To Mr. M——
Inquiries relative to the length of time inter’ening between a state of justification and entire sanctification — Mr. Wesley’s views on the subject — IIow backslidings might be less frequent — Another inquiry from my Hicksite friend — Unreasonable not to be holy-How unholy professors encourage skepticism — The case of a young man whose friends were professing Christians — Salvation from all sin may be obtained now — IIow a housekeeper obtained it.
Dear Brother M. “But do not persons generally wait months, and even years, after justification, before they are brought into this state of entire sanctification?” Mr. Wesley, in speaking on this subject, says, ‘’ This we know: but we know likewise, that God may, with man’s good leave, cut short his work ’ in whatever degree he pleases, and do the work of many years in a moment. He does so in many instances.”
If believers from the hour of their justification, with all the ardor of early unquenched love, should walk after the S2nrit, how soon would they be ushered into the highway of holiness! Would that this duty were simplified, and urged with point and power upon young professors! Then would backslidings in heart and life be far less frequent. If the way is so plain, that wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein, young converts surely may be brought to understand it. The truth is, the difficulties are not attributable to the intricacies of the subject, but to the want of
Conversation. Sanctification. What is it?
simplicity. We do not need great powers of nimd to reach it, but deep humility of spirit to come down to it.
I am again reminded of my Hicksite friend. In continuation of the conversation referred to when I first wrote you, she asked another question, almost as important in bearing as her first inquiry, which will illustrate what I would say on the momentous subject before us. As soon as I had answered her first question, ‘* What is faith V* she said, “I have heard you speak of sanctification, and now I should love to have you explain that to me.’* My mind for a moment recoiled, and I thought, She does not yet understand the principles of the doctrine of Christ, and now, how can she be brought to understand the deeper things of God? I looked to the Lord to help me to simplify the matter, and then said,
“If you should purchase an article from me, you would expect to have it whole, entke, just as you bought it, would you not?” “Yes.”
“If I should keep back any part, it would be imreasonable, would it not?” “Yes.”
“Well, the Bible says, ‘Ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and spirit, which are God’s.’ Now, when we acknowledge the claim which God has upon us by the right of redemption, and set ourselves wholly apart for his service, he sets the seal
Infidelity promoted by Professors.
upon us which proclaims us his, and we are sanctijfled — set apart for God.’^
While I was thus endeavoring to simplify the subject to her, it was suggested, What will she think of those professors whom she has heard from week to week say, “I know I am not wholhj given UJ3 to God: I know there are things in my heart contrary to his will?” Will she not regard the unreasonahleness of such professors in a light which will make their course inexplicable to her, and will not their evident inconsistency destroy her confidence in all religious professions?
And just so inexphcable doubtless is a half-hearted service in the eye of the world. 0 the harm thus inflicted on the cause of Christ! It is only to the degree that God’s people are a peculiar people, zealous of good works, that the interests of the Redeemer’s kingdom can be promoted, through their instrumentahty. I have but little doubt that unawakened persons often cherish the idea that professors do not o’eally believe what they profess to believe. I had been ui’ging the necessity of an immediate tm-ning to the Lord, and setting forth the danger of a moment’s delay, upon a sinner. I told him, as you will remember I once told you, that the smner is condemned already, and that the sentence might be executed at any moment, with other truths equally startling. He was much moved, and seemed about to yield
Unfaithful Relatives. SjTnpathy with Christ,
to the force of tnith, when, as if he had just thoiiorht of sometliins to strenothen his unbelief, he said, “I have a brother who is a minister, also sisters who are members of the church, and they have never talked to me in this way; and I am sure if they thought my state so dangerous as you say it is, they would tell me of it, for if I thought that either of them were in such a state, I could not rest day nor night without warning them.” Satan succeeded apparently with this well- circumstanced temptation in rendering his mind yet more impervious to the awakening influences of the Spirit, and, for aught I know, he is already doomed to everlasting burnings. At whose hand may God require his blood?
Let me still urge you, dear brother M, in
view of the perishing around you — your relatives and friends — who are fast passing away, to seek with earnestness to know what it is to have a perfect sympathy with the heart of Christ, in that love which induced him to die for a lost world. ‘“•’ Let that mind be in you which was in Christ.” This is HOLINESS. If you have that mind which was in yom- Saviour, it will induce you to feel and to act just as your Redeemer would have felt and acted were he placed in circumstances similar to your own. You need this conformity to the divine image at the present hour, if you would be clear of the blood of all men. Perhaps -the next hour
A Wife and Mother amid her Cares,
may witness you in the society of some poor sinner who is already condemned, and unless you are all given up to Christ and have the power of his Spirit resting upon you, you may fail in giving him such a warning as his condition requires, and another hour may witness either his sentence executed, or you called to give an account of your stewardship.
But you may have this full salvation now — just now. Let me give you the experience of a friend who received it under less favorable circumstances than those by which you are surrounded. I had spent the evening previous in company with her and other friends, and had especially urged upon her the duty of a present and entire reliance on Christ for plvation. But though she had commenced the evening with large expectations, she was still unwilling to make the venture just now. The next morning she waked later than usual. She was both a mother and a housekeeper, and everything seemed to shape toward a commotion. Husband’s breakfast must be ready at an early hour — children both crying at once — no help, &c. “How well it was that you did not get the blessing last night, for if you had, you surely would have lost it amid these commotions this morning,” suggested the enemy. Before being aware of the current her thoughts were taking, she began to congratulate herself rather than otherwise that such
Jesus saves her. Duties light. Praise.
had not been the case, when this current was suddenly aiTested by the chidings of the Holy Spirit. “You need the blessing of holiness this morning to keep you; for if you peld to this influence which is now brought to bear upon you, you will sin — and will you sin against God?” The idea of thus knowingly grieving her Saviour was most abhorrent to her heart, and she said; “No, I will not sin; I will this moment trust in Christ to save me from sin!” That moment she trusted, and felt that she was saved / She continued to trust, moment after moment, and continued to feel the power of Christ to save, and greatly did her heart rejoice in the knowledge of salvation. How sweetly was her heart now assured of the words, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is staid on thee, because he trusteth in iheeP^ “Domestic duties never seemed so light and pleasant as they did that morning,” she remarked; and she longed to get where she might pour out her soul alone in praises to God for salvation from all sin.
And now, my beloved brother M, may you
speedily be brought to an experimental knowledge of Christ, as your “Redeemer from all sin.” My heart is inexpressibly desirous that you should fix your aim on knowing the full power of saving grace. May you now, in the strength of the Lord Jehovah, deliberately purpose that every motive of earthly ambition shall know no higher point
Holiness a Duty. Not optional.
than that of standing perfect and complete m all the will of God. “This is the will of God, even your sanctijicatim%r What can be more exphcit, or more clearly exhibit your privilege, or more forcibly present your duty, than this declaration! Yes, it is not only your privilege, but your solemn duty, to be holy. God commands, “Be ye holy.” Surely it is not optional with my dear brother whether he will obey this command or not. My great solicitude for your rapid progress in the divine life has induced me to gather from my portfolio several communications, which I hope may be helpful toward elucidating the principles, experience, and practice of holiness. Universal, symmetrical holiness, should be the first and absorbing aim of all who name the name of Christ; and that the papers which I now submit to your perusal may throw some light upon the heavenward way of my brother in Christ, shall be the prayer of
Your ever devoted sister in the Lord.
An Apology. Experience improved.