My soul was perfectly satisfied, and for some time I felt as though all
that heaven could give to a human being in this world had been given to
me. But later I began to realize the need of something more. I heard
teaching on the doctrine of entire sanctification and began to study
about it in the Bible. The knowledge thus obtained caused me to seek
for the experience, but I did not receive it as soon as I had expected.
After some very hard struggles and much disappointment I finally
concluded that the teaching was wrong in regard to this matter and that
it was impossible to obtain the experience as it had been presented to
me. Trying to comfort myself with this thought, I let the matter rest
for a while, but I was not satisfied.
About two years after my conversion I decided that this matter should be
settled between God and my soul. Going to the Lord in earnest prayer, I
made a perfect consecration of all to God. The Lord began talking to my
soul, and he made it clear to me that the reason why I had not obtained
the experience sooner was not because the doctrine I had heard was
wrong, but because I had an exaggerated idea of what sanctification
really would do. I was under the impression that everything in my human
nature which had caused me trouble would be removed in sanctification.
I had failed to see that in sanctification human desires are not taken
away but sanctified. I saw clearly that the cause for the most of my
troubles was that I had failed to discriminate between carnality and
humanity.
While I was consecrating, the Lord spoke to me, not audibly but by his
Spirit, and asked me if I was willing to go to Denmark with the gospel.
I was able to surrender on all points but this one, seeing that going
to a foreign country would conflict with all my plans for the future.
I felt very much like Abraham when he went to Mount Moriah with his only
son to offer him there upon God's altar. But seeing that this was the
only way and desiring to obtain the experience, I surrendered, placed
all on the altar, and immediately I was sanctified and baptized with the
Holy Ghost. Praise the Lord!
There were no outward demonstrations, no special manifestations of the
power of God; but the Holy Ghost, being enthroned in my heart, gave me
a power over the world and self which I had not experienced heretofore.
This glorious experience I have now enjoyed for several years, and
it never was more precious to me than it is at the present time.
Halleluiah!