莱尔主教holiness-第119章
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vastly asunder。 Our righteousness is without us； our holiness is within
us； it is our own； the Apostle plainly makes that distinction。 Not
having mine own righteousness。' （Phil。 iii。 9。） It is our own； not
originally； but our own inherently； not our own so us to be of our own
working； but our own because it is indwelling in us。 But our
righteousness is neither our own originally nor inherently； it is
neither wrought out by us； nor doth it dwell in us； but it is wrought
out by Jesus Christ； and it eternally dwells in Him； and is only to be
pleaded by faith； by a poor creature。 But our holiness； though it be
not our own originally； yet it is our own inherently； it dwells in us：
this is the distinction that the Apostle makes。 That I may be found in
Him； not having my own righteousness； which is of the law； but that
which is through the faith of Christ； the righteousness which is of God
by faith。' （Phil。 iii。 9。）
〃3rdly。 Justification is perfect； but sanctification is imperfect； and
here lies a great difference between them。 Justification； I say； is
perfect； and admits of no degrees； admits of no decays； admits of no
intermission； nor of any interruption： but sanctification admits of all
these。 When I say justification is perfect； I mean； that every
justified man is equally and perfectly justified。 The poorest believer
that is this day in the world； is justified as much as ever the Apostle
Paul was； and every true believer is as much justified now as he will
be a thousand years hence。 Justification is perfect in all them that
are partakers of it； and to all eternity； it admits of no degrees。 And
the plain reason of it is thisthe ground of it is the perfect
righteousness of Jesus Christ； and the entitling us to it is by an act
of God the gracious Judge； and that act stands for ever； and if God
justifies； who is he that shall condemn？ （Rom。 viii。 33。） But
sanctification is an imperfect； inplete； changeable thing。 One
believer is more sanctified than another。 I am apt to believe that the
Apostle Paul was more sanctified the first hour of his conversion； than
any man this day in the world。
〃Sanctification differs greatly as to the persons that are partakers of
it； and it differs greatly too as to the same man； for a true believer；
a truly sanctified man； may be more holy and sanctified at one time
than at another。 There is a work required of usto be perfecting
holiness in the fear of God （2 Cor。 vii。 1）。 But we are nowhere
required to be perfecting righteousness in the sight of God； for God
hath brought in a perfect righteousness； in which we stand； but we are
to take care； and to give diligence to perfect holiness in the fear of
God。 A saint in glory is more sanctified than ever he was； for he is
perfectly so； but he is not more justified than he was。 Nay； a saint in
heaven is not more justified than a believer on earth is： only they
know it better； and the glory of that light in which they see it；
discovers it more brightly and more clearly to them。〃
From Traill's Sermons； upon 1 Pet。 i。 1…3； vol。 4； p。 71。 Edinburgh
edition of Traill's Works。 1810。
（2。） Rev。 Thomas Brooks； Rector of St。 Margaret； Fish Street Hill；
London。 1662。
〃Consider the necessity of holiness。 It is impossible that ever you
should be happy； except you are holy。 No holiness here； no happiness
hereafter。 The Scripture speaks of three bodily inhabitants of
heavenEnoch； before the law； Elijah； under the law； and Jesus Christ；
under the Gospel： all three eminent in holiness； to teach us； that even
in an ordinary course there is no going to heaven without holiness。
There are many thousand thousands now in heaven； but not one unholy one
among them all； there is not one sinner among all those saints； not one
goat among all those sheep； not one weed among all those flowers； not
one thorn or prickle among all those roses； not one pebble among all
those glistering diamonds。 There is not one Cain among all those Abels；
nor one Ishmael among all those Isaacs； nor one Esau among all those
Jacobs in heaven。 There is not one Ham among all the patriarchs； not
one Saul among all the prophets； nor one Judas among all the apostles；
nor one Demas among all the preachers； nor one Simon Magus among all
the professors。
〃Heaven is only for the holy man； and the holy man is only for heaven：
heaven is a garment of glory； that is only suited to him that is holy。
God； who is truth itself； and cannot lie； hath said it； that without
holiness no man shall see the Lord。 Mark that word no man。' Without
holiness the rich man shall not see the Lord； without holiness the poor
man shall not see the Lord； without holiness the nobleman shall not see
the Lord； without holiness the mean man shall not see the Lord； without
holiness the prince shall not see the Lord； without holiness the
peasant shall not see the Lord； without holiness the ruler shall not
see the Lord； without holiness the ruled shall not see the Lord；
without holiness the learned man shall not see the Lord； without
holiness the ignorant man shall not see the Lord； without holiness the
husband shall not see the Lord； without holiness the wife shall not see
the Lord； without holiness the father shall not see the Lord； without
holiness the child shall not see the Lord； without holiness the master
shall not see the Lord； without holiness the servant shall not see the
Lord。 For faithful and strong is the Lord of hosts that hath spoken
it。' （Josh。 xxiii。 14。）
〃In this day some cry up one form； some another； some cry up one Church
state； some another； some cry up one way； some another； but certainly
the way of holiness is the good old way （Jer。 vi。 16）； it is the King
of kings' highway to heaven and happiness： And a highway shall be
there； and a way； and it shall be called The way of holiness； the
unclean shall not pass over it； but it shall be for those： the
wayfaring men； though fools； shall not err therein。' （Isa。 xxxv。 8。）
Some men say； Lo； here is the way； other men say； Lo； there is the way；
but certainly the way of holiness is the surest； the safest； the
easiest； the noblest； and the shortest way to happiness。
〃Among the heathen； no man could enter into the temple of honour； but
must first enter the temple of virtue。 There is no entering the temple
of happiness； except you enter into the temple of holiness。 Holiness
must first enter into you； before you can enter into God's holy hill。
As Samson cried out； Give me water； or I die'； or as Rachel cried out；
Give me children； or I die'； so all unsanctified souls may well cry
out； Lord； give me holiness； or I die： give me holiness or I eternally
die。 If the angels； those princes of glory； fall once from their
holiness； they shall be for ever excluded from everlasting happiness
and blessedness。 If Adam in paradise fall from his purity； he shall
quickly be driven out from the presence of Divine glory。 Augustine
would not be a wicked man； an unholy man； one hour for all the world；
because he did not know but that he might die that hour； and should he
die in an unholy estate； he knew he should be for ever separated from
the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power。
〃O； sirs； do not deceive your own souls； holiness is of absolute
necessity； without it you shall never see the Lord。 （2 Thess。 i。 8…10。）
It is not absolutely necessary that you should be great or rich in the
world； but it is absolutely necessary that you should be holy： it is
not absolutely necessary that you should enjoy health； strength；
friends； liberty； life； but it is absolutely necessary that you should
be holy。 A man may see the Lord without worldly prosperity； but he can
never see the Lord except he be holy。 A man may to heaven； to
happiness； without honour or worldly glory； but he can never to heaven；
to happiness； without holiness。 Without holine
