Daniel T. Bourdeau - The Eternal Gospel Church

understood that there are conditions for us to fulfill.
Though we can no more attain to holiness in our own
strength and wisdom than we can stop the sun in his course,
yet the Lord cannot sanctify us and do what he has
promised, unless we do what we can to help ourselves, by
taking hold of his help and moving out as far as our
strength goes, as we would in temporal things. Hence
sanctification is held out in a two-fold light in the
Scriptures; first, as a work wrought in us by God; and
second, as a duty for us to perform. Hence while we are
apprized that it is God who worketh in us both to will and
to do of his good pleasure, that without Christ we can do
nothing, &c., we are also commanded to repent, believe, and
be baptized, to keep God's commandments, to work out our
own salvation with fear and trembling, &c. p. 109, Para.
2, [HOLINESS].
It is with us in overcoming as with feeble children that
are required by their parents to perform a certain task.
They are encouraged to perform their work, and are promised
help and a reward. They move out on the word and promise of
their parents, doing what they can, and looking to their
parents for help. Their parents cheerfully lend them their
aid, smiling upon and approving their course, rewarding
them, and still promising them their aid and a greater
compensation. p. 110, Para. 1, [HOLINESS].
The correctness of this position is further seen by
considering that all the Christian graces are acquired and
perfected by practice; and the saying that "practice makes
perfect," will apply here as well as in temporal things. If
we would have faith we must exercise faith; if we would
have knowledge we must dig for it; if we would have
temperance we must cultivate temperate habits; if we would
have patience we must cultivate and exercise patience; if
we would possess humility we must humble our own souls by
practice; if we would possess the crowning grace of love,
we must cherish love as a virtue, and cause it to take root
and grow in our hearts by cultivation and practice; and so
with the rest of the Christian graces. The Christian graces
are not bestowed upon us without our co-operation, and
without our knowing anything about it. They are wrought in
us and by us, through the grace and strength of God. God
does not work for us to uphold us in idleness; but he works
for us by helping us to work for ourselves. p. 110, Para.
2, [HOLINESS].