WRITING FROM EXPERIENCE.
By J. Clarke
THE request has been made in the Review for those who can to write from experience, upon the subject of holiness, For one, I must freely own that I cannot yet do so. I have not yet attained to holiness of heart and life, but this I do, I press forward. I believe that I am justified freely by His grace, and this gives me inward joy. Justified, reconciled to God, through Christ; daily I drink in rich draughts of his love; the word of God by his inspired servants is to me a glorious field of fruits and flowers, from which I gather delicious food. Often my heart is enraptured as I read the faith and works of those who have borne aloft the standard of truth in ancient times, and the consoling thought is ever with me, that their God who wrought for them, is our God. In prayer, I feel a confidence in God, more and more deep, and the current of his love runs through my soul in an unfailing stream, (yet subject to ebb and flow because of my own frailty,) and I have at times an unusual evidence of his love and goodness. I feel that I am not ashamed to own my Lord. No, he is all and in all to me. I have longing desires to attain to holiness, and perfect purity, and charity, but the conflicts I daily experience, show to me that I have not fully overcome; but it is glorious to realize that Jesus is with me by his good Spirit, to aid and encourage me in this arduous work. I do not fret and worry because I have not yet attained to holiness. No, I try to bear with temptation, and to resist it just as I would face a north-east snow storm, bravely, firmly, cheerfully, and for his grace I ask confidently, and wait patiently, and the answer is often instantaneous, and always sure. Oh yes, God's promise is sure; his note of hand is never protested. Is not the blessing of justification a very great prize? and by improving this well, I hope ere long to attain with all the faithful to that holiness, without which, no man can see God. In connection with justification, I believe the work of holiness or sanctification is in progress, and as I look back upon the past, I discover that my slow progress has been caused by a lack of entire consecration, and this still is the impediment in my way. But I know of no other way but to labor on, steadily, cheerfully, hopefully, confidently. Indeed, such has been the hold sin and error have had upon my mind, that I deem it a miracle of grace, that I may even enjoy a hope of triumph over sin and death. But I will press onward, the Lord helping me. God and Christ and holiness, shall be first and last. I will war with every form of evil, in self or out, will fight manfully, cheerfully, successfully; will say to my God, I will not let thee go except thou bless me. Thus warring, if I fall I will fall in the ranks.