莱尔主教holiness-第15章
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from the evil。〃 （John xvii。 15。）
（5） Sanctification does not consist in the occasional performance of
right actions。 It is the habitual working of a new heavenly principle
within； which runs through all a man's daily conduct； both in great
things and in small。 Its seat is in the heart； and like the heart in
the body； it has a regular influence on every part of the character。 It
is not like a pump； which only sends forth water when worked upon from
without； but like a perpetual fountain； from which a stream is ever
flowing spontaneously and naturally。 Even Herod； when he heard John the
Baptist； 〃did many things；〃 while his heart was utterly wrong in the
sight of God。 （Mark vi。 20。） Just so there are scores of people in the
present day who seem to have spasmodical fits of 〃goodness；〃 as it is
called； and do many right things under the influence of sickness；
affliction； death in the family； public calamities； or a sudden qualm
of conscience。 Yet all the time any intelligent observer can see
plainly that they are not converted； and that they know nothing of
〃sanctification。〃 A true saint； like Hezekiah； will be whole…hearted。
He will 〃count God's mandments concerning all things to be right；
and hate every false way。〃 （2 Chron。 xxxi。 21； Psalm cxix。 104。）
（6） Genuine sanctification will show itself in habitual respect to
God's law； and habitual effort to live in obedience to it as the rule
of life。 There is no greater mistake than to suppose that a Christian
has nothing to do with the law and the Ten mandments； because he
cannot be justified by keeping them。 The same Holy Ghost who convinces
the believer of sin by the law； and leads him to Christ for
justification； will always lead him to a spiritual use of the law； as a
friendly guide； in the pursuit of sanctification。 Our Lord Jesus Christ
never made light of the Ten mandments； on the contrary； in His first
public discourse； the Sermon on the Mount； He expounded them； and
showed the searching nature of their requirements。 St。 Paul never made
light of the law： on the contrary； he says； 〃The law is good； if a man
use it lawfully。〃〃I delight in the law of God after the inward man〃；
（1 Tim。 i。 8； Rom。 vii。 22。） He that pretends to be a saint； while he
sneers at the Ten mandments； and thinks nothing of lying； hypocrisy；
swindling； ill…temper； slander； drunkenness； and breach of the seventh
mandment； is under a fearful delusion。 He will find it hard to prove
that he is a 〃saint〃 in the last day！
（7） Genuine sanctification will show itself in an habitual endeavour to
do Christ's will； and to live by His practical precepts。 These precepts
are to be found scattered everywhere throughout the four Gospels； and
especially in the Sermon on the Mount。 He that supposes they were
spoken without the intention of promoting holiness； and that a
Christian need not attend to them in his daily life； is really little
better than a lunatic； and at any rate is a grossly ignorant person。 To
hear some men talk； and read some men's writings； one might imagine
that our blessed Lord； when He was on earth； never taught anything but
doctrine； and left practical duties to be taught by others！ The
slightest knowledge of the four Gospels ought to tell us that this is a
plete mistake。 What His disciples ought to be and to do is
continually brought forward in our Lord's teaching。 A truly sanctified
man will never forget this。 He serves a Master who said； 〃Ye are my
friends if ye do whatsoever I mand you。〃 （John xv。 14。）
（8） Genuine sanctification will show itself in an habitual desire to
live up to the standard which St。 Paul sets before the Churches in his
writings。 That standard is to be found in the closing chapters of
nearly all his Epistles。 The mon idea of many persons that St。
Paul's writings are full of nothing but doctrinal statements and
controversial subjectsjustification； election； predestination；
prophecy； and the likeis an entire delusion； and a melancholy proof
of the ignorance of Scripture which prevails in these latter days。 I
defy anyone to read St。 Paul's writings carefully without finding in
them a large quantity of plain； practical directions about the
Christian's duty in every relation of life； and about our daily habits；
temper； and behaviour to one another。 These directions were written
down by inspiration of God for the perpetual guidance of professing
Christians。 He who does not attend to them may possibly pass muster as
a member of a church or a chapel； but he certainly is not what the
Bible calls a 〃sanctified〃 man。
（9） Genuine sanctification will show itself in habitual attention to
the active graces which our Lord so beautifully exemplified； and
especially to the grace of charity。 〃A new mandment I give unto you；
that ye love one another； as I have loved you； that ye also love one
another。 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples； if ye
have love one to another。〃 （John xiii。 34； 35。） A sanctified man will
try to do good in the world； and to lessen the sorrow and increase the
happiness of all around him。 He will aim to be like his Master； full of
kindness and love to every one； and this not in word only； by calling
people 〃dear；〃 but by deeds and actions and self…denying work；
according as he has opportunity。 The selfish Christian professor； who
wraps himself up in his own conceit of superior knowledge； and seems to
care nothing whether others sink or swim； go to heaven or hell； so long
as he walks to church or chapel in his Sunday best； and is called a
〃sound member〃such a man knows nothing of sanctification。 He may
think himself a saint on earth； but he will not be a saint in heaven。
Christ will never be found the Saviour of those who know nothing of
following His example。 Saving faith and real converting grace will
always produce some conformity to the image of Jesus。 ＇8＇ （Coloss。 iii。
10。）
（10） Genuine sanctification； in the last place； will show itself in
habitual attention to the passive graces of Christianity。 When I speak
of passive graces； I mean those graces which are especially shown in
submission to the will of God； and in bearing and for bearing towards
one another。 Few people； perhaps； unless they have examined the point；
have an idea how much is said about these graces in the New Testament；
and how important a place they seem to fill。 This is the special point
which St。 Peter dwells upon in mending our Lord Jesus Christ's
example to our notice： 〃Christ also suffered for us； leaving us an
example； that we should follow His steps： Who did no sin； neither was
guile found in His mouth： Who； when He was reviled； reviled not again；
when He suffered； He threatened not； but mitted Himself to Him that
judgeth righteously。〃 （1 Peter ii。 21…23。）This is the one piece of
profession which the Lord's prayer requires us to make： 〃Forgive us our
trespasses； as we forgive them that trespass against us〃； and the one
point that is mented upon at the end of the prayer。This is the
point which occupies one…third of the list of the fruits of the Spirit；
supplied by St。 Paul。 Nine are named； and three of these；
〃long…suffering； gentleness； and meekness；〃 are unquestionably passive
graces。 （Gal。 v。 22； 23。） I must plainly say that I do not think this
subject is sufficiently considered by Christians。 The passive graces
are no doubt harder to attain than the active ones； but they are
precisely the graces which have the greatest influence on the world。 Of
one thing I feel very sureit is nonsense to pretend to sanctification
unless we follow after the meekness； gentleness； long…suffering； and
forgiveness of which the Bible makes so much。 People who are habitually
giving way to peevish and cross tempers in daily life； and are
constantly sharp with their tongues； and disagreeable to all around
themspiteful people； vindictive people
