莱尔主教upper_room-第21章
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their souls。 If that blood were really in the munion cup at the
Lord's Supper； as some profanely tell us； and we touched it with our
lips； such mere corporeal touch would avail us nothing。 Oh no！ When I
speak of the 〃blood〃 of Christ as the cure for the deadly ailment which
we all inherit from the blood of Adam； I mean the life…blood which
Christ shed； and the redemption which Christ obtained for sinners when
He died for them on Calvary；the salvation which He procured for us by
His vicarious sacrifice；the deliverance from the guilt and power and
consequences of sin； which He purchased when He suffered as our
Substitute。 This and this only is what I mean when I speak of 〃Christ's
blood〃 as the one medicine needed by all Adam's children。 The thing
that we all need to save us from eternal death is not merely Christ's
incarnation and life； but Christ's death。 The atoning 〃blood〃 which
Christ shed when He died； is the grand secret of salvation。 It is the
blood of the second Adam suffering in our stead； which alone can give
life or health and peace to all who have the first Adam's blood in
their veins。
I can find no words to express my deep sense of the importance of
maintaining in our Church the true doctrine of the blood of Christ。 One
plague of our age is the widespread dislike to what men are pleased to
call dogmatic theology。 In the place of it； the idol of the day is a
kind of jelly…fish Christianity；a Christianity without bone； or
muscle； or sinew； without any distinct teaching about the atonement or
the work of the Spirit； or justification； or the way of peace with
God；a vague； foggy； misty Christianity； of which the only watchwords
seem to be； 〃You must be earnest； and real； and true； and brave； and
zealous； and liberal； and kind。 You must condemn no man's doctrinal
views。 You must consider everybody is right； and nobody is wrong。〃 And
this Creedless kind of religion； we are actually told； is to give us
peace of conscience！ And not to be satisfied with it in a sorrowful；
dying world； is a proof that you are very narrow…minded！ Satisfied；
indeed！ Such a religion might possibly do for unfallen angels。 But to
tell sinful； dying men and women； with the blood of our father Adam in
their veins； to be satisfied with it； is an insult to mon sense； and
a mockery of our distress。 We need something far better than this。 We
need the blood of Christ。
What saith the Scripture about 〃that blood〃？ Let me try to put my
readers in remembrance。 Do we want to be clean and guiltless now in the
sight of God？ It is written that 〃the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth
from all sin； 〃that 〃it justifies；〃 that 〃it makes us nigh to God； 〃
that 〃through it there is redemption； even the forgiveness of sin；〃
that it 〃purges the conscience；〃 that 〃it makes peace between God and
man；〃that it gives 〃boldness to enter into the holiest。〃 Yes！ it is
expressly written of the saints in glory； that 〃they had washed their
robes； and made them white in the blood of the Lamb；〃 and that they had
〃overe their souls' enemies by the blood of the Lamb〃 （1 John 1：7；
Col。 1：20； Heb。 10：19； Eph。 1：7； Heb。 9：14； Eph。 2：13； Rom。 5：9； Rev。
7：14）。 Why； in the name of mon sense； if the Bible is our guide to
heaven； why are we to refuse the teaching of the Bible about Christ's
blood； and turn to other remedies for the great mon soul…disease of
mankind？ If； besides this； the sacrifices of the Old Testament did not
point to the sacrifice of Christ's death on the cross； they were
useless； unmeaning forms； and the outer courts of tabernacle and temple
were little better than shambles。 But if； as I firmly believe； they
were meant to lead the minds of Jews to the better sacrifice of the
true Lamb of God； they afford unanswerable confirmation of the position
which I maintain this day。 That position is； that the one 〃blood of
Christ〃 is the spiritual medicine for all who have the 〃one blood of
Adam〃 in their veins。
Does any reader of this paper want to do good in the world？ I hope that
many do。 He is a poor style of Christian who does not wish to leave the
world better； when he leaves it； than it was when he entered it。 Take
the advice I give you this day。 Beware of being content with
half…measures and inadequate remedies for the great spiritual disease
of mankind。 You will only labour in vain if you do not show men the
blood of the Lamb。 Like the fabled Sisyphus； however much you strive；
you will find the stone ever rolling back upon you。 Education；
teetotalism； cleaner dwellings； popular concerts； blue ribbon leagues；
white cross armies； penny readings； museums； all are very well in their
way； but they only touch the surface of man's disease： they do not go
to the root。 They cast out the devil for a little season； but they do
not fill his place； and prevent him ing back again。 Nothing will do
that but the story of the cross applied to the conscience by the Holy
Ghost； and received and accepted by faith。 Yes！ it is the blood of
Christ； not His example only； or His beautiful moral teaching； but His
vicarious sacrifice that meets the wants of the soul。 No wonder that
St。 Peter calls it 〃precious。〃 Precious it has been found by the
heathen abroad； and by the peer and the peasant at home。 Precious it
was found on a death…bed by the mighty theologian Bengel； by the
unwearied labourer John Wesley； by the late Archbishop Longley； and
Bishop Hamilton in our own days。 May it ever be precious in our eyes！
If we want to do good； we must make much of the blood of Christ。 There
is only one fountain that can cleanse any one's sin。 That fountain is
the blood of the Lamb。
III。 The third and last point which arises out of our text is a point
of duty。 Are we all of 〃one blood 〃？ Then we ought to live as if we
were。 We ought to behave as members of one great family。 We ought to
〃love as brethren。〃 We ought to put away from us anger； wrath； malice；
quarrelling； as specially hateful in the sight of God。 We ought to
cultivate kindness and charity towards all men。 The dark…skinned
African negro； the dirtiest dweller in some vile slum of London； has a
claim upon our attention。 He is a relative and a brother； whether we
like to believe it or not。 Like ourselves； he is a descendant of Adam
and Eve； and inherits a fallen nature and a never…dying soul。
Now what are we Christians doing to prove that we believe and realize
all this？ What are we doing for our brethren？ I trust we do not forget
that it was wicked Cain who asked that awful question； 〃Am I my
brother's keeper？〃 （Gen。 4：9）。
What are we doing for the heathen abroad？ That is a grave question； and
one which I have no room to consider fully。 I only remark that we do
far less than we ought to do。 The nation whose proud boast it is that
her flag is to be seen in every port on the globe； gives less to the
cause of foreign missions than the cost of a single first…class
ironclad man…of…war。
But what are we doing for the masses at home？ That is a far graver
question； and one which imperiously demands a reply。 The heathen are
out of sight and out of mind。 The English masses are hard by our own
doors； and their condition is a problem which politicians and
philanthropists are anxiously trying to solve； and which cannot be
evaded。 What are we doing to lessen the growing sense of inequality
between rich and poor； and to fill up the yawning gulf of discontent？
Socialism； and munism； and confiscation of property are looming
large in the distance； and occupying much attention in the press。
Atheism and secularism are spreading fast in some quarters； and
specially in overgrown and neglected parishes； Now what is the path of
duty？
I answer without hesitation； that we want a larger growth of brotherly
love in the land。 We want men and women to grasp the great principle；
that we are all of〃 one blood；〃 an
