To Mrs. W——
Heaven begun below — Holiness the believer’s strength —” If I get it
I canno* keep it”’ — Remark of Dr. B Mysticism — Consecration
a simple act — Holiness maintained by constant faith — The Scriptures a medium of communion with God — The way of the cross — A new existence — The command, “Be ye holy” — Effect on the world of universal holiness in the church.
Dear Mrs. W. You will remember the promise in my last, relative to the contiimance of my narrative. Through grace I can say my heart is daily becoming more rooted and grounded in those blessed truths. My experience continually attests the truth of the assertion, that the life of the believer is a heaven below. The divine tranquillity; the deepened communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and the accompanying increase of love, faith, light, and humility; make it such: while the quickened power of perception in discerning the subtilty of the tempter, together with the increased power it gives in contending with him, make this state not only the high privilege, but the imperious necessity, of the believer. Can a reasonable, holy, acceptable service, be rendered without it?
A present and full salvation would not have been made available unless it were needed, in order
to glorify God. Yet, my dear Mrs. W, we
need the experience of this salvation in order to know its excellency — its entire adaptation to every
Holiness will keep you. Mysticism.
want. 0 the fallacy of the obsenation, “If I get the blessing I am sure I shall never be able to keep it!” It is precisely what is needed in order to produce that stability of soul which renders us less liable to vacillate in our Christian course; or, in the language of an eminent minister now living — in answer to the objection of a trembling heart, “I fear I could not keep it” —” Brother, nothing but holiness will Iceep you
Do you not think, dear Mrs. W, that there
is too much mysticism thrown around this blessing? I have thought so, and this I believe to be the principal hinderance with many whom I approach on this subject. With the eye of carnal wisdom they seem to be looking at something quite beyond their present reach. Thus they overlook its simphcity. Now, for a soul all athirst for God, what is more easy than to come with a purpose fixed in the strength of the Lord Jehovah, to be his — irrevocably his — whether living or dying: and then, relying on eternal veracity for the acceptance of the gift, to leave there the offering upon the altar? Is not this being set apart for God? And, in its immediate effect, is it not the sanctification which God demands ?* The strength required in bringing the offering to the altar is wholly of God; and would he impart the power to do it, without fulfilling his gracious design in. inducing the sacrifice?
* “The altar sanctifieth the gift.” Matt, xxiii, 19.
Cleansed. Kept. The Scripture.
No! If God-dishonoring unbelief does not bind the hands of Omnipotence, a mighty work -will at once be accomplished.
But the declaration must be believed: “The blood of Jesus cleansetk.” Mark! it is in the present tense. It is a living sacrifice that is required. I now, this moment, offer the sacrifice, and it is demised — I continue in the same act, the succeeding moment, and continue to feel that the blood of Jesus cleanseth. To the soul that thus continues to live in the spirit of sacrifice the veracity of the immutable Jehovah is pledged. It is thus that the blessing is obtained, and also retained, hj faith in the sufficiency of the atonement, and a firm reliance on the indubitable word of God.
With most grateful reflections do I look back upon the way by which I have been brought in reference to the Scriptures. Blessed be the Lord Jehovah for this chart, by which my way has been so luminously marked out! Would that I could convey to your mind an idea of my hallowing, delightful communings with the God of all grace, through this precious medium, while by most- unequivocal assurances he has made himself knoTTi to me, and I have joyously exclaimed, “It is the Lord!”
I shall also ever with most grateful emotions retrace the way of the cross. In reference to some of its most painful peculiarities, I have been led to
Crucifixion of Nature. Witness.
exult in its blessedness, and exclaim, *’ 0 the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” There have been some demands to which my nature could not have submitted unless there had been an entire crucifixion of it. But I do not remember to have made one sacrifice, however unaccountable the nature of it at the time may have been, without proving by subsequent experience that my spiritual advancement recuired the surrender.
To the praise of Almighty grace, I ought to acknowledge that he has caused me to become so established in the assurance that I know nothing aright, only as taught by the Spirit, that it is my most earnest endeavor to know the mind of the Spirit, and after being once convinced of the will of God concemins: me, I have never dared, nor even wished, to hesitate in the performance of it.
Never, previous to receiving the witness of holiness, did I realize that I had received the sentence of death in myself; that I should not trust in myself, but in Him who raiseth the dead. So conscious have I since been, that all my sufficiency is of God, that for worlds I would not live one day without the witness that I have returned all my redeemed powers to him. Momentarily do I know, yes, deeply realize, that the seal of consecration is Bet.
On my first entering into this blessed state, a
Trembling Faith. Inspiring Persuasion.
constant effort seemed necessary in order to retain it. I have thought my views and feelings at the time, in a manner, comparable with one who had just entered upon a new existence, without being precisely aware of the principles upon which that existence is to be sustained. He inhales the life-sustaining air joyously, yet with a degree of tremulousness; queries whether he can again, and yet again, be sustained in a like effort: until the principles by which he is held in existence are gradually apprehended, and he breathes more and more freely, till at length, without even a careful thought, he revels in new existence. Thus at first I was continually asking myself, Do I now present all? Do I now believe? This slight degree of restlessness has since graduated into the blessedness of unquestionable certainty, that I do present all; I do believe.
This assurance, that all my powers are consecrated to holy service, gives me to feel the imperative necessity of being a laborer in the vineyard of the Lord; and this knowledge of consecration brings with it the inspu-ing persuasion that my labor is not in vain. “Forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 0, my dear
sister W, it would be impossible, even though
time and space might permit, to describe to you how comprehensive in bearing this blessing has been upon all my experience since its reception.
Holiness a Command. Not optionaL
The light of eternity alone can reveal the superior blessedness of that soul, who, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, has entered into, and abides in, a state of holiness.
And now I cannot longer view it as optional with any redeemed child of Adam whether he will rise to this state or not. No! within the lids of the Bible a more authoritative command cannot be found, than, “Be ye holy.” And would the command be given, and yet the power to obey it withheld? And if empowered, by the might of the Spirit, to live in this state of entire consecration, surely it would be to the praise of God, that the clear, decided witness, be given, in order that his witnesses may declare it to the glory of his grace.
0 that every master in Israel might teach, from experimental knowledge, the necessity of this great salvation! Pray fervently for this, my dear friend. When this object is gained, how soon shall we see the armies of our Israel coming up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, and by the power of personal holiness hastening the time when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kincrdoras of our God and of his Christ!
Youi’s, in the bonds of perfect love.
Inqmries. Conviction. Talents.