To Mrs. R——
Power of faith — Terms of the covenant — Unsanctified resting in creature-good — Self-denial — A Jewish offerer — The Christian’s altar; where T — It is Christ; it is here — The sacrifice to be offered — The altar sanctifieth the gift — Sinfulness of doubting it — The altar greater than the gift — Self-sacrifice reasonable; our duty; its benefits — The offering must touch the altar — The will must be resigned.
My Dear Sister, — This is just the state of salvation you need. Without this establishing grace you will ever be wavering in your purposes; and is it not possible that you may have it even before you lay this communication aside? Dear sister, all things are possible with God, and all things are possible to him that believeth! Do you observe that this implies a present act — not something in the future?” He that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live! 0 the omnipotence oi faith! the want of it may even stay the hand of the Almighty. You will remember that it was said of the blessed Jesus, *’ He could not do many
Sanctification conditionally received.
mighty works, because of their unbelief.” He cannot work where unbelief prevails, consistently with the order of his government, a principle of which is explicitly stated, — “He that believeth not is condemned already.” Johniii, 18.
And now, dear sister, let me again say, “Come, for all things are ready.” A redemption from all iniquity has already been wrought out for you, and all that remains to be done is, that you accept it, on the conditions specified in the word of God. One condition, which may be readily apprehended by an individual who is seeking to be wholly sanctified, is recorded in 2 Cor. vi, 17: “Come out from among them, and be ye separate; touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.” Here are the conditions on the part of God, and also on the part of the creature. Take this in connection with the first verse of the succeeding chapter, and you will find a thorough exposition of the process by which the soul is sanctified.
Are you willing to comply with the conditions? Ah! I fear your mind is resting on this and the other beloved object. Your heart may be saying, in view of some cherished idol, “Am I indeed called to sacrifice this object, which surpasses all others in desirableness?” Why this, probably, is precisely the object which God intends to dethrone. You know he is a jealous God, and will have no other gods before hira. But perhaps you
9i)ti407
Obedience. Self-denial. Covetous Jew.
may say, “It is not an idol — it is but one of the precious gifts of God; and can he now require that I should resign it?” Why, dear sister, if it is indeed a gift from God, is not this a conclusive reason why you s.^ould give it up, at the bidding of the giver? A braham did not know why he was called to sacrit’ce his beloved Isaac; but he conferred not with ilesh and blood, and without questioning the right of God, immediately obeyed.
Job said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; and blessed be the name of the Lord.” Can you not say the same? Perhaps nature still shrinks, notwithstanding all your efforts to induce a willingness to make the sacrifice. Well, be it so. You know that every onward step for the disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ is marked with self-denial. “If any man will be my disciple, let him deni, himself.” “As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so tvalk ye in him.” By this you are assured that every successive step must be thus marked. An illustration is suggested to my mind, which I think will help you: — Imagine a Jew in ancient time, fully aware of the requirements of the law demanding the choice of his flock; for a moment he hesitates while covetousncss, murmurs in his heart, as he gazes with increasing interest on the valuable sacrifice, until aroused by the consideration of what indulgence in the unhallowed
How we are sanctified. Christ present.
propensity will lead to, lie, with decisive step, hastens at once with his offering to the hallowed altar. The sacrifice is presented; and the verymoment it touches that “altar most holy” it is sanctified. The sanctification of the gift did not depend on any inherent good in the oflferer, but upon the sanctity of the altar upon which it was laid. The altar sanctifieth the gift.
And now I presume that you are saying,” Would that I could find the altar! gladly would I hasten to it! but where, 0 where, is the ChristiarCs altar? Has God indeed provided an * altar most holy,’ whereunto the believer in Christ may come, and upon which he may lay his offering? Had I a thousand miles to journey, gladly would I this moment leave all and hasten to it; and my all should at once, and for ever, be laid upon the Sanctifier.’*
Listen to God, dear sister: — “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat who serve the tahernacUr The fact is settled beyond controversy. Is your spirit asking whether it is an “altar most holy?’* sufficient to warrant the expectation that the altar will sanctify the gift which you lay upon it? Let the Holy Spirit answer:” We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ, once for all.” Heb. x, 10. The ancient altar was sanctified by modes of purification prescribed by the law; and now, “if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of an
The Altar. The Sacrifice. The Offerer.
heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works, to serve the living God?” Christ speaks: “For their sakes I sanctify myself that they may be scmctified through the truth.” John, xvii, 19.
And now, what more, dear sister? Is your heart saying, “I cannot apprehend the altar as near?’* In the name and strength of the Lord, banish the thought. “It is nigh thee.” Say not in thy heart, “Who shall ascend into heaven to bring Christ down? or who shall descend into the deep, to bring him up? He is as near you this moment as you are to yourself. And now, what is wanting but that you, as a worker together with him, perform the work assigned you? You may have forgotten that you are of God’s royal priesthood; and that it is now your duty to offfer up continually spiritual sacrifices. The offering to be presented is as near to you as is the altar upon which it is to be laid. The description of sacrifice required is thus given: “I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Rom. xii, 1.
If the scribes and Pharisees were reproved for thinking more of the gift than of the altar
The Christian’s Sacrifice. Its Advantages.
which sanctifieth the gift, who can portray the guilt of that unbelief which prompts the offerer at the Christian’s altar to doubt whether, when he lays his offering upon the altar, it will be sanctified? And yet another course, if possible, even more dishonoring to God, is pursued by many: it is that of thinking more of the gift than of the altar itself. Did the temple service require sacrifices? How much more commanding are the claims of Christ our Redeemer! His cause requires a whole burnt-sacrifice. The entire service of body, soul, and spirit, is not only a reasonable, but a required service. Christ has purchased all unto himself. How unreasonable, then, not to live ceaselessly in the act of returning to him all these redeemed powers! O it is but meet that it should be a livinff sacrifice! And is it not blessed to know that we may thus be unto God a sweet savor of Christ?
Abiding here, you will realize in verity what it is to have your life hid with Christ in God. How can it be otherwise, than that the soul abiding thus in humble confidence on the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, should realize momentarily the purifying efficacy of the atonement? Living in this state, must necessarily induce the enhstment of all our powers in his holy service. Reposing thus on the heart of infinite Love, the pulsations of his heart all beat in unison with the Saviour’s.
Sympathy with Christ. The Will.
Our interests being all identified with the interests of the Redeemer’s kingdom, how can it be otherwise than that all our sympathies should be thrown out upon a perishing world? And is the design of redemption answered in any lower state of grace than this? If you live in the enjoyment of this salvation, you will then be constrained to acknowledge yourself but an unprofitable servant, rendering no more than is His due. You will have cause for deepest abasement before God, that you have ever neglected thus to acknowledge the claim of your Redeemer.
If you delay presenting the sacrifice, from any cause whatever, you make food for repentance. God demands present holiness. Every earthly consideration should dwindle into insignificance in comparison with this. Resolve, sister, from this moment, that this demand of your God shall be met. Say to every minor object, “Let the dead bury their dead.”
Remember, the offering must touch the altar before it can be sanctified. This is God’s unalterable decree. With him there is neither variableness nor shadow of turning. The act, on your part, must necessarily induce the promised result on the part of God. But do not forget that all is not laid upon the altar, until that will that requires signs and wonders preparatory to believing is also resigned. This seems to be the last point about
Holiness not Feeling. Answer to Prayer.
which the heart Kngers. What you are aiming at is holiness, not feeling. Trust the matter with God, and he will give you just the amount and kind of emotion that will best fit you to glorify his exalted name; and this is all that you are now to live fon Your God is now saying unto you, “Bring all the tithes into my store-house, and prove me herewith.” Do it, dear sister, and you will at once know most assuredly, that if any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine. Not to-morrow, but
NOW.
Your faithful friend*