The Heart-Cry of Jesus | Page 7

free of charge, all the bishops and the big preachers and little

evangelists and exhorters and ministers would be besieged by a grand
eager throng of people, crying with one accord, "What must I do to be
sanctified?" Lord, hasten the day!
THE DEVIL STIRRED.
When a man is awakened and says, "What is sanctification anyway?"
then the devil bestirs himself to silence the soul's questionings. Blessed
is the man who will not be satisfied with anything short of "Thus saith
the Lord." Hound the lies of hell to their covert; run down the false
reports, and determine the truth.
A CHIMERA.
One of the lies which Satan is fond of circulating is that sanctification
is a life free from temptation. When this is announced among those
who are awakened on the subject, immediately there is a great cry, "I
don't want to hear any more about sanctification." One would think by
the excitement aroused that people are actually afraid lest they should
by some manner of means be deprived of the privilege of being
tempted. Let all such allay their fears. Jesus was tempted even on the
pinnacle of the temple, and we will never be above our Lord, and may
well expect temptation until we pass from this world-stage to the other
land. No responsible Christian student teaches any such chimera as a
life without temptation obtainable now.
A DIFFERENCE.
Personally, we have never heard anyone make such a claim. What we
do teach, and, better still, far better, WHAT GOD PROMISES, is an
experience where we need not YIELD to temptation. There is a
difference, vast and important, between being tempted and yielding to
temptation.
A TEMPTED PREACHER.
A man is en route from New York to the West via the Pennsylvania
Railroad. The express stops at a junction in the mountains. He leaves
the car and walks up and down on the platform enjoying the view. Near
the station is a park. Beautiful flowering shrubbery, shell walks,
ivy-clad piles of rocks, splashing fountains, majestic shade trees and
well-kept turf make the place attractive. Beyond the pretty village a
wooded mountain rises toward the bluest of skies, enticing to a stroll
amid the beauties of a forest. The preacher is strongly tempted to stop
over a day and enjoy a brief rest. Then he thinks of his word, given in

good faith, to be in a certain place at an appointed hour; he remembers
the souls which God might save through the sermon which he is
expected to preach the next evening. He is tired and jaded and worn.
Would he not be justified in telegraphing that he would not come until
a day or so later than expected? It is a stout temptation; but when the
black-faced porter shouts, "All aboard," and the bell rings he walks into
the hot and dirty car and continues his tiresome journey. Does not the
reader see that a temptation to rest is very different from stopping and
breaking an engagement and disappointing an audience?
A CHARMING COMPANION.
On life's express we are all liable to temptation. We are solicited to
tarry, but we are so intent on our destination, and especially are we so
charmed with our travelling Companion, that we bid farewell to
fountain, and gravelled walks, and towering mountains and push on to
that city.
WHO TEACHES FANATICISM?
Another misrepresentation, the circulation of which Satan delights to
further, is that sanctification is an experience in which we can not sin,
and when through this idea men lift their hands in horror and desist
from seeking this precious grace, all hell chuckles with real satisfaction.
But who teaches such fanaticism? Life is always a probation. The will
is free. The Bible teaches this truth, and we believe it. The holiest saint
on earth may, IF HE CHOOSE, sin and go to hell. Everything hangs
upon the choice. Thank God we NEED not fall. Falling is possible, but
not necessary.
NOT A DAY-DREAM.
A third evil report is that sanctification is an impracticable day-dream,
unfit for everyday life and the common round of duties. "It is," so it is
said, "all very well for ministers, and class leaders, and superintendents
of Sunday-schools, and people who are not very busy in life to get
sanctification, but it will not stand the strain and tension to which it
would be subjected in some lives." But "God is no respecter of
persons," and what He will do for one of His children He will do for all.
And then, if we only knew it, sanctification is just suited to the life of
trial and perplexity.
"BILLY" BRAY AND CARVOSSO.
If there is a man to be found who has to labor hard all day and has a life

full of care, sanctification is just the