The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-05

Jamess perfect man is not sudden product
even by faith, but a growth from trial. per
slstence and experience" 1t is not
an absolute or ideal perfection it is practical
land relativel perfection, after human measure,
realizable in this life. 1t consists in degree of
spiritual moral power, through divine aid, of re-
slstlng temptation, avoiding known and voun
tary sin, and attaining excellence. just so far
as the Christian possesses that power, so far is
he perfect Christian. 1t is not so much a
second blessing as consummating of the first
one" If a man maintains his justified and re-
generate state by faith grace daily increases in
the soul, and the power Of sin as steadily de
creases You steadily, and with increasing force,
let light into room, and there will be a steady
elimination of darkness, In proportion as grace
strengthens, through growing faith. and the
use OF developing means, in that proportion sin
weakens. The perfection of the one is the de
suuction of the other When the soul is fully
clothed with humility pride must be extinct
When perfectly adorned with meekness sinful
anger can have 10 place When patience has its
perfect work, peevishness and discomfort must
depart. Where love to God is made perfect,
there must be the exclusion of self-will and love
of the world, and this is what the Scripture means
by entire sanctiication. Second-The attainment
of Christian perfection is instantaneous, as well
as gradual And herein is no contradiction
Sanctifcaton is, in Scripture compared to the
growth of corn, first the blade, then the ear
after that the full corn in the ear" Now, of
course there is an instant where the corn is fully
ripe in the ear Sanctihcatlon is, in Scripture
compared to the advancement of the human body
from childhood to adulthood; but there is an
instant when it arrives at its full stature. These
Illustrations, however, are not quite perfect, be
cause, while the corn and the body begin to de-
cay soon after maturity, the soul is capable OF
endless improvement and growth. IT, in our
text, we all expected to 'go on unto perfection
of course we must grow, we must be constantly
approaching with more or less rapldity) ma
turity, and. Also there must be an instant when
we reach maturity There must be an instant
when the growing Christians love is made per
fect-he loves God with all his heart, he obeys
God, he delights in a constant and acceptable
service Here it should be remembered that
faith is not only the condition on which we re
ceive the blessing, but is also the rule the
measure of the blessing received. If the eye of
faith be partially opened, the soul will be par
TALLY illuminated and occupied by grace. But
if the eye of faith be opened to its full extent
the so1l will be filled with heavenly light and
love- STILL as there is difference in mems
pacities, all who are entirely sanctifed have not
the same amount of grace All are filled, but the
vessel of one will contain more than the vessel OF
another.
A few things may be mentioned in conclusion
that should be especially borne in mind by all
seekers after this mat1rity-this higher life;
Frst-It is offered to ALL and tits the duty of all
to attain unto it. Second-It is to be attained
through faith, appropriating Gods promised
grace; faith that reveals itself by constant use
of God-appointed means and by good works
Thrd-.Hhe agent in this attainment is the
doly spirit by Une SplIlU Ine soul Is porH
again" in conversion, and by the Spirit
that soul is brought to maturity. Fourth
The Holy Spirit witnesses with our spirit
that we are made perfect in love, just as He wit
messed with our spirits that we were born again
Fifth-When we reach maturity i'll Christian life
and love we do not cease to grow; on the con
trary, we then just really begin to grow unhin-
dered and with true rapidity. SiXth-A true
Christian is not above or beyond temptation, and
never will be until he is safely housed in heaven
But he does not yield to temptation; temptation
makes him stronger, because he meets it. and. in
Gods name, overcones it. Seventh-A mature
a perfect Christian is subject to the weaknesses
and imperfections of our imperfect humanity
He makes mistakes he errs in Judgment, and he
may not always do what from anothers stand
point may seem to be either best or absolutely
right; but he looks constantly for divine light
and help, he habitually obeys God and walks in
the path of duty as he sees and understands 1t;
he loves God supremely, and does not knowingly
and with consent of will and heart sin against
God. To put it in the common language of men,
you may, perhaps. at times doubt his wisdom or
his good Judgment, but you cannot doubt his
honesty and sincerity
Eighth-If you ask me: "Shall we make a
public profession of this blessing, this grace
when we receive it," / answer: In my opinion
the perfect Christian reveals himself to men
not so much by profession as by character,
whereby men consent in their hearts that he is
a worthy representative of the Holy Spirits
power to save and cleanse to the uttermost
Therefore if you speak of this attainment, let it
be modestly, and with marked feeling and ex-
preston of entire dependence on God; with the
clear statement that you are sinner, saved by
grace" Profess it on rare occasions and with
the deepest humility, for we are very apt to be
misunderstood, and thus to repel rather than at
tract by our words. A truly sanctifcd life will
rarely if indeed, ever be misunderstood So
we, usually, had better let the life profess and
prove this blessed experience. Let your charac-
ter speak for you, and for this grace.
have been asked by many in this congrega-
- - L l. l.
that are especially announced as sanctifcation
or holiness meetings." l answer, in all candor
and kindness I do not. Such meetings will GER
tainly be misunderstood by the great majority
in the church, and will be regarded as the eX-
preston of an assumed spiritual superiority over
the church at large by those who hold
them. And certainly they often do pre-
sent to outsiders a Pharasaical spirit
Such meetings usually promote clanlshness and
a spirit of unkind criticism, while they inevlta-
bly, seem, at least, to underrate Irregular means
of grace in the church. Let this spirit of holt
ness, this effort to lead our membership on and
up to Christian perfection, be fostered IN all
our meetings. Let it be always found in the
pulpit in the class and prayer meetings. i'll the
Sabbath school and even in the social circle; but
let it not for moment be considered as some
thing outside of and above the everyday work
and experience of the church. Ninth-lt is our
duty having obtained this grace ourselves to
humbly and prayerfully seek to show others the
way, and eXhort them, in love, to walk therein
Tenth-The test of this grace is love test
Love to God, and that love dominating controll-
ing in our lives Love to our neighbor and
faithfullness to him in all relations and duties.
Eleventh-Of this grace it is said ASK and
yo shall receive; seek and we shall
find" Dear Christian hearer Seek
this blessing, and seek it nowl Having, through
grace attained unto it, all conflict between in
clination and duty will cease in your life. All
hindrances to your rapid spiritual growth will
be removed. The gift of power will be bestowed
upon you, and God will certainly enable you to
do very great work for Him, and for the
church