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regarded by the laity of the middle and lower classes as a deliberate
attempt to bring back the Romish Mass； and get behind the Protestant
Reformation。 It would： split the clergy of every diocese into two
distinct bodies； neither of which would hold any munion with the
other。 It would increase the difficulties of bishops tenfold； and make
it impossible to examine any candidate for orders about the Lord's
Supper。 Above all； this policy of universal toleration would sooner or
later bring down the displeasure of God； and ruin the Church of
England。 Peace； cessation of controversy； free thought； and liberty in
administering sacraments； are excellent things to talk about； and
the）…look beautiful at a distance。 But they must have some bounds。 The
Church which； in zeal for peace； throws creeds and rubrics overboard；
and regards Deism； Socinianism； Romanism； and Protestantism with equal
favour or equal indifference； is a mere Babel； a city of confusion； and
not a city of God。 This is what the Church of England will e to； if
she ever gives up the principles of her martyred Reformers about the
Lord's Supper。
51。 What is the Real Presence that the Church of England specially
needs in these latter days？
It is the presence of God the Holy Spirit。 This is of far more
importance than any corporal presence of Christ。 Our question in every
place of worship should be； not； 〃Is Christ's body here？〃 but； 〃Is the
Spirit； the forter； here？〃 Excessive craving after Christ's material
bodily presence before the Second Advent is in reality dishonouring the
Holy Spirit。 Where He is； there will be God's blessing。 Where He is；
there will be true honour given to the body and blood of Christ。 What
the Church of Christ needs everywhere is the real presence of the Holy
Ghost。 If the Holy Spirit is not present； the highest show of reverence
for the consecrated bread and wine in the Lord's Supper is useless
formality； and pletely worthless in God's sight。
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CHAPTER XXI
1 Thess。 2：1…2。
〃FOR KINGS。〃
〃I exhort； therefore； that； first of all； supplications； prayers；
intercessions； and giving of thanks； be made for all men；
〃For kings； and for all that are in authority。〃1 Thess。 2：1…2。
THE words which head this page are taken from a passage of Scripture
which is eminently suitable to the solemn occasion which gathers us
together； the Jubilee of our gracious Sovereign Queen Victoria's reign。
A royal Jubilee is a very rare event in history； and in all human
probability this is the only one in England which any of us will ever
live to see。 Let us lay this seriously to heart in to…day's service of
prayer and praise！
The words of the text occur in the first direction which St。 Paul gave；
by inspiration of the Holy Ghost； to his young friend Timothy about the
conduct of public worship。 〃First of all；〃 he says emphatically〃
first of all； I exhort that supplications； prayers； intercessions； and
giving of thanks； be made for all men； for kings； and for all that are
in authority； that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life。〃
I might say something about the striking contrast between the elaborate
and minute ritual of the Old
1。 The paper now in the reader's hands contains file substance of a
sermon preached in Liverpool Cathedral； on June 20th； 1887； on the
occasion of the Jubilee of Queen Victoria； before the Mayor and leading
inhabitants of Liverpool。
Testament Church under the ceremonial law； and the remarkable
simplicity and brevity of the ritual provided for the Church of the new
dispensation。 It is a contrast easily explained。 The worship of the Old
Testament was designed for the Jews alone；for one single nation
practically cut off from the rest of mankind；and was full of types
and emblems of good things to e。 The worship of the New Testament
was intended for all the world； and as the Thirty…fourth Article of our
Church has wisely said〃 Ceremonies may be changed according to the
diversities of countries； times； and men's manners。〃
One thing； however； is very certain。 The rule； or rubric； laid down by
St。 Paul for the guidance of Timothy at Ephesus； is meant to be a rule
of perpetual obligation as long as the world stands； and until the Lord
es。 Whenever Christians meet together for public worship； there
ought to be 〃prayers and intercessions for all men；〃 and specially 〃for
kings；〃 as well as 〃thanksgiving for mercies received。 This primary
rule you are invited to observe this day。
I。 Concerning the general duty of praying for others； I think it useful
to say something。 But my words shall be few。
I suspect the thought crosses some minds…〃 What is the use of my
intercession？ What am I but a debtor to Christ's mercy and grace？ How
can the prayer of such a poor sinner be of any use to others？ Praying
for myself I can understand； but not praying for another。〃
The answer to all such thoughts is short and simple。 It is the mand
of God； and it is a plain duty to obey it。 In this； as in many other
matters； it bees a mortal man to believe that the light of the last
day shall make all clear。 In the meantime； the 〃how〃 and the 〃why〃 and
the 〃wherefore〃 had better be left alone。 What we know not now we shall
know hereafter。 The practice of almost every saint in the Bible； of
whom much is recorded； ought to silence all objections。 Patriarchs；
prophets； kings； and apostles have left us examples of intercession。 Do
we know more than they did？ Do we think they wasted their time when
they named others before God？ Are we wiser than they？
I have a firm conviction that in this matter God tests our faith and
our love。 Do we believe that the eternal God is too wise to make any
mistake？ Then； when He says 〃Pray for others；〃 let us not stand still；
reasoning and arguing； but do as He tells us。 When our Lord Jesus
Christ says the best proof of a high standard of love is to 〃Pray for
them which despitefully use you and persecute you〃 （Matt。 5：44）； let us
believe and obey。 I always thank God that our time…honoured Prayer Book
contains such a grand specimen of intercession as the Litany。 I believe
the last day alone will show how the prayers of God's elect have
affected the history of this world； and influenced the rise and fall of
nations。 There was deep truth in the saying of unhappy Mary Queen of
Scots〃 I fear the prayers of John Knox more than an army of 20；000
men。〃 So； when we kneel to pray for ourselves； let us never forget to
pray for others。
II。 Concerning the special duty of praying for kings and all that are
in authority； I must not omit to say something。 But once again my words
shall be few。
A moment's reflection will tell us that St。 Paul's injunction to 〃pray
for kings〃 is a very singular and remarkable one。 For consider in whose
hands the government of the world lay at the time when the Epistle to
Timothy was written。 Think what a monster of iniquity wore the imperial
purple at RomeNerowhose very name is a proverb。 Think of such
rulers of provinces as Felix and Festus； Herod AgripPsalms and Gallio。
Think of the ecclesiastical heads of the Jewish Church Annas and
Caiaphas。 Yet these were the men for whom St。 Paul says Christians were
to pray！ Their personal characters might be bad。 But they were persons
ordained by God to keep some outward order in this sin…burdened world。
As such； for their office' sake； they were to be prayed for。
After all； we must never forget that none are so truly to be
pitiednone in such spiritual dangernone so likely to make shipwreck
to all eternity… and none stand in such need of our prayers； as the
kings of this world。 Few out of the many who criticise their conduct
seriously consider the enormous difficulties of their position。
Think of the temptations which surround them。 Seldom advised； seldom
contradicted； seldom warned； they dwell in bodies like our own； and
have like passions with ourselves； and are liable to be overe by the
world； the flesh； and the devil； just like other men。 I do not wonder
to read that when Buchanan； once tutor to James the First； was lying on
his deathbed； he sent a last message to his royal pupil； 〃that he was
going to a place to which few kings and princes ever came。〃 If it be
true； as of course it must be； because our Lord said it。 How hardly
shall a rich man enter the kingdom of God；〃 how much more hard shall
entrance be for a king！
Think of the countless knots which a king has to untie； and the awkward
questions which he often has to decide。 How to arrange differences with
other countries；how to promote the prosperity of all classes of the
munity； how to decide when to tighten the reins of government； and
when to loosen them；how to select the right men to fill vacant
posts；how to deal fairly and ju