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sinfulness of sin。 We need not go back to Egypt； and borrow semi…Romish
practices in order to revive our spiritual life。 We need not restore
the confessional； or return to monasticism or asceticism。 Nothing of
the kind！ We must simply repent and do our first works。 We must return
to first principles。 We must go back to 〃the old paths。〃 We must sit
down humbly in the presence of God； look the whole subject in the face；
examine clearly what the Lord Jesus calls sin； and what the Lord Jesus
calls 〃doing His will。〃 We must then try to realize that it is terribly
possible to live a careless； easy…going； half…worldly life； and yet at
the same time to maintain Evangelical principles and call ourselves
Evangelical people！ Once let us see that sin is far viler； and far
nearer to us； and sticks more closely to us than we supposed； and we
shall be led； I trust and believe； to get nearer to Christ。 Once drawn
nearer to Christ； we shall drink more deeply out of His fullness； and
learn more thoroughly to 〃live the life of faith〃 in Him； as St。 Paul
did。 Once taught to live the life of faith in Jesus； and abiding in
Him； we shall bear more fruit； shall find ourselves more strong for
duty； more patient in trial； more watchful over our poor weak hearts；
and more like our Master in all our little daily ways。 Just in
proportion as we realize how much Christ has done for us； shall we
labour to do much for Christ。 Much forgiven； we shall love much。 In
short； as the Apostle says； 〃with open face beholding as in a glass the
glory of the Lord； we are changed into the same image even as by the
Spirit of the Lord。〃 （2 Cor。 iii。 18。）
Whatever some may please to think or say； there can be no doubt that an
increased feeling about holiness is one of the signs of the times。
Conferences for the promotion of 〃spiritual life〃 are being mon
in the present day。 The subject of 〃spiritual life〃 finds a place on
Congress platforms almost every year。 It has awakened an amount of
interest and general attention throughout the land； for which we ought
to be thankful。 An^ movement； based on sound principles； which helps to
deepen our spiritual life and increase our personal holiness； will be a
real blessing to the Church of England。 It will do much to draw us
together and heal our unhappy divisions。 It may bring down some fresh
out…pouring of the grace of the Spirit； and be 〃life from the dead〃 in
these later times。 But sure I am； as I said in the beginning of this
paper； we must begin low； if we would build high； I am convinced that
the first step towards attaining a higher standard of holiness is to
realize more fully the amazing sinfulness of sin。
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＇4＇ Hooker's 〃Learned Discourse of Justification。〃
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II。
SANCTIFICATION
〃Sanctify them through Thy truth。〃John xvii。 17。
〃This is the will of God； even jour sanctification。〃1 Thess。 iv。 3。
The subject of sanctification is one which many； I fear； dislike
exceedingly。 Some even turn from it with scorn and disdain。 The very
last thing they would like is to be a 〃saint；〃 or a 〃sanctified〃 man。
Yet the subject does not deserve to be treated in this way。 It is not
an enemy； but a friend。
It is a subject of the utmost importance to our souls。 If the Bible be
true； it is certain that unless we are 〃sanctified；〃 we shall not be
saved。 There are three things which； according to the Bible； are
absolutely necessary to the salvation of every man and woman in
Christendom。 These three are； justification； regeneration； and
sanctification。 All three meet in every child of God： he is both born
again； and justified； and sanctified。 He that lacks any one of these
three things is not a true Christian in the sight of God； and dying in
that condition will not be found in heaven and glorified in the last
day。
It is a subject which is peculiarly seasonable in the present day。
Strange doctrines have risen up of late upon the whole subject of
sanctification。 Some appear to confound it with justification。 Others
fritter it away to nothing； under the pretence of zeal for free grace；
and practically neglect it altogether。 Others are so much afraid of
〃works〃 being made a part of justification； that they can hardly find
any place at all for 〃works〃 in their religion。 Others set up a wrong
standard of sanctification before their eyes； and failing to attain it；
waste their lives in repeated secessions from church to church； chapel
to chapel； and sect to sect； in the vain hope that they will find what
they want。 In a day like this； a calm examination of the subject； as a
great leading doctrine of the Gospel； may be of great use to our souls。
I。 Let us consider； firstly； the true nature of sanctification。
II。 Let us consider； secondly； the visible marks of sanctification。
III。 Let us consider； lastly； wherein justification and sanctification
agree and are like one another； and wherein they differ and are unlike。
If； unhappily； the reader of these pages is one of those who care for
nothing but this world； and make no profession of religion； I cannot
expect him to take much interest in what I am writing。 You will
probably think it an affair of 〃words； and names；〃 and nice questions；
about which it matters nothing what you hold and believe。 But if you
are a thoughtful； reasonable； sensible Christian； I venture to say that
you will find it worth while to have some clear ideas about
sanctification。
I。 In the first place； we have to consider the nature of
sanctification。 What does the Bible mean when it speaks of a
〃sanctified〃 man？
Sanctification is that inward spiritual work which the Lord Jesus
Christ works in a man by the Holy Ghost； when He calls him to be a true
believer。 He not only washes him from his sins in His own blood； but He
also separates him from his natural love of sin and the world； puts a
new principle in his heart； and makes him practically godly in life。
The instrument by which the Spirit effects this work is generally the
Word of God； though He sometimes uses afflictions and providential
visitations 〃without the Word。〃 （1 Peter iii。 1。） The subject of this
work of Christ by His Spirit is called in Scripture a 〃sanctified〃 man。
＇5＇
He who supposes that Jesus Christ only lived and died and rose again in
order to provide justification and forgiveness of sins for His people；
has yet much to learn。 Whether he knows it or not； he is dishonouring
our blessed Lord； and making Him only a half Saviour。 The Lord Jesus
has undertaken everything that His people's souls require； not only to
deliver them from the guilt of their sins by His atoning death； but
from the dominion of their sins； by placing in their hearts the Holy
Spirit； not only to justify them； but also to sanctify them。 He