莱尔主教upper_room-第60章
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a kind word spoken in season is often a mighty blessing。 That Old
Testament promise is not yet worn out： 〃Blessed is the man that
provideth for the sick and needy； the Lord shall deliver him in the
time of trouble〃 （Ps。 41：1； Prayer…book version）。
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＇13＇ The substance of this paper was delivered as an address at the
opening of the Chapel of the Turner Memorial Home of Rest； the Dingle；
Liverpool； October 16th； 1885。
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CHAPTER XV
Canticles 4：12。
THE LORD'S GARDEN。
THE Lord Jesus Christ has a garden。 It is the pany of all who are
true believers in Him。 They are His garden。
Viewed in one light； believers are Jesus Christ's spouse。 They are all
joined to Him by art everlasting covenant that cannot be broken； wedded
to Him by the marriage of faith； taken by Him to be His for ever； with
all their debts and liabilities； with all their faults and
imperfections。 Their old name is gone； they have no name but that of
their Bridegroom。 God the Father regards them as one with His dear Son。
Satan can lay no charge against them。 They are the Lamb's wife： 〃My
Beloved is mine； and I am His〃 （Cant。 2：16）。
Viewed in another light； believers are Christ's sister。 They are like
to Him in many things。 They have His Spirit； they love what He loves；
and hate what He hates； they count all His members brethren； through
Him they have the spirit of adoption； and can say of God； 〃He is my
Father。〃 Faint indeed is their resemblance to their elder Brother！ And
still they are like。
Viewed in a third light； believers are Christ's garden。 Let us see how
and in what way。
I。 Jesus calls His people a garden； because they are altogether
different firm the men of the world。 The world is a wilderness： it
brings forth little but thorns and thistles； it is fruitful in nought
but sin。 The children of this world are an untilled wilderness in God's
sight。 With all their arts and sciences； intellect and skill； eloquence
and statesmanship； poetry and refinement；…with all this they are a
wilderness； barren of repentance； faith； holiness； and obedience to
God。 The Lord looks down from heaven； and where He sees no grace； there
the Lord can see nothing but a 〃wilderness〃 state of things。 The Lord
Jesus Christ's believing people are the green spot of the earth； the
oasis amidst barren deserts； they are His garden。
He calls His people a garden； because they are sweet and beautiful to
His mind。 He looks on the world； and it grieves Him to the heart： He
looks on the little flock of His believing people； and is well pleased。
He sees in them the fruit of His travail； and is satisfied。 He rejoices
in spirit when He sees the kingdom revealed to babes； though the wise
and prudent receive it not。 As in the day of Noah's sacrifice； He
smells a sweet odour and is refreshed。 It is very wonderful； very
mysterious！ Believers are vile in their own eyes； and feel themselves
miserable sinners； yet Jesus says； 〃Thou art all fair；…sweet is thy
voice；thy countenance is ely；beautiful as Tirzah； ely as
Jerusalem； fair as the moon； and clear as the sun〃 （Cant。 1：15； 4：7；
2：14； 6：10； etc。）。 Oh； the depths！ It sounds inprehensible and
almost incredible； but it is true。
He calls His people a garden； because He delights to walk among them。
He sees the children of this world； but He mingles not with them。 His
eyes are on all their ways； but He does not e down to talk with
them； as He did to Abraham； like a man with his friend。
On the other hand； He loves to walk among His candle； sticks； and see
whether the light burns brightly。 He loves to be present in the
assemblies of His saints； and to e in and sup with them； and they
with Him。 He loves to e with His Father； and make His abode with His
disciples； and wheresoever two or three are gathered in His name； there
is He。 He loves to e into His garden and eat His pleasant fruits； to
go down to the beds of spices； and gather lilies； to see whether the
vine flourishes； and the tender grape appears； and the pomegranates bud
forth （Cant。 7：12）。 In short； He holds peculiar munion with His
people； and deals familiarly with them； as He does not with the world。
He calls His people a garden； because they are useful； and bear fruit
and flowers。 Where is the real use of the children of this world？ Of
what value are they； while they continue unconverted？ They are
unprofitable tenants and worthless cumberers of the ground。 They bring
no glory to the Lord that bought them； they fulfil not their part in
creation； they stand alone in the world of created beings； not doing
the work for which their Maker meant them。 The heavens declare the
glory of God；the trees； the corn； the grass； the flowers； the
streams； the birds speak forth His praise；but the man of the world
does nothing to show that he cares for God； or serves God； or loves
God； or feels grateful for Christ's redeeming death。
The Lord's people are not so。 They bring Him some revenue of glory。
They bear some little fruit； and are not altogether barren and
unprofitable servants。 pared to the world； they are a garden。
II。 The Lord's garden has a distinctive peculiarity about it。 It is a
garden inclosed。
There is an inclosure round believers； or else they never would be
saved。 This is the secret of their safety。 It is not their
faithfulness； their strength； or their love； it is the wall around them
which prevents their being lost。 They are a 〃garden inclosed。〃
They are inclosed by God the Father's everlasting election。 Long before
they were born；long before 。the foundations of the world； God knew
them； chose them； and appointed them to obtain salvation by Jesus
Christ。 The children of this world do not like to hear this doctrine
proclaimed。 It humbles man； and leaves him no room to boast。 But
whether it is abused or not； the doctrine of election is true。 It is
the corner…stone of the believer's foundation； that he was chosen in
Christ before the world began。 Who can rightly estimate the strength of
this inclosure？
They are inclosed by the special love of God the Son。 The Lord Jesus is
the Saviour of all men； but He is specially the Saviour of them that
believe。 He has power over all flesh； but He gives eternal life to them
that are specially given to Him； in a way that He does to none others。
He shed HIS blood on the cross for all； but He only washes those who
have part in Him。 He invites all； but He quickens whom He will； and
brings them to glory。 He prays for them： He prays not for the world。 He
intercedes for them； that they may be kept from evil； that they may be
sanctified by the truth； that their faith fail not。 Who can fully
describe the blessedness of this inclosure？
They are inclosed by the effectual working of God the Holy Ghost。 The
Spirit of Christ calls them out from the world； and separates them as
effectually as if a wall were built between them and it。 He puts in
them new hearts； new minds； new tastes； new desires； new sorrows； new
joys； new wishes； new pleasures； new longings。 He gives them new eyes；
new ears； new affections； new opinions。 He makes them new creatures；
they are born again； and with a new birth they begin a new existence。
Mighty indeed is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit！ The
believer and the world are pletely put asunder； and everlastingly
separated。 You may place a believer and an unbeliever together； marry
them； join them under one roof； but you cannot unite them any more into
one piece。 The one is part of the 〃garden inclosed；〃 and the other is
not。 Effectual calling is a barrier that cannot be broken。
Who can tell the fort of this threefold wall of inclosure！ Believers
are inclosed by election； inclosed by washing and intercession；
inclosed
