Daniel T. Bourdeau - The Eternal Gospel Church

and well-balanced minds, while others have not as strong
and well-balanced minds; that in the mind of one individual
certain faculties are predominant, and inclined to have the
ascendancy, while in the mind of another individual other
faculties are predominant; that the mind of one person is
deficient in some particulars, while the mind of another
person is deficient in other particulars; that one cast of
mind is better adapted to a certain vocation, while another
cast of mind is better adapted to another vocation. p.
113, Para. 4, [HOLINESS].
Now sanctification requires that we use all our strength
and powers to the best possible advantage in promoting the
glory of God by advancing the interests of his cause. But
we cannot do this without a knowledge of our natural
capacities and defects. Without this knowledge we might
mistake our calling and duty, and come short of
accomplishing what we should to be useful in the world. We
might get out of our place by adopting a calling, the
duties of which we have not the abilities to perform, or by
adopting a vocation in which our capacities will not be all
called into exercise. For a want of this knowledge many
have brought reproach upon the cause, and discouragement to
their own souls, and have failed to advance in the
Christian course. We should know our physical and mental
lacks, that we may move with reference to them, and guard
against the errors and mistakes that they may lead us into.
p. 114, Para. 1, [HOLINESS].
If we would overcome we must be zealous in the work. "Be
zealous, therefore, and repent," is the injunction of Jesus
to the Laodiceans. When we see our sins by selfexamination,
we should first be zealous in repenting of the
same. We should also be zealous in applying the helps that
God affords. But our zeal should not be fanatical or
presumptuous, but according to knowledge, according to the
present truth, the time in which we live, the shortness of
time, and the vastness of the work that is before us. We
have a great work to do and a short time to do it in, and
have mighty foes to oppose us at every step; therefore we
need zeal, and all our energies and powers should be strung
to action. Says Christ, "Strive to enter in at the strait
gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and
shall not be able." Luke xiii, 24. Some have rendered the
original word from which the word strive is translated,
agonize; but perhaps no one word alone can convey the full
sense of the original. It is used to represent the efforts