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莱尔主教holiness-第19章

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   sanctification have been brought before us。 What practical reflections
   ought the whole matter to raise in our minds?

   (1) For one thing; let us all awake to a sense of the perilous state of
   many professing Christians。 〃Without holiness no man shall see the
   Lord〃; without sanctification there is no salvation。 (Heb。 xii。 14。)
   Then what an enormous amount of so…called religion there is which is
   perfectly useless! What an immense proportion of church…goers and
   chapel…goers are in the broad road that leadeth to destruction! The
   thought is awful; crushing; and overwhelming。 Oh; that preachers and
   teachers would open their eyes and realize the condition of souls
   around them! Oh; that men could be persuaded to 〃flee from the wrath to
   e 〃! If unsanctified souls can be saved and go to heaven; the Bible
   is not true。 Yet the Bible is true and cannot lie! What must the end
   be!

   (2) For another thing; let us make sure work of our own condition; and
   never rest till we feel and know that we are 〃sanctified〃 ourselves。
   What are our tastes; and choices; and likings; and inclinations? This
   is the great testing question。 It matters little what we wish; and what
   we hope; and what we desire to be before we die。 Where are we now? What
   are we doing? Are we sanctified or not? If not; the fault is all our
   own。

   (3) For another thing; if we would be sanctified; our course is clear
   and plainwe must begin with Christ。 We must go to Him as sinners;
   with no plea but that of utter need; and cast our souls on Him by
   faith; for peace and reconciliation with God。 We must place ourselves
   in His hands; as in the hands of a good physician; and cry to Him for
   mercy and grace。 We must wait for nothing to bring with us as a
   remendation。 The very first step towards sanctification; no less
   than justification; is to e with faith to Christ。 We must first live
   and then work。

   (4) For another thing; if we would grow in holiness and bee more
   sanctified; we must continually go on as we began; and be ever making
   fresh applications to Christ。 He is the Head from which every member
   must be supplied。 (Ephes。 iv。 16。) To live the life of daily faith in
   the Son of God; and to be daily drawing out of His fulness the promised
   grace and strength which He has laid up for His peoplethis is the
   grand secret of progressive sanctification。 Believers who seem at a
   standstill are generally neglecting close munion with Jesus; and so
   grieving the Spirit。 He that prayed; 〃Sanctify them;〃 the last night
   before His crucifixion; is infinitely willing to help everyone who by
   faith applies to Him for help; and desires to be made more holy。

   (5) For another thing; let us not expect too much from our own hearts
   here below。 At our best we shall find in ourselves daily cause for
   humiliation; and discover that we are needy debtors to mercy and grace
   every hour。 The more light we have; the more we shall see our own
   imperfection。 Sinners we were when we began; sinners we shall find
   ourselves as we go on; renewed; pardoned; justifiedyet sinners to the
   very last。 Our absolute perfection is yet to e; and the expectation
   of it is one reason why we should long for heaven。

   (6) Finally; let us never be ashamed of making much of sanctification;
   and contending for a high standard of holiness。 While some are
   satisfied with a miserably low degree of attainment; and others are not
   ashamed to live on without any holiness at allcontent with a mere
   round of church…going and chapel…going; but never getting on; like a
   horse in a milllet us stand fast in the old paths; follow after
   eminent holiness ourselves; and remend it boldly to others。 This is
   the only way to be really happy。

   Let us feel convinced; whatever others may say; that holiness is
   happiness; and that the man who gets through life most fortably is
   the sanctified man。 No doubt there are some true Christians who from
   ill…health; or family trials; or other secret causes; enjoy little
   sensible fort; and go mourning all their days on the way to heaven。
   But these are exceptional cases。 As a general rule; in the long run of
   life; it will be found true that 〃sanctified〃 people are the happiest
   people on earth。 They have solid forts which the world can neither
   give nor take away。 〃The ways of wisdom are ways of
   pleasantness。〃〃Great peace have they that love Thy law。〃It was said
   by One who cannot lie; 〃My yoke is easy; and my burden is light。〃But
   it is also written; 〃There is no peace unto the wicked。〃 (Prov iii。 17;
   Ps。 cxix。 165; Matt。 xi。 30; Is。 xlviii。 22。)
     __________________________________________________________________

  P。 S。

   THE subject of sanctification is of such deep importance; and the
   mistakes made about it so many and great; that I make no apology for
   strongly remending 〃Owen on the Holy Spirit〃 to all who want to
   study more thoroughly the whole doctrine of sanctification。 No single
   paper like this can embrace it all。

   I am quite aware that Owen's writings are not fashionable in the
   present day; and that many think fit to neglect and sneer at him as a
   Puritan! Yet the great divine who in monwealth times was Dean of
   Christ Church; Oxford; does not deserve to be treated in this way。 He
   had more learning and sound knowledge of Scripture in his little finger
   than many who depreciate him have in their whole bodies。 I assert
   unhesitatingly that the man who wants to study experimental theology
   will find no books equal to those of Owen and some of his
   contemporaries; for plete; Scriptural; and exhaustive treatment of
   the subjects they handle。
     __________________________________________________________________

   '5' There is mention in the Scripture of a twofold sanctification; and
   consequently in a twofold holiness。 The first is mon unto persons
   and things; consisting of the peculiar dedication; consecration; or
   separation of them unto the service of God; by His own appointment;
   whereby they bee holy。 Thus the priests and Levites of old; the ark;
   the altar; the tabernacle; and the temple; were sanctified and made
   holy; and; indeed; in all holiness whatever; there is a peculiar
   dedication and separation unto God。 But in the sense mentioned; this
   was solitary and alone。 No more belonged unto it but this sacred
   separation; nor was there any other effect of this sanctification。 But;
   secondly; there is another kind of sanctification and holiness; wherein
   this separation to God is not the first thing done or intended; but a
   consequent and effect thereof。 This is real and internal; by the
   municating of a principle of holiness unto our natures; attended
   with its exercise in acts and duties of holy obedience unto God。 This
   is that which we inquire after。〃John Owen on the Holy Spirit。 Vol。
   iii; p。 370; Works; Goold's edition。

   '6' 〃The devil's war is better than the devil's peace。 Suspect dumb
   holiness。 When the dog is kept out of doors he h
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