Churches。〃Rev。 iii。 22。
I SUPPOSE I may take it for granted that every reader of this paper
belongs to some visible Church of Christ。 I do not ask now whether you
are an Episcopalian； or a Presbyterian； or an Independent。 I only
suppose that you would not like to be called an Atheist or an Infidel。
You attend the public worship of some visible； particular； or national
body of professing Christians。
Now； whatever the name of your Church may be； I invite your special
attention to the verse of Scripture before your eyes。 I charge you to
remember that the words of that verse concern yourself。 They are
written for your learning； and for all who call themselves Christians。
〃He that hath an ear； let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
Churches。〃
This verse is repeated seven times over in the second and third
chapters of the book of Revelation。 Seven different letters does the
Lord Jesus there send by the hand of His servant John to the seven
Churches of Asia。 Seven times over He winds up His letter by the same
solemn words； 〃He that hath an ear； let him hear what the Spirit saith
unto the Churches。〃
Now the Lord God is perfect in all His works。 He does nothing by
chance。 He caused no part of the Scriptures to be written by chance。 In
all His dealings you may trace design； purpose and plan。 There was
design in the size and orbit of each planet。 There was design in the
shape and structure of the least fly's wing。 There was design in every
verse of the Bible。 There was design in every repetition of a verse；
wherever it took place。 There was design in the sevenfold repetition of
the verse before our eyes。 It had a meaning； and we were intended to
observe it。
This verse appears to me to call the special attention of all true
Christians to the seven 〃Epistles to the Churches。〃 I believe it was
meant to make believers take particular notice of the things which
these seven Epistles contain。
Let me try to point out certain leading truths which these seven
Epistles seem to me to teach。 They are truths for the times we live
intruths for the latter daystruths which we cannot know too
welltruths which it would be good for us all to know and feel far
better than we do。
I。 I ask my readers to observe in the first place； that the Lord Jesus；
in all the seven Epistles； speaks of nothing but matters of doctrine；
practice； warning； and promise。
I ask you to look over these seven Epistles to the Churches； quietly
and at your leisure； and you will soon see what I mean；
You will observe that the Lord Jesus sometimes finds fault with false
doctrines； and ungodly； inconsistent practices； and rebukes them
sharply。
You will observe that He sometimes praises faith； patience； work；
labour； perseverance； and bestows on these graces high mendation。
You will sometimes find Him enjoining repentance； amendment； return to
the first love； renewed application to Himselfand the like。
But I want you to observe that you will not find the Lord in any of the
epistles dwelling upon Church government or ceremonies。 He says nothing
about sacraments or ordinances。 He makes no mention of liturgies or
forms。 He does not instruct John to write one word about baptism； or
the Lord's Supper； or the apostolical succession of ministers。 In
short； the leading principles of what may be called 〃the sacramental
system〃 are not brought forward in any one of the seven epistles from
first to last。
Now why do I dwell on this？I do it because many professing Christians
in the present day would have us believe these things are of first； of
cardinal； of paramount importance。
There are not a few who seem to hold that there can be no Church
without a bishopand no godliness without a liturgy。They appear to
believe that to teach the value of the sacraments is the first work of
a minister； and to keep to their parish church the first business of a
people。
Now let no man misunderstand me when I say this。 Do not run away with
the notion that I see no importance in sacraments。 On the contrary； I
regard them as great blessings to all who receive them 〃rightly；
worthily； and with faith。〃 Do not fancy that I attach no value to
Episcopacy； a liturgy； and the parochial system。 On the contrary； I
consider that a Church well…administered； which has these three things；
and an Evangelical ministry； is a far more plete and useful Church
than one in which they are not to be found。
But this I say； that sacraments； Church government； the use of a
liturgy； the observance of ceremonies and forms； are all as nothing
pared to faith； repentance； and holiness。 And my authority for so
saying is the whole tenor of our Lord's words to the seven Churches。
I never can believe； if a certain form of Church government was so
important as some say； that the great Head of the Church would have
said nothing about it here。 I should have expected to have found
something said about it to Sardis and Laodicea。 But I find nothing at
all。 And I think that silence is a great fact。
I cannot help remarking just the same fact in Paul's parting words to
the Ephesian elders。 （Acts xx。 27…35。） He was then leaving them for
ever。 He was giving his last charge on earth； and spoke as one who
would see the faces of his hearers no more。 And yet there is not a word
in the charge about the sacraments and Church government。 If ever there
was a time for speaking of them； it was then。 But he says nothing at
all； and I believe it was an intentional silence。
Now here lies one reason why we； who； rightly or wrongly； are called
Evangelical clergy； do not preach about bishops； and the Prayer…book；
and ordinances more than we do。 It is not because we do not value them
in their place； proportion； and way。 We do value them as really and
truly as any； and are thankful for them。 But we believe that repentance
toward God； faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ； and a holy
conversation； are subjects of far more importance to men's souls。
Without these no man can be saved。 These are the first and most weighty
matters； and therefore on these we dwell。
Here again lies one reason why we so often urge on men not to be
content with the mere outward part of religion。 You must have observed
that we often warn you not to rest on Church membership and Church
privileges。 We tell you not to be satisfied all is right because you
e to church on Sunday and e up to the Lord's table。 We often urge
you to remember that he is not a Christian who is one outwardlythat
you must be 〃born again〃that you must have a 〃faith that worketh by
love 〃that there must be a 〃new creation〃 by the Spirit in your
heart。 We do it because this seems to us the mind of Christ。 These are
the kind of things He dwells upon； when writing seven times over to
seven different Churches。 We feel that if we follow Him we cannot
greatly err。
I am aware that men charge us with taking 〃low views〃 of the subjects
to which I have adverted。 It is a small thing that our views are
thought 〃low；〃 so long as our consciences tell us they are Scriptural。
High ground； as it is called； is not always safe ground。 What Balaam
said must be our answer； 〃What the Lord saith that will I speak。〃
（Numbers xxiv。 13。）
The plain truth is； there are two distinct and separate systems of
Christianity in England at the present day。 It is useless to deny it。
Their existence is a great fact and one that cannot be too clearly
known。
According to one system； religion is a mere corporate business。 You are
to belong to a certain body of people。 By virtue of your membership of
this body； vast privileges； both for time and eternity； are conferred
upon you。 It matters little what you are and what you feel。 You are not
to try yourself by your feelings。 You are a member of a great
ecclesiastical corporation。 Then all its privileg