Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-12-30
Westford, Dec. 10, 1910.
RELIGIOUS MISCELLANY.
From the Christian Secretary. T..
An Essay on Christian Perfection.

An Essay Oh christian Perfection
"Be yt heretore perfect, eUen as gour
! Father which IS IN AeaUen IS perfect.70
| Mat. " 48. .---... ..>.~ VII
5. Another argument in favor of this
| position, is derived from The consideration
that every necessary aid is provided in the
! Gospel to enable the Christian to perform
the duties required of him, and 10 secure
I he certainty of his entire success.
1t is matter of:devout thonkfu1ness, that
although man possesses natural ability 10
! obey God, and is therefore inexcusable if
| ne does not do so, yet. that since his incli-
nations are so 1eptaved. and his situation
altogether 50 critical, God should have
taken so much pains to provide perfect
remedy for him, aud furnish him with all
the aids OF his grace requisite to fultalld
acceptable discharge of his whole duty
Must the world be sublued ?-this is the
victory that overcometh the world even
our faith. Is the Christian attacked hv
the lusts CT the flesh and the pride of liz ?
! let him remember that the same faith
which overcomes The word, works also
by love and pursf IS The heart" Does tht
, Devil, as a roaring lin, 90 about seeking
whom he may devour, and exert his
mighty powers upon him. or ply his art
'ful Vaccinations TO effect his ruin 2-ht
has only to resist him, and he will fet
from him. LII s4o.t, in every straight, III,
humble saint has but TO look to Iesps
trust implicitly the sufficiencg ofhis grace
and recline with confidence on the bosom
: of his love. Let bin then fix his stead
5 fast eye on Christ, and press forward wit
! the GimDst vigor to the attainment of th
l. prize of his high>vocation. Let bin FOL
get the things that arc behind, and pref
forward 10 those things which are before
and let him never be satisfied till be b
comes perfect in Christ Jesus, and beholc
a ing him by the strong eve of faith
n changed into The same image.
is Ill. One other question remains to
lrt examined. Do Any CHRISTIANS ACT
ALLY ATTAIN THE PERFECTION HER
ba REQUIRED IN THE PRESENT STATE?
And here we wish it To be distinct
y understood that we do not intend 10 CO
~ found the perfection're ofthe Chr
ng tian here, with the complete and evera
BY ing perfection that awaits him in heave
he All will be entirely perfect in HEAVIER
and we have little doubt but that the pt
he fiction oflhat place differs IN many
spects from that which is required
!, Christians in This life. The qupslonlh
= before us, IS whether any Christians
90 The ordinary circumstances and duties
Ito llfe.do aktually attain the perfection viii
the 5ospel requires
liz This is a question Of fact 10 be Diet,
ch mined by experience or observation.
M Have we then attained the blessing O.
selves? Or have we known Others II
have attained il! So far as NE are c,
cerned in The settlement Of The quest
rea from our own experience, we are comp
ubt led to confess that we have never vel
ing ioyed the boon-we have never vet rea
his ed those enriable heights Nor have
bern more fortunate In our observation
oos others in respect. We have known ma
!. lprecious and valued brethren and sist
in different sections Of the country and
ces- the different orthodox denominations
ing Christians, whom ne bore to rIeet
heaven. clothed in the spotless robes 0
the Saviour's righteousness. and made &c
that pletely perfect through the atoning b
fall o.. the Lamb; yet among them all.
have never seen any whom we thou
entirely perfect. We have seen mi
Ha shining lights amongst.our Christian
quaintances-manv seminen,ly zeal,
the and devoted, and holy brethren -breth
not who have appeared to count no sacrif