From a periodical* largely devoted to the promulgation of so-called "holiness" teaching, I clip the following:
"I would need no salvation if it were not for the hard places:the smooth places I could get through myself. Salvation has taken me through many a rough place; and the more I get salvation, the more smooth, the more meek, the more quiet I get." *Evangelical Visitor, April 1, 1912.*
The words quoted are from a letter, apparently printed with the full approbation of the editor. I make no comment on the painfully- evident self-satisfaction manifest in the last sentence; but I desire to dwell a little on the unworthy sentiment of the first. Salvation, in the writer's mind, was evidently experimental. I would not wrong her by even supposing she could be referring to soul-salvation. I take it she meant the daily salvation every believer needs – that preservation from evil and that sustaining grace to which the apostle refers when he writes of our God as ' ' the Saviour of all men, specially of those who believe." This salvation is needed in "hard places," but the writer of the letter supposes she could get through the smooth places herself !
I do not desire to hold up such ignorance to ridicule, but I would press the question home to the consciences of my readers:Have you not sometimes reasoned in the same way ? Have you not tacitly taken the ground that divine help was only required for the hard places ? Is it not a sad truth that many believers drift along when all seems smooth, fancying they have then no special need, only to be aroused to desperation a little later when unlooked-for trials come upon them ?
The ship-captain with whom Paul sailed had no sense of danger or of need when fair skies were overhead ; but the northeast wind soon shattered his baseless hopes. "When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon" (Acts 27:13 14). The tempest showed the folly of the previous carelessness. And we may rest assured, if ever a believer fancies he can "get through" himself, when all goes smoothly, he will soon have to reckon with Euroclydon!
It is when all is calm the soul especially needs to be on its guard. If in the quiet days the word of God is fed upon, and needed grace daily sought, there will be furnishing for the day of trouble.
Alas, how often one drifts contentedly over a smooth sea with no sense of need, but a neglected Bible and a prayerless life bearing silent testimony to the true state of affairs! Then, when the storm comes, it finds the poor backslidden one utterly unprepared, and anxiety and despair reign where all might have been heavenly peace.
To daily walk with God; to daily feed on His truth; to daily be before Him in a prayerful, self-judged spirit; to daily recognize one's utter helplessness, and to find all in Christ, this must needs be our soul's employment if we would triumph in days of darkness and difficulty. H. A. I.