8
The Sanctified Life
only deluding their own souls by their pretensions, but are exerting an
influence to lead astray many who earnestly desire to conform to the
will of God. They may be heard to reiterate again and again, “God
leads me! God teaches me! I am living without sin!” Many who come
in contact with this spirit encounter a dark, mysterious something
which they cannot comprehend. But it is that which is altogether
unlike Christ, the only true pattern.
Bible sanctification does not consist in strong emotion. Here is
where many are led into error. They make feelings their criterion.
When they feel elated or happy, they claim that they are sanctified.
Happy feelings or the absence of joy is no evidence that a person is or
is not sanctified. There is no such thing as instantaneous sanctification.
True sanctification is a daily work, continuing as long as life shall
last. Those who are battling with daily temptations, overcoming their
own sinful tendencies, and seeking for holiness of heart and life, make
no boastful claims of holiness. They are hungering and thirsting for
righteousness. Sin appears to them exceedingly sinful.
There are those claiming sanctification who make a profession
of the truth, like their brethren, and it may be difficult to make a
distinction between them; but the difference exists, nevertheless. The
testimony of those claiming such an exalted experience will cause the
sweet Spirit of Christ to withdraw from a meeting, and will leave a
chilling influence upon those present, while if they were truly living
[11]
without sin, their very presence would bring holy angels into the
assembly, and their words would indeed be “like apples of gold in
pictures of silver” (
Proverbs 25:11
).
The Testing Time
In summer, as we look upon the trees of the distant forest, all
clothed with a beautiful mantle of green, we may not be able to dis-
tinguish between the evergreens and the other trees. But as winter
approaches, and the frost king encloses them in his icy embrace, strip-
ping the other trees of their beautiful foliage, the evergreens are readily
discerned. Thus it will be with all who are walking in humility, distrust-
ful of self, but clinging tremblingly to the hand of Christ. While those
who are self-confident, and trust in their own perfection of character,
lose their false robe of righteousness when subjected to the storms of