OBSTRUCTIONS TO GROWTH.

We are told in the book of Job that "The righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." This is a clear statement of the truth that purity removes the obstructions to spiritual growth and strength. When the heart is purified from evil tempers, the lips from evil words, and the hands from evil deeds, then the whole being is pre pared for the most rapid and steady advancement in wisdom, love and power, that our probationary state admits of.

As it is the glory of God that He is infinite in every direction of His being, and in nothing can be increased or diminished; so, for an opposite reason, it is the glory of the creature to forever progress in the quantity and splendor of moral forces. This holy accumulation upon the character of the creature is not the absurd and un- scriptural idea of forever getting more and more pure, which involves the notion of forever having a remainder of sin; but after all dross is re moved, the holiness of the creature is forever advancing in intensity, luster and usefulness. This will be the case if the conditions of perpetual holiness are complied with. Alas! how many who were once purged from sin, fail to comply with the royal conditions of progressive union with God. There is no mistake more common among Christians than as to what are the real hindrances to growth. Most of God's people are perpetually locating their spiritual hindrances outside of themselves. If a mysterious yet mighty voice should pierce the heart of every Christian on earth and propound the question, "Why are you not cheerful and peaceful and content in spirit? why are you not gentle and sweet and victorious in a daily fellow ship with your heavenly Father?" not one in ten thousand but what would begin instantly to lay the blame on somebody, or something, or some circumstance outside of their own hearts. It is so hard to believe, and so mortifying to be convinced, that all our spiritual obstructions lie within our own natures; yet such is emphatically true. The word of God everywhere locates all barriers to growth and all antagonism to holiness within the heart. It is true that we may and do have many sore trials, temptations and opposing elements without us, yet these things are not in themselves hindrances to growth in holiness; nay, if the soul is really purified, all these things will only advance our spiritual character. If we are freed from all sin and in precious union with Jesus, then it is impossible for devils, or men, or any circumstances whatever, to prevent us from increasing in the knowledge and love of God, and the love of our neighbor. A hot spring pours forth hot water from its own internal conditions, and all the external ice and frost in the world can not prevent the outstreaming of a warm current. In like manner a holy soul grows and flourishes by its internal conditions. There may be ice and frost and gloom and confusion and enemies and painful incidents without, but if the soul walks with the Lamb in white, its devotion will be deepened and brightened by what seems to be a religious drawback. Mr. Wesley found that ill usage, crosses, disappointments, etc., were the best agencies to growth in humility, patience and love. The history of piety will show that thousands who have seemed to suffer most directly from the hand of God, have been the very ones that loved God with a surpassing flame of devotion; and those saints who have been called to endure the greatest obloquy, treachery and persecution from their fellow-beings, are the very ones that have exhibited the most amazing forbearance, charity and zeal in blessing their fellow-creatures. This proves that when the inner heart conditions are all pure and right, nothing can hinder the growth in true holiness and happiness. If a child does not grow, the fault does not lie in sunshine, air and food, but the child is diseased and not able to incorporate hearty food into its system. And how many in the church, nay, what multitudes of ministers and Christian teachers themselves, are yet so diseased in their moral being with in bred sin, that they can neither eat nor assimilate the strong, healthy, holiness meat that God offers them; so that the obstruction to Pentecostal vigor and zeal does not lie in the food or outer providence of God, but in soul-illness. Hence no one can eat "strong meat," in the Bible sense of that term, till after they are cleansed from all sin. Many use the term "strong meat," and simply mean brain food, deep intellectualism, etc. I have known preachers to say fine things about "strong meat," and yet their soul-feeding organs were so diseased with the "old man, " that they would get offended and disgusted at a plain sermon on perfect love. When the hidden conditions are met, growth in grace becomes inevitable.

Let the soil have no stones, thorns, or other obstructions to grain in itself; let it be a rich, pure soil, and then the very hot sun that would otherwise scorch, will give to vegetation a deeper green, and the very winds that would otherwise blast, will only give the roots a stronger hold. Thus it is with the soul-soil of the believer. God can never make things work for our good except on the conditions of heart holiness; and hear it, for I say it in the face of God's word — that when those celestial conditions are fully met and maintained, then nothing can ever occur in the universe that will not be for our good and advancement!

Thunder, lightning, fire and rain,

Poverty, sorrow, loss and gain,

Death and heaven and earth and hell,

For us, will work together well.

Every disappointment will cause us to lean harder on the unwavering arm; every shock will make us sink deeper into the unshakable Rock; every conflict with temptation will make us hate sin more deeply; every unkind blow from our fellow-men will render us more lowly and intent on doing the world good; every dollar we lose will spur us to lay up treasures in heaven; every criticism of our spirit or conduct will drive us to scrutinize our inner being before God, to see if we are indeed washed in the blood of the Lamb. Abuse only humbles us, and flattery and praise sink us to still deeper self-abasement; the death of loved ones only trims our lamps for the coming of the Bridegroom, and every tear-drop adds another lens to the telescope of heavenly vision. If we are holy, all things are ours.