莱尔主教holiness-第16章
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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 all awake to a sense of the perilous state of
many professing Christians。 〃Without holiness no man shall see the
Lord〃； without sanctification there is no salvation。 （Heb。 xii。 14。）
Then what an enormous amount of so…called religion there is which is
perfectly useless！ What an immense proportion of church…goers and
chapel…goers are in the broad road that leadeth to destruction！ The
thought is awful； crushing； and overwhelming。 Oh； that preachers and
teachers would open their eyes and realize the condition of souls
around them！ Oh； that men could be persuaded to 〃flee from the wrath to
e 〃！ If unsanctified souls can be saved and go to heaven； the Bible
is not true。 Yet the Bible is true and cannot lie！ What must the end
be！
（2） For another thing； let us make sure work of our own condition； and
never rest till we feel and know that we are 〃sanctified〃 ourselves。
What are our tastes； and choices； and likings； and inclinations？ This
is the great testing question。 It matters little what we wish； and what
we hope； and what we desire to be before we die。 Where are we now？ What
are we doing？ Are we sanctified or not？ If not； the fault is all our
own。
（3） For another thing； if we would be sanctified； our course is clear
and plainwe must begin with Christ。 We must go to Him as sinners；
with no plea but that of utter need； and cast our souls on Him by
faith； for peace and reconciliation with God。 We must place ourselves
in His hands； as in the hands of a good physician； and cry to Him for
mercy and grace。 We must wait for nothing to bring with us as a
remendation。 The very first step towards sanctification； no less
than justification； is to e with faith to Christ。 We must first live
and then work。
（4） For another thing； if we would grow in holiness and bee more
sanctified； we must continually go on as we began； and be ever making
fresh applications to Christ。 He is the Head from which every member
