莱尔主教upper_room-第3章
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Scripture。 He puts down his foot firmly on the supremacy of God's
written Word as the Church's rule of faith。 He says； 〃This scripture
must needs have been fulfilled。〃 He says； 〃It is written in the book of
Psalms；〃 and takes a quotation for his text。 Well and wisely does the
late Dean Alford remark in his Homilies on the Acts： 〃The first act of
the Church by her first superintendent minister was an appeal to the
text of Scripture。 Let that never be forgotten。 Would that every appeal
by every one of her ministers since had been an appeal equally direct
and equally justified！〃
（b） Mark； next； how Peter humbly acknowledges the liability of the
highest and most privileged ministers of the Church to fall。 He says of
Judas Iscariot； 〃He was numbered with us； and had obtained part of this
ministry；〃 and then mentions his miserable end。 〃He fell by
transgression；〃 and then 〃went to his own place。〃 Let that also never
be forgotten。 He lays down the grand principle； which should always be
remembered in the Church； that no infallibility belongs to the
ministerial office。 A chosen Apostle of Christ fell sadly； and so also
may any successor of the Apostles。 Bishops； priests； and deacons may
err； and have erred greatly； like Hophni； and Phinehas； and Annas； and
Caiaphas； who were in direct succession to Aaron。 We are never to
suppose that ordained and consecrated men can make no mistakes。 We are
never to follow them blindly； or to believe as a matter of course that
all they say is truth。 The Bible is the only infallible guide。
（c） Mark； next； how he calls upon the Church to fill up the place which
Judas had left vacant； and to choose one who might be numbered with the
eleven Apostles。 He speaks with unfaltering confidence； like one
convinced that a work was beginning which the world and the devil could
never stop； and that workmen must be appointed to carry it on in
regular order。 He speaks with a clear foresight of the battles the
Church would have to fight； but with an evident conviction that they
would not be fought in vain； and that the final issue was sure。 He
seems to say； 〃Stand firm； though a standard…bearer has fallen away。
Fill up the gap。 Close up your ranks。〃
（d） Mark； lastly； how he winds up his address with a plain declaration
of what a minister and successor of the Apostles ought to be。 He was to
be 〃a witness of Christ's resurrection。〃 He was to be a witness to the
fact that the foundation of the Gospel is not a vague idea of God's
mercy； but an actual living Person； a Person who lived for us； died for
us； and above all； rose again。 Let that also never be forgotten。 I
affirm； without hesitation； that in these latter days we do not make
enough of the resurrection of Christ。 We certainly do not make as much
of it as the Apostles did； judging from the Acts and the Epistles。 When
Paul went to Athens； we are told that 〃he preached Jesus and the
resurrection〃 （Acts 27：18）。 When he went to Corinth； one of the first
truths he proclaimed was； that 〃 Christ rose again according to the
Scriptures〃 （1 Cor。 15：4）。 When the same Paul was brought before Festus
and Agrippa； Festus said that the plaint against him was about 〃one
Jesus who was dead； whom Paul affirmed to be alive〃 （Acts 25：19）。
Let no one misunderstand my meaning。 I do not say that we dwell too
much on the sacrifice and the blood of Christ； but I do contend that we
dwell too little on His resurrection。 Yet our Lord Himself told the
Jews more than once that the resurrection would prove Him to be the
Messiah。 St。 Paul told the Romans； in the beginning of his Epistle；
that Jesus was 〃declared to be the Son of God with power by the
resurrection from the dead〃 （Rom。 1：4）。 The resurrection pleted the
work of redemption； which our Lord came into the world to effect。 It is
written； that 〃He was delivered for our offences； and raised again for
our justification；〃 and the Corinthians are expressly told； 〃If Christ
be not raised； your faith is vain； ye are yet in your sins〃 （Rom。 4：25；
1 Cor。 15：17）。 In short； Christ's resurrection is one of the grandest
evidences of the truth of Christianity； a foundation proof that the
salvation of sinners by the vicarious atonement is a finished work； and
a miracle which the cleverest infidels have never been able to explain
away。 Until it is explained away； we need not be troubled by carping
remarks about Balaam's ass speaking； and Jonah in the whale's belly。
Well indeed would it have been for the Church if all her ministers had
always been such as Peter remended to be appointed； faithful
〃witnesses to a personal Christ； His death； and His resurrection。
So much for the upper room at Jerusalem； its congregation； their unity；
their prayers； and the first address delivered within its walls。 So
much for the first prayer meeting； the first sermon； and the first
corporate action of the professing Church of which we have any record。
We need not doubt for a moment that the well…known promise of our Lord
Jesus Christ was fulfilled in that room； 〃Wheresoever two or three are
gathered together in My name； there am I in the midst of them〃 （Matt。
18：20）。 The little pany of worshippers did not see Him； but He was
there。
II。 Let me now try to draw some practical lessons for ourselves from
the whole subject。
（1） In the first place； let us learn to be more thankful for the
liberty of the days in which our lot is cast； and the wise toleration
of the Government under which we live in this country。 By the mercy of
God； 〃we enjoy great quietness。〃 We have no need to meet in 〃upper
rooms〃 with 〃doors closed for fear of the Jews；〃 and with a constant
feeling that there is but a step between us and a violent death。 Men
may build places of worship now； if they please； as costly and
magnificent as the temple of Jerusalem itself； and no one jealously
prohibits or interferes with them。 We need not fear Roman Emperors； nor
mediaeval autocrats； nor Spanish Inquisitions。 The land is before us；
and men may build and worship as they please。 I would to God that all
wealthy laymen in this country would remember from whom riches e；
and to whom they are indebted for their freedom and prosperity。 I would
to God that many more would honour Him with their substance； and e
forward more frequently； saying； 〃Let me build a Church for the service
of God。〃
（2） In the next place； let us learn the source of trite power in the
Church。 This little upper room was the starting…point of a movement
which shook the Roman Empire； emptied the heathen temples； stopped
gladiatorial bats； raised women to their true position； checked
infanticide； created a new standard of morality； confounded the old
Greek and Roman philosophers； and turned the world upside down。 And
what was the secret of this power？ The unity； the soundness in the
faith； the holiness； and the prayers and intercessions of the first
professing Christians。 Where these things are wanting； the grandest
architecture and the most ornate ceremonial will do nothing to mend the
world。 It is the presence of Christ and the Holy Ghost which alone
gives power。
（3） In the last place； let us pray for the Church of England； that she
may continue faithful to the old truths which have done so much good
for 300 years； truths which are embalmed in our Articles； Prayer Book；
and Creeds。 It is cheap and easy work to sneer at dogma； to scoff at
inspiration and the atonement； to make merry at the controversies of
Christians； and to tell us that no one really believes all the Bible；
or all the facts enumerated in the Belief。 It is easy； I repeat； to do
this。 Even children can cast mud； and throw stones； and make a noise。
But sneers； and mud； and noise are not arguments。 I challenge those who
sneer at dogma to show us a more excellent way； to show us anything
that does more good in the world t
