True and False Theories Contrasted
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trial, the truly righteous, who sincerely love and fear God, wear the
robe of Christ’s righteousness in prosperity and adversity alike.
Self-denial, self-sacrifice, benevolence, kindness, love, patience,
fortitude, and Christian trust are the daily fruits borne by those who
are truly connected with God. Their acts may not be published to the
world, but they themselves are daily wrestling with evil, and gaining
precious victories over temptation and wrong. Solemn vows are re-
newed, and kept through the strength gained by earnest prayer and
constant watching thereunto. The ardent enthusiast does not discern
the struggles of these silent workers; but the eye of Him who seeth
[12]
the secrets of the heart, notices and regards with approval every ef-
fort forth in lowliness and meekness. It requires the testing time to
reveal the pure gold of love and faith in the character. When trials and
perplexities come upon the church, then the steadfast zeal and warm
affections of Christ’s true followers are developed.
We feel sad to see professed Christians led astray by the false and
bewitching theory that they are perfect, because it is so difficult to
undeceive them and lead them into the right path. They have sought
to make the exterior fair and pleasing, while the inward adorning, the
meekness and lowliness of Christ, is wanting. The testing time will
come to all, when the hopes of many who have for years thought
themselves secure, will be seen to be without foundation. When in
new positions, under varied circumstances, some who have seemed
to be pillars in the house of God reveal only rotten timber beneath
the paint and varnish. But the humble in heart, who have daily felt
the importance of riveting their souls to the eternal Rock, will stand
unmoved amid the tempests of trial, because they trusted not to them-
selves. “The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The
Lord knoweth them that are his” (
2 Timothy 2:19
).
Normal Fruit Bearing
Those who take pains to call attention to their good works, con-
stantly talking of their sinless state and endeavoring to make their
religious attainments prominent, are only deceiving their own souls
by so doing. A healthy man, who is able to attend to the vocations of
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life and who goes forth day after day to his labor with buoyant spirits
and with a healthy current of blood flowing through his veins, does