莱尔主教holiness-第81章
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Christ。 This is the bride。 This is the Lamb's wife。 This is 〃the holy
Catholic and Apostolic Church〃 of the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene
Creed。 This is 〃the blessed pany of all faithful people；〃 spoken of
in the munion Service of the Church of England。 This is 〃THE CHURCH
ON THE ROCK。〃
The members of this Church do not all worship God in the same way； or
use the same form of government。 Some of them are governed by bishops
and some of them by elders。 Some of them use a prayer…book when they
meet for public worship and some of them use none。 The thirty…fourth
Article of the Church of England most wisely declares； 〃It is not
necessary that ceremonies should be in all places one and alike。〃 But
the members of this Church all e to one throne of grace。 They all
worship with one heart。 They are all led by one Spirit。 They are all
really and truly holy。 They can all say 〃Alleluia；〃 and they can all
reply； 〃Amen。〃
This is that Church to which all visible churches on earth are servants
and handmaidens。 Whether they are Episcopalian； Independent； or
Presbyterian； they all serve the interests of the one true Church。 They
are the scaffolding behind which the great building is carried on。 They
are the husk under which the living kernel grows。 They have their
various degrees of usefulness。 The best and worthiest of them is that
which trains up most members for Christ's true Church。 But no visible
church has any right to say； 〃We are the only True Church。 We are the
men； and wisdom shall die with us。〃 No visible Church should ever dare
to say； 〃We shall stand for ever。 The gates of hell shall not prevail
against me。〃
This is that Church to which belong the Lord's gracious promises of
preservation； continuance； protection； and final glory。〃Whatsoever；〃
says Hooker； 〃we read in Scripture concerning the endless love and
saving mercy which God showeth towards His Churches； the only proper
subject thereof is this Church； which we properly term the mystical
body of Christ。〃Small and despised as the true Church may be in this
world； it is precious and honourable in the sight of God。 The temple of
Solomon in all its glory was mean and contemptible in parison with
that Church which is built upon a rock。
I trust the things I have just been saying will sink down into the
minds of all who read this paper。 See that you hold sound doctrine upon
the subject of 〃the Church。〃 A mistake here may lead on to dangerous
and soul…ruining errors。 The Church which is made up of true believers
is the Church for which we； who are ministers； are specially ordained
to preach。 The Church which prises all who repent and believe the
Gospel is the Church to which we desire you to belong。 Our work is not
done； and our hearts are not satisfied until you are made a new
creature； and are a member of the one true Church。 Outside of the
Church which is 〃built on the rock〃 there can be NO SALVATION。
II。 I pass on to the second point to which I propose to invite your
attention。 Our text contains not merely a building； but a Builder。 The
Lord Jesus Christ declares； 〃I will build my Church。〃
The true Church of Christ is tenderly cared for by all the three
Persons in the blessed Trinity。 In the plan of salvation revealed in
the Bible； beyond doubt God the Father chooses； God the Son redeems；
and God the Holy Ghost sanctifies every member of Christ's mystical
body。 God the Father； God the Son； and God the Holy Ghost； three
Persons and one God； co…operate for the salvation of every saved soul。
This is truth； which ought never to be forgotten。 Nevertheless； there
is a peculiar sense in which the help of the Church is laid on the Lord
Jesus Christ。 He is peculiarly and pre…eminently the Redeemer and
Saviour of the Church。 Therefore it is that we find Him saying in our
text； 〃I will buildthe work of building is my special work。〃
It is Christ who calls the members of the Church in due time。 They are
〃the called of Jesus Christ。〃 （Rom。 i。 6。） It is Christ who quickens
them。 〃The Son quickeneth whom He will。〃 （John v。 21。） It is Christ who
washes away their sins。 He 〃has loved us； and washed us from our sins
in His own blood。〃 （Rev。 i。 5。） It is Christ who gives them peace。
〃Peace I leave with you； my peace I give unto you。〃 （John xiv。 27。） It
is Christ who gives them eternal life。 〃I give unto them eternal life；
and they shall never perish。〃 （John x。 28。） It is Christ who grants
them repentance。 〃Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour； to
give repentance。〃 （Acts v。 31。） It is Christ who enables them to bee
God's children。 〃To as many as received Him； to them gave He power to
bee the sons of God。〃 （John i。 12。） It is Christ who carries on the
work within them when it is begun 〃Because I live； ye shall live also。〃
（John xiv。 19。） In short； it has 〃pleased the Father that in Christ
should all fullness dwell。〃 （Coloss。 i。 19。） He is the author and
finisher of faith。 He is the life。 He is the head。 From Him every joint
and member of the mystical body of Christians is supplied。 Through Him
they are kept from falling。 He shall preserve them to the end； and
present them faultless before the Father's throne with exceeding great
joy。 He is all things in all believers。
The mighty agent by whom the Lord Jesus Christ carries out this work in
the members of His Church is without doubt the Holy Ghost。 He it is who
is ever renewing； awakening； convincing； leading to the cross；
transforming； taking out of the world stone after stone； and adding to
the mystical building。 But the great chief Builder； who has undertaken
to execute the work of redemption and bring it to pletion； is the
Son of God； the 〃Word who was made flesh。〃 It is Jesus Christ who
〃builds。〃
In building the true Church； the Lord Jesus condescends to use many
subordinate instruments。 The ministry of the Gospel； the circulation of
the Scriptures； the friendly rebuke； the word spoken in season； the
drawing influence of afflictionsall； all are means and appliances by
which His work is carried on； and the Spirit conveys life to souls。 But
Christ is the great superintending Architect； ordering； guiding；
directing all that is done。 Paul may plant； and Apollos water； but God
giveth the increase； （1 Cor。 iii。 6。） Ministers may preach and writers
may write； but the Lord Jesus Christ alone can build。 And except He
builds； the work stands still。
Great is the wisdom wherewith the Lord Jesus Christ builds His Church！
All is done at the right time； and in the right way。 Each stone in its
turn is put in its right place。 Sometimes He chooses great stones； and
sometimes He chooses small stones。 Sometimes the work goes on fast； and
sometimes it goes on slowly。 Man is frequently impatient and thinks
that nothing is doing。 But man's time is not God's time。 A thousand
years in His sight are but as a single day。 The great Builder makes no
mistakes。 He knows what He is doing。 He sees the end from the
beginning。 He works by a perfect； unalterable； and certain plan。 The
mightiest conceptions of architects； like Michelangelo and Wren； are
mere trifling and child's play in parison with Christ's wise
counsels respecting His Church。
Great is the condescension and mercy which Christ exhibits in building
His Church！ He often chooses the most unlikely and roughest stones； and
fits them into a most excellent work。 He despises none； and rejects
none； on account of former sins and past transgressions。 He often makes
Pharisees and Publicans bee pillars of His house。 He delights to
show mercy。 He often takes the most thoughtless and ungodly； and
transforms them into polished corners of His spiritual temple。
Great is the power which Christ displays in building His Church！ He
carries on His work in spite of opposition from the world； the flesh；
and the devil。 In storm； in tempest； through
