莱尔主教holiness-第82章
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and the devil。 In storm； in tempest； through troublous times； silently；
quietly； without noise； without stir； without excitement； the building
progresses； like Solomon's temple。 〃I will work；〃 He declares； 〃and who
shall let it？〃 （Isaiah xliii。 13。）
The children of this world take little or no interest in the building
of this Church。 They care nothing for the conversion of souls。 What are
broken spirits and penitent hearts to them？ What is conviction of sin；
or faith in the Lord Jesus to them？ It is all 〃foolishness〃 in their
eyes。 But while the children of this world care nothing； there is joy
in the presence of the angels of God。 For the preserving of the true
Church； the laws of nature have oftentimes been suspended。 For the good
of that Church； all the providential dealings of God in this world are
ordered and arranged。 For the elect's sake； wars are brought to an end；
and peace is given to a nation。 Statesmen； rulers； emperors； kings；
presidents； heads of governments； have their schemes and plans； and
think them of vast importance。 But there is another work going on of
infinitely greater moment； for which they are only the 〃axes and saws〃
in God's hands。 （Isai。 x。 15。） That work is the erection of Christ's
spiritual temple； the gathering in of living stones into the one true
Church。
We ought to feel deeply thankful that the building of the true Church
is laid on the shoulders of One that is mighty。 If the work depended on
man； it would soon stand still。 But； blessed be God； the work is in the
hands of a Builder who never fails to acplish His designs！ Christ is
the almighty Builder。 He will carry on His work； though nations and
visible Churches may not know their duty。 Christ will never fail。 That
which He has undertaken He will certainly acplish。
III。I pass on to the third point which I propose to considerThe
Foundation upon which this Church is built。 The Lord Jesus Christ tells
us； 〃Upon this rock will I build my Church。〃
What did the Lord Jesus Christ mean when He spoke of this foundation？
Did He mean the Apostle Peter； to whom He was speaking？ I think
assuredly not。 I can see no reason； if He meant Peter； why He did not
say； 〃Upon thee〃 will I build my Church。 If He had meant Peter； He
would surely have said； I will build my Church on thee； as plainly as
He said； 〃to thee will I give the keys。〃No； it was not the person of
the Apostle Peter； but the good confession which the Apostle had just
made！ It was not Peter； the erring； unstable man； but the mighty truth
which the Father had revealed to Peter。 It was the truth concerning
Jesus Christ Himself which was the rock。 It was Christ's Mediatorship；
and Christ's Messiahship。 It was the blessed truth that Jesus was the
promised Saviour； the true Surety； the real Intercessor between God and
man。 This was the rock； and this the foundation； upon which the Church
of Christ was to be built。
The foundation of the true Church was laid at a mighty cost。 It needed
that the Son of God should take our nature upon Him； and in that nature
live； suffer； and die； not for His own sins； but for ours。 It needed
that in that nature Christ should go to the grave； and rise again。 It
needed that in that nature Christ should go up to heaven； to sit at the
right hand of God； having obtained eternal redemption for all His
people。 No other foundation could have met the necessities of lost；
guilty； corrupt； weak； helpless sinners。
That foundation； once obtained； is very strong。 It can bear the weight
of the sins of all the world。 It has borne the weight of all the sins
of all the believers who have built on it。 Sins of thought； sins of the
imagination； sins of the heart； sins of the head； sins which everyone
has seen； and sins which no man knows； sins against God； and sins
against man； sins of all kinds and descriptionsthat mighty rock can
bear the weight of all these sins； and not give way。 The mediatorial
office of Christ is a remedy sufficient for all the sins of all the
world。
To this one foundation every member of Christ's true Church is joined。
In many things believers are disunited and disagreed。 In the matter of
their soul's foundation they are all of one mind。 Whether Episcopalians
or Presbyterians； Baptists or Methodists； believers all meet at one
point。 They are all built on the rock。 Ask where they get their peace；
and hope； and joyful expectation of good things to e。 You will find
that all flows from that one mighty source； Christ the Mediator between
God and man； and the office that Christ holds； as the High Priest and
Surety of sinners。
Look to your foundation； if you would know whether or not you are a
member of the one true Church。 It is a point that may be known to
yourself。 Your public worship we can see； but we cannot see whether you
are personally built upon the rock。 Your attendance at the Lord's table
we can see； but we cannot see whether you are joined to Christ； and one
with Christ； and Christ in you。 Take heed that you make no mistake
about your own personal salvation。 See that your own soul is upon the
rock。 Without this； all else is nothing。 Without this； you will never
stand in the day of judgment。 Better a thousand times in that day to be
found in a cottage 〃upon the rock；〃 than in a palace upon the sand！
IV。 I proceed in the fourth place to speak of the Implied Trials of the
Church； to which our text refers。 There is mention made of 〃the gates
of hell。〃 By that expression we are meant to understand the power of
the prince of hell； even the devil。 （pare Psalm ix。 13； cvii。 18；
Isa。 xxxviii。 10。）
The history of Christ's true Church has always been one of conflict and
war。 It has been constantly assailed by a deadly enemy； Satan； the
prince of this world。 The devil hates the true Church of Christ with an
undying hatred。 He is ever stirring up opposition against all its
members。 He is ever urging the children of this world to do his will；
and to injure and harass the people of God。 If he cannot bruise the
head； he will bruise the heel。 If he cannot rob the believers of
heaven； he will vex them by the way。
Warfare with the powers of hell has been the experience of the whole
body of Christ for six thousand years。 It has always been a bush
burning； though not consumeda woman fleeing into the wilderness； but
not swallowed up。 （Exod。 iii。 2； Rev。 xii。 6； 16。） The visible Churches
have their times of prosperity and seasons of peace； but never has
there been a time of peace for the true Church。 Its conflict is
perpetual。 Its battle never ends。
Warfare with the powers of hell is the experience of every individual
member of the true Church。 Each has to fight。 What are the lives of all
the saints； but records of battles？ What were such men as Paul； and
James； and Peter； and John； and Polycarp； and Chrysostom； and
Augustine； and Luther； and Calvin； and Latimer； and Baxter； but
soldiers engaged in a constant warfare？ Sometimes the persons of the
saints have been assailed； and sometimes their property。 Sometimes they
have been harassed by calumnies and slanders； and sometimes by open
persecution。 But in one way or another the devil has been continually
warring against the Church。 The 〃gates of hell〃 have been continually
assaulting the people of Christ。
We who preach the Gospel can hold out to all who e to Christ；
〃exceeding great and precious promises。〃 （2 Pet。 i。 4。） We can offer
boldly to you； in our Master's name； the peace of God which passeth all
understanding。 Mercy； free grace； and full salvation； are offered to
every one who will e to Christ； and believe on Him。 But we promise
you no peace with the world； or with the devil。 We warn you； on the
contrary； that there must be warfare so long as you are in the body。 We
would not keep you back； or deter you from Christ's service。 But we
would h
