PURITY AND GROWTH.

The doctrine of the believer's full sanctification by simple trust would meet with but little objection from sincere and common-sense Christians, if they would only read a portion of the luminous literature on that subject, or search the Scriptures prayerfully, or in some way allow them selves to be informed correctly on the momentous theme. In spite of all the explicit teaching on entire holiness, it is still true that the over whelming majority of Christians on earth are perpetually confounding the perfect cleansing of their hearts, with their spiritual growth. There are thousands who pray, publicly and privately, to be made pure, who have no thought or conviction as to any time when the prayer will actually be answered. They do not press vehemently after an immediate freedom from the hidden sin of their souls, for the reason that they have their eyes away off yonder on an indefinite gradual growth. This deceitful notion of getting pure by growth is just like the fabled bag of gold under the distant rainbow, forever beyond the actual grasp of experience. The popular error of confounding heart purity with spiritual maturity, will need to be exposed over and over again to the end of time. In the light of Scripture I may be able to show some inquiring soul a few distinctions between being fully sanctified and growing in grace.

I. Purity is the subtraction of evil, but growth is the addition of grace. Any child can see that these are just opposite to each other. The following Scripture proves this statement: "Where by are given unto us — Christian believers — exceeding great and precious promises: that by simple trust in these ye might be partakers of the Divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this — i. e. in addition to this cleansing — giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue (or power); and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." 2 Peter, 1-4-7.

Now what is that particular form of "corruption" here referred to which exists throughout the world; evidently it is the inherited depravity, and is here spoken of as remaining in believers. According to this word, this hereditary corruption is to be removed not by growth, but by simple faith in the promises, and after this sub traction of sin, there is to come a glorious sum in addition or growth in grace. These graces are planted in a newly converted soul, but being choked and impaired by inbred sin, they do not abound. Hence the next verse says, "If these things be in you, and abound. " In conversion these things are put in you, but when fully cleansed they grow, they abound (abunda), like an overflowing wave.

2. The work of cleansing deals with the sin in the soul; the work of growth deals with the grace that is in the soul. Hence, purification and progress are as distinct in their offices as sin and grace are distinct in their character. Two men are at work on a building; one is cleansing it from rubbish, the other is enlarging and beautifying the structure. It is the office of medicine to remove disease, but it is the office of food to make flesh and blood; and so we find in Scripture that being purified from all sin is denoted as a medicinal work, healing, curing, making whole, removing all distemper from the soul; but growing in grace is denominated as a feeding process, eating the finest wheat, feasting on milk and honey, eating the old corn and strong meat and delighting itself in soul fatness. We need Divine medicine as hyssop to purge out depravity and render us whiter than snow; but we need Divine food to render us fat and fruitful in grace.

3. Purification is wrought in the heart only by the power of God, and the soul can only passively trust in receiving the cleansing virtue; but growth in grace is produced by the soul's active co-operation with the will of God. The act of sanctifying the soul, making it holy, is never in Scripture ascribed to good deeds nor means of grace, nor growth, nor suffering, nor death, but ever to a Divine act. He creates a clean heart. He washes whiter than snow. He says "I will, be thou clean." His blood cleanseth us from all sin, not development, nor death. It is an act of God's will that sanctifies us.

But growth in grace, whether it be before the perfect cleansing or after it, is everywhere in Scripture spoken of as a diligent and daily co operation of the believer with the Holy Spirit; such as to watch and pray, to be witnesses, to be diligent, to study to show ourselves approved, to meditate in God's law night and day, to walk by faith, etc. In making the soul holy, free from all sin, God exercises an infinite and ever lasting monopoly, allowing neither angel nor man, nor law, nor secondary agency, to share with Him the honor of cleansing the soul, but in growth He condescends to receive the willing creature into blessed partnership with His Spirit who worketh in us according to His will. Purification is a monopoly, growth in grace is a partner ship. We are co-laborers with Christ, but not co-saviors with Him.

4. We are purified only through faith, we grow in spiritual life by faith and works combined. "Thy faith hath made thee whole." Purifying their hearts by faith, the faith by which we receive the Divine cleansing, is the very absence of all works; we quit all struggling, rest on the promise and let God do it. But to progress in a holy life demands all the good works that flow from a living faith. The soul works vigorously in a state of holiness, but it can never work itself into a state of holiness. You can swim in the Water, but you can not lie on dry ground and swim into the water; you can dream in sleep, but you can not dream yourself into sleep; you can breathe in this world, but you can not breathe yourself into this world. We enter purity by faith alone, we advance by faith and works combined.

5. The purification of the heart is wrought instantaneously; but growth in discernment and love is gradual. There are gradual steps by which we yield all to God, and reach the fountain of cleansing, and gradual steps of deeper knowing and loving after we enter, but the cleansing, the slaying the "old man, " is instantaneous. It is instantaneous in the sense that a birth, or death, or marriage, is instantaneous. And growth in grace is gradual in the sense that a river expands, or corn grows, or a child advances to maturity. But the gradual expansion of the river, and the purity of its water, are different things; the gradual growing of corn, and the freeing of the corn from all impurity, are two separate things; the gradual progress of a child to manhood, and the purifying of his body from disease, are distinct operations; and so while a child of God is gradually advancing in many things, he is to be instantaneously cleansed from the evils that infest his heart. If growth purifies us, then it is our Savior instead of Jesus.

6. The work of heart purity is directly witnessed to by the Holy Spirit, but religious growth is discovered by the mind in its pressing after all the truth of Scripture. God makes a direct attestation to His work both in regeneration and sanctification. Of the converted we read: "The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." Rom. viii. 16. And of the sanctified believer we read: "Them that are sanctified, whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us." — Heb. x. 14, 15. The old error that by a roundabout process of human discovery, and comparing ourselves with Scripture, we are to find out whether we are converted or sanctified, after being exploded by the early writers of Methodism, is being again adopted by backslidden and unsaved teachers. Isaiah speaks of a sanctifying touch of fire, and a voice that told him directly that he was purged from sin; he says nothing of discovering it by a process of comparison. Paul tells us of an act of God by which Jesus was revealed in him, but he says nothing of finding it out by self-analysis, or comparing himself with the Scripture. After the heart is made pure, God will in his own way communicate the infallible witness of it to the soul. But as growth in grace is largely a human process, depending upon our capacity, zeal and prayerfulness, the Spirit may not bear direct witness to its progress. It is in reference to our fruitfulness and progress that we are to examine and compare ourselves with the way- marks of Scripture. The knowledge that we are made pure, is flashed into us from above; but the knowledge that we are growing in grace is gathered up in the daily lessons, and by the milestones we pass on the soul's journey. The knowledge of purity is given to us; the knowledge of growth is acquired.

7. Purity of heart is really known to none on earth, except those who have it; but the effect of purity and growth can be recognized by others. A pure heart is pre-eminently the spot less pearl, the white stone that no one knows save he that receives it; hence the absolute necessity of the tongue testifying to the Divine work of it. The holy growth, however, that follows this inward cleansing is an epistle known and read of all. Heart purity is not a creed, or notion, or theological idea, or set of mental acts; it is a clear, calm, profound, hidden consciousness that God owns the soul fully and that He makes it clean from guilt, fear and sinful tem pers. "What man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man that is in him?" But in creasing fervor of prayer, an augmented diligence for God, increasing liberality, a growing self-sacrifice for others, a progress in gentleness of spirit and sanctity of conversation, enlargement of courage, humility and love, these and many other symptoms of growth in grace can be recognized by those who mingle with the purified. Purity is entirely hidden, but the effects of purity and growth are largely visible.

8. Purity is not one of the graces according to the word, but the condition in which the graces best thrive. A clean soil is not wheat, but the best preparation for the finest grain; so the being cleansed from sin is not one of the fruits of the Spirit, but a perfect preparation for the full growth of the heavenly clusters. We are to be cleansed from all filthiness of flesh and spirit; what for? That we may go on perfecting holiness in the fear of God. The first is cleaning the soil, the second is maturing the grain. Again, it is said that "The wisdom from above is first pure, then gentle, easy to be entreated and full of mercy." Here purity is designated as the prerequisite condition for the graces of gentleness and mercifulness, etc., to flourish in.

Cleansing is not a grace, but it is removing the very obstruction to grace; it is not growth, but the taking away of the very hindrance to growth. The one separates us from the work of Satan, the other beautifies and enlarges all our faculties and capabilities in union with God.

9. Purification is a complete, finished work, (so long as retained) but growth is never finished in this life, and so far as we know, all holy creatures will progress forever in love, knowledge and power, but not be forever getting more and more free from sin. The terms "more and more " are used in the Bible, but they are applied to faith, knowledge, love, and similar positive graces; but it is not said, nor taught, that we are to get more and more pure. We are not Scripturally pure till we are entirely sanctified, till we are cleansed from all sin. All the texts of Scripture that refer to being purified, sanctified, made holy, are limited to the present tense, but on the other hand those texts that refer to Christian progress, stretch out over the present and future tenses, and have no limit whatever as to time or degree of advancement. As a depraved creature I need perfect cleansing as quick as possible; but as an immortal re deemed soul, I need to expand in light and love forever. The work of purification must be completed in this world, the work of growth must extend through both worlds and be coeval with our existence. It would be an infinite calamity to die without being entirely sanctified, and it would be almost an infinite calamity to stop growing when we die.

10. Heart purity is equal in those who have it, but growth in grace is never equal even among the holy ones. The saints in heaven, infants or apostles, are all equally pure — free from sin, but are not all equal in the volume of wisdom, power and love. So far as being clean is concerned, they are all equally washed in the blood of the Lamb; so far as growth is concerned, one star differeth from another star in glory. And it is so in this world. If a hundred believers were wholly sanctified to-day, no two of them would make just the same advancement in the next twelve months. They differ in their ages, capabilities, sex, advantages, trials, zeal, occupation, talents, temperament, health, and many other things which affect our progress in the Divine life; but none of such things need affect our being made pure. Some will grow more in a month than others will in a year. Some advance most rapidly in knowledge, others most rapidly in love. Some have life long thorns in the body which may be great aids to holy progress, others have not. Some after being purified live in almost constant bliss, but these do not plunge into as deep abandonment with God as those to whom are appointed strange and long Gethsemanes of soul. There is unity in the work of purity, but in growth there is variety and multiplicity.

11. Purity is absolutely essential for entering heaven, but growth is never a condition of going through the pearly gates. Every one that enters heaven, whether infant or believer, must be entirely purified from depravity before death, but growth is nowhere made a fitness for heaven. Millions are in heaven who never grew in grace before going there, but they were freed from all evil before going there. — Ps. xxiv. 3-4. Matt, v. 8..

12. Purity of heart decides our fitness for heaven, but growth in piety and fruitfulness decides our reward in heaven. He that is cleansed from all sin has the so-called "dying grace," and is already fit for the skies, but the character, length, and fervor of his service to Christ will determine his rank and weight of glory in the future world. — Matt. x. 10 12. 2 Cor. iv. 16-18.

"This is the will of God, even our sanctification, " in the present tense; then our "love is to abound yet more and more unto the day of Christ. — I Thes. iv. 3 and Phil. i. 9.