莱尔主教holiness-第10章
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feels stricken with a deadly disease； and nothing will satisfy him but
the great Physician。 He hungers and thirsts； and he must have nothing
less than the bread of life。 I may seem bold in what I am about to say；
but I fearlessly venture the assertion； that four…fifths of the
semi…Romanism of the last quarter of a century would never have existed
if English people had been taught more fully and clearly the nature；
vileness； and sinfulness of sin。
（d） In the next place； a right view of sin is one of the best antidotes
to the overstrained theories of Perfection； of which we hear so much in
these times。 I shall say but little about this； and in saying it I
trust I shall not give offence。 If those who press on us perfection
mean nothing more than an all…round consistency； and a careful
attention to all the graces which make up the Christian character；
reason would that we should not only bear with them； but agree with
them entirely。 By all means let us aim high。But if men really mean to
tell us that here in this world a believer can attain to entire freedom
from sin； live for years in unbroken and uninterrupted munion with
God； and feel for months together not so much as one evil thought； I
must honestly say that such an opinion appears to me very
unscriptural。I go even further。 I say that the opinion is very
dangerous to him that holds it； and very likely to depress； discourage；
and keep back inquirers after salvation。 I cannot find the slightest
warrant in God's Word for expecting such perfection as this while we
are in the body。 I believe the words of our Fifteenth Article are
strictly truethat 〃Christ alone is without sin； and that all we； the
rest； though baptized and born again in Christ； offend in many things；
and if we say that we have no sin； we deceive ourselves； and the truth
is not in us。〃To use the language of our first Homily； 〃There be
imperfections in our best works： we do not love God so much as we are
bound to do； with all our hearts； mind； and power； we do not fear God
so much as we ought to do； we do not pray to God but with many and
great imperfections。 We give； forgive； believe； live； and hope
imperfectly； we speak； think； and do imperfectly； we fight against the
devil； the world； and the flesh imperfectly。 Let us； therefore； not be
ashamed to confess plainly our state of imperfections。〃Once more I
repeat what I have said； the best preservative against this temporary
delusion about perfection which clouds some mindsfor such I hope I
may call itis a clear； full； distinct understanding of the nature；
sinfulness； and deceitfulness of sin。
（e） In the last place； a Scriptural view of sin will prove an admirable
antidote to them low views of personal holiness which are so painfully
prevalent in these last days of the Church。 This is a very painful and
delicate subject； I know； but I dare not turn away from it。 It has long
been my sorrowful conviction that the standard of daily life among
professing Christians in this country has been gradually falling。 I am
afraid that Christ…like charity； kindness； good…temper； unselfishness；
meekness； gentleness； good…nature； self…denial； zeal to do good； and
separation from the world； are far less appreciated than they ought to
be； and than they used to be in the days of our fathers。
Into the causes of this state of things I cannot pretend to enter
fully； and can only suggest conjectures for consideration。 It may be
that a certain profession of religion has bee so fashionable and
paratively easy in the present age； that the streams which were once
narrow and deep have bee wide and shallow； and what we have gained
in outward show we have lost in quality。 It may be that the vast
increase of wealth in the last twenty…five years has insensibly
introduced a plague of worldliness； and self…indulgence； and love of
ease into social life。 What were once called luxuries are now forts
and necessaries； and self…denial and 〃enduring hardness〃 are
consequently little known。 It may be that the enormous amount of
controversy which marks this age has insensibly dried up our spiritual
life。 We have too often been content with zeal for orthodoxy； and have
neglected the sober realities of daily practical godliness。 Be the
causes what they may； I must declare my own belief that the result
remains。 There has been of late years a lower standard of personal
holiness among believers than there used to be in the days of our
fathers。 The whole result is that the spirit is grieved！ and the matter
calls for much humiliation and searching of heart。
As to the best remedy for the state of things I have mentioned； I shall
venture to give an opinion。 Other schools of thought in the Churches
must judge for themselves。 The cure for Evangelical Churchmen； I am
convinced； is to be found in a clearer apprehension of the nature and
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
