Читать книгу For Us. Meditations on the Seven Words from the Cross - Archibald Lang Rector Fleming - Страница 3

INTRODUCTION

I.—THE FIRST WORD.

St. Luke xxiii. 34.

"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"

II.—THE SECOND WORD.

St. Luke xxiii. 43.

"Verily, I say unto thee, To-day shall thou be with Me in paradise"

III.—THE THIRD WORD.

St. John xix, 26, 27.

"He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy Son. Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother"

IV.—THE FOURTH WORD.

St. Matthew xxvii. 46.

"And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?"

That is to say, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"

V.—THE FIFTH WORD.

St. John xix. 28.

"I thirst"

VI.—THE SIXTH WORD.

St. John xix. 30.

"It is finished"

VII.—THE SEVENTH WORD.

St. Luke xxiii. 46.

"Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit"

BIBLIOGRAPHY

PREFACE.

Table of Contents

The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us that "there is no new thing under the sun," and probably he is correct; but it is significant that the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ take on new meaning as the centuries roll by.

At the same time it must be recognized that a preacher to-day cannot hope to have new and startling ideas to impart upon these great words from the Cross, since men of all schools of thought have already dealt with them. Of necessity, therefore, there must be much that will be "common ground." In any case, originality, when considering such a theme, is not greatly to be desired, but, as Dr. W. A. Brown points out in one of his volumes, "the value of a book consists largely in the personal equation—the extent to which the old question has made fresh appeal to some new experience." That is all the author would venture to claim for these studies.

That, when delivered, they did make a fresh appeal to his hearers, is a fact; and it is with the hope that, in some humble way, these messages may bring other hearts nearer to Him Who is Saviour, Lord, and God, that they are sent forth to a wider circle who gather round the central Cross on Calvary's Hill. When prepared there was no thought in the author's mind of their being published, and simple outlines only were used when first delivered to his own congregation at week-day services during Lent. Then, later, his friend and neighbour, Canon Armstrong, asked that they be delivered on Good Friday in Trinity Church in this city, and on that occasion they were taken down verbatim by a stenographer, and are now sent forth with very little alteration. This fact accounts for what they may lack in literary finish, but the author has felt that to rewrite them might be to destroy the freedom of the spoken utterance, and, after all, the message is a more important thing than the literary finish. Furthermore, it is impossible to give detailed references, but at the end of the volume a list of works will be found, to the authors of which the present writer is indebted for inspiration, illustrations, and quotations; and to all of these he would record his grateful thanks. If he has failed to acknowledge any other, it is an oversight which he trusts will be forgiven.

In conclusion, the Author would take this opportunity of expressing his very deep appreciation to his Bishop, Dr. Richardson, for having so graciously written the Introduction, and for his words of encouragement.

Also he has to thank his friend, Revd. Prof. C. V. Pilcher, M.A., D.D. (Oxon.) of Toronto, for helpful criticisms, and his old college chum, the Revd. George F. Saywell, M.A. (Cantab. and Toronto), of London, England, for reading the proofs.

A. L. F.

St. John's Rectory,

St. John, N.B.