And is there not a science of salvation, of holiness, of eternal
life, that requires the same absolute loyalty to "the Spirit of
Truth"? How infinitely important, then, that we know what that
truth is, that we may understand and hold that doctrine.
A friend of mine who finished his course with joy, and was called
into the presence of his Lord to receive his crown some time ago,
has pointed out some mistakes which we must carefully avoid. Here
they are:--
"It is a great mistake to substitute repentance for Bible
consecration. The people whom Paul exhorted to full sanctification
were those who had turned from their idols to serve the living
and true God, and to wait for His Son sent down from Heaven
(I Thess. i. 9, 10; iii. 10-13; v. 23).
"Only people who are citizens of His kingdom can claim His
sanctifying power. Those who still have idols to renounce may be
candidates for conversion, but not for the baptism with the Holy
Ghost and fire.
"It is a mistake in consecration to suppose that the person
making it has anything of his own to give. We are not our own,
but we are bought with a price, and consecration is simply taking
our hands off from God's property. To wilfully withhold anything
from God is to be a God-robber.
"It is a mistake to substitute a mere mental assent to God's
proprietorship and right to all we have, while withholding
complete devotion to Him. This is theoretical consecration--a
rock on which we fear multitudes are being wrecked. Consecration
which does not embrace the crucifixion of self and the funeral of
all false ambitions is not the kind which will bring the Holy
Fire. A consecration is imperfect which does not embrace the
speaking faculty" (the tongue), "and the believing faculty" (the
heart), "the imagination, and every power of mind, soul, and
body, and give all absolutely and for ever into the hands of
Jesus, turning a deaf ear to every opposing voice.
"Reader, have you made such a consecration as this? It must
embrace all this, or it will prove a bed of quicksand to sink
your soul, instead of a full salvation balloon, which will safely
bear you above the fog and malaria and turmoil of the world,
where you can triumphantly sing:
"'I rise to float in realms of light,
Above the world and sin.
With heart made pure and garments white,
And Christ enthroned within.'
"It is a mistake to teach seekers to 'only believe,' without
complete abandonment to God at every point, for they can no more
do it than an anchored ship can sail.
"It is a mistake to substitute mere verbal assent for obedient
trust. 'Only believe' is a fatal snare to all who fall into these
traps.
"It is a mistake to believe that the altar sanctifies the gift
without the assurance that all is on the altar. If even the end
of your tongue, or one cent of your money, or a straw's weight of
false ambition, or spirit of dictation, or one ounce of your
reputation, or will, or believing powers be left off the altar,
you can no more believe than a bird without wings can fly.
"'Only believe' is only for those seekers of holiness who are
truly converted, fully consecrated, and crucified to everything
but the whole will of God. Teachers who apply this to people who
have not yet reached these stations need themselves to be taught.
All who have reached them may believe, and if they do believe,
may look God in the face, and triumphantly sing:
"'The blood, the blood is all my plea,
Hallelujah, for it cleanseth me.'"
II. _The Experience_.--Simply to be skilled in the doctrine
is not sufficient for us as leaders. We may be as orthodox as St.
Paul himself, and yet be only as "sounding brass and clanging
cymbals," unless we are rooted in the blessed experience of
holiness. If we would save ourselves and them that follow us, if
we would make havoc of the Devil's kingdom and build up God's
kingdom, we must not only know and preach the truth, but we must
be living examples of the saving and sanctifying power of the
truth. We are to be "living epistles, known and read of all men";
we must be able to say with Paul, "follow me as I follow Christ";
and "those things which ye learned and received and heard and saw
in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you."