Adventures in the Far West | Page 8

long as you remain true to your vows, to your covenant and
consecration, you will continue in possession of your experience. You
have no need of ever going back into the wilderness, much less to the
Egypt of sin, but the fair land is before you--launch out and explore it.
Enjoy for yourself the boundless riches of the grace of God and eat
honey out of the rock.

CHAPTER FOUR

TROUBLES OF LINGERING AT THE CROSSING
Some time ago I consecrated to God for entire sanctification and
thought I was sanctified. Then I began to doubting whether I was
wholly sanctified; so I consecrated again. This I have done a number of
times; in fact, so many times that I don't know what to do. Can you
help me any in this difficulty? I am in doubts about my consecration. I
am as consecrated as I know how to be, yet there is a feeling of
unreality and uncertainty about it that is distressing, and I have found
no way to end my distress. I am almost ashamed to tell how many
times I have consecrated, and I am ashamed to tell the Lord that I am;
for I have doubted so much that I am not sure of myself. My faith is
weak also. If you can help me, I shall be very thankful.
* * * * *
The story of Pilgrim Exactly will probably be interesting, as well as
helpful, to you. He told me the story. I will tell it to you as well as I can
remember it.
Pilgrim Exactly crossed the Jordan for Canaan the first time twenty-two
years ago, and he had never got away from the place where people
cross over. Every now and then you could have seen him examining his
memorial stone; and by and by he would pick it up, wade out as far as
possible, drop his stone with a pathetic sigh, and then go on back to the
wilderness side the best way he could. However, he did not stay over
there long, but soon started for Canaan again. He always aimed to and
vowed that he would select another memorial stone; but, mind you, he
always came out with the same one he first brought over.
Do you ask why he did such a thing? The reason is simply this, brother:
Pilgrim Exactly wanted to be so sure that he was in Canaan that he was
never quite sure that he was there. He was not satisfied with the best of
evidence. No one was brighter in the wholly-sanctified experience than
he, nor did any one cross over into Canaan with any better evidence of
his crossing than did he. But there is a bad, little, dwarfed giant named
Doubtful, who lives close about the crossing-place, a half-brother to old
Giant Doubt. Doubtful kept company with this pilgrim. More than

likely that was one source of his trouble. The strongest pilgrims warned
Exactly of the pernicious plots of this little, hard old dwarf, but he
seemed not to heed their warnings.
Exactly would plant his memorial stone with a look that says, "It is
done for the last time!" Then Doubtful would slip up to him, and this is
practically what one present would have seen and heard:
Pilgrim Exactly: "By the grace of God, I solemnly promise never to
doubt my experience of sanctification again, no never. Lord, hear my
vow, never, never to doubt again! I have staid by the crossing too long
now. I must explore Canaan."
Giant Doubtful: "Good morning, dear Pilgrim. Are you sure you got
this stone out of the right place this time? Seems to me, too, it is the
same old stone you have brought over ever so often. You know you
have never been satisfied with that memorial, and I do not see how you
can be, either. Isn't it doubtful whether you really crossed the Jordan?
Your consecration is likely faulty, and you know your faith is weak.
Better be careful. You do not want to be deceived, do you?"
Exactly, wiping the sweat from his face: "That is a fact. This is the
same old stone. My God, can't I get a better experience than this? O
Lord, help!" And the poor Pilgrim would seem the very embodiment of
distress.
Doubtful: "It is my opinion that something is wrong somewhere.
Probably you crossed too soon. Maybe you have left something out of
your consecration. By the way, were you not neglectful of duty
yesterday? And then, you know, you promised God you never would
doubt. Now just see, you are doubting somewhat at this minute. It is to
be seen that you have failed somewhere. I believe you had better try it
again. Something is wrong!