莱尔主教upper_room-第4章
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sneer at dogma to show us a more excellent way； to show us anything
that does more good in the world than the old； old story of Christ
dying for our sins； and rising again for our justification。
The man of science may say； 〃e with me； and look through my
microscope or telescope； and I will show you thins which Moses； David；
and St。 Paul never dreamed of。 Do you expect me to believe what was
written by ignorant fellows like them？〃 But can this man of science
show us anything through his microscope or telescope which will
minister to a mind diseased； bind up the wounds of a broken heart；
satisfy the wants of an aching conscience； supply fort to the
mourner over a lost husband； wife； or child？ No； indeed！ he can do
nothing of the kind！ Men and women are fearfully and wonderfully made。
We are not made up merely of brains； and head； and intellect； and
reason。 We are frail； dying creatures； who have got hearts； and
feelings； and consciences； and we live in a world of sorrow； and
disappointment； and sickness； and death。 And what can help us in a
world like this？ Certainly not science alone。 Nothing can help us but
the doctrine of that volume which some people call an old worn…out
Jewish book； the Bible。 None can help us but He who was laid in the
manger of Bethlehem and died on the cross to pay our debt to God； and
is now at God's right hand。 None but He who said；〃 e unto Me； all ye
that labour； and I will give you rest〃 （Matt。 11：28）。 None but He who
has thrown light on the grave； and the world beyond it； and has brought
life and immortality to light through the gospel and made a deeper mark
on the world than all the men of science who have ever lived； from the
times of Pythagoras； Aristotle； and Archimedes； down to Darwin and
Huxley in the present day。 Yes！ I say again； let us pray that our
Church may ever be faithful to her first principles； and never lend an
ear to those plausible； eloquent apostles of free thought； who would
fain persuade her to throw overboard her Creeds and Articles as useless
lumber。 Fine words and rhetorical fireworks will never satisfy
humanity； check moral evil； or feed souls。 Men would do well to read
that striking paper which Miss Frances Power Cobbe wrote in the
Contemporary Review for December 1884； and see what a ghastly world our
world would be if it was a world without a faith or a creed。 The age
needs nothing new。 It only needs the bold and steady proclamation of
the old truths which were held in the 〃 upper room〃 at Jerusalem。
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＇1＇ The substance of this paper was originally delivered as a sermon at
the consecration of St。 Agnes' Church； Liverpool。
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CHAPTER II
Colossians 4：14
〃LUKE； THE BELOVED PHYSICIAN。〃
＇2＇
THERE are two things in the title of this paper which I shall take for
granted； and not dwell on them。 One is； that Luke here mentioned is the
same Luke who wrote the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles； and
was the friend and panion of St。 Paul。 The other is； that Luke
really was a physician of the body。 On both these points the consent of
learned men； who have a right to mand our attention； is almost
universal。 I shall rigidly confine myself to two remarks which appear
to grow out of the subject。 For it is a significant fact； I think； that
the great Apostle of the Gentiles； who was ever ministering to men's
souls； makes honourable mention of one who ministered to men's bodies。
I。 I remark then； for one thing； that one great feature of the
Christian religion is the dignity and importance which it attaches to
the human body。
Many readers of this paper need hardly be reminded that some of the
schools of heathen philosophers regarded the body with contempt； as a
hindrance and not a help； a clog and a drag and not an aid； to the
soul。 Even those nations which paid most attention to the burial of the
body when dead； like the Egyptians； Greeks； and Romans； knew nothing of
a future existence of the body after death； even at the most distant
period。 The heroes described by Homer and Viral； in the Elysian Fields；
the supposed place of happiness after death； were only ghosts and airy
figures； with nothing material about them。 When St。 Paul； on Mars Hill；
spoke of the 〃resurrection of the dead；〃 we are told that 〃some mocked〃
（Acts 17：32）。 Even Pliny； one of the most intelligent Latin writers； in
his Natural History； says there were two things which were beyond the
power of God；one was to give immortality to mortals； and the other
was to give bodily life again to the dead。 （See Pearson on The Creed；
vol。 ii。； p。 306； Oxford edition。）
Let us turn now to the Christian religion； and mark what a contrast it
presents。 Whether we look at its leading facts； or doctrines； or
practical instructions for the present； or hopes for the future； the
human body is continually brought to the front； and its importance
magnified。
（a） Look； to begin with； at the great mysterious truth which lies at
the foundation of our holy faith； the incarnation of Christ。 When the
Eternal Son of God came down into this sin…burdened world； to bring
redemption； and change the whole condition of our fallen race； how did
He e？ Not as a mighty angel or a glorious spirit； as we might have
expected。 Nothing of the kind！ He took on Him a bodily nature； just
like our own； sin only excepted。 He was born of a woman as an infant；
and had a body that grew and increased in stature as our bodies do；a
body that could hunger and thirst； and be weary and need sleep； and
feel pain； and groan in agony and suffering； like the body of any one
who reads this paper。 In that body He condescended to tabernacle for
thirty…three years； its members daily fulfilling the Law of God
perfectly； so that in His 〃flesh〃 Satan could find nothing failing or
defective （John 14：30）。
（b） Look； in the next place； at the great cardinal doctrine of Christ's
atonement。 That wondrous distinctive verity of our faith； that solution
of the problem； 〃how can sinful man have peace with God？ 〃is
indissolubly bound up with Christ's body。 It was the death of that body
on the cross which provided for fallen man a way of reconciliation with
God。 It was the precious lifeblood； which flowed from our Lord's
crucified body on Calvary； which purchased for us redemption from the
curse of a broken law。 In short； it is the blood of Christ's body to
which true Christians owe all their fort while they live； and their
hope when they die。
（c） Look； next； at the crowning facts of Christ's resurrection and
ascension into heaven。 When our Lord came forth from the gave where
Joseph and Nicodemus had laid Him； on the third day； He did not e
forth as a spirit。 To use the words of our Fourth Article； He 〃took
again His body； with flesh； bones； and all things appertaining to the
perfection of man's nature。〃 In that body He was seen and touched by
His disciples。 In that body He spoke； and ate； and drank like
ourselves。 And； finally； in that body He ascended into heaven； and
there sits till He returns to judge all men at the last day。 We have a
priest and advocate with the Father who has a body。
（d） Look； next； at the practical precepts and exhortations which the
Apostles are continually pressing on us in the New Testament。 Mark how
frequently they speak of the body and its members as 〃instruments of
righteousness；〃 as a part of the Christian's nature requiring his
constant care； and as a means of exhibiting his sanctification and
holiness。 〃Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost。〃〃 Glorify God
in body and spirit； which are His。〃〃 I pray God your whole spirit；
and soul； and body； may be preserved blameless。〃〃 Present your
bodies a living sacrifice。〃Let 〃Christ be magnified in my body
