Sanctification;

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 17, 1875

OR THE OBSERVATIONS OF FORTY YEARS ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE.

Jacob and Theodore Schoonhoven were brothers, and strikingly alike in some things; among which was quick and strong perception, which gave them a talent for making property; for honest labor makes property, and shrewd perception takes it.

Jacob and Theodore were strikingly unlike, in what philosophers call conscientiousness. The face of each projected over the eyes, like the cornice of a house; but whether they were alike in the higher organs of the brain, where conscience is supposed to dwell, I cannot tell.

Theodore, who was two years the elder, often said to his brother, "Come on, Jakey, what if mother did forbid it, she will never know it. It is a little thing, and mother is notional." Thus Jacob, by the greater energy of his brother, was often drawn into mischief, for which he lay sleepless and weeping at night, until his pillow was drenched with tears; and he often slipped from his bed in the earliest morning light, to confess faults to his mother of which she had never heard.

They were educated in the sternest Calvinism. Theodore, who, from his peculiar constitution, expected every good thing, and that every advantage belonged to him, was rather pleased with the doctrine of election, having a vague but comforting assurance that he was elected, if anybody was. Jacob, however, who was constitutionally generous and unselfish, felt that if anybody was reprobated, it was most likely to be himself.

When the brothers were sixteen and eighteen, a fatal epidemic prevailed, and many were dying. A general awakening occurred, and religious meetings were held night and day. Theodore was frantic with fear, when his confidence in election was shaken by a doctrinal sermon. He screamed aloud in the congregation, and rent the air with cries for mercy, distressed not so much by reflection on particular sins, and on the bearing of such sins on the law and honor to God, and the welfare of men, as by a general idea that he was a sinner, and exposed to hell. The struggle was not long. He was soon rejoicing in an assurance of pardon. Whether he was influenced by constitutional peculiarity, or not, it seemed comparatively easy for Theodore to be satisfied that he was pardoned and accepted. Jacop wore a serious countenance, sometimes wept, yet said but little, and attracted little notice. He was, however, pained beyond description by a view of his sins, seen in the light of the divine character and law, as seen in their bearing on human welfare, and most of all, as seen in the light of the divine goodness. When he received the "oil of joy for mourning," he put on "the garment of praise" with great meekness, and quietly adored God, the beauty of whose attributes, character, will, laws, and government, he beheld with new eyes; he heard the voice of God with new ears, and his melting heart received every divine impression. Every one said, "What a remarkable display of divine power in the conversion of Theodore Schoonhoven. Jacob is rather thoughtful and may become pious, but Theodore is a perfect Gideon: what a gift in prayer and exhortation, and how he shouts!"

Theodore was foremost everywhere, urged on, flattered, and praised. Everybody knew him. Jacob labored by precept and example to save men, making no display. Few knew him.

Jacob Schoonhoven was asked to give his views of "sanctification." The interrogator walked him into the altar, and each seated himself in a chair. It was the interval between services, and they were alone.

"It is forty years," said Mr. S., "since my brother Theodore and myself experienced religion. Soon after our conversion, he professed sanctification, and urged me to seek for it. I considered the subject. Theodore, after being sanctified, was more foreward, more confident, but no more disinterested. He was greedy of gain, shrewd in speculation, taking advantage of his keen perception to amass wealth; having his constitutional selfishness still strong, still blinding his judgment, and causing him to think he ought to be favored with all good fortune; men ought to work for him cheap; he ought to receive higher wages for public service or mechanical labor; what he sells ought to bring a higher price; what he buys ought to be got for little. My brother has never scrupled to buy property at a low price, which he knew was about to raise in value, and to sell at a high price that which was about to fall; he has not scrupled to buy cheap as possible, young animals of great promise, from men who knew not their value, and to shift off young animals of no promise to men who knew not their worthlessness. All this, he said, was according to law, upheld by public sentiment, and agreeable to his conscience. I considered the subject of sanctification in the light of loving God with all my heart, and loving my neighbor as myself—not so much a work of the emotions as of the judgment—a work not of one moment, but of a life-time; agreement, union, and harmony with God; self-lost in humanity; self-lost in God; living for the honor of God and for human welfare, at all times, seven days in the week, three hundred and sixty-five in the year; in all places, at home or abroad; in the sanctuary, at the mill, or at the market; in all business; laboring, buying, or selling.

"I went into the woods and prayed for sanctification, when the Lord said: 'Jacob, dost thou love my will, my law, and my government with all thy heart?' I said, I do, Lord; and the Lord said: 'Dost thou love thy neighbor as thyself?' I answered, I do, Lord. The Lord said: 'Very well, and now, Jacob, prove thy word in thy life.'

"I went to my house in a happy frame, singing hymns. A week after this, I took down a work on military science, and was reading, having a great ambition for martial fame. The Lord said: 'Jacob, remember thy word.' I saw my ambition was self; I dropped the book, and never took it up again.

"I had made an arrangement to join a lodge of Masons, was on my way, riding fast, when the Lord said: 'Jacob, remember thy word.' I saw that my desire to be a Mason was self; I turned and rode home. I had coveted two colts which I knew would become horses of great value. They were rough and lean, and the owner, not knowing their value, would sell them low. I was on my way to buy them. The Lord said: 'Jacob, remember thy word.' I saw I was not loving my neighbor as myself; I went on, and said: 'Peter, keep your colts; they will make the most valuable horses among all I know.' Peter said, 'I did not think them valuable; but I believe you, for you and your brother know more about horses than any men I ever saw; I would give a thousand dollars for your knowledge. But now Mr. Schoonhoven, the fact is, I must sell them to save my house and land which are mortgaged.' 'I will lend you the money,' I said, 'to save your house; keep your colts.' He did keep them, and finally sold them for five hundred dollars.

"A man came to me to buy some city lots. I was about to take the price which he offered when the Lord said: 'Jacob, remember thy word.' I said: 'Mr. Broderick, I cannot in conscience sell you those lots; that part of the city must fail in a few years.' It did fail, and I turned those lots into a farm.

"Thus my sanctification went on. These lessons were never forgotten; self was banished from my buying and selling; the quick discernment of the value of property, and the foresight of coming changes which the Creator had given me, I no more used for my own increase and wealth. It was evident to me that no man could gain wealth by speculation, and yet love his neighbor as himself. I have instructed hundreds of the honest, industrious poor, and kept them from the gins of speculators. My eye was single, my light increased, and my knowledge of right and wrong, of justice and humanity; my perception became keen to understand what was consistent with loving my neighbor as myself, to understand what it was to do to others as I would be done by.

"One morning I was awakened by the voice of the Lord: 'Jacob, arise, and be sanctified. Remember thy word.' I arose, and, coming from my lodging room, I met a committee of three, informing me that for the part which I took in an anti-slavery meeting, I must recant, or come to trial. I remembered my word, stood my trial, and was excluded. To be separated from the church of my early choice, tore my heart. The Lord said: 'Jacob, lovest thou me more than these?' I answered, 'Yea, Lord, I love thee more than all.' The cause of temperance long before cost me a similar trial.

"I had from early life set apart all of my income, above the plain support of my family, for charity, and with much prayer sought for the most needy. I had passed a day under the clear impression that a sore trial was coming. At evening, I stopped in my barn, and cried: 'Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.' The Lord said: 'Jacob, art thou ready to be sanctified in the loss of all?' I said: 'Yea, Lord, take all. Thou gavest, and if thou takest away, blessed be thy name.'

"I answered a rap by stepping to the door. Three fugitives slaves, a mother and two daughters, were there. The mother mournfully said: 'Will you send us back?' And the Lord said: 'Jacob, wilt thou obey my laws or the laws of man?' I answered: 'I will obey thy laws, Lord.' Come in, I said. I landed them in Canada. I went to jail, and lost all—house, land, herd, and flock. I have gathered a little by hard work in old age. This little cottage is mine, with a few acres of land. My God is reconciled, my peace is like a river, and my treasure, in Heaven.

"'I believe, Bro. Schoonhoven, that you do not profess sanctification. I never heard you speak of it.' 'I never speak of it,' said Jacob; 'the word has become a term of reproach. Selfish, wilful, proud men make high professions of sanctification. My brother Theodore is often referred to as a model sanctified man. He has amassed a fortune of a hundred thousand dollars by speculation, has always sought popular favor and civil office; has ever remained pro-slavery, opposed to the Maine Law, and has gone with the most profane and debauched political party. The judge, by whose decision I was stripped of all my possessions, professed sanctification. I deem it my duty to make no noisy professions. We should, however, be sanctified every day, in all our volitions, motives, purposes, and designs; in our affections, in our tempers and spirit, and in all our business transactions. All other sanctification is mere emotion, excitement, and enthusiasm; and is consistent with selfishness, cruel oppression, and grinding the faces of the poor.'"—Wes. Meth. Magazine.