按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 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 C