登陆注册
26301600000037

第37章 THE WELL-BELOVED'S VINEYARD.(4)

III. And now, this afternoon, at this table, our position here is favourable even now to our producing immediately, and upon the spot, the richest, ripest, rarest fruit for our Well-beloved.

Here, at the communion-table, we are at the centre of the truth, and at the well-head of consolation. Now we enter the holy of holies, and come to the most sacred meeting-place between our souls and God.

Viewed from this table, _the vineyard slopes to the south_, for everything looks towards Christ, our Sun. This bread, this wine, all set our souls aslope towards Jesus Christ, and He shines full upon our hearts, and minds, and souls, to make us bring forth much fruit. Are we not planted on a very fruitful hill?

As we think of His passion for our sake, we feel that_ a wall is set about us to the north_, to keep back every sharp blast that might destroy the tender grapes. No wrath is dreaded now, for Jesus has borne it for us; behold the tokens of His all-sufficient sacrifice! No anger of the Lord shall come to our restful spirits, for the Lord saith, "I have sworn that I will not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee." Here, on this table, are the pledges of His love unspeakable, and these, like a high wall, keep out the rough winds. Surely, we are planted on a very fruitful hill.

Moreover, _the Well-beloved Himself is among us_. He has not let us out to husbandmen, but He Himself doth undertake to care for us; and that He is here we are sure, for here is His flesh, and here is His blood. You see the outward tokens, may you feel the unseen reality; for we believe in His real presence, though not in the gross corporeal sense with which worldly spirits blind themselves. The King has come into His garden: let us entertain Him with our fruits. He who for this vineyard poured out a bloody sweat, is now surveying the vines; shall they not at this instant give forth a goodly smell? The presence of our Lord makes this assembly a very fruitful hill: where He sets His feet, all good things flourish.

Around this table, _we are in a place where others have fruited well_. Our literature contains no words more precious than those which have been spoken at the time of communion. Perhaps you know and appreciate the discourses of Willison, delivered on sacramental occasions. Rutherford's communion sermons have a sacred unction upon them. The poems of George Herbert, I should think, were most of them inspired by the sight of Christ in this ordinance. Think of the canticles of holy Bernard, how they flame with devotion. Saints and martyrs have been nourished at this table of blessing. This hollowed ordinance, I am sure, is a spot where hopes grow bright, and hearts grow warm, resolves become firm, and lives become fruitful, and all the clusters of our soul's fruit ripen for the Lord.

Blessed be God, _we are where we have ourselves often grown_.

We have enjoyed our best times when celebrating this sacred Eucharist. God grant it may be so again! Let us, in calm meditation and inward thought, now produce from our hearts sweet fruits of love, and zeal, and hope, and patience; let us yield great clusters like those of Eshcol, all for Jesus, and for Jesus only. Even now, let us give ourselves up to meditation, gratitude, adoration, communion, rapture; and let us spend the rest of our lives in glorifying and magnifying the ever-blessed name of our Well-beloved whose vineyard we are.

"While such a scene of sacred joys Our raptured eyes and souls employs, Here we could sit, and gaze away A long, an everlasting day.

"Well, we shall quickly pass the night, To the fair coasts of perfect light;

Then shall our joyful senses rove O'er the dear object of our love.

"There shall we drink full draughts of bliss, And pluck new life from heavenly trees.

Yet now and then, dear Lord, bestow A drop of heaven on worms below."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 王俊凯之蓦然回首又逢君

    王俊凯之蓦然回首又逢君

    他是旁人眼中暖心的大哥;而她是一个家族破产的的小公主。当这两个世界的少年阴差阳错的闯进爱情的世界时,他们是会被幸运眷顾?还是会受到命运的羁绊?
  • NBA穿越通道

    NBA穿越通道

    高鹏无意间捡到一张游戏光碟,安装打开后,却被带到了另外一个空间,而这个空间居然是几年前的美国。有了这一条NBA穿越通道,他的生活开始发生了变化。
  • 别梦悠悠是前朝

    别梦悠悠是前朝

    春秋末年,晋国王室衰微,智、赵、韩、魏四个卿大夫专权。前455年,由于赵氏不肯割让土地给居心不良的智伯瑶,于是智愤然联合韩、魏讨伐赵氏。但是三家围困其都城晋阳两年,依旧久攻不下。本文就是从这里开始,拉开历史厚重的帷幕。没有穿越,也不准备改变历史。历史依旧是历史,只是多了无数个详尽的故事,于是便成了架空。多乱的时代总是沉重,但在洪荒世纪中也只是淡淡的一笔!本文从一个小人物的视角揭开历史舞台的宏大布景,于冷血中见忠诚,于诙谐中见真情。旧笛早已化为腐朽,历史亦早被黄沙掩埋,只有在一处寂寂的阴暗角落还冰封着前朝的只言片语。请小心翻开这沉寂的一页,捂在手心感受它曾经的暖。暮然回首,已是两千年的流年。
  • 安徒生童话全集6

    安徒生童话全集6

    《安徒生童话》是世界儿童文学经典,有着独特而又无穷的魅力,其中著名形象如卖火柴的小女孩、丑小鸭、想穿新衣服而又因此上当受骗的皇帝等,栩栩如生、形象生动。阅读这些故事,小读者们可以感受到真、善、美的巨大魅力,并从中得到启迪和感染。
  • 当下的修行:要经得起诱惑

    当下的修行:要经得起诱惑

    生活中充满了形形色色的诱惑,而事实上,这些诱惑的根源实际上来自人们的追求,来自人们内心深处对现实世界所产生的欲望。人生最大的成功就是战胜自己、超越自己。只有戒掉浮躁、看穿名利、正确取舍,保持一颗平常心,才能抵挡得住来自四面八方的诱惑,才能不断地超越自己,拥有长远的幸福和成功。
  • 全家福的养生智慧

    全家福的养生智慧

    本书从全家饮食养生、睡眠养生、运动养生、心理健康养生等几大方面为家人健康保驾护航;为夫妻、老人、宝宝养成健康的生活习惯,提供全面、实用、有效的养生智慧。
  • 终极一班之我还在等你

    终极一班之我还在等你

    这是一个延续了终极一班2的故事。十年后的金时空,大东和雷婷的再次相遇,让原本没有结局的故事是否会有一个完整的结局?新来的同学夏亦到底是什么身份?他会和终极一班的同学产生怎样的故事?大东:如果我还有机会遇见她,我会告诉她我的答案其实和她对我的感觉是一样的……夏亦:以后可能还会再见吧,因为遇见的那一刻,缘分就已经开始了。有些人的存在,注定要为了一些事有所付出。而那些付出,是他存在的价值与意义,虽然会很不公平,但不是他能够选择的。这一次的遗忘,注定着下一次的选择。所以,再遇见,会和你说的一样吗?
  • 初吻仲夏殿

    初吻仲夏殿

    因为作者有两本书要码字,来不及了,所以本文已废!
  • 符霸乾坤

    符霸乾坤

    地球古武少主异世重生,身怀逆天神符,心藏无上大道,左手阴阳,右手乾坤,抬头号令九天星辰,俯首震慑魔域幽冥。为亲情、为爱情、为友情,楚堪誓要踏破世事万法,尽灭一切强敌,铸造无上道则,成就符霸乾坤!
  • 星灯落尽烟花易冷

    星灯落尽烟花易冷

    每个人都有属于他自己的魂心,魂心存在,星灯便会存在。当然,反之,则相反。在一场毁灭性的战争之后,主人公们来到了人类世界开始他们的新生活。这期间会发生什么趣事呢?