按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
much faith in the soundness of conversions when they are said to take
places in masses and wholesale。 It does not seem to me in harmony with
God's general dealings in this dispensation。 To my eyes it appears that
God's ordinary plan is to call in individuals one by one。 Therefore；
when I hear of large numbers being suddenly converted all at one time；
I hear of it with less hope than some。 The healthiest and most enduring
success in mission fields is certainly not where natives have e over
to Christianity in a mass。 The most satisfactory and firmest work at
home does not always appear to me to be the work done in revivals。
There are two passages of Scripture which I should like to have
frequently and fully expounded in the present day by all who preach the
Gospel； and specially by those who have anything to do with revivals。
One passage is the parable of the sower； That parable is not recorded
three times over without good reason and a deep meaning。The other
passage is our Lord's teaching about 〃counting the cost；〃 and the words
which He spoke to the 〃great multitudes〃 whom He saw following Him。 It
is very noteworthy that He did not on that occasion say anything to
flatter these volunteers or encourage them to follow Him。 No： He saw
what their case needed。 He told them to stand still and 〃count the
cost。〃 （Luke xiv。 25； etc。） I am not sure that some modern preachers
would have adopted this course of treatment。
__________________________________________________________________
VI。
GROWTH
〃Grow in grace； and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ。〃2 Peter iii。 18。
THE subject of the text which heads this page is one which I dare not
omit in this volume about Holiness。 It is one that ought to be deeply
interesting to every true Christian。 It naturally raises the questions；
Do we grow in grace？ Do we get on in our religion？ Do we make progress？
To a mere formal Christian I cannot expect the inquiry to seem worth
attention。 The man who has nothing more than a kind of Sunday
religionwhose Christianity is like his Sunday clothes； put on once a
week； and then laid asidesuch a man cannot； of course； be expected to
care about 〃growth in grace。〃 He knows nothing about such matters。
〃They are foolishness to him。〃 （1 Cor。 ii。 14。） But to every one who is
in downright earnest about his soul； and hungers and thirsts after
spiritual life； the question ought to e home with searching power。
Do we make progress in our religion？ Do we grow？
The question is one that is always useful； but especially so at certain
seasons。 A Saturday night； a munion Sunday； the return of a
birthday； the end of a yearall these are seasons that ought to set us
thinking； and make us look within。 Time is fast flying。 Life is fast
ebbing away。 The hour is daily drawing nearer when the reality of our
Christianity will be tested； and it will be seen whether we have built
on 〃the rock〃 or on 〃the sand。〃 Surely it bees us from time to time
to examine ourselves； and take account of our souls？ Do we get on in
spiritual things？ Do we grow？
The question is one that is of special importance in the present day。
Crude and strange opinions are floating in men's minds on some points
of doctrine； and among others on the point of 〃growth in grace；〃 as an
essential part of true holiness。 By some it is totally denied。 By
others it is explained away； and pared down to nothing。 By thousands it
is misunderstood； and consequently neglected。 In a day like this it is
useful to look fairly in the face the whole subject of Christian
growth。
In considering this subject there are three things which I wish to
bring forward and establish：
I。 The reality of religious growth。 There is such a thing as 〃growth in
grace。〃
II。 The marks of religious growth。 There are marks by which 〃growth in
grace〃 may be known。
III。 The means of religious growth。 There are means that must be used
by those who desire 〃growth in grace。〃
I know not who you are； into whose hands this paper may have fallen。
But I am not ashamed to ask your best attention to its contents。
Believe me； the subject is no mere matter of speculation and
controversy。 It is an eminently practical subject； if any is in
religion。 It is intimately and inseparably connected with the whole
question of 〃sanctification。〃 It is a leading mark of true saints that
they grow。 The spiritual health and prosperity； the spiritual happiness
and fort of every true…hearted and holy Christian； are intimately
connected with the subject of spiritual growth。
I。 The first point I propose to establish is this： There is such a
thing as growth in grace。
That any Christian should deny this proposition is at first sight a
strange and melancholy thing。 But it is fair to remember that man's
understanding is fallen no less than his will。 Disagreements about
doctrines are often nothing more than disagreements about the meaning
of words。 I try to hope that it is so in the present case。 I try to
believe that when I speak of 〃growth in grace〃 and maintain it； I mean
one thing； while my brethren who deny it mean quite another。 Let me
therefore clear the way by explaining what I mean。
When I speak of 〃growth in grace；〃 I do not for a moment mean that a
believer's interest in Christ can grow。 I do not mean that he can grow
in safety； acceptance with God； or security。 I do not mean that he can
ever be more justified； more pardoned； more forgiven； more at peace
with God； than he is the first moment that he believes。 I hold firmly
that the justification of a believer is a finished； perfect； and
plete work； and that the weakest saint； though he may not know and
feel it； is as pletely justified as the strongest。 I hold firmly
that our election； calling； and standing in Christ admit of no degrees；
increase； or diminution。 If any one dreams that by 〃growth in grace〃 I
mean growth in。 justification he is utterly wide of the mark； and
utterly mistaken about the whole point I am considering。 I would go to
the stake； God helping me； for the glorious truth； that in the matter
of justification before God every believer is 〃plete in Christ。〃
（Col。 ii。 10。） Nothing can be added to his justification from the
moment he believes； and nothing taken away。
When I speak of 〃growth in grace〃 I only mean increase in the degree；
size； strength； vigour； and power of the graces which the Holy Spirit
plants in a believer's heart。 I hold that every one of those graces
admits of growth； progress； and increase。 I hold that repentance；
faith； hope； love； humility； zeal； courage； and the like； may be little
or great； strong or weak； vigorous or feeble； and may vary greatly in
the same man at different periods of his life。 When I speak of a man
〃growing in grace；〃 I mean simply thisthat1 his sense of sin is
being deeper； his faith stronger； his hope brighter； hi