Your ShelfYour Projects

Untitled article

2%

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · December 17, 1867

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXXI, No. 1

Read the full edition

PRESSING ON.

By John Norton Loughborough

BY ELDER J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
TEXT: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. iii, 13, 14.
In the above text, the inspired apostle gives us some of his experience in the work of overcoming. Having before him a view of the holiness and sacredness of his high calling, which is to stand as a representative of the religion of Jesus Christ, his effort, continually, was to come up to that standard of perfection exemplified in the life of Christ, called by him here, “the mark of the prize.”
If Paul, when writing this epistle, with all his attainments, his endowment with heavenly gifts—having “abundance of revelations”—with his patience in the many tribulations he was called to pass through, and being brought to the test where his own life had been jeopardized for the cause, so that he by experience could say, “Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy,” could say, “I count not myself to have apprehended,” what can we say? What attainments have we made? What victories have we gained? What conflicts have we endured? Do we count our lives dear unto ourselves, so that it seems like death to us to make the sacrifice God requires in his cause? What trials or tests have we passed that can in any great degree compare with his?
Have any of us been looking over our experience, our trials, our victories, with thoughts of what great attainments we have made, and how much we have overcome? God forbid it. Rather let us, like Paul, consider the high character to be attained, and not count ourselves to have yet apprehended, but, like him, study how we can move in that manner to add to the attainments already made.
“Ne’er think the victory won, Nor lay thine armor down; Thy arduous task will not be done, Till thou obtain the crown.”
The course the apostle was pursuing, in order to attain to perfection, he introduces in our text: “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark.” This, if we can learn it, is the position we should occupy. Certain things he would forget; not everything in his experience, surely. Some things there are which it is of the utmost importance that we remember, and these very things we are liable to forget. On the other hand, things we should forget and leave in the past, we lug along as a heavy burden, to drag us down to ruin and death. Oh! for wisdom from Heaven, to discriminate as we should in these matters. In looking at the subject in this discourse, we will look at,
I. Some of the things we should not forget. Above every thing else, we should not forget God. Not, simply, not forget that there is such a being, but not forget his fatherly care. Says the Lord, by Isaiah: “I, even I, am he that comforteth you; who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; and forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?” What a reproof on our course; daily bending to please our fellow-men, fearing their frown, and not having a realizing sense that we are continually in the presence of God, that it is “in him we live,” on his earth we tread, under his heavens, which he has spread forth like a curtain, that we dwell. It is in this sense, then, that we should remember God. Not simply to remember that there is such a being, and think of him as afar off; but let our faith and meditations bring him nigh to us, that we may meditate on his parental care over us, and instead of being led to please our fellow-men, let us fear continually lest we should offend that Father of mercies and God of all comfort.
The prophet still further illustrates the Lord’s care: “The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail. But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared. The Lord of hosts is his name. And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say to Zion, thou art my people.” Isa. li, 14–16.
The latter portion of this text, planting the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, we understand applies to the new heavens and new earth. God’s care extends to his people, even till he provides them with, and plants them as his people in, their eternal inheritance, free from all oppressors and foes, with none to molest or make them afraid.
Another thing we should not forget, is the works of God. Says David: “We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children, that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation who set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.” Ps. lxxviii, 4–8.
It seems from this text, and we know the same in our own experience, that to remember, and meditate often on God’s mighty works, and dealings, and deliverances of his people in the past, does have an effect to lead us to steadfastness of purpose in the obedience of his law. May we then never forget his mighty works, as recapitulated in Heb. xi, and more fully delineated in other portions of the sacred word.
Again, we are admonished of the importance of remembering the word of God. Says David: “My soul hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. Thy word is very pure; therefore, thy servant loveth it.” Ps. cxix, 139–140. But what kind of a remembrance of the word is acceptable with God, and for our good? The apostle James sets this matter forth in its true light, when he says: “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass; for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” Jas. i, 21–25. It is not merely a theoretical remembrance of the truth of God that is required, but such remembrance
as will lead us to practice the truth in all the walks and duties of life. What we see duty clearly marked out before us, we cannot expect the blessing of God unless we perform the duty, for it is the doers of the work, not the forgetful hearers, that have the promise of being blessed in the deed.
We should not forget the precepts of the Lord. “I will never forget thy precepts; for with them thou hast quickened me.” And here we would say, it is not merely a remembrance of, and a conformity to, the letter of God’s commandments that is required, but there are great principles that underlie these commandments, which must be kept in mind and carried out by us in all the walks of life, in order that we may be indeed of those who remember God’s precepts. James says: “If ye fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well.” To carry out these precepts, then, in a manner acceptable with God, we must love God with all our hearts, and love our neighbor as ourselves. In all our intercourse and deal with our fellow-men, to remember the golden rule of our Saviour, “All things, whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.” What a constant care and remembrance of God’s law is indeed necessary, that we may carry out the great rule of doing right to all.
We are admonished also to remember the Lord’s benefits. In the words of that beautiful Psalm we read: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits; who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide; neither will he keep his anger forever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy towards them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Ps. ciii, 1–14.
Every one of us is fed daily with the good things of the Lord. How becoming that we should ever keep it in our minds, and have a spirit of thankfulness for the common bounties and blessings of life. Has the Lord given us the evidence of sins forgiven? May we never forget his compassion toward us in this, and his tender love which led him to provide a Saviour for us.
Most of my hearers have been, at different times, deeply afflicted with disease, brought near to death, but God in mercy has spared us yet to live. Oh! let us remember his kindness, and improve aright the gracious hours he has given us, to his glory. Many of us can look upon accidents jeopardizing our lives, where, in God’s mercy, we escaped. He “redeemed our lives from destruction.” How becoming in us that we should remember all God’s kind and merciful dealings to us. What an effect it has to enkindle faith in our minds, and a spirit of love to God in our hearts. Oh! the kindness manifested in the concluding words of the above testimony: “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” How kind, how merciful, how gracious, long-suffering, and compassionate is the Lord toward his creatures. Who would not be led to love and serve him, by remembering his benefits toward us. Its natural effect is to lead us to the same conclusion to which David arrived: “Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.” Ps. cxvi, 2, 12–14.
The Lord admonishes his people not to forget their own wicked works. In his testimony anciently to his people, he said: “Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land; but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee: Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land; but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Understand, therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiff-necked people.
“Remember and forget not, how thou provokedest the Lord thy God in the wilderness; from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the Lord. Also, in Horeb ye provoked the Lord to wrath, so that the Lord was angry with you to have destroyed you.” “Furthermore, the Lord spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiff-necked people; let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of thee a great nation, mightier and greater than they.” “Ye have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you.” Deut. ix, 4–8, 13, 14, 24. Again, Moses testifies of what the Lord says of their rebellions: “Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it.” Num. xiv, 22, 23.
Their remembrance of how they had tempted the Lord “ten times,” would have a tendency to keep them humble, and cause them to feel their need of the enlightening influence of God’s Spirit, and his continual sustaining grace, that they might be guided aright, and kept from falling again under the snare of the enemy. When they felt as though they were very good, and that it was because of their great goodness that the Lord had given them the land, they would be off their watch, and open to the assaults of Satan.
I have frequently thought of the case of Peter, who was so confident he should stand by the Lord, though all the world should deny him. How soon human courage failed, when not sustained by divine grace. How soon all his ill-directed zeal gave place to shameless fear. Satan assaults him, and zealous Peter is immediately denying his Master with wicked oaths. What a salutary effect it must have had on the mind of Peter, in his experience in after life, to remember his denial of his Lord. To call up to his mind his sudden fall, of course would produce stinging remorse of conscience for his folly; nevertheless, the remembrance of this wicked act on his part, could be not otherwise than salutary, especially as he realized that the Lord in mercy had forgiven him.
It is just as essential for us to remember our follies and sins, our past wickedness, and departures from God, our failures in standing by his cause and servants, as it was for ancient Israel. We have need to “fear, lest there be in us an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” Lest we think we have got the truth, and are striving to live it out, have made very fair attainments in the way of overcoming, and thus fail to put forth those persevering efforts we should for higher attainments in the Lord’s work. Lest we be left to say, in the language of the Laodiceans, “I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing,” and know not that in the attainment and development of the Christian graces we should have made, with the holy, sanctifying truths we hold, we are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
A remembrance of our follies, lukewarmness, and sins, need not cause us despair, nor destroy the evidences from our minds of God’s forgiving mercy, but lead us to improve more fully than ever upon the blessings and favors the Lord shows us. Instead of considering how much better we are than those around us, because we have the light of truth, let us consider what great responsibilities are laid upon us by the light we have received, to live out the truth, and set a proper example before those around us. Let us consider how much greater attainments we have to make, and how much farther we might be advanced in the work, had it not been for our failings. Thus should we call to mind our sins. Thus we may be benefited by “remembering the rock whence we were hewn, and the hole of the pit whence we were digged.”
Peter mentions a matter which those forget who do not give all diligence to add the Christian graces to their faith, and persevere in the good work of the Lord; “Hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” 2 Pet. i, 9. Perhaps not forgotten the circumstance, as a matter-of-fact, that once they had the evidence of the forgiveness of their sins; but, experimentally, they have forgotten it. They no longer taste the sweets of the pardoning love of God shed abroad in the heart. They have need to plead like David; “Restore unto me the joys of thy salvation, uphold me with thy free Spirit.”
Among other things, and not the least, we are in danger of forgetting, is the chastening of the Lord. “And ye have not resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live. For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Heb. xii, 4–11.
What a reproof is the above text, to those who would seek their own ease. They have not made very earnest efforts in resisting sin, and have thought even that it was their duty to despise the Lord’s corrections, and under his rebukes they have fainted. How prone are we, poor mortals, to grieve under the Lord’s corrections, rebukes, and chastisements, and think they are grievous to be borne; when they are the only means the Lord can use upon us to arouse us to a sense of our immediate danger and lack. How appropriate the illustration of the apostle: “Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live.” If there is any one thing for which we can reverence our parents and guardians, more than another, it is in that they have patiently and perseveringly persisted in the work of correcting us, and subduing our wills, and teaching us the lesson of submission, even though chastisement may have been necessary to accomplish the work. What a help in the work of bringing the whole mind in subjection to the will of Christ is submission in youth. A brother who is worth several thousand dollars, told me not long since, he would willingly give all he had in this world had his parents subdued him in youth, instead of leaving him to himself. He viewed himself as having a severe battle to fight now, to subdue his evil passions and will, which could have been more readily done when the mind was tender, and the habits not yet thoroughly formed. Indeed, then, we may reverence the fathers of our flesh who have corrected us.
As gladly should we hail the corrections and chastenings of the Lord which are sent in the time we are forming our moral character to assist us in correcting our evil habits, and in learning the lesson of entire submission to him, and getting in that position of purity of mind and motive, that we may be “partakers of his holiness.” The chastenings of the Lord are not tokens of his frown, although for the time being
it might seem so: for “no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous.” We do not always see when the chastening comes, the lesson God designs we should learn. But when we see this, and see what God’s designs are in the affliction, we can look back upon it as a token of God’s love and mercy in carrying out his purposes and designs to save us. It is “afterward” that afflictions “yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who are exercised thereby.” Truly, then, we should
“Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust him for his grace. Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.”
He says: “As many as I love I rebuke and chasten.” Rev. iii, 19. And “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” Heb. xii, 6. David says: “Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept thy word.” Again: “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” Ps. cxix, 67, 71. Paul admonishes us not to forget the chastenings of the Lord. Not simply to remember that we have been afflicted, but, in our afflictions, we have been led to close self-examination of heart, to new consecration, and vows to God. Remember all connected with the chastening, and then the chastening will be made of everlasting benefit to us. As I have spoken to you of some of the things we should not forget, I will now speak.
II. Of some of the things we should forget. Those things the apostle would have us forget, must be all those things which would hinder us in the work of advancing in the divine life, and it is of some of these we would speak. We will do well to ever bear in mind the position occupied by those ancient worthies enumerated by the apostle to the Hebrews: “Confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.” Heb. xi, 13–16. As the Israelites literally might have left the journey and gone back to Egypt, had they been so disposed, and had their minds filled with Egypt; so we, that are pursuing the journey to the heavenly country, if we would have our minds filled with the vain things of this world shall not only find opportunity to return, but shall find our progress to the heavenly world greatly retarded, and ourselves, ere we are aware, weighed down with the weights of the world. If we would, then, make advancement in the heavenly journey, we must drop the world from our affections: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” 1 John ii, 15–17. Then, as far as having this world occupy any place in our affections, or hindering us from making progress in duty, we should forget the world, and hold it in that position Paul has represented: “They that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away. But I would have you without carefulness.” 1 Cor. vii, 30–32. If we take any other position with reference to the things of this world, than acting as faithful stewards of that which God has given us, seeking to use our means for his glory, and for the advancement of his cause in the earth, and to do good to our fellow-men, we shall, ere we are aware, find our affections clinging to earth, and, like Demas, forsake the cause of the Lord, “having loved this present world.” 2 Tim. iv, 10.
Of following the fashions, follies and pleasures of this world, we have had enough before espousing the cause of the Lord. Let us now leave these things indeed, behind, and whatever we do, “Do all to the glory of God.”
The admonition of the prophet Isaiah to God’s ancient people concerning things they should forget is equally applicable to us: “Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen; for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name; that he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.” Isa. xxv, 14, 16. To be constantly calling to mind our former perplexities and trials, and living as it were, our lives over again, is certainly marring
ring to the joy and peace which it is the privilege of the true believer to have. Instead of thus brooding over our calamities and sufferings, how much better to praise the Lord for his love and tender mercy to us, and for all his benefits toward us. Thus we may, as instructed by the prophet, “Bless ourselves in the God of truth.”
We should forget all our coldness and indifference in the cause of the Lord by substituting in their place activity, and that zeal which comports with the times in which we live, and the exposed condition of perishing mortals around us. By the signs of the times, and the fulfillment of the prophetic word, we view ourselves right on the verge of the consummation of the Christian’s hope, and see, by faith, ruin over the heads of a guilty world. Oh! what earnestness is demanded on our part in living out the truth, so that we may set proper examples for this solemn time. What activity should characterize every one who loves the truth, and who has received the light of truth, is striving with meekness to get our fellow-men to embrace the truth and get ready for the Lord’s soon coming. How have we lacked this zeal. May we indeed forget this lack by giving full heed to the admonition of the true Witness in being “zealous” in the work.
There has been, also, on the part of many, a fearfulness to launch out into the work with their all upon the altar, and themselves even a living sacrifice to God. This state of things has grown out of a lack of faith, living faith, in the truth of God. That we as a people have been troubled in this direction, is evident from the admonition of the True Witness to us to “buy gold.” Do we really believe with all our hearts, that in a few short years the Lord is coming, that we are then to drop earth’s cares forever, and be ushered into the presence of the holy angels to dwell in an immortal kingdom forever? If so, our actions will show it. Instead of being glued in our affections to this world, and spending all our energies to accumulate the things of earth, our greatest object would be to secure our own salvation, and that of our fellow mortals. Although we should be “diligent in business,” at the same time that business would not be allowed to so overcharge us but that we might be “fervent in spirit.” Our labor would be with cheerfulness and holy zeal, having God’s glory in view all the time, getting means, not simply for selfish ends, but to advance the cause of truth in the earth.
Have we had this lack of faith, which has produced fearfulness, and consequently a lack of zeal on our part? I fear it is too true with many of us. Shall we not arouse from this low ground? Is there not overwhelming evidence in the signs in the heavens, in the position of the nations of the earth, in the arousing of God’s people for their last mighty work, in the message to quicken our faith that the Lord’s coming is right upon us? Then let us forget all this lack, and be zealous, cheerful workers in this cause. But we will notice.
III. The position the apostle presents to us of reaching forth to those things which are before us. This is not the position of one who is seeking to have as easy a time as possible, and shunning all the burdens he can. But having accomplished that which it is evident needs to be done, he inquires, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do.” “Here am I, send me.” Or as expressed by the Psalmist: “Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.” And mark the response which is given to the Psalmist: “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.” Ps. xxvii, 11, 14. May our daily prayer be that of David: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Ps. xc, 12. If we stand in this reaching-forth and pressing-forward position, we shall be anxious to improve every means of grace placed within our reach, and to bear every burden it may fall to our lot to bear. Our place will not be vacant in the prayer-meeting. Our voice will there be heard telling of God’s goodness to us, and exhorting others to faithfulness. But to obtain this abundant grace of God which prepares us for the open conflict, burden, and open reward, often—daily—must we visit our closets and pour out our hearts before God, imploring his help and blessing upon us.
Those who neglect and shrink from the burdens and duties of the church; who especially consider themselves excused when there is to be a business meeting, forget that God hath said, “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently.” These very ones I have observed on many occasions are absent when the saints of God meet to celebrate the ordinances of the Lord’s house. If Paul could say that some were sickly, and some slept (were dead), who attended the ordinances improperly, what shall be said of those who deprive themselves of this grace and do not attend to it at all. These things ought not to be. And they will not be when the people are fully aroused to a sense of duty to bear burdens, and be active in the cause of God.
The apostle has well expressed the position of such in his letter to the Hebrews: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles
of God; and are become such as have need of milk; and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Heb. v, 12–14. These inactive ones, instead of cherishing the spirit of reproof in the church, are the first to take offense at the plain testimony, and find fault with those, who, with a heavy burden of the work upon them are striving with all their power to advance the cause of truth. But the admonition of Paul in our text is to be continually reaching forward for higher attainments. If thus we live, we shall find a growth in all the Christian graces, and our power of endurance amidst trials and afflictions becoming greater and greater all the time. Then may we have the gifts of God’s Spirit so manifest among us, “that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Eph. iv, 14, 15.
The Christian warfare and work of overcoming is a growth. Although this growth is to continue while our probation lasts, and we are never to give over the struggle for higher attainments until our warfare is ended, yet the work is of that character that we may note progress. But because we see that we have gained some victories, and laid aside some of our idols, we can only thank God for the grace hitherto given, and implore his help for the work of accomplishing still greater conquests. Complete victory is what we must have. “Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor. vi, 17, 18. What a precious promise! What encouragement to persevere in seeking complete victory. “Sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty.” No wonder the apostle says in the first words of the next chapter, “Having these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” The prospect of being really “sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty,” is truly an object worthy of the pursuit of mortals. Sons of Him who rules the whole universe of angels, and all created intelligences; who sits in the Heaven of heavens; whose kingdom ruleth over all; of whose “understanding,” it is “infinite,” we can have joint heirship with his Son Jesus, to all the glories of the better world. Oh! glorious hope. Oh! blessed thought. Oh! enchanting glories and cheering prospect before the faithful. This prize is one thing that is before us. The mark of the prize, which is perfect overcoming, and entire submission to the will of God, is also before us. Can we, will we not press to this mark that we may obtain the rich prize. And the best of all is, we have but little longer to fight.
“The battle’s almost o’er, The race is nearly run.”
The conflict before us is sharp, but it is a short one. Can you, will you, endure it? Are you up and arming for the conflict? Are you placing yourself, by reform, and by conformity to all God’s will, by cleansing the vessel from all sin and pollution, in that position that you may share in the holy refreshing soon to be given to the saints? Or, are you resting on your lees, in inactivity, waiting for the refreshing to arouse you? Sleep not here, my brother, sister, with such a delusive hope as that, for it is those who are up and active, who are asking of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain, to whom he promises to come down in showers of blessings. Be entreated to arouse to activity here, or your sleep will be aroused, alas! too late, by the thunders of the great day of God.
In all our forgettings, may we remember where we are, on the borders of Paradise—an opening Heaven almost in view. Victory, sweet victory, full and complete, so soon to be given. Then let us, as the message of the third angel is forgetting its feebleness, and rising to strength and power, reach forth unto those things which are before. Let us throw our every power of body and mind into the work of God, and soon, indeed, will we have forgotten our feebleness, our lukewarmness, our fearfulness, our lack of faith, and, as the poet expresses it:
“On faith’s strong eagle-pinions rise, And force your passage to the skies, Strong in the strength of God.”
May this be our course, and we share with the victors at last. Amen.