莱尔主教holiness-第48章
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lose。 He that never fears possesses nothing truly valuable。 He that is
never jealous knows little of deep love。 Be not discouraged： you shall
be more than conqueror through Him that loved you。 ＇39＇
Finally； do not forget that assurance is a thing which may be lost for
a season； even by the brightest Christians； unless they take care。
Assurance is a most delicate plant。 It needs daily； hourly watching；
watering； tending； cherishing。 So watch and pray the more when you have
got it。 As Rutherford says； 〃Make much of assurance。〃 Be always upon
your guard。 When Christian slept in the arbour； in Pilgrim's Progress；
he lost his certificate。 Keep that in mind。
David lost assurance for many months by falling into transgression。
Peter lost it when he denied his Lord。 Each found it again undoubtedly；
but not till after bitter tears。 Spiritual darkness es on horseback；
and goes away on foot。 It is upon us before we know that it is ing。
It leaves us slowly； gradually； and not till after many days。 It is
easy to run down hill。 It is hard work to climb up。 So remember my
cautionwhen you have the joy of the Lord； watch and pray。
Above all； grieve not the Spirit。 Quench not the Spirit。 Vex not the
Spirit。 Drive Him not to a distance； by tampering with small bad habits
and little sins。 Little jarrings between husbands and wives make
unhappy homes； and petty inconsistencies； known and allowed； will bring
in a strangeness between you and the Spirit。
Hear the conclusion of the whole matter。
The man who walks with God in Christ most closely will generally be
kept in the greatest peace。
The believer who follows the Lord most fully and aims at the highest
degree of holiness will ordinarily enjoy the most assured hope； and
have the clearest persuasion of his own salvation。
NOTE
（referred to at page 107）
Extracts from English Divines； showing that there is a difference
between faith and assurancethat a believer may be justified and
accepted with God； and yet not enjoy a fortable knowledge and
persuasion of his own safetyand that the weakest faith in Christ； if
it be true； will save a man as surely as the strongest。
（1） 〃The mercy of God is greater than all the sins in the world。 But we
sometimes are in such a case； that we think we have no faith at all； or
if we have any； it is very feeble and weak。 And therefore these are two
things： to have faith； and to have the feeling of faith。 For some men
would fain have the feeling of faith； but they cannot attain unto it；
and yet they must not despair； but go forward in calling upon God； and
it will e at the length： God will open their hearts； and let them
feel His goodness。〃Bishop Larimer's Sermons。 1552。
（2） 〃Weak faith may fail in the applying； or in the apprehension and
appropriating of Christ's benefits to a man's own self。 This is to be
seen in ordinary experience。 For many a man there is of humble and
contrite heart； that serveth God in spirit and truth； yet is not able
to say； without great doublings and waverings； I know and am fully
assured that my sins are pardoned。 Now shall we say that all such are
without faith？ God forbid。
〃This weak faith will as truly apprehend God's merciful promises for
the pardon of sin as strong faith； though not so soundly。 Even as a man
with a palsied hand can stretch it out as well to receive a gift at the
hand of a king as he that is more sound； though it may be not so firmly
and steadfastly。〃Exposition of the Creed； by William Perkins；
Minister of Christ in the University of Cambridge。 1612。
（3） 〃This certainty of our salvation； spoken of by Paul； rehearsed by
Peter； and mentioned by David （Psalm iv。 7）； is that special fruit of
faith； which breedeth spiritual joy and inward peace； which passeth all
understanding。 True it is； all God's children have it not。 One thing is
the tree； and another thing is the fruit of the tree： one thing is
faith； and another thing is the fruit of faith。 And that remnant of
God's elect which feel the want of this faith； have notwithstanding
faith。〃Sermons by Richard Greenham； Minister and Preacher of the Word
of God。 1612。
（4） 〃Some think they have no faith at all； because they have no full
assurance。 Yet the fairest fire that can be will have some smoke。〃The
Bruised Reed； by Richard Sibbes； Master of Catherine Hall； Cambridge；
and Preacher of Gray's Inn； London。 1630。
（5） 〃The act of faith is to apply Christ to the soul； and this the
weakest faith can do as well as the strongest； if it be true。 A child
can hold a staff as well； though not so strongly； as a man。 The
prisoner through a hole sees the sun； though not so perfectly as they
in the open air。 They that saw the brazen serpent； though a great way
off； yet were healed。
〃The least faith is as precious to the believer's soul as Peter's or
Paul's faith was to themselves； for it lays hold upon Christ and brings
eternal salvation。〃An Exposition of the Second Epistle General of
Peter； by the Rev。 Thomas Adams； Rector of St。 Gregory's； London。 1633。
（6） 〃Weak faith is true faithas precious； though not so great as
strong faith： the same Holy Ghost the author； the same Gospel the
instrument。
〃If it never proves great； yet weak faith shall save； for it interests
us in Christ； and makes Him and all His benefits ours。 For it is not
the strength of our faith that saves； but the truth of our faithnot
the weakness of our faith that condemns； but the want of faith； for the
least faith layeth hold on Christ； and so will save us。 Neither are we
saved by the worth or quantity of our faith； but by Christ； who is laid
hold on by a weak faith as well as a strong。 Just as a weak hand that
can put meat into the mouth shall feed and nourish the body as well as
if it were a strong hand； seeing the body is not nourished by the
strength of the hand； but by the goodness of the meat。〃The Doctrine
of Faith； by John Rogers； Preacher of God's Word； at Dedham； in Essex。
1634。
（7） 〃It is one thing to have a thing surely； another thing to know I
have it surely。 We seek many things that we have in our hands； and we
have many things that we think we have lost。 So a believer； who hath a
sure belief； yet doth not always know that he so believeth。 Faith is
necessary to salvation： but full assurance that I do believe is not of
like necessity。〃Ball on Faith。 1637。
（8） 〃There is a weak faith； which yet is true； and although it be weak；
yet； because it is true； it shall not be rejected of Christ。
〃Faith is not created perfect at the first； as Adam was； but is like a
man in the ordinary course of nature； who is first an instrument； then
a child； then a youth； then a man。
〃Some utterly reject all weak ones； and tax all weakness in faith with
hypocrisy。 Certainly these are either proud or cruel men。
〃Some fort and establish those who are weak； saying； Be quiet。 Thou
hast faith and grace enough； and art good enough： thou needest no more；
neither must thou be too righteous。' （Eccles。 vii。 16。） These are soft；
but not safe； cushions： these are fawning flatterers； and not faithful
friends。
〃Some fort and exhort； saying； Be of good cheer： He who hath begun a
good work will also finish it in you； therefore pray that His grace may
abound in you； yea； do not sit still； but go forward； and march on in
the way of the Lord。' （Heb。 vi。 1。） Now this is the safest and best
course。〃Questions； Observations； etc。； upon the Gospel according to
St。 Matthew； by Richard Ward； sometime Student at Cambridge； and
Preacher of the Gospel in London。 1640。
（9） 〃A man may be in the favour of God； in the state of grace； a
justified man before God； and yet want the sensible assurance of His
salvation； and of the favour of God in Christ。
〃A man may have saving grace in him； and not perceive it himself； a man
may have true justifying
