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莱尔主教holiness-第20章

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   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 arou
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