莱尔主教holiness-第22章
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but the name。 I turn to the Bible； and I hear the Spirit saying；
〃Without holiness no man shall see the Lord。〃
Surely it is a text that ought to make us consider our ways； and search
our hearts。 Surely it should raise within us solemn thoughts； and send
us to prayer。
You may try to put me off by saying 〃you feel much； and think much
about these things： far more than many suppose。〃 I answer； 〃This is not
the point。 The poor lost souls in hell do as much as this。 The great
question is not what you think； and what you feel； but what you do。
You may say； 〃It was never meant that all Christians should be holy；
and that holiness； such as I have described； is only for great saints；
and people of unmon gifts。〃 I answer； 〃I cannot see that in
Scripture。 I read that every man who hath hope in Christ purifieth
himself。〃 （1 John iii。 3。）〃Without holiness no man shall see the
Lord。〃
You may say； 〃It is impossible to be so holy and to do our duty in this
life at the same time： the thing cannot be done。〃 I answer； 〃You are
mistaken。 It can be done。 With Christ on your side nothing is
impossible。 It has been done by many。 David； and Obadiah； and Daniel；
and the servants of Nero's household； are all examples that go to prove
it。〃
You may say； 〃If I were so holy I would be unlike other people。〃 I
answer； 〃I know it well。 It is just what you ought to be。 Christ's true
servants always were unlike the world around thema separate nation； a
peculiar people；and you must be so too； if you would be saved！〃
You may say； 〃At this rate very few will be saved。〃 I answer； 〃I know
it。 It is precisely what we are told in the Sermon on the Mount。〃 The
Lord Jesus said so 1；900 years ago。 〃Strait is the gate； and narrow is
the way； that leadetn unto life； and few there be that find it。〃 （Matt。
vii。 14。） Few will be saved； because few will take the trouble to seek
salvation。 Men will not deny themselves the pleasures of sin and their
own way for a little season。 They turn their backs on an 〃inheritance
incorruptible； undefiled； and that fadeth not away。〃 〃Ye will not e
unto Me；〃 says Jesus； 〃that ye might have life。〃 （John v。 40。）
You may say； 〃These are hard sayings： the way is very narrow。〃 I
answer； 〃I know it。 So says the Sermon on the Mount。〃 The Lord Jesus
said so 1；900 years ago。 He always said that men must take up the cross
daily； and that they must be ready to cut off hand or foot； if they
would be His disciples。 It is in religion as it is in other things；
〃there are no gains without pains。〃 That which costs nothing is worth
nothing。
Whatever we may think fit to say； we must be holy； if we would see the
Lord。 Where is our Christianity if we are not？ We must not merely have
a Christian name； and Christian knowledge； we must have a Christian
character also。 We must be saints on earth； if ever we mean to be
saints in heaven。 God has said it； and He will not go back： 〃Without
holiness no man shall see the Lord。〃 〃The Pope's calendar；〃 says
Jenkyn； 〃only makes saints of the dead； but Scripture requires sanctity
in the living。〃 〃Let not men deceive themselves；〃 says Owen；
〃sanctification is a qualification indispensably necessary unto those
who will be under the conduct of the Lord Christ unto salvation。 He
leads none to heaven but whom He sanctifies on the earth。 This living
Head will not admit of dead members。〃
Surely we need not wonder that Scripture says 〃Ye must be born again。〃
（John iii。 7。） Surely it is clear as noon…day that many professing
Christians need a plete changenew hearts； new naturesif ever
they are to be saved。 Old things must pass awaythey must bee new
creatures。 〃Without holiness no man；〃 be he who he may； 〃shall see the
Lord。〃
（2） Let me； for another thing； speak a little to believers。 I ask you
this question； 〃Do you think you feel the importance of holiness as
much as you should？〃
I own I fear the temper of the times about this subject。 I doubt
exceedingly whether it holds that place which it deserves in the
thoughts and attention of some of the Lord's people。 I would humbly
suggest that we are apt to overlook the doctrine of growth in grace；
and that we do not sufficiently consider how very far a person may go
in a profession of religion； and yet have no grace； and be dead in
God's sight after all。 I believe that Judas Iscariot seemed very like
the other Apostles。 When the Lord warned them that one would betray
Him； no one said； 〃Is it Judas？〃 We had better think more about the
Churches of Sardis and Laodicea than we do。
I have no desire to make an idol of holiness。 I do not wish to dethrone
Christ； and put holiness in His place。 But I must candidly say； I wish
sanctification was more thought of in this day than it seems to be； and
I therefore take occasion to press the subject on all believers into
whose hands these pages may fall。 I fear it is sometimes forgotten that
God has married together justification and sanctification。 They are
distinct and different things； beyond question； but one is never found
without the other。 All justified people are sanctified； and all
sanctified are justified。 What God has joined together let no man dare
to put asunder。 Tell me not of your justification； unless you have also
some marks of sanctification。 Boast not of Christ's work for you；
unless you can show us the Spirit's work in you。 Think not that Christ
and the Spirit can ever be divided。 I doubt not that many believers
know these things； but I think it good for us to be put in remembrance
of them。 Let us prove that we know them by our lives。 Let us try to
keep in view this text more continually： 〃Follow holiness； without
which no man shall see the Lord。〃
I must frankly say I wish there was not such an excessive sensitiveness
on the subject of holiness as I sometimes perceive in the minds of
believers。 A man might really think it was a dangerous subject to
handle； so cautiously is it touched！ Yet surely when we have exalted
Christ as 〃the way； the truth； and the life；〃 we cannot err in speaking
strongly about what should be the character of His people。 Well says
Rutherford； 〃The way that crieth down duties and sanctification； is not
the way of grace。 Believing and doing are blood…friends。〃
I would say it with all reverence； but say it I mustI sometimes fear
if Christ were on earth now； there are not a few who would think His
preaching legal； and if Paul were writing his Epistles； there are those
who would think he had better not write the latter part of most of them
as he did。 But let us remember that the Lord Jesus did speak the Sermon
on the Mount； and that the Epistle to the Ephesians contains six
chapters and not four。 I grieve to feel obliged to speak in this way；
but I am sure there is a cause。
That great divine； John Owen； the Dean of Christ Church； used to say；
more than two hundred years ago； that there were people whose whole
religion seemed to consist in going about plaining of their own
corruptions； and telling everyone that they could do nothing of
themselves。 I am afraid that after two centuries the same thing might
be said with truth of some of Christ's professing people in this day。 I
know there are texts in Scripture which warrant such plaints。 I do
not object to them when they e from men who walk in the steps of the
Apostle Paul； and fight a good fight； as he did； against sin； the
devil； and the world。 But I never like such plaints when I see
ground for suspecting； as I often do； that they are only a cloak to
cover spiritual laziness； and an excuse for spiritual sloth。 If we say
with Paul； 〃O wretched man that I am；〃 let us also be able to say with
him； 〃I press toward the mark。〃 Let us not quote his example in one
thing； while we do not follow him in another。 （Rom。 vii。 24； Philip。
iii。 14。）
I do not set up myself to be bett
