Page images
PDF
EPUB

the only inquiry remaining respects the time of such accomplishment. To this let us give our undivided attention.

I understand your position to be, that the divine promises and declarations clearly imply, that believers will be sanctified completely during the progress of the present life. But is this position tenable? When the Scripture declares, that Jesus shall save his people from their sins, it certainly does not expressly declare when he will do it. In what way, then, do you ascertain the time when? The apostle says, that "Christ loved the church. and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse itand that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it might be holy and without blemish." But he certainly does not tell us, in the passage itself, that Christ will accomplish all this for the whole church during the present state, that he does now, in this life, actually present the whole body of believers to himself without spot or blemish. If, then, you prove this to be the meaning of the passage, you must do it by other considerations. The apostle, in another passage, says, that "Christ gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity." But he certainly does not say, in the passage itself, that Christ will do all this for us during our continuance in this world. I must therefore ask again, by what other considerations do you make it out, that this is the proper meaning of the passage? I agree with you that in the New Covenant, God promises to give to his people all that he requires of them in his law. This was a principle which Augustine often advanced, and to which he attached great importance. Multitudes from that day to this have done the same. Indeed, this sentiment is virtually held by all devout Christians. It is wrought as an element into their faith and their prayers. But does this precious promise of the New Covenant mean, that God will work in them a complete conformity with his law, while they are passing through the present world? It is evident from what you have published,* that you consider this to be the proper meaning of the promise, and you often and very plainly signify, that unless believers are completely sanctified in the present life, the promise fails. But how does this appear? Because a promise is not fully accomplished at a particular time, does it follow that it is never accomplished?

See Repository for Oct. 1840, p. 410, and elsewhere, and many passages in the Discourses.

Much depends on this inquiry; and I pray you not to pass over it hastily. A promise was early made that a Saviour should come; but thousands of years passed away, and he did not come. Did the promise therefore fail of its accomplishment? God made a promise to Abraham, that he would give to his seed the land of Canaan for an inheritance. Can we say that God did not fulfil this promise, because he deferred the fulfilment for so many hundred years? God has promised to deliver his people from all iniquity and to make them perfectly holy. And suppose that, in the end, he perfectly fulfils it. Does he fail to fulfil it, because he does not fulfil it sooner? I trust that my dear brother, with whom I am so freely discussing this subject, will, after a few days more, be so happy as to be admitted into the heavenly world, and there be freed forever from all moral evil, and, through divine grace, made perfectly holy. And suppose he then looks from that blessed world upon the present state; and suppose that, in the light of heaven, he sees (what he may not now always see) that he was, all the way through life, liable to mistakes; and that, in his best frames, he had some remains of sin, but was at length delivered from it, and made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. Will he say, or think, that God failed to accomplish his promise, because he did not accomplish it sooner? If a thing is finally done, can any one say it is not done, because it was not done before? If we see hereafter that, according to the divine promise, the knowledge of God fills the earth, and the whole world is converted; shall we then say the promise has failed because so long a time passed away before it was carried into full effect?

Just look at the principle brought into view, 2 Pet. 3: 3, 4, 8, 9. The apostle first says, that "in the last days there shall be scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."

From the long delay of Christ's coming, those scoffers took occasion to call in question the certainty of the event, and the truth of the promise. With direct reference to this, the apos tle introduces the same principle as that above alluded to, and says: "Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as

[blocks in formation]

some men count slackness, but is long-suffering," etc. He delays the fulfilment of his promise, not from slackness, as some suppose, but for wise and benevolent ends. Now, when you say, or imply, that the promise of God, to redeem his people from all iniquity and make them perfectly holy, requires that he should do all this during the period of the present life; do you not overlook the principle, which the apostle represents as so highly important, and so adapted to solve the difficulty he had to encounter? God has promised to bestow upon his people the grace of perfect sanctification. But, according to the common belief of the Christian church, they are, through all the days of their life, sanctified only in part. And will you, on this account, say, where is the promise of his grace? If you do, I must answer you in the words of the apostle: "Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack," he does not forget his promise to redeem his people from all iniquity, because he takes time for it. The difference between a day and a thousand years is nothing with the Lord. What is to be is, with him, as though it were now. If he accomplishes the promise in future time, he is as faithful and true as though he did it to-day. If Christians find themselves perfectly holy when they enter heaven, they will most surely acknowledge and admire the goodness and faithfulness of God in completely fulfilling his gracious promise, though they will remember that, through all the days and years of this imperfect life, they had to struggle against "the law of sin in their members."

You see how the matter stands. And I must beseech you, my brother, no longer to argue, from the faithfulness of God in regard to his promises, that he must completely sanctify his people during any part of the present life; inasmuch as his faithfulness will be fully vindicated, and will shine forth with infinite glory, when it is made manifest in heaven, that the gracious work has at length been finished. Never, then, suffer the thought to enter your mind, that we do not consider the promises as precious as you do, or that we do not as confidently expect their fulfilment. And let me now press the inquiry, whether the divine promises, when rightly understood, afford any support to your favorite doctrine?

As this is a point on which so much depends in the discussion, let us not be weary in examining it thoroughly. Let us

view it on all sides with the closest attention, so that we may, if possible, be sure to guard against error, and to find the truth. The truth is incomparably precious, and is worthy to be searched for with untiring zeal. Allow me then to dwell on this particular topic a moment longer. And if we should happen, in any respect, to pass over the same ground again, let us do it with increased watchfulness and care.

You have quoted many of the gracious promises which God has made as to the entire deliverance of believers from sin. Suppose now, my brother, I quote the same promises, and say, these promises plainly imply, that God will completely sanctify his people as soon as they believe. Suppose I say; here is the promise of God, that "Jesus shall save his people from their sins ;" and this implies that he will completely save them from their sins at once, when they become believers; and unless he does this, his promise falls to the ground. And here we have the declaration of God, that Christ came to redeem his people from all iniquity; and this must mean that he will redeem them from all iniquity the very hour and minute in which they believe in him; and if they remain a single hour without perfect holiness, the declaration is not accomplished. What objection can you make to all this? Will you say, I have no right to limit the fulfilment of the divine promise or declaration to a single hour or minute? But why have not I as good a right to give to the divine promise these narrow limits, as you have to give it limits of a little larger extent? Show me what authority you have to say, the promise must be fulfilled in a year, or in ten or twenty years, or during the present life (which may not be half a year), more than I have to say, it must be fulfilled the present hour or minute. Take time to look at this matter carefully; and then bring forward the reason why you limit the fulfilling of the promise to the few fleeting days of the present life, and yet say it is not limited to the present hour or minute.

PRAYERS FOR PERFECT SANCTIFICATION.

Mr. Mahan argues much in support of his doctrine from the prayers of Christians. As to the fact that Christians pray, and pray earnestly for complete sanctification, I agree with him. It is, in my view, essential to the character of true believers,

that they should sincerely pray, that the blood of Christ may cleanse them from all sin, and that the God of peace would sanctify them wholly. And they do unquestionably desire and pray that God would sanctify them wholly during the present life, yea, during the very day and hour and minute, in which they offer up acceptable prayer. And one thing more I hold to be unquestionable, that is, that God will certainly, in the highest and best sense, answer their prayers, and bestow upon them the precious blessing of complete sanctification; yea, will do exceeding abundantly above all that they ask or think. Mr. Mahan (Discourses, p. 35) repeats the words of John: "This is the confidence we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us;-and whatsoever we ask, we have the petitions that we desired of him." He then adds: “Have we not here positive proof, that when we pray in faith for perfect holiness, that blessing will be bestowed upon us?" I answer, yes; it will certainly be bestowed. But when? He thinks it must be during the progress of the present life. But why such large limits? Why not during the present hour? How can he prove that God will so answer our prayers, as to accomplish the whole work of sanctification during the period of this life, any more than I can prove that he will accomplish it during the present hour? He appeals to the reader, and says: "Is it possible for us to believe, that Christ himself prayed, and taught his disciples to pray, and that the Holy Spirit inspired apostles and saints to pray for a blessing, which the Scriptures require us to believe God will not bestow upon his people?" I answer, it would be strange indeed, if any one should believe this. But what has this to do with the point at issue? For admitting, as all do, that God will certainly give the saints the perfect sanctification which they pray for, the question in debate still remains; that is, when will God do it? The invaluable gift of perfect holiness will be truly bestowed, if bestowed at all. And the prayers which Christians so often and so earnestly offer up for this blessing, will be as really and fully answered, if answered at a later period, as if answered earlier. The patriarchs longed and prayed for the coming of the Messiah. And were not their prayers as really answered by his coming after so long a time, as if he had come before? God has promised to answer the humble, confiding, importunate prayers of his children; and he certainly will answer them. Heaven and earth shall pass away sooner than one

« PreviousContinue »