THE GROWTH PREVIOUS TO SANCTIFICATION.

When we teach that growth in grace is not the work of heart cleansing, that growth can never sanctify the soul, it is then asked, is there any growth before full sanctification? We say, yes. Then it is asked, does that growth in any wise purify the soul? We say, no. Then it is asked, what is the nature of the growth previous to sanctification? I will try to answer according to Scripture and experience.

I. The Scriptures always locate growth in grace after complete purification, and never be fore it. Some may deny this assertion, but search and see for yourself. Let me refer you to Job xvii. 9, "Clean " before " stronger." Isa. xxix. 19, "Meekness," freedom from pride, before "increase." Mai. iv. 2, "Fear of God" before "soul healing," and soul healing before "grow." Matt. vi. 22, 28, Perfect singleness of eye — which is heart purity — comes before "grow." In 1 Peter ii. 1-3, complete cleansing from all malice, all guile and deceit, etc., comes before "grow." In 2 Peter, iii. 14-18, be "without spot," comes before "grow in grace." In Eph. iv. 12-15, "perfect man" comes before "grow." This is the tenor of all the Scriptures.

The Word of God teaches that sanctification should occur soon after conversion, and it places growth in its normal place, after inbred sin is purged out.

2. The growth that is previous to heart purity does not, in any degree, cleanse the soul from inbred sin. True, there may be in the converted person a great many moral improvements in manners, conduct, habits, tastes, information, etc., but the seed of sin, the inherited depravity of the soul, is in no wise destroyed by growth. How do I know that growth never purifies the heart? Because there is not a single verse in Scripture which even hints that growth cleanses. Then again heart cleansing is an act of God, but how can we grow into a Divine act?

Then again, if growth cleanses from the least of depravity, it can cleanse from all depravity. Again, it is the blood of Jesus that washes from sin, but if growth can, in any degree, wash the soul, then we do not need the blood of Jesus to do it. And finally, no one ever experienced that growth removed the native corruption of the heart.

3. The growth before sanctification is not growth into holiness, but a growth in preparation for holiness. The converted soul has month after month, and year after year, a growing sense of soul need. Soon after conversion, the believer thinks that he can gradually overcome and re move the ill tempers and evil tendencies of his heart, but after a while he has a growing sense of his utter helplessness to make his heart pure. He may have deeper views into his heart wants, he may get wider views of Christian duty, he may feel more the claims of God's Word, he may, item by item, consecrate his all to God, but this growth is a preparation for being sanctified. The preparation for heart purity is gradual (though it should be brief), but the reception of heart purity is by simple trust, and is instantaneous. The growth previous to sanctification is mostly a growing sense of our soul-needs; it is a growth of wants more than a growth of supplies; it is not so much increase of grace as it is increase of hunger for grace; it is not so much growth in grace as it is growth in conviction for holiness.

4. Those believers who are not fully sanctified, do not really grow in grace as much as they think they do. They have grown in many ways, but pin them down to the naked facts of growth in the grace of Jesus; are they more tender, more patient, gentle, trustful, meek, peaceful, and loving than they were the first week or month after their conversion, and ninety-five in every hundred will say, no! Millions of Christians live purer the first month of their conversion than they do afterwards (until sanctified). The fact is, the great majority lose something of their first love, instead of adding to it. The converted soul grows only by pressing after holiness.

5.. There is a vast amount of growth in various things which is not growth in grace. Men may grow in Hebrew and Greek scholarship, and yet lose grace; men may learn how to work up Church enterprises, and run ecclesiastical machinery, may learn how to fill various offices in the Church, may learn to do many so-called religious works, and yet be drifting away from their first love all the time. A preacher may grow in eloquence, in learning, in fame, in skill, in authority, and yet not grow in grace.

There are many so-called "great big preachers," whom God has lifted from lowly life, who have grown and grown, but are not half as humble and gentle, and simple, and affectionate, and happy, as they were when plain country boys in their first love. There is a great deal of head growth in the Church nowadays which is ac companied with heart dwarfing, and starving the fountains of lowly love. There are many kinds of growth which are not growth in grace.