The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-07-13
The Outlook for Holiness.

A. Lowrey, in Divine Life.
No intelligent and unprejudiced
mind can doubt for q moment that
the great revival Of personal holiness
of the last twenty years has been
rich blessing to the Church and the
world. To deny that this marvellous
awakening has deepened her spiritu-
atty. quickened her energies. renew
ed her aggressive spirit, unsealed her
fountains of munificence. resuscita-
ted her prayer-meetings, reproduced
camp.meetings. elevated the taste
for reading. created and put into cir
culation a vast quantity of sanctiied
literature. converted many perfume
tory preachers into flaming revival.
lists. and projected into missi0n.fieids
all round the world new eiement
of life and power-tO deny all this, is
to eoaiess to ignorance, or something
worse.
We do not say that such has been
the effect in every instance and place.
We speak only of general results.
We do not say that these widespread
chickering's are traceable to the re-
vival of holiness exclusively. Other
causes have been at work. We do
not say that no mixture of evil has
attended this blessed work. Tares
have been sown among the wheat.
But we do claim that no other single
cause has contributed so much to.
wards the termination and strength
ening of the Church in all her benefi-
cent agencies as this revival of per-
sonal holiness. 1t has been the
central force, the handspring, that
has put and kept the whole machin-
cry of reform in motion.
These propositions we propose to
expand a little. 1t has increased the
life of the Church. Holiness is life.
and wherever it operates the pulse
of vitality beats quicker and stronger.
We say this of the whole Church,
aud not of sanctified individuals. It
would be a solecism to say that holi-
ness Quickens the pulse OF those who
enjoy It. That would be equivalent
to saying that vitality yitalizes and
sanctificatiOn sanctifies.
But we speak Of the diffusion of
this leaven, and Of the indirect effect
of It's influence on. all the churches.
1t has come to pass that, 60 where
we will, from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, and:from the Canadas to the
Gulf of Mexico, in every locality
happy groups are found who relish
the doctrine, and sweetly testify to
the experience of full salvation. In
many societies cloud of witnesses
stand up for Jesus, enliven the ser.
vices, stimulate the preacher, and
make the very air redolent and sacred
by their fervid and yet humble testi-
monies that Jesus Is indeed table to
save to the uttermost them that come
unto God by him."
This influence. invisible as air. diff
fusive as ether. and powerful as elec-
tricity, gives an unconscious stimula-
ton and warmth to the whole
Church. and. at the same time. pen.
etrates like reflected sunshine into
other churches. Thus has holiness,
gently floating in the air like pollen.
dropped a seed in every garden.
Nay, more it has taken root, and is
shooting up thrifty growth. 1t is
an insinuatIng obtruder, which no
ironiclad ecclesIasticism can exclude.
1t is like the declaration of the glory
of God in the heavens. as David
puts it: "There is no speech nor
language where their voice is not
heard" And such has been the diff
fusiveness of this grace. that the next
verse in the same connection Is beau
tifulIy appropriate: "Their line Is
gone out through all the earth, and
their words to the end OF the WORLD"
1t is probable there Is not mission
on earth that has not felt its quicken.
ing touch.
In the home field, this grace has
shown itself equally salutary. Those
really in the experience Of it are the
most active. reliable, and efficient
workers in the Church. This is alike
true Of ministers and members. No
camp.meeting can be successfully
carried on where the preaching of
holiness is tabooed or pushed aside.
The preaching service Is also depen.
dent upon it for fruit and attractive.
ness. Excepting where there is a
combination of wealth and show. or
new church is built in q populous
locality, decay and desolation creep
over society like mildew where
the theme of entire sanctification is
ignored. Congregations run down.
prayer meetings ere neglected,
finances lag, hospitality wanes,
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