按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
worship； regular hearing of God's Word； and regular reception of the
Lord's Supper。 I lay it down as a simple matter of fact； that no one
who is careless about such things must ever expect to make much
progress in sanctification。 I can find no record of any eminent saint
who ever neglected them。 They are appointed channels through which the
Holy Spirit conveys fresh supplies of grace to the soul； and
strengthens the work which He has begun in the inward man。 Let men call
this legal doctrine if they please； but I will never shrink from
declaring my belief that there are no 〃spiritual gains without pains。〃
I should as soon expect a farmer to prosper in business who contented
himself with sowing his fields and never looking at them till harvest；
as expect a believer to attain much holiness who was not diligent about
his Bible…reading； his prayers； and the use of his Sundays。 Our God is
a God who works by means； and He will never bless the soul of that man
who pretends to be so high and spiritual that he can get on without
them。
（9） Sanctification； again； is a thing which does not prevent a man
having a great deal of inward spiritual conflict。 By conflict I mean a
struggle within the heart between the old nature and the new； the flesh
and the spirit； which are to be found together in every believer。 （Gal。
v。 17。） A deep sense of that struggle； and a vast amount of mental
disfort from it； are no proof that a man is not sanctified。 Nay；
rather； I believe they are healthy symptoms of our condition； and prove
that we are not dead； but alive； A true Christian is one who has not
only peace of conscience； but war within。 He may be known by his
warfare as well as by his peace。 In saying this； I do not forget that I
am contradicting the views of some well…meaning Christians； who hold
the doctrine called 〃sinless perfection。〃 I cannot help that。 I believe
that what I say is confirmed by the language of St。 Paul in the seventh
chapter of Romans。 That chapter I mend to the careful study of all
my readers。 I am quite satisfied that it does not describe the
experience of an unconverted man； or of a young and unestablished
Christian； but of an old experienced saint in close munion with God。
None but such a man could say； 〃I delight in the law of God after the
inward man。〃 （Rom。 vii。 22。） I believe； furthermore； that what I say is
proved by the experience of all the most eminent servants of Christ
that have ever lived。 The full proof is to be seen in their journals；
their autobiographies； and their lives。Believing all this； I shall
never hesitate to tell people that inward conflict is no proof that a
man is not holy； and that they must not think they are not sanctified
because they do not feel entirely free from inward struggle。 Such
freedom we shall doubtless have in heaven； but we shall never enjoy it
in this world。 The heart of the best Christian； even at his best； is a
field occupied by two rival camps； and the 〃pany of two armies。〃
（Cant。 vi。 13。） Let the words of the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Articles
be well considered by all Churchmen： 〃The infection of nature doth
remain in them that are regenerated。〃 〃Although baptized and born again
in Christ； we offend in many things； and if we say that we have no sin；
we deceive ourselves； and the truth is not in us。〃 ＇6＇
（10） Sanctification； again； is a thing which cannot justify a man； and
yet it pleases God。 This may seem wonderful； and yet it is true。 The
holiest actions of the holiest saint that ever lived are all more or
less full of defects and imperfections。 They are either wrong in their
motive or defective in their performance； and in themselves are nothing
better than 〃splendid sins；〃 deserving God's wrath and condemnation。 To
suppose that such actions can stand the severity of God's judgment；
atone for sin； and merit heaven； is simply absurd。 〃By the deeds of the
law shall no flesh be justified。〃〃We conclude that a man is justified
by faith without the deeds of the law。〃 （Rom。 iii。 20…28。） The only
righteousness in which we can appear before God is the righteousness of
anothereven the perfect righteousness of our Substitute and
Representative； Jesus Christ the Lord。 His work； and not our work； is
our only title to heaven。 This is a truth which we should be ready to
die to maintain。For all this； however； the Bible distinctly teaches
that the holy actions of a sanctified man； although imperfect； are
pleasing in the sight of God。 〃With such sacrifices God is well
pleased。〃 （Heb。 xiii。 16。） 〃Obey your parents； for this is well
pleasing to the Lord。〃 （Col。 iii。 20。） 〃We do those things that are
pleasing in His sight。〃 （1 John iii。 22。） Let this never be forgotten；
for it is a very fortable doctrine。 Just as a parent is pleased with
the efforts of his little child to please him； though it be only by
picking a daisy or walking across a room； so is our Father in heaven
pleased with the poor performances of His believing children。 He looks
at the motive； principle； and intention of their actions； and not
merely at their quantity and quality。 He regards them as members of His
own dear Son； and for His sake； wherever there is a single eye； He is
well…pleased。 Those Churchmen who dispute this would do well to study
the Twelfth Article of the Church of England。
（11） Sanctification； again； is a thing which will be found absolutely
necessary as a witness to our character in the great day of judgment。
It will be utterly useless to plead that we believed in Christ； unless
our faith has had some sanctifying effect； and been seen in our lives。
Evidence； evidence； evidence； will be the one thing wanted when the
great white throne is set； when the books are opened； when the graves
give up their tenants； when the dead are arraigned before the bar of
God。 Without some evidence that our faith in Christ was real and
genuine； we shall only rise again to be condemned。 I