358．⑶人还能为自己获取仁与信的生命。这种情形也一样，他若靠近本为生命的主，就能获取仁与信的生命。谁都可以靠近祂，没有阻碍，因为祂不断邀请每个人到祂这里来。祂说：
到我这里来的，必定不饿；信我的，永远不渴。到我这里来的，我总不丢弃他。（约翰福音6:35，37）
耶稣站着高声说，人若渴了，可以到我这里来喝。（约翰福音7:37）
还有：
天国好比一个王，为他儿子摆设娶亲的筵席，就打发仆人去，请那些被召的人来赴席。最后，祂说，往岔路口上去，凡遇见的，都召来赴席。（马太福音22:1－9）
谁不知道这样的邀请或呼召是普世的，接受便是恩典？人通过靠近主获得生命，因为主是生命之本，不仅是信之生命，还是仁之生命。主是那生命，人从主那里获得它，这一点从以下经文明显可知：
太初有道。生命在祂里头，这生命是人的光。（约翰福音1:1，4）
父怎样叫死人起来，使他们活着，子也照样随自己的意思使人活着。（约翰福音5:21）。
父怎样在自己有生命，就赐给祂儿子也照样在自己有生命。（约翰福音5:26）
神的粮就是那从天上降下来赐生命给世界的。（约翰福音6:33）
我对你们所说的话就是灵，就是生命。（约翰福音6:63）
耶稣说，跟从我的，必要得着生命的光。（约翰福音8:12）
我来了，是要叫他们得生命、并且得的更丰盛。（约翰福音10:10）
信我的人，虽然死了，也必复活。（约翰福音11:25）
我就是道路、真理、生命。（约翰福音14:6）
因为我活着，你们也要活着。（约翰福音14:19）
但记这些事，要叫你们因祂的名得生命。（约翰福音20:31）
祂是永生。（约翰一书5:20）
信与仁的生命是指属灵的生命，人在世时，主将它赐给人。
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358. (3)義與信之中的生命也可獲得。
情況一樣, 當人接近主(祂是生命本身)時, 就獲得生命。接近祂的通道對任何人都是敞開的。祂不停地邀請所有人到祂裡。因為祂說:
到我這裡來的, 必定不渴; 信我的, 永遠不餓。到我這裡來的, 我總不丟棄他(約翰福音6:35, 37)。耶穌站著高聲說:"人若渴了, 可以到我這裡來喝"(約翰福音7:37)。天國好比一個王,為他兒子擺設娶親的筵席。就打發僕人去,請那些被召的人來赴席。往岔路口上去,凡遇見的,都召來赴席(馬太福音22:1-9)。
顯然, 沒有人會懷疑這樣的邀請或呼召是普世的, 接受的便是恩典。
為何接近主就被賜予生命？因為主是生命本身, 不僅是信之生命, 還是義之生命。可從下列經文看出, 主是生命,人的生命源自主:
太初有道。生命在祂裡頭, 這生命是人的光(約翰福音1:1, 4)。父怎樣叫死人起來,使他們活著,子也照樣隨自己的意思使人活著(約翰福音5:21)。父怎樣叫死人起來,使他們活著,子也照樣隨自己的意思使人活著(約翰福音5:26)。上帝的糧,就是那從天上降下來賜生命給世界的(約翰福音6:33)。我對你們所說的話,就是靈,就是生命(約翰福音6:63)。耶穌說:"跟從我的,必要得著生命的光"(約翰福音8:12)。我來了,是要叫他們得生命,並且得的更豐盛(約翰福音10:10)。信我的人,雖然死了,也必活(約翰福音11:25)。我是道路,真理,生命(約翰福音14:6)。因為我活著,你們也要活著(約翰福音14:19)。但記這些事叫你們可以因祂的名得生命(約翰福音20:31)。祂是永生(約翰一書5:20)。
信與義之中的生命意思指屬靈的生命, 當人活在世上時, 由主賜給他們。
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358. (c) We are also able to acquire the life within faith and goodwill for ourselves. The situation is again the same. We acquire this life as we go to the Lord, who is life itself. No one's access to him is blocked. He constantly invites every person to come toward him. He says,
Those who come to me will not hunger; those who believe in me will never thirst. Those who come to me I will not throw out the door. (John 6:35, 37)
Jesus stood and cried out, "If any are thirsty, they must come to me and drink. " (John 7:37)
The kingdom of the heavens is like someone who put on a wedding for his son and sent his servants to call those who had been invited. Finally he said, "Go to the ends of the streets and invite any people you find to the wedding. " (Matthew 22:19)
Surely everyone knows that the Lord's invitation or calling is universal. So is the grace to accept it.
By going to the Lord, we gain life because the Lord is life itself. He is not only the life within faith but also the life within goodwill. It is clear from the following passages that this life is the Lord and comes to us from the Lord:
In the beginning was the Word. In it there was life, and that life was the light for humankind. (John 1:1, 4)
Just as the Father raises the dead and brings them to life, so also the Son brings to life those whom he wishes to. (John 5:21)
As the Father has life in himself, so he has given the Son to have life in himself. (John 5:26)
The bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. (John 6:33)
The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life. (John 6:63)
Jesus said,
Those who follow me will have the light of life. (John 8:12)
I have come so that they may have life and abundance. (John 10:10)
Those who believe in me, even if they die, they will live. (John 11:25)
I am the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)
Because I live, you too will live. (John 14:19)
These things have been written so that you may have life in his name. (John 20:31)
He is eternal life. (1 John 5:20)
"The life within faith and goodwill" means the spiritual life the Lord gives people in their earthly lives.
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358. (iii) A person can acquire for himself a life of faith and charity.
It is the same with this, for he acquires it when he approaches the Lord, who is life itself. Nor is the approach to Him blocked for anyone, since He constantly invites everyone to come to Him. For He said:
He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. And I will not cast out anyone who comes to me, John 6:35, 37.
Jesus stood and cried, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink, John 7:37.
Elsewhere:
The kingdom of the heavens is like [a king] 1 , who held his son's wedding, and sent his servants to summon the guests. And finally he said, Go to the ends of the streets 2 , and invite to the wedding anyone you find, Matthew 22:1-9.
Surely no one can help knowing that the invitation or summons is addressed to everyone, and so is the grace shown in receiving them.
The reason why a person is given life by approaching the Lord is that the Lord is life itself, not only the life of faith, but also the life of charity. It is evident from the following passages that the Lord is life, and man's life comes from the Lord:
In the beginning was the Word. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men, John 1:1, 4.
As the Father raises up the dead and makes them live, so the Son makes him whom He wishes live, John 5:21.
As the Father has life in Himself, so did He grant the Son to have life in Himself, John 5:26.
The bread of God it is which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world, John 6:33.
The words which I speak to you are spirit and life, John 6:63.
Jesus said, He who follows me will have the light of life, John 8:12.
I have come so that they may have life, and have it in abundance, John 10:10.
He who believes in me, though he die, shall live, John 11:25.
I am the way, truth and life, John 14:6.
Because I live, you too shall live, John 14:19.
These things have been written so that you may have life in His name, John 20:31.
He is everlasting life. 1 John 5:20.
Life in faith and charity means spiritual life, which is given to a person by the Lord during his natural life.
Footnotes:
1. These words, omitted in the Latin, were added in the author's copy.
2. The Latin has 'waters', but this is corrected in the author's copy.
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358. (3) Man may also acquire for himself the life of faith and charity. Here again it is the same. For man acquires for himself this life when he goes to the Lord who is Life itself; and access to Him is closed to no man, for the Lord continually invites every man to come to Him; for He says:
He that cometh to Me shall not hunger, and he that believeth in Me shall never thirst, and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out (John 6:35, 37).
Jesus stood and cried, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink (John 7:37).
And again:
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man, a king, who made a marriage for his son, and sent his servants to call them that were bidden; and finally, he said, Go ye therefore into the partings of the ways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage (Matthew 22:1-9).
Who does not know that the invitation or call is universal, and also the grace of reception? Man obtains life by going to the Lord because the Lord is Life itself, not only the life of faith but also the life of charity. That the Lord is that life, and that man has it from the Lord, is evident from the following passages:
In the beginning was the Word; in Him was life, and the life was the light of men (John 1:1, 4).
As the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will (John 5:21).
As the Father hath life in Himself, even so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself (John 5:26).
The bread of God is that He cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world (John 6:33).
The words that I speak unto you are spirit and are life (John 6:63).
Jesus said, He that followeth Me shall have the light of life (John 8:12).
I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly (John 10:10).
He that believeth in Me, though he die, yet shall he live (John 11:25).
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
Because I live, ye shall live also (John 14:19).
These are written, that ye may have life in His name (John 20:31).
He is eternal life (1 John 5:20).
By the life in faith and charity is meant spiritual life, which is given by the Lord to man in his natural life.
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358. (3) A man can also acquire for himself the life of faith and charity. This again is similar; for he acquires that life for himself when he approaches the Lord, who is Life itself; and the way to Him is closed to no one, for the Lord continually invites every man to come to Him, for He said:
"He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst... and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" John 6:35, 37.
"Jesus stood and cried... If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" John 7:37;
and in another place it is written:
"The kingdom of heaven is like [unto a certain king] which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding... Then saith He, Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage" Matthew 22:1-9.
Every one knows that the invitation or call is universal, as is also the grace of reception.
A man procures life by approaching the Lord, because the Lord is Life itself, not only the life of faith, but also the life of charity. The Lord is that life, and man receives life from Him, as is evident from the following passages:
"In the beginning was the Word... In Him was life; and the life was the light of men" John 1:1, 4.
"As the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will" John 5:21.
"As the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself" John 5:26.
"The bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world" John 6:33.
"The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life" John 6:63.
Jesus said: "He that followeth me... shall have the light of life" John 8:12.
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" John 10:10.
"He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" John 11:25.
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life" John 14:6.
"Because I live, ye shall live also" John 14:19.
"These are written... that... ye might have life through His name" John 20:31.
He is "eternal life" 1 John 5:20.
By life in faith and charity is meant spiritual life, which is imparted by the Lord to man in his natural life.
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358. III. QUOD ETIAM HOMO SIBI COMPARARE POSSIT VITAM FIDEI ET CHARITATIS, etiam similis res est, comparat enim illam sibi, dum adit Dominum, qui est ipsa Vita, et aditus ad Ipsum non alicui homini est praestructus, invitat enim continue omnem hominem, ut veniat ad Se; dixit enim, qui venit ad Me, non esuriet, et qui credit in Me, non sitiet unquam; et venientem ad Me, non ejiciam foras, Johannes 6:35, 37. Jesus stetit et clamavit, si quis sitiverit, venito ad Me et bibito, Johannes 7:37, et alibi, Simile est Regnum Coelorum[Homini Regi], 1 qui fecit nuptias Filio suo, et misit servos suos ut vocarent invitatos, et tandem dixit, ite ad exitus viarum, 2 et quoscunque inveneritis, vocate ad nuptias, Matthaeus 22:1-9. 3 Quis non scit quod Invitatio seu vocatio sit universalis, et quoque gratia receptionis. Quod homo, per quod adeat Dominum, Vitam sortiatur, est quia Dominus est ipsa Vita, non solum Vita fidei, sed etiam Vita charitatis; quod Dominus sit illa, et homini a Domino, constat ex his locis, In principio erat Verbum; in Ipso VITA erat, et VITA erat lux hominum, Johannes 1:1, 4. Quemadmodum 4 Pater suscitat mortuos et vivificat, ita Filius, quem vult, VIVIFICAT, Johannes 5:21. Quemadmodum Pater habet Vitam in Se Ipso, ita dedit Filio VITAM HABERE IN SE IPSO, Johannes 5:26. Panis Dei est, qui descendit e Coelo, et VITAM dat Mundo, Johannes 6:33. 5 Verba, quae Ego loquor vobis, spiritus et VITA SUNT, Johannes 6:63. Jesus dixit, qui Me sequitur, habebit LUCEM VITAE, Johannes 8:12. Ego veni, ut VITAM HABEANT, et abundantiam habeant, Johannes 10:10. Qui credit in Me, etsi moriatur, 6 VIVET, Johannes 11:25. Ego sum via, veritas, et VITA, Johannes 14:6. QUIA EGO VIVO, ETIAM VOS VIVETIS, Johannes 14:19. 7 Haec scripta sunt, ut VITAM habeatis in nomine Ipsius, Johannes 20:31. Quod sit VITA AETERNA, 1 Johannes 5:20. 8 Per Vitam in Fide et Charitate, intelligitur Vita spiritualis, quae a Domino datur homini in Vita ejus naturali.
Footnotes:
2. Prima editio: aquarum.
3. Prima editio: 17.
4. Prima editio: Quemodmodum.
5. Prima editio: 31.
6. Prima editio: mariatur.
7. Prima editio: 14:9.
8. Prima editio: 21.