莱尔主教holiness-第14节
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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； revengeful people； malicious
peopleof whom； alas； the world is only too full！all such know
little； as they should know； about sanctification。
Such are the visible marks of a sanctified man。 I do not say that they
are all to be seen equally in all God's people。 I freely admit that in
the best they are not fully and perfectly exhibited。 But I do say
confidently； that the things of which i have been speaking are the
Scriptural marks of sanctification； and that they who know nothing of
them may well doubt whether they have any grace at all。 Whatever others
may please to say； I will never shrink from saying that genuine
sanctification is a thing that can be seen； and that the marks I have
endeavoured to sketch out are more or less the marks of a sanctified
man。
III。 I now propose to consider； in the last place； the distinction
between justification and sanctification。 Wherein do they agree； and
wherein do they differ？ This branch of our subject is one of great
importance； though I fear it will not seem so to all my readers。 I
shall handle it briefly； but I dare not pass it over altogether。 Too
many are apt to look at nothing but the surface of things in religion；
and regard nice distinctions in theology as questions of 〃words and
names；〃 which are of little real value。 But I warn all who are in
earnest about their souls； that the disfort which arises from not
〃distinguishing things that differ〃 in Christian doctrine is very great
indeed； and I especially advise them； if they love peace； to seek clear
views about the matter before us。 Justification and sanctification are
two distinct things we must always remember。 Yet there are points in
which they agree and points in which they differ。 Let us try to find
out what they are。
In what； then； are justification and sanctification alike？
（a） Both proceed originally from the free grace of God。 It is of His
gift alone that believers are justified or sanctified at all。
（b） Both are part of that great work of salvation which Christ； in the
eternal covenant； has undertaken on behalf of His people。 Christ is the
fountain of life； from which pardon and holiness both flow。 The root of
each is Christ。
（c） Both are to be found in the same persons。 Those who are justified
are always sanctified； and those who are sanctified are always
justified。 God has joined them together； and they cannot be put
asunder。
（d） Both begin at the same time。 The moment a person begins to be a
justified person； he also begins to be a sanctified person。 He may not
feel it； but it is a fact。
（e） Both are alike necessary to salvation。 No one ever reached heaven
without a renewed heart as well as forgiveness； without the Spirit's
grace as well as the blood of Christ； without a meetness for eternal
glory as well as a title。 The one is just as necessary as the other。
Such are the points on which justification and sanctification agree。
Let us now reverse the picture； and see wherein they differ。
（a） Justification is the reckoning and counting a man to be righteous
for the sake of another； even Jesus Christ the Lord。 Sanctification is
the actual making a man inwardly righteous； though it may be in a very
feeble degree。
（b） The righteousness we have by our justification is not our own； but
the everlasting perfect righteousness of our great Mediator Christ；
imputed to us； and made our own by faith。 The righteousness we have by
sanctification is our own righteousness； imparted； inherent； and
wrought in us by the Holy Spirit； but mingled with much infirmity and
imperfection。
（c） In justification our own works have no place at all； and simple
faith in Christ is the one thing needful。 In sanctification our own
works are of vast importance and God bids us fight； and watch； and
pray； and strive； and take pains； and labour。
（d） Justification is a finished and plete work； and a man is
perfectly justified the moment he believes。 Sanctification is an
imperfect work； paratively； and will never be perfected until we
reach heaven。
（e） Justification admits of no growth or increase： a man is as much
justified the hour he first es to Christ by faith as he will be to
all eternity。 Sanctification is eminently a progressive work； and
admits of continual growth and enlargement so long as a man lives。
（f） Justification has special reference to our persons； our standing in
God's sight； and our deliverance from guilt。 Sanctification has special
reference to our natures； and the moral renewal of our hearts。
（g） Justification gives us our title to heaven； and boldness to enter
in。 Sanctification gives us our meetness for heaven； and prepares us to
enjoy it when we dwell there。
（h） Justification is the act of God about us； and is not easily
discerned by others。 Sanctification is the work of God within us； and
cannot be hid in its outward manifestation from the eyes of men。
I mend these distinctions to the attention of all my readers； and I
ask them to ponder them well。 I am persuaded that one great cause of
the darkness and unfortable feelings of many well…meaning people in
the matter of religion； is their habit of confounding； and not
distinguishing； justification and sanctification。 It can never be too
strongly impressed on our minds that they are two separate things。 No
doubt they cannot be divided； and everyone that is a partaker of either
is a partaker of both。 But never； never ought they to be confounded；
and never ought the distinction between them to be forgotten。
It only remains for me now to bring this subject to a conclusion by a
few plain words of application。 The nature and visible marks of
sanctification have been brought before us。 What practical reflections
ought the whole matter to raise in our minds？
（1） For one thing； let us
