莱尔主教holiness-第105节
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renovation of the whole man。 Sanctification is the forming and the
framing of the new creature; it is the implanting and engraving the
image of Christ upon the poor soul。 It is what the Apostle breathed
afterThat Christ might be formed in them' (Gal。 iv。 19); That they
might bear the image of the heavenly。〃 (1 Cor。 xv。 49)
〃There are but two men only that all the world is like; and so will it
fare with them; as they are like the one; or like the other: the first
Adam; and the second Adam。 Every man by nature is like the first Adam
and like the devil: for the devil and the first fallen Adam were like
one another。 Ye are of your father the devil。' saith our Lord (John
viii。 44); and he was a murderer from the beginning。' All the children
of the first Adam are the devil's children; there is no difference
here。 And all the children of the other sort are like to Jesus Christ;
the second Adam; and when His image shall be perfected in them; then
they shall be perfectly happy。 As we have also borne the image of the
earthly; so shall we also bear the image of the heavenly。' (1 Cor。 xv。
49。) Pray observe; we bear the image of the earthly by being born in
sin and misery; we bear the image of the earthly by living in sin and
misery; and we bear the image of the earthly by dying in sin and
misery; and we bear the image of the earthly in the rottenness of the
grave; and we bear the image of the heavenly Adam when we are
sanctified by His Spirit。 This image increases in us according to our
growth in sanctification: and we perfectly bear the image of the
heavenly Adam when we are just like the Man Christ; both in soul and
body; perfectly happy; and perfectly holy; when we have overe death
by His grace; as He overcame it by His own strength。 It will never be
known how like believers are to Jesus Christ; till they are risen
again: when they shall arise from their graves; like so many little
suns shining in glory and brightness。 Oh; how like will they be to
Jesus Christ! though His personal transcendent glory will be His
property and prerogative to all eternity。
〃II。 Wherein are justification and sanctification alike? I answer; in
many things。
〃 1st。 They are like one another as they are the same in their author;
it is God that justifieth; and it is God that sanctifies。 Who shall lay
anything to the charge of God's elect? it is God that justifieth。'
(Rom。 viii。 33。) I am the Lord that doth sanctify you; is a mon word
in the Old Testament。 (Ex。 xxxi。 13; Lev。 xx。 8。)
〃2ndly。 They are alike and the same in their rise; being both of free
grace; justification is an act of free grace; and sanctification is the
same。 Not by works of righteousness which we have done; but according
to His mercy; He saved us by the washing of regeneration; and the
renewing of the Holy Ghost。' (Tit。 iii。 5。) They are both of grace。
〃3rdly。 They are alike in that they are both towards the same persons。
Never a man is justified but he is also sanctified; and never a man is
sanctified but he is also justified; all the elect of God; all the
redeemed; have both these blessings passing upon them。
〃4thly。 They are alike as to the time; they are the same in time。 It is
a hard matter for us to talk or think of time when we are speaking of
the works of God: these saving works of His are always done at the same
time; a man is not justified before he is sanctified; though it may be
conceived so in order of nature; yet at the same time the same grace
works both。 Such were some of you;' saith the Apostle; but ye are
washed; but ye are sanctified; but ye are justified in the name of the
Lord Jesus; and by the Spirit of our God。' (1 Cor。 vi。 11。)
〃5thly。 They are the same as to the operation of them by the same
means; that is; by the Word of God: we are justified by the Word;
sentencing us to eternal life by the promise; and we are also
sanctified by the power of the same Word。 Now ye are clean;' saith our
Lord; through the Word that I have spoken unto you。' (John xv。 3。) That
He might sanctify and cleanse His Church;' saith the Apostle; with the
washing of water by the Word。' (Eph。 v。 26。)
〃6th and lastly。 They are the same as to their equal necessity to
eternal life。 I do not say as to their equal order; but as to their
equal necessity: that is; as it is determined that no man who is not
justified shall be saved; so it is determined that no man who is not
sanctified shall be saved: no unjustified man can be saved; and no
unsanctified man can be saved。 They are of equal necessity in order to
the possessing of eternal life。
〃III。 Wherein do justification and sanctification differ? This is a
matter of great concernment for people's practice and daily exercise;
wherein they differ。 They agree in many things; as has just now been
declared; but they likewise differ vastly。
〃1st。 Justification is an act of God about the state of a man's person;
but sanctification is the work of God about the nature of a man: and
these two are very different; as I shall illustrate by a similitude。
Justification is an act of God as a judge about a delinquent; absolving
him from a sentence of death; but sanctification is an act of God about
us; as a physician; in curing us of a mortal disease。 There is a
criminal that conies to the bar; and is arraigned for high treason; the
same criminal has a mortal disease; that he may die of; though there
was no judge on the bench to pass the sentence of death upon him for
his crime。 It is an act of grace which absolves the man from the
sentence of the law; that he shall not suffer death for his
treasonthat saves the man's life。 But notwithstanding this; unless
his disease be cured; he may die quickly after; for all the judge's
pardon。 Therefore; I say; justification is an act of God as a gracious
Judge; sanctification is a work of God as a merciful Physician; David
joins them both together。 (Ps。 ciii。 3。) Who forgiveth all thine
inqiuities; who healeth all thy diseases。' It is promised; That
iniquity shall not be your ruin (Ezek。 xviii。 30); in the guilt of it;
that is justification: and it shall not be your ruin; in the power of
it; there lies sanctification。
〃2ndly。 Justification is an act of God's grace upon the account of the
righteousness of another; but sanctification is a work of God; infusing
a righteousness into us。 Now there is a great difference between these
two: for the one is by imputation; the other by infusion。
〃In justification; the sentence of God proceeds this way: the
righteousness that Christ wrought out by His life and death; and the
obedience that He paid to the law of God; is reckoned to the guilty
sinner for his absolution; so that when a sinner es to stand at
God's bar; when the question is asked; Hath not this man broken the law
of God? Yes; saith God; yes; saith the conscience of the poor sinner; I
have broken it in innumerable ways。 And doth not the law condemn thee
to die for thy transgression? Yes; saith the man; yes; saith the law of
God; the law knows nothing more but this; the soul that sinneth must
die。' Well; then; but Is there no hope in this case? Yes; and Gospel
grace reveals this hope。 There is One that took sin on Him; and died
for our sins; and His righteousness is reckoned for the poor sinner's
justification; and thus we are absolved。 We are absolved in
justification by God's reckoning on our account; on our behalf; and for
our advantage; what Christ hath done and suffered for us。
〃In sanctification the Spirit of God infuses a holiness into the soul。
I do not say He infuses a righteousness; for I would fain have these
words; righteousness and holiness; better distinguished than generally
they are。 Righteousness and holiness are; in this case; to be kept
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