The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-06-15
Holiness.

Holiness.
DOE Merrill's ASPECTS of Christian Expe-
An increase of personal holiness is
H eded to secure steadiness and sta
#ity In the Christian life. The
! Equations of zeal on the part OF
blessed Christians is a source of
ptinual anxiety to every godly
fson. We wish to see the whole
mbership standing fast in one
Writ, striving together for the faith
] the gospel. How shall this desir-
le condition of things be brought
i out? 1t cannot be till crucifiXiOn
the world, single eye. and con
rated life, become the rule instead
{ 1.-THE exception. 1t is not the fault
Il A. religion that professors are so
Nkle. The trouble Is in human ma
NE. and in the lack of thorough
,g$s in personal expience. The weak.
;hS ssaSiainads 0L are the resuitssof'
Tdpravity. not Of grace, and they can
ofE be overcome by more grace.
Thefaltering follower of Christ needs
to be'rooted and grounded in love )"
he neds to be strengthened with all
might by the spirit in the inner
man : he needs to be "filled with
all the fulness of God" When he
comes Il this standard, and reckons
himself indeed dead unto sin and
alive untS God, his stumbling will
cease. Hsbits of duty will be form
ed and followed, fixedness of mind
will prevail, and then the upward
path of life. all radiant with the
smile of heaven. will be pursued
with cheerful Joy.
The blessing Of holiness is needed
to keep alive the aggressive spirit in
the Church. The inclination to ease
and quiet is natural to the ministry
and membership, and as deplorable
as natural. This is palpable to every
observer. No argument is required
to prove it, nor Illustration to make
it plain. The Church too often sleeps,
while the restless activities of sin
rush the multitudes to perdition. The
tide of intenperance rolls over the
lard. mocking the Church to her
fBG. The Sabbath. as an institution
ofdod, reels beneath the tread of the
armies of desecration. Sensuality
reaps the harvests of ruin from the
very doors of the sanctuary. EX-
travagance and prodigality stare us
in the face. Bribery and corruption
ip high places are alarmingly COM
mon. Profanity pollutes the atmos-
IIshere.w we breathe.
Under the innocent name of amuse.
ments the poison OF immortality and
death reaches the households of
thousands of our people. The popu-
lar literature teens with insidious
infdelity, while the most valued of
our secular papers pour into our
families the unblushing iniquities of
the dissolute, and the reckless risks
of gamblers; their losses and gains
are coolIy and carefully prepared as
any news that transpires. The mys-
terry of iniquity works with all dill,
gence. Where shall we find the an
tidote to the demoralizing tendencies
around us? By whom shall the
Spirit of the Lord lift up standard
against this flood of evil, If the
Church be not girded for the con-
flict? Who shall beat back the hosts
of sin, and gather the outcasts into
the field. if the Church possess not
the aggressive spirit? And how
shall this spirit be maintained with.
out the baptism of the Holy Ghost
upon the ministry and membership :?
There is need that the line between
the Church and the world be more
closely drawn. The friends and ene-
mics of the gospel should stand face
to face. The nations lie at the feet of
the Church, and the God of nations
bids us rise and occupy all lands.
With all the adverse agencies so
adrOitly mustered into the service of
sin, the God of our fathers is work.
ing salvation in the earth. Above
the storms that rock the civil powers
II the world, his voice calls for ag-
gression in his name for the conquest
of the world for Christ! Who can
doubt it? All the successive tri.
umphs of science in drawing from
nature her secret forces, all the tire.
less energies of commerce in joining
the nations in closer relationships,
all the agitations of the vital ques-
tions of individual and social rights
prevailing in SO many countries, and
all the re-adjustments of the rela-
tions of Church and state so marvel
OusIV OOinu on in tho ChriSt;on