按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
It is only in the details of execution that it fails。
4。 A fourth method I need scarcely mention； for it is a variation
on those already named。 It is
The very young man's method；
and the pure earnestness of it makes it almost desecration to touch
it。 It is to keep a private note…book with columns for the days
of the week； and a list of virtues； with spaces against each for
marks。 this； with many stern rules for preface； is stored away in
a secret place； and from time to time； at nightfall； the soul is
arraigned before it as before a private judgment bar。
This living by code was Franklin's method； and I suppose thousands
more could tell how they had hung up in their bedrooms； or hid in
locked…fast drawers； the rules which one solemn day they drew up
to shape their lives。
This method is not erroneous； only somehow its success is poor。
You bear me witness that it fails。 And it fails generally for very
matter…of…fact reasonsmost likely because one day we forget the
rules。
All these methods that have been namedthe self…sufficient method；
the self…crucifixion method； the mimetic method； and the diary
methodare perfectly human； perfectly natural； perfectly ignorant； and
as they stand perfectly inadequate。 It is not argued； I repeat；
that they must be abandoned。 Their harm is rather that they distract
attention from the true working method； and secure a fair result
at the expense of the perfect one。 What that perfect method is we
shall now go on to ask。
I。 The formula of sanctification。
A formula； a receipt for Sanctificationcan one seriously speak
of this mighty change as if the process were as definite as for
the production of so many volts of electricity？
It is impossible to doubt it。 Shall a mechanical experiment
succeed infallibly； and the one vital experiment of humanity remain
a chance？ Is corn to grow by method； and character by caprice？
If we cannot calculate to a certainty that the forces of religion
will do their work； then is religion vain。 And if we cannot express
the law of these forces in simple words； then is Christianity not
the world's religion； but the world's conundrum。
Where； then； shall one look for such a formula？ Where one would
look for any formulaamong the text…books。 And if we turn to the
text…books of Christianity we shall find a formula for this problem
as clear and precise as any in the mechanical sciences。 If this
simple rule； moreover； be but followed fearlessly； it will yield
the result of a perfect character as surely as any result that is
guaranteed by the laws of nature。
The finest expression of this rule in Scripture； or indeed in any
literature； is probably one drawn up and condensed into a single
verse by Paul。 You will find it in a letterthe second to the
Corinthianswritten by him to some Christian people who； in a city
which was a byword for depravity and licentiousness； were seeking
the higher life。 To see the point of the words we must take them
from the immensely improved rendering of the Revised translation；
for the older Version in this case greatly obscures the sense。
They are these：
〃We all； with unveiled face reflecting as a mirror the glory of
the Lord； are transformed into the same image from glory to glory；
even as from the Lord； the Spirit。〃
Now observe at the outset the entire contraction of all our previous
efforts； in the simple passive： 〃WE ARE TRANSFORMED。〃
We ARE CHANGED； as the Old Version has itwe do not change
ourselves。 No man can change himself。 Throughout the New Testament
you will find that wherever these moral and spiritual transformations
are described the verbs are in the passive。 Presently it will be
pointed out that there is a RATIONALE in this； but meantime do not
toss these words aside as if this passivity denied all human effort
or ignored intelligible law。 What is implied for the soul here
is no more than is everywhere claimed for the body。 In physiology
the verbs describing the processes of growth are in the passive。
Growth is not voluntary； it takes place； it happens； it is wrought
upon matter。 So here。 〃Ye must be born again〃we cannot be born
ourselves。 〃Be not conformed to this world； but BE YE TRANSFORMED〃we
are subjects to transforming influence； we do not transform ourselves。
Not more certain is it that it is something outside the thermometer
that produces a change in the thermometer； that it is
Something outside the soul of man
that produces a moral change upon him。 That he must be susceptible
to that change； that he must be a party to it； goes without saying；
but that neither his aptitude nor his will can produce it； is
equally certain。
Obvious as it ought to seem； this may be to some an almost startling
revelation。 The change we have been striving after is not to
be produced by any more striving。 It is to be wrought upon us by
the moulding of hands beyond our own。 As the branch ascends； and
the bud bursts； and the fruit reddens under the co…operation of
influences from the outside air； so man rises to the higher stature
under invisible pressures from without。 the radical defect of all
our former methods of sanctification was the attempt to generate
from within that which can only be wrought upon us from without。
The radical defect of all our former methods of sanctification was
the attempt to generate from within that which can only be wrought
upon us from without。 According to the first Law of Motion；
every body continues in its state of rest； or of uniform motion
in a straight line； except in so far as it may be compelled BY
IMPRESSED FORCES to change that state。 This is also a first law of
Christianity。 Every man's character remains as it is； or continues
in the direction in which it is going； until it is compelled BY
IMPRESSED FORCES to change that state。 Our failure has been the
failure to put ourselves in the way of the impressed forces。 There
is a clay； and there is a Potter； we have tried to get the clay to
mould the clay。
Whence； then； these pressures； and where this Potter？ The answer
of the formula is〃By reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord
we are changed。〃 But this is not very clear。 What is the 〃glory〃
of the Lord； and how can mortal man reflect it； and how can that
act as an 〃impressed force〃 in moulding him to a nobler form？ The
word 〃glory〃the word which has to bear the weight of holding
these 〃impressed forces〃is a stranger in current speech； and our
first duty is to seek out its equivalent in working English。 It
suggests at first a radiance of some kind； something dazzling or
glittering； some halo such as the old masters loved to paint round
the head of their Ecce Homos。 But that is paint； mere matter； the
visible symbol of some unseen thing。 What is that unseen thing？ It
is that of all unseen things the most radiant； the most beautiful；
the most Divine； and that is CHARACTER。 On ear