INTRODUCTORY-THREEFOLD NEED, THREEFOLD BLESSING.

Afar-seeing man with Dr. Talmage is one who sees into things. This is good as far as it goes, but he would be the furthest-seeing man who sees through things. This is what is wanted in philosophy, in science, or in religion. This Holiness Question, now exercising the most earnest Christians everywhere, requires seeing into and seeing through if one of the deepest needs of the Church of God is to receive a divine answer. Then let us try to see into it even if we cannot see through it. Some philosophers consider that religion takes its rise in the soil of remorse. Without accepting this altogether, it may be allowed that it expresses an important principle. It is what we call repentance, or self-judgment. Betterment of life implies that the life lived before was not only an undesirable and unworthy one, but that in some measure the whole course, and the man that lived it, are abhorred by the person himself, and he is longing after something more in harmony with the intention of his Creator. The Holiness Movement has taken its rise out of the acknowledged failure and unholiness of the great majority of professing Christians. Then even if the movement in some respects is a failure, it is an improvement on the state of things which called it into existence.

It is said that at an examination a divinity student was asked who were the heretics. To the surprise and alarm of some who would ever say, "As it was in the beginning,'' etc., the student replied, " The heretics are the life of the Church." Wiser, broader-minded men allowed that he had struck a vein of gold. Heretics and heresy mean life rather than stagnation and death. It is not necessary to go with the heresy ; but the exercise and inquiry it causes may increase the stamina and intelligence of the Christians who wake up, and, in exposing the error, bring out and emphasize the real truth. Then the controversy about holiness, in many quarters, in the light of the former indifference or stagnation, is a good rather than an evil omen for the well-being of the Church. It is a seed-time. If the Lord leaves the Church here, the harvest will depend upon how we sow at this season. Then are Christians ready to wake up and say, " Let the truth run and have free course, and win whoever is unhorsed from his hobby." Scripture must be the umpire.

We may start with this common thought, that the low state of things, individually and collectively, demonstrate the deep need that there is for a genuine movement toward whole-hearted devotedness to the Lord. But, at the outset, observe that the great tendency, even with the most earnest Christians, is, to seek for an experience, whereas God presents a Person-the Lord Jesus Christ. Holiness-advocates speak of "it," or " what:" God speaks of " Him," or the Person whom He has raised to His own right hand. Personal testimonies as to the experience of a "second blessing," have been largely used in the holiness movement; When they are modest and scriptural, they may have their place, but at best they are the blurred page of human experience. It will be necessary, if we are to have a proper standard, to see what is said in the distinct statements of Scripture on this doctrine of Christian holiness or deliverance. Experience, at the best, is like a painting of part of an extensive landscape. Scripture is more like looking on the landscape itself. You have not only the original of what appears in the painting, but much more than what was painted, and every part seen in relation to the whole landscape. To take in God's view of holiness or deliverance in any measure, it is needful to look at all Scripture. Still there are some remarkable statements where, in brief compass, the salient points
of man’s need and God's provision are presented together.

MAN'S THREEFOLD NEED.

Titus invites us to take such an extensive view when he says " The grace of God, which carries with it salvation for all men, has appeared, teaching us that, having denied impiety and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and justly and piously in the present course of things, awaiting the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify to Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Tit. 3:11-14.) Here it maybe observed that man has a threefold need, which is met by God's bringing in a threefold blessing. The sins committed require an atonement, and Jesus' Christ "gave Himself for us." Or, as said elsewhere, "Who gave Himself for our sins." (Gal. 1:4.) Then, when forgiven, as living in the world, the believer has evil within and around him. He is called to live consistently with what he is as a new man. His conduct toward others must be according to righteousness. With God before him, all his ways should bear the impress of one who was governed by the sense of the divine presence. For all such present need, he finds an adequate answer in Him who is seeking to " purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Then, though good works be maintained and holiness characterize the believer, there are longings which can only be satisfied in a scene where sin can never come, and where imperfection is unknown. The heart attracted by the Lord longs to know and enjoy its object where there is naught to limit or interfere with its communion. So there is the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. There is man's deep need and God's rich provision; each to be viewed as a whole, yet it is helpful to see that man's need is threefold, and that God meets it by a-

THREEFOLD BLESSING.

(1.) For sins committed there is forgiveness through faith in the blood of Christ.

(2.) From the power of the evil nature possessed there is deliverance through owning that our old man has been crucified with Christ, that the body of sin might be annulled, that we should no longer serve sin.

(3.) From all weakness and imperfection, even as to the body, and from the scene and sphere where sin has had sway, there is to be deliverance, by the Lord's appearing the second time, without sin, unto salvation; the creature itself also will be set free from the bondage of corruption, and brought into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. (Rom. 8:21.)

What is thus briefly taught in the passage from Titus is more elaborately explained in the epistle to the Romans. The first question, that which refers to the guilt of our sins, is taken up in chaps, 1:-5:2:The second aspect of man's need regarding the power of sin, or the evil nature, is treated in chaps, 5:12-8:10. The third and perfect answer to man's state as connected with a creation subject to corruption, is his deliverance from the presence of sin. The spirit is freed at death ; the body at the resurrection; or both together at the coming of the Lord. This is treated in chap. 8:11-27.

We must return to these central chapters of Romans again and again. Suffice it to say that they form the great scriptural basis of the doctrine of Christian holiness, or deliverance. Any teaching on holiness or sanctification which is not founded upon, and in harmony with, these chapters is likely to prove unsatisfactory, if it does not land its followers in positive error. On the other hand, if these
chapters are understood, and an experience leading up to shout of liberty and thanksgiving realized, the be-will find himself led by the Spirit along the way of holiness, and have the life also of Jesus made manifest in his body.

Another instance of the threefold character of blessing be noticed. " Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it the washing of water by the Word, that He might ''present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish." Also, " Nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church. (Eph. 5:25-30.)

Here again we see that for sins Christ gave Himself in the past . To deliver from the power of sin He is occupied with His own at the present. To remove them from the presence of sin and bring in perfection He is coming again in the future.

So likewise to the Thessalonians it is said, "Ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, our Deliverer from coming wrath." (i Thess. 1:9, 10). They were met where they were in their sins by the gospel announcing forgiveness. The word was received in power, and in the Holy Ghost, so that they became followers of the apostles, and ensamples of the power of grace. Then their hearts were set on the Lord to wait for full deliverance when He returned from heaven.

Once more to the Hebrews the Spirit writes on the same lines, the three appearings of Christ. (Heb. 9:24-28.) He appeared to put away sin:He appears in the presence of God for us:He will appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation.

Thus the divine answer to man's threefold need will be found linked up with three great facts concerning Christ. As we have seen, as to time, they have to do with the past, the present, and the future. As to the character and extent of the work, the gospel of God fully announced will show that Christ came and suffered for sins; that He rose from among the dead and took His seat at the right hand of God, and is there the Succorer of His people now; and that He will come again to receive His people to be with Himself in the glory given Him by the Father. Tested in this way much that is preached will be shown to come short of the gospel as preached and written by Paul.

But having now sketched the relation of the three aspects of the blessing of believers, we may turn more definitely to the middle one of the three, which is our special subject. Thus occupied particularly with holiness or deliverance, a few of the statements and illustrations of Scripture may clear the ground for a more detailed exposition and application of our theme.

By seeing the beauty of the life of Jesus as retraced again by the Spirit in the lives of devoted servants, other hearts and minds may be led to admire such a manifestation of the grace of God. When it is further perceived that men of like passions with ourselves so found and proved the all-sufficiency of the grace of God, some may venture to admit that in their own lives such grace might be illustrated. Dwelling on who the Lord is, and where He is now, and what He can and delights to do for His own, some may be sweetly constrained to so yield themselves unto God as to find that they have actually adopted His own way of having Christ magnified in their bodies. Yes, the old adage, "If in writing you would improve, you must first with writing fall in love," may be appropriately rendered, in connection with holiness, If in living you would improve, you must first with living fall in love, and nothing less than the living, or the life of Jesus, will be your ideal or you model.

Then to quicken the love for holiness it is needful to study the perfect copy, as well as the imitations of those who have followed it most successfully.

We must leave further illustrations for another paper, but just calling attention to one comprehensive scripture, we close by saying that for holiness, here is the perfect standard, the living ideal, as well as the power by which it is to be attained:"We all, looking on the glory of the Lord with unvailed face, are transformed according to the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Lord the Spirit." W. J. C.

(To be continued.)