Section VII
.... “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” — The Prayer of Jesus for his Disciples.
“‘Tis done! thou dost this moment save,
With full salvation bless;
Redemption through thy blood I have,
Aad spotless love and peace.”
Now that she was so powerfully and experimentally assured of the blessedness of this ^’shorter way,” oh, with what ardor of soul did she long to say to every redeemed one, “Ye have been fully redeemed; redeemed from all iniquity, that ye should be unto God a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
So reasonable did it appear, that all the Lords ransomed ones, who had been so fully redeemed, and chosen out of the world, should be sanctified set apart for holv service, as chosen vessels unto God, to bear his hallowed name before a gainsaying world, by having the seal legibly enstamped upon the forehead, proclaiming them as *’ not of the world, “a “peculiar people to show forth his praise;” that all the energies of her mind were now absorbed in the desire lo communicate the living intensity of her soul on this subject to the heart of every professed disciple.
The ardor of her now newly-inspired spirit could scarcely conceive of a higher ambition, in the present slate of existence, than to be endued with the unction of the Holy One, and then permitted, by the power of the Spirit, to say to every lover of Jesus, “This is the will of God, even your sanclification.” Jesus, your Redeemer, your Saviour, waits even now to sanctify you wholly; and I pray God that your whole spirity and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that callelh you, who also will do ii.”
It was in that same hallowed hour when she was first, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, permitted to enter within the veil,
^ndpi’ove the blessedness of the ‘way of holiness,” that the momentous responsibilities, and also inconceivably glorious destination of the believer, were unfolded to her spiritual vision, in a manner inexpressibly surpassing her former perceptions.
She seemed permitted to look down through the vista of the future, to behold herself as having begun a race, in a way luminously lit up by the rays of the Sun of Righteousness, with the gaze of myriads of interested spectators — aye, even the gaze of the upper, as also the lower world, intensely fixed, watching her progress in a course that seemed to admit of no respite, or turning to the right or to the left, and where consequences, inconceivably momentous and eternal in duration, were pending.
HdiVe you brought yourself into this state of blessedness? Is it through your own exertions that this light has been ht up in your heart? — were now inquiries that were urged upon her attention. She deeply felt, as her heart responded to these interrogatories, that it was all the work of the Spirit; and never before did such a piercing sense of her own demerit and helplessness penetrate her soul as at that hour, as her inmost soul replied, Tis from the “Father of hghts,” the “Giver of every good and perfect gift,” that I have received this precious gift. Yes, it is digift from God, and to his name be all the glory!
The Spirit then suggested, If. is a gift from God, God is not exclusive in the innpartalion of his gifts, and you will be required to declare it; to declare it as his gift, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and ready for the acceptance of all, as his free gift; and this, if you would retain the blessing, will not be left at your own disposal. You will be called to profess this blessing before thousands! Can you do it? And here she was pernfiitied again to count the cost. She had been saying, Rather let me die than lose the blessing, for Satan had suggested that she would ever be vacillating in her experience; one day professing the blessing, and another not; that she was so constitutionally prone to reason, it would require an extraordinary miracle to sustain amid such a variety of unpropitious circumstances, which, as a mighty phalanx, crowded before the vision of her mind: but the Spirit brought to her remembrance the continuous miracle of the Israelitish nation fed daily with bread directly from heaven. And though assured that a miracle equal in magnitude would be continuously requisite for her sustainment, yet she gloried in the assurance that the same Almighty power stood continuously pledged for its performance. And now that she was called to count the cost of coming out in the profession of this blessing before thousands, the enemy directed her mind most powerfully to what her former failures had been, in reference to making confession with the mouth.
In few duties had she more frequently brought cofidemnation on her soul than in this; and the suggestion from the adversary, that a failure in this requirement was precisely the ground on which she should lose the blessing, assumed more plausibility than former temptations. But the Spirit raised up a standard; and as a co-worker with God she was enabled to resolve the subject in such a manner, that the onward pilgrimage of m.orc than live succeeding yearis has tested the happy consequences of the decision, and proved that it was indeed the Spirit of the Lord that raised the standard — the Spirit that taught!
The matter was decided thus: Some settled principles must be established in the soul, by which it may be known what shall constitute duty in reference to this subject. Duly must be determined by a reference to the requirements of the Word; and being settled thus, the voice of duty is literally the voice of God to the soul. She was then enabled to decide the matter in reference to testifying of the work of the Spirit thus: The Church is represented as Christ’s body. I am one of the members of that body. If I, by testifying of his Spirit’s operation on my heart, am individually benefited, the whole body is advantaged, by a more healthy action being produced throughout, “which, by the disaffection of one member, might be materially injured, and this in reference io myself, as well as also the whole body, would constitute duty, and thus if any other member or members should be benefited, in the same ratio. The inquiry arose, But am I by my own power of reason in: to determine in mailers so momentous? The answer was, If you have power lo reason above an idiot, or the beasts that perish, God has given that power; it is a talent intrusted, for which you will be called to render an account of stewardship. Natural abilities are as truly gifts from God as those termed by men oractous abilities. “Grace does not render in any degree useless natural endowments, but only turns them into a sanctified channel.
Having received, through these gracious communications, more enlightened and confirmed views in reference to duty, and assured that the voice of duty was in verity the voice of God to the soul, she was enabled to resolve, that however formidable the circumstances were, if it literally cost life in the effort to go forward, she would still proceed, though a martyr to the cause; that it should be enough that the Almighty had said, “Go forward.” On coming to this point, a yet more glorious increase of light burst upon her way! The Spirit brought to her remembrance the words she had most solemnly uttered but a few mo-
46 “the way of HOLmESS.”
ments previous, when, makinnj the sacred deSication of all her powers for ever to God, she had used the dedicatory words of David, “Into thy hands I commit my spirit, for thou ha&t redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.” She had realized and acknowledged the ofifering accepted. And now the Spirit said, Had your spirit actually left the body, and mingled with the spirits before the throne, when von thus solemnly committed it into the hands of God; and had the Father of spirits permitted you to return and again actuate that body, for the special purpose of declaring before thousands that Jesus is a full Saviour, able to save unto the uttermost, could you do it?
She thought of the- blood-washed spirits surrounding in waiting attitude the eternal throne, and from a newly-received affinity of feeling, began to conjecture their burning ardor, as messengers of love, to communicate tidings of grace to whatever sphere commissioned. She thought of one commissioned to earth with a special embassy, charged to communicate it to the greatest possible number of earth’s inhabitants; conjectured the zeal that
would be manifested in givinr publicity to the tidings, the expedients used, the ideas of his auditors relative to the innportance of his mission, their probable indifference, perhaps contumely and scorn, pronounced over-zealous, carrying matters too far, perchance fanatic, or monomaniac, might be the epithets that might serve to distinguish him from the mass of mankind, and be the reward of his labors of love, during the performance of his earthly mission.
Yet the thought of the manner in which these considerations would effect him, th various motives that would call forth his commiseration, the little weight that a contemptuous reception of his message would have on his personal feelings, only as far as the honor of his Sovereign was concerned, his shght associations and attachments to earth, other than as the scene for the completion of his work, his thoughts of heaven, as the centre of his operations, the home of his heart, his native country, &c., all tended to instruct and admonish.
It was now that the Scriptural meaning of the words, “The very God of peace sanctify you wdiolly,” “body, soul and spirit,” “fliy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven,” “ye are not of the world, I have chosen you out of the world,” ‘’redeennedfrom all iniquity,” “** di peculiar people,” “strangers,” ‘* pilgrims,” “sojourners,” “fellow-citizen with the saints in light,” &c., communicated torrent after torrent of light upon the peculiar nature, responsibihties, and infinite blessedness of the way upon which she had newly entered. And in answer to the inquiry. Can you declare this great salvation to others? her heart responded, Yea, Lord, to an assembled world at once, if it be at thy bidding! Only “arm me with thy Spirit’s might.” “Into thy hands I commit my spirit;” let it but actuate this body for the performance of thy good will and pleasure in all things; and if at any time thou seest me about to depart from ihee, cut short the work in righteousness, and take me home to thyself,
“Tisdone! the great transaction’s done,
I am my Lord’s, and he is mine;
He drew me, and I followed on,
Charmed to confess the voice divine.
Now rest my long-divided heart,
Fixed on this blissful centre rest,
Nor ever from thy Lord depart,
W/th him of every good possessed.”