莱尔主教upper_room-第13章
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active and diligent use of the ceremonials of religion； will bring them
peace。 But what child of Adam ever found relief in this way？ What more
certain than the recorded experience of thousands； that medicines like
these never healed inward misgivings and mental fears？ Nothing has ever
been found to do good to a sin…stricken soul but the sight of a Divine
Mediator between God and man； a real living Person of almighty power
and almighty mercy； bearing our sins； suffering in our stead； and
taking on Himself the whole burden of our redemption。 So long as man
only looks within； and thinks to efface the sense of sin by vain
attempts to scour and purify his own character； so long he only feels
more wretched every day。 Once let him look without for peace； to 〃the
Man Christ Jesus〃 dying for his sins； and rest his soul on Him； and he
will find； as millions have found in the last eighteen centuries； that
he has got the very thing that a wounded conscience needs。 In short； a
believing view of Christ dying for our sins is God's appointed remedy
for man's spiritual need。 It is the Divine specific for that deadly
plague which infects the whole family of Adam； and once seen and felt
makes men and women miserable。 If Paul had not proclaimed this grand
specific at Corinth； he would have shown great ignorance of human
nature； and been a physician of no value。 And if we ministers do not
proclaim it； it is because our eyes are dim； and there is little light
in us。
（b） Let us consider； in the next place； the universal liability of man
to sorrow。 The testimony of Scripture； 〃that man is born to trouble；〃
is continually echoed by thousands who know nothing of the Scriptures；
but simply speak the language of their own experience。 The world；
nearly all men agree； is full of trouble。 It is a true saying； that we
e into life crying； and pass through it plaining； and leave it
disappointed。 Of all God's creatures； none is so vulnerable as man。
Body； and mind； and affections； and family； and property； are all
liable in their turn to bee sources and avenues of sorrow。 And from
this no rank or class possesses any immunity。 There are sorrows for the
rich as well as the poor； for the learned as well as the unlearned； for
the young as well as the old； for the castle as well as the cottage；
and neither wealth； nor science； nor high position can prevent their
forcing their way into our homes； and breaking in upon us sometimes
like an armed man。 These are ancient things； I know； the poets and
philosophers of old Greece and Rome knew them as well as we do。 But it
is well to be put in remembrance。
For what shall best help man to meet and bear sorrow？ That is the
question。 If our condition is such； since the Fall； that we cannot
escape sorrow； what is the surest receipt for making it tolerable？ The
cold lessons of Stoicism have no power in them。 Resignation and
submission to the will of God are excellent things to talk about in
fine weather。 But when the storm strikes us； and hearts ache； and tears
flow； and gaps are made in our family circle； and friends fail us； and
money makes itself wings； and sickness lays us low； we want something
more than abstract principles and general lessons。 We want a living；
personal Friend； a Friend to whom we can turn with firm confidence that
he can help and feel。
Now it is just here； I maintain； that St。 Paul's doctrine of a risen
Christ es in with a marvellous power； and exactly meets our
necessities。 We have One sitting at the right hand of God； as our
sympathizing Friend； who has all power to help us； and can be…touched
with the feeling of our infirmities； even Jesus the Son of God。 He
knows the heart of a man and all his condition； for He Himself was born
of a woman； and took part of flesh and blood。 He knows what sorrow is；
for He Himself in the days of His flesh wept； and groaned； and grieved。
He has proved His love towards us by 〃bearing our manners〃 for
thirty…three years in this world； by a thousand acts of kindness； and
ten thousand words of consolation； and by finally dying for us on the
cross。 And He took care before He left the world to say such golden
sayings as these； 〃Let not your heart be troubled： ye believe in God；
believe also in Me。〃 〃I will not leave you fortless； I will e to
you。〃 〃Ask； and ye shall receive； that your joy may be full〃 （John
14：1； 18； 16：24）。 I can imagine no truth more suited to man's wants
than this。 Rules； and principles； and prescriptions； and instructions
in times of sorrow are all very well in their way； but what the human
heart craves is a personal friend to go to； to talk to； to lean back
upon； and mune with。 The risen Christ； living and interceding for us
at God's right hand； is precisely the Person that we need。 If St。 Paul
had not proclaimed Him to the Corinthians； he would have left one of
man's greatest wants unsatisfied。 No religion will ever satisfy man
which does not meet the legitimate wants of his nature。 Teachers who
give no place to a living risen Christ in their system； must never be
surprised if their weary hearers seek rest at the feet of human priests
in the Romish Confessional。
（c） Let us consider； lastly； the certainty of death and its
consequences； which every child of Adam must make up his mind to face
one day。
To say that death is a serious thing； is to utter a very bald and
monplace truism。 Yet it is a strange fact that the familiarity of
6000 years does not abate one jot of its seriousness。 The end of each
individual is still a very momentous circumstance in his history； and
most men honestly confess it。 To leave the world and shut our eyes on
all among whom we have played our part；to surrender our bodies；
whether we like it or not； to the humiliation of disease； decay； and
the grave into be obliged to drop all our schemes and plans and
intentions mall this is serious enough。 But when to this you add the
overwhelming thought that there is something beyond the grave； an
undiscovered and unknown world； and an account of some sort to be
rendered of our life on earth； the death of any man or woman bees a
tremendously serious event。 Well may our great poet Shakespeare speak
of 〃the dread of something after death。〃 It is a dread which many feel
far more than they would like to confess。 Few are ever satisfied with
Mohamedan fatalism。 Not one in a thousand will ever be found to believe
the doctrine of annihilation。
Now at no point do the uninspired religions of the ancients； or the
systems of modern philosophy； break down so pletely as in the
article of death。 To dwell for ever in Elysian fields； amidst shadowy；
immaterial ghosts； was a consummation little valued even by Homeric
heroes。 The vague； rootless theory of some undefined state of rest
after death； where； somehow and in some way； the souls of the good and
the just； separate from their bodies； are to spend an objectless；
endless existence is a miserable forter。 Homer； and Plato； and
Bolingbroke； and Voltaire； and Paine are all alike cheerless and silent
when they look down into an open grave。
But just at the point where all man…made systems are weakest； and fail
to satisfy the wants of human nature； there the gospel which St。 Paul
proclaimed at Corinth is strongest。 For it shows us an Almighty Saviour
who not only died for our sins； and went down to the grave； but also
rose again from the grave with His body； and proved that He had gained
a victory over death。 〃Now is Christ risen from the dead； and bee
the first…fruits of them that slept。〃…〃 He has abolished death； and
brought life and immortality to light。〃〃 Through death He has
destroyed death； and delivered them that through fear of death were all
their lifetime subject to bondage〃 （1 Cor。 15：20； 2 Tim。 1：10； Heb。
2：15）。
And thanks be to God； this blessed victory over death and the grave
