莱尔主教upper_room-第1节
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Title： The Upper Room： Being a Few Truths for the Times
Creator（s）： Ryle； John Charles （1816…1900）
Rights： Public Domain
CCEL Subjects： All；
LC Call no： BX5133。R92
LC Subjects：
Christian Denominations
Protestantism
Post…Reformation
Anglican munion
Church of England
Sermons。 Tracts。 Addresses。 Essays
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THE UPPER ROOM
Being a Few Truths for the Times
JOHN CHARLES RYLE
BISHOP OF LIVERPOOL
＇1880…1900＇
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Preface
The volume now in the reader's hands requires little introductory
explanation。 It contains a very miscellaneous selection of papers which
I have sent forth from time to time； in one shape or another； during a
forty…five years' ministry。 Some of these papers are not known beyond a
small circle of kind friends。 Not a few of them are the substance of
pulpit addresses delivered on important public occasions； and posed
with more than ordinary pains。 All of them； I venture humbly to think；
will be found to contain some useful truths for the times； and words in
season。
I have reached an age when I cannot reasonably expect to write much
more。 There are many thoughts in this volume which I do not wish to
leave behind me in the precarious form of separate single sermons；
addresses； lectures； and tracts。 I have therefore resolved to gather
them together in the volume I now send forth； which I heartily pray God
to bless； and to make it a permanent blessing to many souls。
Palace； Liverpool
1 December 1887
J。 C。 LIVERPOOL
__________________________________________________________________
＇1＇
CHAPTER I
Acts 1：13
〃THEY WENT UP INTO AN UPPER ROOM。〃
WE are told in these simple words what the Apostles did immediately
after the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven。 Fresh from
the wonderful and touching sight of their beloved Master being taken
away from them；… with the message brought by angels； bidding them
expect His Second Advent； still ringing in their ears。… they returned
from Mount Olivet to Jerusalem； and went at once 〃into an upper room。〃
Simple as the words are； they are full of suggestive thoughts； and
deserve the close attention of all into whose hands this volume may
fall。
Let us fix our eyes for a few minutes on the first place of meeting of
Christians for worship of which we have any record。 Let us examine the
first congregation which assembled after the great Head of the Church
had left the world； and left His people to themselves。 Let us see who
these first worshippers were； and how they behaved； and what they did。
I venture to think that a little quiet contemplation of the subject may
do us good。
This 〃upper room；〃 we should remember； was the forerunner of every
church and cathedral which has been reared in Christendom within the
last eighteen centuries。 St。 Paul's； and York； and Lincoln； and all the
stately ministers of our own land； St。 Sophia at Constantinople； St。
Isaac at St。 Petersburg； St。 Stephen's at Vienna； Notre Dame at Paris；
St。 Peter's at Rome； all are descendants from this 〃upper room。〃 Not
one can trace its pedigree beyond that little chamber。 Here it was that
professing Christians； when left alone by their Master； first began to
pray together； to worship； and to exhort one another。 This room was the
cradle of the infant Church of Christ； and the beginning of all our
services。 From this room the waters of the everlasting gospel first
began to flow； which have now spread so widely throughout the world；
however adulterated and corrupted they may have been in some ages and
in some parts of the earth。 I invite my readers； then； to e with me
and examine this upper room as it appeared on Ascension day。
I。 There are certain points arising naturally out of the text before us
which appear to demand special notice。 Let us see what they are。
Concerning the shape and size and form of this room； we know nothing at
all。 It was probably like many other 〃upper rooms 〃 in Jerusalem。 But
whether it was lofty； or low； or square； or round； whether it stood
east and west； or north and south； whether it was ornamented or
decorated or perfectly plain； we have not the slightest information；
and the matter signifies very little。 But it is a striking and
noteworthy fact that in the original Greek it is called the upper room；
and not an upper room； as our Authorized Version calls it。 I venture to
think that there is much in this。 I believe there is the highest
probability that this was the very room in which our Lord first
appointed the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper； and in which the Apostles
first heard those well…known words； 〃Take； eat； this is My body；〃〃
Drink ye all of this； for this is My blood；〃those famous words which
have been the cause of so much unhappy controversy with some； but the
source of such mighty fort to others。I believe it was the same
room in which the disciples were 〃in the habit of abiding〃 during the
fifty days between the Resurrection and Pentecost。 Here； again； the
original Greek helps us to a conclusion； if literally translated。 I
believe it is the same room in which the disciples were assembled with
〃the doors shut for fear of the Jews；〃 when the Lord Jesus suddenly
appeared in the midst of them after His resurrection； and said； 〃Peace
be unto you： as My Father sent Me； so send I you；〃 and 〃breathed on
them； saying； Receive ye the Holy Ghost〃 （John 20：21…22）。I believe it
is the same room in which； a week afterwards； He appeared again； and
rebuked the scepticism of doubting Thomas； saying； 〃 Be not faithless；
but believing。〃I believe it is the same room in which our Lord
appeared； and did eat before His disciples； and said； 〃Handle Me； and
see： a spirit hath not flesh and bones； as ye see Me have〃 （Luke
24：39）。 On all these points I freely grant that I have nothing but
conjectures to put before my readers。 But they are conjectures which
appear to me to be founded on the highest possible probability； and as
such I think they demand our reverent consideration。 But we may now
turn boldly from conjectures； and look at things which are most plainly
and unmistakably revealed。
（1） Let us then； first and foremost； look at the worshippers who were
gathered together in this first place of Christian worship。
Peter was there； that warm…hearted； impulsive； but unstable Apostle；
who； forty days before； denied his Master three times； and then
repented with bitter tears； and who had been graciously raised by our
Lord； and manded to 〃feed His sheep〃 （John 21：16…17）。
James was there； who had been the favoured panion of Peter and John
on three important occasions； and who was the first of the Apostles to
seal his faith with his blood； and drink of the cup which his Master
drank （Matt。 20：23）。
John was there； the other son of Zebedee； the beloved Apostle； whose
head lay on our Lord's breast at the Last Supper；…John； the first on
the lake of Galilee； when our Lord appeared to the disciples as they
were fishing； who cried out with instinctive love； 〃It is the
Lord；〃John； who at one time wished to call down fire from heaven on a
village of the Samaritans； but lived to write three Epistles brimming
over with love （John 21：7； Luke 9：54）。
Andrew was there； the first of all the Apostles whose name we know； who
followed Jesus after hearing the words； 〃Behold the Lamb of God；〃 and
then brought his brother Peter to Jesus； saying； 〃We have found the
Messias〃 （John 1：40…41）。
Philip of Bethsaida was there； the first Apostle to whom Jesus said；
〃Follow Me；〃the Apostle who told Nathanael to 〃e and see〃 the
promised Messiah （John 1：43）。
Thomas was there； who was once so desponding and weak in faith； but
afterwards cried out with such grand Athanasian confidence； 〃 My Lord
and my God〃 （John 20：28）。
Bartholomew was there； who； by general consent； is the same as that
very Nathanael who at first said； 〃Can any good thing e out of
Nazareth？〃 Yet this is he whom our Lord pronounced to be 〃an Israelite
without guile；〃 and who said； 〃Thou art the Son of God； Thou art the
King of Israel〃 （John 1：46…49）。
Matthew the publican was there； who forsook his worldly calling at the
bidding of our Lord； and sought lasting treasure in heaven； and who was
afterwards privileged to hold the pen which wrote the first Gospel
（Matt。 9：9）。
James the son of Alphaeus was there； who had the honour of being the
presiding Apostle at the first Council held in Jerusalem； and of whom
St。 Paul tells the Galatians that； together with Peter and John； James
was a 〃pillar of the Church〃 （Gal。 2：9）。
