The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-09-22
PERFECT sANcTIFIcATIon.
(CoNrINuEp IRON FIRST rAGE.)

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dead indeed unto sin. Account this to
be the case. Regard this as truly your
relation TO sin; you are entirely dead TO
it; IL shall have no more dominion over
you
A careful examination OF the passages
where this original word is u5ed will
show that this is It's usual and natural
sense. And this gives US the true idea
oS Gospel faith-em bracing personally
the salvation which is by faith in Jesus
Christ. But more OF this hereafter.
~ What Is meant by reckoning
yourselves alive indeed unto God
through Jesus Christ? Plainly this:
that you are to expect to be saved by
Jesus Christ and to calculate on this
salvation as your own. You are to es
toem yourselves as wholly dead to sin
and as consequently brought into lie
snd peace In jesus Christ.
v. What is implied in the exhorta-
tion OF our text2
That there is an adequate provisionfor
This expec tation, and for realizing these
blessttgs In fact. For IL there were
no ground for realization this, the in
junction would be most absurd. A pre-
Cept requiring US to account ourselves
dead indeed unto sin and alive unto
GOD, would DO utterly untensble if
there we're no probability Of the thing
ing into such relations to sin on the
one hand and 10 God through Christ on
.he other For If shese blessings could
not be reasonably expected, there could
he no rational grounds for the expecta
ticn II 1t we're not reasonable TO eX-
pec it, then 30 eDioin US to expect it
would be- palpably unreasonable. Who
does not see that the very Injunction
implies that there is o foundation laid
and adequate provisions made for the
state required.
WHAT Is implied in complying with
&fis Injunction?
l. Believing such thing to be pos
s.ble b ,lieving il possible thu through
CHRIST We may live in the required man
Eer, that we may avoid sin-desist from
sinning-give 1t up and abandon it al
toget er and put it forever away. There
can be- no such thing as an intelligent
com Jlianco with this preceps except as
there shall underlie IL this belief in its
prac liability. A state actually made
pfactcAole by adequate grace, adapted
20 the laws OF mind and to the actual
N orsl condition OF lost men.
Cnat we cesse from all expecta-
ton OF . tanning this state OF ourselves,
snd by our own independent, unaided
efforts. There is no beginning to re.
ceive by grace till we rsnounce all ex-
pecsation OF attaining by natural works.
u Is only when empty OF self that we
begin 10 be filed of Christ.
present willingness to be saved
from sin. We must actually renounce
all ein as such-thSt is, renounce sin
be- ause 1t is sin and for what it is, This
posi- ion the mind must take: l can
have nothing more to do with shining
for God hates sin and am to live hence
torth and forever 10 please and glorify
Him. My soul is committed with its
utmost strength of purpose TO this
pleasing of God and doing Bis will
q. 1tlmplies also an entire committal
OF your whole case to Jesus Christ, not
only for present, but for all future SAL
walton from sin. This is absolutely es-
sential 1t must always be the vital
step-the cardinal act in this great work
Sf salvation from sin.
$. IL Implies also the for eclosing Of
the mind against temptation, in such q
sense that the mind truly expects to
live life purely devoted to God. This
is tho same sort OF foreclosing OF the
mind as takes place under faithful
marriage contract The Bible every
where keeps this figure prominent
Christians are represented as the bride
Of Christ. They stand in relation to
Him which is closely analogous to that
they commit their whole hearts to Him,
rep sing their affections in Him and
trusting Him for all good, their hearts
are strongly foreclosed against tempta-
ton The principle here involved, we
soc illustrated in the merely human re-
lation. When parties are solemnly be.
trc' he'd in mutua al honest fidelity, there
is no thought of letting the eye rove or
the heart 60 abroad for q fresh object OF
Interest and love. The heart is fixed
willingly and by plighted faith liked,
and this fact shuts out the power of
temptation aim ost entirely 1t renders
II comparatively an easy m after to keep
the heart safely above the influence OF
temptation or apostasY. Before the
sacred vows are taken the individual
may be excused for looking around
and making any observations or inouir
les; bue never after the solemn vow is
N ade. After the parties have become
one by vow OF marriage, never to be
broken, there Is to be no more cues ton
as TO better choice-no further thought
about changing the relations or with
drawing the hearts affections. No
waverinR ia admissible now; the pledge
is made for everlasting faithfulness,
settled once aud forever. This is Gods
own illustration, and surely none need
De more apt or more forcibie. 1t shows
aow tue Christian should look upon sin
and upon all temptation to sin. lie
N nst say, Away from my heart forever,
am married TO Jesus Christ; how then
can look after other lovers? My mind
ie settled forever. 1t rests In the deep
repose OF one whose affections are
pighsed and fixed-to rove no more.
Sin? ] can think Of yielding to Its
SeduCtions no longer | cannot enter.