I. THE GRACES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE THAT ADORNING OF THE CHURCH WHICH IS VISIBLE TO ALL SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT.
Faith itself is a very choice jewel, but we are to have rows of jewels — faith in exercise; faith, as a principle, honouring Christ; as a hand, laying hold of Christ; as an eye, beholding His beauty; as a warrior, conquering all that opposes Christ — faith victorious over the world — the grace of faith. The next jewel the apostle mentions is hope.
We must take care we do not get it exchanged for a pebble, or some portion of mud, as formalists, and hypocrites, and profane persons do, hoping that they will be saved, hoping that God will forgive them, and that they will get to heaven and the like.
Pass on to mark another brilliant jewel — love. Not only the love of God shed abroad in the heart, though that is very blessed, but love as a grace of the Holy Spirit.
Then we go on to another jewel, a very lovely one, though frequently out of sight — humility. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble;" He giveth it first, and giveth grace to supply it.
Another jewel in close connection with humility is meekness. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." He was meek and lowly of heart, and enjoins His disciples to imitate Him, that they may find rest to their souls.
Another very brilliant jewel is zeal. I do not want the meekness and humility of the Christian to dwindle down into Laodicean carelessness — that would tarnish his jewels; but I want the zeal of the Lord of Hosts, which is said to have eaten up my glorious Master, to eat me up also. I want, as He was, to be clothed with zeal, as with a cloak.
I will mention another jewel, making seven on this side of the face. It is a quiet jewel, but a very important one. I mean patience. "In patience possess ye your souls." "Let patience have her perfect work." I might lengthen this row of jewels, but I leave you to do it in your retirement, for I want to turn to the other cheek, and notice those jewels which are visible to the world. And when I have exhibited both cheeks to you, you may follow the advice of our Lord, "If thine enemy smite thee on the one cheek, turn to him the other also. If they smite you on the cheek I have been naming, they will not hurt one of the jewels.
Now let us look at the other. The first jewel I mention is decision. A very important one, for you must know that if you are like the Israelites, halting between two opinions, the world will laugh at you; if they find you one hour very devout in the house of God, or perhaps reading the Bible or some good book, or even holding conversation scripturally and profitably on spiritual things, and another at some silly amusement, some careless kill-time pursuit of the world, they will say your religion is all hypocrisy, and I should not wonder if they are very near the mark.
Oh, for more decision! Then there is another jewel that the world will look at and admire — integrity. Oh, the disgracefulness of everything like duplicity among those who profess to belong to Christ! Oh, the dignity of a Christian being blessed with that integrity which says what it means, and means what it says — that will not, cannot, say and unsay, but is ever in the same mind as to the things which relate to God's glory, and to his own perseverance in the divine life!
Mark, another prominent jewel before the world is self-denial, just the contrast of selfishness. Again, another of these visible jewels is fortitude, which bears up the soul with a holy confidence, and shows a firm front to every enemy, and causes the soul to put on the armour of God, and make its stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Circumspection must be reckoned among the jewels that are visible to the world. Hence it is written, "See, then, that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise." And again, "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without."
But there are two more I must just mention. Devotion. The spirit of devotion is invisible to the world, but its manifestation will be seen. Just the contrast of that levity, and carelessness, and trifling that characterize so many professors.
Then there is one jewel more I must name — joy "The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing" This, of course, will include gratitude, which, also, is a grace; but I put them together, and just remark that we are exhorted to "rejoice in the Lord always."
II. THE BRIDE'S NECK AND ITS ORNAMENTS.
The first question that arises is, What are we to understand by the neck of the Church? The neck is the part that unites the body and the head.
Then it must be the covenant of grace that is the neck; the living union between Christ and His Church. It is the strength, the support, and the medium of communication.
Now let us come to the ornaments. You are to recollect they are in the plural — chains. "Thy neck with chains of gold." The golden chain of doctrines. Observe, they are not detached links or rings, but they are closely linked together, and we cannot part with one link without breaking the chain.
What shall I say about the chain of promises? If I take a short summary of it I would just say, that they are distinct, that they are not to be separated, and, as we before said, they are linked together.
And hence we read that all the promises of God in Him (Christ) are yea, and in Him amen. Are they not well riveted? One more chain I must mention — the chain of privileges. The privilege of separation and distinction from the world — the privilege of high education, the Spirit of the Lord being the preceptor — the privilege of adoption, being at home at the Father's house — the privilege of feasting on a feast of fat things, provided and prepared by the Master of the feast, who is the Bridegroom — the privilege of attendants, servants such as you cannot find on earth.
Moreover, the privilege of advocacy within the veil. "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
Here are chains of gold, beloved, chains to hang about the neck. I tell you of these, as of the jewels, that Jesus has put them on, and they are invaluable;
though I know the carnal mind will prefer the tinsel, the toys, the gilded ornaments, the empty, light, worthless things, that look a little gaudy in external religion, rather than these gold chains.
제 1 장 강물은 기억한다 이른 아침, 낙동강 하류의 물안개는 언제나 이렇게 시작되었다. 아직 해가 뜨지 않은 시각, 강 위로 흰 안개가 낮게 깔리고, 그 안개 속에서 물새 한 마리가 소리 없이 날아올랐다. 강영준은 제방 위에 서서 그 광경을 바라보았다. 일흔두 해를 살아오는 동안 이 강을 수백 번 바라보았지만, 강은 매번 처음 보는 얼굴로 그를 맞았다. 그는 지팡이를 짚지 않았다. 아직은 괜찮다고 스스로에게 말했다. 무릎이 쑤시는 것은 사실이었지만, 새벽 강변을 걷는 것만은 포기할 수 없었다. 어쩌면 그것은 그가 아직 살아있다는 것을 확인하는 유일한 의식이었다. 강영준은 대학에서 삼십오 년을 가르쳤다. 국문학을 가르쳤고, 시를 썼으며, 한때는 제법 이름을 알리기도 했다. 그러나 정년퇴직 이후 삼 년이 지난 지금, 그의 이름을 기억하는 사람은 많지 않았다. 제자들은 각자의 삶 속으로 흩어졌고, 아내는 이 년 전 세상을 떠났으며, 아들은 서울에서 바쁘게 살고 있었다. 노인이 된다는 것은 이런 것인가, 라고 그는 생각했다. 존재하지만 보이지 않는 것. 말하지만 들리지 않는 것. 그날 아침, 강변 벤치에 앉아 그는 오래된 성경을 펼쳤다. 낡은 가죽 표지가 손에 익은 물건처럼 손바닥에 맞았다. 그것은 아내가 결혼 초에 선물한 것이었다. 페이지마다 아내의 연필 메모가 남아 있었다. 작고 단정한 글씨들이 여백에 가득했다. 그는 로마서를 펼쳤다. 의인은 믿음으로 살 것이다. 그 문장 앞에서 그는 오랫동안 멈추어 있었다. 믿음으로 산다는 것. 그 말이 오늘따라 이상하게 가슴 안쪽을 건드렸다. 그는 평생 하나님을 믿는다고 말했지만, 막상 '믿음으로 산다'는 것이 무엇인지, 오늘 아침처럼 막막하게 느껴진 적이 없었다. 강물은 소리 없이 흘렀다. 물안개가 걷히기 시작하면서 건너편 갈대밭이 천천히 모...
판단과 구원 사이에서 제1장 — 판사의 눈 봄이 청송 땅에 내려앉는 방식은 조용하고 느렸다. 산벚꽃은 한꺼번에 피지 않았다. 능선 아래쪽부터 한 그루씩, 마치 차례를 기다리듯 피어올랐다. 강의원은 마루에 앉아 그 광경을 바라보았다. 손에는 식어가는 보리차 한 잔이 들려 있었고, 눈빛은 고요했지만 그 고요함은 평화가 아니라 습관에 가까웠다. 그는 서른두 해 동안 판사였다. 판사의 직업은 보는 것이다. 정확하게, 빠짐없이, 감정을 제거하고. 강의원은 그 일을 잘했다. 아니, 탁월했다. 그의 판결문은 간결했고 논리는 빈틈이 없었다. 동료들은 그를 '철판(鐵判)'이라 불렀다. 쇠처럼 단단한 판단이라는 뜻이었다. 그는 그 별명을 자랑스럽게 여겼다. 오랫동안. 은퇴 후 그는 대구 아파트를 떠나 청송으로 내려왔다. 아내가 먼저 세상을 떠난 지 삼 년째였고, 자식들은 서울과 부산에 흩어져 있었다. 산이...
Songs 2:13 13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. 13 Fig trees are bearing fruit, while blossoms on grapevines fill the air with perfume. My darling, I love you! Let's go away together. 13 무화과나무에는 푸른 열매가 익었고 포도나무는 꽃이 피어 향기를 토하는구나 나의 사랑 나의 어여쁜 자야 일어나서 함께 가자 fig (무화과) grape (포도) * [ GoTo-> 1:1 / 2:1 / 3:1 / 4:1 / 5:1 / 6:1 / 7:1 / 8:1 ] * [ Before <--- ---> After ] -------------------------------------------------- 포도나무는 열매를 맺지 않는 한 모든 나무에서 가장 쓸모가 없습니다 . 그것으로는 거의 아무것도 만들 수 없습니다 ; 당신은 포도덩굴에서 냄비를 걸 수 있는 충분한 나무를 자를 수 없을 것입니다 ; 당신은 그것을 가구로 만들 수도 없으며 , 건축 목적으로도 거의 사용할 수 없습니다 . 포도나무는 열매를 맺지 않으면 , 불에 태워서 제거됩니다 . 여러분 모두는 , 우리가 그리스도 안에 있고 , 또 그리스도 안에 거주하지 않는 한 , 어떤 열매도 맺을 가능성이 없다는 것을 알고 있습니...
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