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CHRISTIAN PERFECTION

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Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Feb 7, 1854

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 5, No. 3.

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CHRISTIAN PERFECTION.

By C. M. Monroe

BY C. MONROE.
THIS is a subject which has long been dear to my heart. Oft has it occurred to me that I ought to give to the brethren and sisters something of my views and feelings on this subject; but other things have been and still are pressing for preferment; so that even now I cannot promise to do justice to it.
It is much the same in a sense with christian perfection, as with colors. We see an effect or effects, but not the cause. Cause and effect, however, are so nearly allied, they are often confounded: the effect being taken for the thing itself. The one is taken for the other as in 1 John v, 3: This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. More logically the latter is the effect, or proof of the former. For if ye love me, says Jesus, keep my commandments. John xiv, 15. Here he calls for the proof and gives it. Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. James ii, 18.
Perfection is a complex term, involving plurality of ideas; a harmonious cluster, or combination of all the christian graces and virtues, as finished and complete as possible in this fallen state of death and ruin. Perfection in heaven is the same in character as here, but exceeding in degree and sublimity; being free from the disturbances and deformities of sin and satan, and all the frailties and infirmities of this life. It here is tried and purified; then hath in heaven its perfect state, its lasting rest.
Having noticed one of the many mysteries of nature, in reference to colors, we may proceed to notice further the corresponding mystery in the subject before us. Effects in both cases are seen, are real. It will be well enough understood by the Christian, when we say, the cause, or thing, is, Christ within, the hope of glory; and that, in a sense more than ordinary, or nominal; involving the destruction of unholy tempers and the carnal mind: so that if ever we are angry, we shall be angry and sin not. Eph. iv, 26.
It is recorded of our blessed Lord, that he once looked around with anger on a certain class of his enemies, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts. Mark iii, 5. But be sure of this, my brother, my sister, if the work is done for you, you will be seldom angry; and when you are, you will, likely, sin not; for the spirit of Christ that dwells within, is a pure, regulating spirit; a spirit of love, meekness, gentleness, quietness, forbearance, and not easily provoked. 1 Cor. xiii, 4-8; 2 Cor. x, 1. Anger has very little to do with such a spirit, I assure you; but when manifested it should be always against sin or wickedness, with which it has no fellowship. In this sense the Lord is represented as being daily angry with the wicked. Ps. vii, 11. In this view of the subject, therefore, anger is no sin, but a virtue, a duty, an evidence of the character in question; for sin and holiness can no more harmonize than fire and water, acids and alkalies.
"Blessed are the pure in heart," says Jesus, "for they shall see God." Matt. v, 8. Such is the individual we speak of, we love and admire. Such is the one who has passed from death unto life. John v, 24; 1 John iii, 14. Who has experienced the death of unholy tempers and the carnal mind. Being dead to sin he lives no longer therein. Rom. vi, 2. It is no pleasure to him. He is no longer its slave. He is the Lord's freeman. 1 Cor. vii, 22. The old leaven of malice and wickedness is purged out. 1 Cor. v, 8. The noxious weeds of death and hell, are torn out root and branch. The work, the blessed work is done by a Hand Divine; the Hand that built the sky, and all the starry frame. It is well done; and worthy of Him who does all things well. Mark vii, 37.
The duties of this exalted state are both negative and positive. It teaches us both to do, and not to do: that is, we shall do, or certainly have a mind to do on the one hand, all that God requires us to do; on the other, we shall be alike careful to avoid every thing he has forbidden. Besides, there are frailties and infirmities of nature, and errors of judgment, which are not sins; though they may be the occasion of it; and a source of no small affliction to the possessor. For the want of this knowledge, or discrimination, christians have been often deeply tried and afflicted. To avoid therefore such severe, needless trials, it is important to know how to distinguish what things are, and govern ourselves accordingly.
An important question now arises: How or by what means can the object before us be obtained? Not how one or many can get the faith of conviction, not of cure; wipe his tears, if tears he has; banish fear, be cheerful, join the church, and be a "hopeful christian" so called; for multitudes do this with very little effort or trouble to themselves; whose manners, like those of Herod, [Mark vi, 20,] for a season may be somewhat mended, while the heart remains still like a cage of unclean birds, foul as ever, and the tongue lawless and untamed! No, nothing like it; but a pure heart, a holy life and conversation. Here we have it. This is the object before us, and nothing less than this. Is this too much? Then it is too much to find that world of bliss, and live for ever.
Dear reader, have you the character, the blessing in question? If you have it, bless God; hold on: if not obtain it at all events, whatever it may cost you. A trifle will not buy it. Did you possess the world, or many like it, the price would remain the same. Jesus gave his all for us, and we must do the same to gain his favor, his glorious kingdom. All we have and all we are, is the price. Matt. xiii, 44. Will you give it? This, this is buying the truth of God, and having a "capital." Prov. xxiii, 23. Yes, a capital, and be rich! This is the truth, the blessed truth that sanctifies and makes us holy; [John xvii, 17;] that robes us in garments white and clean; that fits us to walk the plains of light and love, and talk with Jesus our elder brother. This is having the Spirit of Christ, without which we are none of his. Rom. viii, 9. This is the test, for which their is no substitute, no equivalent.
"Sailing for point no point," will never bring us into the port of bliss. A point definite is demanded; a point seen, known, and held in constant view; that we labor not in vain. Every wind and tide must tell upon the voyage, or object in view. Phil. iii, 14; Rom. viii, 28.
The position in question, is obtained and retained, by earnest persevering effort; a faith that takes no denial; a will harmonizing with the Divine will. Forthis is the will of God even your sanctification. 1 Thess. iv, 3. Nay, your perfection. "Be ye therefore perfect," says Jesus, "even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matt. v, 48. For every one that is perfect shall be as his Master. Luke vi, 40. "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded." Phil. iii, 15. A hard way to live, say you? How so? Have you tried it? "The way of the transgressor is hard." Prov. xiii, 15. Not so the way of the just. Prov. iv, 18; iii, 17; Isa. xl, 31. It is the reverse. Try and see. It is found the easiest, sweetest path of life. Matt. xi, 30. If thorns are there, they lose their points, or urge us to rise to see the rose that has no thorn, that will not fade, that will not die. Cant. ii, 1; Matt. vi, 20.
Here then is the point; here our duty, our example, our encouragement to gain the prize. And shall we not have it? We must have it or perish! Ps. ii, 12. It is the greatest, best good to mortals given. It is the gift of God, attainable at a price above named; a price not thrown away. That life is not lost that secures it. No; it is well, well spent; and it takes the whole of life, be it longer or shorter, to attain, prove and ratify the position. The end is the crowning point. Matt. x, 22; Rev. ii, 10. The thing is like pure gold in the fire; it will bear the trial. No fallacious hope; no base metal will do this. The reality alone will bear the test, and bear us victors home to God.
We read of some ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth; [2 Tim. iii, 7;] this truth especially, the first and the last of all in importance. They talk of holiness, of perfection occasionally, but are not there, neither insist upon its claims as imperative. They are strangers to all but the theory, and seem not well to understand even that: strangers to a death to sin, purity of heart, translating faith; the only faith that can bear us after Enoch and Elijah.
Yes it is the truth, the present, naked, all-powerful truth, by the Spirit that will do the work; truth received, loved, obeyed in all its length and breadth; for there is no slender, half-way qualification, no half-way house or home in the everlasting kingdom. It is a finished character; one filled with all the fullness of God, [Eph. iii, 19,] that will stand complete in that kingdom. Unholy tempers and the carnal mind, which every natural man, and every nominal christian possesses in no small abundance, is a sad inheritance, and will exclude them from that kingdom of holy blessedness; for none but holy souls can enter through those pure celestial gates. Heb. xii, 14; Rev. xxii, 14.
How oft, alas, are these unholy tempers betrayed by those even from whom we had hoped better things! You need not stop to see or hear the openly profane, where restraint seems to be taken off, as it soon will be from all the earth, [Jer. xxv,] but just turn your eye, your ear, to the nominal professor when under trials or temptations. Have you not been often shocked at his words or actions? O what betrayment of the old wicked man! [Eph. iv, 22; Col. iii, 9;] of unholy tempers and the carnal mind which is enmity against God. Rom. viii, 7. Tell it not in Gath! Anything but the lamb and the dove! Can such an one be a follower of the meek and lowly Jesus? No, alas, if we have not the Spirit of Christ we are none of his, and shall never reign with him in glory. Rom. viii, 9.
Now let us mark, as we pass, that the religion of Jesus Christ, where it is received in its life and power, does something for a person; yes, every thing.—It takes away the hard impure heart, and gives a new heart, pure, penitent, believing, obedient. It makes him a new man, entirely new. Eze. xi, 19; 2 Cor. v, 17. This is the religion we believe and confide in, and nothing less than this, and recommend to all who would live and reign for ever with him hereafter. John xi, 26; Rev. xxii, 5.
Dear brethren and sisters, do you feel in your souls, that you are healed of that dreadful plague, or plagues above named, the world's shame and ruin! If so, I pronounce you happy, thrice happy. If not, seek for it. Lose no time in seeking a thorough cure of this disease, or combination of diseases. Fly to that fountain filled with blood, the blood of Jesus; and be made "clean very whit." John xiii, 10. Strive for it; be in earnest about it; for cold wishes and feeble efforts accomplish nothing. An extra work requires extra efforts, extra faith. Matt. xvii, 21. If you perish, perish in the attempt. At all events, let the work be done, and well done. Jesus can do it; and must do it, "before we reach the heavenly fields, or walk the golden streets." Blessed Jesus! his blood cleanses from all sin! 1 John i, 17. This done, and we are safe. We may lift our eyes, our joyful eyes to the hills, the heavenly hills, "from whence cometh our help." Ps. cxxi, 1. This done, and we shall be seldom afflicted with offences; done for all, and we should seldom see, or hear of confessions, as of late we have, of faults among the brethren. None existing, none would there be to confess; but where there are faults, we must confess, and must forsake; and we shall find mercy—not otherwise. James v, 16; 1 John i, 9.
The evil to be removed lies deep within, and must be probed to the very bottom. "The axe must be laid at the root of the tree." Matt. iii, 10. A disease in the trunk, or root, is not cured by top-dressing; neither a diseased bone in the human system, by external applications. A surgical operation must expose and remove the diseased part. The same of a diseased tooth. It must be removed; and both the pain and the disease go with it. Thus of sin; it must be searched out, not covered; exposed and put away. When it goes, condemnation goes with it, [Rom. viii, 1,] succeeded by a day of gladness, and rejoicing.—Luke xv, 7, 32.
Is a stream to be cleansed? Hear wisdom's voice. Go to the fountain; make that pure, and the stream is pure. All labor short of this, is lost labor; work and toil as you will. Taking mud or moats from the stream, may rile, but will not accomplish the work. Attack a man's particular vices, and you may offend, but will not be likely to reform him. Strike at the root, and give him a new heart, and the work is done once for all. A new heart will make a new man, a new life, a new world! 2 Cor. v, 17.
A garden is to be wed not by taking the tops of the weeds merely; but by taking all, root and branch. In this way the Great Physician, the Great Husbandman, removes the disease of all sin and of death. He goes to the bottom, and takes out all that offends and the work is done. Mark vii, 31.
And what more is the effect of a work thus performed? Health of body, health of soul; not succeeded by a relapse, as in the case of superficial cures. One item of evidence in short, covers the whole ground: The government of the tongue: For "the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. It defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell!" The sum total; for "if any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." James iii. This, this is the very man we speak of and would see stand before us in all his new-born beauty, and glory; for it is a lovely sight, to which our eyes are almost strangers yet. Rom. iii, 10.
This is a great work, a serious affair; for the retribution of the Last Day, and of Eternity, seem to be suspended on the use that is made of the tongue.—"For by thy words," says our Lord, "thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Matt. xii, 37. O how important then is the government of the tongue! Ps. xxxix, 1. There is but one way, aside from death, to tame the tongue; and but one being that can do it. He first tames the heart, and the tongue is tame of course; as when the root is taken, the top goes with it.
Not so the imitation work of Satan. No; in his pretense to weed the garden of the heart, he but skims the surface; taking the tops only; leaving the roots; so that every shower of temptation leaves the noxious weeds or roots to be seen, in all their miserable, naked deformity! The harvest, of course, if any, will be a harvest of weeds, and of death; everlasting death! He speaks peace where God has not spoken peace; peace to the awakened sinner; quiets his fears; tells him he is a christian, a hopeful one; and all is well. "And while the heedless wretch believes, he makes his fetters strong." Much as tares resemble wheat when growing together in the same field, they are not wheat after all, but tares still as the harvest will proclaim, and the flames to which they are consigned. Matt. xiii, 30.
Should this meet the eye of such an one, a deceived soul—they are not few—one that has taken up with a false hope, and has no pure, heart religion, let this thought of Satan, who is now doing up his last dreadful work of deception among the nations, sound the alarm to his soul, and to all of like delusive dreams, and fallacious hopes; for there is danger, danger!
How many think you of all that mighty army that came out of Egypt were permitted to enter the promised land? Two only of that 600,000. Ex. xii, 37. And who were they? Caleb and Joshua, who gave a good report of the land. And why were they permitted to enter there? For the good reason, "they wholly followed the Lord God of Israel." Deut. i, 36; Josh. xiv, 14. And if we ever enter the Heavenly Canaan of which the former was a type, it will be for the very same good reason: we shall follow the Lord wholly clad in robes of spotless purity. These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Rev. xiv, 12. Here are they that have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the beloved, holy city, [Rev. xxii, 14;] the metropolis of the everlasting kingdom, flooded with splendor and with glory.
As "no man swims clear with his luggage," so no one ascends the sacred heights of holiness and heavenly mindedness, that is tied to earth, to sin, to idols, to folly. The last lingering tie that binds us here must be cut, and then adieu to things we loved before, like the inflated balloon, we rise and dwell in light and love ineffable, where sordid minds can never soar. They may gaze admire and perish. Acts xiii, 41.
And now, dear reader, in taking my leave, permit me to ask what you think of this subject; the character and qualifications of the saints to fit them for their high destiny, both here and hereafter? Does it appear there is any thing to be won or lost? Are you impenitent? Be not in haste, in dreadful haste to die. In view of such a character, such a kingdom, such a Saviour, throw not yourself away. Clean hands, a pure heart, a holy life and conversation, and this alone, will give you a title, a passport to that City, that kingdom of holy blessedness.
Are the terms too rigid, too severe, to give up all, hate all, [Luke xiv, 26, 33,] to part with earth and all its gilded toys and vanities? 1 John ii, 15. Not so. It must be done, and done cheerfully, without reserve or delay. So says the Word, so says experience. Those who seek an easier way will be sadly disappointed. Hazard not the experiment. The terms are, as the surrender of chaff for wheat, poverty for riches, death for life everlasting.
Can it be that such who mount the skies, and melt in visions of day unending, were once mourning here below, and wet their couch with tears? Yes; O yes! They struggled hard with sins, with Satan, with doubts, with fears. But mercy rejoicing against judgment, they are now victors. Jas. ii, 13. These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
"Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple. And he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat, for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them; and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Rev. vii, 14-17. Waldo, Me.