Unsanctified Ability
27
but greatly deficient in other directions just as important. They will
not be competent men and women. Their deficiencies will be marked,
and will mar the entire character.
Brother B has cultivated an almost ungovernable propensity for
sight-seeing and trips of pleasure. Time and means are wasted to
gratify his desire for pleasure excursions. His selfish love of pleasure
leads to the neglect of sacred duties. Brother B loves to preach, but he
has never taken up this work feeling the woe upon him if he preach not
the gospel. He has frequently left work in the office which demanded
his care, to comply with calls from some of his brethren in other
[27]
churches. If he had felt the solemnity of the work of God for this
time, and gone forth making God his trust, practicing self-denial, and
lifting the cross of Christ, he would have accomplished good. But he
frequently had so little realization of the holiness of the work, that he
would improve the opportunity of visiting other churches in making
the occasion a scene of self-gratification, in short, a pleasure trip. What
a contrast between his course and that pursued by the apostles, who
went forth burdened with the word of life, and in the demonstration
of the Spirit preached Christ crucified! They pointed out the living
way through self-denial and the cross. They had fellowship with their
Saviour in His sufferings, and their greatest desire was to know Christ
Jesus, and Him crucified. They considered not their own convenience,
nor counted their lives dear unto themselves. They lived not to enjoy,
but to do good, and to save souls for whom Christ died.
Brother B can present arguments upon doctrinal points, but the
practical lessons of sanctification, self-denial, and the cross, he has not
experienced in himself. He can speak to the ear, but not having felt the
sanctifying influence of these truths upon his heart, nor practiced them
in his life, he fails to urge the truth home upon the conscience with a
deep sense of its importance and solemnity in view of the judgment,
when every case must be decided. Brother B has not trained his mind,
and his deportment out of meeting has not been exemplary. The burden
of the work has not seemed to rest upon him, but he has been trifling
and boyish, and by his example has lowered the standard of religion.
Sacred and common things have been placed on a level.
Brother B has not been willing to endure the cross; he has not been
willing to follow Christ from the manger to the judgment hall and
Calvary. He has brought upon himself sore affliction by seeking his