莱尔主教holiness-第37章
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you that they have got far beyond the region of conflict and
soul…humiliationsuch persons no doubt will regard the marks I have
laid down as 〃legal；〃 〃carnal；〃 and 〃gendering to bondage。〃 I cannot
help that。 I call no man master in these things。 I only wish my
statements to be tried in the balance of Scripture。 And I firmly
believe that what I have said is not only Scriptural； but agreeable to
the experience of the most eminent saints in every age。 Show me a man
in whom the six marks I have mentioned can be found。 He is the man who
can give a satisfactory answer to the question； DO WE GROW？
III。 The third and last thing I propose to consider is this：The means
that must be used by those who desire to grow in grace。 The words of
St。 James must never be forgotten： 〃Every good gift and every perfect
gift is from above； and eth down from the Father of lights。〃 （James
i。 17。） This is no doubt as true of growth in grace as it is of
everything else。 It is the 〃gift of God。〃 But still it must always be
kept in mind that God is pleased to work by means。 God has ordained
means as well as ends。 He that would grow in grace must use the means
of growth。 ＇16＇
This is a point； I fear； which is too much overlooked by believers。
Many admire growth in grace in others； and wish that they themselves
were like them。 But they seem to suppose that those who grow are what
they are by some special gift or grant from God； and that as this gift
is not bestowed on themselves they must be content to sit still。 This
is a grievous delusion； and one against which I desire to testify with
all my might。 I wish it to be distinctly understood that growth in
grace is bound up with the use of means within the reach of all
believers； and that； as a general rule； growing souls are what they are
because they use these means。
Let me ask the special attention of my readers while I try to set forth
in order the means of growth。 Cast away for ever the vain thought that
if a believer does not grow in grace it is not his fault。 Settle it in
your mind that a believer； a man quickened by the Spirit； is not a mere
dead creature； but a being or mighty capacities and responsibilities。
Let the words of Solomon sink down into your heart： 〃The soul of the
diligent shall be made fat。〃 （Prov。 xiii。 4。）
（a） One thing essential to growth in grace is diligence in the use of
private means of grace。 By these I understand such means as a man must
use by himself alone； and no one can use for him。 I include under this
head private prayer； private reading of the Scriptures； and private
meditation and self…examination。 The man who does not take pains about
these three things must never expect to grow。 Here are the roots of
true Christianity。 Wrong here； a man is wrong all the way through！ Here
is the whole reason why many professing Christians never seem to get
on。 They are careless and slovenly about their private prayers。 They
read their Bibles but little； and with very little heartiness of
spirit。 They give themselves no time for self…inquiry and quiet thought
about the state of their souls。
It is useless to conceal from ourselves that the age we live in is full
of peculiar dangers。 It is an age of great activity； and of much hurry；
bustle； and excitement in religion。 Many are 〃running to and fro；〃 no
doubt； and 〃knowledge is increased。〃 （Dan。 xii。 4。） Thousands are ready
enough for public meetings； sermon…hearing； or anything else in which
there is 〃sensation。〃 Few appear to remember the absolute necessity of
making time to 〃mune with our hearts； and be still。〃 （Psalm iv。 4。）
But without this there is seldom any deep spiritual prosperity。 I
suspect that English Christians two hundred years ago read their Bibles
more； and were more frequently alone with God； than they are in the
present day。 Let us remember this point！ Private religion must receive
our first attention； if we wish our souls to grow。
（b） Another thing which is essential to growth in grace is carefulness
in the use of public means of grace。 By these I understand such means
as a man has within his reach as a member of Christ's visible Church。
Under this head I include the ordinances of regular Sunday worship； the
uniting with God's people in mon prayer and praise； the preaching of
the Word； and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper。 I firmly believe that
the manner in which these public means of grace are used has much to
say to the prosperity of a believer's soul。 It is easy to use them in a
cold and heartless way。 The very familiarity of them is apt to make us
careless。 The regular return of the same voice； and the same kind of
words； and the same ceremonies； is likely to make us sleepy； and
callous； and unfeeling。 Here is a snare into which too many professing
Christians fall。 If we would grow we must be on our guard here。 Here is
a matter in which the Spirit is often grieved and saints take great
damage。 Let us strive to use the old prayers； and sing the old hymns；
and kneel at the old munion…rail； and hear the old truths preached；
with as much freshness and appetite as in the year we first believed。
It is a sign of bad health when a person loses relish for his food； and
it is a sign of spiritual decline when we lose our appetite for means
of grace。 Whatever we do about public means； let us always do it 〃with
our might。〃 （Eccles。 ix。 10。） This is the way to grow！
（c） Another thing essential to growth in grace is watchfulness over our
conduct in the little matters of everyday life。 Our tempers； our
tongues； the discharge of our several relations of life； our employ
ment of timeeach and all must be vigilantly attended to if we wish
our souls to prosper。 Life is made up of days； and days of hours； and
the little things of every hour are never so little as to be beneath
the care of a Christian。 When a tree begins to decay at root or heart；
the mischief is first seen at the extreme end of the little branches。
〃He that despiseth little things；〃 says an uninspired writer； 〃shall
fall by little and little。〃 That witness is true。 Let others despise
us； if they like； and call us precise and over…careful。 Let us
patiently hold on our way； remembering that 〃we serve a precise God；〃
that our Lord's example is to be copied in the least things as well as
the greatest； and that we must 〃take up our cross daily〃 and hourly；
rather than sin。 We must aim to have a Christianity which； like the sap
of a tree； runs through every twig and leaf of our character； and
sanctifies all。 This is one way to grow！
（d） Another thing which is essential to growth in grace is caution
about the pany we keep and the friendships we form。 Nothing perhaps
affects a man's character more than the pany he keeps。 We catch the
ways and tone of those we live and talk with； and unhappily get harm
far more easily than good。 Disease is infectious； but health is not。
Now if a professing Christian deliberately chooses to be intimate with
those who are not friends of God and who cling to the world； his soul
is sure to take harm。 It is hard enough to serve Christ under any
circumstances in such a world as this。 But it is doubly hard to do it
if we are friends of the thoughtless and ungodly。 Mistakes in
friendship or marriage…engagements are the whole reason why some have
entirely ceased to grow。 〃Evil munications corrupt good manners。〃
〃The friendship of the world is enmity with God。〃 （1 Cor。 xv。 33； James
iv。 4。） Let us seek friends that will stir us up about our prayers； our
Bible…reading； and our employment of timeabout our souls； our
salvation； and a world to e。 Who can tell the good that a friend's
word in season may do； or the harm that it may stop？ This is one way to
grow。 ＇17＇
（e） There is one more thing which is absolutely essential to growth in
graceand that is regular and habitual munion with the Lord
