right key fits the lock。
Let me glance for a few minutes at the three things which I have just
named； and try to show the strong light which they throw on St。 Paul's
choice of subjects when he began his ministry at Corinth。
（a） Consider first and foremost； the； inward sense of sin and
imperfection which exists in every member of the human family； more or
less。 I grant freely that it differs widely in different persons。 In
thousands of people it seems pletely gone； effaced； and dead。 Early
want of education； customary sin； constant neglect of all religion；
habitual indulgence in fleshly lusts；all these things have a
wonderful power to blind the eye and sear the conscience。 But where
will you ever find a man； except among high…caste Brahmins； or
half…crazy Christian fanatics； who will boldly tell you that he is
perfect and faultless； and who will not confess； if you drive him into
a corner； that he is not exactly what he ought to be； and that he knows
better than he does？ Oh； no！ The vast majority of mankind have a
conscience of sin； which every now and then makes them miserable。 The
self…imposed austerities of Hindoos； the trembling of rulers like Herod
and Felix； are proofs of what I mean。 Wherever there is a child of
Adam； there is a creature that has in his heart of hearts a
consciousness of guilt； defectiveness； and need。
And when this sense of sin is really awakened； and stirs within us；
what can cure it？ That is the grand question。 Some talk vaguely of
God's 〃mercy〃 and 〃goodness；〃 though utterly unable to explain their
meaning； and to show what title man has to them。 Others flatter
themselves that their own repentance； and tears； and prayers； and
active and diligent use of the ceremonials of religion； will bring them
peace。 But what child of Adam ever
