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莱尔主教holiness-第14章

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   〃sanctifieth all the elect people of God。〃

   (5) Sanctification; again; is a thing that will always be seen。 Like
   the Great Head of the Church; from whom it springs; it 〃cannot be hid。〃
   〃Every tree is known by his own fruit。〃 (Luke vi。 44。) A truly
   sanctified person may be so clothed with humility; that he can see in
   himself nothing but infirmity and defects。 Like Moses; when he came
   down from the Mount; he may not be conscious that his face shines。 Like
   the righteous; in the mighty parable of the sheep and the goats; he may
   not see that he has done anything worthy of his Master's notice and
   mendation: 〃When saw we Thee an hungered; and fed Thee?〃 (Matt。 xxv。
   37。) But whether he sees it himself or not; others will always see in
   him a tone; and taste; and character; and habit of life unlike that of
   other men。 The very idea of a man being 〃sanctified;〃 while no holiness
   can be seen in his life; is flat nonsense and a misuse of words。 Light
   may be very dim; but if there is only a spark in a dark room it will be
   seen。 Life may be very feeble; but if the pulse only beats a little; it
   will be felt。 It is just the same with a sanctified man: his
   sanctification will be something felt and seen; though he himself may
   not understand it。 A 〃saint〃 in whom nothing can be seen but
   worldliness or sin; is a kind of monster not recognised in the Bible!

   (6) Sanctification; again; is a thing for which every believer is
   responsible。 In saying this I would not be mistaken。 I hold as strongly
   as anyone that every man on earth is accountable to God; and that all
   the lost will be speechless and without excuse at the last day。 Every
   man has power to 〃lose his own soul。〃 (Matt。 xvi。 26。) But while I hold
   this; I maintain that believers are eminently and peculiarly
   responsible; and under a special obligation to live holy lives。 They
   are not as others; dead and blind and unrenewed: they are alive unto
   God; and have light and knowledge; and a new principle within them。
   Whose fault is it if they are not holy; but their own? On whom can they
   throw the blame if they are not sanctified; but themselves? God; who
   has given them grace and a new heart; and a new nature; has deprived
   them of all excuse if they do not live for His praise。 This is a point
   which is far too much forgotten。 A man who professes to be a true
   Christian; while he sits still; content with a very low degree of
   sanctification (if indeed he has any at all); and coolly tells you he
   〃can do nothing;〃 is a very pitiable sight; and a very ignorant man。
   Against this delusion let us watch and be on our guard。 The Word of God
   always addresses its precepts to believers as accountable and
   responsible beings。 If the Saviour of sinners gives us renewing grace;
   and calls us by His Spirit; we may be sure that He expects us to use
   our grace; and not to go to sleep。 It is forgetfulness of this which
   causes many believers to 〃grieve the Holy Spirit;〃 and makes them very
   useless and unfortable Christians。

   (7) Sanctification; again; is a thing which admits of growth and
   degrees。 A man may climb from one step to another in holiness; and be
   far more sanctified at one period of his life than another。 More
   pardoned and more justified than he is when he first believes; he
   cannot be; though he may feel it more。 More sanctified he certainly may
   be; because every grace in his new character may be strengthened;
   enlarged; and deepened。 This is the evident meaning of our Lord's last
   prayer for His disciples; when He used the words; 〃Sanctify them〃; and
   of St。 Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians; 〃The very God of peace
   sanctify you。〃 (John xvii。 17; 1 Thess。 iv。 3。) In both cases the
   expression plainly implies the possibility of increased sanctification;
   while such an expression as 〃justify them〃 is never once in Scripture
   applied to a believer; because he cannot be more justified than he is。
   I can find no warrant in Scripture for the doctrine of 〃imputed
   sanctification。〃 It is a doctrine which seems to me to confuse things
   that differ; and to lead to very evil consequences。 Not least; it is a
   doctrine which is flatly contradicted by the experience of all the most
   eminent Christians。 If there is any point on which God's holiest saints
   agree it is this: that they see more; and know more; and feel more; and
   do more; and repent more; and believe more; as they get on in spiritual
   life; and in proportion to the closeness of their walk with God。 In
   short; they 〃grow in grace;〃 as St。 Peter exhorts believers to do; and
   〃abound more and more;〃 according to the words of St。 Paul。 (2 Pet。
   iii。 18; 1 Thess。 iv。 1。)

   (8) Sanctification; again; is a thing which depends greatly on a
   diligent use of Scriptural means。 When I speak of 〃means;〃 I have in
   view Bible…reading; private prayer; regular attendance on public
   worship; regular hearing of God's Word; and regular reception of the
   Lord's Supper。 I lay it down as a simple matter of fact; that no one
   who is careless about such things must ever expect to make much
   progress in sanctification。 I can find no record of any eminent saint
   who ever neglected them。 They are appointed channels through which the
   Holy Spirit conveys fresh supplies of grace to the soul; and
   strengthens the work which He has begun in the inward man。 Let men call
   this legal doctrine if they please; but I will never shrink from
   declaring my belief that there are no 〃spiritual gains without pains。〃
   I should as soon expect a farmer to prosper in business who contented
   himself with sowing his fields and never looking at them till harvest;
   as expect a believer to attain much holiness who was not diligent about
   his Bible…reading; his prayers; and the use of his Sundays。 Our God is
   a God who works by means; and He will never bless the soul of that man
   who pretends to be so high and spiritual that he can get on without
   them。

   (9) Sanctification; again; is a thing which does not prevent a man
   having a great deal of inward spiritual conflict。 By conflict I mean a
   struggle within the heart between the old nature and the new; the flesh
   and the spirit; which are to be found together in every believer。 (Gal。
   v。 17。) A deep sense of that struggle; and a vast amount of mental
   disfort from it; are no proof that a man is not sanctified。 Nay;
   rather; I believe they are healthy symptoms of our condition; and prove
   that we are not dead; but alive; A true Christian is one who has not
   only peace of conscience; but war within。 He may be known by his
   warfare as well as by his peace。 In saying this; I do not forget that I
   am contradicting the views of some well…meaning Christians; who hold
   the doctrine called 〃sinless perfection。〃 I cannot help that。 I believe
   that what I say is confirmed by the language of St。 Paul in the seventh
   chapter of Romans。 That chapter I mend to the careful study of all
   my readers。 I am quite satisfied that it does n
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