Chapter XI
IN the 15 th, Frank wrote:
‘’ I had a talk yesterday with a fellow here that interested me very much. He began to explain to me the ’ dreadful doctrine of full sanctification ’ held by the Methodists. I asked him why it was so dreadful, and explained it a little; how it was only trusting Christ to keep us moment by moment. And, finally, he said he could not argue against it, only he could not see how man, who is sinful by nature, could possibly help that nature coming out. I told him I would lend him father’s book on ‘Holiness through Faith,’ which might perhaps enlighten him; and he promised to read it.
“My experience is very blessed. No especial feeling, but just a restful sense that Christ is purifying me and taking care of me. I cannot keep my thoughts on Him as much as I should like, but it is getting easier to do so all the time.”
On the 20th he wrote to his aunt:
“One good thing I have to report, and that is that I am altogether over my loneliness. There is a very pleasant fellow, who rooms opposite to me, and we spend the evenings talking about politics, etc. He is a Democrat. Then, in the daytime, between playing football and studying, my time goes pretty rapidly, and I was really surprised, the other day, to find that October was nearly three-quarters gone.
‘* My room looks quite nice now with all the pictures hung up
‘’The Lord is keeping me wonderfully, I feel most truly thankful to say, and does enable me, despite my great diffidence, to speak sometimes for Him.’
On the 2 2d he wrote to me:
“Darling Mother:
‘’I suppose I could come home next Sixth-day, and I would like to be there while Mr. Inskip is there. How are his meetings? As interesting as ever? I think I need some help; for, although I am trusting to a certain degree, and am kept to that degree wonderfully, yet somehow I lack that full and entire surrender and the looking to Christ for guidance as much as I should. Principally I am weak in the working point; that is, I cannot expect to be kept, unless I often exert myself to work for Christ; and just there I do appear to be failing. I seem to need wisdom as to how to do it best j and I feel too afraid to try to work, for fear I shall not do it in the best way. I ’11 acknowledge this is wrong, but somehow I cannot help it; and so I think I need help from above, to enable me to ‘ask for wisdom, nothing wavering. ’
“There is undoubtedly a great field or work here. In the prayer-meeting last night, when I heard several earnest prayers for a revival, and heard them say they knew the revival must begin in our own hearts, I thought of what a glorious gospel I had to tell them, and yet lacked wisdom to know how to tell it in the best way. Oh, how I would like to tell each one how I am kept, and how sweet and restful my life is! Do, please, pray that I may have this wisdom.
‘^ I had the most beautiful row yesterday that could be. A Junior and I started off, and came to what looked like a mill-pond, on which were some boats; we unlocked one, got two flat sticks for paddles, and went up to what appeared like the head of the pond; there was a narrow stream flowing in at this place, and we followed up its course for about three miles, right into the heart of a dense swamp, with old, romantic oaks and maples bending over on each side, and bushes so thick that we could not see ten feet either way. Altogether it was so perfectly enchanting and romantic, that I was entirely carried away; and, to crown all, we started up a lot of wild ducks
‘’ I have found a fellow at last that I believe I like. He is an earnest Christian, and full of fun, ready to go on all sorts of adventures, stronger than I am, and one of those whole-hearted fellows who, whatever he undertakes, will do it well.”
Frank came home as proposed, and spent two or three days, attending the meetings for the promotion of Christian Holiness, being held in Philadelphia, at that time, by Mr, Inskip and Mr. McDonald. He was deeply interested, and seemed to find the needed iEtat. 17-] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. I4I
help he spoke of in his last letter. On the 5th of November, he wrote to one of his young friends concerning it:
‘’Dear D.:
“I was at home last Seventh and First-days, but failed to get a glimpse of thy countenance, as my time was mostly taken up going to the meetings held by Mr. Inskip and Mr. McDonald, in the Fourth Street Church. Did thee get to any of them? They were most certainly splendid meetings, and helped me on my way wonderfully. I shall never forget one, in which Mr. I. asked all who would then and there solemnly consecrate themselves without reserve to God, to raise their right hands. It seemed so solemn, that at first I was almost afraid, but was helped to do it, and have often since been unspeakably thankful for it. After that he asked all who felt willing to trust Christ, then and there, to give them a pure heart, to do the same. Again faith triumphed and again my hand went up. And, indeed, D., although my former experience was very blessed, it did not at all coine up to this. As long as I continue trusting, a perfectly cloudless sky is between me and Christ. And if for a moment I look away, immediately it sends a pang through me, as if something had happened to make me unhappy.
“Do, I beg of thee, try it, if thee has not already. It is just simple faith, believing implicitly what Christ says.
“And I am sure if Christ can give me Chis faith, He also can thee. For here I am among a lot of fellows who are violently opposed to this doctrine, called on to declare it to them, and to tell them I have experienced it. And then I must expect to be watched closely, that they may see whether I live a true doctrine. Surely Christ will give thee this faith too.
“The difference between a pure heart, and one where sin to a certain extent still exists, is something like this, I think. When our hearts are pure, we are, as it were, on the highway of holiness, and that ig holy, and the devil cannot come on it to tempt us. He does come alongside, and holds out his allurements, but unless we walk up to him and take these, he cannot touch us. As long as we are in the middle, we are safe. But where the heart is not pure, we are, as it were, travelling on the same road with Satan. And although using Christ’s strength to keep him under most of the time, still if we are not very careful, continually looking out for him, he will trip us up somehow or another. Because, in this last case, he has our sinful nature to work on, without any deliberate act on our part, while in the other case it requires this deliberate act of leaving Christ, before we can be overcome.
“That is as plainly as I can put it; but, anyhow, the truth is the same. Christ will cleanse our hearts, if we will trust Him to do it.
“A very good plan, I find, when a temptation is coming, is to say to myself over and over, ‘Jesus saves me, Jesus saves me.’ And although at first it may seem untrue, still in the «^nd you are sure to be victorious.
*’ Tell me in thy next letter that thy heart is purified by Christ’s blood. Thankful I am beyond expression that mine is.
“But my enjoyment in talking about how much has been done for me is so great, that I have gone beyond my usual limit to my letters, which thee must excuse. I shall pray that the next letter that comes from thee, will tell me of one more who has entered into the ’ rest of faith; ’ and I hope thee also will pray that I may be kept within the truly blessed ’ highway of holiness,’ and may turn neither to the right nor the left. Thy attached brother in Christ,
“Frank W. Smith.”
We had urged our dear boy, while with us on this memorable visit, on his return to College to make a good confession among his fellow-students of what the Lord had done for him; reminding him that the Lord had said to us, “Ye are my witnesses;” and that a man, to be a useful witness, must always tell of what he himself, personally and experimentally, knows of the subject. The very night of his return he did as we had suggested, and thus wrote to me concerning it.
“I got up in our class prayer-meeting the night I returned, and spoke about the necessity of entire consecration, and said I was thankful to say that God had helped me to consecrate myself altogether to Him. But this confession did not seem to make any more impression than if I had not made it. I will not, however, be discouraged, but, with God’s help, will do whatever work he has for me earnestly, forgetting self and man, and only looking unto Him. Oh, what a grand thing it is to have any work to do for One who has done so much for us!
Every time we have a meeting, some one gets up and says what we ought to do; that we ought to do this, or we ought to do that; but no one ever says how we are to do it. Does it not seem as if God wanted me to show them the way as ‘it has been shown to me? I have faith Christ will help me this very night to testify for Him, and, having done that, will enable me to live the life of faith I have testified about.
‘’My visit home did me lots of good. The time when Mr. Inskip asked all in the meeting who would solemnly give their all to Christ to raise their hands, often comes back to me. My hand was up; and, having given myself to Him, not an iota can I take back.”
In my reply to this letter, I wrote:
“I have a bad headache to-night, and am almost too tired to write. But my boy must have his letter, if it is only a few lines, that he may know how much I love him. I have been thinking, ever since thee went back, what a darling son thee is, and how proud I am of thee; and I have prayed so fervently that thee may be preserved pure and good in the midst of all the evils around thee. It does seem a great risk to send a young fellow like thee out into such an independent life; but I trust thee to thy Saviour, my boy, and I believe He will keep thee. Only thee must keep very close to Him, and never let go thy confidence in Him for a moment. I feel deeply thankful that He is helping thee to take a more decided stand, in witnessing for Him in your meetings. It may not seem to have much effect at first, but it cannot fail, I think, to stir them up in the end; and, anyhow, He has called thee to be His witness; and this is too blessed a secret to be kept hidden away in one’s own bosom, — is it not? I do so long for every Christian to know about it, and all seem to be so hungry. Do be faithful, my darling boy, in telling the good news of this full salvation in the Lord Jesus, wherever thee has the least opening.
“The Friends’ Biennial First-day School Conference is to be held in Ohio the last of this month, and I want thee to go to it very much, for I expect it will be a time of feasting spiritually. Does thee think they will let thee off from College, if I write very urgently? It will take a whole week, as we leave on the 20th, and do not get back until the 28th.”
We had always felt that to foster and stimulate our boy’s religious life was, after all, the matter of chiefest importance; and whenever there were any especially desirable Christian privileges to be enjoyed, of the kind he would appreciate and like, we never hesitated to let him take a holiday from his studies, in order to avail himself of them. It was arranged, therefore, that he should go on this Western trip with a large party of friends who were going out from Philadelphia.
On the 1 2th of November he wrote, asking what things he should bring home for the journey, and then continued:
13 K “Last night at the prayer-meeting, in the College, Mr. H., a most earnest Christian, asked all who would “be willing to make one personal effort to save some soul, to stand up. I was not there, as I had been out gunning; but M. told me, nearly every one stood up, and that the meeting was very solemn. Oh, how I do pray there may be a revival here! I have prayed for help, and do believe I shall have it, to be in the foremost ranks of any movement to help on the work of Christ. I have been most wofully negligent in this particular, but Christ is waking me up. I have faith that this very night I shall be helped to take a bold stand on Christ’s side. I mean, I shall be enabled to say something definite, marking my position. I shall leave this letter open to tell thee about it.”
8 o’clock.
“I was at prayer-meeting, and my backwardness kept me from rising at first, as a good many others rose pretty rapidly; and I was afraid I should have to keep still altogether, until near the end I prayed for one more chance, and then I was called on to close the meeting by prayer. So I prayed God would show us our privileges in Christ, and would fill us with His Spirit; but that is not decided nor plain enough for me, and I shall pray that strength may be given me to come out more boldly on the Lord’s side.
“I found this afternoon that there was one thing I had to give up, and that was a regard for my reputation; and grace was given me to do it; and now I feel willing to be accounted anything for Christ; though, of course, I want to be very sure it is for Christ, and nothing else.”
/Efat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. I47
To his friend C. H., he wrote on the same date:
‘*.... And now, Charlie, about our own personal experience, which we have so often talked over together. I did not half appreciate my privileges at Haverford, where there was a little band of us so fully in sympathy. Here almost every one, even the Christians, are opposed to the doctrine of sanctification by faith; and it is very hard ’ clinging to the cross ’ without any sympathy. But what is a faith worth which cannot hold on to Christ through thick and thin? And because there is so little sympathy, Christ has drawn me more to Himself, and my experience is, I think, richer and richer all the time. Oh, how much Christ has done for you and me! We ought to be so thankful, that we would be willing to do anything for Him.. I pray often that you may be built up in the most holy faith, and that you may be enabled to follow Christ’s guidance in ^//things!
*’I have come lately to a very blessed experience of entire rest in Christ. The life of trust, where one has to have a fight for faith, when each particular sin comes up, is after all only a partial rest. But it is blessed to trust for heart purity, which brings an abidiftg faith, and this I am learning now. I send you some texts on the subject, to show you that this is taught in the Bible. Look the subject up, and if you do not realize it, pray that you may.’
In this letter, and in the one to “D.,” on the 5th of November, Frank touches upon a subject which is one of the utmost importance to those who seek to enter into the possession of all the privileges that are ours in Christ. As he well expresses it, “to have a fight for faith as each particular sin comes up, is after all but a partial rest; “and yet many who enter into the life of faith do not get further than this. The lesson is learned, that when we trust, Christ delivers; but the secret of being kept continually trusting is not yet found out. The soul in this condition is like a general, guarding his outposts, and always able to defend them against the assaults of the enemy, when he reaches the spot in time; but who is continually harassed in all his movements by a traitor in his castle at home, whose constant aim it is to betray him into the hands of his enemies. This traitor is inbred sin. And in order to know a complete and continuous victory, this inward enemy must be cast out, and the heart must be cleansed from all unrighteousness. Then, the very centre of the being having been taken possession of by Christ, and all His enemies destroyed by His presence. He reigns there supreme. And the soul finds itself “kept by the power of God,” through an unwavering faith, which nothing jostles or dims. This wonderful truth is taught in many ways, and under many different figures, in the New Testament. Being “dead to sin,” knowing “the body of sin to be destroyed,” “purifying our hearts by faith,” being “cleansed from all unrighteousness; “all these, and many other expressions, set forth this truth, that Christ, who was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, is able and willing to destroy his very worst work, — even that which he wrought in us when he implanted sin in our nature. And that when Christ enters there, sin must retire. But let it be understood that it is only the presence of Christ that keeps out the sin. There is no inherent purity in the heart itself. But as with light and darkness, so with Christ and sin; they cannot exist together, there is no possibility of fellowship between them. Let a room, however, presume on its light, and shut out the rays of the sun, and darkness at once fills it. So let the soul presume on its purity, and cease to let Christ abide in it, and that moment sin reigns there again supreme. The indwelling presence of Christ makes the heart pure, and keeps it pure. The indwelling presence of Christ drives out His enemies, and keeps them out. The indwelling presence of Christ destroys (or ‘’renders inert “) the body of sin, and keeps it so; but the moment the soul lets go of Christ, or turns its eyes away from Him, that moment its old evil all returns. Thus we see that our great need is to abide in Christ continuously, and all else will be right, for He will take care of it. And our great danger lies in being betrayed out of that abiding, for then all else goes wrong. “Christ formed within” is our sure defence against all our enemies, and our sure deliverance from our inward foe. In learning this blessed secret, our dear Frank realized a deliverance far greater than any he had yet known, and from henceforth his life flowed on in a sweet accord with the will of God, knowing but slight variations from a perfect inward rest. 13* -