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44
THE EABNEST CHBISTIAN AND GOLDEN KDLE.
to feast on Christ, and eat bitter herbs.
How many times the exclamation waa
•wrung out with tears, " This is so bitter!"
I have not told.you all. You will
know in that day when the bo6ks are
opened, and the dead are judged out of
those things which are written in them;
and I shall know how many will wail
in woe because I did not fully follow
the Lord. But I have written what I
have, that you may see how important
it is to follow the counsel of the Lord,
however it may be revealed.
I might relate numerous instances in
my experience, as well as in the experience
of others, in •wiiich such unmistakable
answers have been given, as
have assured me that God does answer
his people in this way.
Not unfrequently, when I have asked
for light upon some point which is
clearly taught in Scripture, and understood
by me; or upon something which
was evident enough by the teachings
of the Holy Spirit; I have received in
reply, "Why tempt ye me ?" or, "Thou
shalt not tempt the Lord thy God;"
or I have opened upon blank pages between
the Old and New Testaments,
or •upon genealogy. When this occurs,
I am grieved, and see more than ever
the importance of sincerity before God,
and a preparation of heart, that 1 may
rightly come before the mercy-seat in
the most holy place, for the conjoint
counsel of the Spirit and the Word :
even as vrith sprinkled blood, and washings,
and anointings, the high priest of
old came to inquire at the holy oracle
by Urim and by Thummin, and received
the unmistakable counsel of God.
Tarr Farm, Pa.
HE that loves may be sure that he
was loved first; and he that chooses
God for his delight and portion, may
conclude confidently, that God hath
chosen him to be one of those that shall
enjoy him, and be happy with him forever
; for that our love and electing
him, is but the return and repercussion
of the beams ol his love shining among
•OS.—Leighton.
HOLINESS OF HEAET-HOW AT-
TAINED.
BY BBV. E. P. HABT.
ALL actions having moral character
are accounted virtuous or vicious, holy
or unholy.
But what is it that gives moral quality
to the action? There certainly
must be something back of the mere -
performance which stamps it as right or
wrong: else an action would possess
the same moral,character under all circumstances,
which we know is not the
case. For instance, a man may undesignedly
or accidentally take the life of
his fellow, but he would not be looked
upon or dealt with as a murderer; for
murder is the killing of a human bemg
with premeditated malice. Hence, in
courts of justice, when a man is charged
with murder, circumstances are investigated,
and witnesses examined to discover,
if possible, the state of mind, or
disposition of heart which the man had
when the deed was committed. Tins
is what determines the moral quality
of an action. So as Wesley has said,
" Holiness is not the right use and application
of our powers, but it is the
right state of our powers." It is the
right disposition cf our Soul. The
command of God is, "Be ye holy."
But how are we to attain to tiiis
state ? Many seem to suppose th»t
they are to attain it by the doing or
the performance of what they deem to
be right actions—fience their expectation
of growing into it. Whereas, we have
already seen tbat they must first have
the right disposition of soul, before
their action can possibly be right.
"•What are oar works but ain and death,
Till thon thyqulck'ning Spirit breathe t"
No.- We are to come to God to be'
created anew in righteousness and true
holiness. Let us not attempt to bring
forth fruit unto holiness, till we first
•get the principle of holiness implanted
within. Jesus reasoned in this wise.
First make the tree good, and then will
the fruit be good also.
Coldwater, Mich.