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النشر الإلكتروني

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XV

THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERIES

S. MATTHEW xiii. 11

THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERIES

THE term "mystery" as it was used by St. Paul was very likely borrowed from the Grecian mysteries which had their home at Eleusis. What these were no one can tell. So very important were they, and so sacred, that every free-born Athenian was expected to be initiated into them. The ceremony was most impressive. At night the candidates were led through the darkness into the lighted temple, where they saw and heard what they could never reveal. One writer has left the remark, "Those who are initiated entertain sweet hopes of eternal life." It is said that in times of peril one man would turn to his neighbor with the anxious inquiry, "Are you initiated?" With all this the apostle was doubtless familiar. He used the term especially to describe the secret purpose of God regarding the Gentiles. What God would do for the Jews was plain enough; what He would do for others was not so clearly revealed. But when Christ came, and the gospel was preached, it was found that the Divine Grace was

for every man in all the world. The mystery, therefore, as the apostle wrote to the Christians at Colossæ, was this: "Christ in you, the hope of glory." This was the manifestation of the gracious intent of God.

But our Lord used the term "mysteries" in a larger way, and to his disciples He said, "Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven." He would have the word include all the truth which He taught. His disciples who listened to him, and received his teaching and understood it, knew the mysteries which from all others were concealed. But why were there any mysteries? Why were not the secrets of heaven spread abroad like the stars, that every man might see them? It was because men were not able to see them. As there are books which we do not put into children's hands, as there is art of which common workmen have little knowledge, as there are truths in science and philosophy which only those who are instructed can comprehend, so are there thoughts and truths in the kingdom of heaven which must be taught and learned. A mystery is not something obscure, but something which is covered, and from which the covering can be removed. When we are able to receive it, it ceases to be a mystery. Thus a sealed letter is a mystery; but when it is opened, the mystery at once

disappears. Perhaps not, for it may be written in a language which is unknown to us. Then when one has learned the language he becomes possessed of the mystery. Perhaps not, for the letter may contain words whose meaning he does not know, technical terms which are entirely strange to him, and not till he has learned the meaning of these does he gain the mystery that is concealed. It is very plain that the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are truths which can be learned by common men if they will listen to one who can teach them. The notion which some appear to hold that heaven in its truth and purity and blessedness has nothing which any man cannot readily understand and enjoy without being taught is not to be indulged. Heaven is thus lowered to the capacity of men, and bereaved that all men may certainly possess it. This is not the method of the New Testament, which leaves heaven a place of glory and holiness, and changes men that they may enjoy it; raising the common man to the high heavens, and not bringing heaven down to the plane of the common thought and desire.

Our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to reveal to men the Divine Mysteries, and to bring them in all the wealth of their meaning within the comprehension of the wise man and the child. Mystery is all around us. It is in this world with

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