The Heart-Cry of Jesus | Page 6

to light up Europe and Asia with the torch of the gospel they must have
an experience themselves which would transform them from
self-seeking, cowardly men to giants and heroes.
THE CARNAL MIND.
While the true Christian loves Christ and His words, while his higher
and more spiritual nature says "Amen" to the Lord's teaching, yet it
must not be forgotten that the "carnal mind" which remains, "even in
the heart of the regenerate," is "enmity against God." There is a dark
SOMEWHAT in the soul that fairly hates the word "sanctification."
Theologians call it "inbred sin" or "original depravity"; the Bible terms

it the "old man," "the old leaven," "the root of bitterness," etc.
Whatever its name it abhors holiness and purity, and though the
regenerate man loves Christ and His words, he does so over the
vehement protest of a baser principle chained and manacled in the
basement dungeon of his heart.
GEORGE FOX.
The devout of all churches recognize the existence of an inner enemy
who bars the gate to rapid spiritual progress. George Fox, the pious
founder of the Friends' Society, said in relation to an experience which
came to him: "I knew Jesus, and He was very precious to my soul, but I
found something within me which would not always keep patient and
kind. I did what I could to keep it down, but it was there. I besought
Jesus that He would do something for me, and when I gave Him my
will He came into me and cast out all that would not be patient, and all
that would not be sweet, and that would not be kind, and then He shut
the door."
"SIN IN BELIEVERS."
John Wesley preached a sermon on "Sin in Believers" which is extant
and widely read. All churches recognize it in their creeds, and all have
provision in their dogmas for its expulsion before entrance into heaven.
The Catholics provide a convenient Purgatory; other denominations
glorify Death and ascribe to it a power which they deny to Christ; while
still others rely on growth to cleanse from all sin and get us ready for
the glory-world. The Bible, however, with that sublime indifference to
all human opinions and theories becoming in divine authority, reveals a
SALVATION FROM ALL SIN HERE AND NOW.
The word sanctify means simply "to make holy" (L., sanctificare =
sanctus, holy, + ficare, to make). The work of sanctification removes
all the roots of bitterness and destroys the remains of sin in the heart.
UNREASONABLE ANTAGONISM.
What sound sense can there be in antagonizing a blessing which is
nothing more or less than cleanness--mental, moral and physical
cleanness. The kind of character that would wittingly fight holiness
would object to a change of linen.
A CHURCH IN JERSEY.
The eagerness with which truly devout people welcome the preaching
of full salvation is refreshing. It was the writer's privilege to hold an

eight-day meeting with a church in Central New Jersey. The church
was in excellent condition, for the pastor, a godly and earnest man, had
faithfully proclaimed justification and its appropriate fruits. Nearly all
the members were praying, conscientious and zealous Christians. When,
at the first meeting, which was the regular Sunday morning service, the
experience of sanctification was presented, over one hundred persons
arose, thus signifying their desire for the precious grace!
OPEN THE ALTAR!
The language of the child of God is, "Does God want me sanctified?
Then open the altar for I am coming." He does not tarry; he does not
higgle and hesitate; he makes for the "straw pile" if in a New England
camp; the "saw-dust" if down South; the "altar rail" if in a spiritual
church; to his knees at any rate, for God's will he desires and must have.
Thank God he can have it!


CHAPTER II
.
SOME ERRORS.
THE BEAR-SKIN.
Satan is very busily engaged in destroying and misrepresenting God's
best experiences. He slanders the work of God in order that His
children may not come into their inheritance. The "bear-skin" frightens
the would-be seeker and keeps him out of the Canaan land.
ROSENTHAL.
Darkness hates light. The Prince of Darkness dreads truth and light, for
he knows that if God's children ever see sanctification as it is, there will
be a general stampede for consecration. If the public really believed
that Rosenthal would play the piano in Infantry Hall on a certain
evening, and that there would be no charge for admittance, South Main
street would be black with people hours before the doors were opened.
If the church really believed that God would let them into an
experience where sonatas and minuets and bridal marches and
"Mondnacht" and the "Etude in C sharp minor" would be heard all the
time, and