莱尔主教holiness-第23章
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iii。 14。）
I do not set up myself to be better than other people； and if anyone
asks； 〃What are you； that you write in this way？〃 I answer； 〃I am a
very poor creature indeed。〃 But I say that I cannot read the Bible
without desiring to see many believers more spiritual； more holy； more
single…eyed； more heavenly…minded； more whole…hearted than they are in
the nineteenth century。 I want to see among believers more of a pilgrim
spirit； a more decided separation from the world； a conversation more
evidently in heaven； a closer walk with Godand therefore I have
written as I have。
Is it not true that we need a higher standard of personal holiness in
this day？ Where is out patience？ Where is our zeal？ Where is our love？
Where are our works？ Where is the power of religion to be seen； as it
was in times gone by？ Where is that unmistakable tone which used to
distinguish the saints of old； and shake the world？ Verily our silver
has bee dross； our wine mixed with water； and our salt has very
little savour。 We are all more than half asleep。 The night is far
spent； and the day is at hand。 Let us awake； and sleep no more。 Let us
open our eyes more widely than we have done hitherto。 〃Let us lay aside
every weight； and the sin that doth so easily beset us。〃〃Let us
cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit； and perfect
holiness in the fear of God。〃（Heb。 xii。 i； 2 Cor。 vii。 1。） 〃Did
Christ die；〃 says Owen； 〃and shall sin live？ Was He crucified in the
world； and shall our affections to the world be quick and lively？ Oh；
where is the spirit of him； who by the cross of Christ was crucified to
the world； and the world to him！〃
III。 Let me； in the last place； offer a word of advice to all who
desire to be holy。
Would you be holy？ Would you bee a new creature？ Then you must begin
with Christ。 You will do just nothing at all； and make no progress till
you feel your sin and weakness； and flee to Him。 He is the root and
beginning of all holiness； and the way to be holy is to e to Him by
faith and be joined to Him。 Christ is not wisdom and righteousness only
to His people； but sanctification also。 Men sometimes try to make
themselves holy first of all； and sad work they make of it。 They toil
and labour； and turn over new leaves； and make many changes； and yet；
like the woman with the issue of blood； before she came to Christ； they
feel 〃nothing bettered； but rather worse。〃 （Mark v。 26。） They run in
vain； and labour in vain； and little wonder； for they are beginning at
the wrong end。 They are building up a wall of sand； their work runs
down as fast as they throw it up。 They are baling water out of a leaky
vessel： the leak gains on them； not they on the leak。 Other foundation
of 〃holiness〃 can no man lay than that which Paul laid； even Christ
Jesus。 〃Without Christ we can do nothing。〃 （John xv。 5。） It is a strong
but true saying of Traill's； 〃Wisdom out of Christ is damning
follyrighteousness out of Christ is guilt and
condemnationsanctification out of Christ is filth and sinredemption
out of Christ is bondage and slavery。〃
Do you want to attain holiness？ Do you feel this day a real hearty
desire to be holy？ Would you be a partaker of the Divine nature？ Then
go to Christ。 Wait for nothing。 Wait for nobody。 Linger not。 Think not
to make yourself ready。 Go and say to Him； in the words of that
beautiful hymn
Nothing in my hand I bring；
Simply to Thy cross I cling；
Naked； flee to Thee for dress；
Helpless； look to Thee for grace。〃
There is not a brick nor a stone laid in the work of our sanctification
till we go to Christ。 Holiness is His special gift to His believing
people。 Holiness is the work He carries on in their hearts； by the
Spirit whom He puts within them。 He is appointed a 〃Prince and a
Saviour； to give repentance〃 as well as remission of sins。〃To as many
as receive Him； He gives power to bee sons of God。〃 （Acts v。 31；
John i。 12； 13。） Holiness es not of bloodparents cannot give it to
their children： nor yet of the will of the fleshman cannot produce it
in himself： nor yet of the will of manministers cannot give it you by
baptism。 Holiness es from Christ。 It is the result of vital union
with Him； It is the fruit of being a living branch of the True Vine。 Go
then to Christ and say； 〃Lord； not only save me from the guilt of sin；
but send the Spirit； whom Thou didst promise； and save me from its
power。 Make me holy。 Teach me to do Thy will。〃
Would you continue holy？ Then abide in Christ。 He says Himself； 〃Abide
in Me and I in you；he that abideth in Me and I in him； the same
beareth much fruit。 （John xv。 4； 5。） It pleased the Father that in Him
should all fulness dwella full supply for all a believer's wants。 He
is the Physician to whom you must daily go； if you would keep well。 He
is the Manna which you must daily eat； and the Rock of which you must
daily drink。 His arm is the arm on which you must daily lean； as you
e up out of the wilderness of this world。 You must not only be
rooted； you must also be built up in Him。 Paul was a man of God
indeeda holy mana growing； thriving Christianand what was the
secret of it all？ He was one to whom Christ was 〃all in all。〃 He was
ever 〃looking unto Jesus。〃 〃I can do all things；〃 he says； 〃through
Christ which strengthened me。〃 〃I live； yet not I； but Christ liveth in
me。 The life that I now live； I live by the faith of the Son of God。〃
Let us go and do likewise。 （Heb。 xii。 2； Phil。 iv。 13； Gal。 ii。 20。）
May all who read these pages know these things by experience； and not
by hearsay only。 May we all feel the importance of holiness； far more
than we have ever done yet！ May our years be holy years with our souls；
and then they will be happy ones！ Whether we live； may we live unto the
Lord； or whether we die； may we die unto the Lord； of if He es for
us； may we be found in peace； without spot； and blameless！
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IV。
THE FIGHT
〃Fight the good fight of faith。〃1 Timothy vi。 12。
IT is a curious fact that there is no subject about which most people
feel such deep interest as 〃fighting。〃 Young men and maidens； old men
and little children； high and low； rich and poor； learned and
unlearned； all feel a deep interest in wars； battles and fighting。
This is a simple fact； whatever way we may try to explain it。 We should
call that Englishman a dull fellow who cared nothing about the story of
Waterloo； or Inkermann； or Balaclava or Lucknow。 We should think that
heart cold and stupid which was not moved and thrilled by the struggles
at Sedan and Strasburg； and Metz； and Paris； during the war between
France and Germany。
But there is another warfare of far greater importance than any war
that was ever waged by man。 It is a warfare which concerns not two or
three nations only； but every Christian man and woman born into the
world。 The warfare I speak of is the spiritual warfare。 It is the fight
which everyone who would be saved must fight about his soul。
This warfare； I am aware； is a thing of which many know nothing。 Talk
to them about it； and they are ready to set you down as a madman； an
enthusiast； or a fool。 And yet it is as real and true as any war the
world has ever seen。 It has its hand…to…hand conflicts and its wounds。
It has its watchings and fatigues。 It has its sieges and assaults。 It
has its victories and its defeats。 Above all； it has consequences which
are awful； tremendous； and most peculiar。 In earthly warfare the
consequences to nations are often temporary and remediable。 In the
spiritual warfare it is very different。 Of that warfare； the
consequences； when the fight is over； are unchangeable and eternal。
It is of this warfare that St。 Paul spoke to Timothy； when he wrote
those burning words； 〃Fight the good fight of faith； lay ho
