plight。
For myself； I am aware that I am no longer a young minister。 My mind
perhaps stiffens； and I cannot easily receive any new doctrine。 〃The
old is better。〃 I suppose I belong to the old school of Evangelical
theology； and I am therefore content with such teaching about
sanctification as I find in the Life of Faith of Sibbes and of Manton；
and in The Life； Walk； and Triumph of Faith of William Romaine。 But I
must express a hope that my younger brethren who have taken up new
views of holiness will beware of multiplying causeless divisions。 Do
they think that a higher standard of Christian living is needed in the
present day？ So do I。Do they think that clearer； stronger； fuller
teaching about holiness is needed？ So do I。Do they think that Christ
ought to be more exalted as the root and author of sanctification as
well as justification？ So do I。Do they think that believers should be
urged more and more to live by faith？ So do I。Do they think that a
very close walk with God should be more pressed on believers as the
secret of happiness and usefulness？ So do I。In all these things we
agree。 But if they want to go further； then I ask them to take care
where they tread； and to explain very clearly and distinctly what they
mean。
Finally； I must deprecate； and I do it in love； the use of uncouth and
new…fangled terms and phrases in teaching sanctification。 I plead that
a movement in favour of holiness cannot be advanced by new…coined
phraseology； or by disproportioned and one…sided statementsor by
overstraining and isolating particular textsor by exalting one truth
at the expense of anotheror by allegorizing and acmodating texts；
and squeezing out of them meanings which the Holy Ghost never put in
themor by speaking contemptuously and bitterly of those who do not
entirely see things with our eyes； and do not work exactly in our ways。
These things do not make for peace： they rather repel many and keep
them at a distance。 The cause of true sanctification is not helped； but
hindered； by such weapons as these。 A movement in aid of holiness which
produces strife and dispute among God's children is somewhat
suspicious。 For Christ's sake； and in the name of truth and charity；
let us endeavour to follow after peace as well as holiness。 〃What God
has joined together let not man put asunder。〃
It is my heart's desire； and prayer to God daily； that personal
holiness may increase greatly among professing Christians in England；
But I trust that all who endeavour to promote it will adhere closely to
the proportion of Scripture； will carefully distinguish things that
differ； and will separate 〃the precious from the vile。〃 （Jer。 xv。 19。）
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＇1＇ 〃There is a double justification by God： the one authoritative； the
other declarative or demonstrative。〃The first is St。 Paul's scope；
when he speaks of justification by faith without the deeds of the law。
The second is St。 James' scope； when he speaks of justification by
works。〃T。 Goodwin on Gospel Holiness。 Works； vol。 vii； p。 181。
＇2＇ Those who care to go into the subject will find it fully discussed
in the mentaries of Willet； Elton； Chalmers； and Haldane； and in
Owen on Indwelling Sin； and in the work of Stafford on the Seventh of
Romans。
＇3＇ Old Sibbe's Sermon on 〃Victorious Violence〃 deserves the attention
of all who have his works。Vol。 vii。； p。 30。
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HOLINESS
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I
SIN
〃Sin is the transgression of the law。〃1 John iii。 4。
He that wishes to attain right views about Christian holiness； must
begin by examining the vast and solemn subject of sin。 He must dig down
very low if he would build high。 A mistake here is most mischievous。
Wrong views about holiness are generally traceable to wrong views about
human corruption。 I make no apology for beginning this volume of papers
about holiness by making some plain statements about sin。
The plain truth is that a right knowledge of sin lies at the root of
all saving Christianity。 Without it such doctrines as justification；
conversion； sanctification； are 〃words and names〃 which convey no
meaning to the mind。 The first thing； therefore； that God does when He
makes anyone a new creature in Christ； is to send light into his heart；
and show him that he is a guilty sinner。 The material creation in
Genesis began with 〃light；〃 and so also does the spiritual creation。
God 〃shines into our hearts〃 by the work of the Holy Ghost； and then
spiritual life begins。 （2 Cor。 iv。 6。）Dim or indistinct views of sin
are the origin of most of the errors； heresies； and false doctrines of
the present day。 If a man does not realize the dangerous nature of his
soul's disease； you cannot wonder if he is content with false or
imperfect remedies。 I believe that one of the chief wants of the Church
in the nineteenth century has been； and is； clearer； fuller teaching
about sin。
（1） I shall begin the subject by supplying some definition of sin。 We
are all of course familiar with the terms 〃sin〃 and 〃sinners。〃 We talk
frequently of 〃sin〃 being in the world； and of men mitting 〃sins。〃
But what do we mean by these terms and phrases？ Do we really know？ I
fear there is much mental confusion and haziness on this point。 Let me
try； as briefly as possible； to supply an answer。
I say； then； that 〃sin；〃 speaking generally； is； as the Ninth Article
of our Church declares； 〃the fault and corruption of the nature of
every man that is naturally engendered of the offspring of Adam；
whereby man is very far gone （quam longissime is the Latin） from
original righteousness； and is of his own nature inclined to evil； so
that the flesh lusteth alway against the spirit； and； therefore； in
every person born into the world； it deserveth God's wrath and
damnation。〃 Sin； in short； is that vast moral disease which affects the
whole human race； of every rank； and class； and name； and nation； and
people； and tongue； a disease from which there never was but one born
of woman that was free。 Need I say that One was Christ Jesus the Lord？
I say； furthermore； that 〃a sin；〃 to speak more particularly； consists
in doing； saying； thinking； or imagining； anything that is not in
perfect conformity with the mind and law of God。 〃Sin；〃 in short； as
the Scripture saith； is 〃the transgression of the law。〃 （1 John iii。
4。） The slightest outward or inward departure from absolute
mathematical parallelism with God's revealed will and character
constitutes a sin； and at once makes us guilty in God's sight。
Of course I need not tell any one who reads his Bible with attention；
that a man may break God's law in heart and thought； when there is no
overt and visible act of wickedness。 Our Lord has settled that point
beyond dispute in the Sermon on the Mount。 （Matt。 v。 21…28。） Even a
poet of our own has truly said； 〃A man may smile and smile； and be a
villain。〃
Again； I need not tell a careful student of the New Testament； that
there are sins of omission as well as mission； and that we sin； as
our Prayer…book justly reminds us； by 〃leaving undone the things we
ought to do；〃 as really as by 〃doing the things we ought not to do。〃
The solemn words of our Master in the Gospel of St。 Matthew place this
point also beyond dispute。 It is there written； 〃Depart； ye cursed；
into everlasting fire：for I was an hungered； and ye gave Me no meat；
I was thirsty； and ye gave Me no drink。〃 （Matt。 xxv。 41； 42。） It was a
deep and thoughtful saying of holy Archbishop Usher； just before he
died〃Lord； forgive me all my sins； and specially my sins of
omission。〃
But I do think it necessary in these times to remind my readers that a
man may mit sin and yet be ignorant of it； and fancy himself
innocent when he is guilty。 I fail to see any Scriptural warrant for
the modern assertion that 〃Sin is not sin to us until we discern it and
are conscious of it。〃 On the contrary； in the 4th and 5th chapters of
that unduly neglected book； Leviticus； and in the 15th of Numbers； I
find Israel distinctly taught that there were sins of ignorance which
rendered people unclean； and needed atonement。 （Levit。 iv。 1…35； v。
14…19； Num。 xv。 25…29。） And I find our Lord expressly teaching that
〃the servant who knew not his master's will and did it not；〃 was not
excused on account of his ignorance； but was 〃beaten〃 or punished。
（Luke xii。 48。） We shall do well to remember； that when we make our own
miserably imperfect knowledge and consciousness the measure of our
sinfulness； we are on very dangerous ground。 A deeper study of
Leviticus might do us much g