Daniel T. Bourdeau - The Eternal Gospel Church

He at once raises the curtains and opens the blinds to let
in light, or takes a light with him; then he can attend to
his business. So if we would be successful in searching our
faults we must take the word of God with us, and let its
blessed truths shine in our hearts and on our characters;
we must look at ourselves in the glass of truth. A person
who would look in a dark room for an article hard to find
without the aid of light, might question the possibility of
finding it; and we might despair of becoming acquainted
with our characters without the light of truth. p. 92,
Para. 2, [HOLINESS].
In self-examination we should search the truth not merely
to become acquainted with it as a theory, and to be able to
handle it fluently, but to apply it to our own individual
cases. The truth will do us no good unless we thus apply it
to ourselves. Men may speak and write ably and eloquently
in defense of the truth, without knowing its sanctifying
power. It is one thing to see the truth at a distance, and
as it is brought to bear upon others, and it is another
thing to bring the truth home, and make a practical
application of it to our own hearts and lives. p. 93,
Para. 1, [HOLINESS].
As the Bible must be our standard, so our model must be
the perfect example of Jesus. We are required to walk even
as he walked. It is safe to follow the example of Jesus,
and we can follow others only as far as they agree with
this perfect example. p. 93, Para. 2, [HOLINESS].
In this work it is not only necessary that we adopt the
proper standard, but we must also get clear and correct
views of the evidences of piety and true holiness, some of
which have already been noticed. p. 93, Para. 3,
[HOLINESS].
"Without this," says Helffenstein, "we shall be liable
either to the extreme of presumption or despondency. While
some will cry, Peace, when there is no peace, others,
overlooking the exercises of a renewed heart, will be held
in perpetual bondage to their doubts and fears. Great care
should then be taken to ascertain what the Scriptures
insist on, as essential to Christian character. It is by
these points, and not by such as are merely circumstantial,
that we are to determine the genuineness of our piety. p.
93, Para. 4, [HOLINESS].