Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The Church is a Hospital

Jesus, our Great Physician, said, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Matt. 9.12-13). And the place where he calls us to be, where he has instituted the means of grace and healing for sin-sick souls, is the church, which is a spiritual hospital.

John Chrysostom, Homilies on Repentance and Almsgiving 3.4.19:

Have you sinned? Enter into the church and wipe away your sin. The number of times you fall down in the marketplace equals the number of times you rise up. Likewise, as many times as you sin, repent for your sin: do not become discouraged. And if you sin a second time, repent a second time....And if you are in the depths of old age and you sin, enter into the church and repent, because the church is a hospital, not a court of justice.

Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax, in Works, Vol. 1, p. 57:

The church of Christ is a common hospital, wherein all are in some measure sick of some spiritual disease or other; that we should all have ground of exercising mutually the spirit of wisdom and meekness.

Simon Patrick, The Heart's Ease; or, A Remedy Against Trouble, in Works, Vol. 3, pp. 504-505:

...over the Gospel we may write what the Egyptians did over their library, ..., 'this is the hospital for sick souls.'

1 comment:

  1. I've heard or read the the Church is a hospital for the walking wounded. Donna L.

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