Holiness to the Lord by D. F. Newton

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 13, 1859

Holiness to the Lord

By D. F. Newton

For the Review & Herald.

“Holiness to the Lord.”

Beloved Editor: Is it not glorious, most glorious? Does not the very thought of holiness enkindle a flame most holy? I rejoice to see the question of purity, or entire consecratedness to God and his service, so clearly and forcibly advocated in your weekly. May the Lord incline you more and more to this blessed theme of full salvation, to pour in the liquid flame of the pentecostal, till the whole church of God kindle up to a flame most holy. Sad, it is, lamentably sad, to lose the spark from the divine altar once enkindled. The case alluded to in this article is one of fact, coming under my personal observation. I saw it weepingly and exclaimed,

What now? Where now?

Where now, brother, O where? Where are you? Once you were on the mount? tarried in the mount forty days, and forty nights, and when you came down your face shone brightly as Moses' did when he descended from the same mount of God. Once you professed the blessing of holiness, entire consecratedness, the sealing, sanctifying, influences of the Holy Spirit. You professed to enjoy the superlative grace—you believed it, preached it, prayed it, wrote it out, sent it abroad. You testified publicly, on every suitable occasion, to the saving efficacy of Christ's blood to cleanse from all sin. You published it gladly, sounded out the sweet sound of redeeming, sanctifying grace—you made it a special business, a prime object in your public and private ministrations. You enforced this entire consecratedness to God, brought it home to every heart powerfully as a present, indispensable duty and privilege. You also attended meetings especially for this same object. Holiness was the delight of your soul. You could say with the sweet singer of Israel, "My foot standeth in an even place, in the congregations will I bless the Lord." The cause of truth prospered wherever you went—sinners were awakened and converted, souls sanctified, led directly into this blessed gospel fullness.

But where now, brother? O where? Lips closed, are they? Where now the blessedness of which you spoke? What has God done? Is he not the same yesterday, to-day and forever? If the doctrine of holiness is the doctrine of the Bible, the sine qua non—indispensable to the world's salvation—the great safe-guard, the rock on which we must build, why not continue steadfast, unmovable, always abounding, firm to the end, increasing more and more? Ifs? there are no ifs about it. God speaks it, thunders it, flashes it. These glowing, sparkling truths, stand out—blaze out on the pages of inspiration like the sunbeams of noonday: "Be ye holy, for I am holy." "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Brother, how is it that those men in all ages, who believed in the doctrine of entire sanctification in this life, enjoyed it, lived it, witnessed it by every thought, look, word, action; held on to it definitely, publicly and practically were the men of the times?

This was the great secret of the Moravians, of their success—the philosopher's stone. What people under the sun were more signally blessed in saving souls than these same Moravian missionaries, so long as they held on to this pearl of pearls, "the joy of the Lord," went forward proclaiming it? God blessed their labors marvelously, even in the frigid zone. A great light sprung up to those sitting in darkness and in the region and shadow of death. So in the days of Wesley, Fletcher, Carvosso, Lady Maxwell. Mark also the labors of Bro. Caughy, the revivalist; why are thousands on thousands born into the kingdom annually through his instrumentality, blessed be God, filled with the Holy Spirit? The truth is, he pours in the liquid flame of full salvation—the burning lava of this gospel grace. "Holiness to the Lord" is written on his banner—"Come out from among them, be ye separate and touch not the unclean thing," is brought home with the sledge hammer of Omnipotent bearing. Look, moreover, at Dr. Palmer, and his consecrated wife; what are they doing? mark their footsteps—Satan trembles, falls as lightning at their approach. Wherever they go, God is with them to bless, convict, convert, purify and sanctify. What is the secret of their unparalleled success? The doctrine of holiness is first, midst, last, always. They believe it, profess it, enjoy it, live it, publish it; God owns it in the awakening, converting and sanctifying of thousands on thousands.

Close our eyes, our ears, our lips, hold our peace? At our peril we do it. "Beware therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the prophets:

behold ye despisers, and wonder and perish, for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." Acts xiii, 40, 41.

Yours for the cause of truth and love. D. F. NEWTON. Ed. of Golden Rule, N. Y. city.