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莱尔主教holiness-第12章

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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。
     __________________________________________________________________

   '4' Hooker's 〃Learned Discourse of Justification。〃
     __________________________________________________________________

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 
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