INCIDENTAL ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 OP THE 
 
 ECONOMY OF SALVATION, 
 
 s JBjrdriiua and Ittius* 
 
 BY 
 
 Mrs. PHCEBE PALMER, 
 ii 
 
 AUTHOR OF "THE WAY OF HOLINESS," "ENTIRE DEVOTION,'' "USEFUL DISCIPLE," 
 ' FAITH AND ITS EFFECTS," "RECOLLECTIONS OF MRS. L. N. C," ETC., ETC. 
 
 40 
 
 I can scarcely think any pains misspent that brings me solid evidence of the great truth, that 
 tne Scripture is the Word of God, which is indeed the Great Fundamental. — Boyle. 
 
 1 am resting on the Old Foundations. — Dying Words of Olin. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 "FOSTER AND PALMER, Jr. 
 
 14 Bible House. 
 1 866. 
 
Entered according to Act oPCongress, in the year 1853, 
 
 By Walter C. Palmer, M. D. 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. 
 
 PRINTED BY 
 Q 22 O . C . RAND & AVtl.i, 
 
TO 
 
 REV. BISHOP AND MRS. HAMLINE, 
 
 THE LONG TRIED 
 
 AND 
 
 gharlg C|eri»i*fc Jrienbs of mg feari, 
 
 THIS BOOK 
 
 IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED, 
 BY THE AUTIXOR. 
 
 101795 
 
($0 the jtaiter. 
 
 All religious truth necessarily connected with human salva- 
 tion is older, and more impregnable, than the everlasting hills 
 Truth is an attribute of the Deity, and, therefore, from everlast- 
 ing to everlasting. In offering a new book, we will not promise 
 to present new truths. But it is our expectation to present old 
 truths, newly dressed, with, perhaps, originality of conception. In 
 such diversified aspect, and simplicity of attire, do we hope to in- 
 vest some of the more important truths of the Bible, that we 
 fondly anticipate, dear reader, you may not tire, as together we 
 pass through the volume. With few, have opportunities for diver- 
 sified observation, on religious experience, been more ample than 
 with the writer; and it is without hesitation we assure you, that 
 we shall present to you new developments of truth, in the con- 
 templation of which, you cannot fail to be interested and profited. 
 We assure you of this ; for we have, ourselves, been interested, and 
 newly taught, and inspired in our heavenward way, as we have 
 thus carefully marked the operations of grace on a diversity of 
 mind. The workings of the Holy Spirit, in developing instructive 
 truth, are as diversified as is the construction of the human mind. 
 And there is heavenly wisdom in noting minutely these diversities 
 of operations ; for, " Whoso is wise will observe, and he shall 
 understand the loving- kindness of the Lord." Then we will 
 invite you, pleasant reader, to accompany us in marking these 
 minute Dbservances, trusting that, in our communings, we shall 
 
 1* 
 
VI TO THE READER. 
 
 together be made wiser, and be better able, by the perusal, to 
 understand the loving- kindness of the Lord. With a prayerful 
 and humble reliance on the Spirit of all Truth, we present our 
 Incidental Illustrations to the reading public, from a solemn con- 
 viction that it is due to the grace of God; believing that the 
 difficulties, in many minds, may be met by observing how other 
 minds, similarly constituted, were helped out of difficulties. 
 
 The writer has one leading aim, in all she has written ; and 
 that is, to give prominence to the fact that the Bible is the 
 Woud or God. The God of the Bible is no respecter of persons. 
 The Bible is not a sectarian book, but, to all of every name, it is 
 a sufficient rule of faith and practice, and all its doctrines are 
 easy to be understood to those who, with humility and decision, 
 resolve on obedience to its precepts. It reproves the dogmatic, 
 the aspiring, and the captious, and sets wide open the door of life 
 with equal readiness to the most humble peasant, as to the most 
 profound theologian, provided he, with equal decision and humility, 
 obeys its simple requisitions. " If any man will do his will, he 
 shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God." Thus making 
 a knowledge of its doctrines dependent on the sincerity of the 
 intentions and the obedient docility of the inquirer, rather than 
 upon his ability for theological speculations. It has been the aim 
 of the writer to set forth Bible doctrines and duties as simplified 
 to her own perceptions, by the teachings of the Spirit, tlirough 
 the Written Word, and made tangible by every-day illustrations 
 and experiences. It was by a reference to these, that the Savior 
 taught the multitude. And if, by so doing, we may make truth 
 more tangible, we will not dread the fastidiousness of the critic, 
 . but will commit our reputation and our work to Him who judgeth 
 righteously, and who will keep that which we have committed 
 •into him against that day. 
 
d^nl^nts. 
 
 PA 61 
 
 An Old-fashioned Choir, , , 11 
 
 Jesus receives Disciples immediately, 13 
 
 Holiness versus Infidelity, 25 
 
 A Healthy Countenance, 29 
 
 A Sinner Convicted by the Smile of a Christian, 31 
 
 Effect of Christian Courtesy and a Happy Face, 33 
 
 The Old Landmarks, 36 
 
 Wesley Speaking for Himself, 36 
 
 When are we to believe ourselves Wholly Sanctified? 37 
 
 Are Conversion and entire Sanctification simultaneous ? 38 
 
 How soon may entire Sanctification succeed Conversion? 88 
 
 May Holiness of Heart be received by one Act of Faith? 39 
 
 Must this Blessing be Professed in order to be Retained? .40 
 
 The Sweetest Thing I ever told you, 43 
 
 Can I believe myself Sanctified before I am so ? 45 
 
 Unity of the Spirit, 47 
 
 Religion an Active Principle, 48 
 
 Come to the Right Point, and then Believe, 49 
 
 M I cannot see into this Way," 61 
 
 Why are there not more Missionaries ? 53 
 
 One of Satan's Devices, '56 
 
 The Talent— used or lost, 60 
 
 To a Secularized Minister, 61 
 
 A Watchman away from his Post, 63 
 
 AnOpposer Smitten, 64 
 
 Victory in Death, 65 
 
 What is wanting ? 67 
 
 The Sisters — How a Church was built, 68 
 
 The Salvation — retained or lost, 71 
 
 Ministry, Education and Politics, 73 
 
 Secular Business, and a Call to the Ministry, 75 
 
 Conversion of a Jew, 77 
 
 The two Teachers — Jesus and Gamaliel, 78 
 
 Have you given up All ? Yes, All, 79 
 
 The Pious Mistress and her Servant, 80 
 
 Stingy Christians, 82 
 
 Why is his Chariot so long in coming ? 84 
 
 Church Poverty Self-imposed, 85 
 
 A Hundred and Fifty Dollars and Twelve Souls, 87 
 
• t • 
 
 Vlll CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Longer Way and Shorter Way tested, 91 
 
 A Bflvival may be withheld in mercy, 97 
 
 Last Days of Bishop Hedding, 99 
 
 At Kadish Barnea, 104 
 
 The only Foundation of Faith, , 105 
 
 The Nobleman, 106 
 
 Christ in the Heart, 1C8 
 
 The Time appointed, 109 
 
 A Pioneer Faith required of Ministers, 109 
 
 My Experience, 109 
 
 The great Bequisition, 113 
 
 Confession, 114 
 
 Steadfastness, 115 
 
 A Point beyond Wavering, 116 
 
 To a Bereaved Father, 117 
 
 The Old Paths, 121 
 
 A Satanic Expedient, 123 
 
 The Celestial Garb assumed, 125 
 
 To the Law and to the Testimony, 128 
 
 Fruits of the Controversy, 133 
 
 The Man who did not know where he was, • 135 
 
 The Half-hour Proposition, 138 
 
 In Darkness from Neglect of Duty, 146 
 
 The Witness of the Spirit, 148 
 
 To a Seeker of the Witness of the Spirit, 150 
 
 Personal Effort to enlist Seekers of Salvation, 154 
 
 A Flight to the Altar, 155 
 
 The Mistake, 158 
 
 A Conversion questioned, and why, , 162 
 
 A sudden and unquestionable Conversion, 165 
 
 The Captain and his Guest, 167 
 
 Justification and Sanctification, 171 
 
 Where does the one end and the other begin? 171 
 
 The Crisis, 172 
 
 Can we be more than Perfect ? 174 
 
 Universalism harrowed out, 175 
 
 Love-feast Testimony, .176 
 
 The Machinery and the Motive Power, 178 
 
 A Bemarkable Meeting, 186 
 
 Of that Faith which Sanctifies wholly now, 188 
 
 The Steps in Faith taken by your Friend, 189 
 
 Awakened just in time, 191 
 
 The Invincibles, 197 
 
 Humanity in Heaven, 198 
 
 Divinity on Earth, 200 
 
 Privileges are Duties, 201 
 
 One Idea, 202 
 
 " This one Thing I do," 208 
 
 Mil isterial Trials and Triumphs , . .205 
 
C O NTENTS . IX 
 
 ■ 
 
 PAOI 
 
 Reputation in Heaven, 207 
 
 The Rejected Minister's Refuge .• 208 
 
 Seeking the Lost, 210 
 
 The Inebriate, 211 
 
 A Ministering Angel took the Name, 217 
 
 The Magistrate, the Lawyer, and the Merchant, 218 
 
 Gatherings by the Way, 220 
 
 A Starless Crown, 220 
 
 How new Victories may be obtained, 221 
 
 The Work guarded, not the Workmen, 222 
 
 Family Gathering, 223 
 
 To a Galifomian, 226 
 
 Providence indicates the Will of God, 226 
 
 Business subservient to Soul-saving, 226 
 
 Christians in Search of Gold, 228 
 
 The Bridal Party, 229 
 
 The Wedding Tour, 229 
 
 Married Life commenced aright, 283 
 
 Sunday Morning News, 236 
 
 Converted and called to Preach in three Days, 238 
 
 Supplementary, 242 
 
 Close Quarters, 246 
 
 God's Forewarnings, • 261 
 
 Providential Admonitions disregarded, 252 
 
 A Cup of Cold Water, 254 
 
 The Traveller entertained, 264 
 
 The Generous Hostess rewarded, 257 
 
 My Rich Poor Friend, 259 
 
 My Poor Rich Friend, 261 
 
 A Covenant well-ordered and sure, 263 
 
 Equality, 265 
 
 The Colored Woman and the Lawyer, 265 
 
 Life a Failure, 268 
 
 Wealth first, the Ministry afterwards, 268 
 
 The Incog, 271 
 
 The Incog in the Nursery, 271 
 
 " " Kitchen, 273 
 
 « " Parlor and Chamber, 274 
 
 " " Counting-house, 275 
 
 " " Church, 276 
 
 « " Pulpit, 277 
 
 The Minister's Wife, 279 
 
 Proxy Worship, 289 
 
 286 
 
 Praying by Proxy 
 
 Singing by Proxy, ' • 287 
 
 Scriptural Worship, 292 
 
 Conviction of the Unlearned and Unbelieving contemplated, 292 
 
 Scriptural- Singing, 298 
 
 A Trophy of Congregational Singing, 8W 
 
* C ONTEN T S . 
 
 tjum 
 
 A Debt paid, 302 
 
 How Frances experienced Religion, 302 
 
 I don't mean to be made Unbappy to-day, 304 
 
 Metaphysical Difficulties considered, 307 
 
 Place the Stake a little farther, 312 
 
 The Incog and the Pocket-book, 314 
 
 Do not Profess before you Believe, 319 
 
 A New Church on Right Principles, .323 
 
 I don't believe in Holiness, .325 
 
 Conversion of Sinners and Sanctification of Believers, 328 
 
 The Conversion of a Husband delayed, 331 
 
 Show the Footmarks, 335 
 
 Relation of Christian Experience, 835 
 
 My Experience is not my own, 337 
 
 The Word of their Testimony, 838 
 
 Sensitiveness, 342 
 
 Do the Sanctified feel sensitively? 842 
 
 A Messenger told it, 844 
 
 Do you persecute Christ ? 845 
 
 The Methodist Ministry, 347 
 
 Publishit. Tellit, 353 
 
 Father M , 355 
 
 Young Converts may be wholly Sanctified, 363 
 
 A Singular Vow 366 
 
 Thank-offering for Salvation from Trouble, 367 
 
 God appropriates what is given to Him, 368 
 
 How is it with that Child ? 369 
 
 Get down Low, 370 
 
 God's Word its own Evidence, 372 
 
 Enriched by Trials, 374 
 
 Worse than Judas, 875 
 
 The Savior Sold for less than Thirty Pieces of Silver, 375 
 
 Aristocracy in Religious Associations, 877 
 
 Who are the Aristocracy of Heaven ? 379 
 
 Who most proper to take charge of a Convert, 379 
 
INCIDENTAL ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 OF TH1 
 
 ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 
 
 »*!»« 
 
 Jin ©td-JfaaMmtfll d|Juur. 
 
 Christians are — and in fact ought to be — very 
 happy. Do you shrink away from me and say, " O, 
 that sounds old-fashioned and fanatical " ? Well, agreed. 
 But pray, my friend, do not leave me until I introduce 
 to your attention some old-fashioned friends, who are 
 inviting us to unite with them in adoring triumphant song. 
 And with whom shall we join ? Here is David. Shall we 
 unite with him, and " shout unto God with the voice of 
 triumph " ? And here is Isaiah. Surely, we will nc 
 longer let him chide our silence. Then let us strike the 
 note yet higher, and "sing unto the Lord, for he hath 
 done excellent things ; this is known in all the earth. 
 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion ; for great 
 is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." And 
 yet I must detain you, for here is the importunate 
 Zephaniah, beseechingly saying, " Sing, O daughter of 
 Zion ! shout, O Israel ! be glad and rejoice with all the 
 heart, O daughter of Jerusalem ! " And Ezra is here also, 
 
1% ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Great excitement. Why not? Shouting and soul- saving. 
 
 telling us of a great excitement which attracted much 
 attention in his day, when all the people shouted with 
 a great shout, and praised the Lord, because the foun- 
 dation of the Lord's house was laid, so that the noise 
 was heard afar off; for the people shouted with a loud 
 shout. Now if you had been there, my friend, would 
 you have chided them, as old-fashioned and fanatical ? 
 But lo ! here comes John ! Hark ! Do you not hear 
 a great voice of much people ? What are they singing ? 
 " Alleluia : salvation, and glory, and honor, and power 
 unto the Lord our God ! " Listen ! They challenge us 
 to unite with them. Shall we do it? Alleluia! It 
 is done ! How exhilarating the strain ! Surely our 
 spirits are already proving the raptures of the redeemed 
 and blood-washed ! And why not ? As the redeemed 
 of the Lord, we will — we must — claim our purchased 
 inheritance with the saints, and will return to Zion with 
 songs and everlasting joy upon our heads ! " But what 
 have happy Christians, the songs of the redeemed, and 
 the shouts of the inhabitants of Zion, to do with the 
 salvation of souls ? Is not this the one legitimate 
 calling of the Christian ? And how little have the tri- 
 umphs of Christians to do with the salvation of those who 
 are blinded by the god of this world ! " Do not be too 
 fixed in your opinion, my friend. Let me illustrate by 
 an incident which came under my observation, and then 
 tell me if the joy of the Lord is not the strength of the 
 church. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 13 
 
 The joy of salvation. The young la<iy. The inquiry. 
 
 JESUS RECEIVES DISCIPLES " IMMEDIATELY." 
 
 "Would you not love to be just as happy as that 
 lady ? " asked I of a whole-souled worldling. 
 
 The lady to whom the attention of this worldling had 
 been directed had just entered into the conscious pos- 
 session of perfect love ; and so joyful was she in having 
 attained the Spirit's witness to the fact that Christ now 
 reigned unrivalled in her heart, that, from the abundance 
 of her heart, she literally obeyed the Scripture, " Shout, 
 O Israel, be glad and rejoice with all thy heart, O 
 daughter of Jerusalem ! " For she felt that the Lord 
 had cast out her enemy, and the King of Israel, even the 
 Lord, was in the midst of her. I had just been laboring 
 in spirit with her, and had witnessed her deep groanings 
 and pleadings for the destruction of sin, and for purity 
 of heart ; and, now that the enemy had been cast 
 out, and the witness of purity given, it was not wonder- 
 ful that she was shouting in view of the full entrance 
 of the Holy One in the midst of her, making all things 
 new. 
 
 This was at one of the feasts of tabernacles, in the 
 rear of a private tent ; and standing at the tent door was 
 the unconverted yet interesting young lady to whom we 
 had addressed our inquiry — " Would you not love to 
 be just as happy ? n In a wishful tone she replied, " 1 
 would." " Well, the same happiness is for you, if you 
 are only willing to comply with the same conditions. 
 It does not take the Savior longer to accept disciples 
 now, than in the days of his incarnation. When he 
 
14 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Will you comply ? " "I would love to — but 
 
 called those early disciples, Peter, James, John and 
 Matthew, it is written 'Immediately they forsook all and 
 followed him.' Would you be willing to forsake all and 
 follow Jesus ? " 
 
 She looked sad, and hesitated. O, how my heart 
 coveted her, for the service of the Savior! She was 
 indeed lovely, and her hesitating mood reminded me of 
 the one whom Jesus looked upon and loved. But her 
 heart was in close affinity with the world. She had won 
 its smiles, was enjoying its friendships, and, to more 
 than an ordinary degree, had its charms been lavished 
 upon her. No wonder that she hesitated, as we again 
 affectionately and most appealingly said, " In the name 
 and in the presence of the Lord I ask, will you not 
 now comply with the conditions of discipleship, and, 
 like those early disciples, immediately forsake all and 
 follow Jesus ? " 
 
 Still she lingered — said she would love to do it — 
 but 
 
 If her heart had spoken out, it had doubtless said. 
 "Greatly do I desire the smiles of my Savior, — fain 
 would I be his disciple ; but, alas ! I cannot renounce 
 the world." 
 
 We reminded her of the interesting young man who 
 came to the Savior, desiring to be received as his dis- 
 ciple. But, lacking in one point, he was not received, 
 and no intimation is given, in the records of grace, that 
 he ever afterwards complied with the conditions, and 
 became a follower of the Savior. Thus, with yourself, 
 we know that God now calls you ; but we dare not — 
 

 ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 15 
 
 The command. The hesitation. The encouragement. 
 
 cannot assure you that he will ever again call you. He 
 says, iS Now is the accepted time ! behold, now is the 
 day of salvation ! " To-morrow is in eternity, and before 
 the morrow you may be there also ; especially if you 
 longer resist God by your delays. Have we reason to 
 believe that he would have called Peter, James or John 
 repeatedly, if they had refused to come at his bidding ? 
 Did any of these linger and make excuses ? One of his 
 disciples once said, " Lord, suffer me first to go and bury 
 my father ! " "Who can conceive of any earthly con- 
 sideration of equal importance with this ? But even this 
 plea was not regarded as of sufficient importance to pre- 
 vent an immediate response to the Savior's call, " Fol- 
 low me." The Savior only replies, " Let the dead 
 bury their dead, but follow thou me." Jesus is now 
 calling you, as truly as though you could hear your 
 name distinctly uttered from the highest heavens, in 
 tones loud as were the thunders of Sinai. And will 
 you not now say, " In the strength of grace, Lord, I 
 will forsake all and follow thee " ? 
 
 She grew yet more pensive, as she saw the way to 
 the Savior hedged up by the cross. But we took 
 pains to assure her that the yoke of Christ was easy and 
 his burden light. We told her how graciously the 
 Savior would bear her, cross and all, if she would 
 only resolve in his strength to take it up. But yet we 
 feared she would go away sorrowful, for she evidently 
 was unwilling to comply with the only conditions 
 upon which Jesus had promised to receive her. 
 
 We were surrounded by some worldly-minded pro 
 
16 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The supposition. The by-path. The warning. 
 
 fessors, friends of the } c-ung lady, who apparently with 
 much interest were waiting the issue, and, failing to get 
 her consent, we changed our mode of address, and 
 pleasantly said, " If you could become a disciple of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, without giving up the world, like 
 some worldly-minded professors, you would love to be 
 a disciple of that sort, would you not ? " 
 
 Her countenance quickly brightened as she suddenly 
 conceived the idea, that I had found some easier way to 
 Jesus than by the cross, and she joyfully exclaimed, 
 " I would." " Well, there is a by-path which seems 
 to be leading upward. There is a way that seemeth 
 right to a man. There are many who take upon them- 
 selves the name of Christ, who do not renounce the 
 world. They seem to have found some broader, easier 
 way, than the way of the cross. But the Bible pre- 
 sents but one direct way to heaven, and that way is the 
 narrow way of the cross. The cross covers all the way. 
 The way is not broad enough to admit of going around 
 it. When I was a child, I used to hear people talk of 
 going around the cross. But, since I have learned to 
 read the Bible for myself, I see it presents no way of 
 going around the cross, without getting out of the way. 
 Jesus says, < If any man will be my disciple, let him 
 deny himself, take up his cross, (not go around it,) and 
 follow me.' Those, therefore, who attempt to go around 
 the cross instead of taking it up, get out of the way (o 
 heaven into the by-path, the way that seemeth to be 
 right, but the end whereof is death. And these are the 
 • many ' to which the Savior refers, when he says, 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 17 
 
 Life-long deception. A false light 
 
 1 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have 
 we not prophesied in thy name ? and in thy name have 
 cast ont devils ? and in thy name done many wonderful 
 works ? And then will I profess unto them I never 
 knew you ! ' People generally die in the light in which 
 they live ; for there is nothing enlightening in death ; it 
 only disembodies the spirit. How evidently had these 
 people died in their deception ! and now they come to 
 the very door of heaven, expecting admission, but the 
 Savior says, ' I never Jcnew you.'' Now would you love 
 to imagine yourself in the way to heaven, in some other 
 way than the way of the cross ? Christians are called 
 the light of the world ; and would you love to take upon 
 yourself a profession, as a light of the world, and have 
 others follow you, as you are wishing to follow other 
 worldly-minded professors, and then find, in the end, 
 that souls have been lost by following you, instead of being 
 saved through your innue,nce ? Suppose one puts up a 
 beacon-light in a wrong place, and a vessel is decoyed 
 from the right channel and stranded, and all on board 
 perish, who is responsible for the loss of life ? 
 
 " Now do you desire to take upon yourself the pro- 
 fession of Christ, without giving up the world ? Would 
 vou be willing to be looked up to as one of the lights 
 of the world, without having previously taken upon you 
 the cross of Christ ? " 
 
 With much earnestness she exclaimed u No ! I don't 
 want to be such a professor ! " 
 
 " Then I again ask you, in the name of the Lord, will 
 
 you comply with the conditions of discipleship ? As 
 
 2* 
 
18 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The only terms. All heaven is waiting. 
 
 well may you make up your mind now that you will be 
 lost — forever lost ! and, after millions of the ages of 
 eternity have rolled away, take up the lamentation, ' the 
 harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not 
 saved,' as to make up your mind that you will not com- 
 ply with the conditions of discipleship ; for on no other 
 terms can you be saved. O, my dear young friend, what 
 a solemn and eventful moment is this for you ! You and I 
 will remember it, as together we stand, with an assem- 
 bled universe, at the judgment-seat of Christ. The 
 hosts of the Lord, now encamped about us, are waiting 
 to hear your decision ! The recording angel has been 
 commissioned from the throne of God, and is now 
 lingering to receive the answer, as it may fall from your 
 lips, and register it on the pages of eternal remembrance. 
 Above all, Jesus, who loves you, and through whose 
 intercessions the Holy Spirit now comes to your heart — 
 Jesus, your Savior, now waits to hear the answer. He 
 calls you to be his disciple — to enter upon his service. 
 He loves you, and bids you come. Yet he can do with- 
 out you, for of these stones he can raise up a seed to 
 serve him. The blissful songs of praise to Jesus from 
 the redeemed will be just as sweet to all eternity, though 
 you may never join in them. But O, Jesus wants you 
 to come, and be made a partaker of his salvation. He 
 knows that eternal death is before you, for the sinner is 
 condemned already. But he, as your Redeemer, has 
 paid a great price for your redemption, and he waits to 
 bestow a pardon, and the gift of eternal life, upon you. 
 Let him not say of you, « Ye will not come unto me 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 19 
 
 Christ would die again, if needful. The bitterest ingredient. 
 
 that ye might have life.' Once more I ask you, in the 
 name of Jesus, will you comply with the conditions of 
 discipleship ? " 
 
 O, the solemn, eventful reminiscences of that hour ! 
 We knew that God, the eternal, promise-keeping Je- 
 lovah, was present. And by an eye of faith we saw 
 Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and the spirits 
 of the just made perfect, lingering to witness the answer 
 of that redeemed spirit. The soul is infinite in value. 
 So great is its worth that, if it were needful for Christ to 
 again endure the agonies of the cross to save, we should 
 again witness the tragical scenes of Calvary. But the 
 debt has been paid. And now the worth of one soul 
 outweighs the universe. 
 
 She stood before us silent and tearless ; not from a 
 destitution of interest, but from an intense depth of 
 thought, and from a newly-awakened consciousness of 
 responsibility. And still we waited the answer. She was 
 evidently and deeply convicted of duty. We directed 
 the eye of her mind to a distant point in the endless 
 future, and showed her the bitterest ingredient in the cup 
 of the lost — " Ye knew your duty, but ye did it not." 
 She acknowledged that her judgment was convinced, 
 and we said, " If you were clearly convicted of duty in 
 regard to ordinary worldly matters, and others around 
 you knew it, you would be ashamed not to have your 
 actions in agreement with your convictions, would 
 you not ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Well, here are God, angels and men observing you 
 
20 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Knowledge is conviction. " In the strength of the Lord, I will." 
 
 clearly convicted of duties of infinite importance ; and 
 now will you not be ashamed before God, angels and 
 men, not to act now, and at once, in accordance with 
 these, your convictions ? 
 
 " You do not wait in regard to other and less impor 
 tant duties till you feel some impelling influence ; but 
 you at once do the thing because you ought. You knew 
 it is your duty to resolve now to be a follower of Christ 
 Do not wait for further conviction. Knowledge is con- 
 viction. Further conviction will not come till you use 
 what you have. ' The day of the Lord is near in the 
 valley of decision.' I do not ask you to decide in your 
 own strength ; but I do ask you to say in the strength 
 of the Lord, I will, and the moment you do this the 
 strength of the Lord will be pledged for your sustain 
 ment. You cannot expect grace to help you before you 
 make the resolve ; but if you will now, in the strength 
 of the Lord, say, ' I will,' this moment God will 
 strengthen you." She exclaimed: 
 
 " In the strength of the Lord, I will !" 
 
 That moment, the Holy Spirit, ever true to his work 
 on the heart, convinced her of sin. She had before been 
 convinced of her duty to seek and serve the Lord ; but 
 now she was so suddenly and powerfully convinced of 
 dn, that every other consideration was lost in the over- 
 whelming fact that she was a sinner. 
 
 I had told her that the Savior was waiting to receive 
 .ier, if she would comply with the conditions. And her 
 wjye, in fact, seemed fixed, as though she saw the Savior 
 In the distance. But she saw an insurmountable moun- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 21 
 
 A mountain of guilt. Confession. Supplication. 
 
 tain of guilt intervening between herself and the Savior. 
 And, notwithstanding she seemed to keep her eye on Jesus, 
 as though she must and would come to him, yet her heart 
 was so overwhelmed with a sense of her sins, that she 
 was wholly lost to outward observances, and she cried 
 out, with a loud and yet louder voice, " O Lord, I am 
 a sinner ! I am a sinner ! I AM a sinner ! " And 
 still she repeated it again and again, with a voice yet 
 more intensely sorrowful and vehement, as numbers 
 gathered round in amazement. 
 
 I might have sought to restrain her cry, as did the 
 multitude that of blind Bartimeus. But it is better 
 that sinners know, and feel, and even publicly acknowl- 
 edge that they are sinners. And I wished this dear 
 young lady so deeply to feel her sins, and so fully and 
 repentingly to confess herself a sinner before God and 
 man, that she might ever, from the depths of humility, 
 remember the fact. 
 
 With some difficulty I obtained her attention and 
 observed : " It was said of the Savior, in the days of 
 his incarnation, ' This man receiveth sinners.' Now you 
 acknowledge that you are a sinner, and if Christ is the 
 Savior of sinners, is he not your Savior ? and can you 
 not say, ' My Savior, receive me'?" 
 
 The Holy Spirit condescended to speak through the 
 organ of clay, and own the agency which had been 
 appointed to lead this precious soul to Christ. Imme- 
 diately she adopted the language, and began to ciy : 
 
 "My Savior, receive me! Mv Savior, receive me! 
 MY Savior, receive ME ! " 
 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Salvation now. The encouragement. The prayer. The faith. 
 
 And thus she continued to cry for a few moments , 
 while, to the eye of her faith, the Savior was evidently 
 drawing yet nearer and nearer. Again I interrupted 
 lier and said : " Your Savior has said just when he will 
 receive you. He is saying to you just now, l Now is 
 the accepted time ; behold, now is the day of salvation ! ' 
 If he says now, he means now ! Can you not say, f My 
 Savior, receive me now 9 f" 
 
 " My Savior, receive me now ! My Savior, receive 
 me now ! " she several times repeated with yet greater 
 earnestness, and most evidently with increasing faith, 
 and yet more experimental apprehensions that the Savior 
 was drawing yet nearer to her, as she was thus endeavor- 
 ing in faith to draw nigh unto him. And still she 
 repeated, " My Savior, receive me now ! " 
 
 " If your Savior has promised to receive you now, 
 and you give yourself away to him now, is it not your 
 duty to believe that he does receive you now ? Not that 
 he did receive you before you renounced your sins and 
 gave yourself away to him ; but that he does now receive 
 you, while you are just now giving yourself away to him. 
 He says : ( Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise 
 cast out.' You come to him, do you not ? " 
 
 " I do." 
 
 " Well, is he true to his word, or is he not ? He 
 either does receive you, or he does not. How is it ? In 
 the name of the Lord, I ask you, how is it ? Does Jesus 
 now receive you ? Can you not now say, ' My Savior, 
 thou dost receive me ' ? " 
 
 The next utterances were those of confident faith. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 23 
 
 Faith. The reception. Joy. 
 
 u My Savior, thou dost receive me ! Thou dost 
 receive me ! Alleluia ! Alleluia ! " 
 
 But we cannot describe the scene that followed. It 
 seemed as though the Savior had at first stood in the 
 distance, waiting till she should yield to the Holy Spirit's 
 operations ; and, just as she drew nigh to him, in the 
 dedication of herself to him, he drew nigh unto her, 
 and the moment she believingly took him at his word, 
 and opened her heart to receive him, he entered, and 
 revealed himself to her, not only as her Savior, but as 
 the fairest among ten thousand, the altogether lovely, 
 and, in loud acclamations, she shouted his praise. I know 
 you would not have hesitated in uniting with her had 
 you been present ; for who could have refrained ? Hov- 
 ering angels united in our joy, and flew back to heaven 
 with the blissful tidings of another sinner saved. O, it 
 was indeed a wondrous change, and the new-born spirit, 
 thus suddenly translated from the kingdom of darkness 
 into the kingdom of God's dear Son, was unbounded in 
 its raptures ! Scarcely one half-hour had passed since 
 we had assured her that the Lord was willing to make 
 her as happy as the friend to whose acclamations of 
 praise she had listened ; but now, had we asked whether 
 herself or that friend had a right to raise the higher note 
 of praise, surely she would have claimed it for her- 
 self, and who would have denied her the privilege ? 
 
 We should judge her to have been a star in the fash- 
 ionable world, and worldly-minded professors had circled 
 around her. These now would have gathered closely to 
 her to partake in her joy. It was a curious and memo- 
 
#4 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A withering reproof. The new song. Baptism at midnight. 
 
 rable sight that now presented itself. As these friends 
 drew more closely to her, she, instinctively, as if by an 
 impulse of her renewed nature, shrank away, retreating 
 yet farther and farther as they approached, exclaiming, 
 " I have been ashamed of Jesus, — but I am not ashamed 
 of him now ! " Surely the reproof was withering, and 
 my heart was pained for them ; but it was right, and the 
 Holy Spirit made use of the circumstance to recall these 
 worldly professors back to the cross of Christ. 
 
 The joyful reception of this new disciple occurred a 
 little before the evening twilight. Hour after hour, 
 during the evening and night, did we hear the rapturous 
 note of victory and praise ascend from the lips of that 
 newly-received disciple. Seldom, if ever, have I heard 
 such melodious and soul-thrilling strains of praise. She 
 had become an acknowledged disciple, and the Divine 
 Teacher, at whose feet she was now sitting, had indeed 
 taught her, — 
 
 u some melodious sonnet 
 
 Sung by naming tongues above." 
 
 About midnight, she was baptized with water in the 
 name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and received 
 into Christ's visible church. 
 
 The last I heard from her, which was about two years 
 after her happy change, she still continued a lovely dis- 
 ciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, and was said to be more 
 than an ordinary Christian. 
 
 Does not this prove that it does not take Jesus longer 
 to receive disciples now, than in the days of his incarna- 
 tion ? Here was an unawakened sinner deeply convinced 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 26 
 
 Converted in a half-hour. Why not? The infidel. 
 
 of sin, and powerfully converted in less than half an 
 hour. Why is it that some convicted sinners are days, 
 weeks, and even years, seeking salvation ? Is it because 
 the ways of the Lord are not equal ? or is it because 
 the cross of Christ is not made sufficiently prominent, 
 and an entire renunciation of the world regarded as im- 
 perative ? Surely, Christ is as truly able to save three 
 thousand in one day now, as on the day of Pentecost. 
 Decision for God, an entire surrender, faith in our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, are the steps ; and may not these be taken 
 in a half-hour as truly and effectively as in a half-century ? 
 If one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a 
 thousand years as one day, why not ? 
 
 m> * 
 
 jrrlm^ «u» <f nfiM% 
 
 Some imagine that the subject of holiness has nothing 
 to do with arresting the attention of sinners. But here is a 
 case of one who professed himself an infidel, but w T ho, 
 through the presentation of Bible Christianity, which, 
 according to the Bible standard, is holiness to the lord, 
 became convinced, in view of its being so presented, of 
 its divine origin. This was a marked case. It wil] 
 now be two weeks to-morrow morning, sinov, we were 
 in G., Upper Canada. The church was quite densely 
 
26 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 u "Will it do to speak of holiness here? " The pensive man. 
 
 crowded with a mixed multitude. In view of this, we 
 were questioning whether we had not better make more 
 general remarks than we imagined some present might 
 anticipate. But, while we were thus questioning, the 
 district chairman, who was present, arose, and announced 
 to the people that we would speak to them on the sub- 
 ject of holiness. We did so, and felt that the Lord 
 helped us. On the evening of the same day, while 
 numbers were surrounding the altar of prayer, some 
 earnestly seeking the witness of adoption, and others 
 pleading for the sanctifying seal, the minister pointed 
 out to me a gentleman in the congregation, who sat 
 pensively leaning his head on his hand, and asked if I 
 would not go and converse with him. On going to him, 
 I found he had been a professed infidel. I cannot here 
 go through with the way in which the Lord helped me 
 to meet his case, but will pass over details, which I am 
 sure would interest you, to say that, at the close of the 
 evening service, the minister in charge gave permission 
 to all who might wish to converse with us to come for- 
 ward to the altar, when, lo ! this professed infidel, with 
 a number of others, responded to the invitation. From 
 deeply interested countenances greeting us in every 
 direction, we saw that our friend, the sceptic, was not 
 the only one deeply concerned in what might be the 
 result of the interview. 
 
 " Mrs. P.," said he, " I have come here to ask your 
 advice ; I am willing to do anything you may suggest.'* 
 
 " I would advise you at once to kneel down here, by 
 his altar, and begin to call upon God to have mercy on 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 27 
 
 Motives to prayer. The cry. Satan resisted. 
 
 your soul. God is a God near at hand, and not afar off, 
 to all that call upon him." 
 
 The infidel objected, and pleaded his want of faith in 
 God ; but I reminded him of his promise to take my 
 advice, and observed that blind Bartimeus would prob- 
 ably never have attracted the attentions of the Savior, 
 unless he had called after him ; and never was any one 
 saved without being very humble and decided. It was 
 not a small thing to be saved, neither was it at a small 
 sacrifice that Christ had left his throne in heaven, and 
 lived a life of suffering on earth, and died the death of 
 the cross to purchase salvation for him. 
 
 " Well, I assure you, I am willing to do any thing 
 that you say will be helpful to me." 
 
 " Then kneel here at this altar, and begin to cry, O, 
 Lord, have mercy upon me, for Christ's sake ! " 
 
 " But how do I know that there is a Christ ? ' 
 
 And here, again, we hushed his unbelieving reason 
 ings, reminding him of his promise, and telling him 
 that these suggestions were not from himself, as he 
 imagined, but directly from Satan ; and, if he would 
 resist in the name of the Lord, Satan would fly. 
 
 But a few moments succeeded, and the infidel was 
 on his knees, uttering the words, " O, Lord, have mercy 
 upon me, for Christ's sake ! " And still he repeated 
 them. 
 
 Who can depict the interest of this moment, as this 
 intelligent and well-known sceptic humbly knelt at the 
 altar of prayer, in the presence of his Christian friends 
 and neighbors, — in whom, through a distorted spiritual 
 
 
28 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 " Our brother." The assurance. A surprising announcement. 
 
 vision, he had only seen numerous and greatly magnified 
 infirmities ! But, now, they beheld him praying. And 
 many were the earnest and tearful responses as this affec- 
 tionate band of Christian brethren, one after another, 
 united in supplication in his behalf, and said, " Lord, for 
 Christ's sake, have mercy upon this, our friend, — our 
 brother! " O, indeed, who can conceive of any thing that 
 equals the sweetly affectionate, forgiving spirit of our holy 
 Christianity ? The scene was affecting. We could not 
 doubt but it was the Spirit itself, helping our infirmi- 
 ties, as we lingered there, amid the eager scores who 
 were waiting the issue. I was so convinced that the 
 Lord had taken his own work in hand, that I turned to 
 the sceptic, as we rose from our knees, and said, — 
 
 « My friend — my brother — God will help you, and 
 that right early. I feel, in my heart, that there is hope 
 in your case. God is not only the Hearer, but the In- 
 spirer, of prayer ; and such prayers as have been pre- 
 sented in your behalf could only have been inspired by 
 God. And now I know there is hope in your case. 
 Yes, God will help you ; I know he will." 
 
 " If there is hope in my case, — if I am ever saved, 
 — It will be through what you said, here in this church, 
 this morning." 
 
 I must confess my surprise. Though I had trusted 
 in the Lord for a word in season to all, yet, to have 
 found an acknowledged infidel, who, through the pre- 
 sentation of the way of holiness as a doctrine of the 
 Bible, and the only way leading from earth to heaven 
 cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in, — that 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. £9 
 
 The infidel converted. " lie maketh the face to shine. 
 
 such an one should be shaken in his infidelity, exceeded 
 my anticipations. 
 
 We were to leave the next morning ; but, before 
 daylight, the infidel called on us, looking pale, and evi- 
 dently much excited. Before leaving, he promised that 
 he would never cease praying till the Lord had mercy 
 on his soul. A letter, received to-day, informs us that, 
 the third day subsequent to our departure, he was pow- 
 erfully converted to God. The minister speaks of his 
 conversion as one of the most remarkable he ever wit- 
 nessed. 
 
 >^»». 
 
 % S*althg djmmtemmr^ 
 
 Have you a healthy countenance ? Does your face, 
 that divinely constructed index of the human soul, speak 
 to the beholder of the pleasures of salvation — the joy of 
 the Holy Ghost ? Do not think me officious in pressing 
 this question, or in my more minute inquiries. The 
 heavenly Healer bids me ask you. He has a balm on 
 hand which " maketh the face to shine " in the image of 
 the heavenly. Yes, shine ! So that, though the lips may 
 not possess muscular power to move, and the tongue 
 be palsied amid the physical agonies of dissolving nature, 
 the shining, speaking countenance may tell of joy 
 unutterable, and full of glory. Have you never seen 
 
 8* 
 
30 . ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Health in sickness. Skill of the Heavenly Healer. David on health. 
 
 this ? I have ; and, from vivid sketches in memory, 
 might portray countenances, most radiant with healthful 
 beauty, though, at the same time, the physical frame 
 was variously and hopelessly diseased. Physical disease, 
 say you, I might, endure, but O, these many and varied 
 mental solicitudes ! — How can I, amid these, exhibit a 
 beaming, healthful countenance ? I tell you, the heav- 
 enly Healer can meet your condition. Your case may 
 be intricate, but it would indicate a sinful distrust in his 
 divine skill, should you yield to the idea that the pecu- 
 liarities of your condition may not be readily met. 
 David regarded it as really important that he should 
 have a healthy countenance. He chided his soul for being 
 disquieted and cast down, and he was not willing his soul 
 should remain in this condition, but hastens to cheer her, 
 and directs her attention to God, the infinite Source of 
 bliss-inspiring hope. David's eye of faith was fixed 
 on the future. And, though exercised with trials which, 
 for the present, were not joyous, he was not willing that 
 his soul should be sad. This, he knew, would disfigure 
 his countenance, and he bids his heart hope in God, 
 " Who," says he, "is the health of my countenance." 
 
 Then David cared what sort of a countenance he pre- 
 sented. And are you sufficiently careful what sort of 
 countenance you present? When you looked so dis- 
 quieted, careworn and sad, how did you present the 
 skill of the Divine Healer ? You profess to have come 
 to him, and to have committed your case fully to him. 
 It is his will that his saving health may be known among 
 ill nations. If he cause his face to shine upon you, it 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 31 
 
 The reflector. God is in a Christian. The life, the face and th^ shout. 
 
 is in order that you may reflect his image ; that your 
 face may shine upon others ; that gentle, loving, trust- 
 ful, heart-cheering, health- restoring influences may ema- 
 nate from your radiant, healthful countenance. And 
 why not, if God is the health of your countenance ? 
 How significant the expression, " Who is the health of 
 my countenance, and my God " ! If we behold, in every 
 Christian, a habitation for God through the Spirit, — 
 if it is God working in us to will and to do, why ought 
 not the world to behold, in every Christian, a counte- 
 nance so healthful, and radiant, that Christianity may be 
 everywhere commended for its ability to make its pos- 
 sessor happy ? 
 
 tmtmt 
 
 % pinner (fymAtjkti trg tfa $m\U of a dpmsttan. 
 
 I have known H. M , ever since I was a child, 
 
 and, from his very countenance, conceived the idea that 
 there was something very happifying in the enjoyment 
 of the right sort of religion. His religion might have 
 been too obviously engrossing to suit the taste of some. 
 But the smile of heavenly bliss which lighted up his 
 face, and the frequent outbursting of his heart — " O, 
 bless the Lord " ! M Precious Savior " ! found a lodg- 
 ment in my young heart which, to the present hour, 
 
32 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Convicted at the sight of a Christian's face and converted 
 
 is telling to the praise of the Savior. If Christians 
 cannot be happy, who can? 
 
 I have known more than one convinced of sin and 
 brought to Christ by observing the happy countenances 
 of Christians. Here is one who is now, and for many 
 years has been, a triumphant believer. When a child, 
 she was beholding the smiling countenance of a minister. 
 He was not in the pulpit, neither was he speaking. • But 
 he was filled with the joy of the Lord, just as every 
 Christian ought to be. It was "God, who was the health 
 of his countenance," and, through his shining face, the 
 Holy Spirit spoke to the young heart of my own dear 
 sister. 
 
 "It is because that minister enjoys religion that he is 
 so happy." So said the Holy Spirit. From that mo- 
 ment, she resolved that she would never rest until she 
 also enjoyed religion. This dear child afterwards found 
 that her heart was very sinful. She saw that she could 
 not enjoy religion until she was saved from her sins. 
 Most earnestly did she cry to God for forgiveness. The 
 third day after, she was so powerfully converted, that it 
 seemed as if her newly-forgiven, new-born spirit, would 
 almost have left its clay tenement. As Daniel, in the 
 presence of the angel, she swooned away. And was it 
 surprising ? for a greater than Gabriel had come, and 
 had said, "A new spirit will I put within you." — 
 
 "Thy sins are forgiven, accepted thou art, 
 She listened, and heaven sprang up in her heart." 
 
 O ! is it not strange that Christians are not generally 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 3-3 
 
 Salvation and exhilaration. The Catholic priest, the Protestant family and the Bible. 
 
 more happy? Is it wonderful that Christians should 
 sometimes manifest happy excitement when these entran- 
 cing changes come over them ? Who can contemplate 
 the soul's translation from the kingdom of darkness into 
 the kingdom of God's dear Son, without at once seeing 
 that such a change must produce some sort of exhilara- 
 tion! Do not, my friend, be afraid of happy excite- 
 ment. Few persons, in these days, have had more of 
 such excitement than David and Paul, and many of the 
 Old and New Testament saints. 
 
 ■ *«» * 
 
 dffert of Christian (^urtesg and a iapjjg <Jfarr\ 
 
 My friend J. was educated for a Roman Catholic 
 priest. He actually believed in the infallibility of " the 
 church ; " for he had ever been taught that it was a sin 
 to question, and it was on this principle alone that he 
 reconciled all its strange inconsistencies. He had finished 
 his studies, but, before entering fully upon the duties 
 of his vocation as a priest, he spent a few weeks in 
 travelling. He paused at the house of a pious Protes- 
 tant family, where he was taken ill, and detained a num- 
 ber of days. Sad and lonely, he took up a Protestant 
 Bible, which lay on a table in his sick room. As he 
 read of the new birth, in the third chapter of John, his 
 mind was partially arrested with the thought that there 
 
34 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A Protestant service The penitent. Pardon. The newly lighted countenance 
 
 might be something more in spiritual religion than he 
 had anticipated. Pleasant and sympathizing friends of 
 the Protestant community began to gather around him, 
 and proffer their services. As he grew better, and was 
 able to venture out, he was courteously invited to attend 
 Protestant service, and such had been the manifestations 
 of Christian kindness on the part of his newly acquired 
 friends, that he did not feel quite free to refuse. He 
 went. The occasion was one of special mercy. The 
 power of the Lord was present to awaken and convert. 
 Among the seekers of salvation, was a gentleman whose 
 heart was deeply smitten with sorrow for sin ; and, from 
 the depths, he cried unto the Lord. Suddenly, upon an 
 act of reliance on Christ, his burden of guilt was re- 
 moved, and Jesus said, " Son, be of good cheer ; thy 
 sins, which were many, are all forgiven thee ; go in 
 peace, and sin no more." 
 
 " What a change his word can make, 
 Turning darkness into day " ! 
 
 My friend had been closely watching the countenance 
 of this gentleman. He had with amazement witnessed 
 his deep anguish, and now, to his still greater astonish- 
 ment, he saw his face suddenly lighting up with heavenly 
 illumination, as though a beam from the throne of the 
 Ineffable had penetrated the depths of his being. The 
 Dove of Peace had come to that heart. The angel of 
 the covenant was now telling this repentant sinner that 
 his name was written in heaven. The veriest sceptic 
 could not have doubted but some mysterious change was 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 35 
 
 The converted priest attacked nobody but told his experience. 
 
 being wrought. " Surely, there is some secret trans- 
 forming power in grace to which I am a stranger," 
 thought our friend. From that moment, he resolved 
 that he would, for himself, know the verities of salva- 
 tion. He became an earnest, humble seeker. It was but 
 a short time before he was enabled to testify, from his own 
 experimental realizations, the power of grace to change 
 the heart, and raise to newness of life. Christ, as the 
 only Mediator between God and man, now revealed him- 
 self as his ever-interceding Savior in such sweetness, 
 light and power, that the Virgin Mary, and all other 
 interceding saints, were forever put in the shade. The 
 great superstructure of error which had, from infancy, 
 been rearing in his mind, founded on the infallibility of 
 " the church," now tottered and fell, and utter was the 
 destruction thereof. Out of the abundance of his heart 
 he began to declare what great things the Lord had done 
 for him. As it was a manifestation of Christian cour- 
 tesy, and the outbeamings of love, as depicted in the 
 countenance of a sinner newly saved, that had won his 
 heart over to Christ, he was not now required to use 
 other weapons than those furnished out of the armoiy 
 of love. He did not feel called to attack his friends of 
 the Roman Catholic faith. But he did feel called 
 to present the truth, and to proclaim his own heart-expe- 
 riences of the power of saving grace. These things soon 
 became noised abroad in the Catholic community, and he 
 was publicly denounced from their pulpits. It was 
 deemed important that he should defend himself and the 
 truth. Protestant pulpits were offered for this purpo??. 
 
36 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A trophy. The grave of Wesley. His writings 
 
 His weapons were love, and the Lord gave him good 
 success ; and, to this day, he continues to be a faithful 
 minister of the cross, a trophy won to Christ, by a 
 manifestation of Christian courtesy, and the happy face 
 of a Christian. 
 
 >■!» ' 
 
 §J!u{ Did Sandmarte. 
 
 WESLEY SPEAKING FOR HIMSELF. 
 
 Reader ! how would it strike you were I to take you 
 just now to a newly opened grave, to hold converse with 
 an exhumed tenant of the tomb ? Over fifty years has 
 the spirit of that tenantless body been in the spirit-world, 
 and now it comes to commune with thee. But I will not 
 detain you with a grave scene. The opened grave and 
 the exhumed body may indeed awe your spirit. But, 
 though it were in our power to introduce you actually to 
 such scenes, the perturbation of your mind might pre- 
 clude that calm, solemn attention which w r e would now 
 invite to a message from one who, being dead, yet 
 speaketh ; our God is not the God of the dead, but of 
 the living. We will call you to listen to the spirit-tones 
 of one whose unexhumed body still rests in the peace- 
 ful tomb, but whose sainted spirit still communes with 
 thee, through his writings. As a child of Methodism, 
 we ask you to listen to important truths from him who 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 37 
 
 ■ 
 
 The cardinal doctrine. The question. "Wesley's answer. 
 
 under God, was the founder of Methodism. You cannot 
 consistently fail to feel a deep interest in relation to the 
 Bible doctrine of Christian holiness. It was to spread 
 this that the Wesleys were thrust out. And it is to 
 secure your harmony with Mr. Wesley on this cardinal 
 doctrine of Methodism, that we have introduced this 
 article. 
 
 WHEN ARE WE TO BELIEVE OURSELVES WHOLLY SANCTIFIED ! 
 
 Do you ask, with a recent writer, " Does God require 
 me to believe he sanctifies me wholly at some particular 
 time, and promise that, when I so believe, he will do it ? 
 If so, where in the Bible is that requisition made ? " 
 Hear the answer from Mr. Wesley : — 
 
 " But what is that faith by which we are sanctified, 
 saved from sin, and perfected in love ? . . . . It is a 
 divine evidence and conviction that he is able to do it 
 now. And why not ? Is not a moment to him the same 
 as a thousand years ? He cannot want more time to 
 accomplish what is his will. And he cannot want, or stay 
 for, any more worthiness or fitness in the persons he is 
 pleased to honor. We may therefore boldly say, at any 
 point, 'Now is the day of salvation.' 'To-day, if ye 
 will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.' 'Behold, 
 all things are now ready, come unto the marriage.' 
 
 " To this confidence, that God is both able and willing 
 to sanctify us now, there needs to be added yet one thing 
 more, a divine evidence and conviction that he doeth it. 
 In that hour, it is done. God says to the inmost soul, 
 1 According to thy faith be it done unto thee.' Then the 
 
 4 
 
38 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A mischievous opinion Sanctification after justification. How long ? 
 
 soul is pure from every spot of sin ; it is clean from all 
 
 unrighteousness." 
 
 ATtE CONVERSION AND ENTIRE SANCTIEICATION SIMULTANEOUS ! 
 
 Do you ask whether the work of regeneration and the 
 work of entire sanctification are not simultaneously 
 wrought in the heart ? Mr. "Wesley will answer in his 
 sermon on the " Scripture Way of Salvation." 
 
 " Hence may appear the extreme mischievousness of 
 the seemingly innocent opinion, that there is no sin in a 
 believer ; that all sin is destroyed, root and branch, the 
 moment a man is justified." Also, Vol. i. p. 405 : 
 "The new birth is not the same with sanctification. . . . 
 This is a part of sanctification, not the whole ; it is the 
 gate to it, the entrance into it." Again, he says, Vol. 
 iii. p. 154 : " He differs from some of the clergy of the 
 Church of England, because ' they speak of justification 
 either as the same thing with sanctification, or as some- 
 thing consequent upon it.' I believe justification to be 
 wholly distinct from sanctification, and necessarily ante- 
 cedent to it." 
 
 HOW SOON MAY ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION SUCCEED CONVERSION] 
 
 Do you, then, on being assured that you are not 
 wholly sanctified at the moment of conversion, ask how 
 soon you may expect to have that work wrought? Mr. 
 Wesley answers : 
 
 " Now, with God, one day is as a thousand years. It 
 plainly follows that the quantity of time is nothing 
 to him. Centuries, years, months, days, hours, and 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 39 
 
 Forty witnesses. Six hundred and fifty-two witnesses in London. 
 
 moments are exactly the same. Consequently, he can 
 as well sanctify in a Jay after we are justified as in a hun- 
 dred years. Accordingly, we see in fact there is no dif- 
 ference, that some of the most unquestionable witnesses 
 of sanctifying grace were sanctified within a few days 
 after they were justified." He, as was his custom, illus- 
 trates his views by various experiences, and says : " I 
 spoke to these, forty in all, one by one. Some of these 
 said they received the blessing ten days, some seven, 
 some four, some three days, after they found peace with 
 God, and two of them the next day. What marvel, since 
 one day with God is as a thousand years ? " 
 
 MAY HOLINESS OF HEART BE RECEIVED BY ONE ACT OF FAITH] 
 Do you say that you cannot conceive how the 
 soul can be wholly sanctified instantaneously, and by 
 one act of faith? Hear Mr. Wesley's views on the 
 subject : 
 
 "Not trusting to the testimony of others, I carefully 
 examined the most of these myself, and, in London 
 alone, found six hundred and fifty-two members of our 
 society who were exceeding clear in their experience, 
 and of whose testimony I could see no reason to doubt ; 
 .... and every one of these, after most careful in- 
 quiry, I have not found one exception, either in Great 
 Britain or Ireland, but had declared that his deliverance 
 from sin was instantaneous ; that the change was wrought 
 in a moment." . . In the same connection he goes on 
 to say, "What shall we do that this work may be 
 wrought in us ? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
 
40 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Faith. What about profession ? Advice to Miss B. 
 
 all his wisdom, and power, and faithfulness are engaged 
 on thy side. In this, as in all other instances, by grace 
 we are saved, through faith. Sanctification is not of 
 works, lest any man should boast. It is the gift of God, 
 and is to be received by plain, simple faith." 
 
 MUST THIS BLESSING BE PROFESSED IN ORDER TO BE RETAINED? 
 
 But is it important, after receiving this blessing, that I 
 profess it in scriptural terms, and is this profession par- 
 ticularly helpful, in Mr. Wesley's opinion, toward 
 retaining it ? Here let Mr. Wesley give his own 
 testimony ; and we will also permit the sainted Fletcher, 
 who also, being dead, yet speaketh, to unite in the tes- 
 timony : 
 
 " One great means of retaining it is, frankly to 
 declare what God has given you, and earnestly to 
 exhort all believers you meet with to follow after full 
 salvation." " I doubt we are not explicit enough, 
 in speaking on full salvation, either in public or in 
 private." 
 
 In his letters to Miss B., who had just received the 
 blessing of entire sanctification, Vol. vii. p. 103, he ad- 
 vises her to profess it, and says : 
 
 " Undoubtedly, it will be a cross to declare what God 
 has done for your soul, nay, and afterwards Satan will 
 accuse you on the account, telling you you did it out of 
 pride ; yea, and some of your sisters would blame you, 
 and perhaps put the same construction on it." In Vol 
 vii. p. 13, he says : " I buried the remains of Joseph 
 Norbury, a faithful witness for Jesus Christ. For about 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 41 
 
 Wesley's fears. Fletcher's testimony. Satan's bait. 
 
 three years he has humbly and boldly testified that God 
 had saved him from all sin." Again he says : " I am 
 afraid Christian perfection will be forgotten. Encourage 
 Richard Blackwell and M. Coolley to speak plainly. A 
 general faintness in this respect has fallen on the whole 
 kingdom. Sometimes I seem almost weary of striving 
 against the stream of both preachers and people." 
 
 Mr. Fletcher, after giving in a strong and explicit 
 testimony of his personal realizations of the power of 
 Christ to save from all sin, says : 
 
 " Yes, I rejoice to declare it and bear witness to the 
 glory of grace, that I am dead indeed unto sin, and alive 
 unto God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. I received 
 this blessing four or five times before, but I lost it, by 
 not observing the order of God, who has told us, i With 
 the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with . 
 the mouth confession is made unto salvation.' But the 
 enemy offered his bait under various colors, to keep 
 me from a public declaration." 
 
 He then goes on at length to specify what sort of bait 
 Satan used to keep him from an open, explicit declara- 
 tion of entire sanctification ; the baits are much the same 
 as have been publicly urged recently, and made the 
 occasion of many losing the blessing, but we will not 
 now take time to specify. Suffice it to say, that, after he 
 had received the blessing the fifth time, and had learned 
 this wile of the devil, we hear no more of his being 
 beguiled, s v these satanic sophistries, into the loss of the 
 blessing ; and we have reason to believe he maintained 
 a steady public profession to the last. 
 
 4* 
 
42 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Certain societies did not prosper. Why? Letter to Adam Clarke. 
 
 Mr. Wesley, on p. 459, Vol. iv of his Journal, speaks 
 with regret of the fact, that Methodism in certain quar- 
 ters had gained no ground, and then gives, as a reason : 
 
 1 ' The preachers had given up the Methodist testi- 
 mony. Either they did not speak of perfection at all, 
 (the peculiar doctrine committed to our trust,) or they 
 spoke of it only in general terms, without urging 
 believers to go on unto perfection, and to expect it every 
 moment. And where this is not earnestly done, the 
 work of God does not prosper." " I examined the 
 society, and was surprised to find fifty members fewer in 
 it than I left in it last October. One reason is, Christian 
 perfection has been little insisted on ; and, where this is 
 not done, be the preachers ever so eloquent, there is 
 but little increase, either in the number or grace of the 
 hearers." — Vol. iv, p. 120. "Perceiving that they had 
 suffered much by not having the doctrine of perfection 
 clearly explained and strongly enforced, I preached ex- 
 pressly on that head." — Vol. iv, p. 557. 
 
 We have a letter before us written but one year before 
 Mr. Wesley's decease, bearing directly on these subjects. 
 It is to the Rev. Dr. Adam Clarke, and reads thus : 
 
 « London, Nov. 26th, 1790. 
 " Deak Adam. — The account you send me of the continuance of tht 
 great work of God in Jersey gives me great satisfaction. To retain 
 the grace of God is much more than to gain it ; hardly one in three 
 does this. And this should be strongly and explicitly urged on all 
 who have tasted of perfect love. If you can prove that any of our 
 pi eachers or leaders, either directly or indirectly, speak against it, let 
 him be a preacher or leader no longer. I doubt whether he should 
 continue in the society. Because he that could speak thus in cur con- 
 gregations cannot be an honest man. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 
 
 45 
 
 A glorious witness. " The sweetest thing. 
 
 No favoritism with God. 
 
 I wish Sister Clarke to do what she can, but no more than she can. 
 Betsy Ritchie, Mrs. Johnson and M. Clarke are women after my 
 own heart. Last week, I had an excellent letter from Mrs. Pawson, 
 (a glorious witness of full salvation,) showing how impossible it is to 
 retain pure love without growing therein." — Vol. vii, p. 206. 
 
 » mtm » 
 
 " ®fo Stawtet ®{mtjj | mtt UU fijni." 
 
 Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomh.— David. 
 
 " Let me tell you one of the sweetest things I .ver 
 told yon in all my life. Jesus has washed my he?* t in 
 his own most precious blood, and he has beautified it, 
 and he has come and brought his Father witn him to 
 abide with me ! " So said a lovely Christian, whose 
 very countenance seemed to bespeak the indwelling of 
 the Holy Trinity. 
 
 What a glorious experience ! And yet not more 
 glorious than is guaranteed by the will of our Father to 
 every one of his children. Our Father has no favor- 
 ites ; his will runs alike to all. The sweet experience 
 of the lovely Christian just referred to will surely be 
 desired by all who read these lines. Then why not 
 claim it ? It is embraced in the will of your Father, 
 precious child of Jesus ! Open the will of your Father 
 just now. Read John xiv. £3 : " If a man love me, he 
 will keep my words ; and my Father will love him, and 
 
%A ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The heirs and the will. Holiness in the children honors the Father. 
 
 we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." 
 Here is the experience of this beloved child of God, to 
 which you have just listened, made sure to you. Are 
 you not complying with the conditions, " If a man love 
 me," &c. ? Surely, you will now claim this glorious 
 portion of your inheritance. When an earthly father 
 leaves a will, specifying the inheritance which, at a vast 
 expenditure of toil and self-sacrifice, he has made avail- 
 able for his children, how eagerly each one gathers 
 around to ascertain distinctly what his portion of the 
 inheritance may be ! And why should not every child 
 of God, with far greater eagerness, search diligently to 
 know distinctly his portion of the inheritance ? Would 
 not the name of an earthly parent be dishonored, if, 
 after an inheritance calculated to show his great love to 
 his children had been purchased, his children, through 
 negligence, should leave their rights unclaimed, and 
 live in penury ? So do you not only wrong yourself, 
 but you dishonor the worthy name by which you are 
 called, if you do not, with becoming eagerness and de- 
 cision, resolve on claiming, at once, the inheritance pur- 
 chased for you by the blood of Jesus. When you 
 search the Scriptures, search them as the records of 
 your Father's will ; and remember that not only is your 
 Father willing that you should claim your portion of 
 the inheritance, but his honor as your Father stands 
 connected with your living in the enjoyment of these 
 purchased privileges. Can you, to the praise of Jesus, 
 and in honor of your Father in heaven, say, " Jesus 
 hath washed my heart in his own most precious blood, 
 
. ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 45 
 
 His blood. The gift and the altar. Imperfect sacrifices. 
 
 and has beautified it, and has brought his Father with 
 him to abide with me " ? 
 
 " His blood demands the purchased grace ; 
 His blood's availing plea 
 Obtained the help for all our race, 
 And sends it down to me." 
 
 »m*m* 
 
 Ojjmt J Mum vxgulf £anr iip& tojfow J am so. 
 
 God's service is a reasonable service, and such a 
 requisition would be unreasonable and unscriptural. 
 The Jews, under the old dispensation, were not required 
 to believe that their offerings were sanctified before they 
 were laid upon the altar. It was by virtue of the altar 
 upon which their offerings were laid that they were 
 sanctified. " Whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be 
 holy." How, then, could they believe their offerings 
 were holy before they touched the altar? Neither 
 could they believe their offerings acceptable unless they 
 brought such as were perfect, and without blemish, as 
 required by the law. Witness those Jews who, in the 
 days of the prophet Malachi, brought the lame, the 
 blind, the torn and sick for sacrifice. Could they be- 
 lieve that God would accept their imperfect sacrifices \ 
 God had said he would not, and how could they believe 
 that he would? They lingered long, and desired it 
 
46 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Consecration must precede faith. The Christian's altar. 
 
 much, wearying the Lord, and covering his altar with 
 tears ; but their efforts were all worse than useless ; they 
 could not believe God would accept their imperfect 
 sacrifices, for he had said he would not, and he cannot 
 deny himself. 
 
 The difficulties with many offerers who come to the 
 Chistian altar may be thus solved. They are told that 
 the blessing of entire sanctification is received by 
 faith, but are not duly observant of the fact that an 
 entire setting apart of all for God must necessarily 
 precede faith. They try to believe before the offer- 
 ing is laid on the altar. How inconsistent and worse 
 than futile are such efforts ! Christ alone can make us 
 whole. As many as touched him belie vingly in the 
 days of his incarnation were made perfectly whole. 
 " We have an altar." This altar is Christ. His blood 
 is the purifying medium. He says, " For their sakes I 
 sanctify myself, that they may be sanctified through the 
 truth ; " as though he had said, For their sakes I set my- 
 self apart to endure the agonies of Gethsemane, and to 
 bleed and expire on the cross, that they, through faith 
 in my purifying blood, may be sanctified. And now 
 Christ waits to receive the offerings of his people. Offer- 
 ings presented to God through Christ are " holy, accept- 
 able." So great virtue is there in Jesus, our atoning 
 sacrifice, that as many as touch him believingly are 
 made whole of whatever diseases they have. Of the Chris- 
 tian's altar, it may ever be said, " whatsoever toucheth 
 the altar shall be holy." We think few find it diffi- 
 cult to believe after the sacrifice is bound to the altar, 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 47 
 
 Reasons why so few are entirely sanctified. 
 
 even with cords to the horns of the altar. Christ then 
 becomes our light and our salvation. Faith is wonder- 
 fully simple. The difficulties mainly come by trying to 
 believe the offering is " holy, acceptable," before it is 
 laid upon the Christian's altar. Many, as the Jews in 
 the days of Malachi, are not willing to bring that which 
 is without blemish. They sin after the similitude of 
 those covetous Jews, and bring the lame, the blind, the 
 torn and sick for sacrifice. How few are willing to go 
 without the camp, bearing the reproach of the pro- 
 fession of this grace ! How few are willing to be of no 
 reputation for him who made himself of no reputation 
 for us ! How few are, in all respects, willing to com 
 ply with the conditions upon which entire sanctification 
 is promised, and how few, consequently, are enabled 
 to believe for the blessing ! Alas ! how utterly impos- 
 sible is it to believe while we love the praise of men 
 more than the praise of God ! " How can ye believe 
 who receive honor one of another, and seek not the 
 honor that cometh from God only ? " 
 
 < <i» 
 
 mints of A« SWtt. 
 
 The apostle speaks of "the unity of the spirit." 
 Holiness gives that unity. When we enter within the 
 vail, through the blood of the everlasting covenant *ve 
 meet on the ground where : — 
 
48 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Natural and spiritual ties. Religion and action. 
 
 " Names, and sects, and parties fall, 
 And Christ alone is all in all." ' 
 
 Yes, you are my sister in Christ. We have been 
 begotten together in the bowels of Jesus. One says, 
 " Spiritual relationships are often stronger than those of 
 nature." And why should they not be ? for natural ties, 
 apart from religious influences, have their origin and 
 end in the present state ; whereas spiritual relationships 
 have their origin in the Eternal God, the Infinite 
 Source of life and happiness, and must, if rightly cher- 
 ished, endure as long as God himself endures. " If 
 we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have 
 fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus 
 Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin." " That 
 they may be one, even as we are one." How close is the 
 connection between the Father and the Son ! and what an 
 indescribable oneness of spirit should exist among 
 Christ's disciples! 
 
 tm$m* 
 
 SUIijjirm an ntim Mna$l§. 
 
 As far as I am acquainted with your views of holiness, 
 they are sweetly in harmdhy with my perceptions of that 
 state. It is the life of God in the soul of man, and is, of 
 course, an active principle. The religion of the Bible is 
 not mere sentimentalism, or quietism The purposes of 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 49 
 
 Zeal. Belief of an untruth. " God is light." 
 
 our redemption remain unanswered unless we are unto 
 God a peculiar people, zealous of good works. " My 
 goodness," says the Psalmist, "extendeth not unto thee." 
 No ; our benevolent efforts, and our wisely directed 
 zeal, must extend to those objects on which the sympa- 
 thies of the Savior were expended, — for whom he made 
 himself of no reputation, — to whom he ministered in 
 the form of a servant, and for whom he became obedient 
 unto death. 
 
 I ■ !> I 
 
 §omt io tfa rtJght print, m& tton %i8m. 
 
 Yes, the way of holiness is entered by faith. But 
 your error is here. You have been perplexing yourself 
 about the doctrine of faith before you have any right to 
 exercise the faith which brings you into the enjoyment 
 of the blessing. The Spirit only can take of the things 
 of God, and reveal them to us. And what right have 
 you to expect the Spirit's aid in helping you to beleive, 
 until you make the necessary sacrifices ? I know you 
 would not be willing to believe an untruth ; but you 
 would believe an untruth if you believed God accepted 
 you wholly, unless you gave yourself wholly to him. 
 " God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." He 
 dways draws nigh unto us, (bringing light and salvation 
 with him,) to the degree we draw nigh unto him 
 
 Let me illustrate. 
 
50 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Pleadings but no surrender. Light may become darkness. 
 
 I saw a professor much, conformed to the spirit of the 
 world. 
 
 " Why do you not get the blessing of holiness ? " I 
 asked. 
 
 " I do not know/' she replied, " unless it be that it 
 is so difficult for me to exercise faith." 
 
 I had conversed with this person months before, on 
 an occasion when she was weeping and pleading before 
 God for the grace of entire sanctification. Said I, as I 
 witnessed her importunate pleadings, " Are you willing 
 to comply with the conditions upon which God promises 
 the blessing ? Are you now intending to give up con- 
 formity to the world, resolved to come out, and be 
 separate ? " She answered only with tears and groans. 
 I affectionately expostulated, and urged the necessity 
 of making the surrender now, while the Holy Spirit was 
 enlightening her mind. She hesitated, and, though she 
 greatly desired that God would accept her sacrifice, yet 
 she felt that she could not bring her mind to comply 
 with the conditions, and give up all. Finding that my 
 prayerful entreaties were ineffectual, I faithfully laid the 
 consequences before her thus : " You are dependent on 
 the Holy Spirit for the light you have in regard to the 
 duty of present holiness. If you do not, as a worker 
 together with God, use this light, by obeying it, you 
 will lose it, and then, though you had worlds to offer in 
 an attempt to purchase it back, it were in vain. Light 
 resisted on any given point becomes darkness, and 
 then how great is that darkness ! Your darkness will 
 be such, that you will doubtless sincerely think your 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 51 
 
 Delusion. " Why are you not holy ? " 
 
 self to be in the way to heaven, though not in the way 
 of holiness. You will think this because, if you will 
 not believe, and obey the truth, God will give you 
 over to delusion, and you will believe a lie. You 
 will think yourself as safe as professors in general, and 
 you will doubtless die in the same light in which you 
 live, as the mass of professors do. There is nothing 
 enlightening in death ; it only unclothes the spirit. 
 You will then stand at the door of heaven, and, among 
 the " many" in that day, will say, a Lord, Lord, open 
 unto us," and he shall answer, " I know you not, whence 
 ye are." Then shall ye begin to say, " We have eaten 
 and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our 
 streets." But he shall say, " I know ye not, whence ye 
 are." This professor did not comply with the only 
 condition upon which God had promised to make her 
 holy. We parted, and now as I was saying, after the 
 lapse of a few months again we met. Now, on my 
 beseechingly saying, " Why are you not holy ? " she 
 replies, " O, I suppose it is because it is so difficult for 
 me to exercise faith." 
 
 " Jf tannnt m into tttis Wn%" 
 
 "I cannot see into this way of holiness. I have 
 wished to know more about it, and I thought I would ask 
 you." So said a young and amiable looking lady, who, 
 
52 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 " Do you use all your light? " " Ah, that is the thought." 
 
 from her exterior, one might judge, had yet to learn that 
 the friendship of the world is enmity with God. 
 
 " Do you, in regard to getting into this way, use all 
 the light you already have ? Have you been doing the 
 will of God as far as you have known it ? " 
 
 " I fear I have not." 
 
 " There is no duty set forth more clearly in the Bible 
 than that of entire consecration. ' Ye are not your own, 
 ye are bought with a price ; therefore, glorify God in 
 your body and spirit, which are God's.' Here, in most 
 explicit terms, you see the claim that your Redeemer 
 now has, and ever has had, on the entire service of your 
 soul, body, and spirit. You do not need any more light 
 in order to ascertain the duty of an immediate and entire 
 surrender of your whole being to God. Have you made 
 this surrender ? " 
 
 With tearful eyes she exclaimed, " Ah, that is the 
 thought that is ever suggested, when I ask for more 
 light ! I know I ought to lay all upon the altar 
 of God ; but I have not yet presented the sacrifice." 
 
 " Then, of course, you have no right to expect to 
 know of the doctrine of entire holiness. God has said, 
 if any man will do his will, he shall know of the doc- 
 trine ; but, until you come to the point to do his will, 
 you cannot know. Mark this. It is one thing to intend, 
 or to be willing, to do a given act ; and it is quite another 
 thing actually to do it. Thus, under the Jewish dispen- 
 sation, a person might see the duty of presenting his 
 offering according to God's requirement ; he might 
 intend to be obedient, or he might even be willing to do 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 53 
 
 " Do as well as you know." Holiness and the missionary work. 
 
 it. But, unless the offering was actually laid upon the 
 altar, it was not made holy. For it was only that which 
 touched the altar that was made holy. 
 
 " Now, if you want light to beam directly from 
 heaven on your way, I will tell you precisely the point 
 and the only point, where you may gain it. Do what you 
 already know to be your duty. ' Bind the sacrifice to the 
 altar, even with cords to the horns of the altar.' Here 
 at this point will you know that * God is the God who 
 showeth us light.' Till you bind the sacrifice here, fully 
 purposed that it shall ever remain, you cannot know ex- 
 perimentally of the faith that sanctifies." 
 
 »^*m- 
 
 5 Wtt thm noi.vxon URiasumarieg ? 
 
 Because entire devotedness to God does not more 
 generally prevail. The first question with an individual 
 entirely devoted to God, is, " What wilt Thou have me 
 to do ? ' Are the fields ripe, ready to harvest, and does 
 he see the laborers few ? how does the heart of the 
 devoted one bound forward to enter the field ! Does he 
 see a portion of the Lord's vineyard wholly destitute of 
 culture where thousands of perishing heathen are waiting 
 to receive the seed of the gospel ? he will not wait for 
 impressions, sights, or sounds, in order to be assured of 
 a divine call. 
 
 6* 
 
 
<>4 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Education and the ministry. The mind that was in Christ. 
 
 The knowledge of the fact, that millions of heathen 
 are now accessible, constitutes a call to one who has it in 
 his power to go. Educational abilities are desirable, 
 but too much ado may be made on this subject. Christ, 
 who called Peter from his fishing nets, and Matthew from 
 the receipt of custom, may not always require a long 
 scholastic training for the work of soul-saving, either for 
 home or foreign service. 
 
 What service can be conceived of as so acceptable in 
 the sight of God as soul-saving ? And are there not 
 demands on both the ministry and laity, wholly beyond 
 what have been met ? If the reception of the mind that 
 was in Christ be the criterion by which Ave are to judge 
 whether we belong to him, it were well for some, from 
 among both the ministry and the laity, to bring themselves 
 to this test, in view of the great demand there is at 
 present for laborers. Many who peruse these lines have 
 bright and happy homes. Endearing relationships, kin- 
 dred spirits, and joyous anticipations, make the idea of 
 leaving home and all "the dear delights of ripe society " 
 exceedingly painful. But how did the mind that was in 
 Christ inspire him to act ? In leaving the bosom of his 
 Father to save the perishing, did he not, for your sake, 
 leave endearing relationships ? In leaving the society 
 of angels, and all the pure spirits in the regions of im- 
 mortality, did he not make sacrifices for you ? Do you 
 manifest, either to your own heart's satisfaction, or to the 
 satisfaction of the gazing world, that you love and pity 
 the perishing, as Christ loved and pitied you ? Say not 
 that you have the spirit that was in Christ, unless you 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 55 
 
 " Will you be a missionary ? " Doors opening. " Thy kingdom come." 
 
 are thus actuated ; and ever keep in mind the solemn 
 fact , " If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is 
 none of his." 
 
 I will not ask you now whether you are a minister, or 
 a lay member ; but I will ask you a question, the answer 
 to which I implore you will now settle as in the imme- 
 diate presence of God. Will you be a missionary, either 
 in person or by proxy ? Hundreds of missionaries are 
 now needed in the foreign field. See every portion of 
 China opening for the reception of the Christian mis- 
 sionary ! See the thousands in India and Turkey, wait- 
 ing to receive the seed of the gospel ! See the signs of 
 the times betokening that God is about to take away 
 the vail which, for ages, has been on the Jewish mind ! 
 The latter day glory is about to burst upon us. The 
 prayer, " Thy kingdom come," presented by you a 
 thousand times, is about to be answered, and what do 
 you intend to do specifically towards hastening the 
 answer ? Will you, in person, enter the mission field ? 
 Perhaps, if you have not ministerial talent, the Lord 
 may accept your services as a physician, a tradesman, a 
 farmer, a carpenter, a blacksmith. What an amount of 
 work f©r the Christian laborer does the present state of 
 the world present ! 
 
 " See where the servants of the Lord, 
 
 A busy multitude, appear ; 
 For Jesus day and night employed, 
 
 His heritage they toil to clear. 
 The love of Christ their hearts constrains, 
 
 And strengthens their unwearied hands, 
 They spend their sweat, and toil and pains, 
 
 To cultivate Immanuel's lands." 
 
56 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 False teachers. A strange question. " No ! no ! no ! " 
 
 ®nt af jfetan'a faitra. 
 
 Such is the exceeding subtlety of Satan, that the most 
 devoted and earnest disciple may be ensnared by his 
 devices, without the most careful reliance on God for 
 wisdom, and a minute obedience to the directions of the 
 written word. The danger of being beguiled by teachers 
 whose theories may not be in entire conformity with the 
 written word, is obviously set forth in the following con- 
 versation, between one who would be a spiritual guide, 
 and a mother in Israel. 
 
 Said the former, w Would you not be willing to sin, 
 if God required it ? " 
 
 " No, indeed," quickly responded that mother in 
 Israel ? 
 
 " Then you are not entirely dead, or you would be 
 willing to do any thing that God wants you to do," said 
 the subtle reasoner. 
 
 " God never wanted any body to sin ! He hates sin," 
 responded the mother. 
 
 " Why ! not be willing to sin, if it would be for the 
 glory of God ? " exclaimed the reasoner in an expostu- 
 lating tone. 
 
 " No ! no ! no ! It could not be for the glory of 
 God ! God never wanted any one to sin." So ex- 
 claimed this mother in Israel, while a feeling of abhor- 
 rence possessed her soul in view of being thus assaulted 
 by Satan. She plainly saw that this subtle reasoner 
 would fain, as an angel of light, have infused into her 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 5 7 
 
 Wicked thoughts. A strange theory. " I don't know ahout that." 
 
 soul the doctrine of devils, and her righteous spirit was 
 vexed, in view of the boldness of the attack. 
 
 Not willing to yield at the first repulse, the reasoner 
 continued his questionings. ' 
 
 " Do you ever have any wicked thoughts ? " 
 
 She replied that wicked thoughts were sometimes 
 suggested to her mind, but she resisted them by 
 prayer. 
 
 He rejoined, " This is evidence that you are not yet 
 dead, for if you were dead, and had wicked thoughts, 
 they would not be from the devil, for the devil never 
 has any thing to do with the soul that is entirely dead." 
 He then went on to descant on his own experience, and 
 stoutly maintained, that Satan had not had any thing to 
 do with him, during the past fifteen years. 
 
 This mother in Israel, perceiving that he who -would 
 be her instructor, had already been led far into error by 
 his ignorance of Satan's devices, was deeply grieved in 
 spirit. She knew he imagined that he had been led into 
 a higher state, of which he said she could not know, 
 until she had also reached the same point, and well 
 knowing how vain her efforts in teaching him would be, 
 she, with an air bespeaking dubiousness and sorrow, 
 shook her head significantly, and said, " I don't know 
 about that ! " • 
 
 With a look of complacency, sad indeed to witness, 
 this would-be teacher in religion remarked : 
 
 " Once you were my teacher, but now I am your 
 spiritual teacher." 
 
 And thus, in his self-sufficiency and assumption of 
 
58 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Deceitfulness of error. A doctrine of devils. What saith the word? 
 
 superior spiritual knowledge, he turned away from one 
 who had indeed exercised, in former years, a motherly 
 supervision over him in spiritual things. 
 
 How little do we know, after having once become 
 ensnared by the subtleties of the deceiver, how far and 
 how rapidly we may proceed in error ! How passing 
 strange, that one should go so far as to imagine he could 
 sin to the glory of God, when God, by his word, declares 
 that he cannot look upon sin with allowance ! Yet so 
 it was. This errorist had been so far deluded as to 
 imagine that, though he had not sinned for fifteen years, 
 and indeed could not sin, yet God, for his own glory, 
 might do things in him and by him which, by those not 
 in this higher state, might be regarded as sinful. 
 
 Surely, this is in no ordinary degree a doctrine of 
 devils. What more could Satan desire than that pro- 
 fessed Christians assume the ground that they may sin 
 for God's glory! But in what awful terms does the 
 God of the Bible denounce those that assume this 
 ground ! " He that committeth sin is of the devil." " The 
 soul that sinneth, it shall die." " But," says the errorist, 
 ' He that is born of God cannot sin ; ' though the 
 act may appear sinful to those in a lower state, yet, 
 in \ he sight of God, they are all his own acts, for ' He 
 docth the work.' And what a strange perversion of 
 Scripture is here! God, who has said, "Thou shalt 
 not kill," has, with equal authority, said, " Avoid the 
 cq/jtearance of evil." " God is not tempted with evil, 
 neither tempteth he any man." What a scandal on the 
 pure doctrines of Christianity did Paul regard the slan- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 59 
 
 " Whose damnation is just." Duty of the faithful. 
 
 derous reports of those who proclaimed it as one of the 
 sayings of the early .Christians, " Let us do evil that 
 good may come ; " so exceedingly injurious to the pure 
 cause of Christ did he regard it, that he pronounced the 
 damnation of such, just. 
 
 And how should such doctrines be regarded, by those 
 who adhere to the blessed doctrine of Christian Perfec- 
 tion ? Shall we, who believe that the express object for 
 which our Savior endured the cross was to save his peo- 
 ple from their sins, have our forces weakened by a 
 semblance of fellowship with such doctrines ? God 
 grant that we may all stand as faithful monitors, to 
 give timely warning of " Satan's devices." May we 
 ever serve as faithful and efficient instructors to those 
 who would find the one and only w r ay leading from earth 
 to heaven. It is the way of holiness w r hich has been 
 cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. The 
 Bible speaks of no " higher " way, but it teaches the 
 necessity of constant progress in the way of holiness. 
 Neither do the Scriptures give us any authority for the 
 belief, that the Holy Spirit will lead us into any other 
 state, than may be plainly inferred from the Bible. For 
 any one to imagine, that the Holy Spirit will lead him 
 into a state, beyond where the teachings of the word 
 may be specially needful, or lead him into a state or a 
 belief, for which an explicit u thus saith the Lord," may 
 not be given, is erroneous. And wherever such a 
 device has obtained, whether among ministry or laity, 
 we fearlessly, in the name of the Lord, pronounce it a 
 device of Satan. 
 
60 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The buried talent taken away. Of one who would not preach. 
 
 ©to afalent — und or tost. 
 
 Is it not possible to neglect a gift so long that it shall 
 be taken away and given to another ? I have known of 
 some remarkable cases of this sort. One was that of a 
 most intimate friend, now a lay member of the church 
 of Christ, but, whether he is now in the enjoyment ot 
 religion, is a questionable matter. Formerly, he was 
 called, by the voice of the church and his own con- 
 science, to an official relation; but he refused, and 
 placed himself in circumstances not eligible for the rela- 
 tion, and where he might escape importunity on the 
 subject. Too well, alas ! did he succeed. But the Mas- 
 ter of the household, who has said, "Occupy till I 
 come," did not permit him to hold his gift without occu- 
 pying. No ! he took it away, and, for years past, this 
 brother has not been able even to open his mouth in 
 prayer with his family. He says his gift has been taken 
 away, and his friends think so too. A few months 
 since, a brother who, some years ago, felt that he was 
 called to the ministry, came to see me. He refused, 
 and the chastisements of the Lord were brought to bear 
 heavily upon him. And yet he delayed, till now it is 
 evident, from his physical ailments and his disastrous 
 financial condition, that the Lord no more requires him 
 in the holy vocation of the ministry. He had neglected 
 his gift too long. The last hour will come with you, 
 my brother, when you, also, will have neglected the 
 gift too long. Will preaching once, or twice, or a 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 61 
 
 Will the Master say, " Well done? " Solicitude. 
 
 dozen times a year, answer the claims of God upon you, 
 in view of the dispensation of the gospel which he has 
 committed to you ? 1 fear it will not be said of you, 
 "Well done, good and faithful servant," unless you 
 now decide on redeeming the time. I say "now" be- 
 cause it seems to me that the crisis in your career is now 
 reached. 
 
 I do not think my mind would have been so solemnly 
 urged in this communication to you, but through the 
 operations of the Holy Spirit. Shall I tell you that I 
 have just passed a wakeful night in your behalf? You 
 may be surprised at this, in view of our short acquaint- 
 ance, but it is even so. I do not mean that I slept none, 
 but my slumbers were broken and dreamy, and I seemed 
 to be, most of the time, engaged in entreating you to 
 use your talent ere it should be taken from you. 
 
 ■ ■>■ i 
 
 ®rr a jtatamd JPmteter. 
 
 I have accustomed myself so much to talking on 
 paper, that, with me, the responsibility of a paper talk 
 seems to differ but little from that of an oral communi- 
 cation. I will not apologize for yielding to urgings 
 made on my mind by the Holy Spirit ; and I believe 
 it is through influences thus induced I now address you. 
 
 Had opportunity offered yesterday afternoon, I might 
 
62 ILLFSTEATIONS OF THE 
 
 Called to the ministry. A work that Gahriel can't do. 
 
 have said about the same things I now write. But, as 
 Providence did not then seem to permit a free inter- 
 change of thought, I could not chide myself for the 
 omission. Yet my heart is so burdened, that I have 
 concluded that my expectations, at that time, were frus- 
 trated in order to indicate the present as the better mode 
 of communicating with you. 
 
 I asked you, on Saturday evening, whether you had 
 not reason to believe that God had once committed to 
 you a dispensation of the gospel. You answered 
 unhesitatingly in the affirmative. O, what a wonderful 
 trust is this ! It seems to me that the highest archangel 
 might covet a dispensation so gloriously replete with 
 
 grace. Yes, God has dispensed, to my Brother , 
 
 the ability to do what even Gabriel may not do. Why 
 was not the angel, who, in answer to the alms and 
 prayers of Cornelius, was sent from God to him, per- 
 mitted to dispense to him the gospel of his salvation ? 
 Was it not because a higher and more responsible trust 
 had been committed to Peter than might be committed 
 to an angel, even though that angel might have been 
 Gabriel himself? O, indeed, my brother has been 
 entrusted with a higher gift than any with which God 
 charges an angel of light. Now, my dear brother, let 
 me ask you before the Lord, in whose presence I stand, 
 have you been faithful to the solemn trust ? Have you, 
 in the use of this precious gift, been instant in season, 
 out of season, so that, when your Lord cometh anu 
 knocketh, you may open to him immediately, and say, 
 "Here, Lord, is thine own with usury " ? 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. t>3 
 
 No substitute. The unfaithful watchman, and lost souls. 
 
 Do you think the claims of your Lord and Master 
 would be satisfied, should you say, " Lord, though I 
 have not used this gift for the identical purpose for which 
 it was entrusted, yet I have not thrown it wholly away, 
 but have used the influence gained by ministerial char- 
 acter for educational and other purposes " ? Would this 
 satisfy the claims of your Judge ? If not, O, hasten, my 
 brother, and repent ! Yes, repent, and bring forth fruits 
 meet for repentance. 
 
 O, hasten and redeem the time ; for the day is far 
 spent, and already the Judge is at the door ! 
 
 I ■ ! » 
 
 % ^Watchman atrctg flnrat te foal 
 
 You have been called to stand as a watchman on the 
 walls of Zion, but you have deserted your post. Souls, 
 that ought to have been warned by you, have undoubt- 
 edly perished. And where will their blood be found ? 
 Do not think me severe, my dear brother, but can you 
 expect to enjoy the bliss of the blood- washed company 
 in heaven, while scores are eternally wailing " where 
 the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched ? " — 
 souls, who might have been saved, had you improved 
 the dispensation of the gospel committed to you. Had 
 you given them timely warning, they might now have 
 been singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. These 
 suppositions are not improbable nor unscriptural. See 
 
64 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Blood-guiltiness. " Let the dead bury their dead." The revival. 
 
 Ezekiel 53 : 6 — 9 : " He is taken away in his iniquity, 
 but his blood will I require at the watchman's hands. 
 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked to turn from 
 his way, if he turn not from his way, he shall die in his 
 iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy soul." The 
 Lord deliver my brother from blood-guiltiness. In 
 your case, I cannot see but you must either thus be 
 found guilty of blood, or that God will raise up another 
 to do your work, and to take your crown, unless you 
 begin at once to redeem the time. Shall it not be the 
 latter, my brother ? Will you not let the dead bury their 
 dead, and now give yourself up afresh and unreservedly 
 to the identical work to which you have been called ? 
 
 i m*m > 
 
 Jut %pw ^mitten. 
 
 I have recently been visiting a village where scores 
 have been brought to see their need of a Savior. The 
 village is not large ; but, in proportion to the number 
 of inhabitants, I think the revival is the most general I 
 ever witnessed. On Sabbath evening, the pastor re- 
 quested that those who were resolved to seek the Lord 
 would manifest it by rising. About seventy arose. 
 But what a solemn announcement was made that even- 
 ing ! A young physician, who, by his impious course, 
 had set God at defiance, was announced as on the very 
 verge of eternity, and requesting the prayers of the 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION* 65 
 
 The opposer — succeeded for a time — but God took him. 
 
 congregation. This young man had been extensively 
 known in the village as an opposer of religion. Three 
 years previous to this time, the Lord commenced to 
 work in the place, when this young man openly said he 
 would put a stop to it. For this purpose, he got up a 
 ball, and so engaged the attentions of the community 
 that he actually gained his point. No special work of 
 the Spirit had been known from that time till this. And 
 now God was about to take him away. The next 
 morning, the bell, in solemn tones, from the spire of 
 that village church, told the community that the oppo- 
 ser was removed. God had taken his own work in 
 hand. The work of the Lord went on with power 
 while I remained, till it really seemed as if the whole 
 place was turning to the Lord. •- 
 
 tmtmt 
 
 fitting in jpatk 
 
 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their tea 
 
 timony." — Revelation xii. 11. 
 
 Some time since, an incident was related at the Tues- 
 day afternoon meeting, which was about as follows. An 
 aged believer, while passing over the waters of Jordan, 
 was severely buffeted by Satan. All the sins of his 
 former life were in appalling array brought out be- 
 fore him ; and even his well-intended efforts were so 
 distorted by the presentations of the fierce accuser as to 
 
 6* 
 
66 ILLUSTRATIONS" OF THE 
 
 The dying saint. The unrolling catalogue. " Is that all ? '* 
 
 appear sins of sufficient enormity to sink him forever. 
 The appalling catalogue of the past, as, in its unrollings, 
 it presented another, and another, and yet another sin, 
 of deeper die, would have overwhelmed him but for a 
 vivid recollection, which, in this time of need, was 
 worth more than untold millions of gold. It was amid 
 this scene of peril that the Holy Comforter brought to 
 his remembrance, " The blood of Jesus cleanseth from 
 all sin." 
 
 But still the catalogue of the past unrolled, presenting 
 yet another and another item, which would have been 
 still more appalling but for the gentle whisperings of 
 the ever-blessed Comforter, continually urging upon his 
 recollections, " The blood of Jesus cleanseth from all 
 sin." And still this aged disciple, sustained by the 
 truth which the Holy Spirit had brought so vividly to 
 his remembrance, was enabled to keep his head above 
 the water ; and, as the cruel tempter still presented to 
 his spirit's vision one sin after another, as though the 
 catalogue were never to be finished, the veteran believer 
 would, with self-abhorrence, and yet with hopefulness, 
 exclaim, " Is that all ? " " No," vociferated the tempter, 
 " that is not all ; here is something more ; " and yet 
 again, " something more ! " till at last Satan was wearied 
 as it were with his own work, and conceived, doubt- 
 less, that he had already brought up enough to over- 
 whelm his antagonist, who was now fainting in the 
 death struggle. But the accuser did not perceive that 
 the Holy Spirit, as a peaceful dove, was hovering near 
 him in this awful hour of conflict. The tempted one, 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 67 
 
 The name of Jesus and victory If you had been holy. The promise. 
 
 again rallying, cried out, " Is that all ? ' " Yes," said 
 the tempter, "that is all." "Now," said the tempest- 
 tossed believer to his exulting foe, " let me put at the 
 foot of that list the name of Jesus ; for the blood of 
 Jesus cleanseth from all sin ! ' We need not add, that 
 the tempter was vanquished, and the exulting victor 
 bounded triumphantly over the swellings of Jordan, 
 imid shouts of victory, through the blood of the Lamb ! 
 
 <i »i 
 
 tat is titentinjg ? 
 
 I need not say to you that what you want is the bless 
 ,'ng of entire sanguification. Had you been in the defi- 
 nite and unwavering possession of this grace since the 
 >ime you first began to minister in holy things, doubt- 
 /.ess you had, since that time, been in unbroken and 
 jffective service in the ranks of the ministry, and scores, 
 f not hundreds more had, through your agency, been 
 converted and sanctified. 
 
 You need this blessing now, in order to enter afresh 
 tito the service of the sanctuary. " Be ye clean that bear 
 he vessels of the Lord." If you see wherein you may 
 have missed the mark, and have not done as much toward 
 oaving souls as you might have done, confess this before 
 God and your brethren. " If we confess our sins, he is 
 faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us 
 from all unrighteousness." And how long will it take 
 
68 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 " Lay yourself on the altar now." " The hand of a woman." 
 
 our promise-keeping God to do this ? If confession is 
 made now, ought you not to expect forgiveness and 
 cleansing now ? Your Savior says, " Come, for all things 
 are now ready." The longer you stay away, the deeper 
 the stains of impurity become. You will glorify God 
 more by coming now, than by lingering till the morrow, 
 and, even ere the morrow, you may be instrumental in 
 the sanctification of others. Let me ask, my dear 
 brother, do you now lay yourself, with all your interests 
 near or remote, upon the altar ? You cannot look for 
 the fire to descend and consume your sacrifice, unless 
 your offering is upon the altar. It is not until you pre- 
 sent yourself wholly to God through Christ that you can 
 know the all-cleansing efficacy of that blood which puri- 
 fies. O, that from this hour you may realize the full 
 power of saving grace ! 
 
 <3te JHatere— §mtr a dpmrdt urns 3Mtt. 
 
 »' The Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." 
 
 Often has the observation of Deborah, with the 
 accompanying circumstances, come to mind in unison 
 with the thought of two devoted sisters residing in the 
 
 village of L . In this place, which is contiguous to 
 
 a seat of learning, where many Gamaliels of the present 
 day have been tuitioned in those aristocratic views which 
 would expose to contumely, and keep at a distance the 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 69 
 
 A coward. A gay professor renovated. Results. 
 
 approach of Methodism, these sisters have been instru- 
 mental in rearing our banner. At the same place resides 
 a brother who, for several years, has been a member of 
 our communion. Though possessed of enlightened 
 piety which, if sufficiently ardent, would have gathered 
 others around him, he stood, for some years, shrinkingly 
 alone. 
 
 Gracious influences often urged him to invite a gath- 
 ering of the people for social worship. As time passed 
 on, probabilities for successful action on the part of 
 Methodism grew less promising. About four years 
 since, the elder of two sisters, than exceedingly gay, vis- 
 ited the city of . Here, coming in contact with 
 
 a lover of holiness, a plainly attired female disciple of 
 the Lord Jesus, she became convinced that she was her- 
 self a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God. She 
 yielded to the persuasions of the Spirit, renounced the 
 world, and, on making this surrender, found the way to 
 the cross, which had before seemed inaccessible, perfectly 
 easy. 
 
 She returned home with a spirit fired with the life- 
 renewing energies of the gospel, and it was not long ere 
 she obtained a fellow-helper in an only sister. A fond 
 mother also soon afterwards joined with them in their 
 heavenward course. 
 
 Through the instrumentality of Mrs. S., the female 
 who had been helpful in the conversion of the elder, with 
 others who had become interested, these lambs of 
 the fold were directed to the more elevated work of the 
 believer. No sooner did they become understanding^ 
 
70 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 — — .... ■ ...... ■ .... ■ - ■ . . . . — — t 
 
 Two churches raised up. Practical deductions. 
 
 convinced, than they resolved, at every sacrifice, on 
 securing the prize of their high calling. And they have 
 all since become zealous witnesses that the blood of 
 Jesus cleanseth from all unrighteousness. The neigh- 
 bors were invited to their house for social worship, but 
 the place soon became too small. Many zealous wor- 
 shippers and two churches are the result of the work 
 thus commenced. 
 
 The brother who had so long stood alone, mourning 
 over the desolations of Zion, most heartily cooperates 
 with the zealous sisters in their labors of love, and he, 
 with themselves, is now walking onward, by the might 
 of the Spirit, in the King's highway. The example of 
 these sisters brings out the express design of the Savior 
 in redeeming us unto himself. Witness his words : 
 " Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us 
 from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar 
 people, zealous of good works." And what an encour- 
 aging consideration that God so often takes the weak 
 things of this world to confound the mighty ! And 
 should not such an exemplification of the blessedness of 
 entire devotedness to God be inspiring to all who seek 
 the upbuilding of Zion ? How little probability is there 
 that these two sisters would have been thus inspired, 
 and thus successful, had they not thus early been filled 
 with the might which inward holiness gives ! How was 
 it that the brother, who had occupied the ground years 
 before, had been shrinking from the monitions of the 
 Holy Spirit ? Had he obeyed, his exertions might before 
 have resulted in rearing the walls of Zion in that place. 
 

 
 
 ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 71 
 
 Barac had the offer. " The Missionary Books " 
 
 Had lie, early in his religious career, received the full 
 baptism of the Holy Ghost, as did these two sisters, he 
 would not have yielded to his shrinking flesh/ and the 
 Lord might not have raised up these two sisters to do 
 what he, in his manly strength, if wholly sanctified, 
 might have done. Barac seemed fairly to have had the 
 offer of doing what Deborah afterwards did, and it was 
 not to his credit that God sold Sisera into the hand of a 
 woman. 
 
 »*■»> 
 
 ife Valuation— retahwit ox tasi 
 
 You gave me an encouraging account of the " Mis- 
 sionary Books," in your last, and said, as far as you 
 could ascertain, about twenty persons had, within a few 
 weeks, received the blessing of entire sanctification 
 through reading them. And, among these, are six in 
 the college who are preparing for the ministry ! And 
 not only young men, but, among the number who have 
 put on the whole armor, are gray-haired men, who are 
 boldly testifying, from experience, that, " The blood of 
 Jesus cleanseth from all sin." Hallelujah ! the Lord 
 God Omnipotent reigneth ! 
 
 I shall long to hear how these, my dear southern 
 friends, endure. The sanctified have much to endure. 
 "We are sanctified to prepare us for conflict," says the 
 devoted Bishop H. " God arms us a th the whole 
 
72 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 God's object in our sanctifies tion. Wesley's opinion. 
 
 armor of righteousness, in order that we may stand the 
 fiercest fire from the ranks of the enemy. Yet in all 
 we may stand. I have known some intimately, who, 
 though placed in the front of the battle, and called to en- 
 dure the hottest fire, have remained unshaken for years. 
 Yet my heart is moved with tenderest sympathy and 
 solicitude for those who are babes in this grace. With 
 Mr. Wesley, I have observed it is exceeding common for 
 persons to lose it more than once before they are estab- 
 lished therein." That excellent man also warns us against 
 yielding to the impression, that persons who have pro- 
 fessed this attainment were deceived, because they are 
 not now in the enjoyment of it. After describing a 
 most instructive experience of this blessing, he says, 
 " Now suppose, ten weeks or ten months hence, this per- 
 son should be cold and dead, shall I say she deceived her- 
 self, this was merely the work of her imagination ? Not 
 at all ; I have no right so to judge, or authority so to 
 speak. I will rather say, she was unfaithful to the 
 grace, and so cast away what was really given. There- 
 fore that way of talking, which has become so common, 
 of staying to see if the gift be really given, which some 
 take to be so exceedingly wise, I take to be exceedingly 
 foolish. If a man say I feel nothing but love, and I 
 know him to be an honest man, I believe him. What, 
 then, should I stay to see ? Not whether he has such 
 a blessing, but whether he will keep it." See Mr. 
 HartwelPs tract, " Old Paths," in reply to H. Mattison. 
 Mr. Wesley goes on to say, "What a grievous error, 
 to think those that are saved from sin cannot lose what 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 73 
 
 Purity may be lost — or kept. The lawyer. 
 
 they have gained ! It is a miracle if they do not, see- 
 ing all earth and hell are engaged against them ; while, 
 meantime, so few even of the children of God endeav- 
 or skilfully to help them. . . . Two things are certain : 
 the one that it is possible to lose even the pure love of 
 God ; the other that it is not necessary — it is not 
 unavoidable, it may be lost, but it may be kept." Yes, 
 we may be kept, by the power of God through faith. 
 Christ is able to keep that which we have committed 
 into his hands unto that day. He is able to keep us 
 from falling, and to present us faultless before the pres- 
 ence of his glory with exceeding joy. 
 
 imahtg, flfduratum and §0litks. 
 
 On Saturday evening, I called, when on my way to 
 
 meeting, on Brother S -, the lawyer, who, you will 
 
 remember, made such an interesting confession, last 
 Thursday evening, in the altar. I was there introduced 
 to a gentleman who was a student at the Wesleyan 
 
 University at the same time Brother S was there. 
 
 I found afterwards, that this gentleman, who was in- 
 deed prepossessing in his appearance, was formerly a 
 flaming minister, and, about six years since, was called, 
 from the midst of a gracious revival in his charge, to 
 take the presidency of one of our literary institutions, 
 the duties of which, he has been rilling till within the 
 
74 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The exclamation. Not clear in justification. No standing still. 
 
 last two or three weeks. He had now come to this city, 
 intending to take the editorship of a political paper. 
 
 Said Brother S , in view of this arrangement, 
 
 " What ! you, a minister, come to enter into politics, and 
 I, a lawyer, have had to get out of them to save my 
 soul." I knew nothing of these matters, however, till 
 a subsequent interview, but O, how continuously am I 
 assured that God does give me wisdom when I put my 
 trust in him ! I think I had not been with this brother 
 more than two minutes when, on ascertaining he was a 
 minister, I said, " Brother, do you enjoy the witness of 
 entire sanctification ? ' He said he feared he was far 
 from it, and knew not that he could speak with clear- 
 ness of a state of justification. I observed that his case, 
 in this regard, was not remarkable. If he had not, in 
 obedience to God, been going on to entire holiness, he 
 could not, of course, have been standing still, any more 
 than the Israelites could have stood still after they were 
 brought out of Egypt, and had journeyed forward to the 
 borders of the promised land. The Lord would not let 
 them stand still there ; they either had to obey and go 
 forward, or go back ; and thus it must be with our- 
 selves. From this moment his case was laid as a bur- 
 den on my soul. He went to the Saturday night meet- 
 ing, and became more deeply convicted of his need of 
 inward purity. On the Sabbath, yet clearer light pen- 
 etrated his soul. He told me he had lost his relish 
 for preaching, and had not preached more than once or 
 twice in a year ; but he went with me to my parish, 
 (the city prison,) and labored there and preached at. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION 75 
 
 The burden. The message. What would the apostles have said ? 
 
 N , on " Perfect love casteth out fear/' in the 
 
 evening. My heart was so burdened with his case, that 
 I spent the night in wakefulness, in his behalf. 
 
 I believe the Lord sends messages now through 
 human agencies just as truly as in former days, and O, 
 how pressed in spirit I was, until I had delivered the 
 burden of my heart to this brother ! The result was, that 
 he felt the message to be as the word of the Lord to him. 
 The , Spirit had dictated the message, and now carried 
 it to his inmost heart. He felt, as I had believed, that 
 a crisis of wonderful magnitude in his career had come. 
 He wept in deep humility before God, and now says that 
 his work is the ministry. I believe it does us good not 
 only to confess our faults before God, but before one 
 another ; and, yesterday afternoon, at the meeting, this 
 brother made an humble confession, and he now feels 
 that nothing less than the full baptism of the Holy 
 Ghost can make him permanently what God intends he 
 should be. 
 
 ■i» 
 
 Stoatlar $Mtw88 and a djjatl to tte Jfthtfetrg. 
 
 I wonder if Peter, John, James or any of the other 
 apostles, had been called, after the day of Pentecost, to 
 devote themselves to the cause of education, or to fill 
 many a situation which clergymen now fill connected 
 with dollars and cents, whether they would not have 
 
 X 
 
76 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 " It is not reason." If God's order were followed. 
 
 said, " It is not reason that we should leave the word of 
 God and serve tables." Doubtless they would say, to 
 their brethren of the laity, " Look ye out among you 
 men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, 
 whom we may appoint over this business, but we will give 
 ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the 
 word." I feel quite sure that either Peter, James or 
 John, while the freshness of their baptism was upon 
 them, would have felt that they were coming down from 
 the duties of their high vocation if any situation, how- 
 ever eligible, had been offered not wholly connected 
 with the ministry of the word. But we do not read 
 that they ever lost the freshness of that baptism, and, 
 from the subsequent tone of their writings, we may con- 
 clude that such was even their devotion to their work 
 that they would ever have felt that it was " not reason " 
 for them to leave the ministry of the word, for any 
 other work. 
 
 "Were it now the order of the church that ministers of the 
 present day should tarry at Jerusalem until endued with 
 power from on high, by the reception of the full bap- 
 tism of the Holy Ghost, and were the freshness of this 
 baptism ever retained, what a different aspect would the 
 church present ! Many more brethren, full of the Holy 
 Ghost and wisdom, might be found to manage those 
 matters which now take the attention of ministers, and 
 far more effectual would be the labors of those men who 
 should give themselves continually to prayer, and the 
 ministry of the word. 
 
 The reason why we do not now witness more of those 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 77 
 
 The needful baptism. Twice at the altar. " Shiloh is come." 
 
 remarkable displays of grace which some think to be a 
 peculiarity of apostolic days, is doubtless only because 
 ministers and people do not feel that it is an imperious 
 and divine injunction that they tarry at Jerusalem until 
 they receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 ■ » > » i 
 
 (tymmhrt of a Jatr. 
 
 Two or three evenings since, a Jew was converted at 
 the altar of the church where we worship. He came for- 
 ward two evenings. As I conversed with him on the 
 first occasion, and would have told him how to trust in 
 Christ, he said, " I do not understand." I endeavored 
 to simplify, but he continued to say, " I cannot under- 
 stand." " I came here," said he, " to confess that I 
 now believe in Christ as the true Messiah." His expec- 
 tation seemingly had not gone so far as to say, " I have 
 found him of whom Moses, in the law and the prophets, 
 did write." The next evening, he came forward to 
 espouse Christ as his personal Savior, and the Lord gra- 
 ciously enabled him to call Jesus Lord by the Spirit. 
 And most interestingly did he testify of it before a large 
 congregation. He stands at the head of a company of 
 inquirers who have, for some time past, been meeting to 
 investigate in regard to a coming Shiloh. Now, he boldly 
 testifies that Shiloh has come. He is very intelligent, 
 and given to investigation. We do not doubt but that 
 
78 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The testimony. The Christian's Teacher. Lessons. 
 
 the Lord is about to raise him up as a preacher of right- 
 eousness among his own people. I have learned that 
 several of his inquiring friends were present at the time 
 he went forward, and, from the altar, testified of his 
 experimental knowledge of Christ as his Savior. One 
 of the largest and most expensive synagogues in Amer- 
 ica is within a few steps of this church ; and our pastor 
 thinks that this is only the beginning of a work among 
 our friends who have so long been looking for Shiloh to 
 come. 
 
 « » » »i 
 
 Sto two Starctert '— Jtstra and dtomalM. 
 
 1 have heard nry dear Dr. P. say, in speaking of 
 
 the scholarship of Paul, that he was regarded as more 
 than ordinarily favored because he sat at the feet of 
 Gamaliel; but that the most obscure Christian has a 
 Teacher with whom Gamaliel is not to be compared. 
 The Christian sits at the feet of Jesus. Christ is his 
 Teacher, and is ever, in love, saying to his pupil, 
 " Learn of me." You say you have been taking some 
 new lessons in trusting the Lord. I shall wait for your 
 answer to this with much interest, expecting, of course, 
 to learn the result of these new lessons in trusting the 
 Lord. I have also been taking some new lessons, of 
 late, in the art of holy warfare. Blessed be the Cap- 
 tain of my salvation. He does teach " my hands to war, 
 and my fingers to fight." 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. .79 
 
 Increasing light obeyed. Last needless ornament gone. 
 
 gaw pit rjiuM ty Jlin §t$ f Jill 
 
 A lady, who by some might have been called a star in 
 the fashionable world, was wholy sanctified last night. 
 About three months since, she was converted. But, in 
 looking upon her, and observing how light was grad- 
 ually brought to her mind as she became better able to 
 endure it, I thought of the Savior's words to his disci- 
 ples, " I have many things to say unto you, but ye can- 
 not bear them now." Her influence has been consider- 
 able in view of the many who, more recently than her- 
 self, have been brought to Christ ; and O, how I longed 
 that she, in all things, might be an example to believ- 
 ers ! She has, by degrees, been parting with her relics 
 of worldliness, till I really hope that she has now parted 
 with her last one. This one had given me uneasiness, 
 and I asked her if she would not give it up. " I 
 will," said she. Last night, she came to the social 
 meeting, adorned as a woman professing godliness. 
 Her appearance was not only lovely, but of good report 
 as a follower of Jesus. As I noticed that this sister's 
 last needless ornament was gone, it brought vividly to 
 my recollection a scene in the history of Jacob and his 
 household, where he was commanded to go up to 
 Bethel, there to receive a renewal of the promises to 
 himself and to his seed. Before going up, they were to 
 put away all their household gods, and their earrings, 
 and change their garments, and be clean. After they 
 had made these preparations, Jacob took their household 
 
80 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Jacob at Bethel. The sacrifice. Faith. Conversion of a Catholic. 
 
 gods, and their earrings, and hid them under an oak, 
 doubtless with the intention that they should never — 
 never — be again resumed. Thus prepared, they went up 
 to Bethel, and most graciously did the Lord accept 
 them. Jacob's name was changed to Israel, and the 
 Lord renewed his covenant to him and his seed forever. 
 And thus it was with this sister. She had searched out 
 her last idol, and hid it. " Have you given up all ? " 
 I asked. " Yes, all" she replied. " If you are indeed 
 wholly given up, the Lord waits now to receive you 
 wholly. He does not mean five minutes hence, but 
 now." " Now is the accepted time, behold, now is the 
 day of salvation." She appropriated the promises, and 
 was cleansed from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. 
 I had thrown my arm around her, as I stood conversing, 
 and so great was the power resting upon her that her 
 physical system began to give way, and she sunk under 
 
 " The overwhelming power of saving grace." 
 
 u pious (Pistras and tor JSmrant. 
 
 A Catholic girl, of more than ordinary intelligence, 
 was translated from the kingdom of darkness into the 
 kingdom of God's dear Son, a few hours since. Christ 
 manifested himself to her as her reconciled Savior while 
 I was endeavoring to direct the eye of her faith. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 81 
 
 The soul of a domestic saved. Responsibility of a mistress. 
 
 Sweetly did the peace of God, which passeth all under- 
 standing, take possession of her heart. She has been 
 living with a dear friend of mine, who took her in as 
 extra help in the hour of sickness. As the occasion 
 passed by, she still kept her, for she perceived that 
 the spirit of the Lord had begun to brood upon the 
 chaos of her heart. Her zeal and sincerity seemed 
 worthy of a better faith ; and, now that God sent her, in 
 the order of his providence, where the light of truth 
 shone upon her, she was not disobedient to the heavenly 
 vision. But it was by a gradual process. And my 
 friend acted upon the principle that she would sacrifice 
 that which cost her something, and so, in the hope of 
 securing the ultimate salvation of the girl, she still re- 
 tained her, though she did not longer need her services. 
 How do millions of this world's wealth sink into insigni- 
 ficance in view of the salvation of one soul ! If this 
 soul may be a star in the crown of my friend, the 
 wealth of the richest kingdom on earth would be as 
 dust in the balance compared with 'the gain of having 
 saved a soul from death. The relation of mistress and 
 servant involves higher responsibilities than many ima- 
 gine. If every pious lady at the head of a household 
 establishment should feel that the souls of those who 
 are dependent on her care are as priceless as her own 
 in the sight of God, would there not be greater sacrifices 
 made for their spiritual benefit ? 
 
#2 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Of praying and giving. God gives to us as we give. Penuriousness. 
 
 Jtinjjj tptm&m 
 
 " Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought ? Neither 
 da ye kindle a fire on mine altar for nought." 
 
 I am thankful for the opportunity to say, that, if 
 our friends should do much more toward sustain- 
 ing the institutions of religion among themselves, it 
 would do much towards bettering their spiritual condi- 
 tion. The Bible makes it as much a duty to give 
 according as God has prospered us, as it makes it our 
 duty to pray. One reason why many are spiritually 
 lean is, because they are so lean in their manner of 
 giving. God gives, generally, in both spirituals and 
 temporals, in about the proportion we give to others. 
 " Give, and it shall be given you, good measure, pressed 
 down, shaken together, and running over." Those 
 who do not give gospel measure do not receive gospel 
 measure. We ought to regard it at least as great a 
 privilege to give as to receive. But why do I thus 
 speak ? The Bible makes it greater. " It is more 
 blessed to give than to receive." Yet this is a privilege 
 of which our friends do not avail themselves as they 
 ought. In the first place, if they have a church to 
 build, or repair, instead of regarding it as a privilege 
 to lay up specifically for that purpose, as David did, 
 unwilling to sacrifice that which cost him nothing, some, 
 I fear, would regard it as a privilege to have our city 
 friends, by public subscriptions or private donations, 
 pay off the debt to the last cent. And, from the scanty 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 33 
 
 Scanty ministerial support. Costless offerings. God's reproof. 
 
 support that some of these give their minister, I have 
 thought that they might feel themselves as so much in 
 pocket if their minister might be sustained from abroad 
 also. Certain it is, that it would be more comfortable for 
 the feelings of their minister, who is sometimes left to feel 
 as though he was receiving his scanty support more as 
 a dependent on the charities of his people, than as an 
 ambassador from the court of heaven. In the days of 
 the prophet Malachi, there were those who were dis- 
 posed to sustain the institutions of religion in about the 
 same way. They waited long, and in earnest entreaty, 
 at God's altar. They were ready to sacrifice also, but 
 it was not of that which cost them any thing. Have 
 you not noticed how ready some people were to appro- 
 priate to their minister that which they cannot turn in- 
 to money? Well, just such offerers were those who 
 waited at the altar in the days of this ancient prophet. 
 And these would have had the prophet beseech God 
 that he would be gracious unto them. But what does 
 the Lord, by the mouth of the prophet, say ? " Who is 
 there even among you that would shut the doors for 
 nought? Neither do ye kindle a fire on mine altar for 
 nought ; I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of 
 Hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand." 
 And when the blessing of the Lord is withheld from 
 such a people, as it ever must be, how apt they are to 
 suppose that it is for want of power with God in their 
 minister ! But, though the most holy minister that 
 ever filled the sacred desk, or even Gabriel from the 
 throne of God direct, should minister to such a people, 
 
84 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Who can bless when God curses ? A revival prayed for. Why delayed ? 
 
 it were in vain to supplicate the blessing of God. God 
 has pronounced a curse on those who offer polluted bread 
 upon his altar. And who can minister blessings to 
 those, upon whom God has pronounced curses, unless 
 they will first repent and forsake their covetous 
 practices ? 
 
 tmtmt 
 
 "Htltg is \m ^tonot so tonj in rowing?" 
 
 I am thankful to learn that you are, with such ardent 
 longings, looking for a revival of religion. May the 
 Lord give my dear brother the desire of his heart in 
 seeing the church quickened, and in beholding repen- 
 tant sinners brought home to Christ. To rejoice in this 
 is to rejoice in the joy of Christ and of angels. It was 
 the joy of Christ to see many sons brought to glory. 
 Angels rejoice over one sinner that repenteth. 
 
 I do not think that your heavenly Father will reprove 
 you for your earnestness in this behalf. But "Ye have 
 need of patience." 
 
 * 
 
 Perhaps the chariot wheels are waiting in order that 
 the church may be better prepared for the weighty 
 responsibility that an ingathering to the fold of Christ 
 ever imposes. Nursing fathers and mothers are as much 
 needed in the family relation of heaven, as in the family 
 relation of earth. How soon would the new-born in- 
 fant languish and die if it were not for the most careful 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 85 
 
 Additions to. the church may be useless. A cheap gospel. 
 
 and minute assiduities of those to whom it is entrusted i 
 Alas ! how often do babes, born into the kingdom of 
 Christ, languish and die for want of the pains-taking 
 assiduities of holy love ! 
 
 For want of a holy, zealous membership, not unfre- 
 quently has much of the the fruit of a revival been lost. 
 Though weight may have been added to the church in 
 numbers, yet, in this, the church is not advantaged, un- 
 less her membership, in their individual capacity, be as 
 lights in the world. Every member who is not a light 
 which may be safely followed, tarnishes her glory, and 
 retards her triumphant march towards those higher re- 
 gions of light and glory into which God intends that 
 she shall, ere long, merge. 
 
 m»i 
 
 dpturch JPoMrfg £*lfl-imjj<)8flL 
 
 How much shall we give to relieve it ? 
 
 I have long felt that we are but stewards ; and, 
 whether the Lord would have us appropriate means to 
 sustain churches the financial condition of whose mem- 
 bership requires that they should sustain themselves, 
 and where the people are suffering from penuriousness 
 just as much as the church is suffering from debt, has 
 often placed me in embarrassing circumstances. Not to 
 give when solicited is always a trial ; but to give to 
 cnurches who want a cheap gospel is doing them no 
 
80 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Many calls. The man who is reputed rich. Ilis rule of giving 
 
 favor, and is making me, in the eye of God, an unwise 
 steward. Rather would I be in the place of the hea- 
 then, who know not the gospel, than in the place of 
 those who put so light an estimate upon it as to be 
 unwilling to make sacrifices of time and money for its 
 support. We have hundreds of calls for expenditures 
 
 of both time and money in this city, of which our 
 
 friends can know but little. The poor, from almost 
 every lane and alley in our city, are calling for aid ; 
 not only our own poor, but we have, as you know, 
 an influx of the destitute from almost every nation 
 under heaven. We have not only the churches where 
 we worship to sustain, the most of which are largely in 
 debt, but we sustain several mission stations, besides 
 entertaining scores of calls from destitute portions of the 
 land, where the church is breaking up new ground. 
 To give, under circumstances of this sort, is blessed — 
 far more blessed than to receive. The one of whom 
 you speak, who is reputed rich, is not rich according to 
 the worldling's acceptation of that term. The reason 
 why some have thought him rich is probably the fact 
 that he endeavors to give according as the Lord pros- 
 pers him ; that is, he does not increase his personal 
 and domestic expenditures as his means increase, but 
 economizes in these that he may give to the cause of 
 Christ as God has prospered him. He who does not 
 do this is not a Bible Christian in this regard. I know 
 he gives one hundred dollars yearly to one foreign sta- 
 tion alone, has done it for years past, and expects to do 
 it, should the Lord spare him, for years to come. In 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 87 
 
 No help for the indolent- Dollars and souls. Case of the Indian church. 
 
 the church where he holds his own relation, he has 
 probably paid two or three hundred dollars during the 
 past year, while scores of other calls have made demands 
 
 on his purse. But as to the church in , I think 
 
 he would say that even one dollar is too much to give 
 to a people who know the excellency of the gospel, but 
 are unwilling to give of their own means for its sup- 
 port. 
 
 r m*m* 
 
 % fgmutml mi Jpftg guitars and Wxvdw jtomls. 
 
 The coupling of dollars and souls thus may look sin- 
 gular, but, when the results of time are summed up in 
 the light of eternity, it will doubtless appear that they 
 have often sustained a connection unthought of at the 
 time. Shall I illustrate my meaning by an incident of 
 recent occurrence ? 
 
 Some time since, a missionary from a distant Indian 
 settlement visited our city for the purpose of raising 
 funds, to resuscitate a church edifice which had been 
 well-nigh ruined by a freshet. The call was one which 
 so evidently ought to be met, that no one doubted a ready 
 response. Said one, belonging to a church which, 
 according to its means, had met a variety of calls 
 with surprising promptness, " We have been doing so 
 much for others that I fear we do not look sufficiently at 
 home. An application will, of course, be mar'e to our 
 
88 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The application. The answer. The rejoinder. 
 
 Board of Trustees for this object, but here is this, and 
 the other church of our city, who has a membership 
 able to buy us out fifty or a hundred times over. It is 
 not reason that we should so often be entertaining col- 
 lections of this sort when there are churches so much 
 more able to do it." About thus the matter stood, when 
 the weary, worn missionary brother made application for 
 a collection, as had been anticipated. " Your call ought 
 to be met," said the one addressed, soothingly ; " but, 
 brother, why do you not first go to churches far more 
 able to give than ourselves ? " mentioning several such. 
 The missionary replied, " I have been to these, but 
 such are their own embarrassments that they can do 
 nothing for me." One of these had just contracted a 
 debt of seven hundred dollars for the fresco painting of 
 its walls alone, beside other large expenditures, amount- 
 ing to four or five thousand dollars for matters perhaps 
 equally important. Of course, he could not urge a col- 
 lection under such embarrassments. " Come," said the 
 person addressed, " if I can have any influence towards 
 getting you a collection at our church, you shall have 
 it." " Not many of the mighty or noble have been 
 called among us, yet our people give nobly." "Hardly 
 can I account for our ability to give as we do, only that 
 the Lord blesses us in giving." "Indeed, I have re- 
 garded our remarkable religious prosperity as connected 
 with this matter." " We have no organ to be paid for, 
 nor organist to pay, nor money to lay out for fresco 
 painting, or other mere decorations." " But dollars with 
 us look very small, when an expenditure of money may 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 89 
 
 The collection. The divine blessing. Twelve conversions. 
 
 tell on the salvation of souls. And since our more 
 wealthy brethren cannot make up your deficiency, we 
 take satisfaction in doing it." 
 
 The collection being announced for the next Sabbath 
 morning, the missionary came. The cloud of the 
 divine presence rested down upon the congregation to 
 an unusual degree. The people gave, because they had 
 a mind to give. In a few moments, the one hundred 
 and fifty dollars were announced, and more could as 
 readily have been obtained had it been needful. 
 
 " God will bless a people who give after this sort," 
 said an individual present. And God did bless. That 
 day, the work of revival, with which that church had, 
 for months, been blessed, received a new impulse, and, 
 ere its close, it was found that twelve souls had been con- 
 verted. We well knew that we had merited nothing, 
 and m humbleness of mind before God could only say, 
 " Of thine own have we given thee." But we felt, 
 in our hearts, that the temple of Solomon could not have 
 been more evidently blessed with tokens of the divine 
 presence than our unadorned, yet commodious, temple 
 had been on that day. When one said, at the close of 
 the day, " Should we not have been losers had we re- 
 fused that collection, — one hundred and fifty dollars 
 and twelve souls ? " our hearts said, " Let us live and 
 die with a people who have not so many artificial wants 
 as to put up the bar against applications from necessitous 
 churches." And inexpressibly glad were we that the 
 woe of which Mr. Wesley speaks had not yet fallen 
 
 8* 
 
00 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Stained windows ani fresco paintings. What a lawyer said. 
 
 upon us, when rich men should become necessaiy to 
 us. 
 
 Should we not think our Quaker friends had lowered 
 the dignity of their position if, in order to attract the at- 
 tention of the more wealthy, they should deem it neces- 
 sary to build churches with lofty spires, stained window- 
 glass, and fresco paintings ? And, as an individual, I 
 know that there are those of other denominations who 
 are looking down with pity upon us in view of the inno- 
 vations of this description which are now coining in upon 
 us. But, alas ! how prone we are to incline, with 
 God's ancient, peculiar people, to say, " Make us a king 
 that we may be like to the nations that are about us " ! 
 God had designed that they should stand alone, and, by 
 their exhibitions of glory and strength, attract the eyes 
 of surrounding nations to them ; and how sadly did they 
 mistake the mark in coming over to the usages of other 
 nations instead of bringing other nations over to them ! 
 What a coming down was this ! Said a lawyer, one ol 
 the most intelligent and influential men residing in one 
 of our large cities, " Our Methodist friends mistake the 
 matter when they come down from their simplicity. 
 
 1 now and then get into one of their little social meet- 
 ings to hear an old Methodist brother speak. I sup- 
 pose some might call him illiterate ; but there is more; 
 divinity in one of his simple recitals of experience than 
 in most of the sermons I hear." He then gave his 
 views in regard to our departures from our well-known 
 original simplicity in building and decorating churches, 
 in language much as above expressed. May the Lord 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 91 
 
 The best test. A direct way to the light. Mi . C. 
 
 save us from being influenced by the opinions of men 
 who would have us build Methodist cathedrals, and 
 who refer us back to the temple of Solomon as a model 
 for a place of Christian worship. 
 
 
 xi » 
 
 Site " longer Mag " and " jHwrter Mag " tested. 
 
 Experience is the best test. I am not fond of dis- 
 cussion on the plain Bible doctrine of Christian holi- 
 ness, — a doctrine which the Scriptures have made so 
 plain that " the way-faring men, though fools, shall not 
 err therein." To my mind, there seems to be a direct, 
 and not a circuitous way of coming to the light on this, 
 the crowning doctrine of the Bible, and the most dis- 
 tinctive doctrine of Methodism. " If any man will do 
 his will, he shall know of the doctrine." If he does not 
 do his will, and specifically seek to obey the command, 
 "Be ye holy," have we a Bible reason for believing 
 that he does know of the doctrine ? And if he does not 
 experimentally know of the doctrine, would it not be 
 better for him to pause, and, either by the longer or 
 the shorter way, come into the enjoyment of the wit- 
 ness of this grace, as did the now sainted minister, who, 
 as I am about to relate, fairly tried both the longer and 
 the shorter ways ? 
 
 Mr. C, when quite young as a minister, felt that he 
 was called of God to be a man of clean hands and a pure 
 
9£ ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The blessing lost. " The longer way " tested. The resolution. 
 
 heart. He sought, with all his heart, this preparation 
 for the duties of his holy calling, and quickly felt that the 
 Holy Spirit bore witness with his spirit that the work 
 was wrought. Shortly afterwards, being at a meeting in 
 the old John St. Church in New York, he felt it his 
 duty to confess that God had sanctified him wholly. 
 He shrunk from the duty, and lost the blessing just as 
 Fletcher did, and as hundreds of others have lost it 
 since his day. 
 
 He felt keenly his loss, and spoke of it with much 
 regret, but did not regain it again till after the lapse of 
 twenty years. Daring these twenty years, he never 
 lost his deep interest in the subject, but sought it by 
 fasting, prayer, and tears. Fasting, prayers, and tears, 
 are all good, and all helpful ; but they will not take the 
 place of saving faith. One act of faith can raise the 
 dead to life, and can do more for us than twenty years 
 of groans and tears without it. " Without faith, it is 
 impossible to please God." If ever any one effectually 
 tried the longer way, this eminent minister of Christ 
 did. I might give the results of this trial of twenty 
 years more in detail, for he was my chosen friend, and I 
 have rather a minute knowledge of the whole experi- 
 ment ; but I forbear. Many of my dear brethren in 
 Christ, who will read these lines, are already but too 
 well acquainted with this oft-trodden and re-trodden 
 ground to need a detailed account of what would be but 
 a transcript of their own painful experiences. Suffice 
 it to say, that this brother beloved in Christ resolved 
 subsequently to try the " shorter way." 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION 
 
 Advice. The open fountain Wesley on conviction. 
 
 I was present, and well remember just how he came 
 to make the resolve, and with what feelings and words 
 he ventured to experiment on the shorter way. And, 
 before God, I adjure every minister of Christ to go and 
 do likewise, if they shall find that the result of the 
 experiment, in the case of my friend, proved it to be of 
 God. 
 
 Mr. C. was at the house of a Christian friend with 
 whom he had, for a score of years, been conversant. 
 The conversation turned, as it had often done before, on 
 the subject of present and full salvation. The friend 
 spoke of the fountain open in the house of David, — of 
 the privilege of every sincere and earnest believer to 
 plunge at once into this ever-open fountain. Mr. C. 
 replied in a manner somewhat chilling for him to the 
 heart of his ardent friend : 
 
 " Sister, — I have a great veneration for the teachings 
 of Mr. Wesley. No man, since the days of the apos- 
 tles, has, in my opinion, come nearer inspiration than he. 
 And Mr. Wesley says, ' The soul is often more painfully 
 convicted previous to receiving the blessing of sanctifi- 
 cation than previous to receiving the blessing of justifi- 
 cation.' It seems to me that I have never had those 
 painful convictions that Mr. Wesley speaks of." Said 
 his friend : 
 
 " Brother C, I have known you over twenty years, 
 and seldom have I seen you but you have said something 
 expressive of your painful convictions and your deep 
 feeling on the subject of holiness. Now, suppose all 
 the painful convictions of the past twenty years were 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 jsitions and responses. " Do you think he would save you? ' 
 
 jred up within the compass of a few months, would 
 A these amount to painful convictions ? " 
 
 " Indeed they would ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 '* Well, some are not convicted over a few months for 
 this blessing, and others not over a few weeks. Now 
 if all the feeling you have had on this subject were 
 brought up within the compass of a few weeks, would it 
 not be painful conviction ? " 
 
 " O, it would indeed have been most painful ! " 
 
 His friend then remarked, that many were not con- 
 victed over a few days for this blessing, — that the light 
 discovering inbred corruption burst suddenly upon them. 
 " And now, Brother C, imagine what might be the 
 amount of your pain if all the conviction you have had, 
 during the past twenty years, were condensed within the 
 compass of a few short days." 
 
 His very nature shuddered at the thought of what 
 must be the poignancy of such long-continued feeling, 
 if thus concentrated, and he fairly yielded the point. 
 
 His friend, knowing that neither tears, earnestness, 
 nor conviction are our Savior, that Christ is the only 
 Savior, and that one plunge into the open fountain can 
 do more towards cleansing the soul from sin than rivers 
 of tears, earnestly inquired, — 
 
 " Brother C, if you knew you were going to die in two 
 minutes, what would you do ? " 
 
 " I would cast myself on the infinite merits of my 
 Savior ! " he quickly responded. 
 
 " Do you think he would save you ? " 
 

 ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 
 '• What, from all sin ? " A man cornered. The only way into the holit ' 
 
 " Yes, I, even I, through his precious merits, woulu 
 be saved ! " 
 
 What, from all sin ? " 
 Yes, 
 
 ' From all iniquity, from all 
 He would my soul redeem.' " 
 
 
 t% What ! without any more conviction ? " exclaimed 
 his friend. 
 
 At this point, he manifested much emotion, and, 
 amid tears and smiles, exclaimed : — 
 
 " O, sister, you have cornered me ! ' He now saw 
 where his error had been, in taking the " longer way," 
 when, in less than two minutes, he might, at any period 
 during his earnest religious career, have cast himself 
 wholly on the infinite merits of his Savior, and been 
 saved at once from all sin. And, now that he perceived 
 his error, he delayed not, but at once cast himself as 
 fully and everlastingly on Christ as, perhaps, he would 
 have done, if he had been about to take a leap into the 
 eternal world. The moment he did this, he consciously 
 realized that he was saved fully, and was enabled to 
 testify that the blood of Jesus cleanseth from all sin. 
 
 On the evening of that day, I heard him testify, 
 before a large congregation, in one of our city churches, 
 of the blessedness of the one and only way into the holiest 
 — by virtue of a present and entire reliance on Christ. 
 And is not this the present duty of every believer ? Does 
 God leave it to our choice whether we will now obey the 
 command — whether we will now be holy or not ? Surely, 
 brethren, it is not left optional with ourselves whether we 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 - 
 
 inefficiency. " Be ye clean." Wesley on early sanctifications. 
 
 , — , . 
 
 take the longer or the shorter way. God commands 
 resent holiness. The early apostles did not need this 
 grace more than ourselves. Our inefficiency from not 
 having earlier obtained this grace will, I fear, tell in the 
 loss of souls. Dear ambassador for Christ, how many 
 more souls might you have been instrumental in saving, 
 had you entered into the enjoyment of this grace when 
 God first called you by his Spirit, saying, " Be ye clean 
 that bear the vessels of the Lord " ! Would you not 
 have been instrumental in saving more souls if you had 
 been filled with the power of inward holiness ? What has 
 become of these souls who might thus have been saved 1 
 Is there not danger that God may require their blood at 
 your hands ? Surely, you have already lingered quite 
 too long. Redeem the time. If God says to you now, 
 " Be ye holy," he does not mean to-morrow. Opinions 
 of men about a longer or a shorter way will furnish no 
 excuse on points where the Bible is so clear. Hear 
 Wesley, as he mingles Bible admonition and cogent 
 argument : M Now, with God, one day is as a thousand 
 years. It plainly follows, that the quantity of time is 
 nothing to him. Centuries, years, months, days, hours, 
 and moments, are exactly the same. Consequently, 
 he can as well sanctify in a day after we are justified as 
 in a hundred years. There is no difference at all un- 
 less we suppose him to be one with ourselves. Accord- 
 ingly, we see, in fact, that some of the most unquestion- 
 able witnesses of sanctifying grace were sanctified within 
 a few days after they were justified." — Wesley s Works, 
 Vol. vii. p. 14. If these are fair deductions from scrip- 
 
ECONOMY OF iJi/ATION. &l 
 
 K solemn question. The church and young converts. Individual responsihility. 
 
 ture and experience, what is your state to-day before 
 God ? And are you sure that some of these, who may 
 have been following your example in not going over to 
 possess this good land, may not have stumbled over you, 
 and Mien to rise no more ? 
 
 tm»m* 
 
 % ftomrcl mag it xmihMA in Jftmsj, 
 
 Yes, an unholy membership clogs the chariot wheels 
 of the church, and prevents her aggressive movements. 
 Unless a devoted, earnest membership undertakes to 
 lead forth those who are newly-born to Zion, how un- 
 likely are the new-born babes to retain the ardors of 
 their first love ! How soon does the world resume its 
 hold on the heart ! and it is thus that the church is so 
 much burdened with the spiritually dead. But on whom 
 does the guilt lie ? Where may the blood of these 
 souls be found ? Of whom will God require it ? 
 
 O, indeed, an ingathering of precious lambs into the 
 fold does bring vast responsibilities on the individual 
 members of a church. I do not doubt but that it is 
 often in mercy to the church that God does not hear her 
 oft-repeated prayer for a revival. In view of this, it is 
 no wonder that we are divinely admonished that "judg- 
 ment must begin at the house of God." It is not sur- 
 prising that the disciples were required to wait until 
 endued with power from on high. 
 
98 ILLUSTfc.xIONS OF THE 
 
 Nursing parents. Let the church prepare herself. No time lost at Pentecost. 
 
 If the church is first filled with the spirit of Christ, 
 and then, by his constraining love, is brought to feel a 
 travail of soul for the perishing, with what carefulness 
 will her members, thus constrained, watch over those 
 born into the family of Christ through their instrumen- 
 tality ! Where a church is in such a case, nursing 
 fathers and mothers are not wanting. 
 
 If the church is ready for her increased responsibility, 
 I do not doubt, my dear brother, that you will soon 
 see the enlarged — " the almost impatient desire ' of 
 your heart granted. If the church is not ready, I pray 
 you, for the Lord's sake, be instant, in season and out^ 
 of season, in pleading with her, and with God in her 
 behalf, that she prepare herself for the work of soul- 
 
 saving. 
 
 Tell her that God waits to endue her with power 
 from on high. Tell her that, if she would be thus 
 endued, she must wait specifically before God in this 
 behalf as did the early disciples. After they had seen 
 three thousand pricked to the heart in one day, hoM r ever, 
 I presume they did not think that the time they had 
 spent in waiting to be endued with power had been lost. 
 Perhaps some of them might have been impatient, but 
 they waited, and the power came. So will it be with the 
 church in the present day. 
 
 Let the church get in readiness, and then show her 
 readiness by laboring for and with souls, and more may 
 be done by her, in a prepared state, in one week, than 
 might before have been accomplished by the labor of 
 months. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 99 
 
 The question is with the church. Leading trait in the character of Hedding. 
 
 I pray that the Lord may give you grace to continue 
 earnest in effort for the salvation of sinners. And may 
 he also empower you for yet greater faithfulness to the 
 church by way of arousing her to a sense of her respon- 
 sibilities, for, with her, I do not doubt, rests the question, 
 whether God shall work mightily among you in the 
 awakening and conversion of sinners. 
 
 ■ <t» « 
 
 Sfest fags of Utetorjr Je&thyj, 
 
 I suppose the first point in the character of our late 
 venerable Hedding to strike even a casual observer 
 would be, his perfect simplicity of character — his evi- 
 dent oneness of purpose. If his deep piety had not 
 marked him for a leading spirit in the circles of piety, 
 his excellent common sense, and the ingenuousness of 
 his affectionate heart, would have drawn around him a 
 circle of honest hearts, ready to acknowledge him as 
 their unaspiring leader. What some may speak of as 
 his native dignity, was, to my mind, the offspring of this 
 perfect ingenuousness. Religiously and morally, he 
 was transparent. Who ever heard of Bishop H. being 
 accused of disguised motives ? 
 
 His heart seemed ever as a deep well-spring, whose 
 gushings forth were spontaneous issues of " Peace upon 
 earth and good will towards men." I do not doubt 
 that, from an early period in his religious career, he was 
 
100 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE. 
 
 A personal interview. Incidents of early life detailed. Inferences. 
 
 wholly sanctified to God. Several weeks before his 
 departure for heaven, — the bishop wishing to have Dr. 
 P's professional services, — we went to Poughkeepsie to 
 see him. During our visit, he detailed his early experi- 
 ence, his call to the ministry and subsequent passages of 
 his life. When he set out as a seeker of salvation, he 
 sought with all his heart. His readiness in obeying the 
 call of the Spirit, his marked and thorough conversion, 
 and his prompt obedience to the monitions of the Spirit in 
 relation to preaching the gospel, remind one forcibly 
 of the early apostles, who, at the call of the Savior, 
 "immediately forsook all, and followed him." After 
 he became a new creature in Christ Jesus, he appears 
 to have been conscious of no mental reservations in the 
 service of God. He had learned that there was no way 
 to retain a state of freedom from condemnation but by 
 carefully following the Holy Spirit. From his obser- 
 vations on this occasion, I am confident he had no sym- 
 pathy with those low views of justification which lead 
 some who profess this attainment to imagine that they 
 can indulge in conscious reservations on various points 
 in duty, because they only profess justification. I do 
 not remember to have noticed a more marked observance 
 and readiness in following the monitions of the spirit 
 without conferring with flesh and blood, than in the case 
 of Bishop H. I do not doubt but that it was attributa- 
 ble to this that he very early, and perhaps almost im- 
 perceptibly, was ushered into the enjoyment of perfect 
 love. That he loved God with all his heart, he over 
 and again affirmed during this conversation. And if to 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 101 
 
 Bishop H. a professor of perfect love Views of depravity. Victory over fear of death. 
 
 profess to love God with all the heart is to profess per- 
 fect love, then Bishop H. was indeed a witness of perfect 
 love. He also observed that he had long loved the Lord 
 thus, — that he did not know that he could speak of a 
 time, since he commenced his religious life, but he had 
 felt that the service of God was his chief delight, and 
 he had loved the Lord better than any other object. 
 But he did not find, in getting to a state where he loved 
 the Lord with all Ins heart, that he had arrived at a 
 point at which he might pause. His course was steadily 
 onward. As he, on this occasion, was remembering the 
 way by which the Lord had brought him, his eyes often 
 filled with tears, and his inmost heart seemed penetrated 
 with the love and the condescension of Christ. With a 
 vividness of conception which I have seldom if evei 
 known equalled, he dwelt upon the deep depravity of 
 the unrenewed heart, the odiousness of sin, the need of 
 the atonement, and its infinite efficiency. O, with what 
 loathing he looked upon self in all its forms apart trom 
 the renewings of grace ! His spiritual altitude was well 
 expressed in the words — 
 
 " I loathe myself when God I see, 
 And into nothing fall, 
 Content if thou exalted be, 
 And Christ be all in all." 
 
 He related the incidents of his first serious attack, 
 when suddenly deprived of speech, and threatened with 
 immediate dissolution without scarce a moment's warn- 
 ing. His perfect composure of mind, and his happy 
 consciousness of entire trust and rest in Christ, Ha 
 
 9* 
 
102 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 An uncomplaining sufferer. Dreadful satanic onset. 
 
 regarded as a blessed dispensation of grace to help in 
 time of need. Though his speech returned, and he 
 recovered from the severity of this attack, yet he never 
 regained his former state of health. From this period 
 he became, for most of the time, a great sufferer. 
 Said he to Mrs. H., " I bear great burdens ; " but 
 then again he would speak of the supports of grace as 
 far outweighing all. Said Mrs. H. to me, " Though he 
 suffered so severely and so long, yet never did I, during 
 his illness, hear an impatient word, or a murmur of 
 complaint." 
 
 He remarked to us that, for weeks subsequent to his first 
 attack, he was so kept from the power of the adversary that 
 Satan was not permitted to approach him with a single 
 temptation. As a veteran on the Christian battle-field, 
 he seemed to have fought his last battle with the tempt- 
 er, and all seemed about to be hushed in eternal peace, 
 when suddenly the tempter made an onset more terrible 
 than may be described. To use his own words, it " baf- 
 fled description ; " and, for malignity, subtlety and power, 
 was far beyond any thing he had ever endured. It 
 seemed as if Satan had mustered his forces to wrest from 
 him the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 
 He observed, " Of all the acute reasonings of the most 
 subtle and refined infidel writers, never have I met with 
 any thing, which would compare with the awful sugges- 
 tions of this occasion." The shafts of Satan were lev- 
 elled against his repose in the promises, the authenticity 
 of the word of God, and the entire scheme of man's 
 tcdemption through Christ. Well, the conflict was 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 103 
 
 Victory. Composure in view of instant death. Gentleness. Benevolence. 
 
 with a man of God, and it is not surprising that the 
 adversary should have mustered the spirits most daring 
 in fiendish subtlety of all in hell for the last conflict 
 with one who had so long been a prominent leader of 
 God's sacramental hosts. After this, Satan seemed to 
 leave him to undisturbed repose in Christ. 
 
 The tests of the graces of the Spirit were constant and 
 severe. But all the fruits of the Spirit he appeared to 
 possess in perfect maturity, so that I do not doubt but 
 that he was perfect and entire, wanting nothing. To 
 him the sting of death was gone. Said he to my hus- 
 band, with a cheerful air, " Doctor, I think I am liable 
 to be taken suddenly, perhaps without a moment's warn- 
 ing ; you may, perhaps, think me hypochondriacal, but do 
 vou not think so ?" My husband assured him that he 
 was wholly with him in opinion in regard to his expos- 
 ure to instant death, and he received the additional con- 
 firmation with as much happy composure as if he had 
 been told that he was likely to live and labor a score of 
 years. I observed great gentleness of manner, and 
 exceeding carefulness about the comfort of others, as 
 though he would lighten their burdens to the last iota 
 that his physical ability would allow. He sat at table 
 with us, and though, from asthmatic oppression, it was 
 difficult for him to converse, yet he could not have been 
 unconscious of the satisfaction he was imparting ; and 
 such was the power of the gracious words that fell from 
 his lips, that he doubtless still found it more blessed to 
 give than to receive. Never shall I forget the chastened 
 heavenly exhilaration of his manner on this occasion. 
 
104 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The parting. Lamb-like patience in pain. The widow of " our Elijah." 
 
 Truly did he seem to be filled with all goodness. 
 Neither can I forget his fervent apostolic benediction, 
 " God bless you ! " We parted with some hope of 
 again meeting on earth. Soon after our return home, 
 Mrs. Hedding concluded a letter to us, by saying, " Mr. 
 H. enjoys great composure of mind, and, as he often says 
 
 ' When pain o'er my weak flesh prevails, 
 With lamb-like patience arm my breast,' 
 
 so it evidently is with him. But (), the thought of that 
 hour when I shall hear his voice no more ! Then my 
 soul shall put its trust in God, and • under the shadow 
 of his wings will I make my refuge.' " 
 
 Well, that solemn hour has come, and the bereaved 
 companion of our Elijah, whom the heavens have received, 
 is left in widowhood. May the prayers of a bereaved 
 church be answered in her behalf. 
 
 im»mt 
 
 Jit f atM larira. 
 
 I do not doubt that our God has wrought in you a 
 willingness to do his will. Yet I fear that, in one prom- 
 inent regard, you may not be a worker together with 
 God. He has brought you into a position where he no 
 longer leaves it optional with yourself whether you will 
 believe. I would not trespass on your time by vain 
 repetitions, yet I must say, though it be but a reiteration 
 of sentiments urged on other occasions, that you nave 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 105 
 
 The sin of Israel. A supposition. Faith the condition of stability. 
 
 now come to a point, in your heavenward journey, from 
 which you may not recede. The Israelites came to such 
 a point. Led onward by the hand of God, until the 
 borders of the promised land were reached, it was not 
 left to their choice whether they would go over and pos- 
 sess the land. God commanded them to go over, assur- 
 ing them that he would save them from the hand of 
 their enemies ; but, " they believed not God, and trusted 
 not in his salvation." 
 
 ®fe onlg JfoM^tiM 4 dfaitlt* 
 
 If, from the time you were -first empowered to be- 
 lieve, after having been enabled, by the Holy Spirit, to 
 offer yourself a living sacrifice to God through Christ, 
 you had taken the word of God as the foundation of 
 your faith, and, like Abraham, journeyed onward, tak- 
 ing the word as expressly the voice of the Spirit, an 
 established state of experience had long since been yours. 
 I would not chide ; but, surely, the ways of the Lord 
 are equal. " If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be 
 established." Does not this imply fault on the part of 
 man ? Surely, God would not thus reprove, unless he 
 had given a foundation for your faith, which may be 
 readily ascertained by the most unsophisticated mind, 
 and also had given the ability to believe, Did the 
 Israelites need more than the word of God to assure 
 
lOt ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 God's pledge doubted. "No sign." The nobleman reproved, and why ? 
 
 them that, in the event of their going over to possess 
 the land, they should be saved from the hand of their 
 enemies ? God had pledged his eternal veracity to do 
 this for them and it was their sin that they did not 
 obediently go over, relying on his immutable word. 
 Imagine that they had stood at this point, pleading for 
 some tangible or sensible demonstration beyond, or in 
 any way apart from, the word. Do you not think their 
 pleadings would have been worse than in vain ? Would 
 not our God, (i the same yesterday, to-day, and forever," 
 have said, " No sign shall be given " ? 
 
 §to Ijtolrteman. 
 
 Did you ever contemplate the case of the nobleman 
 who said, " Sir, come down ere my child die " ? Why 
 did the Savior so reprovingly say to him, M Except ye 
 see signs and wonders, ye will not believe " ? What 
 sign or wonder had the man asked other than that he 
 required the Savior to go down instead of saying, with 
 the centurion, " Speak but the word," etc. ? The centu- 
 rion magnified the word of the Lord, and made it hon- 
 orable, and the Savior, well pleased, commends his faith, 
 and readily fulfils his desire. Had the nobleman been 
 willing to take the bare word of Christ for the recovery 
 of his son, he had not been so signally rebuked. Yet 
 it was in vain that he yet again, in his earnest impoitu- 
 nity, said, <( Come down." The Savior, unalterable 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. lOT 
 
 • l Go, thy son liyeth." Of waiting for a sign. " He that helieveth hath the witness. 
 
 in his purpose, and unyielding in his requirement of 
 faith on the part of his petitioner, commands him, 
 " Go ! ' giving him his word alone in which to trust as 
 the wherefore or authority for his faith. " Go, thy son 
 liveth," is all that the Savior said. Neither his per- 
 emptoriness, nor his importunity, nor the dignity of a 
 nobleman's position among men, induced the Savior to 
 change his purpose. Suppose he had lingered as you 
 have done, yielding to a desire for some internal or 
 external manifestation before he consented to believe 
 Christ, and had not obediently gone his way trusting in 
 the word that Jesus had spoken, would not his linger- 
 ing have been worse than in vain ? for he had then been 
 guilty, not only of doubting the word of Jesus, but of 
 disobeying also, by lingering in his beseeching attitude, 
 after Christ had not only said to him, " Thy son liveth," 
 but had also, at the same time, commanded him to 
 "Go!' The nobleman's son would doubtless have 
 died, had he not obeyed God and gone his way at the 
 command, trusting for the fulfilment of Christ's word. 
 And thus have you, my brother, long stood ; yet shall 
 I, in all humility, tell you what has long been the con- 
 firmed sentiment of my heart in regard to you ? Let 
 me then say, that neither your earnest importunity, nor 
 the dignity of your position in the church of Christ, nor 
 any thing which may propose itself to your mind as a 
 reason, will induce our God, who changeth not, to give / 
 you the witness of entire sanctification, until you believe 
 his word; for it is only "he that helieveth" that "hath 
 the witness in himself." 
 
108 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Christ in the heart hy faith. The word personified. Apology. 
 
 tyhrizt in tfe §*mt 
 
 The Holy Spirit has begotten earnest desires in the 
 heart of my brother for an indwelling Christ. The 
 Scriptures declare it your privilege to know that Christ 
 dwells in your heart. But here the requisition for 
 faith again meets you. " That Christ may dwell in your 
 heart by faith" Eph. 3 : 17. You are commanded not 
 to say, in your heart, u Who shall ascend into heaven to 
 bring Christ down from above, or who shall descend 
 into the deep, that is, to bring Christ up again from the 
 dead ; but what saith it ? The word is nigh thee, even 
 in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that is, the word of 
 faith," &c. Here the word is personified, as though it 
 were Christ himself speaking. And do you really re- 
 ceive the written word as though it were indeed the 
 voice of Christ speaking in your inmost soul, or are you 
 looking for some sign or wonder, saying in your heart, 
 as did the nobleman, " Come down " ? If so, I think 
 our unchangeable Lord will say to you, " No sign shall 
 be given but that which has already been given." I 
 hope I may not seem severe. I dare /.ot write other 
 than the honest convictions of my mind d T *d I believe 
 also you do not wish me to do otherwise 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 109 
 
 Oontinm. uce in partial bondage. A son should claim the inheritance. 
 
 §to Sfttiw Jtjjpmtal 
 
 You speak of " the time appointed of the Father," by 
 way of favoring the idea that there may be, by divine 
 appointment, a needs-be for yonr partial bondage. You 
 acknowledge that it is your unbelief that keeps you in 
 this state. If unbelief is a sin, it cannot be for the glory 
 of God that any man continue therein. You are kept, as 
 you intimate, rather as a servant than as a son. But 
 now, as the fulness of time has already come, it surely 
 would be far more to the glory of God if now, through 
 your Redeemer, you should claim your adoption as a 
 son, and assert your right as an inheritor of the promises 
 by which you are made a partaker of the divine nature. 
 Would it not have been more for the glory of God if, 
 years since, you had claimed your full privilege as an heir 
 of God ? Scores more might have believed through your 
 testimony, if, in presenting Christ as a Savior from all sin, 
 you had, in unwavering confidence, been able to say, " 1 
 speak that which I do know, and testify of that which I 
 have seen." 
 
 » »♦» » 
 
 % fionw <J[attft retard ojf JPtinfete. 
 
 As a minister, you are placed in a position where the 
 people are admonished to follow your faith. From the 
 tone of your remarks, I have no doubt that you now 
 comply with the conditions upon which entire sanctifica- 
 
 10 
 
LK ILLUSTRATIONS OP THE 
 
 The promise. Christ within — prompting holy desires, casting forth sin. 
 
 tion is promised. You, long since, bade adieu to the 
 spirit of the world, and separated yourself wholly to the 
 service of Christ. The promise, " I will receive you," 
 now sounds forth from the word as the voice of God to 
 you. Have you not often, in the words of the poet, 
 acknowledged before God 
 
 M T cannot wash my heart 
 But by belieying thee " ? 
 
 You cannot cleanse yourself from all nlthiness of the 
 flesh and spirit until you appropriate the promises. O, 
 " believe God ; so shall ye prosper ; believe, so 
 shall ye be established." Yes, established ; " for we, 
 who believe, do enter into rest." Christ, at this mo- 
 ment, is in your heart, working in you. These intense 
 breathings after conformity to his image, so long con- 
 tinued, assure you of his indwelling — his continuous 
 workings. You want inward purity ; and, in answer to 
 this divinely inspired petition, he now says to you, u I 
 will ; be thou clean." Now Christ is speaking ; and, 
 surely, he can mean no other time than now. " Now is 
 the accepted time." O, I trust you are now listening to 
 his inward voice, and not saying, in your heart, lo 
 here ! or lo there ! for the kingdom of God is within 
 you. 
 
 What you say about your house, as swept and 
 garnished, is encouraging. If you have been emptied 
 of sin and self, it is because your Lord and Savior has 
 been at work within, turning out the buyers and sellers, 
 and thus preparing your heart for his constant indwel- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. Ill 
 
 ' Lo, I am thy salyation." Feeling, the fruit of faith. My need of Christ. 
 
 ling. He knows you cannot work in yourself that 
 which is well pleasing in his sight ; he, therefore, pur- 
 poses to work in you. Do suggestions arise in regard to 
 the identical moment when he will thus work in you ? 
 If you will listen, you may now hear him inwardly say- 
 ing " Lo, I am thy salvation" ! Are you saying I can- 
 not yet believe because I do not feel as yet any special 
 change ? Neither will you feel this special change until 
 you really, in heart, believe, without making any con 
 ditions with the Lord in regard to your feelings. The 
 feelings you desire are the fruit of faith, and cannot 
 precede it. Can you not now trust your Savior for pres- 
 ent and continuous salvation irrespective of frames and 
 feelings? To illustrate my meaning more fully, and 
 furnish a clew to your difficulty in regard to faith, which 
 " is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of 
 things 'not seen," please allow me to narrate an item of 
 
 MY EXPERIENCE. 
 
 It has been about eighteen years since I began to live 
 in a state of continuous trust, — depending on Christ 
 every moment as my present indwelling Savior. Never, 
 previous to my coming into this state of continuous reli- 
 ance, did I have such keen perceptions of my absolute 
 need of the atonement. O, what a deep and abiding 
 consciousness have I every moment had of my need of 
 Christ as a Savior! Yet I do not presume to claim this 
 grace of present salvation from all sin, on the ground 
 that I have never erred since the hour I first received 
 this precious gift. I would rather present the matter 
 
112 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Kept by the power of God. Perfect love. Freedom from imputation of sin. 
 
 thus. Since the moment that I first laid all upon the 
 altar, I believe I have never removed the gift from off 
 the altar. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 momentarily meted out in supplies suited to my neces- 
 sities, I have been kept by the power of God through 
 faith, constantly apprehending Christ as my full Savior. 
 I have not, since that hallowed hour, seen the moment 
 but I had rather die than knowingly offend God. Yes, 
 I do believe that I have kept all upon the altar, and not 
 because of the worthiness of the offerer, or the greatness 
 of the gifts, but because of the infinite merits of Christ, 
 the offering has been in a state of continuous acceptance. 
 God, the searcher of my heart, knows that he is the 
 supreme object of my affections. Is not this loving 
 God with all the heart ; or rather, is it not what the 
 Bible terms perfect love ? " Love is the fulfilling of the 
 law." David speaks of the blessedness of the man to 
 whom the Lord will not impute sin. Who is that man, 
 but the one who, with a sincere intention, and with an 
 aim to which every earthly consideration is subservient, 
 endeavors to please God in all things, yet trusting 
 wholly in Christ, conscious that his best endeavors can 
 only be acceptable to God through the all-cleansing 
 blood ? O, is not this the man to whom the Lord will 
 not impute sin ? Why not ? Because the blood of 
 Jesus cleanseth — not that it can or will cleanse, but 
 cleanseth — cleanseth now. Such blessedness, I trust, is 
 now the heritage of my dear brother. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 113 
 
 Met at every point. . What the adversary would gladly do. Expostulation. 
 
 ®fa (Srat muiaitfm 
 
 You quote the passage, " To as many as received 
 him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, 
 even to as many as believed on his name." Are you care- 
 ful to mark how you are met, at every point, by the requi- 
 sition — faith ? " Even to as many as believed on his 
 name." Yet here I must pause. Am I talking to my 
 dear Doctor H. as though he were not appropriating that 
 class of promises which ensures adoption ? Though 
 your letter favors the intimation, yet I dare not think 
 you would grieve your heavenly Father so much as to 
 regard yourself as a servant rather than a son, after all 
 the gracious assurances you have received that you are, 
 and have long been, his child, " through faith in Christ 
 Jesus." The adversary would fain keep you ever in the 
 act of laying the foundation of your faith. Alas ! how 
 much does he gain, if he can keep us toiling among the 
 first principles of the doctrine of Christ, instead of leav- 
 ing them, and going on to perfection ? Ah ! these end- 
 less doubtings ! How unlikely is such a one to be rooted, 
 and grounded, and built up in our most holy faith ! O 
 I long that my dear brother be rooted and grounded in 
 love ! O, that you may now resolve never more to give 
 the enemy the advantage of an if, in regard to the love of 
 God to you as his own dear child, and, as such, an heir 
 of God, and an inheritor of all the exceeding great and 
 precious promises ! 
 
 It was not a small thing that the Lord had done for 
 
 10* 
 
114 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Evidences of God's love to Israel. Their sinful questioning. 
 
 bis covenant people, in bringing them out of Egyptian 
 bondage. The evidences of his abiding love and contin- 
 ued presence, were being ceaselessly demonstrated by 
 the manner in which they were being guided onward 
 and sustained. The cloud by day, and the pillar of 
 fire by night, also the manna, descending daily from 
 heaven, were ever-speaking tokens of the Almighty's 
 love, and his continuous workings in their midst ; it was, 
 therefore, their sinful questioning, " Is God among us ? " 
 which was exceedingly displeasing to God, and was 
 signally punished. Dear brother, do not sin after the 
 same similitude. God is with us. He is ever giving 
 you tokens of love, and his continuous workings within 
 you, and in your behalf, are ever-speaking assurances of 
 his favor toward you as his child. You know the love 
 of God ; yet this is not enough. It is by knowing and 
 believing the love of Christ. " Herein is our love made 
 perfect" 
 
 > m l « i 
 
 <fymf/G$im. 
 
 O, I am sure, if the blessed Savior should now say 
 to you, as to a disciple of former days, " Dost thou now 
 believe ? you would not dare say, No ! Surely, in view 
 of the faith of which you have already been made the 
 recipient, you would not withhold the glory due to his 
 name. The Author and Finisher of your faith is now 
 waiting to hear the confession of your mouth. O, give 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 115 
 
 The witnesses. " 'T is done." The admonition, " Hold fast." 
 
 to God the glory due to his name.' Angels in heaven, 
 saints on earth, and the spirits of the just made perfect, 
 now disembodied, love to hear God praised for his won- 
 derful works. You are u compassed about by" a cloud 
 of witnesses." Shall they now hear an acknowledgment 
 of your faith? In heart, you now believe, and, with 
 your lips, I trust, will, from this time henceforth, un- 
 waveringly say : 
 
 " Faith in thy name thou seest I have, 
 For thou that faith hast wrought; 
 Dead souls thou callest from the grave, 
 And speakest worlds from nought. 
 The thing surpasses all my thought, 
 Yet faithful is my Lord ; 
 Through unbelief I stagger not, 
 For God hath spoke the word. 
 'Tis done, thou dost this moment save, 
 With full salvation bless ; 
 Redemption through thy blood I have, 
 And spotless love and peace." 
 
 vttx&f&%tm& 
 
 We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the 
 beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end. Do 
 you observe the condition? — If we " holdfast," steadfast. 
 Why the necessity of holding fast, with such a steadfast 
 unyielding grasp on faith, if there were not a mighty 
 power ceaseless in effort to wrest it from us, and also if 
 tremendous consequences were not pending as the result 
 of loosing that grasp ? O, how glad I am that I resolved 
 
116 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Faith to be guarded. Fluctuating Christians. An unwavering faith. 
 
 never to unloose my hold on faith, though I might be 
 called to my death struggle in retaining it! O, my 
 brother ! in the strength of the Lord, fix some guards to 
 your faith. Let there be a hedge about it, which may 
 never be overleaped. Know, if you draw back, or by 
 any means get out of this hedge, God will have no pleas- 
 ure in you. "Now the just shall live by faith ; but, 
 if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure 
 in him." Many indulge in waverings to such a degree 
 that you seldom know where to find them. One day, 
 you may find them in a high state of emotion, profess- 
 ing faith in Christ as their full Savior, and, on another, 
 wavering and dispirited. It is because their faith de- 
 pends on the state of their emotions, rather than on the 
 faithfulness of God. Such a profession dishonors God, 
 and it is only the self-induced consequences of such a 
 course that those who do thus are driven about, and 
 tossed as a wave of the sea, and do not receive any thing 
 from the hand of the Lord. 
 
 % Paint fagond Utetimnjg. 
 
 You may get to a point beyond wavering ; a point in 
 the life of faith from which you may never indulge a 
 temptation to retreat. I trust many of the redeemed 
 have reached this point on their way, in returning to 
 Zion. Some, I know, have ; and have not, for vears, 
 indulged a doubt. Glory be to God in the highest ! 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 117 
 
 Question to be now settled. God's faithfulness. Awful alternative. 
 
 You may step directly up to this point now, my brother. 
 Come ; and may the Lord help you while, in answer to 
 his holy bidding, I show you the way. First, let this 
 question be forever settled, Do you now believe ? Pause 
 and settle this question, so that you, hereafter, regard it 
 as a matter never more to be touched. God cannot be 
 unfaithful. It is only for you to know that you com- 
 ply with the condition upon which he promises this 
 blessing of salvation from all sin to know that he, at 
 that moment, fulfils the promise to you. So long as 
 you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to offer your 
 self a living sacrifice to God through Christ, so long you 
 may know that the offering is holy and acceptable. God 
 has said so, and to doubt it, (even though it may be 
 from the plausible pretext furnished by your own 
 unworthiness,) is a sin. It is doubting God ; and " He 
 that believeth not maketh God a liar." Awful alterna- 
 tive ! My brother, are you not now beyond the point of 
 wavering ? 
 
 »*>» 
 
 ($0 a Umawd J[athfl\ 
 
 1 awoke, at an early hour this morning, with the 
 question, " Wilt thou be made whole ? " It seemed as 
 though the Holy Spirit was proposing the inquiry to me, 
 in order that I might propose it to another. Surely, this 
 question implies the necessity of the hearty assent of the 
 will, on the part of the afflicted, to be made whole. 
 
118 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The patient must consent to a cure. Melancholy forebodings. The Comforter 
 
 The process must be submitted to, by which the 
 heavenly Healer proffers to effect the cure. But I have 
 neither time, nor inclination, just now, to discuss doc- 
 trinal points. And your mental anguish, and your posi- 
 tion as a theologian, alike remind me that it would be 
 uncalled for, and in ill taste. 
 
 But I hope you will forgive me when I say, I fear 
 you do wrong in refusing to be comforted. It was not 
 one of the New Testament saints that said, " I will go 
 down to the grave, weeping." Your affliction is keen, 
 and your natural sensibilities are acute ; but you would 
 not have us infer that the God of all consolation has not 
 a remedy precisely suited to the necessities of your con- 
 dition. My very heart groaned when I read, " I cannot 
 hope that the little which remains to me of life, will 
 suffice to make me whole ! I feel that I am shut up to 
 one unbroken scene of anguish and tears, for the rest 
 of my life. ' My tears have been my meat day and 
 night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy 
 God ? ' " Is this, my brother, the language of one, whose 
 heart has long been the abode of the Sanctifier ? Has not 
 the Comforter come, to abide with you forever ? Surely, 
 we are witnesses of these things, and so, also, is the Holy 
 Ghost, which God hath given to them that obey him. 
 
 The Holy Spirit, which is the Comforter, has come. 
 He has taken up his abode in your heart. The love of 
 God shed abroad in your heart, and other fruits of the 
 Spirit so abundantly bestowed, prove his indwelling. 
 The Comforter proposes consolation, but you refuse the 
 proffered grace, and say, that you will go down to the 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 119 
 
 ** Do you not grieve the Spirit ? " We should testify of the Comforter. 
 
 grave mourning for your son. Is this right ? Do you 
 not grieve the Holy Spirit? That you should have 
 tribulation is not surprising ; otherwise, how could you 
 know how to minister " comfort to them which are in 
 any trouble, by the comfort wherewith you yourself are 
 comforted of God " ? 
 
 O, my dear brother ! why do you not, in the name of 
 the Lord, resist the tempter, when he says, " Where is 
 thy God " ? The least in the kingdom of heaven is 
 greater than John the Baptist ; and, if David had enjoyed 
 the light and glory of the Spirit's dispensation, would 
 he have uttered such an exclamation ? When the Savior 
 says- to his disciples, "It is expedient for you that I go 
 away, for, if I go not away, the Comforter will not come 
 unto you," does not his language imply an obligation, 
 on the part of every believer, to prove and testify of the 
 consoling influences of the Comforter ? The Israelites 
 tempted the Lord when they said, " Is the Lord among 
 us ? ' And when the tempter says, " Where is thy 
 God ? " and we yield to repeated questionings of this 
 sort, are we not sinning after the same similitude ? 
 • I hope you will not think me wanting in sympathy. 
 The Lord knows that he has given me sensibilities which 
 are keen. And, before the Comforter came to abide in 
 my heart, O, how acutely did I suffer the pangs of 
 bereavement ! But O, how have nature's ties been re 
 peatedly riven ! Twice were we written childless ; our 
 two eldest boys being removed by death. And yet again 
 did death enter our dwelling : a dear little daughter, one 
 of the most lovely and beautiful beings my eyes ever 
 
120 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Bereavement. The divine intention met. " Overmuch sorrow" guarded against 
 
 beheld, was taken away with a stroke. Through grace, 
 we were kept from charging God foolishly in this third 
 and most painful visitation. We knew that the Judge 
 of all the earth would do right. 
 
 So keenly did we feel the infliction, that we dared not 
 let it pass without the designed improvement. So sure 
 were we that our heavenly Father would not permit 
 such a signal affliction to befall us without intending that 
 some signal good should be accomplished, that we were 
 in haste to learn the lessons which Infinite Love would 
 communicate ; well assured that " He doth not afflict 
 willingly, nor grieve the children of men." And we 
 feared a severer infliction in case this did not accomplish 
 the purpose whereunto it was sent. I believe it was the 
 design of God, that the death of that lovely child should 
 be made the occasion of the spiritual life of many. 
 
 There is danger of what the Bible terms " overmuch 
 sorrow." And unless we are careful to keep within the 
 guards of grace, we may be swallowed up of this sorrow. 
 We saw our danger, and turned our stricken hearts and 
 our weeping eyes away to the Comforter. We looked 
 away from the grave ; for " the sorrow of this world 
 worketh death." We felt that we could not, without 
 involving guilt, enfeeble our physical and mental ener- 
 gies by looking into the grave. And, now that our loved 
 one was beyond our care, we felt that it was due that 
 the energies which might have been more exclusively 
 devoted to the loved object, should be rendered diffusive, 
 and directed to other channels, where they might flow 
 abroad in streams of spiritual life to multitudes. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 121 
 
 The denunciation. All religious experience is to be tested by the Bible. 
 
 w @ttt itoita. 
 
 1 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, 
 where is the good way, and walk therein." — The word op God. 
 
 There is nothing new in religion. With the Apoca- 
 lypse the volume of revelation closes. " If any man 
 shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the 
 plagues that are written in this book ; and if any man 
 shall take away from the words of this book, God shall 
 take away his part out of the book of life, and out of 
 the holy city, and from the things which are written in 
 this book." Any spiritual manifestation which may not, 
 in all its aspects, consist with the written word of God, is 
 questionable. Never can the soul be brought into a 
 higher state than that for which an explicit, " Thus saith 
 the Lord," may be given. It is an inspiring thought, 
 that the Bible only sets boundaries to the attainments 
 of the believer, such as may be inferred from the exceed- 
 ing greatness of God's power, and the riches of his 
 grace. But the exceeding greatness of God's power, 
 and the riches of his grace, may only be known by the 
 revelation he has given of them in his written word. 
 Says one, " In remarking thus, you do not give sufficient 
 prominence to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Living, 
 as we do, under the dispensation of the Spirit, are 
 we not warranted in the conclusion that we are being' 
 led into all truth when we submit ourselves wholly 
 to his dictations?' No! Apart from the instructions 
 
 of the written word, we may not expect to be thu$ 
 
 11 
 
122 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The Bible a plain book. The way of holiness the only way. 
 
 directed. For the Bible is expressly the voice of the Spirit. 
 Neither do the Scriptures favor any thing mystical in re- 
 ligion. Refined sentimentalism, or any thing that the 
 common mind, imbued with the spirit of Christ, may not 
 readily apprehend, should surely be avoided ; for, by the 
 most unsophisticated may these old paths be found. And 
 so undeviatingly may be the onward step even of the 
 humble intellect that the wayfaring man, though a fool, 
 need not err therein. "No prophecy of the Scripture 
 is of any private interpretation." The Holy Spirit, 
 through Peter, speaks of this open, free access to truth as 
 a matter first in importance ; " Knowing this first." Let 
 us not, then, by the relation of mystical experiences, 
 favor the idea that new light, revealing a higher state 
 than that given in * the old Bible landmarks, has been 
 revealed to us. The Bible speaks of no third state, 
 higher than a state of holiness ; it only admonishes us to 
 go on, "perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord." 
 
 Says an inquirer, " Is not God ever making further 
 revelations of his mind by the developments of experi- 
 ence which we witness in his progressive workings, in 
 the hearts of the eminently pious ? " With my eye on 
 that word, which God has magnified above all his name, 
 I answer, No. Nothing reliable can be gathered thus. 
 Otherwise, the volume of revelation is not closed. New 
 revelations, with these new developments in experience, 
 are, upon this supposition, continually being made. 
 Then let us not encourage in others, nor seek for our- 
 selves, any experience, however specious, for which an 
 explicit reason from the Bible may not be given. Let 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. VZo 
 
 We should give no sanction to mystical experiences. Satanic deceptions. 
 
 us, who profess to have found the old paths — the 
 highway of holiness, be careful how we give our sanction 
 to those mystical experiences whose tendencies lead to 
 quietism, antinomianism, perfectionism, and other un- 
 scriptural isms, which, from time to time, have told so 
 disastrously against the doctrine of heart holiness — 
 Christian perfection. 
 
 » • > > ■ 
 
 % jsatanir (feptditttt 
 
 " The power of Satan is great, and it is his appropriate business continually to 
 assault the saints of God." — Prof. Upuam. 
 
 Satan is a formidable enemy. Neither is he alone in 
 his walkings to and fro in the earth. He has many 
 emissaries. " Many spirits are gone out into the world." 
 If these spirits were always clothed in their native robe, 
 then to the holy soul would the danger of being 
 beguiled by them be comparatively small. But here 
 they are walking to and fro through the earth, ever 
 infesting the path of the pious, and, in exterior, so 
 like good angels that only by the most careful scrutiny 
 can their deceptions be discovered. Satan transforms 
 himself into an angel of light, and so exceedingly subtle 
 is he that human wisdom furnishes no criterion by which 
 his identity may, with certainty, be detected. The 
 lamp of heaven alone emits rays by which the decep- 
 tions of Satan can be' discovered. " Thy word is a 
 lamp." By this light, Satan is detected ; and the 
 inquirer is led to infallible conclusions. 
 
i£4 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 He accuses the saints Extract from Upham. Fancied annihilation of self. 
 
 But to take one step without this lamp to guide our 
 feet is exceedingly dangerous. Satan is unceasing in his 
 efforts to overcome. It is not the cold professor, but 
 the saints, that he accuses day and night before God. 
 Professor Upham says, " Thou hast contended with Satan, 
 and hast been successful. Thou hast fought with him, 
 and he has fled from thee. But O ! remember his arti- 
 fices. Do not indulge the belief that his nature is 
 changed. True, indeed, he is now very complacent, 
 and is, perhaps, singing thee some syren song ; but he 
 was never more a devil than he is now. He now assaults 
 thee, by not assaulting thee, and knows that he shall con- 
 quer when thou fullest asleep." And in view of the fact 
 that it is not until the end of time that he is to be cast 
 down, how deceived is he who imagines that he has 
 attained to a higher state where the life of nature is so 
 extinct that Satan can find no ground to work upon — 
 a state of boasted exemption from his attacks ! 
 
 To all professors of holiness the author already quoted 
 very properly says : u The cost of holiness was the 
 blood of the Son of God, and greatly does he mistake 
 who supposes that it can be preserved short of " eteb- 
 
 NAL VIGILANCE." 
 
 My heart is sad when I hear the sincerely pious talk 
 of a " higher state, a state of which the Bible nowhere 
 speaks, promising exemption from the assaults of Satan ; 
 or what is, in fact, equal to this assumption, a state where, 
 self being annihilated, the individual can no longer be 
 attacked, but God, in the individual, receives the assault. 
 How disastrous must be the tendencies of these refined 
 
ECONOMY OF S A L V A T T O N . 125 
 
 A satanic victory Perfectionism The warning cry should be heard. 
 
 mysticisms ! Hardly can I conceive of any thing dis- 
 playing more of the subtlety of Satan than this. If he 
 can beguile us into the belief that we are beyond his 
 power, so that the most prayerful vigilance is not neces- 
 sary, he has already obtained a great victory. 
 
 At this point, the mighty have fallen. Here the 
 dreadful doctrine denominated " perfectionism" begins. 
 Dear brethren in Christ, let us be up and doing With 
 the sword of the Spirit, let us carefully guard every 
 approach, in semblance, toward this doctrine. Shall 
 the glorious doctrine of Christian holiness again be coun- 
 terfeited and brought into disrepute by the errings of 
 those who have once been its able and sincere advocates ? 
 
 Let one who, for many years, has been observing the 
 insidiousness of Satan on these points — one who often 
 has had occasion to remark, that the time now is, that 
 Satan would deceive, if it were possible, even the very elect 
 — let such an one raise the warning cry, and give you 
 some idea of the manner of him whose coming is in " all 
 deceivableness and lying wonders." 
 
 > m$m i 
 
 "And no marvel ; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.' 5 
 
 Satan is well aware that light cannot have fellowship 
 
 with darkness. He, therefore, does not approach the 
 
 holy soul as a fiend of darkness ; otherwise, his rejection 
 
 were certain. For, in the truly holy, Satan comes and 
 
 11* 
 
126 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Satan's audacity. The terror of his insinuations. 
 
 finds nothing. It is only Avith that which bears the 
 semblance of light, that the sanctified sonl can have fel- 
 lowship. But how high is his aim, and how wonderful 
 his audacity ! Who would have thought that he would 
 come to our Lord ? Surely, he could not have thought 
 to find any thing there. And shall the disciple imagine 
 that he may reach, in this world, a state of exemption 
 from his attacks ? " As he was, even so are we in this 
 world." " The disciple is not above his master ; but 
 every one that is perfect shall be as his master." And 
 ,now the deceiver comes to the disciple even as he came 
 to our Lord, bringing detached portions of Scripture, 
 and, with much sagacity, suiting the temptation to our 
 physical emergencies or mental aptitudes. Blending 
 truth with error, he now suggests, — "You are holy. 
 All your desires and affections must, therefore, spring 
 from a pure source. Satan, therefore, can find nothing 
 in you, and wherefore should he come ? Your body 
 and soul having been, by an irrevocable act, forever con- 
 secrated, set apart and sealed, the tendencies of your 
 being must, therefore, be wholly spiritual, and without 
 alloy. The energies constraining your actions must, of 
 course, be divine in origin. Your whole life being, 
 therefore, one of ceaseless aspiration toward God, you 
 will not need stated seasons of prayer. Acts of this sort 
 would indicate that you were going before the Spirit 
 rather than following after the Spirit. As you have 
 given yourself up to follow the leadings of the Spirit 
 wholly, you may now expect to be led into all truth, 
 and will not need that any man teach you ; for the 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 127 
 
 Questions by a lover of the old paths. The deceiver's response. 
 
 anointing that you have received teacheth you all things. 
 In relation to the observance of various religious 
 duties, your inclinations are to guide you ; for, since 
 they all originate in purity, resistance to them will be 
 resistance to the Holy Spirit. To be passive, then, is 
 your highest duty." 
 
 " But," asks the inquirer after the old paths, u am I 
 authorized in believing I shall be led by the Spirit 
 apart from the written word ? Does not our Lord say, 
 ' Except a man deny himself and take up his cross 
 daily, he cannot be my disciple ? ' Am I not, by the 
 teachings of the Bible, continually being urged to be 
 ' instant in season and out of season,' — ' pray in all prayer 
 and intercessions for all saints ? ' Does not the Spirit, 
 through the Scriptures, ever admonish me to be ( stead- 
 fast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the 
 Lord ? ' Am I not warned against neglecting the ordi- 
 nances of God's house ' as the manner of some is,' and am 
 I not, in the command to follow Christ, required to ful- 
 fil all righteousness, and, in all things, to be an example 
 to believers ? " 
 
 " Ah ! " replies this questionable Spirit, " you are 
 not yet in the light, and, therefore, cannot apprehend 
 the privileges of this higher state. You have not yet 
 submitted to the entire crucifixion of self. In the 
 principle that prompts these restless doings — doings — 
 self, in a specious form, is to be seen. You know not 
 yet what it means to be dead indeed ; and not until the 
 life of nature expires, can you know that holy liberty 
 which the Spirit gives to those who are made free 
 
128 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Mysterious experiences questioned. The Bible is the test. 
 
 indeed In this holy resting out of self, where all the 
 animal propensities have been so fully crucified that 
 they can never again revive, there are mysteries which 
 the uninitiated cannot receive." Thus in obscurity, and 
 as an object of compassion, is this inquirer after the old 
 paths left. This questionable spirit, having taken its 
 victim into a higher state than that for which a reason 
 can be given from the Bible, the inquirer after the old 
 paths cannot, of course, be initiated, until he also con- 
 cludes to travel beyond the limits of Bible experience. 
 
 " @o tto Saw and io t\u Sksthwmg." 
 
 " To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it l» 
 because there is no light in them.' 1 — Isaiah viii. 20. 
 
 But the Bible gives light, and it is not in vain that 
 the inquirer turns to the law and to the testimony. And 
 now, how shall wc try this questionable spirit, of whom 
 we have been speaking, and know whether his teachings 
 be of God, or of Satan transformed as an angel of light ? 
 Thanks be to God, we have an infallible test. " To the 
 law and to the testimony." Never, then, need the sim- 
 plest mind be turned out of the way, even though his 
 enemy be exceeding subtle. 
 
 What, then, do the Scriptures teach us in regard to 
 the tempter ? Do they promise us, in this state of proba- 
 tion, exemption from his attacks ? No ; for, in all points, 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 129 
 
 Christ's temptations. Nature not dead. 
 
 was Christ, our exemplar, tempted, yet without sin. 
 " But," says one, " we do not read of Christ's being 
 tempted, other than in the early part of his career, and, 
 as the disciple travels onward with him, he rises to yet 
 higher ground, until he arrives at a state beyond the 
 power of the tempter." The life of the Savior was well- 
 nigh a continuous series of temptation. When about to 
 finish his earthly career, he said to his disciples, " Ye 
 are they who have been with me in my temptations." 
 But we know that the disciples were not with him 
 in his temptation in the wilderness, and it therefore 
 follows, that he was subject to temptation during the 
 whole period of his life. And what indications are 
 there in his sufferings in the garden, where he was " in 
 an agony," and upon his arrest, where he said " Now is 
 the power of darkness," and upon the cross, where he 
 cried, " My God, why hast thou forsaken me ? " that up 
 to the last the Lamb of God was pursued by the tempter ! 
 And then the idea of the entire extinction of our nat- 
 ural life, so that we are no more in danger of being 
 ensnared through our natural propensities, is also erro- 
 neous, and has often led to great error in practice. The 
 Incarnate God took upon himself our nature. He was 
 very man, as also very God. In him we perceive the 
 two natures — human and divine. His human nature 
 shrunk from suffering, and, in view of the cup which 
 the Father gave him to drink, he said, " If it be possible, 
 let this cup pass from me." Had the Savior embraced 
 the idea that the life of nature was entirely extinct, in- 
 sreud of saying, " Not my will but thine be done," what 
 
ISO ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 How betrayals may come. What Satan loves. 
 
 would have been done to ransom a world of sinners ? 
 Well, " as he was, even so are we in this world ; " 
 and let us not imagine that we can arrive at a state 
 where our natural tendencies may not betray us into 
 error. 
 
 The disciple may, and ever should, be in a state where 
 the human will is wholly subjected to the divine will. 
 But should the requirement be such as to cause a shrink- 
 ing of the flesh, let him not be discouraged ; for this 
 shrinking of the flesh will not render him less pleasing 
 to his Father. Our heavenly Father loves to see his 
 children willing to do painful duties. Let us, then, not 
 talk of a higher path than that in which the Savior 
 trod before us. And let us regard with suspicion all 
 attempts to fix on a higher way than that marked by his 
 foot-prints. 
 
 The higher our state, in reality, is, the more subtle 
 will Satan be in his inventions to effect our overthrow. 
 Could he induce one who has been long and successfully 
 engaged in promoting holiness, to favor any of his spe~ 
 cious pretences, what a conquest would be gained ! — a 
 conquest well worthy a jubilee in the lower regions. 
 Ah ! Satan loves a shining mark ! 
 
 With Paul, then, let us keep our body under ; for the 
 tempter tempts the disciple as his Lord ; that is, through 
 the medium of the flesh. As followers of Christ, let us 
 closely keep our eye fixed upon his example in all 
 things. Does the multitude press upon us, so that we 
 may not ever, as we would, find time for earnest plead- 
 ings and deep communion, without sometimes rising 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 131 
 
 Examples. Stated prayer. Old paths. 
 
 before day? let us rather do this than be deprived of 
 seasons of soul-transforming fellowship with God. Let 
 us also take the example of the Old and New Testament 
 saints. With Abraham, let us be with our families, early 
 at the altar. If David, amid his many concernments, as 
 sovereign of a mighty kingdom, could regard his stated 
 seasons of devotion as so important as to fix the resolve 
 that he would, morning, noon and night, pray and cry 
 aloud, — and if Daniel, amid his high responsibilities, and 
 vexations from his heathenish neighbors, regarded his 
 stated hours for communion with God as so impor- 
 tant as not to admit of interference, — let us look with 
 suspiciousness upon an inclination to regard these mat- 
 ters as unimportant. If the enemy would beguile us to 
 yield to this inclination, in whatever form he may come, 
 let us say, " Get thee behind me, Satan , for thou savor- 
 est not the things that be of God, but the things that be 
 of men. " Yes, to the old paths ! 
 
 "The way the holy prophets went, 
 The road that leads from banishment, 
 The King's highway of holiness, 
 We '11 go, for all his paths are peace." 
 
 u But," say some, " we live under the dispensation ol 
 the Spirit ; and now, in searching out the old paths, you 
 go so far back as to take us from under the dispensation 
 of liberty proposed by the Spirit, as though we were to 
 be again justified by the deeds of the law." Not so. 
 Paul, in referring to things aforetime, said, " These things 
 were written for our instruction." If holy men of old 
 spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, they 
 
132 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Sanctuary privileges. Prayer. The standard. 
 
 doubtless acted, in the matter to which we have referred, 
 under the direct leadings of the same Spirit by which, we 
 trust, we are led. With them and with the early dis- 
 ciples also, let us highly esteem sanctuary privileges. 
 " Let us not forget the assembling of ourselves together 
 as the manner of some is." In all the outward, as well 
 as the more private, duties of the Christian, let us, in all 
 fidelity, obey the command, " Be thou an example of 
 the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in 
 spirit, in faith, in purity. " If, in being or doing thus, 
 we may be called to resist the shrinkings of nature, 
 we will say, with our precious Lord, " Not my will, but 
 thine be done," remembering that it is through much 
 tribulation we enter the kin°dom. 
 
 The Bible being the only infallible standard, and no 
 human authority being comparable with it, the latter 
 being only right as far as it is found one in sentiment 
 with it, let this book, above all others, be the book of 
 books with us. An inspired one loved it so much, that 
 it was his meditation day and night. Let it, with us, 
 be the last book at night, and the earliest at dawn. I 
 know one who has been in the daily habit of studying it 
 thus for years past on her knees, and many a lesson has 
 she thus learned in humble waiting before God, com 
 paring Scripture with Scripture, believing that spiritua 
 things can only be spiritually discerned. If we take the 
 entire voice of the written word for the government of our 
 conduct, our lives will present one beautiful assemblage 
 of graces. Otherwise, we may wrest the Scriptures to our 
 own destruction. Even Satan can quote detached pas.^ 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 183 
 
 The entire voice. Itesponsibility of controversialists. 
 
 sages to suit his own purposes ; but let us obey the order 
 of God, and compare Scripture with Scripture, and 
 hearken to the entire voice of the Old and New Testa- 
 ments. 
 
 I believe the late controversy on the subject of holi- 
 ness has been the means of getting many persons, both 
 among the ministry and laity, into a position where they 
 feel far less uneasiness, in regard to the duty of perfect- 
 ing holiness in the fear of the Lord, than they otherwise 
 would. If the idea obtains that we must go on for 
 years in a state of justification before we can reasonably 
 expect to get into the enjoyment of holiness, who can 
 tell the disastrous effects of the vagueness in pursuit 
 which must result to every mind entertaining such an 
 idea ? If the friend of the man who, in view of his 
 immediate necessities, went for three loaves, had pre 
 viously said to him, " Know that I am your friend, and 
 if, at any time, you come to a point of extreme neces- 
 sity, come to me ; and, though I will not pledge my- 
 self to say when, yet know that, if you continue long 
 enough pleading, your necessities will, at some future 
 period, be met, " — would the man, under such cir- 
 cumstances, have had much courage or faith in going to 
 his friend ? When the weary, hungry traveller, whose 
 
 stay, probably, was designed but for the night, came to 
 
 12 
 
134 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 When grace is promised. Ministers' necessity. 
 
 his dwelling, and found him unprepared to set bread 
 before him, w r ould he have thought of going to his 
 friend, whose promise was for some indefinite period ? 
 No ! He would have said, " My friend may starve 
 before my emergency will be met from that source." 
 
 Not so with our Almighty Friend, in whom all 
 fulness dwells. " Grace to help in time of need ' is 
 just what he has promised. Inward purity — holiness 
 of heart — furnishes a readiness for every good work. A 
 minister needs it preparatory to an entrance upon the 
 holy services of the sanctuary. His heart tells him 
 that he is not thoroughly furnished unto every good 
 work, until he receives this grace. He, from whose 
 hand he receives his commission, says, " Be ye clean 
 that bear the vessels of the Lord." If he has not 
 received it previous to entering upon his ministry, his 
 conscience tells him that he ought to have it now. If 
 he obeys man rather than God, and embraces the opin- 
 ion that he may preach it successfully without enjoying 
 it, M That many a minister is more useful without it 
 than others are with it," he will be held responsible, at 
 last, for following the traditions of men rather than the 
 oracles of God. And thus with the lay member whose 
 heart tells him that he needs this further bestowment of 
 grace to fit him fully for the duties of his holy calling. 
 He may get into an easier place for conscience by yield- 
 ing to the idea rtiat he cannot be holy now ; that the 
 blessing may be away in the distance. He may, if he 
 choose, adopt the opinion that his want of greater suc- 
 cess in laboring for God has not been attributable to his 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 135 
 
 Easier but not safer. Important question. 
 
 want of an application of the all-cleansing blood. But 
 adopting the opinion does not make it true. With the 
 main writer in the recent controversy, he may conclude 
 that he is about as safe without it as with it ; and think 
 that God will not condemn him for not going up tc 
 possess the good land, though he long since was brought 
 out of spiritual Egypt. He may conclude that the case 
 of the Israelites who entered not in because of unbelief 
 furnishes no admonition to him ; and thus he may get 
 into an easier place for conscience ; but whether he has 
 got into a safer place, the light of eternity will reveal. 
 
 tmtmt 
 
 ®to Part who didn't \\mw Whxtt §£ Wins. 
 
 One traveller, accosting another by the way, said, 
 "Do you, my brother, enjoy the blessing of entire 
 sanctification ? " 
 
 "I do not know but I received that blessing at the 
 time I was justified ; for I rather think I have loved 
 God with all my heart ever since." 
 
 " You know that we have received of that spirit 
 whereby we know the things freely given to us of God 
 Nothing is more explicitly given than the will of God 
 on this point. ' This is the will of God, even your sanc- 
 tification.' Now do you know that you are wholly 
 sanctified ? " 
 
 " Iwould rather not speak confidently, but I think 
 
136 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Are you an exception ? Afraid to promise. 
 
 I have been willing to cut off a right hand, or pluck out 
 ? ight eye, ever since my conversion." 
 
 " It matters little, my dear brother, when you received 
 the blessing ; whether at the time of your conversion, 
 or since. Mr. Wesley says, ' I will not say that God may 
 not cut short his work, and sanctify a soul wholly at the 
 moment of conversion ; but of the hundreds with 
 whose experience I have been familiar, I have not met 
 with one such case.' So I will say, in regard to your- 
 self; I have known no such case, among the hundreds 
 with whom I have been conversant ; but if you think 
 your case an exception, of course I will not dispute it. 
 Hut, since it is your privilege to know, will you not 
 r 3solve before God to have the matter settled, before you 
 rest your head on your pillow this night ? " 
 
 " O, I should be afraid to make such a resolve ! What 
 if I should not get it ! " 
 
 ".So you are afraid to trust God for what he has 
 promised to give you. He says, ' Now is the accepted 
 time, behold, now is the day of salvation.' When Jesus 
 said, f It is finished,' then he wrought out this salvation 
 for you ; and now, on the part of God, all things are 
 ready. But it is a pearl of great price, and you will not 
 get it until you feel that no expenditure of time or inter- 
 est is too great for its attainment. Will you decide on 
 having it before you sleep ? " 
 
 " I really dare not promise, for I might fail in getting 
 it." 
 
 In saying thus, do you mean to assume that God 
 might be unfaithful, and not give what he has prom- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 137 
 
 Definiteness and importunity. Resolve. Light. 
 
 ised? When the disciples said, ' Lord, teach us how to 
 pray,' the Savior, by an illustration, taught them to 
 pray precisely thus. Definiteness and unyielding importu- 
 nity now, were the lessons taught on this occasion. 
 (See the parable of the three loaves.) The man applied 
 to, had, perhaps, not told his importunate friend he 
 would give him three loaves if he came ; but God has 
 told you that it is his will even your sanctification now, 
 and are you afraid to trust him for the fulfilment of 
 his word ? " 
 
 This brother was a man of business, and he concluded 
 that the object called for a concentration of all his energies, 
 and he deliberately resolved before God, that he would 
 not give sleep to his eyes, or slumber to his eyelids, 
 until he faiew that he was wholly sanctified throughout 
 body, soul, and spirit. 
 
 ■" The day of the Lord is near in the valley of decis- 
 ion." Immediately, on his making this resolve, God 
 began to draw nigh unto him. He soon saw very clear- 
 ly that he was not wholly sanctified. I met with him 
 again on the afternoon of the same day." 
 
 " I see," said he, " now that there is unbelief in my 
 heart." 
 
 " Well, the Holy Spirit has revealed this to you in 
 order that you may be saved from it ; but you do not 
 feel that you can save yourself ; and, if Christ alone is 
 to save you from it, why not trust in him to save you 
 just now ? " 
 
 He now felt that there was too much to be done in 
 
 his heart to be so fully saved in so short a time. But 
 
 12* 
 
138 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Saved from perplexity. Feast of tabernacles. 
 
 he was told that the longer he staid away in any degree 
 from the atonement, the deeper the stain of sin becomes, 
 as every moment's delay makes us the more unworthy. 
 He was persuaded, at last, to make the venture ; and, 
 in a moment, proved that, " He is able to save unto 
 the uttermost all that come unto God by him, seeing he 
 ever liveth to make intercession for us." He, from this 
 time, became a joyful witness that " The blood of Jesus 
 cleanseth from all sin." How soon was he saved from 
 his doctrinal perplexities on resolving that he would not 
 rest until he experimentally knew of the doctrine ! 
 
 " Short is our longest clay of life; 
 
 And soon its prospect ends ; 
 Yet, on this day's uncertain date, 
 
 Eternity depends : 
 But equal to our being's aim, 
 
 The space to virtue given, 
 And every moment, well improved, 
 
 Secures an age in heaven." 
 
 It was at a camp-meeting, and the closing love-feast 
 was being held. Much interest had prevailed on the 
 subject of holiness during the process of the meeting, 
 and many had there received the sanctifying seal. Scores 
 of clear witnesses had already testified, in scriptural 
 terms, of the power of the Sanctifier, and scores more, 
 with longing looks, were waiting to testify that the blood 
 of Jesus cleanseth from all sin. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 139 
 
 Parting talk. What is God going to do with the sacrifice? 
 
 A lady who was at this feast of tabernacles from a 
 distance, as an invited guest, at last arose, and asked the 
 privilege of a little parting talk, which was more than 
 willingly granted. She spoke, as nearly as I can remem- 
 ber, about as follows : — 
 
 " I did not speak at an earlier period in this love-feast, 
 because it always has seemed to me ungenerous for any 
 one to occupy much time when others are waiting, long- 
 ing for the privilege of giving in a testimony. Truly, 
 it may, this morning, be said, ' Praise waiteth for thee, 
 O, God, in Zion ! ' I have waited till others have fin- 
 ished giving in their testimonies, intending to occupy a 
 little more time than might be admissible, if it were not 
 for the fact that I am so soofi to leave you, and may 
 never again have the privilege of mingling in your soci- 
 ety till we meet at the feast of the Lamb. I cannot tel] 
 you how greatly the testimonies I have heard this morn- 
 ing have inspired my heart. I have looked upon the 
 witnesses who have risen to testify that they have set 
 themselves apart and received the sanctifying seal, as set 
 apart to labor and to be henceforth ' workers together 
 with God,' in saving the world. I heard a sister at a 
 meeting similar to this, say, in an affecting, earnest man- 
 ner, ( I have laid my sacrifice upon the altar, but O, 
 what is the Lord going to do with it ? ' Brethren and 
 sisters, God is going to use our sacrifices. He intends to 
 use us as instruments in the salvation of our relatives, 
 friends and neighbors. As in ancient time, when the 
 walls of Jerusalem were being reared, every man was 
 required to build over against his house, so every one 
 
140 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Something more than a name. The work of the Christian. 
 
 is now called to a specific proportion of labor. And 
 entire holiness implies an entire identification with the 
 work of the Lord. Not that I think the Lord would 
 have us unmindful of our ordinary avocations, but he 
 would have us make our every-day associations subser- 
 vient to the spiritual interests of those with whom we 
 are thus connected, so that we may say : — 
 
 ' Every work I do below 
 I do it to the Lord.' 
 
 " From my own realizations, I can testify that entire 
 sanctification — holiness to the Lord — is something more 
 than a blessing in name The terms are significantly 
 expressive of the state. I have no fellowship with any 
 sort of sanctification that wraps itself up in rapturous 01 
 mystical experience, and does not tell on the salvation of 
 sinners. Holiness implies the dedication of all the pow- 
 ers of body and mind to the promotion of Christ's king- 
 dom — an entire identification of interest with the purposes 
 of God. And here, let me testify that, for the last sev- 
 enteen years, I consciously have had no separate interests 
 from those which stand connected with the salvation of 
 the world. Every thing sinks into insignificance in 
 comparison with the great work of saving sinners. If I 
 have a passion for one thing above another, it is that oi 
 soul-saving. We are called to be followers of Christ ; 
 and, though we cannot follow him in his vicarious death, 
 yet we can follow him in manifestations of self-sacrificing 
 zeal and love. Christ left the pure atmosphere of heav- 
 en, the songs of angels, and the holy society of kindred 
 spirits, where all is harmony and love, for a residence of 
 
ECONOMY OF S A L * /. S 1 O N . 141 
 
 Jesus' sacrificing spirit. A tiuesUts.. A proposition. 
 
 years in this sin-polluted world, to bear Ci the contradic- 
 tion of sinners/' to hear the wails of sorrow occasioned 
 by sin, and to endure the agonies of the cross ; all to 
 save sinners. Did the spirit of Christ induce him to 
 make sacrifices ? Then the Christian must, in his meas- 
 ure, be actuated by the same spirit ; for " If any man 
 have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his." I 
 always measure my attainments in grace by the degrees 
 I possess of the mind that was in Christ. 
 
 ' The Christian lives to Christ alone, 
 To Christ alone he dies ' 
 
 " I need not say to you, my dear brethren and sisters, 
 that you cannot retain the blessing of holiness, unless, 
 on all suitable occasions, you are willing to confess it. 
 It is a gift from God, and God requires the acknowledg- 
 ment of every good thing that is in us, by Christ Jesus. 
 But do vou indeed desire that the communication of your 
 faith may be greatly effectual ? Do you desire that your 
 friends and neighbors may know that entire sanctification 
 is something more than a blessing in name ? Do you 
 desire that the cause should not be harmed by its being 
 said of you, ' What do ye more than others V Do you 
 desire that a greater revival than has been known in this 
 region, should be the fruits of this camp-meeting ? Then 
 let me suggest to you a way by which these most desira- 
 ble results may be brought about. Let me ask that you 
 here set apart a given portion of every day to labor 
 specifically in the work of soul-saving. I do not mean 
 solely that you devote this time to prayer for sinners ; 
 
14& ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Personal effort. David's principle. A fraction of time every day for soul-saving. 
 
 this, of course, you will not neglect ; but what I mean 
 is, that you set apart a portion of time daily to go out 
 among sinners, and let them know that you are praying 
 for them, and that you mean to follow them with your 
 prayers and entreaties till they are won over to Christ. 
 Let them know that you feel that their state is exceed- 
 ingly perilous, and their souls of such infinite worth that 
 you are willing to make sacrifices of time and labor in 
 their behalf, and are resolved not to give them up. 
 David scorned to sacrifice that which cost him nothing. 
 Let your business associations and domestic arrangements 
 show that your time and means are set apart for holy 
 purposes, all being made subservient to the salvation of 
 those around you. Do not forget that you are to act 
 not only on the principle which David avowed, when he 
 said, ' Shall I sacrifice that which cost me nothing ? ' 
 but, if you have the spirit of Christ, you are required to 
 exhibit before the world the principles upon which your 
 Savior practised. Trample on pleasure and pain, repu- 
 tation, ease and wealth ; bid defiance to the shrinkings 
 of the flesh ; forego, if need be, the companionship of 
 the pious, to seek and save the lost, perishing sinner. 
 If you cannot appropriate two hours per day, specifically 
 in this employ, appropriate one. If you cannot, by rising 
 earlier or retiring later, or by more careful economy in 
 saving up your moments from things less important, 
 save up two hours for soul-saving, then, if you can, set 
 apart one hour, and if you are so circumstanced, by your 
 engagements to others, that you cannot set apart one hour, 
 you surely can, in the evening, if &at through the day. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 143 
 
 Order. "Decision. Now ! How souls are ^s*; Motives for a plan of labor. 
 
 appropriate one half-hour out of the twenty- four, for this 
 one great work of the Christian. 
 
 <: Little is ever accomplished without system and 
 decision. ' Order is heaven's first law.' If any thing 
 of moment is to be done, the time must be set when we 
 are to say, £ It shall be done now.'' All the sinners on 
 this ground intend to be saved ; but they do not bring 
 it to the point now. Many of them, doubtless, will 
 leave it day after day, till the last day of life comes 
 unexpectedly, and what should have been the business 
 of life is left till too late, and all is lost. So it may be 
 with us in regard to lost opportunities. Souls will be 
 lost which ought to have a timely warning from us, 
 anless we set apart some time to labor for them. It is 
 true that, with the wholly sanctified, all the time is 
 sanctified. Time, with talent and influence, has been 
 laid upon the altar. We do not doubt but every child 
 of God on this encampment i?itcnds, on going home, to 
 work for God during the coming year as never before. 
 Yet, as ever, each hour will bring its demands of ordi- 
 nary care ; and I fear little more will be done than has 
 been done, unless some specific appropriation of time be 
 made. 
 
 " We have come a long distance to be present with 
 you ; but a hundred times over should we be repaid if 
 we might only know that all here, who have professed 
 to be wholly sanctified, would set apart but one half- 
 hour daily, from this day, September 2d, 1854, to Sep- 
 tember 2d, 1855, specifically to the work of soul- 
 saving." 
 
144 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A demonstration. Three hundred yolunteers. The computation. 
 
 Perhaps a score or more of preachers were around, 
 and on the minister's stand, with the excellent presid- 
 ing elder at their head. The sister then turned appeal- 
 ingly to the presiding officer of the meeting, and asked 
 if it would meet his approval to have a demonstration 
 of those who engage in this " half-hour proposition." 
 The worthy elder hailed the proposal with delight, and 
 desired all, who would solemnly before God so engage, 
 to rise and so pledge themselves by standing on their 
 feet. A host of laborers, of about three hundred, arose, 
 and stood looking like an army of invincibles. O, how 
 the sight of our eyes gladdened our heart, as we be- 
 held this band of strong, joyous volunteers for God ! 
 The sister who had made the proposal was affected, and 
 cried out, " Now I know that you will, indeed, have 
 such a revival as has never before been witnessed in this 
 region. Praise ! praise the Lord ! ' The presiding elder, 
 with evident elation of feeling, began to sum up how 
 many glorious days of labor three hundred half-hours 
 daily would make ; but the hour set for closing the 
 meeting had already more than arrived, and this ever-to- 
 be-remembered band of God's sacramental host received 
 the apostolic benediction, and separated with the purpose 
 of each man going after his man as in the days of an- 
 cient warfare. 
 
 But five days had intervened when we again heard 
 from "the regions round about," where this army of 
 God's elect had been scattered, and what was our joy on 
 hearing that the work of revival had already begun 
 in power in several places ! " It began with the half- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 145 
 
 Results. The laborers. Proposition to the reader. Father Reeves. 
 
 hour proposition" said the informant. In several places, 
 souls had been brought to bow at the foot of the cross 
 as earnest seekers of salvation. In one place, eighteen, 
 in another eleven, &c, &«. Alleluia ! the Lord God 
 omnipotent reigneth ! 
 
 " See where the servants of the Lord, 
 A busy multitude, appear, 
 For Jesus day and night employed, 
 His heritage they toil to clear. 
 
 " The love of Christ their hearts constrains, 
 And strengthens their unwearied hands ; 
 They spend their sweat, and toil, and pains, 
 To cultivate Immanuel's lands." 
 
 And now let me solemnly, as in the more immediate 
 presence of God, ask every reader of this article to unite 
 in this iC half hour proposition" Do not say that you 
 cannot spare the time. Scorn to sacrifice that which 
 costs you nothing. If Christ made such sacrifices to 
 save your soul, rejoice in the privilege of sacrificing that 
 which costs something in laboring to save the souls of 
 others. Have you ever read " Father Reeves," the poor 
 mechanic, who, though not unmindful of the duty of 
 caring for his own household, found that working from 
 six o'clock in the morning till eight at night, did not 
 leave him quite time enough to go out among the people 
 and work for God, so he resolved on living on six or 
 seven shillings per week less, and to sacrifice the time to 
 God. His biographer says, "He felt called upon to make 
 sacrifices ; " and faith in God, and love for souls impelled 
 him to make them. A poor mechanic sacrificing some- 
 thing over one dollar and a quarter per week, that he 
 
 13 
 
146 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 We must give time. Serving God by proxy. 450 visits a year. In darkness. 
 
 might give the time to the Lord, is an act of faith and 
 devotion rarely equalled, and is worthy the consideration 
 of men of superior social position, who will willingly 
 give a subscription to a benevolent object, in order to do 
 good by proxy, but who shun personal service. ' Obe- 
 dience is better than sacrifice,' a subscription costs a rich 
 man little, and it is not clear from Scripture that any 
 thing short of personal devotion to the cause of God, will 
 be accepted by him who hath said, " Occupy till I 
 come." Father Reeves kept an account of the number 
 of his visits for several successive years, and during the 
 earlier part of his life they average four hundred and 
 fifty a year, and during the latter part of his life they 
 average six hundred and fifty a year. This was a man 
 who, for the greater part of his long life, was wholly 
 dependent on his daily labors, and yet, with all this 
 amount of labor, he found time for public, closet and 
 family duties. Take an extract from his diary as a 
 sample. (See Diary, Dec. 1831.) 
 
 m>i 
 
 Jtt lartass jfrrrm ^t%\td 4 IMg. 
 
 You say you are in darkness ; have lost your roll, 
 and cannot again find it, and that you are more than 
 miserable. Deeply do I sympathize with you. But, 
 surely, you have not forgotten, " If any man sin, we 
 have an advocate with the Father." Also, "If we con 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 147 
 
 The laborers axe few ! An enthusiastic doctrine. Christ was dishonored. 
 
 fess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 
 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnes." You con- 
 fess your sin, and why not at once claim forgiveness and 
 cleansing ? In view of your statements, I do not doubt 
 but you trespassed in refusing to labor in promoting the 
 cause of holiness. " The laborers are few." Witnesses 
 who testify of purity of heart are greatly needed, especi- 
 ally in the region in which you reside. And in propor- 
 tion to the scarcity of the laborers is the call imperative 
 to those whom God has enabled, from their own experi- 
 ence of the great salvation, to testify of what they know. 
 The feeling of disinclination to labor, of which you speak, 
 was doubtless from the power of the tempter. But "that 
 we are not to do good unless our hearts are free to it," 
 Mr. Wesley denominates an " enthusiastic doctrine." 
 
 Indeed, in proportion to the magnitude of the work the 
 Lord has for us to do, we shall be called to withstand 
 satanic influences calculated to deter us from our work. 
 But, surely, there is no sin in feeling these dissuasive 
 influences, if we do not yield to them. The greater the 
 shrinking of the flesh, the greater the victory if we only 
 resist. You did not resist, and the Captain of your sal- 
 vation was dishonored by your defeat ; and darkness 
 and misery have been brought upon your soul. But is 
 it not your duty, now that you confess your sin, to 
 believe God not only forgives, but, as you again present 
 yourself wholly to God through Christ, is it not also your 
 duty to believe that the blood of Jesus cleanseth from 
 all unrighteousness ? And, since you lost the blessing 
 by not laboring to promote the cause of holiness when 
 
148 , ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Pilgrim and his roil. The open fountain. Of faith, the witness of the .Spirit, aiid joy 
 
 you had reason to believe it was your duty to do so, 
 resolve that you will, from this hour, redeem the time in 
 efforts to promote the cause as never before. Do not 
 forget that, when Pilgrim lost his roll, he went right 
 back to the place where he lost it, and found it again., 
 The same fountain in whose waters you washed and 
 were clean, is still open, still flowing, and still it clean- 
 seth from all unrighteousness. Will you not, with me, 
 now praise the Lord for this ? Will you not just now 
 
 M Plunge into the purple flood, 
 Rise in all the life of God » ? 
 
 i <» i 
 
 SCto titttes of the £pirit. 
 
 All your difficulties, my dear brother, seem to be 
 the consequence of this error. As soon as your sensi- 
 ble emotion had subsided, and you were called to walk 
 by faith, you gave up your confidence, and thought you 
 had lost the witness of the Spirit. Now the witness of 
 the Spirit is not joyous emotion. At the time of its 
 reception, we may have joyous emotion ; but this is not 
 the witness of the Spirit. " He that believeth hath 
 the witness in himself." This, I apprehend to be an 
 internal conviction, produced by the Spirit, that we 
 have the grace for which we have believed. This con- 
 viction may have been produced in the heart by some 
 noiseless and almost indiscernible process. But, if we 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 119 
 
 Faith and emotion. Christ in the wilderness. " Cast not away your confidence." 
 
 have that knowledge, it does not matter how it has been 
 received, or when. To know the fact is enough. " The 
 wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the 
 sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and 
 whither it goeth. So is every one that is born of the 
 Spirit." You were saved by grace, through faith. Had 
 you remembered this, you would not have thrown away 
 the blessing of salvation, just so soon as God began to 
 test your faith. 
 
 The Spirit descended like a dove, and abode upon the 
 Savior. Immediately afterwards, he was taken by the 
 Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. 
 We may not presume that while he was there with the 
 wild beasts, and subject to more, far more, dreadful 
 suggestions than you have ever known, he had sensi- 
 ble emotions of joy. No j his joy was to submit to 
 the will of his heavenly Father, and it was the will 
 of his Father that he should be tempted. And so his 
 joy consists in this. Looking at the matter in this way, 
 we can easily conceive how we may count it all joy 
 when we fall into divers temptations. So, my brother, 
 you see we may know, with the Savior, that we have 
 the abidings of the Spirit, however severely tempted. 
 Had you, while being tempted, obeyed the command of 
 your Lord, " Cast not away your confidence" you would 
 have found yourself a gainer in the end. A firmer 
 establishment of soul would have succeeded, and you 
 would now have been prepared to comfort those who 
 are in tribulation, with the comfort wherewith you were 
 comforted of God. In casting away your confidence, 
 
 13* 
 
150 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Faith not emotion. Confession before forgiveness. 
 
 you displeased God ; for he has said, " The just shall 
 live by faith," (not emotion.) In yielding up your 
 faith because you had not joyous emotion, you grieved 
 the Holy Spirit to such a degree, that I do not wonder 
 your distress has become so grievous. For God has 
 said, " If any man draw back, my soul shall have no 
 pleasure in him." 
 
 TO A SEEKER OF THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT. 
 
 You say, my dear brother, that you will do any thing 
 1 will advise. In the name of the Lord, I would now 
 advise that you confess your sin in having cast away your 
 confidence. Tell the Lord that you now desire and 
 intend, from this moment, to obey him, and, as he has 
 said " The just shall live by faith," you desire rather to 
 live a life of faith, than a life of emotion. And, now, 
 my brother, begin at once to bring forth fruits meet for 
 repentance. Resume your confidence. God did not 
 take it from you. You cast it away, and now he again 
 commands you to believe. Do not wait till you are 
 more worthy ; for every moment's delay makes you 
 more unworthy. Do not try to save yourself; for 
 Christ alone can save. 
 
 Not even in the least degree can you save yourself. 
 If your heart is unmoved, and hard, do not calculate on 
 bringing it up unto a condition of earnest and vigorous 
 affection yourself. Let your first endeavor be to yield it 
 up to God. He has assured you that the preparation 
 of the heart is with him. It is your Savior who is to 
 take away the heart of stone, and give a heart of flesh. 
 If you should yield your heart up wholly to him in pre- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION 151 
 
 Christ receives what we give. What is the witness. 
 
 cisely the state in which it now is, what do you think he 
 would do with it ? Do you imagine it would long con- 
 tinue in its present unfeeling condition? My advice is, 
 that you now resign yourself believingly into his hands. 
 
 Are. you doing this now ? Do you say, 
 
 yes? Then Christ is now receiving you — he is now 
 saving you. Now is the day of salvation. He is doing 
 it, let your emotions be what they may. You may say, 
 I do not feel it. Remember faith is not feeling. You 
 are not saved by feeling, but by faith. "Thy faith 
 hath saved thee ; go in peace, and sin no more." Yes, 
 the moment you do this, you are saved. Could you 
 weep rivers of tears, you could not induce the Savior to 
 save you in any other way. We must trust in Christ 
 to do for us what w r e know w r e cannot do for ourselves. 
 The faith that saves is trust. And the gospel proposes 
 no other way to be saved than that of a present and con- 
 tinuous trust in Christ. Emotion, or no emotion, if you 
 are now doing this, you are now being saved. When 
 you do this, the Spirit, through the revealed word, tells 
 you that you are saved. He that believcth hath the 
 witness in himself. The consciousness, or, in other 
 words, the knowledge that it is so, is the witness of the 
 Spirit. For it is the Spirit alone that can produce this 
 consciousness. 
 
 A short time since, a sister said to me, " I believe I do 
 love the Lord with all my heart." " Do you not know 
 it? " said I. " Yes, I know it," she replied ; " but I want 
 the witness" I turned to Dr. B., who was standing by, 
 and said, " Here, Dr. B., is a sister who believes and knows 
 
152 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 "I believe, and know, but want the witness." 
 
 that she loves the Lord with all her heart, but she wants 
 the witness of the Spirit that it is so." Dr. B., addressing 
 himself to her, said, " You believe the sun shines — you 
 know it, and now do you want the witness of it ? Is not 
 the knowledge of it imparted through the agency of the 
 Holy Spirit, witnessing with your spirit ? What witness, 
 beyond what you have, do you need, since you have the 
 knowledge of the fact ? ' O, yes, " He that believeth hath 
 the witness in himself." Remember that, in believing 
 the word of the immutable Jehovah, you have a founda- 
 tion for your faith immovable as the throne of the eter- 
 nal. You believe your fallible friend, and, without a 
 shadow of doubt, speak to your friends of your faith in 
 my word. Your faith in me produces some effect; for 
 your exhibit, not only by your words, but by your ac- 
 tions, your faith in what I say. Should I write you now 
 that one of your dearest friends, for whose salvation 
 you have been greatly desirous, was converted at the 
 
 1ST St. altar, last evening, your heart would at once 
 
 leap with delight, and you would hasten to inform your 
 
 Brother S . It is because you have faith in my 
 
 written word. But how . can I speak in words that will 
 do justice to the subject, when I would speak of the dif 
 ference between the words of man and the words of God . 
 " The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, 
 and they are life." " He that believeth on me, though 
 he were dead, yet shall he live." But where shall I 
 pause? When I get on this theme, — the divinity of 
 the word of God, — my heart ever burns with heavenly 
 inspirations, and its ardors seem to know no bound. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 153 
 
 You brought it upon yourself The simplicity of faith. 
 
 »But I must pause now. Time fails me, and I may not 
 proceed. My object, just now, is to assure you of your 
 error in entertaining the idea that the witness of the 
 Spirit was gone, because your sensible emotions of 
 joy had subsided. I want to convince you that you 
 brought this grievous distress upon yourself because 
 you gave up your hold upon the promises in conse- 
 quence of imbibing this erroneous impression. I want 
 to tell you that, if you now heartily believe God, you 
 will have an experimental realization of salvation. This 
 realization is produced in the heart by the power of the 
 Holy Spirit, and is the witness of the Spirit. By what 
 power could it have been produced, but by that of the 
 Spirit ? You see the singular position of the sister to 
 whom I have referred, who said, " I want the witness ;" 
 but I have met with many who occupy about the same 
 position, and who are continually indulging themselves 
 in endless perplexities about the doctrine of the witness 
 of the Spirit, as though there were an indefinable mys- 
 teriousness about it. Whole books have been written 
 as elucidatory, and I have, in my mind's eye, those who 
 have labored more to study and inwardly digest these, 
 than they have in coming down to the simple Bible 
 fact, "He that believeth hath the witness in himself." 
 The Bible makes it so simple and intelligible, that the 
 multiplying of words seems like putting darkness for 
 light. My dear brother, let us thank God, and take 
 courage. Let us just now bow down, and, in humble- 
 ness of mind, laud and magnify his excellent name, that 
 he has made the way of salvation so plain that way- 
 faring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 
 
154 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Duty of " the bride." The persevering invitation. 
 
 fJOTomtt (Kfflart to dhtlist Jfedura of Jlaltmto. 
 
 A protracted meeting is in progress, and what earnest 
 Christian does not feel the importance of going, under 
 such circumstances, and inviting sinners to come to 
 Christ ? " The Spirit and the bride say, Come." It is not 
 enough that the Spirit say, Come ! The bride must do 
 her part of the work, and also say, Come ! And is not 
 the Spirit always saying, Come ? And if the bride, or, in 
 other words, the church, in her individual membership, 
 — if these were also ever saying, Come, — what a contin- 
 uous work of revival should we have ! I once heard a 
 minister, by way of illustrating this text, say : A lady 
 provides a feast, and fixes her mind resolutely on 
 having this and the other particular friend present. 
 She goes to her friend, but her friend pleads previous 
 engagements. But she resolves on taking no denial. 
 As her friend brings up excuses, she, with affectionate 
 fixedness of purpose, puts one after another aside, and 
 finally triumphs in success. Well, the Spirit and the 
 bride say, Come ; and are you, as a member of Christ's 
 church, diligently saying — to your friends, neighbors, 
 and to those unawakened sinners connected with the 
 congregation with whom you stand in church relation, 
 — saying to all these, " Come, for all things are now 
 ready " ? Much may be accomplished by these efforts. 
 The Spirit does the work, but the church, in her indi- 
 vidual membership, are the agents. And though the 
 Snirit says, Come, we are not to expect to see the work 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 155 
 
 A work for every Christian. A visit to the gallery contemplated. 
 
 accomplished unless the individual membership come up 
 * f to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against 
 the mighty." Do not think it optional with yourself 
 whether you will extend these gospel invitations. 
 
 It is the design of God that every redeemed sinner 
 shall be specially invited. What a work is before every 
 individual Christian ! Surely, help is needed. What 
 might be the result of this meeting, should every mem- 
 ber, individually and collectively, engage in urging the 
 gospel invitation ! We little know what the result of 
 one well-directed effort may be. Shall I tell you of 
 some encouragements and condescensions of grace con- 
 nected with my own efforts in urging the gospel invita- 
 tion? 
 
 A FLIGHT TO THE ALTAR. 
 
 Sitting, one Sabbath evening, in the midst of one of 
 our large city congregations, my heart was deeply pen- 
 etrated, as I cast my eye on the thoughtless ones in the 
 gallery. Judging from appearances, most of them were 
 votaries of fashion and folly. " Without God, having 
 no hope in the world " ! exclaimed my heart, as I pre- 
 sented wishful desires to heaven in their behalf. " Sup- 
 pose," said the Spirit, u it should be your duty to go up 
 there, and mingle with them, and try to urge some of 
 them to come to Christ." I was not then so much accus- 
 tomed to being " instant in season and out of season," and 
 my nature shrunk from the publicity, and the apparent 
 officiousness of such an act. But I dared not do other- 
 wise than bring the matter closely to the Lord, and, in 
 doing so, duty was made plain. 
 
156 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Serious but mute. A message from God. A sudden movement. 
 
 I then asked believingly, that the Lord would direct 
 my steps. I noticed a young lady that looked serious, 
 though not apparently affected. I addressed her on the 
 subject of religion, but could elicit no answer to my 
 various inquiries, though she seriously listened. My 
 efforts being apparently unavailing, I left her. I pressed, 
 with urgency, the gospel invitation on several others. A 
 few accepted, and went forward for prayers. But still, 
 my heart seemed pressed with the conviction that the 
 object for which I had been specially sent there was not 
 answered. I asked the, Lord if it were indeed so, that 
 mv mind might still be directed. 
 
 The young lady I had addressed on entering the 
 gallery, still sat there, in a serious and rather pensive 
 mood. Believing that " He that asketh reccivcth" I 
 asked for a message from God to her, and felt that I 
 received what I had asked. I went to the young 
 lady, and, trusting in the Spirit to give power, I solemnly 
 said, " I have a message from God unto thee ! ' It was 
 evident that the Holy Spirit accompanied the words with 
 much power to her inmost heart. The great deep was 
 being broken up, and the large tears began to drop in 
 quick succession. Observing this, I said, " If you wish 
 to have the united prayers of God's people, I will go 
 with you from the gallery, and we will go forward to- 
 gether to the altar of prayer." But she was still, as before, 
 silent. A young lady rose by her side to go out, when 
 she suddenly started up too. The movement was so 
 unexpected, and she was so powerfully convicted, that I 
 thought she was going to dart out of the church, to hide. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 157 
 
 The surprise. Haste. A family of eleven converted. 
 
 from the presence of God, and I, with sorrow and sur- 
 prise, said, 
 
 " What ! going away ? " 
 
 " Going down to the altar ! " she exclaimed quickly. 
 As I had promised to go with her, I, of course, felt the 
 duty of being true to my word. But she preceded me 
 to the altar so rapidly, that, in order to go with her, I 
 really had to make myself a spectacle to the congregation, 
 and run. Her haste reminded me of Bunyan's Christian, 
 fleeing from the City of Destruction, crying, Life ! Life ! 
 Eternal Life ! 
 
 For three days, she sought Jesus, sorrowing, when he 
 revealed himself to her, the " fairest among ten thousand," 
 and the one " altogether lovely." Her friends were all 
 entirely irreligious ; and, themselves unaccustomed to 
 attend the means of grace, they opposed her attendance, 
 and variously persecuted her, to turn her from the right 
 way of the Lord. She had been a gay votary of the 
 world. I advised her not to compromise true Christian 
 principles in any iota, but to serve the Lord with earnest 
 steadfastness, manifesting that she had given up the 
 world, and exhibiting, by her daily walk and conversa- 
 tion, all the lovely proprieties of a religious life, assuring 
 her, if she would do this, that the Lord would permit 
 her to see the salvation of her relatives. It was not 
 long before the different branches of the family, father, 
 mother, brothers and sisters, married and unmarried, 
 were also induced to attend the means of grace ; and, in 
 less than three months, the family circle, eleven in num- 
 ber, were all brought into the fold of Christ. Surely, it 
 
 14 
 
158 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A danger. God gives the word, and we must carry it. Labor not in vain. 
 
 is important to attend to these gentle impressions which 
 the Holy Spirit makes on the heart. We would not 
 encourage fanatical hap-hazard efforts ; but there is 
 danger of over-nicety — danger of being so fearful of 
 following impressions, as not to follow any impression 
 made by the Holy Spirit on the heart. How can the 
 Holy Spirit do much with such instrumentalities toward 
 the world's conversion ? 
 
 It is God that gives the word, and we, as agents, must 
 be ready to convey it to the sinner. A number of times 
 have I, during our protracted meeting, looked upon the 
 gay and thoughtless, and asked the Lord to speak through 
 me to them. I have then, as in the case just narrated, 
 taken the message, and delivered it as from the High 
 and Holy One. God has honored my faith, and often 
 owned the effort in the speedy conviction of the sinner. 
 Surely, in this, as in all other matters, " according to 
 our faith "it is done unto us. I believe, in answer to 
 strong faith, God will always send the message to the 
 sinner's heart ; and though they may not always yield, 
 yet it is the duty of the church to give the invitation, 
 whether sinners will hear or forbear. The throne of 
 God must be guiltless. Christians are workers together 
 with God, and, if truly spiritually-minded, are either a 
 savor of life unto life, or of death unto death, to those 
 with whom they communicate. 
 
 THE MISTAKE. 
 
 On one occasion I made an apparent mistake, by 
 speaking to a professor, supposing I was addressing one 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. . 159 
 
 A professor taken for a worldling. A gay lady. Expostulation. 
 
 whose heart was wholly in the world. " And why did 
 you speak to me as to one not professing religion ? " 
 asked this gay church member. We did not tell her, 
 being quite sure that she might readily infer the cause. 
 Is not " the friendship of this world enmity with God ? " 
 and if any man will be the friend of the world, is he not 
 the enemy of God ? Strange ! that the professed follow- 
 ers of Christ should love to be so like the world in spirit 
 and appearance, that it should be difficult to distinguish 
 them. 
 
 The next evening I thought, now I will be careful 
 not to speak to a professor for a worldling again. I will 
 look for the most in eligious-looking, worldly-conformed 
 person in the house. I singled out one who seemed 
 wholly irreligious, and was remarkable for the gaiety of 
 her appearance. I asked her if she did not think it her 
 duty to set out in the service of the Savior. She assured 
 me that she had not been in the habit of thinking seri- 
 ously on the subject. I said, 
 
 " Though you may not have been in the habit of 
 thinking much, yet it is your duty to think. It was 
 the sin of Israel that thev did not consider. You know, 
 as a redeemed creature, you belong to God. You know 
 that you are not your own ; for you have been bought 
 with a price. O, why do you not begin to seek the 
 Lord ? " 
 
 She was courteous and respectful, as every one duly 
 acquainted with the proprieties of life will be, when 
 addressed in regard to the highest, and most ennobling 
 of all subjects, the salvation of the soul. But from the 
 
1(30 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 An excuse offered — and answered. A question of faith. A concession. 
 
 fact that it is not common, in our congregations, to 
 address persons in regard to their individual salvation, 
 who do not manifest any interest on the subject, she 
 probably wondered why I should have singled out such 
 an unlikely subject as herself. 
 
 As a reason why she could not begin at once to seek 
 the Lord, she said, 
 
 " I have no feeling on the subject of religion." 
 
 " But do you not know that it is your duty to begin 
 to seek the Lord ? " 
 
 " I suppose it is." 
 
 "Let us settle this question. It either is your duty, 
 or it is not. You believe the Bible is the word of God, 
 do you not ? " 
 
 She looked as if she could chide me for asking the 
 question, and exclaimed, with some warmth, 
 
 "Certainly I do !" 
 
 " And do you, indeed, believe it to be God's word, 
 as truly as though you could hear him speaking in tones 
 of thunder from the heavens, as when uttered on Sinai ? " 
 
 " I do ! " 
 
 " If, then, you could hear the voice of God, sounding 
 out from the highest heavens, speaking directly to you, 
 telling you the precise moment when you must begin to 
 seek the Lord, you would not delay one moment. You 
 would not hesitate about duty, would you ? " 
 
 " No, indeed, I would not." 
 
 " Now; my friend, God is speaking to you from heaven 
 this moment. You say you believe the Bible is his 
 word, as truly as though you could hear him speak from 
 
(( 
 
 (( 
 
 ECOJNOMY OF SALVATION. 161 
 
 The act and the time. Directions for obtaining the requisite feeling. 
 
 heaven. God, by the voice of his word, is now saying 
 to you, 'Give me thy heart.' If you say, ' When, 
 Lord ? ' he tells you just when. ' Now is the accepted 
 time ; behold, now is the day of salvation.' i It is 
 time to seek the Lord.' How can the duty of the 
 present moment be made plainer ? You cannot, without 
 making yourself a greater sinner, hesitate for one 
 moment. You cannot hesitate from the idea that you 
 are not convicted ; for the knowledge of duty is ^con- 
 viction." 
 
 But I have no feeling." 
 
 If I will tell you just how you may get feeling, 
 will you follow my advice ? " 
 
 « I will." 
 
 Then, go kneel there, with those seekers of salvation. 
 Begin to call upon the Lord. Christ is exalted to be a 
 Prince and a Savior, to give repentance unto Israel, and 
 remission of sins. Call upon Christ for the gift of 
 repentance. You will then have the united prayers of 
 God's people. There will be more than two or three 
 agreed in presenting your case to God. The fervent, 
 effectual prayer of the righteous availeth much. Many 
 seekers of salvation have found the Savior under sim- 
 ilar circumstances. It is not until the day that you 
 seek the Lord with all your heart, that he promises to 
 be found of you. Seek him now with all your heart, 
 and he will now be found of you. You know your 
 duty, and if you will now yield to these convictions, you 
 will have all the feeling that will be needful. It is not 
 feeling that is to save you ; Christ alone is the Savior. 
 
 14* 
 
16£ ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Seeking God without a tear. Converted in an hour. The jailer and Peter 
 
 Yielding to these solemn convictions of duty, but 
 without shedding a tear, this gay votary of fashion went 
 forward, and, with several other seekers of salvation who 
 had presented themselves, she knelt at the altar of 
 prayer. She had been there but a few moments before 
 manifestations of feeling were abundant. She wept 
 profusely. She sought the Lord with all her heart. And 
 how long does it take such an one to find the Lord ? If 
 I should say the whole process of awakening and con- 
 version did not occupy quite an hour, would you 
 doubt the genuineness of the work ? Do not say, yes, 
 until after you have ascertained how long it took the 
 Lord to convert the jailer in the days of Paul. 
 
 # 
 
 A CONVERSION QUESTIONED, AND WHY! 
 
 I say this, because the experience of one of my 
 friends, whose conversion was thus rapid in its pro- 
 cesses, was so seriously questioned as to be well-nigh 
 fatal to the convert. The conversion was not ques- 
 tioned because the fruits were wanting ; but because it 
 was so sudden. And these questionings, too, were 
 from the lips of grave divines. Suppose, the second 
 day after the jailer's conversion, he had casually fallen 
 in with the apostle Peter. He tells Peter of the bliss- 
 ful heart realizations which have resulted from his faith 
 in Christ. With a joyous excitement consequent on 
 the sudden transition from the darkness of unbelief to 
 the light of faith, he expatiates on the blessedness of his 
 change, — the joy and peace of believing. He expects 
 heart-inspiring sympathy from Peter, as the old friend 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 163 
 
 A cooling caution from Peter — and then another from John. 
 
 of Paul, his spiritual father. " But/' says Peter, u my 
 friend, you need to be careful. Paul generally produces 
 an excitement wherever he goes. A great many sud- 
 den conversions take place under his ministry, and, as a 
 consequence, spurious conversions are not uncommon. 
 You had better be careful, very careful, not to let the 
 intelligence of your conversion spread abroad till after 
 you have waited long enough to test your conversion 
 fully, and know that it is genuine. Do you not think 
 our young convert, the jailer, by this time, begins to feel 
 his confidence decreasing, and the excitements of his first 
 love somewhat lessened ? 
 
 But he goes on, and unexpectedly meets the apostle 
 John, another of the old friends of his spiritual father, 
 Paul. His confidence and love begin to gather re- 
 newed inspirations, and he tremblingly again ven- 
 tures to tell of the happy change wrought in his 
 heart through faith in Christ. John looks serious, and, 
 instead of manifesting joyous reciprocation, begins to 
 speak of the danger of being deceived. " But," says 
 the jailer, " Paul recognized me as a true convert, and 
 baptized me as such. He did not tell me I had reason 
 to fear deception, because I was so suddenly converted." 
 " Yes," says John, " but Paul was himself three days 
 under conviction, and how can it be that you should be 
 converted in so short a time ? " " It has been much on 
 my mind," says our young convert, " that I ought to 
 come out at once before the world in the profession of 
 my faith." " But," says John, " you had better wait, 
 and be sure that the change is real, and not the effect of 
 
164 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The young convert and his pastor. Dissuasions. Darkness. Light again. 
 
 sudden excitement ; for, if you should chance to fall 
 away, as some other of Paul's converts do, how much 
 would it be to the disadvantage of the cause which you 
 wish to serve ! " 
 
 Now this is not a fancy picture. We had a friend 
 whose conversion was well-nigh as sudden as the 
 jailer's. And there were two ministers whose abili- 
 ty to settle theological difficulties might have placed 
 them beyond Peter or John, if time spent in theolog- 
 ical studies were the criterion. Our unconverted friend 
 had accompanied us to a place, where it was not unu- 
 sual to witness sudden and remarkable displays of the 
 awakening, justifying and sanctifying power of God. 
 He was awakened, and suddenly converted perhaps in 
 about as short a time as was the jailer. Yielding to the 
 same sort of inspiration which David felt, when he said 
 "Come unto me, all ye that fear the Lord, and I will 
 tell you what he hath done for my soul," he went to 
 tell his pastor, who belonged to a different theological 
 .school from that of the minister under whose labors he 
 had been so suddenly converted. He was met in just 
 about the way above supposed. It was distressing to 
 see the perplexity of his mind on his return. But we 
 assured him that the Lord could convert a soul just 
 as thoroughly in half an hour, as in half a century. 
 He had felt it his duty openly to profess Christ that 
 evening. But, yielding to these dissuasions, he became 
 disheartened, and resolved not to come out in an open 
 profession. This resistance to duty brought great dark- 
 ness upon his mind. After laboring with him prayer- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 165 
 
 A caution reiterated, and consequent failure. The sportsman. 
 
 fully for some time, his confidence was again restored, 
 and he resolved to confess Christ. Again he left us, 
 rejoicing in faith, and strong in resolution, when 
 the tempter again, through a minister, attacked him on 
 the same grounds ; the suddenness of his conversion, and 
 the danger of profession ; and again he returned per- 
 plexed and discouraged as before. Could such an one 
 be expected to hold fast his faith, and in the end make a 
 good confession before many witnesses ? Surely, it would 
 have been well-nigh miraculous if he had. He was not 
 taken away from under such influences, and he did not en- 
 dure better than the jailer might have endured, if placed 
 under circumstances such as we have described. His 
 conversion was doubtless pronounced an ephemeral con- 
 version. And those sage theological friends perhaps 
 thought the wisdom of their counsels vindicated by the 
 result to a demonstration. 
 
 A SUDDEN AND UNQUESTIONABLE CONVERSION. 
 
 But I had another friend who, though even more 
 suddenly converted, did not fall in with the same sort 
 of doctors of divinity, and endured manfully. My 
 
 friend, Mr. , was a man of fine natural address, 
 
 and a lover of pleasure. He often attended divine wor- 
 ship, and often, on the Sabbath, made resolves to devote 
 himself to the service of Christ. But he had thoughtless 
 companions, and he was fond of the race, and his social 
 and sportive qualities were ever bringing him into the 
 snare of Satan. Each week witnessed him under yet 
 greater condemnation from broken resolves. One Sat- 
 
166 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A midnight vow on the two Testaments. Help and salvation. 
 
 urday night, returning late from his business, he reflect- 
 ed on his many broken vows. His conscience told him 
 he ought to do better ; but his heart was so sadly re- 
 minded of his many failures, that he scarcely dared to 
 vow again. But a new thought struck him. He had 
 reached his home. It was now about the solemn mid- 
 night hour. The lights in his dwelling were all ex- 
 tinguished. But he knew where the good old family 
 Bible was. He remembered that the God of the Bible 
 was a covenant-keeping God, and opening it between the 
 Old and New Covenant, he, as in the solemn presence 
 of God, with one hand placed on the Old Testament, 
 and the other on the New, renewed his resolves, and 
 said, 
 
 " O Lord, if thou wilt help me, I will serve thee forever." 
 Strength from heaven was immediately let down into 
 his soul. He felt that God, as his Almighty Helper, 
 began to w work in him mightily to will and to do of 
 his good pleasure." He laid his head on his pillow 
 that night, conscious of the inworkings of the Holy 
 Spirit. He greeted the light of the blessed Sabbath, a 
 new creature in Christ Jesus. To his own perceptions, 
 and to the observation of his friends, " Old things had 
 passed away." By his beaming countenance, and with 
 his lips, he testified that the joy of the Lord was his 
 strength. Though his sudden change was singularly 
 unlooked for, yet we never heard the genuineness of his 
 conversion questioned. His consistent, happy, useful 
 life bore ample testimony that he had passed from death 
 unto life — 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 167 
 
 Breakfast on board a steamer. The inquiry. " 0, I am happy." 
 
 " Will he not his help afford ? 
 Help while yet I ask is given ; 
 God comes down, the God and Lord, 
 Who made both earth and heaven." 
 
 *m»m t 
 
 $fa GJ-ajjiain m& bis <Smi 
 
 " Captain, did you ever turn your attention seriously 
 to the subject of religion ? " 
 
 So said we to the captain of a steamer, with whom we 
 had been chatting over a good breakfast on board of his 
 vessel. 
 
 Our captain was evidently more pleasantly at home 
 on almost any other subject, than the subject of religion. 
 But we dared not let the opportunity pass without say- 
 ing a few words to him about his eternal interests. 
 
 The captain, in answer to our inquiry, assured us that 
 he thought exceedingly well of religion, but had never 
 given much of his attention to the subject. And, as we 
 still persisted in urging its importance, he exclaimed, 
 
 " O, I am happy." 
 
 " We would be far from disputing that point with you, 
 captain. There is a sort of hilarity which the man of 
 the world may enjoy when he does not think. But only 
 let him once begin to consider, and his happiness is all 
 spoiled." 
 
 " I would not wish you to think me wholly inattentive 
 to the subject of religion. But there are so many things 
 to claim one's attention, I do not, I suppose, get as 
 
168 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A proposition. " Y-e-s." The difference stated. 
 
 much time to think as I ought. But I am not without 
 my enjoyments. 
 
 u Do not misunderstand me, captain ; of course, 1 
 would not differ with you in opinion on that subject. 
 But let me tell you, where I think there is a differ- 
 ence. Now, let us be very honest with each other. 
 Candidly, my friend, will you be really honest with me, 
 if I will be purely so with you ? " 
 
 The captain looked a little demurrish, probably fearing 
 that he would come out on the wrong side, but, as gentle- 
 men will sometimes rather even give up their own 
 strong will, than to disoblige the ladies, he hesitatingly 
 said, 
 
 " Y-e-s." 
 
 " Well, then, here is where I think you will find 
 the difference between the happiness of the worldling 
 and that of the Christian. You enjoy the world and the 
 various socialities of life. In festive, mirthful scenes, your 
 hilarity abounds, but in the midst of the most mirthful, 
 only begin to think. My soul is immortal ! This night, 
 my soul may be required of me. In such an hour as I 
 think not, the Son of man cometh. You know that 
 these things are not idle fantasies. Your judgment tells 
 you that they are solemn realities : the more you think 
 and let your better judgment predominate, the more un 
 happy you are." 
 
 " True ! true ! " 
 
 " Now, captain, here is the difference ; the more we 
 think, the more happy we are. The religion of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ furnishes, in itself, an inexhaustible 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 169 
 
 Piety and happiness. Two witnesses. A happy soul in a suffering hody. 
 
 fund of happiness. While it does not forbid any thing 
 of a worldly nature that is really needful for our enjoy- 
 ment, it furnishes other enjoyments, rich and varied 
 beyond expression. That it has the promise of the life 
 that now is, you admit ; for you believe the Bible. And 
 we are witnesses of this truth. (Husband was standing 
 beside me.) We have been testing the truth of these 
 principles ever since we were little children, and, surely, 
 we may be permitted to judge. What we say between 
 each other, when no mortal ear is within hearing, must 
 be honest, you will allow ; and, husband, do we not 
 often say, between each other, that the worldling does 
 not even begin to know what happiness means ? " 
 
 Here husband added his testimony, and observed, 
 " Religion has been every thing to me. I have been 
 trying it ever since I was a little boy. I don't know 
 what I should have been without it. I have tried it in 
 childhood, in youth, and in middle age, and now, as I 
 begin to contemplate going down the declivity of life, 
 the happiness it imparts only increases." 
 
 M Now you see, captain, you have our united testimony. 
 We do not wish you to infer that Christians have no trials. 
 Christians, in common with worldlings, are called to 
 endure various earthly vicissitudes, and trials painful to 
 the flesh ; but, while the worldling has nothing to cheer 
 him under these circumstances, the Christian has only to 
 think, and be happy in his soul, however much his 
 body may suffer. His heavenly Father is ever saying to 
 him, "All things work together for good to them that 
 love God," and he has only to keep thinking of this, 
 
 15 
 
170 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Death and home. The question. The response. The parting. 
 
 and the more he thinks, the more happy he becomes. 
 Of course, we know that the hour of death and earthly 
 separation must come. But this, instead of destroying 
 our happiness, only makes us think with yet greater joy 
 of our inheritance — our home beyond the grave, where 
 we shall spend an eternity of happiness in yet more 
 blissful union, in the presence of him, ( whom, having 
 not seen, we love.' Now, captain, you see here are two 
 agreed, and ' in the mouth of two or three witnesses 
 every word shall be established.' Tell me, then, 
 what do you think of the difference between the happi- 
 ness of the worldling and of the Christian ? You see I 
 have been candid ; will you be candid ? " 
 
 The captain frankly acknowledged that we had the 
 right of the matter, and conceded that our case was 
 fairly won. He confessed that it was only when he 
 could manage to keep out of his thoughts death and 
 eternity, that he could be happy. He seemed deeply 
 serious, and we were encouraged to believe that he 
 would give his more earnest attentions to the subject of 
 religion. We repeated the words, 
 
 " 'T is religion, that must give 
 
 Solid comfort while we live , 
 'Tis religion must supply 
 
 Solid comfort when we die. 
 After death, its joys will be 
 
 Lasting as eternity ; 
 Let me, then, make God my friend, 
 
 Then my joys sha 1 never end." 
 
 We separated affectionately. Sinners do not love us 
 less for being faithful to their souls. They know, if we 
 heartily believe what we profess to believe, that we 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 171 
 
 Men of the world. A question — asked — interpreted — answered. 
 
 ought to be instant in season, and out of season, in our 
 efforts to save them. Many men of the world seldom 
 hear a gospel sermon ; and even those who do hear fre- 
 quently need the affectionate and practical demonstra- 
 tions of an earnest Christianity to arrest their attentions, 
 and win them to Christ. 
 
 ^i» » 
 
 tfHERE DOES THE ONE END, AND THE OTHER BEGIN? 
 ** I cannot, for the life of me, see where justification 
 ends and sanctification begins." So said my friend, in 
 rather an earnest, though not very devotional, mood. 
 He might with as much propriety have said, " I cannot, 
 for the life of me, see where a person leaves off the 
 use of letters and reads well." A state of sanctification 
 cannot be obtained or retained, but in connexion with a 
 state of justification ; as necessarily so as the letters of 
 the alphabet stand in connexion with reading. The 
 way to leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ is, 
 not to forget them, just as we do not forget the ele- 
 mentary branches in literature for the pursuit of 
 higher studies. We could no more go on in sanctifi- 
 cation without justification, than we could go on per- 
 fecting ourselves in reading, after we had forgotten our 
 letters. But shall I tell you just how and where I 
 apprehended this point in my own experience ? I had 
 been going on, sweetly conscious of the smiles of my 
 
172 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 An item of personal experience. Increasing light. '• Be ye holy." 
 
 heavenlv Father. For some time, I had been in such a 
 state of conscious, loving obedience, that I think I 
 would rather have died than knowingly have offended 
 my heavenly Father. My course had been onward and 
 upward. As I ascended the heavenly way, clearer 
 light shone upon my mind, revealing higher duties, 
 requiring more of the spirit of sacrifice, and furnishing 
 yet stronger tests of obedience. But, with increasing 
 light, increasing strength was given, enabling me to be 
 answerable to these higher duties : for I had not learned 
 how to retain a state of justification while under con- 
 demnation at the same time for neglecting known 
 duties. 
 
 THE CRISIS- 
 
 But the memorable crisis came when I could not have 
 retained a state of justification one hour longer without 
 passing over into that state where entire sanctification 
 begins. Others may act upon the principle that it is 
 optional with themselves whether they will remain in a 
 state of justification, or go on to a state of entire sancti- 
 fication, but, with me, the command was absolute, " Go on 
 to perfection " — " be ye holy ; " and, if I had not obeyed, 
 I should have been condemned for my disobedience ; and 
 how could I have been in a state of condemnation and 
 in a state of justification at the same time ? But I will 
 show you the crisis, the precise point where justification 
 would have ended, and condemnation would have begun, 
 if I had not taken the further step, and entered 
 
 " The land of rest from imhred sin, 
 The land of perfect holiness." 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 173 
 
 The decision. Of willing and doing. An eternal surrender. 
 
 I had, that evening, been enabled to come to the decis- 
 ion that I would, not only in word, but in spirit, recog- 
 nize my covenant engagements, and yield myself, with 
 alJ the ties that had bound me to earth, wholly and for- 
 ever to God. I had often endeavored to enter into 
 covenant engagements before ; but I now saw there was 
 a marked difference between being willing to give up all, 
 and the act of really giving up all ; — as marked a dif- 
 ference as may be inferred to exist between an offerer 
 under the Jewish dispensation who is willing to lay his 
 sacrifice on the altar, and another offerer who really per- 
 forms the act of placing his gift there. 
 
 The sacrifice of the offerer could not be sanctified un- 
 til it was laid on the altar, for it was by virtue of the 
 altar that it was sanctified. When I clearly perceived 
 this, O what a struggling of nature ensued ! I had lift- 
 ed my hand to God — had often said, " I will give up 
 all; " but now, when I saw that there was to be an 
 eternal surrender of life, reputation, and friends dearer 
 than life — all — all ! O, it was a point quite beyond 
 what I had reached before. But what could I do? 
 Could I stand still at this point, and remain in a ?tate of 
 justification while refusing to comply with what I knew 
 to be the demand of God, and in fulfilment of covenant 
 engagements long since made ? I saw I could not ; I 
 must either make the necessary sacrifices, or I must 
 sin, and, by my disobedience, forfeit a state of justifica- 
 tion. And it is here justification would have ended with 
 me had I refused to be holy. Do you ask, How did you 
 retain a state of justification before, when all was not 
 
 15* 
 
174 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Increasing light obeyed. A point reached. How can one be more than perfect? 
 
 given up ? Perhaps I cannot answer your question bet- 
 ter than by referring you to what the Savior said to his 
 disciples, " I have many things to say unto you, but ye 
 cannot bear them now." I had, for some time previous 
 to this, been answerable to the light as I had received it. 
 The Holy Spirit had led me onward, revealing higher 
 and yet higher duties, as I was able to bear them, till I 
 was brought up to the point described, and was enabled 
 to be answerable to my covenant engagements, and yield 
 myself up entirely and irrevocably to God ; and, in do- 
 ing this, I felt that I did no more than I ought to do, 
 and was but an unprofitable servant. 
 
 CAfl WE BE MORE THAN PERFECT? 
 
 Do not those who go on to perfection arrive at a point 
 where they stop ? for how can one be more than per- 
 fect ? No ! Do you remember that Paul speaks of 
 perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord ? Or, I do 
 not know why we may not take a simile we have be- 
 fore used, and ask, Must not a child stop reading, be- 
 cause he has learned to read perfectly? whereas his 
 having learned to read perfectly only introduces him to 
 yet higher and higher branches of study, till his mighty 
 soul goes on grasping in knowledge while life endures. 
 Or, to use another figure : Holiness is a way cast up for 
 the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. If you were in 
 the way to a given place, would it be necessary for you 
 to stop because you were in the way ? The fact is, your 
 only aim in getting into the way was that you might 
 progress in the way until you reached the destined 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 175 
 
 The way to our home. God has given it a name. Caught under a harrow. 
 
 point. Well, heaven is our home. It is our home, for 
 Christ has purchased heaven for us. There is a way by 
 which we must go, if we would reach this home. God 
 lias given this way a name. It shall be called The 
 Way of Holiness. In this way our goings must be 
 established if we would ever reach our heavenly desti- 
 nation. The redeemed of the Lord shall walk there. 
 But remember you cannot walk in this way of holiness 
 until you have entered upon it. O, may you enter 
 speedily ! 
 
 *mt^ 
 
 ttefomalimn larnwd ©ut 
 
 Father R was educated in the belief of Uni- 
 versal Salvation, and, until he was about twenty-four 
 years old, he thought himself a firm believer, and would 
 probably have been seriously incensed had his best friend 
 hinted that he was not sound in the faith of Universal- 
 ism. And with this delusion conscience was well-nigh 
 quieted, when the following significant incident occur- 
 red: 
 
 He was harrowing a field with a pair of young wild 
 steers. The harrow caught in a stump. In the effort 
 to release it, the cattle started, and he was thrown under 
 the harrow. The steers now ran in wildest speed. The 
 teeth of the harrow in the mean time had fastened to his 
 clothing, and an awful and immediate death seemed inev- 
 itable. And who can depict or conceive the horror of 
 
176 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A Universalist in trouble. His prayer, conversion and subsequent labors. 
 
 the scene, as, with furious speed, he was dragged under 
 this "instrument with teeth " the space of thiity or forty 
 rods ! But this harrowing of his body was only made 
 the occasion of a harrowing of conscience, which wholly 
 exceeded his care for his body, and he began to call 
 mightily on God, and promised the Lord, if he would 
 but spare his life, he would serve him all his days. 
 " Lord, have mercy — Lord, have mercy on my soul ! ' 
 was his cry. Nor did he cease to cry until God indeed 
 manifested his saving mercy, and he was filled with 
 praise for delivering and saving grace. After his re 
 lease, one suggested, " I thought you were a Universal- 
 ist, and, if so, why afraid to die ? " He answered, u I 
 thought so too ; but, when death stared me in the face, 
 I found the doctrine of Universalism would not stand 
 the test." And it was thus, about forty years since, that 
 
 Father R was brought to know the pardoning 
 
 mercy of God through Christ. Ever since, he has been 
 a steady traveller in the way to heaven. And earnest 
 have been his manifestations of solicitude that all who 
 are endeavoring to make themselves think they believe 
 in Universal Salvation, may know that the doctrine will 
 not stand the harrow of conscience in view of sudden 
 and awful death. 
 
 LOVE-FEAST TESTIMONY. 
 
 Father R did as every one who resolves to 
 
 serve the Lord ought to do ; that is, immediately after 
 his conversion, he united with an evangelical church. 
 But the people with whom he united in church fellow 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 177 
 
 A prayer circle. The short way of faith and the long way of living. 
 
 ship did not believe that Christ stood ever ready to save 
 his people from all their sins in the present life. Some 
 months after, he was thrown in contact with a people 
 who believed that the prayer of the apostle, " The very 
 God of peace sanctify you wholly," &c, ought to be 
 fulfilled in the experience of every believer. This was 
 at a camp-meeting. A prayer circle had been formed 
 for specific labor on this theme. It was the first that 
 
 Father R had heard of the subject of entire sanc- 
 
 tification. His immediate resolve was, that, if there was 
 a state of religious experience beyond what he enjoyed, 
 it should, through grace, be his. He told his brethren 
 his want of knowledge on the subject, and solicited their 
 advice and prayers. The brethren instructed him, and 
 prayed for him, and, before he left that circle, he was a 
 happy partaker of the grace of entire sanctification. A 
 minister present, after hearing this interesting love-feast 
 
 testimony from the lips of Father R , exclaimed, 
 
 " Father R , you were not then told it might take 
 
 a long time to grow up into a readiness to obtain the 
 blessing before it could be received ? " " No ! " he ex- 
 claimed, " we believed in having it done and done with." 
 
 Father B , another father in Israel, then arose, and, 
 
 after stating specifically when and where he received 
 the blessing of holiness, said, " Brethren and sisters, I 
 go for the short way of faith, and the long way of living." 
 An earnest response resounded through the air, and the 
 congregated hundreds joined in the hearty " Amen ! M 
 
178 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Thing of life. Idle hands. Consternation and delay. 
 
 ®to Iftartoiwrg and i\u Jfltotfoi §ottm\ 
 
 Let us enter into this famous, well-arranged manu- 
 facturing establishment. Here are the most magnificent, 
 various, and finely-wrought specimens of art turned off 
 at shortest notice, and apparently with the ease of 
 thought. Let us look closely into this stupendous 
 machinery. Here are " wheels within wheels," and 
 what not. What a complication! — little, tiny wheels 
 and large wheels, shafts, bands, lathes, saws, drills, — 
 every thing with the ease of naturalness, yet with the 
 most exact precision, performing its office. As though 
 it were a thing of life, endued with inherent power, 
 and voluntary in its own acts, it is ever turning out to 
 the gaze of the curious observer these beautiful speci- 
 mens of workmanship * * * *. But, ah, suddenly, an 
 utter cessation ! This thing of life has ceased its work- 
 ings. Every part of this complicated and stupendous 
 machinery is motionless as death. What has befallen 
 it? 
 
 Ah, there was a secret power, hidden away — out of 
 sight, propelling it to action. That power ceases to 
 act ; for some ill-intentioned individual has stealthily 
 detached the motive force from the machinery. What 
 shall be done ? What loss must accrue to the owner by 
 these passing minutes ! Scores of hands are idle, and 
 the minutes of many make hours. But why all this 
 delay and consternation ? How simple the act by which 
 all this wrong may be adjusted, and this thing of life 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 179 
 
 " Put ou tht- steam." Intelligent and influential lady. Hard master. 
 
 put in motion again ! Tut on the steam ! There, now 
 all is right again. Every thing is in action. How 
 simple the expedient, yet how effectual ! 
 
 " Mrs. , how are you getting along in religion ? " 
 
 " 0> do not begin to ask me ; for I cannot begin to 
 tell what a distressed, perplexed state of mind I am in. 
 Why, I am not even willing to be holy, and, of course, 
 I cannot ask the Lord to make me holy." 
 
 Mrs. was an intelligent and influential lady, and 
 
 the wife of a minister. She was the daughter of the 
 late Judge , in that region favorably and exten- 
 sively known. The enemy of all righteousness knew 
 that she was placed in a position to exert a far-reaching 
 influence for good ; and so he took proportionate pains 
 to tempt her with many, and varied perplexities. We 
 were now on a camp ground, and, on first reaching the 
 
 encampment, we had heard of Mrs. 's distressed 
 
 state of mind. And, in the midst of the encampment, 
 we had, for the first time, met. Wishing not to refer 
 to what we had heard of her strange perplexities, — for the 
 tempter loves to have us consume the precious time 
 given us for noble purposes, in detailing his tempta- 
 tions, — to avoid a recital of this sort, I simply asked the 
 preceding question, and was answered as stated. 
 
 She then went on to specify many things that she was 
 not willing to do, some things which I thought it prob- 
 able she might be required to do, and other things I 
 thought she might not be required to do. Satan is a hard 
 master, and he often presents strange inconsistencies to 
 the mind, in the form of duties. And then because he 
 
180 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A satanic ruse. Not willing to be holy. God's work honorable. 
 
 cannot induce us to consent to things that are not pure, 
 and lovely, and of good report, then he accuses us that 
 we are not willing to do our duty. And thus many a 
 sincere person gets under the condemnation of Satan, 
 whom in reality God does not condemn, otherwise than 
 as he condemns us for believing Satan. 
 
 M I am not willing to be holy," she exclaimed. " I am 
 not willing to go and stand there, and invite sinners to 
 Christ, and tell cold-hearted professors of the danger of 
 their condition. I am not willing to be of no reputa- 
 tion for Christ's sake. Before the world, I might possi- 
 bly be willing to be of no reputation ; but, before my 
 brethren and sisters, and especially before ministers, I 
 am not." 
 
 " I do not know that the Lord will require you to do 
 all these things you have spoken of. His service is 
 honorable. He does not require us to do any thing that 
 is not pure, and lovely, and of good report ; nothing that 
 Gabriel, or the highest archangel in heaven, might not 
 covet to do. If you could have made yourself willing, 
 you would have done it long ago — would you not ? 
 
 "Indeed I would." 
 
 " You do not expect to make yourself willing, do 
 you ? " 
 
 "No!" 
 
 " Do you think Christ could make you willing ? " 
 After a little hesitation she replied, " Yes— if it were not 
 for my unbelief." 
 
 " Do you think unbelief a sin ? " 
 
 "I do." 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 181 
 
 How to be made willing to work. Very sad. Ability equal to duty. 
 
 u How can he save you from your unbelief or any other 
 sin, unless you yield yourself wholly up to him, and let 
 him do it ? It surely is a sin not to be willing to be 
 holy, not to be willing to be of no reputation, and to 
 perform every duty. But you cannot work a willingness 
 in yourself. It is only Christ that can work in you that 
 which is well pleasing in his sight ; but how can he do 
 it, until you yield yourself wholly up to him ? If he 
 would have you do those things which have been sug- 
 gested to your mind as duty, he can cause you to be more 
 than willing. The moment you yield yourself up whol- 
 ly to him he will put his Spirit within you, and the_ 
 things which you have felt you could not do will be the 
 very things you will love to do ; for Christ will work 
 in you mightily to will and to do of his good pleasure. ' 
 
 But still she was sad, very sad ; still she kept looking 
 at herself, and her many varied failures in duty, instead 
 of looking to Jesus ; much as it would have been with 
 those Israelites, after they had been bitten by the fiery 
 serpents, had they looked at their wounds instead of 
 looking up to the brazen serpent. We reminded her 
 of this, and said, 
 
 . " Mrs. , God is not a hard master ; his ways ara 
 
 equal. He says, " Look unto me and be ye saved," not 
 leaving it optional with yourself whether you will do 
 this or not. He does not command you to look to him, 
 without giving you the ability. You dishonor and dis- 
 obey your Savior, every moment you linger thus. Your 
 malady, instead of growing better, is growing worse. 
 Your agony and tears, though you might weep tears of 
 
 ko 
 
182 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The look and the cure. Unmindful of tears. Belieying with a reason. 
 
 blood, cannot induce the Savior to save you in youi 
 unbelief. You are disobeying God, every moment 
 while you are looking at the effects of sin on your heart 
 instead or looking to the Savior. And just as surely 
 will you perish, as those Israelites would have perished, 
 however sincere or earnest they might have been in their 
 intention to look up to the brazen serpent, if they had 
 not actually looked up. 
 
 It was then proposed that we should retire from the 
 
 gaze of the multitude, to Mrs. 's private tent. 
 
 Here, as in the solemn presence of God, she resolved on 
 an immediate, unconditional, irrevocable surrender of hex 
 entire being to Christ. 
 
 Her heart had been in a tumult of conflicting sorrows, 
 but now she seemed unmindful even of her tears, as she 
 knelt to yield herself up in everlasting covenant to God, 
 resolved from that moment to trust in Christ, as her 
 present and complete Savior, believing that he would 
 empower her for every duty, and work in her mightily, 
 " to will and to do of his good pleasure." 
 
 What could she do but yield herself up to God, 
 through Christ, just as she was ? This she did. And, 
 without requiring signs or wonders, she calmly took God 
 at his word, believing, as she gave herself up wholly, 
 he received her wholly, just because he said so, and 
 this, surely, was not believing without a reason. She 
 took the word of God as the foundation of her faith, and 
 did not say in her heart, " Who shall ascend into heaven 
 to bring Christ down, or who shall descend into the 
 deep, to bring Christ up ? " But, simply, because Christ 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 183 
 
 Trust and rest. Mrs. goes to work . 
 
 had said he would receive her, and would come and 
 dwell in her heart, and work in her that which was 
 svell pleasing in his sight, she trusted in him to do just 
 what he had said he would do. And who ever trusted 
 in him, and was confounded ? 
 
 Sweetly did she enter into rest. O ! what a heavenly 
 calm succeeded ! Christ had come to take up his abode 
 in her. And she quietly and believingly rested on his 
 word. 
 
 I felt a divine conviction on my own heart that the 
 work was done ; and, with a joyful and confident heart, 
 praised the Lord for what he had done, and said, 
 
 " 'Tis done! the great transaction 's done! " 
 
 " Lord, she is forever thine ! Thou dost receive her." 
 And together, in subdued accents, we praised and mag- 
 nified the name of our covenant-keeping God. 
 
 The christian brother, who had first mentioned, in 
 my hearing, the spiritual distress of this now happy 
 friend, came in, when I was quickly called away to other 
 duties. This brother subsequently informed me that, 
 shortly after I left the tent, a company of thoughtless 
 
 worldlings came in to see Mrs. , when, with tears, 
 
 and in the most urgent, persuasive manner, she cried out, 
 " O ! what will become of these sinners, if they do not re- 
 pent, and turn to the Lord ? ' And thus, in most winning 
 entreaty, she sought to gain them to the Savior. How 
 evidently was Christ now working in her heart, to do 
 the very things which she had said she could not do ! 
 
 The next day, I incidentally saw her standing just 
 
184 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 , — _ j 
 
 Scene in a leafy temple. Thirty ministers. The secret of power found. 
 
 about where she had pointed, as she said to me, " I am 
 not willing to go and stand there, and tell worldly pro- 
 fessors of the danger of their condition, and urge sinners 
 to Christ." But there she stood, amid worldly profes- 
 sors and sinners, tearful, yet in dignified, moving pathos, 
 pleading that they would comply with the conditions of 
 salvation. 
 
 The last day of the meeting came. Hundreds had 
 assembled to witness the closing exercises. There, be- 
 fore the rough-made pulpit, in that beautiful leafy 
 temple '* not made with hands," sat about thirty of 
 Christ's ambassadors, with their venerated presiding 
 
 elder, Dr. , at their head. Many, from among 
 
 both the ministry and laity, had been testifying, to the 
 praise of God, of the excellency of grace. Among 
 
 others, Mrs. had risen, and witnessed a good 
 
 confession, testifying joyfully of the blessedness of 
 having yielded up all believingly to Christ, trusting in 
 him to work in her mightily that which was well 
 pleasing in his sight. Just as the exercises were about 
 closing, she rose again, and for a few moments stood 
 with her handkerchief to her face, so much affected as 
 to be unable to speak. 
 
 "Can I ? can I ?" she wept out, when, as if sudden- 
 ly reminded of the secret of power she had so recently 
 learned, she exclaimed, " Yes, I can ! " 
 
 And then, with a holy composure and a dignity of 
 bearing, such as could only have been inspired by the 
 Spirit, through whose influences she spoke, she address- 
 ed that group of ministers, in words which may never 
 

 ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 185 
 
 Tlie ministers addressed. Presiding elder's reply. Every spring in motion 
 
 be forgotten. With due deference to their calling, as 
 legates from the skies, she addressed such words of 
 burning truth and entreaty, in such faithfulness, affec- 
 tionateness and power, as, I think, I never heard equal- 
 ed. Who, that heard, will ever forget them ! Ministers 
 and people were astonished, and wept. After she had 
 finished, the presiding elder arose, much affected, and 
 said, 
 
 " Thank you ! Thank you, Sister , I believe 
 
 some of us do try to be faithful to the people of our 
 various charges, but O, how few feel the importance of 
 being faithful to us ! " 
 
 And this was the christian sister whose spiritual ener- 
 gies were, such a short time since, paralyzed; who 
 said she was not even willing to be holy, and therefore 
 could not ask to be made holy ; who was not willing 
 to be of no reputation before her Christian friends, and 
 especially before ministers. Here she was, as by an in- 
 herent power, and by her own election, choosing to do 
 those very things, which she had in vain sought to make 
 herself willing to do. What mysterious change has 
 come over her ? Why, she has learned the secret of 
 power. By a simple act of entire reliance on Christ, 
 she became so fully united to Christ, that every secret 
 spring of her being was set in motion, and brought into 
 harmonious action with the divine will. And who can 
 tell what may be accomplished, by the mighty inwork- 
 ings of an indwelling Christ in this soul, now that all 
 its vast machinery is in full and harmonious action? 
 The secret of power is union with Christ. 
 
 16* 
 
186 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A remarkable meeting. The promise. A blessing for the most un-w orthy. 
 
 There was a company of humble disciples who, in 
 attending a meeting on one occasion, received such a 
 blessing that the influence of that one blessing was as 
 far-reaching as their lives. They had come together by 
 the appointment of the Savior, but not more by his 
 appointment than on some special occasions when you 
 assemble with your brethren. Christ had promised to 
 send the promise of his Father upon them, but not 
 more explicitly than he has promised to send the prom- 
 ise of his Father upon you. I do not doubt but there 
 were those among that company who felt themselves 
 very unworthy of the grace. But, in making the prom- 
 ise, Christ had not said, " If you will assemble, and get 
 yourselves into a state of worthiness, I will send the 
 promise of my Father upon you." We know of one, in 
 fact, who seemed to be specially unworthy. If it had 
 been asked, Who among this company is the most un- 
 worthy ? he would have been the first to respond, " It 
 is I " ! And such were the well-known facts in his case, 
 that it is probable none could have successfully disputed 
 the case with him. For lie had, with oaths and curses, 
 denied his Savior not long previous to this eventful 
 meeting. But the Savior had told him to be present at 
 •ihe meeting, and that was enough to assure him that the 
 promise of the Father was to come upon him with as 
 much fulness and freeness as upon the others. Christ 
 had not said that the most worthy should receive the 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 187 
 
 Which received the greatest blessing ? It is for you Specific assurance. 
 
 greatest blessing. And, if we may judge from the effect 
 of the blessing, we may infer that, of all the great bless- 
 ings on that occasion received, Peter received the great- 
 est. So penetrating, all-pervading, and ever-enduring 
 was the blessing that I do not doubt but its conse- 
 quences, in the case of each of these humble disciples, 
 were not only as far-reaching as life with them, but as 
 enduring as eternity. Would you like to receive such 
 a blessing ? I will try to tell you how you may get it. 
 If you would get as great a blessing as the early dis- 
 ciples received, you must "forget the things that are 
 behind," just as Peter did. It was the full baptism of 
 the Holy Ghost which Peter received. You may see 
 the promise of the Father recorded in Acts ii. 17, 18. 
 By this you will see that the promise is just as specifi- 
 cally for you now as it was for those early disciples. 
 " I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons 
 and your daughters shall prophesy," &c. If you would 
 get this great blessing, resolve that you will make every- 
 thing subservient to the attainment of it now. Begin 
 to wait for it with a definite resolve that you will have 
 it. And if the enemy tells you that you are wilful, and 
 asks the wherefore of such a resolve, tell him that your 
 Lord has told you to tarry at Jerusalem, with the spe- 
 cific assurance that he will send the promise of his Father 
 upon you. If he asks, ". How do you know that this 
 is God's time " ? you may tell him that God has specifi- 
 cally set the time: "Now is the accepted time." If 
 he tells you about your present and former unworthi- 
 ness, you can tell him that you have resolved to obey 
 
188 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A privilege to forget. Wesley on the faith which sanctifies. 
 
 God, and forget the things that are behind — that you 
 never received one blessing because you were worthy, 
 but many and continuous blessings because of the infi- 
 nite merits of your Savior. And then go, claiming the 
 blessing now. If God has promised the blessing now, 
 it is your duty to have it now ; for there can be no fail- 
 ure on the part of God ; his word is eternal truth. His 
 name is "The Faithful and True Witness." The bless- 
 ing is received by faith ; but do you ask to know 
 
 OF THAT FAITH WHICH SANCTIFIES WHOLLY NOW? 
 
 Mr. Wesley says : " A man cannot be sanctified with- 
 out faith. He may have ever so much repentance, or 
 ever so much good works, yet all this does not at all 
 avail. He is not sanctified till he believes ; but the mo- 
 ment he believes, with or without these fruits, yea, with 
 more or less of this repentance, he is sanctified." Mr. 
 Wesley goes on to say : " You shall not be disappointed 
 of your hope : it will come, and will not tarry. Look 
 for it, then, every day, every hour, every moment ! 
 Why not this moment ? Certainly, you may look for it 
 now, if you believe it is by faith. And by this token 
 you may surely know whether you seek it by faith or 
 by works. If by works, you want something to be done 
 first, before you are sanctified. You think, I must first 
 be, or do, thus or thus. Then you are seeking it by 
 works unto this day. If you seek it by faith, you may 
 expect it as you are ; and if as you are, then expect it 
 now. It is of importance to observe that there is an in- 
 separable connexion between these three points : expect 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 189 
 
 The three points. How your friend apprehended them. 
 
 it by faith ; expect it as you are ; and expect it now ! 
 To deny one of these is to deny them all. To allow one 
 is to allow them all. Do you believe we are sanctified 
 by faith ? Be true, then, to your principle, and look for 
 this blessing just as you are, neither better nor worse ; 
 as a poor sinner that has nothing to pay, nothing to 
 plead, but Christ died. And if you look for it as you 
 are, then expect it now. Stay for nothing ; why should 
 you ? Christ is ready, and he is all you want. He is 
 waiting for you ; he is at the door ! " 
 
 THE STEPS IN FAITH TAKEN BY YOUR FRIEND. 
 
 Shall I tell you the step by which a friend of yours 
 was brought to the exercise of that faith by which the 
 blessing of holiness was received ? After having made 
 an unconditional and absolute surrender of herself to 
 Christ, the question was proposed, u How do you know 
 that God will receive you ? " For a moment, the inquiry 
 seemed perplexing, and she began to question, "How 
 shall I know that God will receive me ? " She could 
 think of no way she might know, and was pondering 
 over the point when the Spirit inwardly whispered, "It 
 is written, ' I will receive vou.' " " Must I believe it 
 because it stands written — simply recorded — in the word 
 of God, without any other evidence ? " she exclaimed, 
 when the Holy Spirit reproved her unbelief by saying, 
 "If you should hear God audibly speaking to you from 
 heaven, in tones of thunder, just as he spake on Mount 
 Sinai, and he should say, ( I will receive you ; ' or, if 
 you should see it written in letters of fire, as a sign, 
 
190 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Sign arching the heavens. The foundation. The foe vanquished. 
 
 arching the heavens, 1 1 will receive you/ would you 
 believe it then ? " "I could not help believing it then ; 
 I should have the evidence of my senses," she respond- 
 ed. And here she was reproved from the fact that she 
 had always known that the blessing was received by 
 faith, and she now saw that the Bible was as much the 
 Word of God as though she could hear him speaking 
 in tones of loudest thunder every moment, or as though 
 she could see it written on a sign arching the heavens ; 
 and she also saw that faith was to believe it. " But," said 
 the enemy, " suppose, after you have believed, you do 
 not receive any special manifestation, or do not feel dif- 
 ferent ? " " It is written, ' The just shall live by faith,' " 
 was the response. " But suppose you were called to 
 live a long life, and should <.have nothing to depend on 
 but the naked word of God, and then should even die, 
 and come up before your Judge without any other re- 
 liance than the word of God, what would you do then ? " 
 " I would come up before my Judge, and, if questioned 
 why I had come there without having had any of those 
 extraordinary manifestations of which others might speak, 
 I would say, ' The foundation of my faith was thy im 
 mutable word.' " And here Satan was vanquished ! 
 
 Yes, vanquished ! I do not mean that the tempter 
 assaulted her no more, but that she was now left to the 
 confirmed consciousness of her own spirit that, in heart, 
 she believed. But there was yet another step to be 
 taken before she could receive that divinely inwrought 
 consciousness by which the Holy Spirit was to testify 
 with her spirit that the work was wrought ; for — 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 191 
 
 The two witnesses. Shrinkings. The unawakened lady 
 
 " Both the witnesses are joined 
 The Spirit of God with ours." 
 
 That further step you will see distinctly recognized 
 in the passage, " With the heart man believeth unto 
 righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made 
 unto salvation." Just so soon as she began with her 
 mouth to confess the faith of her heart before God, just 
 so soon the Holy Spirit powerfully testified with her 
 spirit, that it was unto salvation — -present — -full salvation. 
 
 Jiumlmtfll Just in ®hw. 
 
 " Instant in season out of season." That is, where 
 there are not opportunities, make them. Who does 
 not feel a shrinking of the flesh in relation to these out- 
 of-the-way duties ? 
 
 " The flesh dislikes the way, 
 But faith approves it well." 
 
 There is no sin in feeling a shrinking of the flesh in 
 view of crossing duties. Do you not think that Abra- 
 ham felt a shrinking of the flesh while journeying to 
 Mount Moriah ? But there is no sin in being tempted 
 to shrink. The sin lies in yielding. 
 
 " Will you go to see a lady living in street ? 
 
 She seems to be evidently very near death, and I can 
 see no reason to think that she is prepared for her 
 change. She seems to be asleep in the cradle of carnal 
 security. She is an attendant on a church where, with 
 
192 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Ordinances not saving. Dissuasive influences. Wicked spirits. 
 
 too many, the ordinances are regarded as saving., and, in 
 her estimation, baptism may be regeneration. Neither 
 herself*, nor friends, may wish to see you ; but I think 
 her soul is at stake. Do go ! 
 
 About thus said a zealous disciple, who even prefer- 
 red that her sick friend should be offended rather than 
 that she should lose her soul. 
 
 But do you wonder that I should feel a shrinking of 
 nature in view of the anticipated repulsion? To go as 
 an intruder, and visit a sick lady, who might not wish to 
 see me, and be the revealer of unpleasant truths which 
 it might vex her to hear, — " And then you have so little 
 confidence in death-bed repentance," said the tempter. 
 The whole matter looked discouraging, and my nature 
 recoiled. Such a dissuasive influence did I feel against 
 going, that I began to question whether it might not be 
 satanic influences operating against the salvation of that 
 soul. Satan is the Prince of the power of the air, and 
 evil intelligences are all around us. 
 
 " They throng the air, and darken heaven, 
 And rule the lower world." 
 
 " For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but 
 against principalities, against powers, against the rulers 
 of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wicked- 
 ness in high places" or, as the margin of my Bible says, 
 " against wicked spirits." I do not doubt but souls have 
 been lost that might have been saved, if it had not been 
 for the enthusiastic doctrine " that we are not to do 
 good unless our hearts are free to it." 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 193 
 
 Capital out of Satan's doings. A cool reception. Death of a neighbor. 
 
 But we may make capital even out of Satan's own 
 doings, on the same principle that God can make the 
 wrath of his enemies to praise him. Now, thought I, if 
 Satan does not want me to go and see this lady, surely 
 I must go ; for Satan is always wrong. And so I went, 
 particularly because the enemy tempted me to feel such 
 a dissuasive influence against going. 
 
 I found access to the lady even more embarrassing 
 than I had anticipated. Every look and action seemed 
 to say, " What has brought you here ? " — " What 
 have you come for ? " But I went forward, trusting in 
 him who has the hearts of the children of men in his 
 hands, believing that he would give me all the influence, 
 wisdom, and power needful for the emergency. 
 
 Christians do not go a warfare at their own charge, 
 and it is strange we do not learn ever to confide in God, 
 believing, if he calls us to a duty, that he will sustain us 
 in a way that will be most influential for good, and not 
 really unbecoming the dignity of our high calling. His 
 work is all so honorable that an angel might covet the 
 privilege of doing it. I had scarcely finished making 
 affectionate inquiries into the state of the health of the 
 lady, when she mentioned the very recent and unex- 
 pected death of her nearest neighbor. I expressed 
 deep interest, and asked, 
 
 " Was she prepared to die ? " 
 
 " O, her friends did not like to have much said to her ! 
 They were afraid of alarming her, and hastening her 
 death." 
 
 And then, as if the fact of her neighbor's being pre- 
 
 17 
 
194 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 " Said the Lord's prayer." Shortness of life. Many deceived. 
 
 pared for a joyful appearing in the presence of God had 
 been placed wholly beyond doubt, she added, 
 
 u She prayed just before she died, — said the Lord's 
 prayer, I believe." 
 
 li Ah ! I am afraid, if that is all the evidence she left 
 of being prepared for death, she may have died unpre- 
 pared to meet God. O, it is, indeed, a serious thing to 
 be prepared to spend an unending eternity in the pre- 
 sence of a pure and holy God ! What a moment is life ! 
 Even the longest life on earth is as " a vapor that ap- 
 peareth for a little time and then vanisheth away." 
 But the soul is immortal. Millions on millions of ages 
 are before us ; and, when these are past, the soul has but 
 begun to live — millions on millions will again pass away, 
 and yet the soul has but commenced the eternity of its 
 existence. Surely, the whole of life, even though our 
 years were multiplied to threescore and ten, seems short 
 indeed in view of preparing the soul to spend an eter- 
 nity of happiness in the presence of a righteous and 
 holy God. 
 
 " Not every one that saith unto me, Lord ! Lord ! 
 shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that 
 doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven." It 
 is not a small thing to be saved. It will require some- 
 thing more than attention to outward observances and a 
 profession of religion. How evident, from the words 
 of the Savior, that many (not a few) die deceived, and 
 never know their true condition till they are ushered 
 into eternity ! The Savior never used one untruthful 
 figure. He says nothing to frighten us into obedience, 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 195 
 
 Nothing merely to frighten The lady's astonishment. Prayer proposed. 
 
 or to excite needless fears — he never uses a figure which 
 is too strong in its ultimate bearings to express the reality 
 of the thing intended. Nothing but an application of 
 the blood of Christ to our souls and a life of devoted- 
 ness to his will, will meet the requirement of God. 
 ' Many shall say unto me, Lord, Lord, have we not pro- 
 phesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out 
 devils, and in thy name, have done many wonderful 
 works ? ' How evidently were these professors of reli- 
 gion ! But what does the Savior say ? " Then will I 
 profess unto them I never knew you." The lady looked 
 on me evidently astounded. A bystander might have 
 thought me cruel. But I remembered a brother who, 
 when near death, upbraidingly said to his sister, one of 
 my friends, " You would rather I would lose my soul 
 than make me angry," and I determined this lady should 
 not have occasion to upbraid me thus at the bar of God. 
 The remarks seemed to have fallen upon her with al- 
 most a bewildering force. 
 
 Silence, solemn as eternity, for a few moments, suc- 
 ceeded. I broke it by saying, 
 
 "Shall I pray?" 
 
 The startling things I had said seemed so confound- 
 ing, that, perhaps, from bewilderment rather than from 
 unwillingness, there was no reply, when I oolemnly said, 
 
 " Let us pray." 
 
 I knelt, and endeavored to pray as th^ Spirit gave 
 utterance. During prayer, I heard stifled sobs. 
 
 On rising from prayer, I saw that the Holy Spirit was 
 powerfully at work ; but I resolved not to linger for 
 
196 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 ■ — ■ -^ ■ ■■— ■■ -■ ' ' — — « 
 
 The doctor called. The patient better. Surprise among friends. 
 
 farther conversation, fearful of interfering with the 
 operations of the Spirit, by the introduction of a word 
 that might divert her mind. 
 
 Near midnight, following the next day, my husband 
 was sent for in his professional capacity, in great haste, 
 to see a lady, who, it was said, was dying. What 
 should he witness, on entering the sick chamber, but 
 the lady I had visited the day previous, newly raised 
 from the death of sin to a life of holiness ! She had 
 been enabled truly and heartily to repent of sin, and was 
 now believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith in 
 Christ possesses a vital power, and who that has proved 
 it, does not know it ? So gloriously did this lady prove 
 its life-restoring influences, that it seemed almost like a 
 resurrection of the body, as well as of the soul. She 
 had, for months, been pining away with the consumption ; 
 but now, her body appeared well-nigh resurrected with 
 the soul, and she, with a remarkable degree of physical, 
 mental, and spiritual power, talked of the glory of her 
 inheritance, and, in exalted strains, she gave God the 
 glory of her salvation, and urged her friends to prepare 
 to meet her in heaven. Her friends, being unaccustom- 
 ed to witness such manifestations of the saving power 
 of Christ, thought surely she must be dying, and had 
 thus opportunely sent for a pious physician, who well 
 knew how to rejoice with a soul newly raised to spirit- 
 ual life. 
 
 u As soon as in him we believe, 
 By faith of his Spirit we take ; 
 And, freely forgiven, receive 
 The mercy for Jesus's sake. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 19T 
 
 Orace protracted life. Fitted for usefulness. The armor. Napoleon's reserves. 
 
 We gain a pure drop of his love, 
 
 The life of eternity know, 
 Angelical happiness prove, 
 
 And witness a heaven below." 
 
 The state of this lady's health continued much im- 
 proved ; so that we almost concluded that the Lord 
 intended to raise her up : and it was not until about 
 three months afterwards that the Lord took her to him- 
 self. 
 
 im*mt 
 
 ®fe Jmiittrilto. 
 
 I know you desire to be fitted for the highest degree 
 of usefulness. You will be useful in about the same 
 proportion you are holy, and are armed with the 
 might of the Spirit. You will, doubtless, find oppos- 
 ers, perhaps some where least expected. But we are 
 armed for conflict. And, after the Captain of our sal- 
 vation has put upon us the whole armor, it ought not to 
 surprise us greatly that he should place us where we 
 may be called to endure the fiercest fire of our opposers. 
 With the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteous- 
 ness, and the entire preparation of the gospel, what 
 may we not endure ? Did ever the hottest fire of the 
 enemy penetrate through these ? Never ! Those who 
 are thus equipped are not only conquerors, but more 
 than conquerors. I have heard it said that Napoleon 
 had a company of reserves, which he called iC Invinci- 
 bles." This company was made up of those who had 
 
 17* 
 
198 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Military distinction. Ever victorious. God works by man. 
 
 signalized themselves by deeds of noble daring, and the 
 signal honor of being chosen one of this corps, was 
 regarded as an equivalent for the imminent jeopardy of 
 life, many times over. This company of honored re- 
 serves, we are told, was only called out on occasions 
 when more than ordinary bravery was in requisition. 
 Do you not covet to be one of the Lord's Invinciblcs ? 
 I. must confess I do. Then let us not shrink, though 
 we may be placed where hard fighting may be demand- 
 ed. Through our God we shall do valiantly. The 
 Captain of our salvation goes out before us, and never 
 did he lose a battle. 
 
 mmmiig in *§tmm. 
 
 Of the high responsibilities of the calling of the Chris- 
 tian, I have conceptions wholly beyond my power to 
 express. God, at an infinite expenditure, has redeemed 
 a lost world ; and now it is his will that it should speed- 
 ily be renovated, and brought home to himself. But 
 he intends doing this through human agencies. By his 
 Son, who was the " express image of his person," and in 
 v whom dwelt all the " fulness of the Godhead bodily," the 
 work was begun. He was the Son of man. He inhab- 
 ited a human form, and, among men, appeared as man. 
 Passing from childhood — through youth unto mature 
 manhood — subject to the diversified changes incident to 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 199 
 
 The God-Man — in Jerusalem — on the cross — in heaven — our Representative. 
 
 these successive stages in common life, teaching us how 
 to live, u tempted in all points like as we are, yet with- 
 out sin," and, by his vicarious death, purchasing salva- 
 » tion for all mankind, and then, having passed through 
 the portals of death, 
 
 " And shown our feet the way," 
 
 he ascended on high. Sanctified humanity had now 
 become glorified humanity ; but it was humanity still. 
 Those very feet, that had traversed the streets of Jeru- 
 salem and its adjacent villages, and whose every step, as 
 our Exemplar, had been in obedience to the will of his 
 Father, and which were at last nailed to the cross, — 
 those identical hands, which had been extended in min- 
 istrations to the multitude, and had so recently washed 
 the disciples' feet, and had yet more recently been 
 extended before heaven and earth, and riveted to the 
 wood — that head, pierced with thorns ; that body, 
 whose every limb, and fibre, had been convulsed with 
 intenser agony than the mind of man may conceive, — 
 that identical body ascended to heaven. The disciples 
 stood gazing with wonder and awe as they saw that 
 human, yet glorified, form borne upward till " a cloud 
 received him out of their sight." And, now that the 
 Son of God has ascended, he has not forgotten that he 
 was the Son of man. No. Be it ever remembered, 
 that he hath borne glorified humanity to heaven — 
 
 " The dear tokens of his passion, 
 Still his dazzling body hears." 
 
 And there he represents us before the throne of his 
 Father. Yes, man once made in the image of God hath 
 now a representative in heaven. 
 
200 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Heaven's representative. A child's question. How one may chase a thousand. 
 
 §hmutg on dfartlt. 
 
 Henceforth, earth may no more know Christ after 
 the flesh. But has he left no representative of him- 
 self ? Is his image to fade away from the earth ? No ; 
 he died to restore the lost image of God to man. While 
 in heaven, he 1 epresents man ; he leaves man here to 
 represent him. " As he was, even so are we in 
 this world." His very footprints he hath left indelibly 
 marked ; and now, if we say we abide in him, we must 
 walk even as he walked. Do you wonder, when I say 
 that the responsibilities of the Christian seem to mj 
 mind so high, that my spirit labors for power to express 
 its weighty conceptions ? 
 
 Little daughter said to me, a few weeks since, " Ma, 
 what is it to have the mind that was in Christ ?. " "If 
 your mind were in me," I replied, " I should act just as 
 you act, and if the mind of Christ is in us, we shall 
 act just as Christ would have acted, if placed in sim- 
 ilar circumstances to ours : for it is the mind that 
 moves to action." Were all who are called by the 
 name of Christ actually to possess his mind, and re- 
 flect his image, and to exhibit their living realizations 
 of that faith, which says, " I can do all things through 
 Christ which strengtheneth me," it would be an every 
 day sight to see u one chase a thousand, and two put 
 ten thousand to flight." And if we may thus speak of 
 the calling of Christians, where shall we find words to 
 speak of their responsibilities ? 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. #0 1 
 
 How the world might have been renovated. Consequences. Blood-guiltiness. 
 
 We know that Christ has purchased for us all the 
 grace we need, but we do not properly appreciate the 
 fact that our privileges are high responsibilities — solemn 
 duties. These privileges are blood-bought, and the 
 honor of God, and the establishment of his kingdom on 
 earth, stand connected with our availing ourselves 
 of them. I cannot but believe that, long since, ' a 
 redeemed world had been renovated, had individual 
 professors acted upon the principle that their privileges 
 were duties. Where is the professor, who takes the 
 Bible as the book which marks out the boundaries of 
 his inheritance, who, if you ask, " Do you believe it 
 to be your privilege to have Christ constantly dwelling 
 in your heart ? " would not say, " O, yes, for he hath 
 said, He would dwell in me, and walk in me." But, 
 alas ! how few exhibit, by their lives, that they have his 
 constant and conscious indwelling ! And yet, what tre- 
 mendous consequences stand connected with professors 
 availing themselves of their privilege, in this regard \ 
 The Savior says, " I in them, and thou in me, that the 
 world may believe that thou hast sent me." From this, 
 we see it plainly inferrible, that, unless those who name 
 the name of Christ exhibit before the world an indwel- 
 ling Christ, the world will not believe ; then, if the 
 world perishes in its unbelief, upon whose skirts will 
 the blood of these souls be found? — souls for whom 
 Christ hath died ! 
 
202 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The hobby. The distinguishing doctrine. Ordination vows forgotten. 
 
 (Site Jte. 
 
 " That is a man of one idea. Holiness is his hobby. 
 Seldom have I heard him preach a sermon, speak in a 
 meeting, or fall in with a friend, but, before he gets 
 through, he will be on his old hobby — holiness. Yes, 
 holiness, with him, is alpha and omega." 
 
 About thus remarked my friend, as the character of ail 
 eminently holy, laborious and successful minister passed 
 in review before him. And this friend was a Methodist 
 minister, who, had I asked him, " What is the distin- 
 guishing doctrine of Methodism ? " would, probably, 
 have said, " Holiness." For this doctrine, the founder 
 of Methodism suffered the greatest opprobrium, and, for 
 this, does Methodism, even to the present hour, stand 
 out as most objectionable before several other denomina- 
 tions. How little do those who indulge 'n observations 
 of this sort conceive of the mischievous and far-reach- 
 ing consequences ! A person has a right «o his opinion 
 as a member of community ; but has a man who, by sol- 
 emn ordination vows, has taken upon himself obligations 
 to sustain the doctrines of a church which has given 
 him suffrage, a right to give utterance to sentiments 
 which would poisonously affect its vital interests ? The 
 church, surely, will not hold a man guiltless who does 
 this. But who are these men, who talk about those, 
 who, in their ministrations, give the doctrine of holiness 
 the prominence which the Bible and the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church give it? Are they of that class of men 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 203 
 
 A serious question. Paul's one idea. Object of his preaching. 
 
 whose ministrations have been most signally blest by the 
 head of the church? Are they those whose deep- 
 toned and all-pervading piety makes its mark most 
 permanently upon the social circle and church commu- 
 nity ? Are they those, who, by their symmetrical 
 lives, exhibit most of the power and beauty of internal 
 holiness ? And yet more serious in aspect, in view of 
 eternity, is the question, Is the ultimate object of all 
 religious ministrations, that is, — " that every man may 
 be presented perfect in Christ Jesus," — more fully met 
 in ministers of this description ? 
 
 » *>> i 
 
 Ms mxt ifting J §0." 
 
 Paul professed a state of perfection. And he regard- 
 ed progress in this state as so important, that he expres- 
 ses his absorption on this subject, thus : " This one thing 
 I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and reach- 
 ing forth unto those things which are before," &c. He 
 then exhorts all who are perfect to be thus minded. 
 " But, surely, Paul was not always harping on the word 
 holiness," says my friend. No ; but Paul regarded this 
 as the ultimate object of all pious effort, the one aim of 
 all preaching, warning and teaching. " Whom we 
 preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in 
 all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in 
 Christ Jesus." Paul well knew that to fail of this was 
 
204: ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Conversation with Paul. Justification retained by obedience 
 
 to fail of heaven. He was aware that not one of the 
 many converted through his agency could reach the 
 heavenly goal, unless presented perfect. Suppose one 
 of his sons in the gospel had said, i ' Father Paul, why 
 tell us to mind this one thing, by being thus engrossed 
 in one topic ? We shall, surely, be branded as men of 
 one idea. Why say * Without holiness no man shall 
 see the Lord ' ? We profess to be in a state of justifica- 
 tion, and you do not think a justified soul can be lost ! ' 
 Perhaps we might have heard this affectionate spiritual 
 sire say, " My children in the gospel, know that, in 
 order to retain the grace of justification wherein you 
 stand, you must obey God, and go on to perfection. If 
 disobedient in this one thing, you will be condemned, and, 
 of course, you cannot be condemned and justified at the 
 same time. You cannot retain a state of justification, 
 unless you mind this one thing, and go on to perfection. 
 
 " But, Father Paul, if we obey your admonition, and 
 mind this one thing, what will become of these poor 
 perishing sinners around us, who have not yet learned 
 even the first principles of the doctrine of Christ ? Shall 
 we leave them to perish while we are thus occupying 
 ourselves with our own experience, and saying, with 
 you, « This one thing I do ' ? " 
 
 " No, my dear children ; in minding this one thing, 
 you include every duty of this sort. Duty, in every 
 form, is included in perfection ; it implies an assemblage 
 of all the christian graces. It is having that mind that 
 was in Christ, and did your Savior, in minding this one 
 thing, absorb himself in his own experience ? ,? 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 205 
 
 What about my influence ? Answer. A pastor's trials varied— and how. 
 
 " But, Father Paul, shall we not, by following you, in 
 minding this one thing, appear as men of contracted 
 minds, and, by this indication of a limited understanding, 
 shall we not circumscribe our influence ? Should we 
 be regarded as men of one idea, what hope can we 
 em ^r tain of ever rising to influential positions ? By 
 doing this one thing, then, we must forever abandon all 
 hops of preferment or extensive usefulness in this 
 world." 
 
 " Did your Savior sustain an influential position in 
 the etstimation of the professors of his day ? Yet did the 
 want of this curtail his usefulness ? ' Be ye followers 
 of Chi'ist, as dear children.' " 
 
 * *i» « 
 
 inistmal (irate mi ©rtomptos. 
 
 Few know how properly to appreciate the faithful 
 ambassador from the court of heaven. How varied are 
 his cares, and joys ! Well-nigh as varied as are the 
 preferences of those to whom he ministers are his allot- 
 ments. And who can say how various these preferences 
 among his people may be, when the difference in cir- 
 cumstance, and in social and religious training, is con- 
 sidered ? The high, low, rich, poor, literary, and illit- 
 erate congregate. Each requires a portion of food in 
 due season, or must go away unfed. 
 
 Our views of propriety are often formed, and our 
 
 18 
 
206 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Paul's " shady " and " sunny " sides. Do n't bring your pastor to your measure. 
 
 preferences adopted, as the result of our previous social 
 and religious training. Thus, some applaud what others 
 condemn as a mortal sin. No wonder that an inspired 
 apostle exclaimed, " Who is sufficient for these things ? ' 
 Ah, Paul, in his itinerant life, had his " shady " and his 
 " sunny " side. But, though " troubled on every side," 
 he was not distressed, though "perplexed, he was not 
 in despair ; persecuted, but not forsaken ; cast down, 
 but not destroyed." Yet, though he bore about him, 
 in his body, the dying of the Lord Jesus, and had a 
 fellowship with his sufferings, he shared in Christ's 
 triumph. Christ dwelt in his heart. The life of Jesus 
 was manifest in his mortal flesh. And, with an indwel- 
 ling Christ, who of God was made unto him wisdom, 
 righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, no wonder 
 that he exclaims, " I can do all things through Christ 
 which strengtheneth me." 
 
 But, O, do not — for Christ's sake, do not — add to the 
 care of your pastor. And, though he is the minister of 
 God unto you, do not forget that he is a man of like 
 passions with yourself. Though we trust he is " dead 
 indeed unto sin, and alive unto God," yet he is still in 
 the body. In common with other Christians, he has 
 his natural preferences. He has both social and intel- 
 lectual tastes of his own, such as are common to recti- 
 fied humanity. 'T is cruel not to regard these innocent 
 preferences. The loving, gentle Spirit of Christ will re- 
 prove you if you do not. It is his wish to be " all things 
 to all men ; " yet do not aim too scrupulously to bring 
 him down to your measure. Do not chide your minis- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 207 
 
 How you may give pain to your pastor. His name is known in heaven. 
 
 ter, in thought, or word, just because he does not come 
 up to the line you have drawn. For your friend, or neigh- 
 bor, who has an equal right with yourself, stands ready 
 with his own measure to do the same. Hence will 
 come conflicting words, and opinions, which engender 
 strife, paining the tender heart, and making less potent 
 the ministry of him who has been sent as an ambassador 
 for Christ, directly from the court of heaven to you. 
 
 Saltation in §mtm 
 
 Here is a minister in my mind's eye, who has long 
 tood on the walls of Zion. His head has whitened, 
 and his cheek has furrowed, in the service of the King 
 of kings. Though still a resident on earth, he is well 
 known in heaven. His many long years of faithful ser- 
 vice as an ambassador from the court of heaven, have 
 caused his name to be very favorably and familiarly 
 known among all the higher orders of heaven. Pure, 
 affectionate angels are often despatched from the throne 
 to tender their most loving assiduities. And, though 
 all the heirs of salvation are favored with angelic min- 
 istrations, yet few have so largely served the interests 
 of God's kingdom, by bringing many sons to glory, 
 and few, therefore, are more favorably known in heaven, 
 or more affectionately ministered unto. 
 
208 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Angelic servants. An elder and a younger minister. 
 
 i 
 " Angels his servants are, 
 
 And keep in all his ways ; 
 
 And in their hands they bear, 
 
 This sacred child of grace." 
 
 Scores of blood-washed spirits have already entered 
 the abodes of Paradise, whose feet were turned into the 
 paths of righteousness through his instrumentality. Our 
 God is " not the God of the dead, but of the living." 
 And do not these redeemed spirits, won to Christ 
 through the agency of this aged ambassador, lovingly 
 remember him as, in groups, they gather on the eternal 
 hills ? Yes ! And O, how they are longing to receive 
 him into everlasting habitations ! 
 
 They guard his every footstep, watch each tear, 
 
 And treasure every wish of holy birth ; 
 And oft with heaven's own fruit his spirit cheer, 
 
 To urge his longing homeward from the earth. 
 And, when his Father gently whispers leave, 
 
 That darkened faith shall change to open sight ; 
 Myriads, with upraised wings, the word receive, 
 
 And usher him into the realms of light. 
 
 — »»« 
 
 »t 1 fjecfcd Piirato'ii $4^. 
 
 Do you use your minister well, or is he less beloved 
 and less honored because the infirmities of age begin to 
 approach, and because the pious solidity of his manner 
 is less calculated to court popular applause than the 
 manner of some younger or less pious minister ? Would 
 you love to have an insight into the vicissitudes of 
 some ministers ? Let me tell you of a scene which is 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 209 
 
 Scene behind the curtain. Goes to the court of heaven. Redress. 
 
 witnessed behind the curtain. Here is a minister past 
 the meridian of life. With faithfulness and much suc- 
 cess, he has served his people. And now, in the order 
 of Providence, he is removed to another sphere of 
 labor. He needs no commendation. Many epistles of 
 commendation have been written, not with ink, but with 
 the Spirit of the living God ; not in tables of stone, 
 but in the fleshly tables of the heart. And thus he 
 leaves for another field of labor. He is about to enter 
 upon it, when opposing influences obtrude. The people 
 rise en masse, and reject him. He goes, not to the 
 authorities of the church, but goes directly to him from 
 whom he receives his commission. He does not " strive 
 nor cry, neither is his voice heard in the street ; " but 
 he brings his cause to the court of heaven, and makes 
 his requests known. 
 
 As the disciples returned to Jesus, so he returns, and 
 tells him all. Having committed his cause to him who 
 judgeth righteously, he, hour after hour, in lone, 
 prayerful waiting, asks the bidding of his divine com- 
 missioner. Hours, and even days, pass away, when 
 this pleading, heart-stricken minister is summoned from 
 his closet. He, in whose hand is the heart of kings, has 
 taken the cause of this faithful ambassador into his own 
 keeping, and lo ! without any personal interview, or the 
 employment of any means but those of fasting and 
 prayer on his part, the very people who had rejected 
 him are now waiting with open hearts to receive him. 
 He goes, filled with the might of the Spirit. God 
 greatly owns his labors, and many are added to the Lord. 
 
 18* 
 
210 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A good pastor a gift from God. A gem among rubbish. 
 
 Ah, it was the Lord that turned the heart of this 
 people, even as the rivers of water are turned, whither- 
 soever he will. But who can tell the agony of that faith- 
 ful minister's heart, during the hours of his rejection ? 
 How much better, had this people gone to the Head of 
 the church, and asked for a pastor after God's own 
 heart, and saved this faithful minister these burning 
 tears ! A good pastor is the gift of God, and God will 
 send such to that people who, in humble, prayerful con 
 fidence, wait upon him. "He that asketh receiveth." 
 
 tmtmt 
 
 kMn$ the lost. 
 
 Perhaps you are aiming too high. If you cannot 
 reach that dignitary, walking yonder in his beaver of the 
 latest style, and his fine broadcloth, we will step aside 
 from the walks of the refined. We will not look for 
 polish of any sort. But yet, who knows but we may 
 find a gem amid the quarry of rubbish ? Here are broken 
 hats, and soiled and tattered garments. But the wearer 
 has, in his possession, a gem of priceless value. But of 
 this fact, he is scarcely aware. He has been cast into 
 the lowest dregs of society. He has sipped the intoxi- 
 cating cup, till his senses are benumbed. Though made 
 in God's image, he has well-nigh sunk to the level of the 
 brute ! He is bending low. His manliness of form, his 
 intellect, his precious soul, made in the image of God, 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 211 
 
 _ — — , . . . i. . - . _ ........... ^ , 
 
 The king and the gipsy. Heavenly benevolence and human wretchedness. 
 
 are well-nigh lost from human vision — buried beneath 
 the rubbish of sin. 
 
 It was thought wonderful condescension, in the 
 king who lingered behind his courtiers in the chase, to 
 seek out the dying mother of the weeping little gipsy. 
 But the King of kings, the Lord of lords, left his thrcne 
 in glory, to seek and save the lost. Let us imitate his 
 condescension, and " not mind high things, but conde- 
 scend to men of low estate." Was a sacrifice needed to 
 save the world ? The wealth of heaven was expended. 
 Was Christ laborious and incessant in his efforts to 
 seek and to save the lost? He was weary when at 
 Jacob's well, and often found not time, " so much as to 
 eat." Yes, he came to seek and to save the lost. Seek- 
 ing implies research, labor. Research, aye, wearing la- 
 bor may be needful, before we find these precious gems, 
 so nearly lost amid the devastations of sin. But we 
 must have them. The Savior hath need of them. He 
 purchased them with his own blood. Every one of them 
 is worth more than the universe. It is his will that 
 they should deck his crown, and shine as stars in the 
 firmament forever. Then we will think no pains too 
 great to gather them. But let us get down low — very 
 low — in the depths of humility, or we may not be able 
 to bring up these priceless gems from the depths, into 
 which sin has plunged them. 
 
 THE INEBRIATE. 
 
 Shall we tell you just how we sought out, and found 
 one of these, who seemed sunk into the very lowest 
 
212 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A specimen of degraded humanity on the camp giound. 
 
 depths of sin and degradation ? It was on an occasion, 
 when a portion of the tribes of Israel go up to worship 
 in the wilderness, as in ancient days. The public ser- 
 vices of the day had closed, and those not disposed to 
 remain on the ground over night were departing. We 
 were about leaving for the night, with the physician of 
 a neighboring village, when one of the most degraded be- 
 sotted-looking inebriates, pausing at the door of the tent, 
 inquisitively looked in. Such a down-trodden, low, 
 sunken-looking being, I think, I never saw on a camp- 
 ground before or since. One might have imagined, 
 from his appearance, that he had not performed his 
 toilet after any fashion, either in washing, or changing 
 his apparel, for many days. As I looked on him, my 
 heart yearned sadly over him, and I thought if the 
 Savior was on this ground in person, as in Jerusalem in 
 the days of his incarnation, would not this individual, 
 above all others, attract his attention ? He " came to 
 seek and to save the lost," and the nearer an individual 
 is being lost, the more does he need salvation ; and the 
 greater and more immediate his demand on our sym- 
 pathies. But it was now high time to hasten away ; and 
 the kind physician, whose hospitalities we were sharing, 
 was not well, and waiting with some anxiety to leave the 
 ground. u And what a wonderful display of voluntary 
 humility, to go unsolicited, and interest yourself with 
 such a spectacle of degraded humanity ! " said the 
 enemy, tauntingly. But so strongly were the sympa- 
 thies of my heart enlisted, that I resolved to overleap all 
 opposing influences, and do just as I believed my Sa- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 213 
 
 Expostulation. A promise sought. A claim for Jesus. 
 
 vior would have done, under similar circumstances. 
 I addressed him affectionately, and said, " O, my friend, 
 why do you indulge in that which is so destructive to 
 soul and body ? " 
 
 " W-h-a-t — d-o — y-o-u — s-a-y ? " he stammered out, 
 reminding one much more of the animal that had re- 
 turned to his " wallowing in the mire," than of a human 
 being. 
 
 I repeated with a yearning heart, and in a sympathiz- 
 ing tone, " Will you not resolve, in the strength of 
 the Lord, that you will never taste another drop of 
 liquor ? " 
 
 I was only answered in a gruff, guttural half-intelli- 
 gible tone, my meaning, probably, being scarcely appre- 
 hended. The intoxicating draught had well-nigh done 
 its worst for this poor inebriate, and it was only the 
 fact, that he had a soul that cost the price of the Re- 
 deemer's blood, that raised him above the brute crea- 
 tion. But this consideration told with almost agonizing 
 weight on my heart, and a kind, waiting husband, and 
 waiting, hurrying friends, all failed to move me. 
 
 My faith had claimed that soul for Jesus. Jesus, as 
 my Almighty Helper, seemed to stand at my right hand, 
 that I should not be moved. I heard his voice, whis- 
 pering in my Spirit's ear, " Ask what ye will in my name, 
 and it shall be done unto you." I asked, with a faith 
 that would take no denial, for the salvation of that soul ; 
 and, as "faith without works is dead" I resolved on the 
 use of every possible means. With still greater impor- 
 tunity, I urged the question yet again and again, 
 
214 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Threatened destruction. Hopeful symptom. Suddenly yields. 
 
 " Will you not resolve, in the strength of the Lord, 
 to give up the use of intoxicating liquor ? It has already 
 well-nigh ruined you, soul and body. It is destroying 
 your prospects for time and for eternity. O, will you 
 not give it up, and resolve, in the strength of the Lord, 
 never to take another drop ? You, doubtless, have 
 often resolved in your own strength that you would do 
 this before. But, mark, I do not ask you to do it in 
 your own strength." 
 
 And still he stood mute, invulnerable to my most 
 tender and expostulating entreaties. Each moment 
 seemed the last that I could stay, and yet I could not 
 give him up. But there was one thing, which, to the 
 superficial observer, might have seemed discouraging, 
 that, to my mind, inspired hope. Surely, he cannot be 
 dead to all moral principle. This must have survived 
 the wreck of all things else that ennobles man. Would 
 he not, in answer to my imploring entreaties, say, 
 " Yes," if it were only to escape my pleadings ? And 
 this inspired me to persevere, resolved that I would take 
 no denial. 
 
 Addressing him again, I said, " I want to pray with 
 you, that the Lord may strengthen you ; but I cannot ask 
 the Lord to strengthen you to do a thing, that you have 
 not resolved you will do. How can I ask the Lord to 
 strengthen you to keep a resolve which you have not 
 made ? God promises grace to help in time of need. 
 The moment you make the resolve in the strength of the 
 Lord, that moment Almighty strength is pledged for 
 your sustainment." 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 215 
 
 The Spirit's response to a good resolution. Prayer till the midnight hour. 
 
 He suddenly yielded, and exclaimed, in a firm .voice, 
 " In the strength of the Lord, I will ! " 
 Seldom, if ever, have I witnessed such a sudden and 
 miraculous effusion of the Spirit into any poor soul. 
 His spiritual susceptibilities, which before had seemed 
 too obtuse ever to be reached, were now strangely 
 touched, and, to the amazement of all, he cried out, 
 " Oh, wife ! wife ! wife ! how have we lived ! " 
 He rushed to a bench standing near, and fell on his 
 knees, crying for mercy. His wife, a poor broken- 
 hearted woman, not known to us till this eventful 
 moment, was quickly by his side, and there, in humble 
 confessions to God, and to each other, they implored 
 mercy through Christ. Many, and earnest were the 
 petitions, presented in behalf of these penitent, weeping 
 suppliants. And it was not till near midnight, that we 
 felt that we could leave them. How delightful it is to 
 see the charities of our divine Christianity so beautifully 
 exhibited ! Here was one, who, by the errors of his 
 life, had brought himself down to the very lowest dregs 
 of society, by a resolve made in the strength of the Lord 
 Jehovah, suddenly brought up, and laid on the heart of 
 God's people, enlisting their most imploring supplica- 
 tions, and tearful sympathies, and holding them waking, 
 till near the midnight hour. Could any thing, but the 
 blessed charities, the divine inspirations of our holy 
 Christianity, have done this ? 
 
 The next morning witnessed the inebriate and his 
 wife, yet stronger in their purposes to lead a new life. 
 They seemed to have lost all idea of self-dependence, 
 
216 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 How God drew nigh. A public avowal. " Peace, be still." 
 
 and were trusting in the Lord to strengthen them. In 
 drawing nigh unto God, in the decision that they would 
 forsake the intoxicating cup, and every evil way, God 
 drew nigh unto them, and gave them to see the sinful- 
 ness of their hearts and lives. They were now earnest, 
 humble seekers of salvation. When the invitation was 
 given in the public congregation, to those who had re- 
 solved to give up all, and follow Christ, to come forward, 
 where they might have the prayers and sympathies of 
 the pious, this man and his wife eagerly hastened forward. 
 
 The hour of deliverance came. Toward evening of 
 the same day, the inebriate was enabled to exercise faith 
 in the Savior of sinners. I was near him when his soul 
 was emancipated from the kingdom of darkness into the 
 kingdom of God's dear Son. O, it was indeed beauti- 
 ful, to see that dark countenance suddenly lighted up 
 with holy joy, as the Savior said, u Peace, be still " ! 
 The sun, suddenly emerging from the darkest thunder- 
 cloud, gives but a faint emblem of that sudden transition 
 from darkness to light. The child of wrath had been 
 born into the kingdom of grace ! The heir of sin and 
 death had been made an inheritor of God, and an heir 
 of eternal life ! His wife was also, the same afternoon, 
 made a partaker of the like precious faith. 
 
 About two years subsequent to the conversion of the 
 inebriate, I was again in the same region. Said the 
 lady of the minister, in charge of a large church mem 
 bership in that region, 
 
 " Do you remember the inebriate you spoke to that 
 evening, in the tent door ? " 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. £17 
 
 Two years in the way unnoticed. Workmen. 
 
 "Indeed I do." 
 
 " O, I wish you could have heard him give in his 
 testimony, a week or two ago, in our love-feast ! He 
 is getting on delightfully in religion, and has, ever since, 
 been doing well for himself and family." 
 
 Was not this a gem worth getting down very low to 
 look after ? O, shall I not, in the day of eternity, see it 
 sparkling in my Redeemer's crown ? Surely, such a 
 sight will be worth a lifetime on earth ! 
 
 ^•mt 
 
 % Pintsimng %M%t\ trrxrh ifa $nmt 
 
 How do you like to go down low in the vale, quite 
 aside from the higher walks of men, and hide away in 
 the shade to work ? It is not always pleasant to nature 
 to be hidden aw r ay from the observations of the mighty 
 and the noble, is it ? But, with a sufficiency of grace, 
 and led by the hand of the all-powerful and low T ly 
 Savior, we may find it even pleasant to get down low, — 
 very low. And here, do we not only find the low, 
 sunken and lost, but here do w r e sometimes find the 
 underpinning of some great superstructure of error. 
 And here, in lowly toil, unseen by the great and wise, 
 in omnipotent strength, may we work away at the deep- 
 laid foundations of error, till the loud cry is heard from 
 
 19 
 
^18 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A hidden workman. Who was present. Coming up. 
 
 above, The superstructure is fallen — fallen to rise no 
 more ! It matters not, as the note of victory ascends, 
 that he who gave the successful blow, is hidden away 
 from human applause. Some shining name may have 
 taken the praise. But it matters not. The lowly 
 Savior was present when the act was done. He is ever 
 closely with those who, at his bidding, work low in the 
 vale of humility. It was by his wisdom and strength 
 the successful blow was given. Christ was the divine 
 director, and it indeed matters little whether the agent 
 employed should have a name written among men ; for 
 a ministering angel from the eternal city was present 
 and, marking the successful blow, wrote down the name 
 of the agent employed, on the pages of immortality 
 O, it is indeed good and pleasant to get down to pick 
 up gems, and knock away underpinnings ! 
 
 > mtm > 
 
 ®fe Ittajgiatrate, tfa latter, and tto Itterrttant 
 
 But sometimes our Lord says, " Come up higher," 
 and then, of course, it is a duty to go. Before honor 
 cometh humility. If the Savior is with us, it ought to 
 be equally pleasant to obey his bidding, whether it be to 
 come up higher, or to go down lower. We have been 
 down low, in the walks of life, and brought up our 
 friend, the inebriate ; and we have just parted with him. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 219 
 
 Perpetual reformation anticipated. Several persons arrested in the higher walks. 
 
 with his heart glad in the Lord, and a right spirit put 
 within him. His heart has been changed. And, as the 
 issues of life are from the heart, we have reason to hope 
 for a life wholly and perpetually reformed. What a 
 change in less than twenty-four hours ! 
 
 But scarcely more remarkable was this than another 
 scene we witnessed in about twenty-four hours after, in 
 the same tent where we first saw the inebriate. The 
 awakening Spirit of God had gone forth in a manner 
 unexpected and unprecedented in our n ^collections, in 
 that community, arresting numbers in the higher walks 
 of life. And here, where we had, on the preceding 
 night, till near the midnight hour, labored with the 
 down-trodden inebriate, we were now called to labor 
 till long after midnight with most of the principal 
 men of the region. Here, in the tent of the physician, 
 was the magistrate, the lawyer, and the merchant, with 
 several other gentlemen of the same class, with their 
 ladies, earnestly seeking the Lord, confessing their sins 
 before the Lord and each other, and imploring the 
 prayers of God's people. Several of these also were 
 blest before morning, and, we trust, went down to their 
 houses justified. " It is not by might, nor by power, but 
 by my Spirit," saith the Lord. If sinners are arrested, 
 it is through the Holy Spirit that the agencies are ap- 
 pointed and made efficient. But do you think the Holy 
 Spirit would have made use of the means by which these, 
 in the higher walks of life, or their friends, were thus 
 arrested, if we had not first humbled ourselves to raise 
 up this low, sunken inebriate ? I do not. 
 
220 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A right to enter. The cro wn seen Almost an abundant entrance. 
 
 My heart seems so drawn to you this moment that I 
 have concluded to pause and communicate with you on 
 paper. How are you prjgressing in that narrow, shin- 
 ing way, in which your feet were set several years 
 since ? The eye of my mind beholds you making rapid 
 progress toward the heavenly city, where you will 
 remember the Savior in vision told you, you had a right 
 to enter. Never shall I forget that little incident in the 
 dream you related to me ; when, as you had reached 
 the end of your earthly journeyings, you came up to the 
 gate of the heavenly city, and began to knock. The 
 Savior, looking over the battlements of the city, bade 
 you enter in, saying, " You have no need to knock for 
 entrance ; you have a right to enter ; you knocked in the 
 other world." And then you were permitted to enter, 
 and see the crown in reservation for you. I am thank- 
 ful that you did not feel quite satisfied to receive that 
 3rown starless, as it then was. Who should be satisfied 
 with a starless crown, when, after a little lingering on 
 oarth, it may be set with many brilliant stars ? Well, 
 you, my dear E., have been permitted to linger several 
 years, and have you, with each successive year, been 
 gaining stars for your crown ? " They that be wise 
 shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they 
 that turn many to righteousness as the stars for evei 
 and ever." O, I hope yon may never, for a moment, 
 aim at any thing less than an abundant entrance into 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 221 
 
 An ambition to be cherished. Always victorious. Conflict and conquest. 
 
 the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus 
 Christ. The ambition for a starry crown — an abundant 
 entrance, is of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and 
 should be cherished. With such inspirations were the 
 apostles and the holy martyrs fired. 
 
 We are permitted to see much to encourage us. 
 Perhaps you know that we are not without our conflicts. 
 But conquests are seldom gained without previous con- 
 flicts. " If Zion's foes are still, it is because her friends 
 are idle." When the Lord works, Satan musters his 
 forces to withstand. Of this, you are aware ; for you 
 have been placed in circumstances where you must 
 often have been called to resist. But to the Christian 
 warrior opposition ought rather to operate as an incen- 
 tive than otherwise. Never has a battle been lost 
 where a steady trust in Christ has been maintained. 
 Those who are led into battle by following the Lamb 
 withersoever he goeth, can no more be overcome than 
 the Captain of their salvation can be overcome 
 
 " Jesus, the meek, the angry Lamb, 
 A Lion is in fight." 
 
 HOW NEW VICTORIES MAY BE OBTAINED. 
 
 Every new battle should be regarded as an earnest of 
 a new victory. It is thus that the Christian believer 
 may ever be rejoicing in hope. I know one who has 
 learned to look at every new conflict as it presents itself 
 as a signal for a new conquest. And, having cultiva- 
 ted the habit of thinking and talking more about con- 
 quest than the conflict, an idea has seemingly obtained 
 
 19* 
 
222 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A mistake. " But shall believers fly "l " Personal peril and the work, 
 
 with some that she has no trials — no conflicts. But 
 how strangely do such mistake the true state of the 
 case ! for I imagine that there are few called to endure 
 so often and so much. Those who know her best well 
 know that she is called to endure the hottest fire from 
 the ranks of the enemy. 
 
 " But shall believers fear? 
 
 But shall believers fly? 
 Or see the bloody cross appear, 
 
 And all hell's hosts defy? 
 B,\ aii .hell's hosts withstood, 
 
 W« all hell's power o'erthrow; 
 And, conquering them through Jesus' blood, 
 
 To further conquests go." 
 
 ■ »»< 
 
 $to IStorlt (StmrM, not ifa Wothtak 
 
 If Nehemiah had not been engaged in rearing the 
 walls of Jerusalem, the enemies of the Jews would not 
 have molested him. It was to hinder the work that 
 the arts of the enemy were aimed. But Nehemiah 
 seems to think but little of his personal safety. His 
 own personal peril, or inconvenience, constitutes so 
 small a part of his trial, that he scarcely condescends to 
 mention them otherwise than incidentallv, as in needful 
 connexion with his work. His care was for the work, that 
 it should not be hindered. "Why should the work 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. L Z C Z°6 
 
 •• Why should the work cease ? " The workman and the work. Holiness in N. Y. 
 
 cease while I come down ? " " Should such a man as I 
 flee, or go into the temple to. save my life ? " Had he 
 regarded this interference with his work as a personal 
 grievance, how" much time might have been consumed 
 in vexatious contention, while the rearing of the walls 
 had, meanwhile, ceased, and the enemies of Israel there- 
 by gained their object ! Had this been the case, the 
 name of Nehemiah had probably never been handed 
 down to posterity. Had he warred months and years to 
 guard his good name, instead of guarding his work, his 
 name would have perished with his work, and neither 
 his name, nor his work, been handed down with honor- 
 able mention to posterity. How many, who would be 
 the Lord's servants, have, after the same similitude, 
 failed ! 
 
 " Fix on his work thy steadfast eye, 
 So shall thy work be done " 
 
 *m*m- 
 
 <J|awttjr (Sathmtyj* 
 
 The cause of holiness is advancing in New York. 
 To the praise of God, we would record that indications 
 of this are most evident and satisfactory. At our " Fam- 
 ily Gatherings," we have had remarkable displays of the 
 power and presence of God. Of these " Family Gath- 
 erings," you may not have been fully advised. The 
 
224 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The love-feast Scores of witnesses Fifty ministers. Father Howe. 
 
 ministers of our various churches, embracing between thir- 
 ty and forty, having concluded to propose to the people a 
 gathering from their various posts on the third Monday 
 evening of every month, for a general love-feast, the 
 proposition has been joyfully hailed, and the manifesta- 
 tions of divine approval have been signal. The first 
 love-feast was held at Greene-street church ; the latter, at 
 Allen-street. Each meeting furnished a triumph for 
 truth and holiness on a large scale j and, doubtless, 
 quite beyond any thing ever before witnessed in this 
 city I did not number the witnesses, but should think 
 scores testified, from present and experimental realiza- 
 tions, of the power of Christ to save from all sin. In- 
 deed, nearly all the witnesses testified to the enjoyment 
 of this blessing. You can scarcely conceive of the in- 
 terests of these occasions. The ministers and people 
 came, not onlv from our citv and suburb churches, but 
 from portions more remote. .1 should think there were 
 fifty ministers, at least, present at each of these love- 
 feasts, and the place where we were assembled was 
 crowded to its utmost capacity with the delighted mem- 
 bers from the various charges. One dear, veteran min- 
 ister, of the Troy Conference, came all the way from 
 Troy to be present at our last gathering. This was 
 Father Howe. He gave an affecting, condensed account 
 of his early and later experiences ; told of his increasing 
 and keener convictions in regard to the importance of 
 holiness in the membership, and in the ministry, and 
 testified, of his own heart-perceptions, of its blessednsss. 
 I imagine that visitors from abroad must have concluded 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 225 
 
 The bride ready. Remote field. The voice amid fire. 
 
 that the experience and the profession of holiness were 
 obtaining among the Methodists in New York. But I 
 need more space than I can now occupy, in order to 
 give you a full description of these intensely interesting 
 pentecostal occasions. The blending in solemn, mighty, 
 and all-prevailing prayer, the united Amen, the blissful, 
 high-toned strains in praise and song, reminded one of 
 the great multitude, who, as the voice of many waters, 
 sounded forth "Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent 
 reigneth ! Let us be glad and rejoice, and do honor 
 to him ; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and 
 his wife hath made herself ready." 
 
 » < i » 
 
 Ho a (Jjjalifarruan. 
 
 PROVIDENCE INDICATES THE WILL OF GOD. 
 My heart says, praise the Lord, in view of what have 
 been the sustainings of his grace with you since you 
 left for your remote field of labor. I say, M your field 
 of labor ; " for you are now, probably, in the sphere to 
 which God has directed you. "We may take providen- 
 tial indications as the voice of God as truly as though, 
 with Moses, we heard his voice from the burning and 
 unconsumed bush. Oftener, perhaps, than elsewhere, 
 is the voice of the Lord heard by his devoted followers 
 while they walk with him amid fiery trials. 
 
226 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 What has taken many to California. Counting-house ministrations. 
 
 An unhallowed thirst for gold, — a haste to be rich,— 
 has doubtless taken many to California, to the harm of 
 soul, body, and estate. But, if I understand your case, 
 you were not of this number. Financial embarrass- 
 ments were, I have thought, probably permitted in your 
 case with the specific design of sending you to a field 
 where your labors were greatly needed. While you 
 were, perhaps, grieving over these matters, and feeling 
 that all these things were against you, God was only 
 making way for you to save many souls alive. How 
 many, to whom, in the daily routine of business, you 
 have access, may hear messages of salvation from your 
 lips, who probably, in no other way, might be reached ! 
 
 Many, whose sordid inclinations have led them to be 
 wholly unmindful of a better inheritance, and whose 
 absorption in acquiring earthly treasures has kept them 
 from pious associations, may, by providential orderings 
 in secular affairs, be thrown in your way. M Providence 
 is God in motion." When Providence sends a man 
 of this description to you, may you not regard it as a 
 voice from heaven, assuring you that God intends that 
 you improve the opportunity of his acquaintance in 
 faithfulness to his soul? 
 
 BUSINESS SUBSERVIENT TO SOUL-SAVING. 
 
 I have often thought that more good might be done 
 by a faithful Christian, in his counting-room, or in his 
 shop, by making all his business transactions subservient 
 to soul-saving, than is accomplished by some men who 
 confine their ministrations to the pulpit. You will not 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. ££7 
 
 All may be prophets. Secular calling subservient to reUgious aims. 
 
 infer, from this, that I undervalue the services of a 
 faithful ministry. Doubtless, many more would be en- 
 gaged in an exclusive calling as ambassadors for Christ 
 if the principle of holiness, in its experimental work- 
 ings, were properly developed among business men. But 
 what I wish to say is, that there is a way in which all 
 the Lord's servants may be prophets ; a way by which 
 multitudes ought to be approached with the teachings 
 of the gospel, which, by mere pulpit ministrations, may 
 not be reached. Ministers, however good and faithful, 
 cannot do the work of the private Christians. And the 
 more earnest and devoted a minister is, the more dis- 
 posed will he be to cry out, with Moses, " Would 
 God that all the Lord's people were prophets! " — "apt 
 to teach." 
 
 The object of Christ's mission to earth was, to save 
 souls. And can the Christian have a calling which may 
 not, in its first aims, include this ? Not to ministers 
 alone, but to Christians of every order, does Christ say, 
 "Ye are not of the world, even as I am not of tiie 
 world." II the Christian does not, to the observation 
 of the world, make his secular calling subservient to his 
 holy calling as a Christian, he has no right to take upon 
 himself the Christian name ; for, surely, he is not Christ- 
 like. The worldling knows that the Christian, by virtue 
 of his profession, ought to differ greatly from the mere 
 secular man ; and, though he may sometimes scoff, yet 
 his conscience approves and honors that man who, by 
 earnest outward exhibitions, proves the sincerity of his 
 heart. And, though he may not feel any pain inflicted 
 
228 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Real and apparent opinions. God's golden bait. Preparation. 
 
 by a reproving conscience while in the company of that 
 professor whose aims in life appear no higher than his 
 own, yet, in heart, he chides his inconsistency, and says, 
 '■' What do ye more than others ? " 
 
 CHRISTIANS IN SEARCH OF GOLD. 
 
 Formerly, it was a source of satisfaction to me that so 
 many professed Christians were disposed to go to Cali- 
 fornia. I was inclined to think it of God. I knew that 
 the silver and the gold were his, and imagined that the 
 discovery of such vast treasures at this time might be 
 designed to draw, from every quarter of the globe, a 
 mass of dark, nnregenerated spirits. And then it 
 seemed only like our God to draw or urge, by providen- 
 tial indications, those to this place whom his grace had 
 made subjects of divine illumination. It was with this 
 design I thought he called you, and several others of 
 my Christian friends. How graciously did he prepare 
 you to go, by emptying your heart of earthly love, and 
 fitting it up for his indwelling ! Jesus, the Savior of 
 sinners, the light of the world, then came, and took 
 possession ; and your body was made a habitation for 
 God through the Spirit. The specific design of God, in 
 the preparing you, was not that you might make gold 
 your first object, but that he might, through you, search 
 out souls which were ready to perish ; that the light he 
 had enkindled in your soul might enlighten many a 
 dark mind whom the light of life might not, through 
 other means, penetrate. This, my brother, is the spe- 
 cific work for which the Lord has sent you to Califor- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 229 
 
 An equivalent for exile from home. Religion first. A night at a hotel. 
 
 nia. Should you snatch one soul from endless burn- 
 ings, which might not be otherwise reached, surely you 
 will be a thousand-fold repaid for your exile from your 
 dear family and other delightsome associations. Think 
 of Christ, who left the bosom of his Father, and all the 
 blissful associations of heaven, for the one and only 
 design of saving sinners. It was his joy to do the will 
 of his Father. He lived not to please himself. Think 
 then, of yourself, as a worker together with him in sav- 
 ing sinners. Yes, this is, indeed, the holy calling of 
 the Christian, and, if he does not make his secular call- 
 ing subservient to it, he has assumed a name of which 
 he is not worthy. " Seek first the kingdom of God and 
 his righteousness, and all these things shall be added." 
 Make your earthly calling subservient to your heavenly 
 calling, and trust God for the consequences. 
 
 Wkt IriM prig. 
 
 THE WEDDING TOUR. 
 
 We paused over night at a hotel, at one of our small- 
 est cities, within twenty miles of a village where we 
 anticipated spending a few days in laboring to save 
 precious souls. Late on the evening of our arrival, an 
 interesting bridal party entered ; they were, as we after- 
 
 20 
 
230 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 All things to all men. Affectionate attentions. A question of expediency. 
 
 wards ascertained, from the village for which we had left 
 our remote home. The party consisted of two grooms 
 with brides, and the full complement of bridal attendants, 
 making eight in number. 
 
 At the breakfast-table, and in the reception-room, we 
 met these interesting young friends. Our ideas of the 
 demand of earnest and enlightened piety, do not debar 
 us from efforts to please our young friends, where we may 
 do it without being guilty of the sin of foolish talking and 
 jesting. It is a wise and pleasant admonition upon 
 which we studiously love to practise. "All things to 
 all men," and to the praise of God it is due to say, it is 
 not unfrequently in this way, that we win some. 
 
 And thus it was in this case. We had been in conver- 
 sation but a short time, before it was incidentally ascer- 
 tained that I was the person whose coming had been 
 announced in their pleasant village home, and from which 
 they were expecting to be a few days absent on their 
 wedding tour. The Lord enabled me to succeed in 
 gaining their affectionate attentions. To go farther than 
 this, and introduce with success the subject of re- 
 ligion, to an irreligious, gay, bridal party, appeared 
 almost too much to expect. But all things are possible 
 with God, and all things are possible to him that belie veth. 
 Greatly did my heart covet these lovely young friends 
 for Christ ; and I trusted in the Lord for skill and pow- 
 er to meet the emergency, but I have seldom found it 
 more difficult to exercise faith than on this occasion. 
 
 " How inconsistent," said the tempter, " to ask that the 
 attentions of this bridal party should be arrested to the 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 231 
 
 Trust and resolution. The new year and a new heart. Warning. 
 
 subject of religion', amid the hilarities ordinary on such 
 occasions !" But trusting in the wisdom and omnipotence 
 of grace, I resolved to make an effort, believing that 
 the Holy Spirit would speak through me. It was now 
 Friday, and the ensuing Sabbath would usher in the 
 new year. Addressing one of the grooms-men that 
 sat nearest me, I softly said, 
 
 " Would it not be a glorious thing to begin the new 
 year with a new heart ? 
 
 He manifested some embarrassment, and, after a little 
 hesitation, replied, 
 
 "It certainly would." 
 
 " Have you, my dear young friend, given your heart 
 to the Savior ? " 
 
 " I have not." 
 
 " You know that heart belongs to him. He has long 
 been saying to you, 'My son, give me thy heart.' 
 Is it not a serious thing to live in constant, conscious 
 disobedience ? Surely, God will not always be calling 
 you. He is calling you, just now, to be his disciple just 
 as much as he ever called Matthew, or Peter. If they 
 had refused to come just when he called them, do you 
 think he would have called either of them again ? God 
 has said, ' My Spirit shall not always strive with man.' 
 And, if you continue to refuse, while you know God is 
 calling you, what right have you to believe that yet 
 another and another call will be given ? Year after year, 
 has God spared you, and this year the sentence may have 
 passed, ' Thou shalt die.' Though so near the close of 
 the year, many will yet enter the eternal world before it 
 
232 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The arrow. Compelled to feel, but not to yield. "Ah, you 've caught it" 
 
 closes. You may be of the number, if you longer con- 
 tinue to cumber the ground, by not bearing fruit to the 
 glory of God. O, if spared, will you not begin the new 
 year with a new heart ? " 
 
 The arrow of conviction penetrated his heart. He 
 was moved, and acknowledged his duty ; promised to 
 think seriously, but did not fully commit himself to 
 begin at once. I told him that it was my intention to 
 keep him continually in the arms of faith and prayer, as 
 in the more immediate presence of God, during the day, 
 assuring him that the Lord would answer prayer in 
 re-speaking these things to his heart. And, though he 
 would not compel him to yield, yet he would compel 
 him to feel. 
 
 The young friend with whom I was conversing, was 
 intelligent and gentlemanly, and evidently had a marked 
 respect for religion. He was brother to one of the 
 brides. We sat a little aside, conversing in a low tone, 
 and, though it was not my intention that the company 
 should hear our conversation, as I did not want the 
 attention of our young friend divided, yet it was not 
 surprising that I should, now and then, witness the mis- 
 chievous glances at the young man, which seemed to 
 say, "Ah, you have caught it ! " 
 
 We soon parted, the bridal company to make prepara- 
 tion for their tour to a distant city, and ourselves to go 
 to the village, about twenty miles distant, where the 
 nuptials had been celebrated in the village church, the 
 evening previous. The young man with whom I had 
 conversed, seemed to be the leading spirit in the party, 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 233 
 
 An awful power. Piety and cheerfulness. Faith that removes mountains. 
 
 and master of ceremonies. Before parting with him, I 
 affectionately said, " Remember, one will be praying for 
 you, during the day, and, in answer to these intercessions, 
 Jesus, your Redeemer and Savior, will be pleading for 
 you. God will send his Holy Spirit to your heart. And, 
 when you feel an urging to set out to seek the Lord 
 with all your heart, you may know that it is the Holy 
 Spirit operating on your heart, in answer to prayer. 
 You may turn the Spirit away ; yes, man possesses the 
 awful power to resist the Holy Ghost. But, O, let it 
 no longer be said of you, " Ye do always resist the Holy 
 Ghost." Yield to be saved. In doing this, you only 
 yield to be made happy. 
 
 M Religion never was designed 
 To make our pleasures less ! " 
 
 Religion forbids nothing that is really necessary for 
 our enjoyment. " Godliness is profitable to all things, 
 having the promise of the life that now is, and that 
 which is to come." We parted. 
 
 MARRIED LIFE COMMENCED ARIGHT. 
 
 During the day, I was not unmindful of my promise. 
 But it was well my faith was not bounded by human 
 probabilities, or, surely, it would have failed. The 
 tempter would fain have forced me to believe that it was 
 strangely inconsistent to plead for the speedy conversion 
 of that young man. But the Lord enabled me to exer- 
 cise that faith which removes mountains. O, how truly 
 our God " giveth power to the faint," and ■" to them 
 
 20* 
 
234 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The whole company encompassed. The hridal party detained. 
 
 who have no might, he increaseth strength." So might- 
 ily did the Spirit help my infirmities, that my faith 
 encompassed in its arms the entire company. In pre- 
 senting them before the Lord, I felt that he would take 
 them in his own hand of power, and, though he might 
 not irresistibly compel them to be saved, he would 
 mightily arrest, and, to the degree it was consistent with 
 the economy of grace to constrain the human will, they 
 would be constrained to yield. 
 
 " Who, who shall in his presence stand, 
 Or match Omnipotence ? 
 Ungrasp the hold of his right hand, 
 Or pluck the sinner thence? " 
 
 Our God can call things that are not, as though they 
 were. 
 
 " He everywhere hath way, 
 And all things serve hi3 might." 
 
 " Providence is God in motion." By a providence 
 unlooked for, the bridal party was hindered from prose- 
 cuting their contemplated journey. One of the newly 
 married gentlemen being a lawyer, he found a matter 
 of business, which he had thought trifling, to be more 
 serious than he had anticipated, requiring his immediate 
 attention to such a degree as to detain him. With the 
 party thus broken, the other portion of the company 
 were unwilling to proceed. The next day, they 
 returned to the village, and a part of them came to the 
 church in the evening, where God was gloriously mak- 
 ing known his awakening and saving power. 
 
 The succeeding day, bright, and beautiful, ushered in 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. £35 
 
 Seventy seekers. Married and converted at the same altar. 
 
 the new year. It was also the blessed Sabbath. And, 
 truly, it was as one of the days of the Son of man. 
 Probably not less than seventy, on the evening of that 
 day, manifested, before God, men and angels, their 
 determination to " flee from the wrath to come." 
 Among these were several of the bridal party. And 
 here our young friend, the groom's-man, whom we had 
 so earnestly importuned to begin the new year in the 
 service of God, gave his heart to Christ. He was 
 clearly and powerfully converted. And so, also, was 
 his sister, the bride, and also her husband. Only three 
 evenings previous, had this newly married pair, before 
 that altar, pledged themselves to each other, and now 
 they had together pledged themselves to Christ 
 Within a few moments of each other, were they born 
 into the kingdom of Christ, and enabled to rejoice with 
 "joy unspeakable and full of glory." O, it was indeed 
 a lovely sight to witness these newly affianced ones 
 newly affianced to Christ, weeping tears of joy on each 
 other's neck, praising the Lord in the ardors of their 
 first love ! Before the first week in the new year had 
 passed, nearly all that bridal party, with scores of othei s, 
 were newly begotten into the kingdom of Christ. 
 
 " I must love on, God ! 
 This bosom must love on ! but let thy breath 
 Touch and make pure the flame that knows not death, 
 Bearing it up to heaven, Love's own abode." 
 
236 IT, LIT 8 Til ATIONS OF THE 
 
 Great solicitude. News from California. " It is the Sabbath." 
 
 ►utu&ig Jfltormnjg $tm. 
 
 The affectionate husband of my friend, Mrs. S , 
 
 having gone to try his fortunes in California, his wife 
 had been placed in circumstances calculated to excite 
 great solicitude in his behalf. She had written several 
 times, but had not received any return." The cholera, 
 raging there at this time, raised her painful apprehen- 
 sions to the highest point. The last night of a week of 
 untold anxiety closed in upon her. It was spent in 
 longing and solicitude, such as the heart of an affection- 
 ate wife may alone conceive. Sunday morning dawned, 
 when, on a sudden, "News from California! — News 
 from California ! " saluted her ear. The cry was just 
 under her window. Almost involuntarily she flew to 
 the window. Her hand was upon it to raise the sash. 
 The prospect of speedily receiving the intelligence for 
 which she had waited in such agonizing suspense seemed 
 to absorb even the remembrance of the sanctity of the 
 day, when the Spirit whispered gently, " It is the Sab- 
 bath." We need not say she was arrested, for her 
 heart was not only affectionate, but it was also under the 
 restraints of deep piety. Nature, for a moment, par- 
 leyed ; but her spirit, in the resoluteness of earnest 
 piety, said, " Shall I do this thing, and sin against 
 God ? ' Grace prevailed ; and, as she turned from the 
 window, she looked to see what the God of all consola- 
 tion would say to her from his precious Word, when, 
 lo ! her eye rested upon these words, " He shall not be 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 237 
 
 A word from the Book. Rest. Pain of imaginary widowhood escaped. 
 
 afraid of evil tidings ; his heart is fixed, trusting in the 
 Lord." It was the voice of her compassionate heav- 
 enly Father, and, as its assuring, soothing tones fell 
 on her Spirit's ear, a quietness began to spread itself 
 over and possess her entire being. It was a holy, bliss- 
 ful quiet, befitting the sacred day upon which she 
 had entered. O, the divinity of the words of him who 
 spake as never man spake ! How omnipotent in raising 
 up the bowed down ! Monday morning came, and with 
 it letters were received, by the hands of different indi- 
 viduals, from the husband of Mrs. S to his affection- 
 ate wife. Mr. S stated that his reason for writing 
 
 by several different conveyances was induced by his great 
 
 anxiety that some one of these might reach Mrs. S 
 
 before she saw the papers, as a person of the same name 
 as himself had died with the cholera in the place 
 where he was residing. Mrs. S subsequently pro- 
 cured the Sunday Morning News, and saw, among the 
 announcements of death, that of a gentleman residing in 
 the same place, and bearing the same name as her hus- 
 band. Had she purchased the Sunday Morning News 
 the day previous, the blissful hours of the Sabbath, 
 instead of being spent in holy quiet, would have been 
 passed in the agonies of imaginary widowhood. 
 
 u My God, I would not long to see 
 My fate, with curious eyes ; 
 What gloomy fortunes wait for me, 
 Or what bright scenes may rise 
 
 Blind unbelief is sure to err, 
 
 And scan thy work in vain ; 
 Thou art thy own interpreter, 
 
 And thou shalt make it plain." 
 
238 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Self-introduction. Six hundred miles to a camp meeting. Pardoned, and when. 
 
 djjjmttfrM m& dJiatUd to §radt in ®ltm iags. 
 
 " Did I not see you on the camp ground at East- 
 ham ? " inquired a fine, open-countenanced young man, 
 as I was on board a splendid New England Steamer, 
 making my way to New York. 
 
 " You probably saw me there, for I am now on my 
 return from the meeting held at Eastham." 
 
 " Well, I went all the way from N , N. Y., to 
 
 the Eastham camp meeting to obtain religion. I saw the 
 notice of this meeting in the Christian xldvocate and 
 Journal ; and, the moment I saw it, I thought that 
 would be a good place for me to go for that purpose. 
 Not that I did not know that the Lord might bless me 
 nearer home ; but I seemed impressed with the convic- 
 tion that I had better go there ; so I cut out the notice, 
 and put it in my pocket, resolved that, when the time 
 came, I would go." 
 
 You, of course, obtained what you went for ? " 
 O yes ! I immediately set about it, and at the first 
 prayer meeting before the preacher's stand, I went for- 
 ward as a seeker, and publicly confessed my sins. I 
 had been an awful sinner, for I had been a hypocrite. 
 The Lord pardoned me, and made me very happy in his 
 love, as soon as I sought him with all my heart." 
 You certainly have reason to be very thankful." 
 Yes, surely I have ; for not only has the Lord par- 
 doned my sins, but he has blessed me much since, so 
 that I now feel that I am all the Lord's." 
 
 
 (i 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 239 
 
 Just what I want. Looked as though he enjoyed it. Could n't pi'each. 
 
 " I praise the Lord in your behalf, and feel very 
 much interested in your experience, and I should like 
 to have you tell me all about it." 
 
 "Do you remember of speaking one day, in the 
 Bethel tent, of a young convert, who received the bles- 
 sing of holiness? Well, when I heard it, I thought, 
 that is just what I need, and then I resolved, in the 
 strength of the Lord, that I would have it. After the 
 meeting was over, I thought I would look out for some 
 one, who appeared to enjoy the blessing, and would in- 
 quire what I must do in order to obtain it. I soon saw 
 a man, whose countenance looked as though he enjoyed 
 it, and I asked, if he could tell me how I might be 
 wholly sanctified." 
 
 " What did he tell you ? " 
 
 " He said I must first consecrate myself wholly, and 
 then I must believe." 
 
 " What then ? " 
 
 " I then went oiF by myself a distance in the grove, 
 resolved to take the direction I had received, and began 
 to consecrate myself. But I could not go far before one 
 great duty met me, and to get all on the altar, without 
 consenting to do that duty, was what I could not do." 
 
 " Would you have any objection to tell me what that, 
 one great duty was ? " 
 
 Here the young man manifested a momentary embar- 
 rassment, and then said, 
 
 " Why, it was to preach the gospel, but I told the 
 Lord I could not yrreach. I said it was not in me to do 
 it, I was ignorant and weak, and I could not preach — I 
 
#40 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The dilemma. Light from the Bible. Could n't believe yet. 
 
 knew I could not. But there was the duty ; consent to 
 preach I must, or I could not go a step farther." 
 
 Here he paused, as if he thought what he was about 
 to say might go beyond my belief, and then resumed, 
 
 " Why, I really believe that all would have been 
 over with me, and I should have lost my justification, 
 if I had not consented to preach, for I could not go one 
 step farther. O, how I felt ! and there I struggled ! 
 God saying I must preach, I saying I could not preach. 
 
 " Just then I took up my Bible, and opened it, think- 
 ing I would see what the Lord would say to me, and 
 what do you think the Lord said ? Well, it was this : ' 
 — he then repeated verbatim, — " " For you see your call- 
 ing, brethren, how that not many wise men after the 
 flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called ; but 
 God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to con- 
 found the wise ; and God hath chosen the weak things 
 of the world to confound the things which are mighty ; 
 and base things of the world, and things which are 
 despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are 
 not, to bring to nought things that are ; that no flesh 
 should glory in his presence.' I was so struck that I 
 had not another word to say, and I gave up the point, and 
 told the Lord that I could preach and would preach, 
 if he called me to it." 
 
 " Were you enabled then to believe ? " 
 
 " Not quite yet, for I found there was something 
 more to get upon the altar, something which was as dear 
 as my life, and the struggle was even greater on this 
 point than the other." 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 241 
 
 What else ? The dearest object resigned. Body and soul sanctified. 
 
 Hardly daring to venture farther, yet greatly desiring, 
 for my own instruction, to trace the way of the Lord 
 with this interesting young disciple, I ventured yet again 
 to say, ' ( Would you have any objection to tell me, what 
 this yet greater thing which you were required to give 
 up was ? " 
 
 " Well, it was this. I have, for some time, had my 
 affections interested in a young lady. Previous to my 
 addressing her on the subject, a young minister had been 
 somewhat attentive to her, and I was rather apprehen- 
 sive that he might stand in my way. I spoke to her on 
 the subject, but she said she would never marry a minis- 
 ter. This all came up before me, and I saw that all 
 would not be on the altar, till she was given up also. 
 The struggle was hard, but, by the help of the Lord, I 
 succeeded, and all was given up." 
 
 "Well, then you were enabled to believe?" 
 
 " Yes, then I was enabled to believe God did receive 
 me. I could not doubt, for there was the puomisc that 
 God would receive me, if I gave up all. I dared not 
 doubt. And O, such a change ! Why, I felt it through 
 my body as well as my soul. I knew that God had 
 sanctified me wholly." 
 
 The above, reader, is, as nearly as we can remember, 
 the substance of a conversation with a young man of 
 fine natural, and some acquired abilities. It shows how 
 rapid the processes of grace may be, when there is 
 promptness in yielding to the monitions of the Spirit, 
 and where the young disciple is quickly met with teach- 
 ings, calculated to inspire his faith. The question ia 
 
 21 
 
212 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The question — answered. Where are you ? Fruits of holiness. 
 
 sometimes asked, " Where does justification end, and 
 sanctification begin ? " Let such carefully ponder the 
 manner of the Spirit's leadings with this young convert, 
 and they will find an answer to the inquiry. God had 
 brought his ancient people up to the borders of. the 
 promised land, and they, looking at the formidableness 
 of their enemies, and their own weakness, instead of 
 relying on the promise of Almighty aid, refused to go 
 forward, and were consequently condemned for their 
 disobedience and unbelief. As they would not go for- 
 ward, they were compelled to go back. Were they 
 justified before God ? Reader, where are you to-day ? 
 You cannot retain a state of justification, if you are 
 refusing to comply with the command of God, "Go 
 forward." If there is some great duty in the way of 
 your entire sanctification, as in the case of this young 
 man, hasten to get the matter settled between God and 
 your soul, or, by your refusal, you will lose your justi- 
 fied state, and God will write you down condemned, 
 despite of all your fancied ideas of justification. You 
 cannot be justified and condemned at the same time. 
 It involves a contradiction of terms. 
 
 SUPPLEMENTARY- 
 
 H But now, being made free from sin, and become servants of God, ye hare your 
 fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." — Romans vi_ 22. 
 
 Since writing the preceding, the writer has received 
 a letter from the young disciple therein referred to. It 
 will interest the reader to know how evidently the 
 fruits of holiness are being brought forth in his case 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. ^43 
 
 Ihity to young converts Relation of experience profitable. A father awakened. 
 
 The letter has just been received, and was written about 
 four weeks subsequent to the experience we have related. 
 Surely, the manifest absorption in the cause of Christ, 
 the holy boldness, and the maturity of faith here exhib 
 ited, are sufficient to convince the church of the utility, 
 nay, the duty, of urging young converts to the attainment 
 of present and entire holiness. Who can question the 
 expediency of relating experience on this subject, when 
 we observe the effect in the case of this young convert ? 
 It was the recital we had given of the experience of this 
 grace, in the case of a young convert, that the Lord 
 made use of in inciting this young man to seek the 
 blessing, and in enabling him to apprehend that it was 
 the privilege of young converts to be holy. And yet 
 some have been so mistaken as to question gravely the 
 expediency of encouraging young converts to expect this 
 attainment early in their heavenward career, and have 
 judged the profession of this attainment from the lips of 
 such, injurious. 
 
 In the letter just received, our young friend informs 
 us, that, immediately on reaching home, he told his pa- 
 rents what great things the Lord had done for his soul. 
 His father was an unconverted man, and had not been 
 willing to be addressed about his eternal interests. But 
 now he sat, and heard his son talk, all the afternoon, 
 about the wonderful transformations grace had wrought. 
 The son, since the Lord had translated him from the 
 kingdom of darkness, had been much in prayer for the 
 awakening of his father, and now he says, " I saw how 
 the Lord had been answering my prayer." When evening 
 
244 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Family worship. Father converted. Increasing faith. Mother convert* 4. 
 
 came, the son pToposed having family worship. So fai 
 had grace prepared the way, that the father quickly 
 assented. And now the affectionate son, in the strong 
 arms of faith, brought his father to the feet of Jesus. 
 " I prayed," says he " for my father's awakening, and 
 the Lord heard and answered. I then explained to him 
 the nature of a change of heart, and prayed for his con- 
 version, and, glory be to God ! he has since been 
 converted. My mother, I had thought, knew something 
 about religion; but, when I began to tell her my 
 experience, she said, she did not enjoy religion ; her 
 religion had been nothing more than morality. I asked 
 her if she was willing the Lord should give it to her 
 any way he saw fit, and she said, Yes ! Then, said I, 
 mother, you shall have it." The son then knelt 
 down beside his dear mother in prayer, and greatly did 
 the Lord strengthen his faith, as he brought her, also, 
 in mighty prayer, to the foot of the cross. Believing 
 that he had received the thing he had asked, he arose, 
 strong in faith. On rising from prayer, his mother 
 expressed herself as not feeling as clear as she could wish ; 
 but so confident was he that his prayer had brought 
 virtue from Jesus in her behalf, that he, with an assured 
 faith, told her that she would feel better soon ; she had 
 only to keep trusting in the Lord, expecting the evi- 
 dence, and it would be given. So sure was he of this, 
 that he left the room, and retired up stairs, when, not 
 long after, his mother called him, exclaiming, " The 
 Lord has cast all my sins behind his back." The mother 
 expressed her amazement, but her son assured her, that 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. £45 
 
 Prepares for the ministry. How a book of Acts might again le written. 
 
 he did not think it at all strange, for she might have 
 had the evidence sooner, if she had only believed, as 
 soon as the Lord wanted her to. He closes up his 
 interesting letter, by saying, " O praise the Lord, he is 
 doing such a great work here. * * * * I am making 
 preparation for the ministry as fast as I can." He 
 speaks of entering an institution shortly, where the 
 facilities for study may be favorable ; says the brethren 
 are calling him to exhort, and the Lord gives him man- 
 ner and matter, and he is trying to live in the discharge 
 of every duty, and the Lord blesses him beyond all he 
 can ask or think. 
 
 What a work of the spirit do we here behold, in one 
 so recently converted ! No wonder that the adversary 
 has taken pains to persuade us, that converts so young 
 in experience, should not be taught to expect the bless- 
 ing of entire sanctification, and that the professions of 
 those who believe they have so attained are calculated to 
 exert a dissuasive influence. 
 
 Tremendous, indeed, would be the inroads on Satan's 
 kingdom, should a Christianity, marked by these rapid 
 and scriptural processes, prevail. This is the Christi- 
 anity that was exhibited in the lives of the apostles. 
 How soon might a book of acts, similar to the acts op 
 the apostles, be written, giving a history of the modern 
 achievements of Christianity, which might compare with 
 those of an earlier period, if its entire renovations and 
 power, were thus early and earnestly exhibited, in the 
 lives of its professors ! 
 
 21* 
 
£46 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A greater sin than robbery. Erring, but not wholly insincere. 
 
 u 1 DO not sell liquor to inebriates, or any thing of 
 that sort ; but, for travellers, as they pass on their way, 
 it seems necessary to keep a little on hand." 
 
 Said the lady addressed, " I have a son — an only son. 
 From his earliest existence he has been set apart for the 
 service of God. In view of his early dedication, I ex- 
 pect that the Lord will employ him for eminent useful- 
 ness. I am training him in view of this. Should you 
 give that dear boy the first drop which might eventuate 
 in his contracting a taste for the intoxicating cup, I 
 should feel that you had wronged me more than if you 
 had taken millions from my purse." 
 
 It was about thus, that a deeply interesting interview 
 was commenced with a gentleman who kept a house for 
 public entertainment in the village of . This gentle- 
 man, though erring, was not wholly insincere ; perhaps 
 not intentionally so in any degree. He had been, for 
 some time, in a state of great religious desire and per- 
 plexity. He had applied to the lady for pious counsel. 
 Had he been really insincere, he would not have sought 
 the sympathy of those whom he believed to be truly pious. 
 He knew that there was joy in salvation, and he want- 
 ed to be made a partaker of that joy, without making 
 the necessary sacrifice. As a redeemed sinner, he knew 
 it was his duty to give himself up to his Redeemer, and 
 he had tried to do so. Yes, he had actually made the 
 offer of himself to God. But still darkness and per- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. £47 
 
 Obedience, not tears. Earnest and persevering offerers rejected. Unbelief. 
 
 plexity prevailed ; he could not believe that God ac- 
 cepted his offering. And in this attitude he had remained 
 several days, still presenting the offering, and still sadly 
 conscious that it was not accepted. Could tears have 
 induced the acceptance of his offering, tears were not 
 wanting. 
 
 " God will not accept imperfect sacrifices," said the 
 lady. " There were those, in the days of the prophet 
 Malachi, who brought their sacrifices to God, and great 
 ly desired that he would accept them. These offerers 
 were earnest, persevering, and even tearful, in their en- 
 treaties. It was said of them, l And this ye have done, 
 covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping 
 and crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the 
 offering any more. Ye have wearied the Lord with 
 your words.' And thus they waited long in earnest- 
 ness, and in the sadness of unfulfilled desire. Why 
 did God not accept the sacrifices of these offerers ? Let 
 him answer for himself. l Because ye offer the lame, 
 and the torn, and the sick.' i Ye offer polluted bread 
 upon my altar.' f Cursed be the deceiver which voweth 
 and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing.' These 
 offerers could not have believed that God accepted their 
 offering. Had they made an effort to believe, they 
 would have made an effort to " believe a lie," for God had 
 declared that he would not accept such sacrifices. They 
 could not believe, neither can you believe that God will 
 accept your sacrifice. Unless you confess and forsake 
 your sin, you can have no foundation for your faith ; 
 for the promise of mercy is only to those who confess 
 and forsake." 
 
24:8 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Conscience and the regulator. Fearful symptoms. The crisis. 
 
 * — ™ » ■ 
 
 " I cannot say that I have felt any particular condem- 
 nation in view of this matter. I am careful how I sell, 
 and to whom, making it a point never to deal out to 
 those who are in the habit of intoxication." 
 
 Said the lady, " How is conscience to be regulated 
 but by the word of God? You know that the word 
 of God condemns you. You certainly do not need any 
 direct revelation from heaven to convict you of sin in 
 this matter. Through the Bible, God is as directly 
 speaking to you now, as though he were audibly 
 addressing you from his throne in heaven. There is 
 awful danger of having the conscience seared. If you 
 do not feel, you have reason to fear that you have 
 already too long resisted. Resist no longer, or God 
 may give you up to your delusion, and you be left to 
 believe a lie because you have pleasure in unrighteous- 
 ness. 
 
 The gentleman said something by way of extenua- 
 tion, expressive of a hope that his case was not so des- 
 perate as might be inferred from the suggestions of the 
 lady. 
 
 A moment's pause ensued, when the lady, feeling 
 that a period of infinite moment in the career of that 
 gentleman had come, — that a decision was now to be 
 made which would be eternal in its bearings for good or 
 
 evil, — solemnly said, " Mr. , let me say, as in the 
 
 presence of God, a crisis in your history has come. I 
 believe, if you ever sell another drop of liquor, or permit 
 another drop to be sold through your influence, that you 
 will be a lost spirit, and will soon meet the victims of 
 your traffic in the lower regions ! " 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 24 P 
 
 Blood-guiltiness feared Compassionate severity Pause. Tea decision. 
 
 A loved and honored circle were sitting around, and 
 each one seemed struck with amazement at the unex- 
 pected and seeming severity. The fact is, she had fixed 
 her eye on eternity. She knew that this deathless 
 spirit, with whom she had this day for the first time 
 met, she would again meet at the bar of God, and she 
 feared that the blood of his soul might be found on her 
 skirts, did she not faithfully declare the whole counsel 
 of God. And though seemingly severe, her heart 
 yearned in pity over him, knowing that he had been 
 blinded by the god of this world, and could not now 
 see afar off. She had learned to call no man master 
 when eternal interests were at stake, but, thinking that 
 she might have incurred the censure of that dear circle, 
 by her plainness of speech, she sat in silence, trusting in 
 God to make her words effectual. A solemn and 
 almost unbroken pause succeeded, until supper was 
 announced, when, in an under tone, the dealer in 
 liquor said to the gentleman of the house, " We have 
 come to close quarters here." The spirit of the lady, 
 who had brought him into these close quarters, was too 
 tender not to feel for one on whom she had inflicted 
 such a wound, and she said but little until after supper, 
 when she again affectionately approached him, and softly 
 
 said, " Mr. , how does this matter stand in your 
 
 mind now ? " 
 
 " Never to sell another droj) ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 It was a Christian circle, and a season for social con- 
 verse and prayer was proposed. During this season, a 
 young man, who had accompanied Mr. to that 
 
250 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Joyful surprise. Could not sleep. Brandy in the turnpike. 
 
 pious dwelling, was enabled to give himself wholly up 
 to Christ, and rejoice in conscious acceptance. 
 
 • While this was going on, Mr. manifested much 
 
 emotion, when, turning to him, she said, " How is it with 
 
 you now, Mr. ? ,; With joyful surprise he sobbed 
 
 out, " O ! I believe I am now accepted ! " What was 
 the bliss of that waiting company on hearing that 
 announcement, especially of that faithful friend who 
 had dared to wound deeply, that Christ might heal 
 thoroughly ! 
 
 It was Sabbath evening. Mr. , on his way 
 
 home, engaged his young friend to assist him on the 
 succeeding morning, in taking out his casks of brandies, 
 etc. He retired to his pillow, but he could not sleep. 
 The clock struck twelve, and the sacred hours of the 
 Sabbath being passed, he hastened to the room of his 
 young friend, and said, " I cannot sleep till those casks 
 are removed ; will you assist me in taking them out into 
 the turnpike road ? ' " Bless the Lord, I will," replied 
 his zealous friend. There, at midnight, unseen but by the 
 eye of those invisible beholders, who rejoice over one 
 sinner who repenteth, the bungs were drawn, and the 
 contents of those casks, containing moral and physical 
 poison, flowed in copious streams down the turnpike. 
 The next day, the streams of salvation began to flow out 
 upon his family. Both his wife and daughter were 
 enabled to rejoice in Christ as their full Savior. " I 
 have a new husband ! " said the happy wife the next 
 day, as this now happy husband took her to revisit that 
 dear Christian circle. And how many husbands might 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 251 
 
 A new husband. Merciful expedients. An impression neglected. 
 
 be made all new, and how many families might know 
 the joys of salvation, if the father and husband would 
 alike resolve not to touch, taste or handle the unclean 
 thing ! 
 
 I ■ »! 
 
 dtod's 4 0mtm rnmjgs, 
 
 " For God speaketh once, yea, twice ; yet man perceiveth it not! " — Job xxxra. 14. 
 
 God's throne will be guiltless. It is his will that all 
 should be warned. But, in the case of every sinner, 
 the last warning will come. It is the Holy Spirit that 
 gives the call, but his operations are diversified. Some 
 are called by dreams and visions of the night ; others, 
 by various painful providences, personal and family af- 
 flictions, loss of property, death of friends. The cases 
 of some are specially laid on the minds of pious friends, 
 involving large responsibilities on the part of Christians, 
 in view of a most minute attention to impressions. 
 Here is an instance. My friend, not long since, said to 
 me, " An impression came on my mind to go and see 
 the husband of one of my class members. I was unac- 
 quainted, and I thought how singular it would appear 
 to go unasked, and obtrude myself on his attentions. T 
 did not obey the impression, and, in a day or two after- 
 
252 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Sudden death. Are you restive ? The midnight call. 
 
 wards, received word from his afflicted wife that he had 
 fallen down suddenly, and expired without a moment's 
 warning." Did not God intend that that individual 
 should have had one more call And who knows but 
 that call might have saved that soul from death ? If so, 
 of whom may his blood be required ? Let me ask, do 
 you observe all those gentle urgings which are, from time 
 to time, made on your mind thus by the direct agency 
 of the Holy Spirit ? Or are you restive, and is it need- 
 ful that you be managed with bit and bridle ? If so, 
 beware, or you may, as in the case of our friend, be 
 chargeable with blood-guiltiness. Let me tell you of 
 some instances of very marked forewarning which have 
 recently come under my own observation in the case of 
 three young men. 
 
 PROVIDENTIAL ADMONITIONS DISREGARDED. 
 
 On Saturday evening, about twilight, my husband 
 was hurried away to see a lady, about half a mile dis- 
 tant from our home. On entering her residence, he 
 found her wholly beyond the skill of any, save him who 
 raised Lazarus. While eating her supper, she had 
 fallen suddenly back, and expired. A few hours later, 
 at the solemn midnight hour, we were su ^.denly roused 
 by the announcement that a gentleman, residing not far 
 distant, had fainted. My husband, on reaching the 
 object of his call, found him reclining on the sofa, but 
 the angel of death had come stealthilv, and had noiseless- 
 ly borne his spirit to the eternal world. He had spent 
 the evening in listening to a philosophical lecture, and 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. °Zb?> 
 
 Not in a swoon, but dead. Pastor's call. Three profane young men. 
 
 had invited his friend to go and hear the Rev. Mr. 
 
 at the Universalist Church, on the next morning. He 
 had affectionately desired his wife to retire an hour 01 
 two previous, saying he had a little matter he wished to at- 
 tend to, and would shortly follow. She fell asleep. On 
 waking, about the dead of night, and finding her husband 
 was not by her side, she called, but received no answer. 
 On reaching him, she imagined he had fainted ; but his 
 spirit had departed. 
 
 On Sabbath morning, our pastor called at an early 
 hour, and breakfasted with us. I mentioned death's ur- 
 looked-for doings of the night before, and our belo\c L 
 pastor, with ourselves, felt that the living ought to 
 be admonished. 
 
 It was a season of some religious interest at the church 
 we attended, and, after our pastor had delivered a faith- 
 ful discourse, he asked my husband if he would exhort, 
 and make some reference to the solemn instances of 
 mortality he had witnessed the preceding night. My 
 husband did so. During his solemn appeal to those who 
 were unprepared to meet God, three young men hasten- 
 ed out of the house, with noisy steps, and an excited man- 
 ner. " This is the way the Methodists are always trying 
 to frighten the people," said they, in angry tone, as they 
 hurriedly left the house of the Lord. It proved to 
 be the last time for two of these profane young men. 
 The next morning, at an early hour, they were all three 
 at a large establishment in Hague street, when the steam 
 boiler in the lower part of the building exploded, and 
 
 a large number of human beings were blown into 
 
 22 
 
£54 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Blown into mid-air. The smallest hospitalities rewarded. 
 
 mid-air, and some to an almost incredible distance, 
 while others were buried in the ruins. Two of these 
 young men perished. One only of the three was left, 
 and he was dug out of the ruins. He now says, he 
 means to give his heart to God. The Lord only knows 
 whether he will keep his promise. 
 
 Hl>l 
 
 % (fytp 4 (fold Wafer. 
 
 THE TRAVELLER ENTERTAINED. 
 
 The Lord has never disappointed my faith. Such a 
 thing cannot be as that one who trusts in the Lord 
 should be confounded. But there are some things in 
 which I have received very marked answers to my faith, 
 and this is one. The Savior said, "A cup of cold water, 
 given to a disciple in the name of a disciple, shall not 
 lose its reward." I know it would interest you, if I 
 could narrate the many circumstances under which I 
 have proved this strikingly true. I shall have time to 
 give but one or two instances out of scores. Here is 
 one : I was travelling from Baltimore to New York ; 
 and made arrangements to pause at M. H., to see a dear 
 friend. Dr. P. being unable to accompany me, other 
 friends accompanied me as far as P., leaving me about 
 twenty miles to go by railroad, and nine by stage. It 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 255 
 
 A benighted traveller. The parsonage not a hotel. A discouraged minister 
 
 was near night when I arrived at B., where I was to 
 take the stage. I found the stage gone, and, therefore, 
 had no alternative but to go and remain over night, at 
 the house of the minister residing in the place, with 
 whom I had some acquaintance, or at a public hotel. It 
 was always against my views of propriety, and repug- 
 nant to my natural feelings, to make a minister's house 
 a matter of convenience, amid the multiplicity of caies 
 of a minister's family ; and, to go to a hotel without my 
 husband to accompany me, I feared, might not be one of 
 the ways of the Lord ; for God only promised to keep us 
 in all his ways, not out of his ways. Perhaps, in this, 
 the Lord intended to test my naturally independent 
 spirit, in order that it might be proved, that all was un- 
 der the reign of grace. I called at the parsonage, and 
 the Lord had prepared the way before me, as the friends 
 seemed to feel themselves much obliged by my coming ; 
 the minister's wife, especially. I found all athirst for 
 inward purity. The minister was much discouraged ; 
 said the place was the hardest ground he had ever work- 
 ed on. He was now coming toward the close of his 
 second year, and had had no revival, and asked me if 
 I would not return on a quarterly occasion, about four 
 weeks from that time, and labor with his people. Ear- 
 nestly did I plead with the Lord, that the cup of cold 
 water, " given in the name of a disciple," might not lose 
 its reward. The duty of returning at the expiration of 
 four weeks was urged on my mind, and I promised, if 
 the Lord would open my way, I would do so. I found 
 my way remarkably opened, and went. It was pro- 
 
£56 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Two meetings a day. Large congregation. Fifty seekers of purity. 
 
 posed, on Monday, that we should have afternoon meet- 
 ings, especially for the church, and evening meetings, 
 in view of the awakening and conversion of sinners. 
 Both the minister and his wife thought it utterly in vain 
 to attempt to hold afternoon meetings, in consequence of 
 the deadness of the church. I said we would go out 
 and invite them personally. They said it would do no 
 good ; they knew not one that would be likely to ac- 
 cept the invitation. 
 
 In answer to my solicitations, a meeting was announc- 
 ed on Monday evening for the next afternoon, when, lo ! 
 the body of the church was nearly full. We spoke of 
 the necessity of entire sanctification ; that it was not left 
 optional with God's redeemed people, whether they will 
 be holy ; the command is absolute, " Be ye holy." 
 
 It is due to the grace of God to say, that the Holy 
 Spirit accompanied God's truth with an irresistible 
 unction. We did not soften down the truth, but felt 
 that we had a commission to declare the whole counsel 
 of God, "whether the people would hear or forbear." 
 We then stated the terms upon which God promises to 
 sanctify wholly, and, in the name of the Lord, solemnly 
 asked, who, of that company, would comply with the 
 conditions, and set themselves apart to get the blessing ? 
 It was estimated that about fifty rose to acknowledge, be- 
 fore men and angels, that they would resolve, then and 
 there, to comply with the conditions upon which God 
 has promised to sanctify wholly. From that hour the 
 work of the Lord went on with power. That evening, 
 and each succeeding meeting during the week-, the power 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. £57 
 
 Thirty witnessee. A singular circumstance. A hospitable family. 
 
 of God was eminently present to awaken the sinner ; to 
 justify the seeker, and to sanctify the believer. Before 
 the close of the week, about thirty were newly raised 
 up to testify that the blood of Jesus cleanseth. And 
 such clear and consistent witnesses, I have seldom seen. 
 I believe there was not one witness of this grace at the 
 commencement of the week. And what to me seemed 
 a singular feature in the dispensation of grace was, that 
 the most of these who received the sanctifying seal were 
 official members, trustees of the church, class leaders, 
 etc., — not one female, that I can remember. Between 
 thirty and forty, I think, professed conversion, and still 
 the work was going on when I left. Did not the 
 Lord permit this minister to see the reward for the cup 
 of cold water ? 
 
 THE GENEROUS HOSTESS REWARDED. 
 
 Seldom have we visited a family but the Lord has 
 indulged us in seeing the reward, either in the conver- 
 sion of children, or the sanctification of parents. I 
 might enlarge and fill sheets. But I must not ; I will 
 give you one more incident out of many, which occurred 
 but a short time since. We w^re at a camp meeting, 
 and slept and breakfasted off the ground with an admi- 
 rable family who were given to hospitality. Nature had 
 made the lady one of the more noble of her daughters, 
 — noble in person, in habits, and in the refinements of 
 grace. She was deeply interested in regard to the at- 
 tainment of the witness of holiness ; but so incessant 
 
 were her assiduities in attending to hospitalities at their 
 
 22* 
 
258 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 An ancientordinance perpetuated. The hostess' adieu. The divine reward. 
 
 family tent on the camp ground, and at their mansion off 
 the ground, that I could get but little opportunity to 
 converse with her. She seemed to get but little time to 
 concentrate her mind prayerfully on the attainment of 
 any object ; but, O, how my soul desired, in her behalf, 
 the entire sanctification of her soul, body and spirit! 
 I remembered that it was an ordinance in Israel that was 
 to abide forever, that those who staid by the staff were 
 to share equally with those who went out to battle, and 
 I felt that it could not be in the order of God that her 
 necessary much serving should prevent her from receiv- 
 ing a rich, spiritual blessing, which might be an inheri- 
 tance as enduring as eternity. And this I asked in her 
 behalf. The last night came, and we were about to 
 commence a meeting in a neighboring tent. The people 
 were crowding in, and the rain was falling fast. The 
 dear Christian lady, whose hospitalities we had shared, 
 also came in, and affectionately extended her hand to 
 say, farewell ! How I longed that I might see the cup 
 of cold water rewarded ! I still retained her hand, and 
 asked, in faith, that it might be now. While present- 
 ing her through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 
 telling her that the blessing of entire holiness had been 
 purchased, and already belonged to her by the right of 
 purchase, and all she had to do was to claim the 
 promised grace — taking God at his word, the Holy 
 Spirit spoke through the humble instrument to her in- 
 most heart. She believed, and entered into rest. But 
 what a rest ! Who can portray it o£ paper ? I still 
 held her hand, as she stood before me, unconscious, 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 2/3!) 
 
 A weight of glory. The dressing-room. The introduction. 
 
 apparently, of every thing but the glory upon which she 
 had entered. But the visions of glory were too much 
 for the body to endure. She gradually began to sink — 
 sink away — till her tall, dignified form lay completely 
 prostrate, and it was near half an hour before she was 
 able to rise. The reward for the cup of water came 
 late in the process of the meeting, but O, how refresh- 
 ing and glorious were its inspirations ! Alleluia ! 
 
 ■ * i» i 
 
 g $ftcft f oar <$Y\m&. 
 
 I have some rich poor friends, and some poor rich 
 friends. If it will not annoy you, I will introduce you 
 to one of each class, and then ask you to tell me whose 
 acquaintance you prize the highest. Time, you know, 
 is only the dressing-room for eternity, and we form 
 friendships here, in view of perpetuating them in heaven. 
 I will introduce you to my friends, and then tell me 
 which you will take most closely to the fellowship of 
 your heart. 
 
 Here is my friend Mr. . He has accumulated a 
 
 fine property, so that he is now quite able to move 
 away from his snug house, and the friends that would 
 remind him of his former ordinary estate. His name 
 is on the register of a Christian church, but so engross- 
 
£60 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The living. The giving. The entertainments. The children. 
 
 ingly have his attentions been occupied with bank 
 stocks and ledger, that he has not, for a long time, been 
 able to settle his account with Heaven. He does not 
 remember, perhaps does not know, that, in view of be- 
 nevolent enterprise, he, whose steward he professes to 
 be, has said, " Let every one of you lay by him in store 
 as God hath prospered him." And so it has not enter- 
 ed into his conceptions to give as the Lord hath pros- 
 pered him, but rather to live and expend in mere worldly 
 display, as the Lord hath prospered him. Though he 
 lives in this splendid mansion, and has his servants at 
 pleasure, yet it is really wonderful to see what a pittance 
 he gives toward sustaining the poor and friendless, and 
 the various institutions of Christianity. 
 
 He does not seem to know the fact that it is as truly 
 a religious duty to give according to his ability, as it is 
 to pray. He does not know this, because he seldom, if 
 ever, finds time in his closet, with his Bible and with 
 his God, to search into these matters. He lives on the 
 surface of all religious duty. Five hundred dollars is 
 but a light expenditure, if spent in household equipage 
 family wardrobe, or in the sumptuous entertainment of 
 friends. But fifty dollars for the widow and the father- 
 less, or for any benevolent enterprise, which will not 
 enroll the name of the donor on the annals of fame, is 
 too large an expenditure to even contemplate, and such 
 I have never known him to give, except on some pub- 
 lic occasion. His children are not pious. Much effort 
 has been made to fit them to shine in the world, but, 
 alas ! how little to prepare them to shine in heaven, or 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. £61 
 
 No reward. " How do you like him ? " Do not stoop. A name in heaven. 
 
 in the image of the heavenly ! If what little he has 
 given has been given in view of the observation of 
 men, he has for this no reward from his Father in 
 heaven. 
 
 Do you think this man rich toward God ? How much 
 treasure do you think he has laid up in heaven ? 
 This is one of my rich poor friends. How do you like 
 him? Do you think you will covet the influence of 
 his friendship in the other world ? 
 
 If not, then I would advise you not to cater to his 
 opinion, or covet his friendship, in this world. Do 
 not sanction his costly entertainments by your presence. 
 It is unbecoming the simplicity of the gospel of Christ, 
 and beneath your dignity in view of your high and 
 holy calling. If you do it, you may make yourself 
 a partaker of other men's sins. 
 
 m> i 
 
 g Jour Sltdt <J[mn<L 
 
 And now, permit me to introduce you to one of my 
 rich poor friends. I cannot give you her name. That 
 is recorded in heaven, and this is honor enough. But 1 
 will briefly state facts. We will look in upon her in 
 various avocations of life. Here she is helping her hus- 
 band in his little grocery. His circumstances are limi- 
 
262 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Sundries. Perpetual motion. " That little room." The funds. 
 
 ted, and will not allow of his employing a clerk, neither 
 can she afford to keep hired help. But here all is tidy, 
 and pleasant to eye and ear. Pies and bread, milk and 
 tape, needles and nuts, in short, every variety of tax on 
 patience and time in connexion with household duties. 
 But here patience is having its perfect work. And 
 though the hands may be in perpetual motion, her heart 
 is as truly in the service of God as though she had 
 received a commission from heaven, specifying her vari- 
 ous work in all its minutiae. Her standing over the 
 counter, to retail articles, is made the occasion of fre- 
 quent and earnest converse on the subject of religion, 
 and, through this means, souls have been awakened, 
 some have been converted, and others sanctified. That 
 little room, attached to the store, has been the birth- 
 place of souls. And, though so small and humble in 
 appearance, it has often been filled with the hallowing 
 presence of God, and numbers have received the seal of 
 the Sanctifier, while bowed there. Though this husband 
 and wife have but one little room and chamber, yet this 
 is the abode of neatness, hospitality and affection. And 
 this is not all ; the sick and the poor are visited, and 
 the distressed in body, mind, and estate are relieved. 
 Our poor rich friend has always something to give. 
 Her income is small, but the tenth is scrupulously laid 
 aside, according as God hath prospered her. Persons 
 have often wondered how our poor rich friend's funds 
 came, and where from. She is ever ready for every 
 good work, and gives wholly beyond many who have 
 the amount of her means a hundred times told. What 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION- 2fi$ 
 
 Which will haye the brightest crown. An inventory including all. 
 
 do you think of our rich poor friend, and our poor rich 
 friend ? "Which do you think will have the brightest 
 crown at the glorious appearing of the great God and 
 our Savior Jesus Christ ? 
 
 m * i 
 
 I would rather God would cut short the work in 
 righteousness, and take me home to heaven, than to be 
 ever vacillating in my faith and in my purposes. 
 When I gave myself up wholly to my Redeemer, it was 
 in the bonds of an everlasting covenant. I looked well 
 at the terms of the covenant, resolved that it should be, 
 in all things, well ordered and sure. After I had made 
 an inventory, and signed myself, with all that I had or 
 ever expected to have, over to God, the enemy did not 
 dispute the point that I had given up all, as far as I knew, 
 to God, but he suggested that there might be something 
 I did not know of that I had not surrendered. I re- 
 plied , I make no provision for future emergencies ; I 
 give up all, whether known or unknown,' resolved that, 
 as God shall reveal his will, I will say, " Behold thy 
 willing servant, determined all thy will to obey ! " Now 
 you have been much troubled on this point of giving 
 up all. With thousands of other sincere, earnest souls, 
 
264 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The deed. What we sing. When it becomes duty to believe. 
 
 you have said, " How may I know when I have given 
 up all ? " This, certainly, is not so difficult a point to 
 apprehend as you imagine. If I should, by an instru- 
 ment at law, convey to you my dwelling, with all it con- 
 tains, whether known or unknown, and then should 
 afterwards find something that I had not known of at the 
 time, would I have a right to appropriate the included 
 yet unthought-of article to myself? All you have, or 
 may ever expect to have, worth possessing, already 
 belongs to God. You have been wholly redeemed, and, 
 as the property of your Redeemer, have no right to 
 hold any thing as your own. And have you not, in 
 word, already given up all to God ? How often have 
 you sung, 
 
 " Though late, I all forsake, 
 My friends, my all, resign " ! 
 
 And now, is it any longer at your own option, whether 
 you will be wholly the Lord's ? Let the language of 
 your heart from this moment be, 
 
 " Lord, I am thine, and not my own, 
 Thy servant, purchased unto thee ; 
 My every power is thine alone, 
 The dear-bought right of Calvary." 
 
 The moment you make the entire surrender, that mo- 
 ment (and not till that moment) does it become not only 
 your privilege, but your solemn duty, to believe that 
 God accepts you wholly. God has given you grace to 
 present yourself a living sacrifice. You come through 
 Christ, and an offering presented to God through Christ 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 265 
 
 What makes the offering acceptable. Lawyer 's early call. 
 
 is holy, acceptable. Yes, it is holy and acceptable 
 because it is presented through that blood that cleanseth 
 from all unrighteousness. And who would dare doubt 
 but that a sacrifice presented to God through this all- 
 cleansing, ever-purifying medium, is holy and acceptable 
 to God ? To doubt it were indeed sinful. And would 
 not such doubts bespeak a light estimate of the blood 
 of the Son of God ? 
 
 M If all the sins which men have done, 
 
 In thought or will, in word or deed, 
 Since worlds were made, or time begun, 
 
 Were laid on one poor sinner's head, 
 The stream of Jesus' preciou* blood 
 
 Could wash away the dreadful load." 
 
 H i l l 
 
 THE COLORED WOMAN AND THE LAWYER. 
 
 " The rich and the poor meet together," and how the 
 Lord, " the Maker of them all," can, in a few moments' 
 time, bring them on an equality, has just been illustrated, 
 
 in a manner I shall never forget. Lawyer came 
 
 to my husband's office, at a very early hour, this morn- 
 ing, all excitement, and suffering quite seriously from 
 injuries received in the awful disaster which has well- 
 nigh clothed our city in mourning. He was on board 
 
 23 
 
£t58 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THIS 
 
 The burning boat. Sinks three times. The lawyer's last hold. 
 
 the burning " Henry Clay." By an amazing train of 
 fortunate providences, he was not consumed by the de- 
 vouring flame, or, with scores of others, plunged irto a 
 watery grave. Being unable to swim, he remained on 
 the burning vessel until pursued by the flames to the 
 last possible refuge. He then threw two cane-bottomed 
 seats into the river, hoping, if he missed one, he might 
 alight on the other. But here his purpose failed. He 
 missed both, and, on plunging into the water, sank to 
 the bottom. Through the mercy of God, he rose again, 
 and succeeded in getting hold of an iron brace which 
 supported the guards of the boat, which was now fast 
 being enveloped in flame. Here, he supported himself 
 till he could retain his hold no longer, and again h* 
 sank. Again, through the mercy of God, he was 
 brought up, and succeeded, yet once more, in getting 
 hold of a brace, and, for a short time, sustaining himself, 
 when, through failure of strength, or the burning heat, 
 one finger after another unloosed its grasp, until his last 
 hold on life or hope apparently vanished, and he sank 
 as if to rise no more, until the sea should give up her 
 dead. And yet, through a miraculous Providence, he 
 again arose. On reaching the surface of the water, his 
 head dashed against something, which, though in a state 
 of extreme exhaustion, he grasped. It proved to be the 
 gangway plank. On fixing his feeble hold here, he 
 soon found that he was only sharing this, his last hold 
 on life. Holding on at the other end of the plank, in 
 the frenzied struggles of expiring hope, was an athletic 
 colored woman ! In the violence of her struggles, she 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION, £67 
 
 The lawyer supplicates. The universal leveller in sight. The rescue. 
 
 several times almost wrenched the plank from the 
 feeble grasp of the lawyer, and every struggle seemed to 
 make the probability more certain that the lawyer and 
 colored woman must together sink and perish. Law- 
 yer is one, whose high-toned spirit, and peculiar 
 
 cast of mind, would dispose him to be among the last to 
 supplicate such a being as her, who was now so emi- 
 nently jeopardizing his last weak hold on life. But 
 now, with most moving expostulations, he implored his 
 frantic companion, for Heaven's sake, that she would 
 not wrest away his only remaining hope, assuring her, 
 that, if she continued thus violent in her efforts, both he 
 and she must quickly and inevitably sink together. 
 
 Ah, the rich and the poor had, indeed, met together. 
 Death, the universal leveller, with whom distinctions are 
 unknown, was now in sight, and, as he was about with 
 one grasp to seize these fresh victims, a small boat came 
 to their rescue, and they were saved. Such was the 
 haste of those who had drawn them into the small boat 
 to rescue as many as possible of these who had thrown 
 themselves into the water from the burning vessel, and 
 were now, in every direction, struggling for life, that, in 
 drawing the lawyer into the little boat, they dragged 
 him in with his face downward, and but little more 
 than halfway over the side, barely sufficient to ensure 
 the poise, and here he lay, hanging over the side of the 
 boat, with his face downward, too weak to move, until, 
 with the other rescued ones, he was taken ashore, and 
 kindly cared for. 
 
 And now, in view of the miraculous preservation of 
 
268 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Who would have thought it? A child early devoted to the ministry. 
 
 Lawyer , who would not have thought that, in re- 
 lating this to his pious physician, in less than a day after 
 its occurrence, he would ascribe his preservation to God, 
 and would, at once, resolve on devoting his life to the 
 service of his Preserver and Redeemer ? but not one 
 word of thankfulness to God, or of a resolve to devote 
 his spared life to his service, did he utter. Surely, if 
 men " will not hear Moses and the prophets, neither 
 would they be persuaded, though one rose from the 
 dead." 
 
 ■ • >» 
 
 JBjje a (Jfaitore. 
 
 WEALTH FIRST, THE MINISTRY AFTERWARDS. 
 
 He believed himself called to the work of saving 
 souls. He seemed to have descended from the tribe of 
 Levi. By an aged grand-father, who had long been in 
 the sacred office, he had, in early life, been dedicated 
 to the service of the sanctuary ; and, by a father who 
 also ministered at the altar, he had, in spirit, been con- 
 secrated to the work of saving souls. When God con- 
 verted his soul, he became very ardent in his service 
 A few months afterwards, he obtained the witness of 
 entire sanctification. He had before had serious con- 
 victions in regard to what might be his call;, but now, 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 269 
 
 A call to preach. A golden bait. A faithful friend. 
 
 with a distinctness which was unmistakable, he knew 
 that he was called to 1 be 
 
 "by God, 
 
 The Lord, commissioned to make known to men, 
 The eternal councils ; in his Master's name, 
 To treat with them of everlasting things." 
 
 He did not mean to be disobedient to the call of the 
 Spirit, but a golden bait was thrown in his way, which 
 he did not discover to be of Satan till too late. He had 
 a wife whom he had taken from a comfortable sphere in 
 life. " Shall I subject this dearly cherished one to all 
 the vicissitudes of an itinerant minister's wife " ? thought 
 he. How much better to place her in circumstances 
 first where my mind may be relieved from the thought 
 that she may be exposed to contingencies which may 
 burden my heart ! How much more cheerfully, then, 
 may I wing my way with messages of salvation as an 
 ambassador for Christ ! 
 
 And thus he reasoned, when a lucrative office under 
 the government was offered. Fifty thousand dollars 
 might soon be realized, human probabilities considered. 
 The enemy told him that this sum might soon be 
 obtained, and then, with a light heart and a rapid 
 course, he could soon redeem the time spent in the accu- 
 mulation of his fortune. He did not seem to perceive 
 the true character of the bait, but God raised him up a 
 faithful friend. We expressed to him our misgivings, 
 and would fain have hindered, but he was so sure he 
 might present Christ on shipboard, and in California, that 
 the point was yielded. 
 
 23* 
 
270 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The first failure. A sad change. Returns home to die. 
 
 He soon embarked. On shipboard, he failed to 
 exhibit Christ. The first failure was as he sat down to 
 the first meal. The Holy Spirit suggested, " Ask a 
 blessing openly on the food, and let it be known that 
 you acknowledge God in all things." But the tempter 
 said, It would have the appearance of being righteous 
 overmuch. The tempter prevailed. And, with shame 
 and sadness, did our friend spend his first night on the 
 sea. And now he became painfully conscious that his 
 spiritual strength was failing, and that he was out of the 
 path of duty. Soon he began to neglect all religious 
 duties, and at length totally departed from God. What 
 a change ! 
 
 " From what a height of happiness cast down! " 
 
 Splendid talents, which might have been employed in 
 the service of Christ as an ambassador from the King 
 of heaven, yielded up to the service of sin ! Still he 
 hoped for a brilliant earthly career. But, in this, he 
 was doomed to a most fatal disappointment. His health 
 utterly failed, and he became a wreck. Disappointment 
 and disaster, with raven wing, brooded over him, and 
 utterly darkened every prospect. His earthly schemes 
 all failed, and, after a year or two, he returned home 
 only to die. He was a spiritual and physical wreck. In 
 the day of his calamity, he sought earnestly, and with 
 most bitter repentant tears, the mercy of God, through 
 our Lord Jesus Christ. In some of the bitter pangs 
 through which he passed, I was with him, and never 
 can I forget his sad bewailings. Truly, in that cup of 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 211 
 
 Obtains mercy. Family group. Little children and birds. The broken vase. 
 
 repentance, was the " wormwood and the gall." The 
 Lord had mercy on his soul, but his sin was a sin unto 
 the death of the body. He lingered a few months more 
 on the shores of time, a pitiable wreck, in body, mind, 
 and estate, and has now gone to reap the rewards of 
 eternity, but not of a life spent in the service of Christ 
 as a faithful minister. 
 
 Sfe JfttCfljg* 
 
 THE INCOG IN THE NURSERY. 
 
 Here is a happy family group. These little ones are 
 bright and gleeful. The God of nature is in himself a 
 fountain of happiness. Children are made t^o be happy, 
 and, if not pinioned by disease, or ungentle usage, their 
 little hearts, and agile forms, will bound upward un- 
 fettered as the joyous bird. Children may be sportive ; 
 it is surely as natural, as for birds to fly. But, though 
 natural, and therefore unsinful, as for the sportive lamb 
 to indulge in its playful gambols, yet children cannot 
 always be sportive, without damage to household equi- 
 page, wardrobe, and limb. 
 
 And here is a changed scene. Our happy little family 
 group are all in dismay and sorrow. A vase has been 
 broken, and a nice garment torn. Not intentionally ; O, 
 
212 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The pulpit lamp. Who raises the wind ? Bad seed. Harvest. 
 
 no ! The disaster was as purely accidental as was that 
 of the earnest clergyman, who, when in the heat of his 
 subject, came too near that splendid lamp, and sent it 
 whirling below. That minister was not met with 
 severe words, and an uplifted hand. Our incog has 
 another way of meeting ministers, and other people in 
 church, than little loving hearts in the nursery. 
 
 In fact, I imagine our incog has something to do in 
 causing disasters. He raised the wind in the days of Job, 
 and has he not, as the Prince of the power of the air, 
 raised it many a time since ? Yes ! And he has just now 
 been raising it in this nursery. He did not come in 
 sooty garments, or with cloven foot. No ! Surely, 
 he had been resisted, had he come thus. But I will 
 tell you just how he came. It was in a flowing 
 garment of light. And thus stealthily did he hide 
 his satanic steppings, as he approached that pious 
 father or mother, and in subtlety whispered, " You do 
 well to be angry." The incog is instantly obeyed, and 
 lo ! the havoc. Seeds of anger are sown in these young, 
 guileless hearts. Dire seeds, such as were sown in the 
 heart of Cain, are, by the parents' own hand, sown in 
 these infant hearts. And who can doubt but this seed 
 will germinate ? Do you not already see its fruit in 
 that angry cry, and those retorting words ? But do not 
 imagine the end is yet. A plentiful crop awaits you in 
 after-life. And you may gather its bitter fruit in eter- 
 nity. O, beware of the first entrance of the incog in 
 the nursery ! 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 273 
 
 Peaceful airs. A dark heart in a light dress. Toil in the kitchen and the incog too 
 
 THE INCOG IN THE KITCHEN.- 
 
 But the nursery is not the only place where our in- 
 cog stealthily obtrudes. He was in that kitchen and 
 laundry, when you unkindly chided that servant. The 
 peaceful airs of Paradise, which, through redeeming 
 mercy, may, and ought to, pervade every dwelling, are 
 his bane. And he would fain, with pestilential breath, 
 contaminate the air of your dwelling ; but he will do it 
 stealthily. Again we tell you, don't expect to see him 
 come with sooty robe, or showing his cloven foot. He 
 knows your likes and dislikes quite too well for that. 
 
 In fact, I imagine you are really too pious to entertain 
 his satanic majesty with a good relish knowingly. But he 
 is aware that yourself and family have very many privi- 
 leges, social and religious, of which this poor domestic, 
 made alike with yourself in the image of God, may not 
 partake. He would have you unmindful of the differ- 
 ence, and the corresponding obligation, on your part, to 
 meet the deficiency by the kindliness of your behavior. 
 Who prompted you, when you administered that re- 
 proof in such an ungentle manner ? And when you 
 permitted your pampered children to perplex those in 
 your employ, and to manifest a disregard to the increase 
 of their labor, comfort and convenience, whose dicta- 
 tions did you yield to ? O, there is care, toil and pri- 
 vation enough in the kitchen ! It is cruel to have the 
 incog there. 
 
#74 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Unfriendly innuendo. Fashionable follies. Midnight convictions. 
 
 •liiE INCOG IN THE PARLOR AND CHAMBER. 
 
 But does he not often get in the parlor, and in the 
 secrecy of the closet, or the chamber ? Was he not in 
 your parlor, when you meted out allusions derogatory 
 to the character of that Christian minister, that pious 
 friend, and that neighbor, such measure as you well 
 know you would not love to receive again ? And when 
 you made that display of folly and fashion, so unbecom- 
 ing the simplicity of the gospel, was he not there to 
 urge you to it, and to assist you in it? When you 
 were influenced to pursue a course, calculated to intro- 
 duce your children into fashionable life, rather than to 
 introduce them to the attentions of the purely pious, 
 and to expend your means largely for fashionable follies, 
 instead of sacrificing to God that which cost you some- 
 thing, — whose dictations did you obey ? 
 
 When you went to your chamber, and, in conformity 
 with the usages of the pious, knelt before the Lord your 
 Maker, and the Holy Spirit reproved you for the errors of 
 your spirit and life, who was it that influenced you to turn 
 away from that reproof, with the suggestion, that others, 
 professing as much religion as yourself, did the same ? 
 And when, from a condemning conscience and physical 
 indisposition, you were held waking in the midnight 
 hour, the Spirit urging you to renewed and entire dedi- 
 cation, whose influence did you obey, when you resolved 
 that you could not be quite willing to be singular for 
 Christ's sake ? Ah, the subtle incog ! He lurks in the 
 parlor and the chamber. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 275 
 
 Thorns for the pillow, and opiates for the conscience. Blinded with golden dust. 
 
 THE INCOG IN THE COUNTING-HOUSE. 
 
 But where may we not find the incog ? Here he is, 
 in this place of merchandise, prompting this man of 
 business to an unhallowed haste to be rich. Stealthily 
 is he preparing thorns for the dying pillow of this un- 
 restful man. In his restlessness, he gives him opiates, 
 which, though they may not give quiet to the weary 
 body, are fast deadening the sensibilities of the soul. 
 
 Poor man ! He is becoming blind, and cannot see 
 afar off. Our incog is the god of this world, and this 
 grovelling man of money once perceived this, but he is 
 every day growing blinder, and the cause of this increas- 
 ing blindness is becoming yet more perceptible to his 
 far-seeing, pious friends. Time once was, when he used 
 to turn his eye upward ; but now he seldom or ever does 
 this. This long-continued looking downward, in search 
 of the root of all evil, is fixing a mark of most debasing 
 tendency upon him ; but this he does not perceive. Alas ! 
 our insidious incog has well-nigh done his worst here. 
 Subtle, cruel fiend ! There he stands disguised as a friend ! 
 And do you see how he raises the dust ? It appears 
 as gold, and eagerly our poor counting-house friend will 
 weary out life's hours in catching at these particles, that 
 he may put them in his coffer. What a pity he does 
 not perceive how these particles are blinding his eyes ! 
 
 " Our aim is happiness ; 't is yours, 't is mine, 
 'Tis the pursuit of all that live on earth, 
 But some mistake the mark, and weary out 
 Life's hours in chasing shadows." 
 
276 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The echo of a whisper. Possible effects. The two servants— -envy. 
 
 THE INCOG IN THE CHURCH. 
 
 ■ 
 
 Nor is this all. Here he is among these church mem- 
 bers. Did you notice that uncharitable, half-spoken 
 insinuation ? That unwary professor did not exactly 
 mean to do wrong, in that unkind insinuation. But 
 our fiendish incog whispered it in his ear ; and he 
 whispered it out. Had the incog been clothed in fiend- 
 ish garb, our friend would have abhorred obedience 
 to his bidding. 
 
 But the words have gone forth. How slight, seem- 
 ingly, were the insinuations ! but they were seeds of dis- 
 cord. And, now that they have been once sown, who 
 can tell what the harvest may be, when fairly reaped, 
 perhaps in the disbanding of that now peaceful church ? 
 See that man, with his one talent, closely eying his 
 Christian brother, to whom his Lord has entrusted five 
 talents. The servant with his one talent, and the ser- 
 vant with his five, are equally precious in the sight of 
 him who is "no respecter of persons." Each one is 
 required to use just what he has, and no more. But 
 how enviously is that one-talented member eying his 
 brother, who is striving to make full use of his five tal- 
 ents ! "Ah ! " whispers our would-be pious incog, M are 
 not all the Lord's servants prophets ? " What better 
 right than yourself to that more honorable position, has 
 that brother ? And thus begins the whisper of dissatis- 
 faction, which ends in outspoken wrath, and ultimate 
 destruction. Had our incog come in his native garb, 
 our one-talented, yet not wicked friend might have 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 211 
 
 Two high for safety. Company into the pulpit. What God and angels saw. 
 
 remained in his own sphere, and been useful. But, by 
 yielding to that first whisper, he is allowing our incog to 
 exalt^ him to a position, which he has no talent to fill, 
 and in which he dishonors himself, and the cause of 
 piety. Soon will he thrust him down, and make him 
 the sport of fiends. 
 
 THE INCOG IN THE PULPIT. 
 
 But where will not, and where has not, our incog 
 appeared ? He enters God's holy temple, and has been 
 known even to ascend the sacred desk, in company with 
 the minister. But so subtle in deceivablness is our incog, 
 that the minister knew him not. We do not say, that 
 he might not have known him ; for there, right before 
 him, lay an infallible test, by which he might at once 
 have tried him, and known that he was not of God. 
 But of this he, who had come to minister for Christ, 
 was unmindful. He did not go to the law and to the 
 testimony, to try the spirit, and, before he was aware, 
 the foul incog took the advantage. Instead of preach- 
 ing Christ, he preached himself. He made a display 
 of himself, as a very close, theological thinker. Noth- 
 ing could be more evident to God, angels, and the 
 deeply spiritual portion of his auditors, than that he was 
 willing to exhibit himself as a sermonist, of extraordinary 
 powers of analyzation, an adept in all the technicalities 
 of theology, of marked ability for profound biblical 
 criticism, and pulpit oratory. And of this he has con- 
 vinced his auditors. But though his auditors go away 
 under this conviction in regard to the man that has 
 
 24 
 
278 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A minister and his invisible prompter. Five hundred hours lost. 
 
 ministered to them, who goes away with renewed and 
 powerful convictions of the necessity of Christ as a present 
 Savior ? Who goes away newly convicted of the infi- 
 nite claims of Christ on the heart, or with renewed 
 heart-realizations of his saving power ? Ah ! the incog 
 was in the pulpit, and what a wonderful gain did he 
 make out of that minister, and through his influence ! 
 What a gain of sacred time ! This was the Lord's day. 
 A.nd here were about five hundred auditors. Mark that ! 
 Yes, mark it ; for our incog, with his many invisible 
 attendants, marked it closely, and with fiendish frolic. 
 Only think — five hundred hours of sacred time ; time 
 which ought to have been improved, in earnest efforts to 
 prepare the soul for immortality, and eternal life. Here 
 are five hundred souls standing on the brink of eternity, 
 some whom, perhaps, for the last time, the Holy Spirit has 
 brought to this temple sacred to holy service. 
 
 O, did not our incog make memorable gain, when he 
 went with that minister into the sacred desk, and in- 
 duced him to preach himself instead of preaching Christ ? 
 
 " Angels our march oppose, 
 Who still in strength excel ; 
 Our secret, sworn, eternal foes, 
 Countless, invisible. 
 From thrones of glory driven, 
 By flaming vengeance hurled, 
 Thry throng the air, and darken heaven, 
 And rule this lower world" 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 279 
 
 Irishearteued. A responsible position. An apology answered. 
 
 $tte minister's Wfe. 
 
 " If I should get the blessing, I am sure I could 
 never keep it. I am naturally so volatile — so light ! " 
 
 And who do you think it was, that said this ? Why, 
 it was' a minister's wife; one who, by virtue of her 
 position, had placed herself before the people as an ex- 
 ample in faith and practice. Of this, we reminded her, 
 as we urged, upon her the solemn cmty of present holiness, 
 as the indispensable pre-requisite of a minister's wife ! 
 
 How serious are the responsibilities of those who 
 place themselves in this position ! " But," say some, 
 " we do not wish others to follow us as examples in 
 faith and doctrine. We do not profess to have an ex- 
 perience which will warrant this." But, my dear Chris- 
 tian sister, whether you desire it or not, scores, if not 
 hundreds, will be thus looking up to you. If conform- 
 ed to the will of Christ, in experience and in spirit ; if 
 you manifest an evident renunciation of the world, with 
 all its vain pomp and vanity, hundreds will take knowl- 
 edge of you, in the various places where the vocation of 
 your husband may lead you, and will be influenced by 
 your example to do likewise. But, if you do not, you 
 will neutralize the effect of your husband's ministra- 
 tions, and, instead of luring souls to heaven, through 
 your influence, you may find, in the end, that scores 
 stopped short of a the prize of their high calling in 
 Christ Jesus," by following your tardy example. Anc 7 
 do you feel quite ready to meet them at the last day ? 
 
280 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 As good a Savior as Paul had. " But I am so volatile." A certain minister's desire 
 
 How much better that you at once rise and step for- 
 ward, and, in the majesty of Almighty grace, stand forth 
 in connection with your husband, and, in inspiring atti- 
 tude and word, proclaim, " We are well able to go up 
 and possess the good land " ! You know that we are 
 well able. You have as good a Savior as Paul had. 
 The Savior is with you now. If he should now make 
 himself visible to you, as to his disciples in journeying 
 to Emmaus, and say to you, " Believest thou that I am 
 able to do this ? " what would you say in reply ? 
 
 You would not dare to say, " Lord, I am so volatile, 
 so irresponsible in my feelings, so prone to yield to my 
 natural preferences, and shrink from the cross — I can- 
 not think of standing out, in an attitude before the peo- 
 ple, that word seem to say, " Follow me." You would 
 rather say, " Lord, all things are possible with thee, 
 and all things are possible to him that belie veth." 
 
 Our dear friend, the minister's wife, who said she 
 was so volatile, felt much as you ; only, perhaps, more 
 volatile, timid and irresponsible ; for we have seldom 
 seen a minister's wife, who seemed more disposed to 
 shrink away from the responsibilities of her high calling. 
 We had 'met at one of those yearly gatherings, where 
 the tribes go up to worship in tents. Her husband, who 
 felt deeply the cares of his holy vocation, and was en- 
 deavoring, with clean hands and a pure heart, to minis- 
 ter in the sanctuary, greatly desired that his lovely, 
 intelligent wife should be his help-meet, in meeting his 
 ministerial responsibilities. Now,, do not smile, and 
 think me over-exacting, when I say that this was just 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. £81 
 
 Thoughts on a minister's choice of a wife. The only difficulty in this case. 
 
 what he had a right to expect of her. And we are free 
 to say, before God and man, that, when a minister gives 
 himself to God and the church, he wrongs himself, and 
 wrongs the church, if he does not marry in view of a 
 helper in his calling. And not only does he wrong 
 himself and the church, but he wrongs the lady of his 
 choice, if he does not first see that her natural and re- 
 ligious preferences are such as to ensure an aptness for 
 the duties of her holy calling. And may it not be owing 
 to a want of careful observance on this subject, that 
 many a minister's wife has pined out a short existence ? 
 God saw that, by neither grace nor nature, she was fitted 
 for her sphere. Pier husband failed in his election. 
 He thought more about her pecuniary condition, and 
 his mere natural preferences, than about a helper, meet 
 to aid him in bettering the spiritual condition of his 
 flock. 
 
 For this cause many are sickly, and many die. But 
 is the fragile, inefficient wife the only sufferer under 
 these circumstances ? Might not that minister, whose 
 cares with his unhelpful family are ever crushing his 
 spirits ; might not such an one have risen high in the 
 scale of eminent usefulness, if he had sought a wife with 
 as much prayerful circumspection as Fletcher did ? " 
 
 But, with this minister's wife, it was not a want of 
 natural, intellectual or physical ability for her work. 
 The only difficulty with her, as with a great many other 
 ministers' wives was, the want of full salvation. And 
 this, her intelligent, and deeply pious husband kneAv, 
 and it was therefore he said tr us, — 
 
 24* 
 
282 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Deep personal interest. Afraid to go over. " I am going." Tears. 
 
 " Do interest yourself for Mrs. 
 
 5J 
 
 This was at the commencement of a camp meeting 
 occasion, and deeply and most prayerfully did we inter- 
 est ourselves in her behalf during the entire process of 
 the meeting ; but we were almost invariably met with 
 the discouraging response — 
 
 u If I should get the blessing, I am sure I could never 
 keep it." 
 
 She did not manifest a want of interest in the subject, 
 but she manifested a lamentable want of faith in the wil- 
 lingness and ability of Christ to keep her. She was as 
 the Israelites would have been if, when they were com- 
 manded to go over and possess the goodly land, with 
 the promise that God would save them from the hand 
 of their enemies, they had said, " Nay, Lord, we are 
 afraid, if we obey thy command, and go over to possess 
 the land, that thou wilt not save us, after we have 
 gone over, but wilt leave us to be overcome by our 
 enemies." Who can conceive of greater temerity, 
 or any thing more insulting to God, the promise-keep- 
 ing Jehovah? 
 
 It was now toward twilight of the last day of the 
 
 meeting. Mrs. , not intending to remain on the 
 
 ground over night, came to bid me an affectionate and 
 hasty adieu. 
 
 "I am going," she exclaimed. "Yes! and going 
 without full salvation." 
 
 She burst into tears, and said, 
 
 u I am sure it is not because I do not need it ! " 
 
 " No ! It is not because you do no* need it, for you 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 2S°d 
 
 Faith in view of instant death. Saved now by believing now. Praise to Jesus. 
 
 need it greatly. You cannot be equal to the duties of 
 your high and holy calling without it. And you also 
 know just how you might have it. If you knew you 
 had but one moment more to live, would you not cast 
 yourself wholly, and just as you are, on Christ ? And 
 7ould he not save you to the uttermost ? " 
 
 "Yes, I know he would." 
 
 " Then why do you not now, just as you are, cast 
 yourself wholly on Jesus for present salvation from all 
 tin ? God does not leave it optional with yourself 
 whether you will do it now ; he commands you to do it 
 now. He says ' Look unto me and be ye saved,' — not 
 to-morrow, or five minutes hence, but now. You may 
 be in eternity to-morrow, or five minutes hence. All 
 you need is present salvation. You 'cannot breathe this 
 moment for five minutes hence. Neither can you be- 
 lieve for five minutes hence. If you are now relying 
 wholly on Christ, to save you this moment, he is saving 
 you. Are you now trusting wholly in him to save you 
 from sin ? " 
 
 " I am." 
 
 " Do you think you are sinning now ? " 
 
 " No." 
 
 " How are you now being saved from sin, if it is not 
 by the power of your omnipotent Savior ? You could 
 not save yourself from sin one moment, any more than 
 the veriest fiend. And if Christ is saving you, is it not 
 your duty to give him the glory due to his name ? Do 
 not wait till you feel an impelling influence to praise 
 him. You do not wait to thank a friend that does you 
 
£84 ILLUSTKATl N S G F THE 
 
 The witness of the Spirit. The new song Meeting in a large tent. 
 
 a great favor, till you feel some impelling influence ; but 
 you do it because it would be unseemly not to do it. If 
 Jesus is now saving you, will you not now say, 
 
 " My Redeemer from all sin, 
 I will praise thee"? 
 
 She quickly repeated the words, and in tearful, ador- 
 ing gratitude, praised her Redeemer from all sin. A 
 divine consciousness, inwrought by the power of the 
 Holy Spirit, was given, and she proved the cleansing 
 efficacy of Jesus' blood. She had begun the new song 
 sung by the blood-washed spirits redeemed from earth, 
 and which no man could sing, biit they who had first 
 learned it on earth, and, with the angel company, she, 
 in word and in spirit, repeated, " Unto him that loved 
 us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and 
 hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, 
 to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. 
 Amen ! " 
 
 So engrossing were the beatitudes, with which the 
 vision of her mind was now filled, that she could not at 
 once leave that sacred spot, as anticipated. She lingered 
 till after supper, when a meeting was proposed in the 
 large tent in which we now were. 
 
 A large concourse gathered in, among whom were 
 several beloved ambassadors of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 We had been but a short time together, when our newly 
 blest friend, the minister's wife, forgetful of her former 
 timidity, arose, and sweetly said, 
 
 " I have been trusting in Jesus to save me from all 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. £85 
 
 How a soul was saved one hour. The professor. The blessing keeps her. 
 
 sin, one hour; and he has saved me. Praise his 
 name ! And now I have been asking myself, if Jesus 
 can save me one hour, why can he not save me two 
 hours, if I will trust in him ? And if he can save me 
 two hours, can he not save me a day, a month, or a year ? 
 If he can save me a year, can he not save me two years, 
 and all along through life, till I get to heaven, if I will 
 only trust in him ? " 
 
 The effect of such a testimony from one who had 
 been so shrinking and volatile, was almost electrical. 
 A teacher in Israel of some celebrity, and a professor 
 in a neighboring literary institution, was so interested 
 and edified, that he, in less than an hour, was also on his 
 feet, as a newly raised witness of the power of Christ to 
 save from all sin. " Never," said he, " did I see the sim- 
 plicity of the way to be saved from all sin, as by hearing 
 that simple testimony of Mrs. ." 
 
 Many other witnesses from that literary institution, 
 and elsewhere, were enabled, that night, to testify of 
 Christ as a full Savior. No one present can forget the 
 interest of that blissful, powerful scene. The work 
 went on all night, and it was about four o'clock the next 
 
 morning before Mrs. could leave. The inspi 
 
 ration of the occasion seemed mostly to take its rise 
 from the unsophisticated, yet powerful testimony of the 
 timid Mrs. , who was so sure, if she got the bles- 
 sing, that she could never keep it. 
 
 Some years have passed since this eventful camp 
 meeting reminiscence ; but still we have reason to hope 
 
 that the once fearful Mrs. keeps the blessing, or, 
 
 in other words, the blessing keeps her. 
 
#86 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A visit to the church. Prayer. Attitude of the congregation. Prayer paid for 
 
 Jrxrsg MnrsWp- 
 
 PRAYING BY PROXY- 
 
 Did you ever hear of such a thing as proxy worship \ 
 Well, just step aside with me. Let us enter this tem- 
 ple dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. And 
 then tell me what you think of proxy worship. Do 
 you see that minister kneeling in the desk ? What is 
 he doing ? He is engaged in worship. Ah, then, this 
 is the temple of the Lord. And this kneeling man is 
 obeying the divine admonition, uttered by David, " O 
 come, let us worship and bow down ; let us kneel before 
 the Lord, our Maker." And now, my friend, turn your 
 eye away from the sacred desk. What do you see ? 
 Here is a large concourse, sitting at apparent ease. Some 
 are looking at the minister. Others, I imagine, are 
 observing the latest fashion. And here are others, with 
 head reclined, in dozy attitude. But why does not 
 this assembly, convened as they are for worship, obey 
 the inspired, expostulatory injunction, " O come, let us 
 worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, 
 our Maker," and, in scriptural attitude, worship the 
 God of the Scriptures ? I can tell you just the reason. 
 The practice of proxy worship has obtained in this con- 
 gregation. Of course they pay their minister. And 
 what are ministers paid for, but to do the work of the 
 congregation? If the minister is paid for doing the 
 praying, ought he not to do it ? The unkneeliug, rest- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 287 
 
 Outsiders coming in. Celestial railroad. " Who does he mean?" 
 
 ful attitude of this congregation, betokens restfulness of 
 mmd, and of course is calculated to commend to outer 
 court worshippers the pleasantness of proxy worship. 
 And may not this be one reason why so many outsiders 
 come in, and unite in church fellowship with this body 
 of professed Christians ? Surely, there is nothing repul- 
 sive to the most irreligious heart in proxy worship. 
 For why should these proxy worshippers even exclaim, 
 with some ancient sinners, concerning the service of the 
 Lord, " Behold, what a weariness it is " ? We live in 
 the age of progress, and it is not singular that some 
 modern Christians have found an easier way to get to 
 heaven than those of ancient times. Did you ever hear 
 of the Celestial Railroad ? Well, these Christians are 
 going to heaven, not in the trudging way of good old 
 Christian, of Pilgrim's Progress, but by the new, easy 
 way — the Celestial Railroad. It is true that this new, 
 and more easy road is not described in our scriptural 
 chart, as was Bunyan's. But why make much ado 
 about this ? Many people cannot find much time to read 
 the Scriptures, and proxy worship is so much easier and 
 more modern than scriptural worship. 
 
 SINGING BY PROXY. 
 
 But stop ! The minister rises, and, in solemn cadence, 
 repeats, " Let us praise God by singing the sixty-sixth 
 Psalm." " Let us praise God " ! Who does he mean 1 
 Not this whole congregation of course. Why should 
 he ? for this portion of the worship of God has also been 
 paid for. And, though set forth in the catalogue of 
 
288 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Thu orchestra. The outlandish air. The secret out. The stragglers. 
 
 scriptural duties as about equal in prominence with 
 prayer, yet, as with prayer, it is performed by proxy. 
 Do you see that thoughtless-looking, gaily attired little 
 group, sitting up yonder ? Well, that is the orchestra^ 
 and this is the place which this congregation of proxy 
 worshippers have set apart for the singing to be perpetra- 
 ted. This little singing group, who have been hired 
 to perform the singing part of worship are mostly, if not 
 all, non-professors. The words which the minister has 
 given out, you observe, are deeply solemn, and those 
 utterances demand a devotional heart. You wonder at 
 the inappropriateness of manner, and at the inappropri- 
 ate outlandish air which has been selected. But this 
 should not be cause of surprise. Could you expect this 
 thoughtless young company, uninitiated as they are, in 
 the proprieties of grace, to select an air suited to these 
 deeply devotional words ? Why expect it ? If their 
 hearts have never been subjected to devotional trainings, 
 how can devotional perceptions emanate ? And then there 
 are also -other reasons well known to the choir frater- 
 nity, and I hope I shall be pardoned for revealing the 
 secret, but it is so explanatory that I must tell you. 
 Old-fashioned stragglers as ourselves sometimes chance 
 to get into this congregation. Not being acquainted 
 with the modern mode of proxy-singing worship, they 
 make an effort to obey the dictates of their pious hearts, 
 and, with David and Paul, attempt to " Sing with the 
 spirit and with the understanding also." These attempts 
 being vastly unpopular with the choir, they have con- 
 cluded, in self-defence, to keep ever practising on new 
 
-ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 289 
 
 -■■■■■ - ■ ■ - .■■■—_ m 
 
 A strife after novelty. Limping performances. The failure successful. 
 
 und unheard-of tunes. You observe their lame, hesita- 
 ting manner in singing. This is to be accounted for 
 from the rapidity with which they are obliged to leap 
 from one new tune to another ; otherwise those not initi- 
 ated in the secret of proxy-singing worship might get 
 the start of them by chancing to catch some of these 
 iiying airs. 
 
 It is, therefore, a needful secret, in the plan of proxy- 
 singing worship, that these who are employed to sustain 
 it, should be ever leaping on from one new tune to 
 another. Otherwise, how could it be sustained? The 
 limping manner, therefore, in which this portion of 
 proxy-worship is conducted, flows out as a necessary 
 consequence of the system. 
 
 These proxy-singing worshippers are not, perhaps, to 
 be particularly blamed for those stammering, hesitating 
 performances. They, surely, are to be pitied. The 
 fact in the case is, that they really have not had time to 
 learn the tunes, and how can they do otherwise than 
 hesitate, when they scarcely know whether they are 
 going right or wrong ? But do not let us blame the 
 system, or the perpetrators. A system whose adapta- 
 tion fully meets the end proposed is pronounced admi- 
 rable. And see how admirably this succeeds ! Listen ! 
 Scarcely do you hear an interfering voice. Then do not 
 blame the perpetrators. They have succeeded to a 
 charm in doing what they have been hired to do. Sel- 
 dom, if ever, is the choir, or the congregation, annoyed 
 now with having others sing than those duly recognized 
 as proxy-singing worshippers. And so pleasant and 
 
 25 
 
£90 , ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The cash and the Toice. David's exhortation. Paul's will. Luther. 
 
 quieting to the body and conscience has this proxy mode 
 of praising God by singing been found, that it is rapidly 
 obtaining in all churches of every name. 
 
 Surely, it is much easier to pay one's money than to 
 weary one's voice by maintaining those ancient modes 
 practised by the Old and New Testament saints, and 
 other teachers of religion of olden time. How much 
 more thought and exertion seems implied in the mode 
 of worship in David's time ! Witness his exhortation 
 to all the people to praise the Lord and sing unto him 
 with a loud voice. Mark his many persuasions to this ; 
 Psalm xxxiii. 3 ; lxvii. 4 ; lxxxi. 1 ; cv. 2. And then 
 Christ and his disciples together sung a hymn, and 
 Paul, exhorting to unity in congregrational worship, tells 
 just what he, as one of a worshipping assembly, will do ; 
 " I will sing with the Spirit, and with the understanding 
 also." 
 
 Ah, Paul, how wilful would you be, were you to 
 carry out really such a resolve in this age of progress ! 
 And, then, there was good old Luther too ! O, had he 
 lived in these days, what an innovator would he have 
 been ! Only listen to him in his good Old Hundred. 
 
 " Praise God, from whom all blessings flow ; 
 Praise him, all creatures here below; 
 Praise him above, ye heavenly host, 
 Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost." 
 
 Ah, and here is yet another man, of ancient time, 
 who, I imagine, were he now with us, would have been 
 so far behind the times as not to regard the practice of 
 proxy-singing worship even a privilege that it were as 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 291 
 
 The discipline. A question and eight answers. 
 
 largely paid for as the best paid choir of proxy singers 
 in the land. Here is a book of doctrine and discipline, 
 which was sent forth from under his supervision. Lis- 
 ten while I read a few lines on this subject from this 
 curiosity of a book. We will read from a section un- 
 der the head : 
 
 '* Of the Sjiirit and Truth of Singing. 
 
 " Question. How shall we guard against formality in 
 singing ? 
 
 "Answer. 1st. By choosing such hymns as are proper 
 for the congregation. 
 
 " 2d. By suiting the tunes to the words. 
 
 " 3d. By often stopping short, and asking the people, 
 'Now, do you know what you said last? Did you 
 speak no more than you felt 1 ' 
 
 " 4th. Do not suffer the people to sing too slow. 
 'liiis naturally tends to formality , and is brought in by 
 those who have either very strong, or very weak voices. 
 
 " 5th. In every large society, let them learn to sing 
 and let them learn our tunes first. 
 
 u 6th. Introduce no new tune till they are perfect in 
 the old. 
 
 " 7th. Exhort every person in the congregation to 
 sing ; not one in ten only. 
 
 " 8th. . . . Public singing is a part of divine worship, 
 in which all the congregation ought to join." 
 
292 ILLUSTRATIONS OF. THE 
 
 Hair-splitting. What non-professors know. Spiritual worship required. 
 
 fyrijitural SitorsMjj. 
 
 CONVICTION OF THE UNLEARNED AND UNBELIEVING CONTEMPLATED 
 
 Is there not some scriptural attitude becoming the 
 humble spiritual worshipper, a mode by which Bible 
 Christians may attain to some uniformity in worship ? 
 The unbelieving world is looking upon us. Little do 
 mere worldlings know about the hair-splitting theology, 
 which divides the various evangelical denominations. 
 But there is one thing they do know, and that is, that 
 we all profess to regard the sacred Scriptures as the foun- 
 dation of our religion, a sufficient rule for faith and 
 practice. No worship is acceptable but spiritual w^ • 
 ship. But " The hour cometh and now is, when the 
 true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and 
 in truth ; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 
 God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship 
 him in spirit and in truth." How greatly important, then, 
 in view of this solemn declaration, directly from the lips of 
 the Savior, that we should seek to know the mind of the 
 Spirit ! If we fail to do this, how can we be spiritual 
 worshippers ? And without a careful study of the writ- 
 ten word, how Can we know the mind of the Spirit ? 
 Here we have the mind of the Spirit ; for " Holy men 
 of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost ; " 
 and Peter says, " Now the Spirit speaketh expressly on 
 this wise." Human opinions are changeable and con- 
 flicting. But here we come to the lively oracles, and, 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION 293 
 
 Safe examples. The spirit produces the acts. 
 
 through these, listen to the living voice, of the ever- 
 living, unchangeable Jehovah. The sane spirit that 
 spoke through holy men of old, here as truly speaks to 
 us as though its living utterances were issuing forth from 
 him that sitteth upon the throne. Yes, " holy men 
 of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 
 Actuated, then, as they were, by the Spirit, we shall, 
 in following the teachings of their example, be guided 
 in judgment on this point, and be wise, understanding 
 what the will of the Lord is. 
 
 Not for ourselves alone is it needful that we maintain 
 spiritual — scriptural worship. Unbelievers, and the 
 unlearned in spiritual things, are ever mingling with us. 
 If we imagine that we may worship God in our own 
 hearts and lightly regard these outward observances, we 
 are not Christians of the same stamp with Paul. The 
 acts of the genuinely spiritual Christian are as truly 
 inspired as were the "Acts" — actions of the apostles. 
 It was the spirit of Christ dwelling in the apostles as 
 their " wisdom and righteousness," which produced 
 their acts ; an I n, is the design of grace that every 
 believer should be "a habitation of God through the 
 Spirit," and should experimentally apprehend an in- 
 dwelling Christ, " who of God is made unto us, wis- 
 dom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption." " If 
 any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of 
 his." If a Christian be actuated by the Spirit, he will 
 be careful that not only his thoughts and feelings be 
 under the dominion of the Spirit, but that action, as ar; 
 exponent of thought and feeling, indicate the interna? 
 
 25* 
 
294 ILLUSTRATIONS CF THE 
 
 A habitation for God. Paul on the proprieties of public worBbip. 
 
 workings of the Spirit to the outward world. " Know 
 ye not that y< -ur body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, 
 which is in you ? " "It is God that worketh in you to 
 will and to do /" What a responsibility does this fact im- 
 pose on all who name the name of Christ, to " be workers 
 together with God," by seeking to know the mind of the 
 Spirit, and to show themselves taught of God, and actu- 
 ated by the Spirit ! This is needful, as truly in social, 
 and public worship, as in closet devotion. 
 
 Paul seemed specially desirous, that spiritual worship 
 should be maintained, in view of the conviction of the 
 unlearned and unbelievers. Witness how singularly 
 important he regards a due attention to the proprieties 
 of religious worship. Not only does he contemplate the 
 conviction of the unlearned and unbelieving, but their 
 ultimate and speedy enlistment as worshippers. Surely, 
 Paul seems almost strangely sanguine on this subject. 
 Indeed, you will not think I give it undue prominence, 
 if you will only with me study his views, contemplat- 
 ing as they do, the conviction and conversion of the 
 unbelieving. He says, " And thus are tne secrets of his 
 heart, that is, the heart of the unbeliever, made manifest, 
 and, so falling down on his face, he will worship God, 
 and report that God -is in you of a truth." How impor- 
 tant, then, it is, to observe scriptural proprieties in wor- 
 ship, if such achievements of grace may be expected to 
 follow ! 
 
 How did Old and New Testament saints appear be- 
 fore God ? Was there any uniformity of mode observed 
 in their approaches to him ? Here is Abraham, bowed 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 295 
 
 Kneeling worshippers. Who put Daniel on his knees? 
 
 in lowly prostration Sefore the Lord, pleading for the 
 doomed Sodomites. Here is Abraham's servant, who 
 worshipped the Lord bowing himself to the earth. Here 
 is Moses, falling down before the Lord, pleading forty 
 days and nights for his sinning brethren. Here is Da- 
 vid, on his knees, morning, noon and night, before the 
 Lord, his Maker, and calling on all the people in the 
 public assembly, to bow down and worship. Here is 
 Solomon, at the dedication of the temple, kneeling be- 
 fore the altar, with his hands spread towards heaven. 
 Here is Ezra, saying, " I fell on my knees, and spread out 
 my hands unto the Lord my God." Here is Job, who, 
 amid his sad bereavements, "fell down and worshipped." 
 And here is Isaiah, declaring the solemn purpose of 
 God on this subject, " I have sworn by myself, the 
 word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and 
 shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow." 
 Here is Daniel, touched by the invisible power of 
 God, and " set upon his knees." Yes, God himself put 
 Daniel on his knees. And, here, again, he tells us, 
 " He kneeled upon his knees three times a day." And 
 this he did, though exposed to the gaze of his unbeliev- 
 ing and malicious adversaries. Here are the wise men, 
 falling down and worshipping the infant Jesus. And 
 here are even unclean spirits, forced to pay the homage 
 due to the Son of God, and, falling down before him, 
 they acknowledge the reverence due to his name. Here 
 is Peter, falling down on his knees to Jesus, and ac- 
 knowledging, in lowly prostration, his sin in the eyes of 
 infinite purity. And here is our divine Exemplar, in 
 
296 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Primitive Christian practice. All heaven bowed. " What a spectacle ! " 
 
 the hour of his agony for our sins, kneeling before his 
 Father. Here is Stephen, to be received among the 
 upper court worshippers, as his last act on earth, kneel- 
 ing down in prayer for his murderers. And here is 
 Paul, also kneeling down by the sea-shore in social wor- 
 ship, on an occasion of affectionate farewell with his 
 brethren. Kneeling in prayer, certainly, was a mode 
 much favored by Paul — a mode upon which he person- 
 ally practised, and to which he directs special attention. 
 Here, he again, from the prophet Isaiah, cites the divine 
 declaration, "As I live," saith the Lord, " every knee 
 shall bow to me." And still, as though the point were 
 never to be yielded, in exalting the name of Christ 
 above every name, he says, " That, at his name, every 
 knee shall bow, of things in heaven and things on earth." 
 Yes, every knee, of things in heaven and things on 
 earth ! Behold the twenty-four elders fall down before 
 the throne of the Lamb, with their harps and golden 
 vials which are the prayers of the saints. But are they 
 the prayers of these unkneeling saints ? 
 
 Think of impure, erring, dependent man, approach- 
 ing into the presence of a being of immaculate purity, 
 on whom he is dependent for forgiveness, and for the 
 all that momentarily sustains him, in natural and spirit- 
 ual life — think of such an one, in an unbowing attitude, 
 attempting to worship the Lor.d, his Maker. What a 
 spectacle must an assembly of such worshippers present 
 to the eye of God, and the adoring, prostrate worship- 
 pers in the upper sanctuary ! Contrasting our unwor- 
 thiness, our dependence, and our position, how strangely 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 297 
 
 What can the angels think ? A petition to the Almighty, sitting. 
 
 incongruous and unbecoming must such an attitude 
 appear ! Can angels, and the pure spirits of the just 
 made perfect, love to linger over such a scene ? 
 
 Whatever their compassions may be, they surely can- 
 not feel the sympathy of love, nor a oneness of spirit 
 in worship with those who would thus irreverently ap- 
 proach their Sovereign. Who, but those as untaught in 
 the proprieties of life as a Hottentot, would approach 
 with a petition even an earthly sovereign, without as- 
 suming some reverential attitude? How soon would 
 such an one be spurned from the presence of an earth- 
 ly potentate, as unworthy his notice ! But here are 
 worshipping church associations, and social circles, where 
 the blessed and only Potentate, the " King of kings, 
 and Lord of lords," is approached with petitions, in- 
 finite in importance, and requiring an infinite display of 
 condescension and clemency, presented in an unhum- 
 bled, irreverential attitude. 
 
 " Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of 
 Askelon ; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, 
 lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph." 
 
 4 ' Angel powers the throne surround ; 
 
 Next the saints in glory they ; 
 Lulled with the transporting sound , 
 
 They their silent homage pay ; 
 Prostrate on their face before 
 
 God and his Messiah fall, 
 There in hymns of praise adore, 
 
 Shout the Lamb that died for all." 
 
298 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Couplets from the nursery. Salvation and simplicity. A rare sight. 
 
 ifltytoral jKnjgttig. 
 
 " Lord, how delightful 't is to see 
 A whole assembly worship thee ! 
 At once they sing, at once they pray, 
 They hear of heaven, and learn the way." 
 
 You smile at my simple couplets. I learned them 
 when I was a child. These, with a great many good 
 things which I shall never forget, were acquired amid 
 the teachings of the nursery. Yes, these lines are 
 among those sweet, truthful things which the God of all 
 grace loves to write in early life on the heart of child- 
 hood. And I am so wilful as to resolve that, with me, 
 they shall never be unlearned. I profess to have been 
 converted. And ought not converted people always to 
 retain their simplicity ? However wise people may be 
 in their own conceits before conversion, it is necessarily 
 concomitant with conversion to become simple as little 
 children. And if it is so necessary to become as little 
 children, it surely must be quite as needful that wr 
 remain so, in order to remain in a state of fitness to 
 enter the kingdom of heaven. Will you accept my 
 apology as an explanation, or a warrant, for all future 
 or past innovations of this sort ? 
 
 Our simple lines give a truthful idea of scriptural 
 worship. Who, that has witnessed the rare sight of 
 a whole assembly worshipping God in singing, but has 
 been reminded of the upper sanctuary choristers, and has 
 felt yet stronger and more hallowing inspirations drawing 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 299 
 
 King David and congregational singing. " Do angels sing ? n 
 
 him heavenward ? For few and far between, have been 
 these occasions. But, with such, we have sometimes 
 been favored ; and as, in grateful reminiscence, our 
 hearts have recurred to them, we have exclaimed, 
 
 '• I have been there, and still would go, 
 'T is like a little heaven below." 
 
 It was such singing that David loved. How mani- 
 fest, and oft-repeated, are his preferences ! " Sing 
 aloud unto God, our strength ; make a joyful noise 
 unto the God of Jacob ! Sing unto the Lord, all the 
 earth. Sing unto the Lord ; bless his name ! ' " Praise 
 him, all ye people." " Make a joyful noise unto the 
 Lord, all the earth ; make a loud noise, and rejoice, 
 and sing praise." " Let every thing that hath breath 
 praise the Lord." Yes, David loved a concert of 
 voices in singing. He was not afraid of the harmony 
 being broken, though a united assembly of " young men 
 and maidens, old men and children," might all, with 
 uplifted voice, unite in acclamations. 
 
 Nothing is more certain than that David loved con- 
 gregational singing. And what can bring earth and 
 heaven into such close proximity, and so nearly resemble 
 angel worship, as a congregated multitude, with uplifted 
 heart and voice, praising him that sits upon the throne ? 
 No wonder that convoys of newly-arrived angel spirits 
 alight, and unite in such a hymn as it goes up to God. 
 But, do angels sing ? Yes, and it is amid just such 
 assemblies as these that they love to linger. Surely, it 
 was a truthful sentiment, and not a mere fancy of the poet, 
 
300 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Buds of grace blasted by infidelity. Christianity on trial. 
 
 when, in contemplation of such an assembly as this, he 
 sang — 
 
 " Angels now are hovering round us, 
 Unperceived, they mix the throng; 
 Wondering at the love that crowns us, 
 Glad to join the holy song, 
 Alleluia, love and praise to Christ belong." 
 
 A TROPHY OF CONGREGATIONAL SINGING. 
 
 But for congregational singing, my honored father 
 might have been a sceptic. Do you ask how singing 
 and the conviction of the sceptic stand connected ? 1 
 will tell you just how. The God of Nature had 
 given to my dear father, as he has given to many 
 others, a soul ever ready to vibrate to the harmony of 
 sweet sounds. In early life, he had been made acquain- 
 ted with the doctrines of the cross ; and had partially 
 proved the saving power of grace. But, when he grew 
 up to manhood, and was removed from under the 
 restraints of parental teachings, he fell among infidel 
 companions. The works of Paine, Voltaire, and other 
 infidel writers, were urged upon him. As he read on, 
 his mind became yet more and more vitiated, until, at 
 last, he was on an awful poise between truth and error. 
 But the angel of the covenant did not wholly forsake 
 him. He concluded to give Christianity one more trial 
 of two weeks, resolved if, at the expiration of that 
 period, he did not prove it true, he would, without 
 further trial, abandon it forever. 
 
 On the succeeding Sabbath morning, he went out in 
 search of a place of worship. In regard to denomina- 
 tions, he seems not to have made his election. But, on 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 301 
 
 Attracted by the singing. Learns the new song. Joins the heavenly choir. 
 
 passing a church, he heard, not the high-toned organ, 
 but the high-toned melody of human voices, attuned to 
 lofty praise. The God of Nature is also the God of 
 all grace. The God who had inspired in the heart of 
 these spiritual worshippers these blissful strains, had 
 inspired in his heart a great love of the harmony of 
 sweet sounds, and now a chord was touched, which 
 vibrated in connection with gracious influences. He 
 thought surely, there cannot be a better place than this 
 to test the truth of Christianity. How wonderful are 
 the condescensions of redeeming mercy ! Just at the 
 oxpiration of his appointed time for the test, he was en- 
 abled, from his own heart realizations, to prove Chris- 
 tianity overwhelmingly true. As a redeemed spirit, he 
 learned the song which none but the redeemed from 
 earth can learn. It was the new song which is now be- 
 ing sung by the redeemed company in heaven, and which 
 never can be sung in heaven, but by those who first 
 learn it on earth. During a lengthened and useful pil- 
 grimage on earth, his heart was ever attuned to its bliss- 
 ful strains, and now, with the forty and four thousand 
 before the throne, he is singing it in heaven ; a trophy 
 won to Christ through the heaven-inspired charm of 
 scriptural singing. But when was there ever a sceptic 
 convicted, or a soul converted, by the mere tones of the 
 organ, or the unscriptural practice of mere choir singing ? 
 
 " Join we then with one accord, 
 In the new and joyful song ; 
 Absent from our loving Lord, 
 We shall not continue long. 
 26 
 
302 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The i traduction. Why not reckon ? The distressed debtor. 
 
 Jl gtfrf §mL 
 
 HOW FRANCES EXPERIENCED RELIGION. 
 
 "Frances has been, for some time, seeking the 
 Lord ; and why she does not find salvation, I do not 
 know." 
 
 So said an affectionate, pious aunt, as she introduced 
 me to her interesting niece. 
 
 " Frances, do you believe that Jesus bore all your 
 sins in his own body on the tree t" I asked. 
 
 The dear girl pensively replied, " I do." 
 
 " Then why may you not see all your sins on Jesus 
 laid ? If Christ has really borne all your sins in his 
 own body, then it is not his will that you should bear 
 them any longer. { Behold the Lamb of God that 
 taketh away the sin of the world ! ' Now look to him, 
 and, since Christ has paid your debt, why not reckon 
 yourself free ? " 
 
 And thus we reasoned ; but still Frances was sad 
 And still I pressed the question, 
 
 "Do you, indeed, believe that Jesus paid your 
 debt?" 
 
 The mind of Frances assented to the truth ; but still 
 in heart she did not believe. 
 
 " Suppose, Frances, you had contracted a large debt 
 in this village, and you were greatly distressed on ac- 
 count of it, having nothing wherewith to pay. You 
 have a dear friend living at a ' distance, in whom you 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 303 
 
 A very welcome letter. Grateful expressions — followed by grateful emotions. 
 
 have great confidence, who loves you dearly. This 
 friend, hearing of your distress, sends you a letter, say- 
 ing, i Distress yourself no longer, Frances, I have paid 
 that debt.' You know what has been his love towards 
 you, and he has never given you reason to distrust his 
 word, and you know, also, that he is abundantly able. ; 
 what would you do under such circumstances ? " 
 (i I would reckon myself free from that debt." 
 " Well, would you not feel it your duty to thank 
 your friend for having paid the debt ? or would you 
 wait till you felt some impelling influence constraining 
 you to do it ? " 
 
 Here a smile lightened Frances' face, and she said, 
 " I would surely thank him, because I ought to do it." 
 " You say Jesus has paid your debt — borne all your 
 sins in his own body on the tree ; and have you thanked 
 him for having done this for you ? " 
 
 Frances seemed ashamed at the thought that she had 
 been so ungrateful ; and, though she did not seem to 
 think of getting into the enjoyment of religion just 
 then, yet she saw that she had treated her loving Savior, 
 who had died for her, as she would not have treated an 
 earthly friend, and, though she felt no impelling influ- 
 ence constraining her to praise her Savior, she began 
 to say, 
 
 " I thank thee, O, my Savior, that thou hast borne all 
 my sins in thy own body on the tree. Thou hast paid my 
 debt. I do thank thee ; I will praise thee. Glory be 
 to Jesus, my Savior ! " And thus she continued in 
 most joyful strains, rejoicing in Jesus her Savior. 
 
304 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Could not sleep for joy. The President's invitation. 
 
 The next morning she entered the room with a 
 heavenly radiance beaming in her face. She told us she 
 had been so happy all night, that she had slept but lit- 
 tle ; her heart had been so overjoyed and absorbed in 
 praise and love to Jesus, who had paid her debt. 
 
 " Believe that Jesus died for thee ; 
 And, sure as he hath died, 
 Thy debt is paid, thy soul is free, 
 And thou art justified." 
 
 *^%m > 
 
 "<f don't mmx k be mnth Itntmppg ©cr-dag/' 
 
 If it were known that the greatest feast ever given 
 was announced, under the auspices of the President of 
 the United States, to come off at a very early date, at 
 the capitol at Washington, and a special invitation were 
 given to you to be present, how would the reception of 
 this invitation affect you ? Would not the thought of it 
 incite pleasurable emotions, and would you not, as you 
 read it over and over again, feel yourself signally hon- 
 ored in having thus received a special invitation to par- 
 take of the hospitalities of the chief magistrate of your 
 country? You would not be ashamed to let your 
 friends know that you had received such an invitation, 
 would you ? But, shall I say it ? I hesitate — yet it 
 is an astounding fact, sinners think less of the King eter- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 305 
 
 Fearful lack of appreciation. Strange response to an invitation. M Come now." 
 
 nal, invisible, the blessed and only Potentate of heaven 
 and earth, than they do of the President of the United 
 States. My heart feels sad at the recollection ; bnt it is 
 a fearful fact, which I have seen demonstrated within 
 the past two hours. I went to the King of kings, and 
 implored his gracious majesty for his Son's sake, and in 
 view of the ample provisions of the gospel, to permit 
 me to extend an invitation to a rebellious, perishing sin- 
 ner. I received permission, and was it not, indeed, 
 wonderful condescension ? Gladly did I go directly from 
 the throne of grace, and I carried the invitation directly 
 from the God of heaven to that sinner. And how do 
 you think she received it ? " I don't mean to be made 
 unhappy to-day," she exclaimed. 
 
 The God of heaven has made a feast. The provision 
 has been purchased at an infinite expenditure. He 
 sends an invitation to every sinner, and appoints the 
 time when he shall come. The invitation is already 
 gone forth, " Come, for all things are now ready." Let 
 me affectionately ask you, how do you feel on the recep- 
 tion of the invitation ? Do vou feel that it is infinite 
 condescension that the master of the feast should invite 
 you ? Does joy spring up in your heart, that you have, 
 been thus signally honored ? As you read over the 
 invitation with earnest inspection, and observe that it 
 says, "Come now," does your heart quickly respond, 
 " I come ! O, Lord, I come ! Gladly do I renounce my 
 sins, and the honors of the world, and immediately will 
 I forsake all, and follow thee "? So did the early dis- 
 ciples. And when, in answer to the invitation, they 
 
 «6 * 
 
306 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Insulting reply. Presumption. Fatal postponement. 
 
 came, how long did it take to receive them ? But sup- 
 pose, in answer to the invitation, they had said, <e Lord, 
 I perceive the invitation reads, ' Come now ! ' yet I 
 cannot come now ! i have certain worldly pleasures in 
 contemplation at present, which I prefer rather than the 
 enjoyment of thy favor. I will keep the invitation on 
 hand, and, when I get wearied with earthly enjoyments, 
 and feel like accepting the invitation, I will come, trust- 
 ing in thy clemency to pardon my long-continued and 
 insulting rejection of thy favor. I well know that, in 
 thus refusing the invitation, I provoke thy majesty, and 
 I also know that I cannot have forgiveness unless I 
 repent bitterly of these provocations ; but, after I have 
 provoked thee till some such time as I get ready to 
 accept the invitation, I then intend to repent, and be 
 truly and heartily sorry ! " Sinner, do you know that 
 repentance, just as truly as is the remission of sins, is 
 a gift from God, and that you cannot any more repent 
 than you can create a world, unless God gives you the 
 gift of repentance? Do you remember the fearful case 
 of one who found no place for repentance, though he 
 sought it carefully with tears ? O, repent, while you 
 may ; fly to Christ now, who is exalted a Prince and a 
 Savior, to give repentance unto Israel and remission of 
 eins. 
 
 11 Now God invites ; how blest the day ! 
 How sweet the gospel's joyful sound! 
 Come, sinner, haste, haste away, 
 While yet a pardoning God is found." 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 307 
 
 Technicalities. Carvosso's theology vs. metaphysical disquisitions. 
 
 JPWapltpipl gifpiptttwa dj-mtsitel 
 
 I fear that my dear friend has been hindered, 
 in his Christian course, by an undue attention to tech- 
 nicalities in theology. The Bible is a wonderfully sim- 
 ple book ; and, if you had taken the simple word of 
 God as the man of your counsel, instead of taking the 
 opinions of men in regard to that word, you might have 
 been a more enlightened, simple, happy and useful 
 Christian. Forgive my plainness of speech. I know 
 you want me to do you good ; and the most hopeful 
 way of attempting this will be, to express the honest 
 convictions of my heart. If Carvosso had thought it 
 needful to wade through as many theological works, in 
 order to find out what the Bible means by the witness 
 of the Spirit, as you have done, the history of his sim- 
 ple, matter-of-fact sayings and doings had never blessed 
 the world. It was enough for him to know that the 
 God of the Bible had said, " He that believeth hath the 
 witness in himself." He was a plain, simple man, and 
 had not time, nor inclination, to put himself in the way 
 of getting entangled in the fine-spun webs of theologi- 
 cal discussionists. And, while these well-meaning men 
 and popular divines were weaving fabrics for the nicer 
 sort of people, he went to the naked word, which is able 
 to make wise the simple, and, conscious that he had the 
 Spirit testifying with his own spirit, and speaking forth 
 from his abundant heart-experiences, the Spirit dwell- 
 ing in his heart made the simple truths he uttered 
 
308 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A plain man's crown. Who is the wisest man ? Former difficulties obviated. 
 
 mighty. Hundreds, through his agency, believed ; 
 and, as ever, the Holy Spirit, true to its office on the 
 heart, testified of the work wrought. And that humble, 
 laborious servant of Christ is receiving a crown that the 
 most profound theologian might not be ashamed to own. 
 arely, he will have many stars. Would that you and 
 I may have as bright a crown ! The day of eternity 
 will reveal that it will not be the greatest adept in hair- 
 splitting theology that will be accounted the wisest man, 
 and have the brightest crown, but he that winneth souls. 
 Get souls fairly won over to Christ, and then get them 
 to look believingly to Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, 
 through whose power the w r ork has been done, will not 
 fail to testify to its ow r n operations every step of the 
 way in the process of the sinner's salvation. I speak 
 from experience. I was, for years, hindered in spiritual 
 progress by theological hair-splittings and technicalities, 
 and it w r as not until I resolved to let all these things 
 alone, and take the simple, naked word of God, and 
 conform my life wholly to its precepts, though I might 
 have an experience unlike every one in the world beside, 
 that the steady light of truth beamed upon my heart. 
 I had, before this, thought the subject of faith exceed- 
 ingly intricate. But, now, all difficulties vanished. 
 O, how I wondered at my former stupidity ! 
 
 I had read doctrinal treatises on faith; every thing 
 within my reach, my heart had grasped after ; but, now, 
 to my surprise, I found that I had, all the time, been 
 overlooking its simplicity. Faith, I saw, was simply 
 taking God at his word ; not some mvstical sound that 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 309 
 
 Faith vs. mysticism. The easiest thing in the world. Obstinate faith. 
 
 was to burst upon my spirit's ear, confounding my 
 senses ; but the plain, written word of God, applied to 
 my heart through the same power, and by the same 
 inspirations, by which it was written : that is, holy men 
 of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 
 Consequently, the voice of the Scriptures is the voice 
 of the Holy Ghost. In hearing God speak through this 
 medium, through which holy men spake as moved by 
 the Holy Ghost, I hear God speak as verily as though I 
 heard him speak from the heavens in a voice louder 
 than ten thousand thunders. In intellect, I had always 
 believed, in common with the Christian world, that the 
 Bible was, (what I had always termed it,) the Word of 
 God. Now, I saw I had only in heart to carry out my 
 principles. Faith, now, to me looked like the easiest 
 thing in the world. Believe, and be saved ! To doubt, 
 when God had spoken, looked strangely presumptuous. 
 I saw how greatly I had dishonored God by doubting 
 his word ; that I had been sinning after the similitude 
 of the ancient Jews in requiring signs and wonders — 
 something beside the word of God ; and I resolved that 
 never again should my Savior say to his erring child, 
 " Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." 
 My purpose was fixed, that I would sooner die than 
 doubt. I did believe with my heart ; and, while with 
 my mouth giving God the glory of my salvation, salva- 
 tion flowed, in such copious measures, into my soul, that 
 I seemed lost and swallowed up in the ocean of infinite 
 love. Christ was All in All. Entire and conscious 
 identification of interest with the Redeemer's kingdom 
 
510 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Identification of interest. What is not the work of the Spirit. Our Helper 
 
 , -^ 
 
 became a reality. I had no separate motives or desires 
 to gratify, but every particle of my being seemed laid 
 under contribution to glorify God and joyfully acknowl- 
 edged the sanctifiying seal, while the Spirit attested 
 with, my spirit most assuringly that the triune God had 
 come to his human temple — had taken full possession 
 of my heart, and now reigned unrivalled. 
 
 And how could such a work as this have been 
 wrought, but through the direct agency of the Holy 
 Spirit ? Did you or I ever have the least consciousness 
 of salvation through Christ, either in a higher or lower 
 degree, other than as this consciousness has been 
 inwrought by the power of the Holy Spirit ? It is not 
 the work of the Spirit to take off the attentions of the 
 soul from the Savior, and the facts of salvation to curi- 
 ous and absorbing questionings about the manner of his 
 own working. No ; this is not the work of the Holy 
 Spirit. Noiseless, and hallowing, yet penetrating and 
 powerful as the viewless wind, he comes to the heart of 
 man as sent in answer to the pleadings of a risen Savior. 
 " He shall not speak of himself, " says the glorified 
 Redeemer, but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he 
 speak. " He shall glorify me ; for he shall receive of 
 mine, and show it unto you." The Spirit sanctifies by 
 leading us into all truth. The Holy Spirit is our sym- 
 pathizing and Almighty Helper. He "helpeth our 
 infirmities," and reveals our Savior. While we attend 
 to these holy revealings, and believingly venture on 
 the Savior for salvation, we honor the Spirit, and \h.- 
 Spirit itself testifies with our spirit of the faithfulness of 
 our Redeemer. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 311 
 
 ^Hiat would fill you with amazement. You may know when the Spirit is at work. 
 
 " And both the witnesses are joined, 
 The Spirit of God with ours." 
 
 O, my dear brother, if you only had clear and truth- 
 ful apprehensions of what have in fact been the work- 
 ings of the Holy Spirit on your heart, from your early 
 existence to the present hour, you would be filled with 
 amazement. When you breathed that first infant prayer 
 to Heaven, it was the Spirit that inspired it, and helped 
 your infant infirmities, as you would fain have lisped it 
 in the ear of God ! To every minute act of your life, from 
 life's early hour to this, the Spirit has been witness. In 
 all your various provocations, the Spirit has been grieved. 
 But O, the love of the Spirit ! Though so often grieved, 
 he has not taken his departure, but is still with you. 
 Though he may not testify of himself, yet your heart 
 may be assured of his inworkings, by those views you 
 have of the Savior, as every way adapted to your neces 
 sities. You could not get a glimpse of the Savior, no 
 not for one .moment, only as the Spirit reveals him. 
 When the Savior says, " Look unto me and be ye 
 saved," it is the Spirit that silently and earnestly urges 
 you to rely on the word of your Savior, assuring you 
 that he cannot be unfaithful. And when you do thus 
 fully rely on his word, it is the Spirit that waits to 
 assure you that the Savior does receive you. 
 
 " To apply the witness with the blood, 
 And sign and seal the sons of God." 
 
 O, my dear brother, I wish I could tell you what a 
 divine experimental realization I continually have of 
 
312 ILL US T RATIONS OF THE 
 
 What I should love to tell you. Social meeting. The resolve. 
 
 Jesus' saving, cleansing power. I should love to tell 
 you how the Spirit takes of the things of God, and 
 reveals them unto me. I should love to tell you just 
 how consciously and abidingly I realize that " He that 
 believeth hath the witness in himself." I should love 
 to tell you how my heart apprehends the Scriptures as 
 the lively oracles, and not a dead letter, but spirit and 
 life. O, I would love to be a living epistle, and speak, 
 to a congregated world, of the excellency of God's 
 word! I would love to tell that the Scriptures are 
 living truth, and the voice of the Spirit ; and that " He 
 that believeth hath the witness in himself." 
 
 $ha ifa Jltato a tiilk <J[artlta\ 
 
 Said a deeply devoted congregational minister, in our 
 social meeting yesterday afternoon, " I have long had 
 the stake placed here ; I will never leave off praying ! 
 However much I may be tempted, or perplexed by 
 diversified trials, never will I leave off praying. Here 
 I have placed the stake. Satan shall not drive me from 
 my knees ! " This, surely, is well ; but my own mind 
 was deeply impressed with the importance of suggesting 
 that the stake be placed farther up the hill of spiritual 
 progress. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 313 
 
 Where to place the stake. Momentary dependence. What done in five minutes. 
 
 At a subsequent part of the meeting, I rose, and asked 
 if every one in those crowded rooms, however diversified 
 in experience, would not, then and there, make an 
 effort through grace to place the stake a little farther on, 
 and at this distinct point. i A perfect and entire yield- 
 ing up of all to Christ, an entire trust in Christ, and 
 a continuous reliance on Christ, for all needed grace 
 under every diversity of circumstance or experience.' 
 Never will the best, or most experienced Christian on 
 earth get to a point in his earthly career where he will 
 not every moment need salvation ; and there is not a 
 point, however peculiar in circumstance or experience, 
 where he may not have salvation, if he will only place 
 the stake at this point — ' A present, continuous trust in 
 
 Christ.' ■ 
 
 If we never did save ourselves for one moment, and 
 never can save ourselves, and Christ alone can do the 
 work, why can he not now do the work just as well as 
 at any future moment? Why can he not, at this and 
 every moment all along through life, save with a pres- 
 ent and full salvation, if we will only trust in him ? 
 And is not this the duty of the present moment, the 
 present performance of which is not left optional with 
 ourselves ? And does not God require that we should 
 just now put the stake here, resolved through grace that 
 it shall never be removed ? 
 
 Cannot Christ save as effectually in five minutes as in 
 five hours, or five years ? Did he not say, " All things 
 are possible to him that belie veth" ? Did it make any 
 difference whether Lazarus had been dead four days, or 
 
 27 
 
314: ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 An acknowledgment of faith. Zero point on heaven's thermometer. 
 
 four years, in view of the fact that it was the Almighty 
 Savior that was to raise him up ? But how evidently it 
 was the design of Jesus to call forth, to the honor of 
 his own name, an acknowledgment of Martha's faith 
 and trust ! ' Thy brother shall rise again ! ' ( Whosoever 
 liveth and believeth on me shall never die ! Believest 
 thou this?' ( Yea, Lord, I believe,' says Martha. And 
 who will dare to doubt that, in the moment when he shall 
 trust in Christ, for a resurrection from a life of sin to a 
 life of holiness, the Almighty Savior will be his Savior, 
 and that he will continue to save him so long as there 
 is a reliance on him for it ? 
 
 1 But is it possible that I 
 
 Should live and sin no more ? 
 Lord, if on thee I dare rely, % 
 The faith shall bring the power.' 
 
 If the mark of our high calling of God in Christ 
 Jesus is holiness, then we cannot place the stake at any 
 lower point. We must come up to this mark, and con- 
 tinue in this way, or we are living below the zero point 
 on heaven's thermometer. 
 
 Ufa Jfiuau mx& tfa l^rM-laol 
 
 Who put his hand into that good man's pocket, and 
 purloined his pocket-book, as a little company of Im- 
 manuel's army were starting on their way to win spoils 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 315 
 
 Don't know how he did it. Incog's reasoning. Heavenly tactics 
 
 for Christ ? It was the incog. Do you ask how he did 
 it, in order that you may be secured from depredations 
 of this sort ? Of this, I cannot well inform you ; but I 
 may tell you something of the way to make gain out of 
 our incog's depredations. Here are some friends of 
 yours who met with just such a disaster ; but such a 
 loser in the affair was the incog, that he has never at- 
 tempted to perpetrate any thing of the sort upon them 
 since. 
 
 The little company had just stepped on board of 
 a crowded steamer. One, accompanied by his wife, 
 had just left the captain's office after having paid his 
 fare, when lo ! the needful pocket-book was missing ! 
 No alternative, but that of returning, seemed left. 
 
 " Now," said the incog, assuming the guise of the con- 
 sistent reasoner, " you say, ' All things work together 
 for good.' What possible sort of good is going to come 
 of this ? If that fifty dollars had accidentally fallen 
 from the pocket of its possessor, it might have dropped 
 into the hands of some poor, necessitous person, where 
 you might have had the satisfaction of feeling that it 
 had done some good. But the money, having fallen into 
 the hands of desperadoes, will only be consumed in riot 
 and wrong. And is not this also enough to assure 
 you that it is not in the order of God, that you should 
 go on this mission ? " 
 
 Just at this moment others of the party arrived, when 
 the missing pocket-book, and the consequent deficit of 
 needful funds for the tour, were the theme of converse. 
 Said one, who had some knowledge of tactics in the art 
 
316 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The defeat contemplated. Souls outweigh dollars. New expedients. 
 
 of heavenly warfare, fearful that Satan might manage to 
 bring about his contemplated victory, u This is the 
 way Satan manages, if he thinks the Lord is going to 
 work ; then he gets up something to withstand the 
 order of God." From that moment it was resolved 
 that the incog should have more than a defeat, and even 
 that capital should be made out of his depredations. It 
 was soon found that money might be borrowed, and the 
 journey prosecuted. 
 
 Said one of the party, from whom the pocket-book 
 had been stolen, " One soul outweighs the universe ! 
 What are fifty dollars compared with the salvation of one 
 soul ? If one soul were unsaved at the farthest verge 
 of the universe, and it would take every man, woman 
 and child in America to go to the rescue of that soul, it 
 would be an expedition well worthy the enterprise, in 
 view of the estimate that the Savior has placed upon the 
 soul. And now, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, and 
 through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, Satan shall 
 be the loser by this stratagem." 
 
 Trusting for wisdom in him, who "teacheth our 
 hands to war, and our fingers to fight," she from that 
 moment began to devise new and more enlarged plans 
 by which to win souls to Christ. She had accustomed 
 herself to the practice of being "in season and out of 
 season," but now she devised expedients by which she 
 might become more peculiarly so. 
 
 Many* an opportunity did she make, during that tour, 
 which the uninitiated in the art of soul-saving might 
 not have thought of. Noiseless, yet sometimes well-nigh 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 317 
 
 Capital made out of Satan's depredations. Meeting prolonged. 
 
 viewless as the still wind, would she get aside from 
 observation, and penetrate into little unlooked-for nooks, 
 and, unseen by the multitude, labor with some poor 
 boatman, or straggling stranger ; and often did she wit- 
 ness the falling tear and the newly-formed resolve. We 
 do not doubt but more than one soul was induced to 
 turn to the Lord, through these unobserved out-of-the- 
 wav efforts. 
 
 But there was one occasion of marked interest during 
 the tour, which made the defect, to the eye of God, 
 angels and men, openly certain. It was towards even- 
 ing of an eventful day. Through well-nigh an excess of 
 labor amid the multitude, and in private, nature had be- 
 come exceedingly weary. A portion of God's sacramen- 
 tal hosts, having encamped in a grove sacred to divine 
 service, were about closing up the afternoon meeting. 
 It was one of those peculiar pauses, when, in act, and in 
 look, each one seems to say, that the battle for the time 
 is finished. For nature cannot endure ceaseless warfare, 
 neither is she called to it. It was at such a pause, that 
 the thought of the abstracted pocket-book recurred with 
 force to her mind, and she began to desire now to be 
 avenged of her adversary. Immediately it was sug- 
 gested, " Now make a definite effort to win a soul to 
 Christ. Present, definitely and concisely, to this multi- 
 tude the conditions of discipleship ; just the terms upon 
 which Christ promises now to receive the sinner. 
 
 The exercises of the meeting would have closed, but 
 
 she prolonged them by rising, and said, " Christ is now 
 
 calling disciples. He is calling some one on this ground 
 » 27 * 
 
318 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The way to Christ. " Who will come ? " Trophy of victory. 
 
 now. I will tell you the conditions of discipleship, and 
 then ask you, in the name of the Lord, whether you 
 will comply with the terms. She then, pointing to the 
 cross, gave a concise exposition of the way to come to 
 Jesus ; said that neither tears, nor the length of time 
 spent in seeking, would merit acceptance ; but that 
 Christ could accept and save in half an hour just as 
 well as in half a century, if there was only a full and 
 unconditional compliance with the terms. She then 
 asked, in a most emphatic manner, " Who, in the name 
 of the Lord, will come now and comply with the condi- 
 tions ? " 
 
 She had scarcely finished speaking, when some zeal- 
 ous friends came, leading forward a fine, able-bodied 
 young man, whose spirit seemed deeply bowed in peni- 
 tence. They brought him to the person who had pro- 
 posed the inquiry, exclaiming, as they presented him, 
 
 (t Here, Mrs. , this young man says, he will comply 
 
 with the conditions ! " The young man was the son of 
 a pious mother, and was not wholly uninstructed in the 
 way of life. He looked as though he might make a 
 noble champion on the walls of Zion. He ought to 
 have been a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ long 
 before, but never, till this hour, did he decide to take 
 upon himself the cross of Christ. But now he complied 
 with the conditions, and came penitently kneeling at the 
 feet of Jesus. And how long do you think it took 
 Jesus to receive him ? Surely, not longer than it took 
 him in ancient time to receive a disciple. Do not think 
 we deal too much in rapid conversions, if we tell you 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 319 
 
 Who was the loser ? The next step. Why you should believe. 
 
 that, in less than an hour, he was rejoicing in conscious 
 acceptance. 
 
 And now was not our incog the loser ? Never after- 
 wards did he love to have the missing pocket-book men- 
 tioned, for the very recollection was associated with 
 triumph and victory-. 
 
 §o nnt jNjfess M m P u SWtarc. 
 
 I have greatly desired that you should hold fast the 
 beginning of your confidence steadfast unto the end. 
 Unless I mistake your position, you have come to a point 
 where a profession of your faith may, in the order of 
 God, be the next step. Of course, I do not wish you to 
 profess any thing that your heart does not most conscien- 
 tiously believe. I would rather that you most thoroughly 
 examine the foundation of your faith, so that you may 
 be always " ready to give an answer to every man that 
 asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meek- 
 ness and fear." If you fulfil the condition upon which 
 God promises the grace of entire sanctification, then, by 
 the word of the immutable Jehovah, you are furnished 
 with reasons which may not be controverted, why you 
 should be established in the faith that he now fulfils his 
 promises to you. 
 
320 ILLUSTRATIONS UP THE 
 
 Where is your offering? First altar taken away. Where is the second? 
 
 " This is the will of God, even your sanctification." 
 In obedience to the will of God, you now, through the 
 power of the Spirit, set yourself apart wholly for God ; 
 or, in other words, you now, through the power of the 
 Spirit, sanctify yourself. By the mercies of God, you 
 have been constrained to present yourself a living sacri- 
 fice. Yes, you have been made a priest unto God to 
 offer up spiritual sacrifices. And upon what altar do 
 you thus, by the power of God, present yourself? Not 
 upon the altar of those who serve the tabernacle ; for 
 that, though at first ordained to be an altar most holy, has 
 long since, by the will of God, been taken away. 
 Christ himself has taken it away. " He taketh away 
 the first" and what for ? " That he may establish the 
 second." And where is the second to be found ? Christ 
 answers, "For their sakes I sanctify myself." As 
 though he said, " That altar of which, in former time, 
 it was said, Thou shalt cleanse the altar when thou 
 hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it 
 to sanctify it ; seven days shalt thou make an atonement 
 for the altar, and sanctify it, and it shall be an altar most 
 holy ; whatsoever' toucheth the altar shall be holy," — 
 this altar, which, by the will of my Father, was or- 
 dained to be an altar so holy that whatsoever was laid 
 upon it was sanctified, I now take away. And " for 
 their sakes," that is, for the reception of the offerings 
 of my people, I set myself apart ; or, in other words, 
 I sanctify myself for the reception of the sacrifices of 
 my people. And now we are sanctified through the 
 offering of the body of Christ." Here is the altar, of 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 321 
 
 Christian's altar. Offerings acceptable through Christ. 
 
 which they who servo the tabernacle have no right to 
 eat. " He establisheth the second " — glory be to God in 
 the highest ! You, my brother, have found the Chris- 
 tian's altar. Not only have you found the altar, but 
 already you say that you have laid your sacrifice upon it. 
 If whatsoever touched the first altar was, by its hallow- 
 ing touch, sanctified, what shall we say of the second ? 
 " If the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a 
 heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purify- 
 ing of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of 
 Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself 
 without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead 
 works to serve the living God ! " And now, my brother, 
 do you say that you present your body a living (that is, 
 a continual,) sacrifice, and yet, would you dare to say, 
 that you do not, in heart, believe that the offering is hohj, 
 acceptable ? How presumptuous to doubt a truth so evi- 
 dent ! The Faithful and True hath said it, and, 
 surely, you are not at liberty to say whether you will 
 believe it. What temerity to doubt it ! 
 
 Do you, indeed, present the sacrifice ? Now, brother, 
 let this matter be forever decided. I entreat that the 
 decision be made before you lay this book aside. In 
 coming to this decision, you certainly have no new 
 vows to make, in order to bind yourself to the most 
 absolute, unreserved, and perpetual surrender to God. 
 Already have you lifted your head to God, and you 
 cannot go back. Not to recognize these vows now, and 
 knowingly to present something less than an entire sac- 
 rifice, would leave you in a state of condemnation. 
 
S V 2°Z ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 An express declaration. Unbelief a sin. The vow noted down. 
 
 How can you be justified before God, if you do not 
 respond to every known call of duty ? " To him that 
 knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." 
 
 Doubtless you are still enabled to say truthfully, I do 
 indeed, through the aid of almighty grace, present all to 
 God through Christ. That the blood of Jesus cleanseth 
 from all unrighteousness, is an express declaration of 
 the word of God, a truth to be believed, and, therefore, 
 sinful to doubt. It is through the blood of Christ, that 
 we enter into the holiest. If you present yourself 
 wholly through Christ now, you are commanded to 
 believe noiv ; for " the blood of Jesus cleanseth from all 
 sin " j and you cannot doubt without sin — " He that 
 belie veth not maketh God a liar " ! What an awful 
 alternative ! 
 
 If your faith was to depend on your variable feelings, 
 instead of the word of God, the hope of being without 
 variablenes would be small. But can you not make up 
 your mind to believe God irrespective of your feelings ? 
 In the name of the Lord, I ask whether you will not 
 now resolve to live a life of faith ; for it is written, 
 " The just shall live by faith." Say now, with the poet, 
 
 " Through unbelief I stagger not, 
 For God hath spoke the word." 
 
 Over and again have you lifted your hand to God in 
 regard to this duty of believing. " I will now trust in 
 thee as my 'present Savior from all sin," you have said, 
 while the recording angel stood and noted down the 
 vow from your lips. The fruit of faith was soon 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 3£3 
 
 Precious legacy. Don't regard it lightly. What definite blessings demand. 
 
 enjoyed. The peace of God, the precious legacy left by 
 Jesus to his disciples, was given you. But you do not 
 seem quite satisfied with this, and because your eager 
 cravings for something more are not met, I fear you are 
 in danger of sinning after the similitude of those ancient 
 ones who, while they were miraculously fed with bread 
 directly from heaven, dared to say, " Our soul loatheth 
 this light food." Do not forget that God says, u If any 
 man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." 
 I trust you still believe with your heart ; if so, the duty 
 of professing your faith is as plain as the Bible can make 
 it. But I need not repeat that to confess with your 
 mouth before you believe in your heart, is reversing the 
 order of God, and palpably wrong. And now, brother, 
 resolutely believe, and then " hold fast the profession of 
 our faith, (not feelings,) without wavering, for he is faith- 
 ful that promised." 
 
 i«m 
 
 Jl *$m dpmrclt on |tfjgM |rmripte* 
 
 And how do those who have received full salvation 
 endure? Are they faithful witnesses for Jesus? 
 Definite blessings always require definite acknowledg- 
 ments. " Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord." You 
 have commenced a new church, and I do not doubt but 
 tbat holiness, in its distinct utterances, shall be the 
 
324 ILLUtTitATIGNS OF THE 
 
 What our friends are entitled to see. Confession — the life and the lips. 
 
 acknowledged impulse, from which it shall rise, and 
 gather strong and imperishable influences, so that it 
 shall be in ever-during remembrance before God, from 
 the fact that this and that man were born there. This, as 
 Mr. Wesley says, is the Methodist testimony. To the 
 degree this is observed, Methodism prospers ; where it 
 is not observed, Methodism does not prosper. To my 
 
 mind it is seemly that Mr. , and those other good 
 
 friends, of various denominations, who have so kindly 
 and largely assisted in rearing a Methodist Church, 
 should see an exemplification of this, the distinguishing 
 doctrine of Methodism, in the lives and from the lips 
 of those who compose the membership of this new 
 church. We of course cannot present in our lives, what 
 we have not experimentally apprehended in our hearts. 
 Yet what we believe in our hearts, must be confessed 
 with our lips, for, " With the heart man believeth unto 
 righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made 
 unto salvation." The order of God must be obeyed, or 
 the salvation cannot be attained or retained. 
 
 By a due attention to the doctrine and experience of 
 this grace, God will be glorified. Holiness has its 
 beauties. It captivates, and, by a sweet, winning, yet 
 all-powerful persuasiveness^ brings ove; to its ranks the 
 truly good, of whatever name or denomination. It is a 
 doctrine of the Bible, and not merely the doctrine of a 
 sect, as some imagine. Uzziah was signally reproved 
 for steadying the ark. The Lord WGuld not have us 
 unduly careful in guarding this doctrine from the obser- 
 vations of other denominations. It is just what they 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 3 U Z0 
 
 The creed and the life. Not forty years' journey The lawyer and hia Kiother. 
 
 have a right to expect of us, and, if they do not see the 
 various exemplifications of this grace in our lives, and 
 hear corresponding testimonies from our lips, they have 
 a right to regard us as inconsistent with our profession 
 of belief and views of privilege. But, O, the power 
 of inward and outward holiness ! It makes an indi- 
 vidual just what God, in redeeming us, designed we 
 should be, — so unselfish, so lovely, and so mighty 
 through the Spirit. And now, as the first-fruits of 
 holiness, the Lord has given you several young con- 
 verts. Do you remember just how the germ was thrown 
 in? — the sister that received the blessing of holiness, 
 and then the speedy conversion of her husband ? Well, 
 then, we will thank God that it is not a forty years' 
 journey from Egypt to Canaan. The young converts 
 which the Lord has committed to the guardianship of 
 your young church, may be holy, and should at once 
 be directed to seek earnestly for this attainment. 
 
 " J gmt't IQtXxmt in golhwsa " 
 
 Said a young man who was a lawyer, and whose pro- 
 pensities seemed ever inclining him to go from cause to 
 effect, " Mother, I don't believe in holiness. 1 
 
 28 
 
 99 
 
326 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Logical deduction. A mother's hopes disappointed through her own failure. 
 
 a 
 
 Don't believe in holiness ! " exclaimed the pious 
 mother ; " why, my son, what do you mean ? " 
 
 " I mean just what I say, mother ; I do not believe in 
 holiness." 
 
 " You believe the Bible," said the astonished mother, 
 " and you know, my son, the Bible speaks of holiness. 
 Surely, you believe the Bible ? " 
 
 "Yes, mother, I believe the Bible, but I do not 
 believe in holiness." 
 
 " Why, my son, what do you mean ? " 
 
 " I will tell you, mother, just what I mean. Ever 
 since I can remember, you have been praying for holi- 
 ness ; and if there were any such thing as holiness to 
 be attained, I am sure you would have had it long 
 before now ; and, therefore, I do not believe that there 
 is any such thing as holiness." 
 
 We will not attempt to describe the amazement of 
 that mother. From the earliest infancy of her son, she 
 had set him apart for the service of the sanctuary. And 
 her highest hopes would have been answered if he, in 
 early life, might have answered to the call of God as did 
 Samuel. But she had seen his fine intellect maturing 
 in strength, clear and penetrating as a sunbeam, quick 
 to detect error, and strong to attract, and concentrate 
 others under its influence, yet not inclining him to dis- 
 cern the right way of the Lord, nor to lead others into 
 it. And now to hear him express his scepticism in 
 relation to one of the cardinal doctrines of the Bible, 
 and to know that her own failure in coming up to the 
 Christian standard had been made the occasion o^ these 
 sceptical expressions, was too much. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 3°21 
 
 The class-room. What the leader did not do. The secret of the failure. 
 
 On the ensuing class-afternoon, she hastened to the 
 class-room, and unburdened her heavy heart to her 
 class-leader. Her leader was one who professed to 
 enjoy the blessed consciousness that the blood of Christ 
 cleanseth from all sin ; and, after this dear mother rela- 
 ted the foregoing conversation, she felt deeply for her 
 class-member. 
 
 But she did not try to make less poignant the keen 
 conviction of the Holy Spirit, of the necessity of pres- 
 ent holiness which, by this occurrence, had been 
 wrought in her heart. Her class-leader admitted that 
 the occurrence was calculated to reprove seriously, and 
 admonished her to set about seeking the witness of the 
 blessing at once — assuring her that the blessing had 
 already been purchased for her. When Christ bowed 
 his head upon the cross, and said, " It is finished," then 
 salvation from all sin, a redemption from all iniquity, 
 was wrought out ; and how the blessing, as it had been 
 purchased for her, was already hers, in case she com- 
 plied with the condition upon which it was offered. 
 
 This reproved mother found, on surveying what had 
 been her position for years, that the Holy Spirit had 
 induced a willingness to be holy ; she also saw that, by 
 the Spirit's aid, she had been enabled to consecrate her- 
 self; but the difficulty with her had been, that, after 
 she had consecrated herself, she did not take the next 
 step in the purifying process, and believe that God at 
 that moment accepted the consecration. She saw that, 
 during all these years, she might have believed ; that 
 the Holy Spirit had brought her to the point where it 
 
328 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A command not obeyed. The difficulty apprehended and removed. 
 
 was not left optional with, herself, whether she would 
 believe, but where the command met her, " This is the 
 command of God, that ye believe ;" and that her refusing 
 to believe on the authority of God's word, without signs 
 or wonders, had greatly grieved the Holy Spirit, and 
 brought upon her the merited rebuke. What she had 
 been wanting was the witness first before believing. 
 But now she saw that the witness came through believ- 
 ing, not antecedently — " He that believeth hath the 
 witness in himself." She had often united in the 
 words : — 
 
 " I cannot wash my heart. 
 But by believing thee ; " 
 
 and, had she acted on the principle involved in the 
 words, she might long before have been cleansed from 
 all filthiness of the flesh and spirit — sanctified through 
 the belief of the truth. But now she brought it to a 
 point to believe at once, irrespective of emotion ; 
 resolved that she would not grieve the Spirit by per- 
 mitting her views of the faithfulness of God to depend 
 upon her uncertain emotions. She did believe, and, 
 since that time, she has been a faithful witness of the 
 power of Christ to save from all sin. 
 
 CONVERSION OF SINNERS AND SANCTIFICATION OF BELIEVERS. 
 
 Some might be disposed to dispute the point with us, 
 were we to venture an opinion that this son might have 
 been, perhaps, sooner converted if this mother had 
 sooner received the full baptism of the Holy Ghost. 
 We wilJ not say so, but will remind those who would 
 
ECONOMY OF SALTATION. 3&9 
 
 YFhere judgment must begin. United prayer for the lawyer. 
 
 question, that the early disciples received far greater 
 power after they received the full baptism of the Holy 
 Ghost. And it is written, " Judgment must begin at 
 the house of God." We have known very marked 
 cases other than the one we are just now about to pre- 
 sent, where the conversion of dear ones, though long 
 prayed for, was delayed till after the pleader had receiv- 
 ed that power from on high which the full baptism of 
 the Spirit brings. But we will tell how it was in this 
 case, and then, if the patience of the reader holds out, 
 we may mention other corroborative cases. 
 
 Before this mother, and her friend, the class-leader, 
 had left the class-room, they resolved to unite in pray- 
 ing that the Lord would convert the son. " He is, 
 indeed, too bright a sinner for Satan to have ; and so 
 we'll does he understand Christian obligation, that I 
 think he would make a bright, useful Christian, if 
 only thoroughly converted," said the class-leader ; 
 and farther observed, " Let us pray that the Lord 
 will convert and make a minister of him, if it be his 
 will." The plan was agreed upon, and the friends 
 p?.rtr.J\ 
 
 It w«.f but a short time afterwards that the son return- 
 ed, aftc-:' having spent the Sabbath with a brother-in-law, 
 a short distance in the country. That Sabbath had been, 
 with tb ;, mother, a day of more than ordinary trial from 
 the buffetings of the adversary. " He has gone from un- 
 der ministrations, which would be likely to be service- 
 able to him, to mingle with society which may dissipate 
 from his mind awakening influences, if he has any." 
 
330 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A mother's temptations. A joyful surprise. The alternative. Decision. 
 
 So said the tempter, and the day was spent amid con- 
 flict ; yet faith, though assailed, did not yield. 
 
 " Mother, what could I tell you that would give you 
 the most pleasure ? " said the son on the following day, 
 as he approached his mother, with his face beaming with 
 smiles. 
 
 u My son, you need not ask me ; you know that you 
 could not give your mother greater pleasure than 
 by telling her that you had given your heart to the 
 Lord." 
 
 " Well, mother, that is just what I have been doing.** 
 
 The astonished mother could hardly believe for very 
 joy, when the son thus narrated the circumstances of his 
 conversion. 
 
 On the morning of the day previous, he heard a ser- 
 mon on the importance of decision. It was not the 
 novelty of the truths uttered that arrested attention ; 
 but it was the Spirit in answer to the prayer of faith 
 that gave edge to the truth. Yes, it was the sword of 
 the Spirit that penetrated ; and he now saw thai: ',he 
 time had come when he must either decide for God, or 
 lose his soul. If he decided for God, he felt ttfit he 
 must preach the gospel. And here was a struggle 
 between his own will and what he believed to be a 
 divine requirement. He loved the practice of law, 
 and saw preferment before him. But, to hold out 
 against what he believed to be the will of God, he felt 
 would be to lose his soul. He counted the cost, and 
 decided for God. 
 
 The day of the Lord is near in the valley of decis- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 33 1 
 
 Deeply convicted. A midnight conversion. Thirteen years, and not converted yet 
 
 ion." As he made the decision, he took a step nearer 
 to God. " Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw 
 nigh unto you," was exemplified in his experience, as is 
 ever the case with every sinner. He now saw himself 
 to be a sinner — and such a sinner ! He struggled on till 
 night, every moment his burden becoming yet more intol- 
 erable. He retired. But so great was the load on his 
 heart that sleep was not to be thought of. His brother- 
 in-law, who holds the office of judge in one of our city 
 courts, being probably the only one in the house who 
 could sympathize, our friend rose in the middle of the 
 night, and went to his room, and asked if he would rise 
 and pray for him. The judge could not refuse, but, per- 
 haps, would have been more at home on the bench try- 
 ing a criminal. But he rose, and wept, and prayed with 
 the penitent, till the Savior manifested himself to take 
 away sin, and the redeemed, saved sinner could exclaim, 
 
 " My dungeon shook, my soul was free; 
 I rose, went forth, and followed thee." 
 
 And thus was the happy tale told, and son and 
 mother went on their way rejoicing. 
 
 THE CONVERSION OE A HUSBAND DELAYED. 
 
 And now let me tell of a wife who was one of my 
 dearest friends. Thirteen years had she been wedded to 
 one who had never given his heart's best affections to the 
 Savior. Often did she pray and agonize for his conver- 
 sion, and well-nigh as often had it been suggested to her 
 mind, " Get the full baptism of the Holy Ghost, and 
 
532 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 What has that to do with it? The sermon. Intending and doing, two things. 
 
 tiie Lord will convert your husband. 1 ' She did not 
 mean to be disobedient to the voice of the Spirit ; yet, 
 without scarcely intending to do so, she did slight its 
 influences. " And what can that have to do with the 
 conversion of my husband ? " was the thought with 
 which she turned aside the Spirit's urgings. 
 
 She had long believed that she would be more useful 
 if she enjoyed that blessing, and had left the denomina- 
 tion to which she attached herself on first commencing 
 her religious career, in order to unite with a people who 
 believed this blessing attainable. Yet, though she had 
 so long known of her high and holy calling, and desired 
 the grace, yet she never once brought her mind to the 
 decision, " I will have the blessing, and have it novj" 
 till hearing a minister from the sacred desk say, 
 "Not only from this blessed Bible do I proclaim this 
 blessing as your privilege, but from my heart do I pro- 
 claim it ; for I feel that I have it all here ! " That 
 moment, she resolved that she would have it, and, in 
 a few hours, she was rejoicing in possession of the 
 grace. It is not written, " If any man intends to do the 
 will of God, he shall know of the doctrine ; " but, 
 " If any man will do the will of God, he shall know of 
 the doctrine." And how quickly, after it was her will 
 to be wholly sanctified, did she receive the blessing ! 
 It had long been God's will. She had probably, hun- 
 dreds of times, read, " This is the will of God, even 
 your sanctification ; " and now just so soon as it was her 
 will to be wholly sanctified, how soon the work was 
 accomplished ! 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 333 
 
 The captain's conversion. The explanation. Not the philosophy, but the fact. 
 
 Her husband, who had the command of a vessel, was 
 absent at the time when the beloved of his heart received 
 this full baptism of the Spirit ; but, on his return, 
 which was within a few days, he could not but observe 
 that grace had made a complete renovation. His heart 
 was arrested. He accompanied her to the house of 
 God. When an invitation was extended to those who 
 had resolved to seek the Lord, her husband quickly 
 responded, and from that hour became a follower of the 
 Savior. 
 
 So noiseless and unexpected, and yet so decisive, 
 was this movement on the part of her husband, that 
 my friend with amazement thought, " What can this 
 mean ? " when, suddenly as a flash, it was suggested, 
 " Did not the Holy Spirit long since assure you, that, if 
 you would get the full baptism, your husband would 
 be converted ? " 
 
 We will not pause to inquire why the special influ- 
 ence of the Spirit was withheld from that husband on 
 account of the spiritual deficiencies of that wife. As 
 well might the early disciples have asked why it were 
 needful that they should tarry at Jerusalem till endued 
 with power from on high. And, had they been resolved 
 on not waiting, inwardly questioning, " Why, what 
 can that have to do with the conversion of the world ? " 
 is it probable that the special influences of the Spirit 
 would have been given, resulting in the conversion of 
 three thousand in one day ? O, would the whole 
 church act upcn this principle, what glorious results 
 ■night b* realized ! 
 
3S4 II LUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 i. voungwifc sanctified, and a husband converted. The prerequisite of usefulness 
 
 1 related the preceding narrative to a lovely young 
 wife, whose hueband was unconverted. "Now get this 
 blessing," I observed, " and I do not doubt but the 
 Lord will hear your prayers for the conversion of your 
 husband." She sought for and obtained the grace, and 
 the next I heard from her was that the Lord had con- 
 verted her husband. She was gathered from the circle 
 of influence and wealth, and has become eminently a 
 burning and a shining light. Her husband is also one 
 of the Lord's noblemen. 
 
 Now, do not understand me to mean that no one can 
 be in any degree useful unless clear in the experience 
 of entire sanctification ; but do understand me to 
 say, that the sanctified believer, cleansed from all 
 filthiness of the flesh and spirit, is calculated to be far 
 more useful. And, if you want the Lord to use you in 
 the conversion of the members of your household and 
 others, get wholly sanctified. Resolve that you will not 
 live another day without it. If you want to get the 
 blessing in God's time, get it now ; for " Now is the 
 accepted time ; behold, now is day of salvation." 
 
 Art thou a Christian? Dost thou say thou art? 
 
 High is thy destination : 0, act well thy part, 
 
 And be Christ-like, and follow thy great Head, 
 
 In all things hear his voice; and, by that voice, be led 
 
 Though, at his requisitions, shrinking nature tremble, 
 
 Still follow on, in all things Christ resemble. 
 
 Art thou a Christian? does a luring spell, 
 
 A halo of bright glory, round thee dwell? 
 
 Where all the Christ-like graces so combine, 
 
 As speak thy high relationship divine, 
 
 Whi^h, as a holy charm, bids wondering gazers tremble, 
 
 Gentle, and good, and meek, thy Christ resemble. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 335 
 
 Inspiration of heroic example. Duty of showing others the way. 
 
 ^hjw the Jfiwt (Parts. 
 
 RELATION OF CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE- 
 
 If I were required to plant my feet on a lofty emi- 
 nence, the ascent to which seemed steep and rugged, 1 
 might, perhaps, with discouragement and perplexity, 
 shrink away from meeting the requirement. But show me 
 one who has once made the ascent — point me to the foot- 
 marks where he firmly planted his feet in his upward 
 flight, and I am more than satisfied. Courage and faith 
 in a moment inspire my soul — perplexities vanish. 
 Buoyant with hope, I rapidly make the ascent, and 
 inspiringly call to those still lingering at the base, " We 
 are well able to go up." " This is the way, walk ye in 
 
 it." 
 
 Many are lingering at the foot of Zion's hill, aye, 
 multitudes are there, for 
 
 " Wisdom shows a narrow path, 
 With here and there a traveller." 
 
 Are you among those who are ascending, and are the 
 marks by which you ascend those which are clearly 
 traced in the word of God ? Then you can, with the 
 holy heroism of David, exclaim, " He hath set my feet 
 upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath 
 put a new song in my mouth, even praises to our God ; 
 many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the Lord." 
 
 And now I need not tell you of the reasonableness of 
 being at much pains to show othei s, who would ascend 
 
336 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Many lingering at the base. Tell your experience. David. Paul. 
 
 the footmarks by which you ascended. You see so 
 many still faltering. Their feet have, indeed, been taken 
 out of the " horrible pit " and out of " the miry clay ; " 
 but they are lingering on their way to Zion's Mount, 
 ere they have scarcely begun to make the ascent. And 
 your great Deliverer has caused the eyes of multitudes 
 to be fixed on you, in order that you may illustrate the 
 way by which you have experimentally tested the solidity 
 of those footmarks by which you have thus far ascended. 
 You cannot illustrate scriptural truth more instructively, 
 or more inspiringly, than by your 'personal realizations. 
 How often, or rather how continuously, did David, and 
 other Old Testament saints, and also Paul, and other New 
 Testament saints, give force and illustration to their 
 scriptural teachings, by reciting their own experiences ! 
 Again and again, both in the Old and New Testaments, 
 is it repeated, "Ye are my witnesses." "We speak 
 that we do know, and testify that we have seen." Other 
 testimony than that given from personal knowledge, is 
 not valid in civil jurisprudence. And such testimony 
 does our heavenly Lawgiver and Judge require of those 
 whom he calls forth as his witnesses before a gainsaying 
 world. 
 
 The King's highway ! how narrow is the road ! 
 How few there are who find it ! yet the abode 
 Of God, the Christian's home, lies at its end ; 
 And none can reach the goal, but they who bend, 
 With purpose all unwavering, steady, true, 
 laid step undaunted, thoug-h all hell pursue. 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 337 
 
 Not at liberty to withhold. The surrender entire. Suspicious symptom. 
 
 8 <ft*trmmc* m mi Utjj ©am. 
 
 " My experience is not my own. God has given it, 
 and I do not feel at liberty to withhold it." So said a 
 lovely and intelligent Christian lady, who had received, 
 through Christ, the blessed gift of a pure heart. The 
 Lord had given her abilities to shine in the social circle, 
 and she had not been among the unnoticed amid scenes 
 where refinement, intellect, wealth and fashion preside. 
 But she had counted the cost of giving up all things 
 not consistent with Christian simplicity ; and, with 
 Hester Ann Rodgers, and other Christian heroines, she 
 gave evident manifestations that she had renounced the 
 spirit of the world by coming out from the world to be 
 separate. God, as ever, when the conditions upon which 
 he promises to sanctify wholly are fulfilled, set his seal 
 to the work, and she now had an experimental knowl- 
 edge of the blessedness of entire sanctification. It was 
 of this experience that she had now been asked to speak, 
 and to which request she meekly rose and said, " My 
 experience is not my own" She then gave a recital of 
 the process by which she through the Spirit had been 
 wholly sanctified. We always suspect those who never 
 tell their own experience on this subject, and exert a 
 dissuasive influence on others in relation to this testi- 
 mony, that they either never had, or have lost, the 
 experience of this grace. No one ever received it but 
 as a gift from God. God's gifts must be diffused or lost. 
 
 29 
 
338 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Testimony of a missionary. Prays in the barn all night. 
 
 And no one enjoying this grace, but will testify to the 
 truth of this. A light put under a bushel goes out, 
 and then it neither enlightens ourselves nor others. 
 
 « m*m * 
 
 Wat Wioxi of their Stetimong- 
 
 " One great means of retaining what God has given, is to labor to bring others into 
 this grace, and to' profess it to all mankind." — Wesley. 
 
 Among other testimonies not to be for- 
 gotten, given in at the Tuesday meeting, was that of 
 our excellent missionary now laboring at the Five Points. 
 All that know him speak of him as a good man, full of 
 faith and the Holy Ghost. He has been very successful 
 at every point where he has labored since he entered the 
 ministry. His success is doubtless attributable to the 
 spirit of inward holiness that possesses his heart. It 
 was not long after his powerful conversion that he felt 
 an earnest longing for the witness of inward purity. 
 One night, he retired to a barn, resolved to wrestle with 
 the angel of the covenant, until the blessing was given. 
 I think it was about the break of day before he was able 
 to leave. He had prevailed, and such were the over- 
 powering effects of grace that it was long before he felt 
 that he could leave the place. On his return, he met a 
 friend who was sceptical in relation to the subject of 
 
 perfect love. Brother did not dare to hide the 
 
 righteousness of God within his heart, but boldly de- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 339 
 
 Declaration. Doubt. Challenge. Twelve colliers saved. A Baptist brother. 
 
 clared what God had done for his soul. His friend 
 looked sceptical, but he said, " If you do not believe 
 me, you may eye me closely, and you will see the fruit." 
 Thus he overcame his sceptical friend, even by the 
 ancient way. It was not only by the blood of the Lamb, 
 but by the word of their testimony, that the ancient 
 worthies overcame. And now the unbelief of Brother 
 
 's sceptical friend was overcome. He wondered, 
 
 wept, and believed, and soon himself became an exper- 
 imental witness of the same grace. 
 
 Not long after this, Brother , with his heart filled 
 
 to overflowing with the burning, purifying love of Jesus, 
 was thrown in with a company of wicked colliers. Out 
 of the abundance of his heart, be began to talk to them 
 of his own realizations of the power of Christ to save to 
 the uttermost. On hearing of that holiness "without 
 which no man shall see the Lord," they began to feel the 
 startling force of the truth, "If the righteous scarcely 
 be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner ap- 
 pear ? " And here again, in a signal manner, the Lord 
 set the seal of his approval to the testimony. Twelve 
 of those rough, hardened colliers were overcome by this 
 word of testimony. They sought mercy, and never 
 rested till they found redemption through Christ. 
 
 A Baptist brother from Rhode Island, who, I believe, 
 
 is a minister, rose after Brother had given in his 
 
 testimony, and said that he had been enabled, a few 
 months since, to receive Christ as his Savior from all sin. 
 Bat. *or several weeks his evidence of that grace had 
 0€<jl dimmed. The cause of this had not been clear to 
 
3-10 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Iu dr.r, jtss from yielding. Light bursts forth. A Congregational minister. 
 
 his mind till, on hearing the testimony of Brother , 
 
 he saw what had occasioned the obscurity. He had 
 yielded to the opinion of mistaken friends who were 
 opposed to the belief of salvation from sin in the present 
 life. He had ceased to labor with his former definite- 
 ness in helping others towards the attainment of present 
 and entire sanctification, and had refrained from speaking 
 explicitly of his own enjoyment of this state. The 
 result was, his evidence had become beclouded, and he 
 was involved in perplexities. By the luminous testi- 
 mony of Brother , he now saw his error. On re- 
 solving that he would no longer hide the light enkindled 
 by the Holy Spirit in his heart, but would boldly declare 
 what great things the Lord had done for him, his light 
 again burst forth from obscurity, and the Spirit again 
 bore testimony with his spirit that the blood of Jesus 
 was applied to the cleansing of his soul from all sin. 
 
 At the last social meeting on the theme of holiness 
 that I attended, a Congregational minister was present, 
 who, ten or twelve years since, received the blessing of 
 holiness. He received it the day our acquaintance com- 
 menced, and a clearer or more blessed witness of this 
 grace, I have seldom if ever known. The effect of the 
 grace, in its manifestations of wisely-directed and ever- 
 consuming zeal, does not greatly differ, whether its recip- 
 ient be a Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, or Method- 
 ist. It is Christ enthroned in the soul of the believer 
 And, where Christ reigns unrivalled, burning love, 
 consuming zeal, and the spirit of self-sacrifice, will so 
 predominate as to evidence, that the disciple is in his 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 341 
 
 " We love your spirit, but " Cast out. One taken and the other left. 
 
 measure even as his Master. And so it was with this 
 Congregational minister, till he could rejoicingly say, 
 
 " And I enjoy the glorious shame, 
 The scandal of the cross." 
 
 His brethren in the ministry witnessed his zeal and 
 his success. One minister went so far as to say, to this 
 and another who had with him espoused the same views, 
 when summoned before a synod of ministers to answer 
 for their belief in this proscribed doctrine, " Brethren, 
 we love your spirit, but we cannot bear your terms." 
 But these holy men knew that " holiness," ' i sanctifica- 
 tion," and " perfect love," were terms which had been 
 given by the Holy Spirit's dictation, and were divinely 
 expressive of a state in which all believers were required 
 to live, and they resolved not to be ashamed of Christ, 
 or his words, but to abide the consequences of a steady 
 adherence to truth, and the form of sound words. The 
 consequence was, that their names were cast out as evil, 
 and they ceased to be members of that order. Though 
 cast out by the synod, their congregations retained 
 them, and they were installed over Independent Con- 
 gregational churches. One, after living a life of emi- 
 nent devotedness, in which, it is believed, hundreds were 
 brought 'to Christ through his instrumentality, went 
 home to glory, rejoicing in victory through the blood of 
 the Lamb. The other still remains, and, as I ha r 'i- 
 observed, was at the meeting last Tuesday. After all 
 that he had suffered, the enemy, by a well-circum- 
 stanced temptation, came well-nigh robbing him of his 
 
842 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A question by the tempter. Yielding. Restored. Progress. 
 
 crown. " Holiness is but one out of the many doctrines 
 of the Bible, and why give it so much prominence when 
 it brings so much obloquy from even well-meaning 
 men ? " So said the tempter. Satan had so transform- 
 ed himself, that the tempted, ere he was scarcely aware, 
 had almost imperceptibly yielded, and, for months, had 
 ceased to labor specifically on the subject, or to give 
 prominence to it in his thoughts or in his experience. 
 Suddenly, he was arrested on a Sabbath noon, to see how 
 Satan had beguiled him. He now saw how he had been 
 shorn of his strength. He wept and groaned. For hours, 
 it seemed as though he might never regain the forfeited 
 grace. After spending a tearful, sleepless night, he 
 called at our house on Monday, and, while we were 
 pleading, and he confessing his sin, he obtained again an 
 application of that blood which cleanseth from all sin. 
 
 > < i »< 
 
 tat8ttiMiW88. 
 
 DO THE SANCTIFIED FEEL SENSITIVELY? 
 
 I believe my heart is cleaving more closely to 
 Christ, and getting more detached from earthly objects. 
 The weaning process is going on. I find the more 
 closely I get to the heart of Infinite Love, the nearer to 
 the Sun of Righteousness, the more sensitively do I feel, 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 343 
 
 Grace gives keenness to perception. " Dou you feel such things f n 
 
 to my heart's deepest core, every thing that is contrary, 
 in spirit, word or action, to the law of love. If we do, 
 indeed, get nearer to the Sun of Righteousness, we 
 cannot but see, with yet more vividness, every thing that 
 is unrighteous and unlovely. And then the sight of 
 the eyes will affect the heart. 
 
 What must the sufferings of the Savior have been 
 during his sojourn on earth ! How continuously must 
 his gentle, pure spirit have been lacerated ! I have 
 seldom had such a perception of what the keenness of 
 his sufferings must have been, as since I have been pur- 
 suing the above train of thought. It appears as though 
 his entire stay on earth, from childhood to his expiring 
 groan on the cross, must have been one continuous 
 crucifixion. 
 
 " Do you feel such things ? " said one, after having 
 been the means of subjecting me to a humiliation 
 which, had it not been for its religious association, 
 would have branded him, in his own eyes and in the 
 estimation of many, as exceedingly uncourteous. From 
 his manner in proposing this inquiry, I presume he 
 thought that my professions of deadness to the world 
 involved a deadness of all the finer sensibilities of the 
 soul, forgetful that "whatsoever things are pure, and 
 lovely, and of good report," are among the more 
 important enjoyments of piety. 
 
 This idea may have obtained from the fact, that those 
 who are truly sanctified throughout body, soul and 
 spirit will, with a lamb-like, uncomplaining temper, 
 endure woundings of spirit. Things, which before 
 
344 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Silent submission, uot obtuseness. Meekness of great price. 
 
 would have been avenged, or in some way resented, will 
 now be received with but slight outward manifestations 
 of pain. In imitation of their divine Redeemer, they 
 may, " as a sheep dumb before her shearers," open not 
 their mouth. But if this silent submission has been 
 regarded as an intimation that the uncomplaining one 
 does not feel — if, because he soon retires noiselesslv 
 from the scene of strife, has been regarded as giving an 
 intimation that the infliction has not wounded, or has 
 been forgotten, how greatly the reverse is the fact ! 
 
 A MESSENGER TOLD IT. 
 
 He has been wounded, and far more deeply wounded 
 than your oft-blunted sensibilities can imagine. He 
 retires noiselessly, because he whom he serves has said, 
 " The servant of the Lord must not strive." You 
 may never on earth again hear of your ungentle, unlov- 
 ing words and actions, but are they untold? It is true 
 they may never be breathed in mortal ear, but shall 
 they remain unrevealed? No ! "Their angels do al- 
 ways behold the face of my Father ! " You have offend- 
 ed one of Christ's little ones. 
 
 An unseen messenger was standing by, and, as you 
 gave the causeless offence, that winged messenger with 
 speed went and told it directly to the ear of God. It 
 was with a meek and quiet spirit you had to do. God 
 gave that spirit. In his sight, it is of great price. It 
 ought to have been of great price in your sight. When 
 you saw the form of the one you had thus needlessly 
 wounded receding from your presence with unobtrusive 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. O 15 
 
 "itorse than drowning. A change in your friend. How does it affect you? 
 
 tread, he went to tell it to his heavenly Father — to his 
 eery) passionate Savior — to the loving Spirit. And will 
 the triune God hear it, and take cognizance of the act ? 
 \es ! and "God is not as man that he should lie." 
 True as God is true, retribution awaits you. " Ven- 
 geance is mine," saith the Lord. " Whosoever shall 
 offend one of these little ones that believe in me, 
 it were better for him that a millstone were hanged 
 about his neck, and he were cast into the sea." 
 
 DO YOU PERSECUTE CHRIST J 
 
 Christ's persecutors are not always those who ac- 
 knowledge themselves to be of the world. Perhaps 
 you are an erring child of God. Your wife, your hus- 
 band, your child, brother or sister, or, perchance, some 
 fviend to whom you have been closely affianced, has 
 entered into the enjoyment of perfect love. You have 
 witnessed their increasing deadness to the world. 
 Things which, when in the lower walk of worldly- 
 minded profession, they could enjoy in common witli 
 yourself, now pain their hearts, while, from the depth 
 of the soul, they cry out to God, "Turn away mine 
 eyes from beholding vanity." 
 
 Following Christ, the Light of Life, their souls are 
 becoming more and more conformed to his image. They 
 love the things which he loves, and hate the things 
 which he hates. How uneasy have these marked pre- 
 ferences made you ! Because you cannot get them to 
 see as you see, and do as you do, with how many un- 
 kind allusions have you pained the loving heart of that 
 
346 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 fitful opposition Our guide from earth to heaven. A symptom of carnality 
 
 gentle one, whom, in defiance of yourself, you cannot 
 but love and admire ! Conscience tells you that you are 
 wrong, and you know it. Still you persist. Your oppo- 
 sition, perhaps, may be but fitful, but yet you oppose, 
 and, as occasion may offer, you leave room to infer, by 
 your unloving allusions, and by silent action and innuendo 
 that you intend to offend those gentle, loving hearts, whose 
 every pulsation is in unison with God for your good. 
 
 O, do so no more ; not only from the fact that (i their 
 ans^ls do always behold the face of their Father," but 
 because you are sinning against your own soul's best 
 interest. God is love. Every unloving look, word, or 
 action, is an abhorrence to him. It is the Spirit of love, 
 who has undertaken to lead you from earth to heaven. 
 "By the love of the Spirit," I beseech you, " grieve not 
 the Spirit." Would a dear friend, however, intent on 
 your good, abide with you, if the feelings of his sensi- 
 tive heart were ever being defianced by oft-repeated 
 assaults ? So the Spirit will not always strive. You 
 are in danger. Seven other spirits worse than the first 
 may enter. And what will you do, should that fearful 
 hour come upon you without the aid of that Spirit 
 which you have grieved • away ? Let him that standeth 
 take heed lest he fall. Be assured, by one who knows, 
 that the restiveness you feel when the stricter forms of 
 piety are presented before you, are most evidently indic- 
 ati e of the remains of the carnal mind. " The flesh 
 Visteth against the Spirit." If you yield to it, you sin 
 against God. For in sinning against his people, you as 
 t^Lly sin igainst Christ as though he were here in person 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 347 
 
 The error. The crowning doctrine. Where was th6 failure? 
 
 By the light of a truly Christian example, you have 
 been reproved. Acknowledge your error, and seek a 
 holy heart. 
 
 ■ *»». 
 
 Sfe lMft0dtst Utittistrg, 
 
 8 We believe that God's design, in raising up the preachers called Methodist, In 
 America, was, to reform the continent, and to spread scriptural holiness over the* 
 lands." — Bishops op the M. E. Church. 
 
 We would not have it inferred that we regard holi- 
 ness as the doctrine of a sect, rather than as the one 
 crowning doctrine of the Bible. We do not so regard 
 it. The Scriptures of truth present it as the great 
 ultimatum of all Christian ministrations. " Whom we 
 preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in 
 all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in 
 Christ Jesus." If the ministry of any, or every denom- 
 ination fail to present the members of their flock perfect 
 in Christ Jesus, the object of their ministry is unan- 
 swered. And if, when inquisition is made for blood, 
 the failure be found in the ministry on account of not 
 having presented Christian Perfection as attainable in 
 the present life, then the blood of the people will be 
 found on the head of the watchman ; for he failed to 
 give the warning. He failed to speak of the absolute 
 necessity of living in the enjoyment of this grace, by way 
 of living in constant readiness for their Lord. Their 
 
348 l L L USTRATIONS OF T H E 
 
 The robe on, but not spotless. The fact, and its solution. What would Wesley say* 
 
 Lord came in an hour when they thought not, and, 
 though the white robe of a profession was on, yet it was 
 not spotless, for they had not been taught that they 
 might walk with garments unpolluted — not taught 
 that they ought to have been in a constant state of readi- 
 ness to be presented without spot, or wrinkle, or any 
 such thing ; and how can it be otherwise than that God 
 will require it at the hand of those whom he had placed 
 on the walls of Zion, who failed to give the warning ? 
 
 But it was while reading what we have chosen as a 
 motto at the head of this article, that our mind was most 
 solemnly impressed with the responsibility of the Meth- 
 odist ministry in relation to this subject. Much has 
 been said, in some of the leading journals, in relation to 
 the want of prosperity in some portions of the country. 
 Various causes have been specified as having had a 
 tendency toward producing this decrease of membership. 
 We will not occupy time to specify the causes assigned, 
 as the most of them have been stated in print. But we 
 will give what we believe Mr. Wesley would have giv- 
 en as a reason, if he were now living. 
 
 Let us go back to the brief account of the design of 
 Methodism, as given under the hand of the bishops of 
 the M. E. Church, in the excellent Book of Discipline. 
 " In 1729, two young men in England saw, in reading 
 the Bible, that they could not be saved without holiness ; 
 they followed after it, and incited others to do so. In 
 1739, they saw likewise that men are justified before 
 they are sanctified. But still holiness was their object. 
 God then thrust them out to raise a holy people." Thp 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 349 
 
 The bishop's views. Is the design met? Individual responsibility. 
 
 bishops of the M. E. C. quote this from the Wesley s 
 themselves, in their address to the Methodist commu- 
 nity. It is in the introductory article of the Book of 
 Doctrines and Discipline. The bishops then give their 
 own views of the specific design of Methodism in the 
 emphatic words which stand at the head of this article. 
 
 Do the preachers of the M. E. Church generally 
 regard this as the specific design of Methodism ? Do 
 they generally give the doctrine of holiness that promi- 
 nence in their ministrations which the design of the 
 origin of Methodism, as stated, demands ? Let each one 
 :f this class who reads these inquiries, answer before 
 Grod, whether the design of his being thrust out as a 
 Methodist minister, has been answered in this respect. 
 
 As a community, how vastly is the Methodist body 
 responsible in this matter ! But communities are made 
 up of individuals, and why is it not the duty of every 
 Methodist minister to make this responsibility a perso- 
 nal matter ? Thanks be to God, there are many of the 
 ministers of this denomination who are experimental wit- 
 nesses of this grace. But how small, in comparison with 
 the mass, the number of those who, from personal expe- 
 rience, testify that " The blood of Jesus cleanseth from 
 all sin" ! How few, comparatively, who deeply feel the 
 importance of acting in accordance with Mr. Wesley's 
 advice, " Therefore, let all our preachers make a point to 
 preach of perfection to believers constantly, strongly, 
 explicitly " ! 
 
 There were periods and places, in Mr. Wesley's day, 
 when and where the work of the Lord did not prosper 
 
 ' 30 
 
350 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The relation between entire sanctification and the prosperity of the church. 
 
 as on other occasions. Mr. Wesley, at such times, did 
 as we should do at the present day. With all humility 
 he sought to know, and acknowledged the cause. We 
 hear him, on one of these occasions, saying to Mr. Ben- 
 son, " I doubt not we are not explicit enough in speak- 
 ing on full sanctification, either in public or private." 
 On another occasion, where the work was less prosper- 
 ous than he desired, he, with earnestness, raises the 
 warning voice, and cries out, " I am afraid Christian 
 Perfection will be forgotten Encourage Richard 
 Blackwell and Mr. Colley to speak plainly. A general 
 faintness, in this respect, has fallen on the whole king- 
 dom. Sometimes, I seem almost weary of striving 
 against the stream of both preachers and people." And 
 again, on yet another occasion of solicitude on this point, 
 he writes to Miss B., who had just received the blessing 
 of perfect love, to profess it, and encourages her against 
 the censures of those who discountenanced her testi- 
 mony on this subject. Of another place he says, " I 
 examined the society, and was surprised to find fifty 
 members fewer than I left in it in October last. One 
 reason is, Christian perfection has been little insisted 
 on ; and, where this is not done, be the preachers ever 
 so eloquent, there is little increase either in the number 
 or grace of the hearers." Again he remarks, "William 
 Hunt and John Watson were not men of large gifts, 
 but zealous for Christian perfection, and, by their warm 
 conversation on this head, kindled a flame in some of 
 the leaders. These pressed others to seek after it, and, 
 for this end, appointed meetings for prayer. The fire 
 
'ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 351 
 
 No gain in a year the reason. Asbury Responsibilities how met? 
 
 spread wider and wider, until the whole society was in 
 a flame." Of another place he says — "Went on to 
 
 L . Here I found the work of God had gained no 
 
 ground in this circuit all the year. The preachers have 
 given up the Methodist testimony. Either they did not 
 speak of perfection at all, (the peculiar doctrine com- 
 mitted to our trust,) or they speak of it only in general 
 terms, without urging believers to go on to perfection. 
 And where this is not earnestly done, the work of God 
 does not prosper." 
 
 A great deal more might be quoted to show that this 
 is what Mr. Wesley, and also other fathers of Meth- 
 odism, regarded as the " Methodist testimony." So 
 much did Bishop Asbury think of it, that he says, " I 
 am divinely impressed with a charge to preach it in every 
 sermon." Do Methodist ministers generally, of the 
 present day, feel thus divinely impressed ? How have 
 the responsibilities of the Methodist testimony been 
 met ? If, according to Mr. Wesley's declaration, Meth- 
 odism does not prosper where the Methodist testimony is 
 neglected, let us ask how those Methodist ministers will 
 meet their account who do not preach once in months 
 on this subject ; who do not encourage the testimony of 
 their people in relation to their experience of this bless- 
 ing ; who seldom press the necessity of the present 
 attainment of this blessing, either in their public or pri- 
 vate ministrations. 
 
 Let us rouse, brethren, individually and collectively. 
 Let us rouse to an earnest recognition of our responsi- 
 bilities on this subject. Holiness is not only the crown- 
 
352 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Disputants What hope from such? Personal experience and pulpit power. 
 
 ing doctrine of the Bible, but it is trie distinguishing 
 doctrine of Methodism. Some, we acknowledge, do 
 spend time in ministering on this subject as theological 
 discussionists, or disputants, and are ready to assume an 
 attitude which seems to say, " The temple of the Lord, 
 the temple of the Lord ' : are we, who are not zealous 
 as experimental witnesses of the grace ; but what have 
 we to hope from such labors ? Of the doctrine of holi- 
 ness it may, in the most emphatic sense, be said, " If 
 any man will do his will, he shall know of the doc- 
 trine." And on what point is the will of God more 
 distinctly stated than on this ; " This is the will of 
 God, even your sancthication " ? But, unless a man 
 resolves to know experimentally, he cannot acquaint 
 himself with the doctrine in such a way as to make him- 
 self very useful to others in pointing out the steps by 
 , which it is to be obtained ; for one must first travel the 
 way before he is prepared for much success in directing 
 others. How much better one can preach of justifica- 
 tion after he has experienced that grace ! Quite as 
 important is the experience of entire sanctification to 
 those who would successfully enforce the attainment of 
 that grace on others. 
 
 " 0! who can speak his praise? great, humble man' 
 He, in the current of destruction, stood, 
 And warned the sinner of his woe ; led on 
 Immanuel's numbers in the evil day ; 
 And, with the everlasting arms embraced 
 Himself around, stood in the dreadful front 
 Of battle, high, and warred victoriously 
 With death and hell." 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 353 
 
 Fletcher's experience in reference to profession. What a minister said. 
 
 $oMtsb jt mi it 
 
 "That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous 
 
 works." — Psalms xxvi. 7. 
 
 u I received this blessing four or five times before, 
 but lost it by not obeying the order of God. ' With 
 the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with 
 the mouth confession is made unto salvation.' But the 
 enemy offered his bait under various colors to keep me 
 from a public declaration of what my Lord had wrought." 
 So said Fletcher, after having lost the blessing of per- 
 fect love four or five times by various deceivings of 
 Satan to keep him from a public and explicit declaration 
 of the grace he received. And, after giving a narration 
 of the manner of these deceptions, he says, " Now 
 brethren, you see my folly. I have confessed it in your 
 presence, and now I resolve, before you all, to confess 
 my Master. I will confess him to all the world ; and 1 
 now declare unto you, in the presence of God, the Holy 
 Trinity, I am now dead indeed unto sin." After this 
 solemn resolve to maintain a public declaration of the 
 power of Christ to save to the uttermost, we hear no 
 more of Mr. Fletcher's losing the blessing of perfect 
 love. 
 
 Wt were reminded of this very clear and pointed 
 declaration of Fletcher's experience, by a scene we 
 witnessed at a camp meeting a few days since. A minis- 
 ter arose, in the midst of a large public meeting before 
 ;ikc stand, ano said, fS I am in my right mind, and I 
 
 30* 
 
354 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A profession in words of fire Many witnesses. 
 
 wish to give in a testimony which. I desire every one on 
 this ground should hear. Ministers, hear it ! Brethren 
 and sisters of the laity, hear it ! Sinners, hear it ! Go 
 
 home and publish it ! Yes, tell it, that on the 
 
 camp ground, you heard a minister profess to be wholly 
 sanctified. Yes, God has wholly sanctified my soul ! I 
 know it, and I wish to publish it to the world ! Away 
 with mere theories, and discussions on entire sanctifica- 
 tion ! It is the thing itself we must have — the experi- 
 ence. I have got it ! Glory be to God, the blood of . 
 Jesus cleanseth me from all sin ! And now I am 
 resolved to publish it ! Yes, tell it! " While he was 
 thus talking, he seemed to be so evidently carried away 
 with the Spirit, and filled with God, that the most 
 sceptical beholder, I think, could not doubt but he was 
 filled with the Spirit. His looks, and the effect of his 
 utterances, were indescribable. As he spake, he passed 
 into the midst of the congregation, and went to and fro, 
 speaking words which penetrated like fire. " The blood 
 of Jesus cleanseth from all sin ! " he again and again 
 repeated — " Publish it ! publish it ! tell it ! " he reit- 
 erated ; and often as the words fell from his lips they 
 penetrated as fire deeper and deeper. The outpouring 
 of the Spirit became general, and hundreds of hearts 
 caught the holy impulse. Would that it were in my 
 power to describe the extraordinary manifestations of 
 the Spirit as witnessed on this occasion. Many spake as 
 the Spirit gave them utterance, and such burning words ' 
 We all felt that there was one standing among us who 
 baptizeth with the Holy Ghost and with fire ; ar»d many 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 355 
 
 " The blood cleanseth me ! " A radiant face. Overwhelming glory. 
 
 received the baptism of the Holy Ghost on that event- 
 ful morning. One lady, whose heaven-illumined coun- 
 tenance bespoke intelligent piety and refinement, rose 
 near me and said, "The blood of Jesus cleanseth we 
 from all unrighteousness. I will tell it ! I am going 
 home to publish it. I care not even though the intelli- 
 gence may precede me to B ." As she said these 
 
 words, the radiance on her face brightened to an unearthly 
 glow. The manifestation of the Spirit's approval was 
 too glorious for her feeble frame, and she sunk back 
 under the power of God ; and two or three hours passed 
 before she was able to rise. This was in a region of 
 country where the enemy had taken special pains, within 
 two or three years, to withstand a public profession of 
 holiness. The same satanic bait had tempted them that 
 had been held out to Fletcher. And several, as Fletcher, 
 had in consequence lost the blessing. But now victory, 
 and glorious victory, had turned on the side of Zion. 
 Satan was vanquished, and the saints shouted aloud foi 
 
 i m%m i 
 
 4attor JP- 
 
 Few exceeded Father M in evident devotedness 
 
 of life. So consistent, so uniform. He had been so 
 long, and so habitually pious, that the fact that Father 
 
356 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A father in the way of younger disciples. "What was the difficulty. 
 
 M~ did not profess to enjoy the witness of perfect 
 
 love, had caused many a younger disciple to shrink from 
 
 an open profession of that grace. But Father M 
 
 did net intend to stand in the way of younger professors. 
 His whole heart was intent on this, and on every other 
 good work ; yet such was the fact ; younger members, 
 who could distinctly tell the day and the hour when 
 the love of God was perfected in their hearts, were 
 deterred from coming out in that profession, especially 
 in his presence. "For," said the tempter, "if Father 
 M , who has been so long in the way, does not pro- 
 fess to enjoy the blessing, who will believe in your pro- 
 fessions ? " And, by thus yielding to the subtle tempter, 
 and refusing to let their light shine, they lost the grace 
 
 out of their hearts. Had Father M known this, 
 
 how he would have quailed in view of his responsibility ! 
 But he had fixed his mind on holiness as some hi^h 
 state almost beyond present aspirations ; and mighty 
 struggles and desperate ventures of faith were contem- 
 plated before the desired summit could be reached. 
 And yet Christ had no rival in his heart ; and this he 
 well knew. Had all the world, — its highest honors, 
 and richest pleasures, been concentrated and laid before 
 him in one scale, and had the lowly Savior and the 
 cross been laid in the other, there would have been an 
 almost infinite preponderance in the mind of Father 
 
 M in favor of the Savior and the cross. Yet, as 
 
 he could not state the day and the hour when the love 
 of God was thus perfected in his heart, he seemed not 
 to take cognizance of the fact. But, surely, the man 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 357 
 
 lie saw — how or when not important. The tree and its fruits. Social meeting 
 
 that first saw " men as trees walking," and afterward 
 saw all things clearly, saw just as well as if he had 
 seen all things at once. It is not for us to question in 
 relation to the time and the manner of the Savior's 
 working, but to acknowledge every good thing that is in 
 us bv Christ Jesus, let the time and the manner of the 
 Spirit's operations be as they may. And to do this is a 
 bounden duty ; a duty that must be performed in order 
 that the communication may be effectual. 
 
 A tree that bears apples is, by common consent, called 
 an apple tree. On the same principle of reasoning we 
 might say, a man that evidently brings forth the fruit of 
 holiness, must be a holy man. And might not Father 
 
 M have judged thus of his state ? So his pious 
 
 friends thought. 
 
 But Father M , within a few days past, has been 
 
 fairly brought out into the clear light of conscious purity. 
 The way by which he was brought out was so simple, 
 that we give a slight glance at the process. 
 
 A number of friends had gathered, previous to the 
 commencement of a social meeting, in view of mutual 
 prayer and a free interchange of thought on the subject 
 of holiness. We asked Father M if he was a wit- 
 ness of this grace, when he frankly acknowledged he was 
 not. 
 
 " But you surely love God with all your heart, Father 
 M ? " 
 
 " I have not been in the habit of saying so, and I am 
 not sure that I would dare to say so." 
 
 " But though you have not been in the habit of say 
 
358 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 The fact and the time. Love demands I0V6. Suggestion repelled. 
 
 ing so, dear Father M , have you not reason to 
 
 believe that grace has so empowered you that you do 
 love God with all your heart ? Perhaps you cannot, as 
 some others, tell the precise time when you began to 
 love the Lord with all your heart, with any more 
 definiteness than the man, who first saw men as trees 
 walking, and afterwards saw all things clearly, could tell 
 just the point of time when he began to see ; but this 
 did not interfere with the fact of his seeing, or make the 
 duty of giving to Christ the glory due to his name less 
 important." 
 
 " I cannot confess what I am not sure I have the evi- 
 dence of." 
 
 " No, Father M , neither would I wish you to 
 
 confess with your mouth any thing that your heart does 
 not believe. If you have not sufficient evidence, from 
 the state of your heart, to convince you that God has 
 the uppermost seat in your affections, then I should be 
 far from wishing you to say so. But Christ has loved us 
 with all his heart, and it were a shame to love him with 
 less than all the heart." 
 
 This was rather too much for the loving, devoted 
 
 heart of Father M to endure, and the fervor of his 
 
 affections seemed kindled to greater ardor, as, with holy 
 jealousy, he repelled the suggestion that he could be so 
 ungrateful as to love the Lord with less than all his 
 heart ; and yet he had not been willing to admit he did. 
 
 ' This Father M , is just the point to which I 
 
 Tish So bring the mattei. I am sure you would be 
 ashaireJ tc acknowledge the thought of loving God 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 359 
 
 The question. The fear of death gone — why. Knew the fact but doubted it. 
 
 with less than all the heart, and yet you are not willing 
 to say you do. Now nothing is more certain than this. 
 You sustain a definite relation before God ; though you 
 may be indefinite, God is definite with you, and you are 
 at this moment written down among Christ's confessors, 
 as one who loves God with all the heart, or as one who 
 
 does not. And now, Father M , how is it? Are 
 
 you obeying the first great command, < Thou shalt love 
 the Lord thy God with all thy soul, mind, might and 
 strength,' or are you not ? " 
 
 " O, I am sure there is nothing I know of that I love 
 more. Some time ago, I was thought very near death. 
 I seemed just about to pass over Jordan, but all was 
 glory, peace and joy ; I had no fear." 
 
 " No, Father M , you had no fear, and why had 
 
 you no fear ? Was it not because you enjoyed that love 
 that caste th out fear ? And what sort or degree of love 
 is that, which casteth out fear ? " 
 
 " It is perfect love that casteth out fear," says one, 
 
 " and that shows that Father M does enjoy perfect 
 
 love." 
 
 " Yes, Father M , no doubt, has long since enjoyed 
 
 perfect love," said we, " but the difficulty with him is, 
 he wants some evidence beside the knowledge of the fact. 
 
 The case of Father M reminds me of a sister to 
 
 whom I said, at the close of one of our Tuesday meet- 
 ings, " Sister, do you enjoy the blessing of holiness ? ' 
 She replied, " I believe I do, or at least I know I love 
 the Lord with all my heart ; but I want the evidence of 
 it ! " Dr. Bangs was standing near when I drew his 
 
360 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Just what was wanted. A meeting of intense interest. Christian perfection. 
 
 attention to the sister, saying, " Here is a sister who 
 says she believes she loves the Lord with all her heart, 
 or, rather, she knows she does, bnt she wants the evi- 
 dence of it." " Do you want the evidence of a thing 
 you know ? " says the venerable doctor. Then, turning 
 to the window where the sun was throwing in his mel- 
 lowing light, he exclaimed, " The sun is shining, and 
 you know it, and now do you want the evidence of it ? 
 
 Father M enjoys perfect love, and he knows \\ y 
 
 but he wants the evidence of it. But let me tell you, 
 
 Father M , just what is now wanting to bring yc u 
 
 into the glorious conscious enjoyment of this experienc 3. 
 It is to confess with your mouth what you know yoi t 
 heart now believes ; for it is with the heart ms n 
 believeth, and with the mouth confession is made unto 
 salvation. It is the fire of perfect love kindled iu the 
 soul, and we must give it vent, if we want it to burn to 
 a mighty flame." 
 
 The conversation with Father M paused, and a 
 
 social meeting of intense interest commenced, during 
 which several were saved from all sin, and others 
 received justifying grace. Father M sat, apparent- 
 ly drinking in the streams of salvation, little doubting, 
 we imagine, but that he loved God with all his heart. 
 But now that others of his tent's company had received 
 the sanctifying seal, we felt yet more anxious that his 
 testimony should be more explicit. 
 
 With an humble dependence on the Spirit's aid, we 
 turned to the venerable patriarch, and said, 
 
 Father M , remember it is not Adamic perfec- 
 
 ts 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 361 
 
 Our High Priest. How we may know when the blood of Jesus cleanseth. 
 
 tion, nor angelic perfection, but Christian perfection, that 
 we have been talking about; we of ourselves cannot 
 present a perfect sacrifice. Without Christ we can do 
 nothing. Our offerings* are polluted. We cannot so 
 much as think a good thing, much less incite a good 
 desire, or a holy emotion, or perform a right action. 
 Our good is all divine. It is only as our offerings are 
 presented through Christ that they can be " holy, accept- 
 able." We every moment need the merits of Christ's 
 death. And it is because we need it that it is every 
 moment available. But, while we every moment pre- 
 sent ourselves a living, that is, a continual sacrifice to 
 God through Christ — Christ, as our High Priest, takes 
 these poor, sin-polluted offerings, and, through his all- 
 cleansing blood, presents them " holy, acceptable ; " for 
 an offering presented to God through Christ is holy 
 acceptable. How can it be otherwise in view of the 
 medium through which the offering is presented ? 
 
 Who would dare to say otherwise than that " The 
 blood of Jesus cleanseth from all unrighteousness " ? It 
 is a divine declaration, a truth to be believed, and there- 
 fore sinful to doubt. It is only for us to know that we 
 present ourselves wholly to God through Christ, to 
 know that the blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin. 
 O, the infinite efficacy of the blood of Jesus ! It is not 
 the worthiness of the offerer, or the greatness of the 
 gift that he presents, that makes it holy and acceptable, 
 but it is the all-cleansing efficacy of Jesus' blood. Why. 
 Father M , if the guilt of the world could be 
 
 accumulated and laid upon your head, it would only be 
 
 31 • 
 
362 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Statement of the doctrine. " Is that all ?" Father M ■ in raptures. 
 
 for you to come to God through Christ, and at once 
 prove that the blood of Jesus cleanseth — not that it can 
 or will, but cleanseth now — just while you now present 
 
 yourself, it cleanseth. Do you not see, Father M , 
 
 it is a perfection that comes by our every moment pre- 
 senting ourselves to God through Christ ? 
 
 Not necessarily a perfection of knowledge, or a per- 
 fection of wisdom, but a perfection of love ; loving God 
 with all the heart. Not but that we may love him more 
 as our powers expand, but loving him with all the heart 
 just now, and just as we are, and while we thus pre- 
 sent ourselves every moment through Christ, we are 
 unto God a sweet savor of Christ, and the offering is 
 accepted as perfect through Christ. We might have 
 proceeded, for our own mind was filled with the glorious 
 
 vision of Christ as a perfect Savior, but Father M 
 
 could hold his peace no longer, and cried out, 
 
 u 
 
 Is that all ? Why, that is what I have been doing 
 for years. O praise the Lord ! Praise the Lord ! " 
 
 " Yes, my dear Father M , that is all, and for 
 
 years past you might have been witnessing that the blood 
 of Jesus cleanseth." 
 
 Father M saw it all ; but he had given the fire 
 
 vent, and it burst out into a flame of intense raptures, 
 
 and we left Father M hours after, the flame of 
 
 love rising higher and higher, he having testified before 
 hundreds, in an unequivocal manner, to the enjoyment 
 of perfect love, and of Christ as his Savior from all Bm 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 363 
 
 Needful teachings for young converts. Several instances of speedy sanctification 
 
 [mm$ djtfnMrte mag bt Iffitftottg $mqt\p&. 
 
 Young converts ought to be urged onward to the 
 speedy attainment of the grace of entire holiness. 
 Unless their bent to backsliding is taken away, and the 
 soul wholly renewed, roots of bitterness will spring up 
 and trouble them. I fear it is because young converts 
 are not more earnestly admonished to go on to perfec- 
 tion, that so many lose their first love, — backslide in 
 heart, and, by their half-heartedness, and worldly- 
 minded professions, become clogs to the chariot wheels 
 of the church. I wonder that Mr. Wesley's sentiments 
 on this subject are not oftener brought out before the 
 people. He seems to delight in bringing up instances 
 of entire sanctification, which occurred but a short time 
 after the conversion of the recipients. Among many 
 others, he speaks of S. H., who resided at Macclesfield. 
 He observes of her, " I have seldom known so devoted 
 a soul. She was sanctified within nine days after she 
 was convinced of sin. She was then twelve years old, 
 and, I believe, was never afterwards heard to speak an 
 improper word, or known to do an improper thing 
 Her look struck awe into all that saw her. She is now 
 in Abraham's bosom." — Wcsleifs Works, vol. vii. p. 14. 
 r( Four of those children who seemed to be saved from 
 sin, were of one family ; and all of them walked holy 
 and unblamably. And many instances have I found in 
 every part of the country." — Vol. vii. p. 377. "Many 
 children were indisputably justified ; some of them were 
 
364 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Grace Paddy. Sanctified in twelve hours after conversion. 
 
 likewise sanctified, and were patterns of all holiness." — 
 Vol. iv p. 614. He gives, also, the experience of 
 Grace Paddy, as he received it from her lips. It reads 
 thus : " In a short time, all my troubles were gone, and 
 I did believe all my sins were blotted out ; but, in the 
 evening, I was thoroughly convinced of the want of a 
 deeper work of grace. I felt the remains of sin in my 
 heart, which I longed to have taken away. I longed to 
 be saved from all sin, and cleansed from all unrighteous- 
 ness, and, at the time Mr. Rankin was preaching, this 
 desire increased exceedingly. Afterwards, he met the 
 society. During his last prayer, I was quite over- 
 whelmed with the power of God. I felt an inexpressi- 
 ble change in the depths of my heart, and, from that 
 hour, I have felt no anger, no pride, no wrong temper 
 of any kind ; nothing contrary to the pure love of God 
 which I feel continually. I desire nothing but Christ, 
 and I have Christ always reigning in my heart. I want 
 nothing ; he is mv sufficient portion in time and in eter- 
 nity."— Vol. iv. p. 128-9. Mr. Wesley adds : " Such 
 an instance, I never knew before ; of such an instance, 
 I never read ; a person convinced of sin converted to 
 God, and renewed in love within twelve hours! Yet it 
 is by no means incredible, seeing with God one day is 
 as a thousand years." 
 
 In another portion of his journal, Mr. W. says, " I 
 spoke to these, forty in number, one by one. Some of 
 them said they received the blessing ten days, some 
 seven, some four, some three days, after they had found 
 peace with God, and two of them the next day." What 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 365 
 
 Wesley on early sanctification. Who would stop short of it? 
 
 marvel," Mr. Wesley again exclaims u since one day is 
 with God as a thousand years " — Vol. iv. p. 135. He 
 also speaks of one who was reclaimed from a backslid- 
 den state, and cleansed from sin on the following day. — 
 Vol. iv. p. 170. 
 
 In passages too numerous to mention, Mr. Wesley 
 continues to enforce by precept, and illustrate by exam- 
 ple, the duty and privilege of young converts to be 
 holy. " It plainly follows," he says, " that the quan- 
 tity of time is nothing with him. Centuries, years, 
 months, days, hours, and moments, are exactly the 
 same. Consequently, he can as well sanctify in a day 
 after we are justified, as a hundred years. There is no 
 difference at all, unless we suppose him to be such as 
 ourselves. Accordingly, we see in fact that some of the 
 most unquestionable witnesses of sanctifying grace, 
 were sanctified within a few days after they were con- 
 verted." — Vol. vii. p. 14. 
 
 How encouraging to young converts are these exam- 
 ples, as given by the eminently pious and judicious 
 founder of Methodism, corroborative, as they are, of 
 scriptural testimony, and the observation and experience 
 of Bible Christians of later days ! And where is the 
 young convert who reads these lines, that would not at 
 once sacrifice all for the attainment of this grace ? And, 
 if it be the privilege of the young convert to be holy, 
 where is the teacher, or the leader in Israel, to whose 
 watch-care the flock of Christ has been intrusted, who 
 would stop short of this grace ? "A way shall be 
 there, and it shall be called the way of holiness, and the 
 
 31* 
 
QC(l 
 
 66 illustrations of the 
 
 The name of the way. Rev. J. M. Duncan. Famine. Three times doomed to di». 
 
 redeemed of the Lord shall walk there." All the way 
 leading from earth to heaven, is a way cast up for the 
 ramsoned of the Lord to walk in, and those who do not 
 go forward, inevitably backslide. 
 
 >m*m 
 
 % JHttjguIar f jw. 
 
 Two Christian ladies have called on me to-day, who 
 were con.rrted under the ministry of the late Rev. J. 
 M. Duncan, of Baltimore. His memory is greatly 
 endeared to them as a man of deep devote dness, and of 
 fervent enlightened ieal. In connection with other 
 instructive recollections, they gave the following of a 
 vow made under remarkable circumstances. 
 
 Many years ago, the vessel in which young John and 
 his family were passengers, was cast away. For some 
 time, all on board were threatened with death by famine. 
 At last, lots were cast for a human victim to appease the 
 pangs of hunger. The lot fell on the grandmother of 
 that noble boy, Mrs. Margaret Duncan. Unwilling to 
 resort to such a horrible remedy, the ship's company 
 resolved to postpone the dreadful death for a few hours. 
 The hopless perio.d again arrived, when lots were again 
 cast for the sacrifice of life. Again the lot fell on the 
 same lady. By common consent, another respite was 
 granted, and, by perfect agreement, a third time the 
 same ordeal was to be past. Strange to tell— the third 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 367 
 
 A promise to build a church and to educate a grandson. Vow fulfilled. 
 
 time, that aged lady was doomed to die. A brief space 
 of time being allowed for preparation, the pious woman, 
 perfectly resigned to her fate, made a vow unto the Lord 
 that, if he would avert the impending blow, and in mercy 
 save the ship's company, she would consecrate herself 
 more fully to his service — would, on their arrival at any 
 port, erect a temple in honor of his name, and educate, 
 and qualify, as far as in her power, her grandson, John 
 M. Duncan, for the ministry of the gospel. 
 
 That prayer was heard ; for, as the lady appeared on 
 deck to render up her life, a voice from aloft announced 
 the welcome tidings — " Sail ahoy ! " A vessel hove in 
 sight, came to their relief, and, in safety, they all reached 
 Philadelphia. In that city, the venerated grandmother 
 promptly fulfilled her vows. She indeed became a 
 more devoted Christian. She erected the commodious 
 church edifice which bears her name to this day, and 
 her grandson, educated and qualified for the sacred 
 office, spent a long life of piety and usefulness, and has 
 recently surrendered his happy spirit to the God to whose 
 service he had been solemnly devoted. 
 
 THANK-OFFERING FOR SALVATION FROM TROUBLE. 
 
 Now, if one act of special dedication faithfully carried 
 out — one vow kept inviolable, made in the hour of 
 adversity, may tell so enduringly on the eternal welfare 
 of hundreds, what should be the duty of those who are 
 in prosperous circumstances, those who are kept, by the 
 mercy of God, from the hour of peril ? Should such 
 wait till driven by the extremities of trouble to utter 
 
S6S ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Thank-offering for salvation from trouble. A living sacrifice. 
 
 vows, and to make special dedications ? We do not 
 wonder that Mrs. D. should have vowed, and paid unto 
 me Lord her vows. Her heart was quick to devise 
 expedients, which might be most far-reaching for the 
 glory of God, because, in view of her apparent nearness 
 to eternity, she aimed to compass the most comprehen- 
 sive good within her power. 
 
 If she had thought of any thing more within her 
 reach to be specifically devoted, she doubtless had done 
 it. But does not the Holy Spirit now tell you, that 
 your salvation from trouble ' calls for a thank-offering, 
 which will be commensurate with your highest ability ? 
 The God of providence loves you, and to the degree 
 the Holy Spirit is intent on your highest good, your 
 greatest usefulness, will you be likely to be driven by 
 emergencies, if you do not resolve on specific and entire 
 devotedness without being thus driven. 
 
 GOD APPROPRIATES WHAT IS GIVEN TO HIM. 
 
 O, be constrained, by the mercies of God, to present 
 yourself a living sacrifice. Make no provision for the 
 fiesh. Some make their sacrifices without taking in 
 their calculations that God intends to appropriate it. 
 Do not so. Present your sacrifice, and, after it is laid 
 on the altar, so that you can say 
 
 " lis done, the great transaction 's done." 
 
 Then act upon the principle that the sacrifice belongs 
 to God. The moment you laid it upon the altar, it 
 became God's property, for it was sanctified by virtue 
 of the altar upon which you laid it. No great venture 
 
B C * OMY OF S A L V A T ION. 369 
 
 The consuming process. The devotement of a daughter contemplated. 
 
 of faith is called for here. God's word declares it, and 
 it were presumption to doubt. And, now that your 
 offering is on the altar, sanctified and cleansed by the 
 infinite virtue there is in Christ, upon whom you rest, 
 and through whose all-cleansing blood you are presented 
 faultless before the throne, expect the consuming process 
 to begin. God intends to use you ceaselessly. You 
 have presented yourself as a " whole burnt sacrifice," 
 and you may, perhaps, be called to self-sacrificing duties 
 quite beyond your anticipations, but of this I am sure 
 you would not venture on a choice, though it were left 
 at your option. You have submitted yourself to the 
 dictates of Infinite Wisdom, and in the way which will 
 tell most to the praise of God on your eternal inheri- 
 tance, will you be led. 
 
 HOW IS IT WITH THAT CHILD? 
 
 And now are you constrained, by the mercies of God, 
 to go still further ? Have you not objects specially dear 
 to you, which ought to be specifically devoted ? How 
 is it with that child of yours ? Is she a little daughter ? 
 God has only entrusted her to you in order that you 
 may bring her up for his service. Are you bringing her 
 up to shine in the fashionable circle, or specifically in view 
 of her being a self-sacrificing Christian ? O make a vow 
 of special devotement in view of some special position 
 of usefulness in which she may most glorify God, so 
 that, if the Lord should ever call her to heathen lands, 
 you may not have the sacrifice to make, but may say it 
 is made. She has long since been set apart for God, 
 
370 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Have you devoted your son ? Consecration of property. 
 
 and trained for his service, and he has now only taken 
 his own, — of his own have I given him. 
 
 And how is it with that son ? Look abroad over the 
 world, and see its wants. How great is the harvest, and 
 how few are the laborers ! Is there not a vow of special 
 devotedness called for here ? Behold the heathen in 
 their dark and perishing state ! God sent forth from his 
 home of light in heaven, his only begotten Son. The 
 Son of God left the bosom of his Father to save you. 
 Would it be too much to spare that son of your bosom, 
 and send him forth from his home of light to save 
 the dark and perishing heathen ? How is it with your 
 property ? Of all that you can appropriate, you can only 
 say, " Of thine own have I given thee ! ' But can you 
 not now, by some act of special devotement of property, 
 be the means of doing something toward establishing the 
 worship of God in some place where his name is not now 
 recorded ? O ! hasten, and " what thy hand findeth to 
 do, do it with thy might." 
 
 < m*m i 
 
 <gd Baron Stonr. 
 
 " Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of tin* 
 
 sea." — Isaiah xlviii. 18. 
 
 Don't aim too high, for the benefits of getting down 
 low are incalculable. Every thing in religion is exceed- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 371 
 
 Could not find a very plain way — and why. The colored woman. 
 
 ingly simple. All the way leading from earth to heaven, 
 cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in, is so 
 plain that wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err 
 therein. You have long believed that full salvation is 
 attainable in the present life. And I need not say that 
 this belief involves the responsibility to be holy. But 
 why have you not obtained this grace ? Not because 
 you have not felt the necessity of it, nor because you 
 have not, by prayer, sought it ; but you have been look- 
 ing too high. You have overlooked the simplicity of 
 the way. Some time since, we said to a colored woman, 
 whose countenance seemed to reflect the image of the 
 heavenly, — 
 
 " Do you enjoy full salvation? " 
 
 With a brightening countenance she replied, — 
 
 " I believe I do " ! 
 
 She then reminded us of an occasion, about four 
 years previous, when, on attending a social meeting 
 where she was, we had said, u The reason why many 
 people do not get full salvation is, because they do not 
 get down low enough. If they would only get down 
 very low, the waves of salvation would roll over and 
 over them ! " When I heard this, I resolved I would 
 get down low ! I did get down low — very low ! And, 
 ever since, " the waves of salvation have been rolling over 
 and over me ! " Poor colored woman ! perhaps she did 
 not find it so hard to get down low — very low — as some 
 who fancy they occupy more exalted positions in life. 
 *< He that humbleth himself shall be exalted." 
 
 "With the lowly is wisdom." 
 
372 ILLUSTRATIONS OP THE 
 
 What the Savior said to Thomas. What we are required to profess. 
 
 loir's Mori, its ohm (Sbfoewe. 
 
 If the Savior were now to say to you, " Dost thou 
 now believe ? " what would you say in reply ? Surely, 
 you would not dare to say, " Lord Jesus, I must have 
 some sign or wonder ; some evidence beyond thy word 
 before I can believe." No ! you would not have your 
 faithful, loving Savior upbraid you by saying, "Because 
 thou hast seen, thou hast believed." Surely, you would 
 prefer the blessedness of them who have not seen, and 
 yet have believed. I do not doubt but that, in your 
 heart, you are now believing. Take the next step, and 
 hasten to confess with your mouth what your heart 
 believes. " For with the heart man believe tli unto 
 righteousness, and, with the mouth confession is made 
 unto salvation." 
 
 And now, how long do you intend to hold fast the 
 profession of your faith ? 0, do not forget the divine 
 admonition ; u Let us hold fast the profession of our 
 faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised." 
 Then you need not wait till you receive sensible mani- 
 festations before you profess your faith, for it is not your 
 sensible manifestations that you are required to profess, 
 but your faith. " Now the just shall live by faith ; but, 
 if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure 
 in him. But we are not of them that draw back, but 
 of them who believe to the saving of the soul." Do 
 not infer that I would have you profess before you 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 373 
 
 A supposition concerning the nobleman, whose child was cured. 
 
 heartily believe, for professing does not bring the bless- 
 ing ; but, after you have believed, profession becomes 
 a duty. Do not take my word, but examine the Scrip- 
 tures yourself on this point. If the nobleman had been 
 accosted on his return, by an inquiring friend, " Does 
 your child live ? ' would it have been profession 
 without evidence had he said, " Surely my child lives " ? 
 
 " How do you know it ? " says his friend. 
 
 u I know it, because I have the word of the Son of 
 God to assure me of it." 
 
 " But is not this believing without an evidence ? " 
 
 " Believing without an evidence ! while I have the 
 w ord of Christ assuring me that my child lives ! No ; 
 I believe the word of Christ, (for the man believed the 
 word of Jesus.) My child lives ! ' And soon his ser- 
 vants meet him, and give corroborative evidence and 
 soon he reaches his home, and, with his own eyes, he 
 has sensible demonstration of the fact. The subject is 
 no more a matter of faith, but of sight. But is he any 
 more sure of it now than he was before ? No ; for true 
 as the volume of inspiration is true, he believed it be- 
 fore, and from the heart knew it just as well before as 
 now. u Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, 
 the evidence of things not seen." Abraham was strong 
 in faith, giving glory to God. O, be a follower of his 
 faith, and let your whole soul cry out 
 
 " The thing surpasses all my thought; 
 But faithful is my Lord ; 
 Through unbelief I stagger not, 
 For God hath spoke the word." 
 88 
 
374 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 A question — answered by a vision. Missiles turning to gold. The promise. 
 
 (BnruM % ©rials. 
 
 " How can this and the other trial so peculiar and 
 afflictive in character, work together for your good?" 
 said the enemy to my dear friend. To the eye of mere 
 human reason, it was indeed difficult to see how such 
 trials could result to the glory of God and the good of 
 the soul. While thus ruminating, a scene passed in 
 vision before him. Enemies gathered in formidable 
 array outside of his dwelling. Resolved on his utter 
 destruction, they gathered all sorts of destructive mis- 
 siles, and hurled them, with vengeful force, in at his 
 windows, threatening the destruction of his property 
 and his life. But their force is broken, and they fall 
 harmless at his feet. He gathers them as they fall, and 
 lo ! every missile has turned to gold — pure gold. "And 
 now," says his heavenly Instructor, " does not your 
 heart say, ' Throw on yet more rapidly, for the more 
 rapidly you work, the richer do I become ! ' " And 
 just so it is with the missiles of Satan, however varied 
 or vengeful. The test of faith is more precious than 
 gold that perisheth. How instructive and inspiring are 
 the words, " That the trial of your faith, being more 
 precious than gold which perisheth, though it be tried 
 with fire, might be found unto praise, and honor and 
 glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ " ? 
 
 " Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 
 worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight 
 of glory." 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION 375 
 
 A small price accepted for a great treasure. The Savior kept out of the heart. 
 
 mu than Judas. 
 
 THE SAVIOR SOLD FOR LESS THAN THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER. 
 
 Many sell their Savior at a less price than Judas did. 
 He obtained thirty pieces of silver, but I have known 
 some who, from indulgence in a wrong habit, or the 
 retainment of an injurious friend, others for some tri- 
 fling adornments, with many other foolish and hurtful 
 lusts, which might seem so small that the very mention 
 of them would cause a blush of shame. Should you ask 
 such an one, " Do you think that object worth thirty 
 pieces of silver ? " the answer would be frankly returned, 
 " No ! " These do not mean to part with the Savior 
 for such trifles, but the matter ends in this, and they do, 
 in reality, part with the Savior as effectually as though 
 there had been a formal bargain, as in the case of Judas. 
 
 A variety of instances, in which the Savior has been 
 kept out of the heart, come up before the vision of my 
 mind. There must be a reason why the Lord has not 
 revealed himself fully to you. Perhaps there is some- 
 thing on your mind, which you think you may have to 
 do after you get religion, which you are not willing to 
 do now. 
 
 Said I, to one who loved a fashionable exterior, but 
 who, without any external change, had presented her- 
 self often at the altar of prayer as a seeker, " Have you 
 never thought it might be your duty to give up a cer- 
 
376 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 " I thought I would wait." Joined the church , but— questions answered only by sighs. 
 
 tain badge of worldly conformity ? " which I specified. 
 She burst into tears and said — 
 
 " O, I thought I would wait till I experienced 
 religion." 
 
 " If you have had it on your mind as a duty, you will 
 never get religion till you give it up." 
 
 But she still persevered, endeavoring to bring the 
 Lord to her terms, instead of coming to his. She joined 
 the church, mingled with the mass of professors, and, 
 when asked how she is getting along, is generally ready 
 to say, that she has good desires, and is thankful that it 
 is as well with her as it is. I have had opportunities to 
 watch her progress, and never had evidence which satis- 
 fied my mind, that she was ever truly born of the Spirit. 
 
 Last week, my pastor asked me to go and speak to a 
 person who had, several times, bowed as a seeker of 
 salvation. I went and kneeled affectionately beside her, 
 and inquired whether it was her resolve to give up 
 every thing that intervened between God and her soul. 
 She answered only with a sigh. I had heard that, even 
 since she had come out as a seeker, she had been indul- 
 ging in worldly amusements, and company. She 
 seemed in earnest. Again I pressed my inquiries, and 
 said, " Is it your purpose to give up the world, and be 
 a self-denying follower of the Savior as long as you 
 live ? Still she answered only by heavy sighs. I told 
 her how the Savior was now calling her to be his disci- 
 ple — of those early disciples who, when they were 
 called, immediately forsook all, and followed him, — of 
 the only condition upon which Christ received his disci 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 377 
 
 The term8 — the only terms. " I am not willing." A fear expressed. Caste. 
 
 pies, "Except a man deny himself, take up his cross, 
 and follow after me, he cannot be my disciple." — And 
 then said, " Are you willing to be a disciple upon these 
 conditions ? " Still she made no reply, but by the deep 
 sighs of her inmost heart. When I said, " I surely 
 cannot give you advice, suited to your condition, until 
 I know what your condition is, and unless you answer 
 my inquiries, I must leave you ; now tell me, you 
 either are, or are not, willing." "lam not willing," 
 she emphatically replied. With equal emphasis I 
 enjoined, " Then God is not willing to receive you" 
 With a yearning heart, I endeavored to impress her 
 with the inconsistency and great danger of her position ; 
 but she resisted all, and, for the time, ceased to present 
 herself as a seeker of salvation. Little probability re- 
 , mains that she ever obtained it. I fear she sold her 
 Savior for less than thirty pieces of silver. 
 
 HIH 
 
 Jtriaiotrarg to HUligious Jtoajwiatwttk 
 
 Nothing seems so small to me as those ideas of caste 
 entertained by some well-meaning persons. Let us 
 take this, 
 
 it* § # Bright candle of the Lord! 
 Star of eternity ! the only star 
 By which the bark of man can navigate 
 The sea of life, and gain the coast of bliss 
 Securely! only star which shines on time," 
 32* 
 
378 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 
 
 Social position of the heroes of Bible story. The Savior's choice of disciples. 
 
 and look at this subject as regarded by God. See bow 
 both the Old and New Testament Scriptures, by histor- 
 ical narrations and positive mandate, reprove such ideas, 
 and assure us that we must not mind high things. How 
 palpably are we met, on almost every page of the Bible, 
 with assurances that the wisdom of this world is foolish- 
 ness with God ! Think of the father of the faithful, 
 called to leave his home and kindred, to journey as a 
 stranger, not knowing whither he went. Think of 
 Jacob, driven from his home by the fury of his brother, 
 resting in the wilderness at night with only a stone for 
 his pillow ; of Joseph, taken from a prison into the pres- 
 ence of Pharaoh ; of Moses, not called from Pharaoh's 
 court, but from the care of the sheep in the wilderness, 
 to lead the Israelites to the promised land ; David, the 
 least among his brethren, called to the throne of Israel ; 
 Daniel, a captive, to be a revealer of mysteries from the 
 court of heaven to an earthly king, and designated as 
 the u man greatly beloved ; ' last, yet above all, think 
 of Christ born in a manger, and called a Nazarene. 
 
 Why did not the Savior take to the companionship of 
 his bosom, and of his toilsome travels from city to 
 city, the recipients of his closest teachings, persons of 
 the more refined classes ? Kingly palaces, halls of 
 science, schools for theology, were open to his inspec- 
 tion, and, from the choicest inmates of each, he might 
 have chosen followers, whose refined literary and theo- 
 logical tastes might, in earthly estimation, be better 
 fitted for companionship with the Prince of glory. Then 
 why did he choose those, by whom was to be transmit- 
 
ECONOMY OF SALVATION. 379 
 
 A practical reproof. Heaven's mark of nobility. An opinicn expressed. 
 
 ted the mysteries of the kingdom to all succeeding gen- 
 erations, from among the common people ? How does 
 the example of the Savior reprove every high thought 
 — every thing that would favor the prevalence of aristo- 
 cratic notions in the choice of religious associations*! 
 
 rmtmt 
 
 m tto SkiatamutS af *§mm ? 
 
 If such a word might be found in heaven's vocabu- 
 lary as aristocracy, we should find it to mean those 
 who are more eminently the friends of God, constituted 
 such by more marked carefulness in keeping his com- 
 mandments. " Ye are my friends if ye do whatever I 
 command you.' Abraham was marked as one of the 
 peculiar favorites of the court of heaven. But that which 
 constituted him such is oftener found among the poor 
 than among the rich. Abraham believed God, and it 
 was counted unto him for righteousness, and he was 
 called the friend of God. From my own observation, and 
 from Bible admission, I conclude that more faith, propor- 
 tionately, may be found among the poorer class in com- 
 munity, than among the rich. God hath chosen the poor 
 of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom. 
 
 WHO MOST PROPER TO TAKE CHARGE OF A CONVERT! 
 
 And are not these views also in keeping with the 
 views of my dear Mrs. ? So I conjecture from re- 
 
380 ILLUSTRATIONS, ETC. 
 
 Incidental indications of religious confidence. "Jesus seeing their faith." 
 
 viewing little incidentals in our intercourse. Let me 
 revert to two or three. 
 
 Why did you not think of sending for your pastor, 
 
 Dr. , as readily as you thought of sending for Mr. 
 
 -, when your son was under conviction ? Why did 
 
 you think the other son more likely to get under 
 awakening influences, in that little Mission Church, than 
 under the ministrations to which he has been accus- 
 tomed ? And then, in regard to your son H , we will 
 
 not say that he would not have been converted had he 
 not gone there ; but I will ask, " Do you think it proba- 
 ble that he would have been converted, if it had not 
 been for that specific union of mighty faith, in his be- 
 half, which was proposed at that meeting, on the evening 
 of his conversion ? " To my mind, his case furnishes a 
 remarkable exhibition of that sort of faith, to which the 
 Savior refers, when the friends of the palsied man let. 
 him down through the roof, and placed him in the im- 
 mediate presence of the Savior. It was the faith of the 
 friends of this man that was recognized in his cure. 
 " And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the sick of the 
 palsy, rise, take up thy bed, and walk." The man, of 
 course, was willing to be brought, and placed himself 
 in an attitude to be taken, or he had not been healed. 
 But had this man needed any one to watch over the 
 interests of his health afterwards, do you not think that 
 those friends, who had taken so much pains to place 
 him at the feet of the heavenly Healer, would have 
 been the most deeply solicitous, and, consequently, the 
 most proper to undertake the guardianship ? 
 
NOTICES OF MRS, PALMER'S WORKS. 
 
 The chief characteristic of Mrs. Palmer's productions may be briefly summed up 
 thus : 1. A lofty and pure ideal of Christianity and the Christian life. 2. She is 
 deeply in earnest to exemplify this ideal, not by fitful endeavors, but by a steady, 
 persistent strife. In her there is no tinge of quietism. 3. Her writings are well 
 adapted to set every body in motion with whom they come in contact. We know 
 of no human book that will so stir a psraou's soul to its lowest depths as her 
 " Faith and its Effects." We once circulated a few dozen of that book among a 
 church spiritually dead, and the result was a gracious revival. Her books make 
 forking Christians. 4. They exhibit a rare insight into the Scriptures, a clear view 
 of the temptations of the enemy, and the method provided for our escape ; while, 
 at the same time, they open up so clearly the great doctrine of Holiness, that no one 
 in earnest to find it need stumble. 5. As a crowning excellence, they indicate a 
 present salvation. Many have a way of talking and writing about religion very 
 convincing, inleed, but then the hearer or reader, after swallowing the nostrum, 
 falls asleep, without thinking or making any effort for the next twenty years. Not 
 so with our author: every line is an exhortation to present duty. First shedding 
 light on the subject patiently, till all the phases of ft become clear, the next is 
 action — present, steady, persistent action. Many receive the doctrine of holiness 
 in a vague and general manner, which leaves them at liberty to act now, by and 
 by, or never ; but in these works they are driven to the wall, and made to feel that 
 now is the accepted time. The perusal of these works will always be attended 
 with happy results. They are excellent to put in the hands of young converts. — 
 Zion's Herald. 
 
 THE WAY OF HOLINESS, WITH NOTES BY THE 
 WAY. Thirty- sixth American Edition. 
 
 We regard the reading of this book as an era in the progress of our Christian 
 experience. So it is also regarded by numbers who have read it in this place. We 
 wish those who oppose the doctrine of holiness would read this book, and then ask 
 themselves whether that doctrine really tends to let down, as has been reported, 
 the standard of the gospel, and whether such an experience can originate from 
 other than the Spirit of truth. We recommend it as one of the best books that can 
 b« placed in the hands of inquirers after full salvation in Christ. It bears the 
 
 (1) 
 
N.OTICES OF MRS. PALMER'S WORKS. 
 
 stamp of no one particular sect, but teaches the way of holiness in truth and love. 
 — Evangelist. 
 
 " The Way of Holiness " is pure in sentiment, correct in theology, and beautiful 
 in composition. Of all that has been written on the blessed theme of entire sancti- 
 fication, it is doubtful whether any thing is better calculated to rouse pious desire, 
 and guide the soul in its seeking. — Ladies' Repository. 
 
 We are led to admire the common sense and judicious manner in which Mrs. 
 Palmer writes on the subject of Christian perfection. This volume combines reli- 
 gious experience and Bible argument. It contains enough of the former to illustrate, 
 and enough of the latter to prevent, its being insipid. — Christian Repository. 
 
 We would commend this work to all who are perplexed as to the nature of true 
 faith, as well as to the confident Christian. The work has been highly commended 
 by many, and great has been the demand for it Weekly Message. 
 
 " The Way of Holiness, with Notes by the Way." 1st English, from 34th 
 American Edition. Contains a remarkably clear exposition of the doctrine of entire 
 sanctification, and of the scriptural way of attaining to the experience of this 
 inestimable blessing. The Notes, which constitute the second part of the book, 
 relate the experience of the writer, a singularly devoted American Methodist. The 
 book has been well received in America, and is well worthy of acceptance in 
 England, where we trust it will arouse and instruct many to walk in the way of 
 holiness. — Wesleyan Methodist Magazine, England. 
 
 One of the best books of its class which has been issued from the press for a long 
 time. We envy not the feelings of the individual who can read it without resolving 
 on entire devotion to God. If such books were more in vogue, more holiness of life 
 would be exemplified by professed Christians. — Methodist Association Magazine, 
 England. 
 
 We do most heartily desire and pray that such zeal and piety as Mrs. Palmer's 
 may every where be kindled, and that such narratives of experience may be greatly 
 multiplied. — London Watchman, England. 
 
 A deeply interesting book, on a most important subject. It is true to the experi- 
 ence of almost every Christian. It cannot be perused, with thought and prayer, 
 without much spiritual benefit resulting therefrom. We cordially commend it to 
 our readers. Methodist Pilot, England. 
 
 It is a book rich in experience, and breathing a spirit full of humility and love. — 
 Primitive Methodlit Magaiinn, England. 
 
 We do not expect our friends to buy and peruse every book mentioned in these 
 notices ; but here is one which we are not willing to suppose will escape the 
 examination of any Christian whose eye may light upon this recommendation of it. 
 There is .an unusual degree of simplicity in the narrative, such as we think could 
 not be arrived at except by the chastening power of the Sanctifier. The author has 
 but one aim ; namely, to present pictures — daguerreotype impressions — of her 
 states of mind, from the time she started in the way to seek Holiness until after she 
 attained it. The difficulties she encountered, their effect upon her mind, and the 
 manner of her escape, are also so represented that the pious reader readily appre- 
 hends them, and often finds that as in water face answereth to face, so does heart 
 to heart in religious experience. We earnestly commend this little volume to all 
 who hunger and thirst after righteousness. — Bishop Hamlinc .- Ladies' Repository. 
 
NOTICES OF MRS. PALMER'S WORKS. 
 
 FAITH AND ITS EFFECTS; OB, FRAGMENTS 
 FROM MY PORTFOLIO. Twenty-fourth American 
 Edition. By Mrs. Phgebe Palmer. 
 
 We know of few who have labored more, or more successfully, in promoting the 
 rause of Holiness than the author of these "Fragments." It is a delightful fact 
 that the works written by her have met with a most unprecedented sale. The 
 author shows clearly that it is the will of God that believers should be wholly 
 sanctified. In doing this, she exposes and corrects the errors into which some had 
 fallen, points out the short and good old way of attaining this state of grace, and 
 supports all she advances by direct and incidental appeals to the Word of Ood. — 
 Christian Advocate and Journal. 
 
 In this work such light is thrown upon the precise point of transit from condem- 
 nation to favor, bondage to liberty, partial to full salvation, as is not perhaps so 
 clearly done in any other human composition. The prevailing error of waiting for 
 greater preparedness of mind, and for impulses and manifestations from on high, 
 before we may consider ourselves called upon to trust God for justification and 
 sanctification, is exposed, and the simplicity of faith, and manner of its exercise, 
 so logically presented as to be nearly if not quite unmistakable to the least dis- 
 cerning mind. — Zion's Herald. 
 
 It treats of every stage of religious experience and practice, from the dawn of 
 conviction for sin to the stage of hallowed intimacy with God enjoyed by the 
 mature veteran believer. The reader will find here the best thoughts on a thousand 
 points of Christian truth of a mind highly endued by nature, constantly impelled 
 by a consuming zeal for the salvation of souls, and enlightened and guided by long- 
 continued habits of communion with God and his word. The whole is illustrated 
 and enlivened by a happy intermixture of fact and incident, never, perhaps, to be 
 met with in a work on experimental divinity, save the book in question. — Northern. 
 Christian Advocate. 
 
 It is calculated to instruct and interest every believer, and it seems particularly 
 adapted to Sabbath school teachers. It will greatly assist them in explaining the 
 tcay of faith to their scholars, and, if prayerfully read, will not fail to increase in 
 their own hearts the work of faith with power. — Sabbath School Advocate. 
 
 This work has met with a remarkable sale, bespeaking a growing piety in the 
 church. A revival of religion on the right basis is that which carries believers on 
 to perfection. In the Methodist and other churches such a revival was perhaps 
 never more general than at present ; and in the United States and in Canada this 
 has in no small degree been promoted by Mrs. Palmer's writings. It is only a truism 
 to assert that Mrs. Palmer is eminently scriptural. — Christian Guardian, Canada. 
 
 An 18mo volume of 352 pages, illustrating very fully the nature of " Faith and its 
 Effects." It is written in a simple, concise, and persuasive style. The child or tho 
 adult, the Christian or the unbeliever, may be profited by its perusal. — Family 
 Guardian. 
 
 " Faith and its Effects, by Mrs. Phoebe Palmer." 1st English, from 22d American 
 Edition. This little work is rich in all the best experiences of the Christian life. 
 If the rationale of faith is still to seek, its reality and power are put beyond all 
 doubt or controversy, and the believer stands immeasurably in advance of tin 
 philosopher. — London Quarterly, England. 
 
NOTICES OF MRS. PALMER'S WORKS. 
 
 The won't consists of a series of letters, which, for simplicity, religious beauty, 
 and adaptation for usefulness, were never surpassed. They are eminently calcu- 
 lated to strengthen faith, and promote the advancement of spirituality and holiness 
 in the soul. — Methodist Magazine, London, England. 
 
 Another eminently pious work from the pen of the devoted Mrs. Palmer. It 
 breathes the same spirit as " The Way of Holiness," and cannot fail to fan the 
 flame of devotion wherever it circulates. We would recommend all class leaders 
 in the Methodist churches to strive to circulate both works among the members 
 under their charge. Next to the reading of the Holy Scriptures, such works must 
 
 contribute largely to the formation of all the habits of a holy life. Methodist 
 
 Association Magazine, London, England. 
 
 It contains gems of gospel truth, and is pervaded by a strong devotional feeling — 
 a feelinir which finds its way to the heart of every Christian reader. — British 
 Mothers' Magazine, London. 
 
 The late Rev. Dr. Bond, in a lengthy and most favorable editorial notice of this 
 work, referring to its rapid sale, says, " The work, therefore, must be extensively 
 known and approved, and does not require any eulogy from us to commend it to 
 the public attention. Tlie subject, however, which the work embraces — ' Faith and 
 its Effects ' — can never be exhausted or become of less interest by its familiarity. 
 On the contrary, it will be increasingly appreciated as we come more and more to 
 comprehend it in all its baarings and depth of meaning. The author of ' Faith and 
 its Effects' takes the right way to explain the nature and effects of saving faith- 
 namely, by the Scriptures and experience. There are no metaphysical speculations 
 employed. It assumes that Gad has spoken. This fact is supposed to be demon- 
 strated by indubitable evidence, and then all that remains is to inquire what he has 
 said, and to rely upon it as true. This evidence is faith. But of course the faith 
 to be exercised will consist of various acts, each necessary to salvation, but not 
 essentially the same act. . . . We do not wonder, then, that this little book, 
 illustrating and making plain ' Faith and its Effects ' should have had such an 
 extensive run. We hope the demand will still increase." — Christian Advocate and 
 Journal, New York. 
 
 PRESENT TO MY CHRISTIAN FRIEND; OR, 
 ENTIRE DEVOTION. By Mrs. Phcebe Palmer. Twen- 
 tieth Edition. 
 
 A charming little present for the holidays. A new edition, greatly improved and 
 enlarged. Though presented in a new form, with a large addition of new matter, 
 it has no new doctrines to teach. A mere announcement of the work will be 
 sufficient to lead raanj to supply themselves with it. — Western Christian Advocate. 
 
 Well worthy a place in the Christian library, or as a travelling pocket companion. 
 — Christian Repository. 
 
 Wc know no work of its size comprising so much that is calculated to arrest the 
 attention, and fix the mind of the reader on the importance and attractiveness of 
 Ih B subject of which it treats. -- - Guide to Holiness. 
 
 This invaluable little work contains nearly double as much matter as the earlier 
 editions. So widely is the beloved author known that any words of explanation 
 or recommendation would be superfluous. — Ladies' Repository. 
 
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