disproportionate magnifying of three points in religion；viz。；
instantaneous conversionthe invitation of unconverted sinners to e
to Christ；and the possession of inward joy and peace as a test of
conversion。 I repeat that these three grand truths （for truths they
are） are so incessantly and exclusively brought forward； in some
quarters； that great harm is done。 Instantaneous conversion； no doubt；
ought to be pressed on people。 But surely they ought not to be led to
suppose that there is no other sort of conversion； and that unless they
are suddenly and powerfully converted to God； they are not converted at
all。 The duty of ing to Christ at once； 〃just as we are；〃 should be
pressed on all hearers。 It is the very corner…stone of Gospel
preaching。 But surely men ought to be told to repent as well as to
believe。 They should be told why they are to e to Christ； and what
they are to e for； and whence their need arises。 The nearness of
peace and fort in Christ should be proclaimed to men。 But surely
they should be taught that the possession of strong inward joys and
high frames of mind is not essential to justification； and that there
may be true faith and true peace without such very triumphant feelings。
Joy alone is no certain evidence of grace。 The defects of the
theological system I have in view appear to me to be these： （1） The
work of the Holy Ghost in converting sinners is far too much narrowed
and confined to one single way。 Not all true converts are converted
instantaneously； like Saul and the Philippian jailor。 （2） Sinners are
not sufficiently instructed about the holiness of God's law； the depth
of their sinfulness； and the real guilt of sin。 To be incessantly
telling a sinner to 〃e to Christ〃 is of little use； unless you tell
him why he needs to e； and show him fully his sins。 （3） Faith is not
properly explained。 In some cases people are taught that mere feeling
is faith。 In others they are taught that if they believe that Christ
died for sinners they have faith！ At this rate the very devils are
believers！ （4） The possession of inward joy and assurance is made
essential to believing。 Yet assurance is certainly not of the essence
of saving faith。 There may be faith when there is no assurance。 To
insist on all believers at once 〃rejoicing；〃 as soon as they believe；
is most unsafe。 Some； I am quite sure； will rejoice without believing；
while others will believe who cannot at once rejoice。 （5） Last； but not
least； the sovereignty of God in saving sinners； and the absolute
necessity of preventing grace； are far too much overlooked。 Many talk
as if conversions could be manufactured at man's pleasure； and as if
there were no such text as this； 〃It is not of him that willeth； nor of
him that runneth； but of God that showeth mercy。〃 （Rom。 ix。 16。） The
mischief done by the theological system I refer to is； I am persuaded；
very great。 On the one hand； many humble…minded Christians are totally
discouraged and daunted。 They fancy they have no grace because they
cannot reach up to the high frames and feelings which are pressed on
their attention。 On the other side； many graceless people are deluded
into thinking they are 〃converted；〃 because under the pressure or
animal excitement and temporary feelings they arc led to profess
themselves Christians。 And all this time the thoughtless and ungodly
look on with contempt； and rind fresh reasons for neglecting religion
altogether。 The antidotes to the state of things I deplore are plain
and few。 （1） Let 〃all the counsel of God be taught〃 in Scriptural
proportion； and let not two or three precious doctrines of the Gospel
be allowed to overshadow all other truths。 （2） Let repentance be taught
fully as well as faith； and not thrust pletely into the background。
Our Lord Jesus Christ and St。 Paul always taught both。 （3） Let the
variety of the Holy Ghost's works be honestly stated and admitted； and
while instantaneous conversion is pressed on men； let it not be taught
as a necessity。 （4） Let those who profess to have found immediate
sensible peace be plainly warned to try themselves well； and to
remember that feeling is not faith； and that 〃patient continuance in
well…doing〃 is the great proof that faith is true。 （John viii。 31。） （5）
Let the great duty of 〃counting the cost〃 be constantly urged on all
who are disposed to make a religious profession； and let them be
honestly and fairly told that there is warfare as well as peace； a
cross as well as a crown； in Christ's service。 I am sure that unhealthy
excitement is above all things to be dreaded In religion； because it
often ends in fatal； soul…ruining reaction and utter deadness。 And when
multitudes are suddenly brought under the power of religious
impressions； unhealthy excitement is almost sure to follow。 I have not
much faith in the soundness of conversions when they are said to take
places in masses and wholesale。 It does not seem to me in harmony with
God's general dealings in this dispensation。 To my eyes it appears that
God's ordinary plan is to call in individuals one by one。 Therefore；
when I hear of large numbers being suddenly converted all at one time；
I hear of it with less hope than some。 The healthiest and most enduring
success in mission fields is certainly not where natives have e over
to Christianity in a mass。 The most satisfactory and firmest work at
home does not always appear to me to be the work done in revivals。
There are two passages of Scripture which I should like to have
frequently and fully expounded in the present day by all who preach the
Gospel； and specially by those who have anything to do with revivals。
One passage is the parable of the sower； That parable is not recorded
three times over without good reason and a deep meaning。The other
passage is our Lord's teaching about 〃counting the cost；〃 and the words
which He spoke to the 〃great multitudes〃 whom He saw following Him。 It
is very noteworthy that He did not on that occasion say anything to
flatter these volunteers or encourage them to follow Him。 No： He saw
what their case needed。 He told them to stand still and 〃count the
cost。〃 （Luke xiv。 25； etc。） I am not sure that some modern preachers
would have adopted this course of treatment。
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VI。
GROWTH
〃Grow in grace； and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ。〃2 Peter iii。 18。
THE subject of the text which heads this page is one which I dare not
omit in this volume about Holiness。 It is one that ought to be deeply
interesting to every true Christian。 It naturally raises the questions；
Do we grow in grace？ Do we get on in our religion？ Do we make progress？
To a mere formal Christian I cannot expect the inquiry to seem worth
attention。 The man who has nothing more than a kind of Sunday
religionwhose Christianity is like his Sunday clothes； put on once a
week； and then laid asidesuch a man cannot； of course； be expected to
care about 〃growth in grace。〃 He knows nothing about such matters。
〃They are foolishness to him。〃 （1 Cor。 ii。 14。） But to every one who is
in downright earnest about his soul； and hungers and thirsts after
spiritual life； the question ought to e home with searching power。
Do we make progress in our religion？ Do we grow？
The question is one that is always useful； but especially so at certain
seasons。 A Saturday night； a munion Sunday； the return of a
birthday； the end of a yearall these are seasons that ought to set us
thinking； and make us look within。 Time is fast flying。 Life is fast
ebbing away。 The hour is daily drawing nearer when the reality of our
Christianity will be tested； and it will be seen whether we have built
on 〃the rock〃 or on 〃the sand。〃 Surely it bees us from time to time
to examine ourselves； and take account of our souls？ Do we get on in
spiritual things？ Do we grow？
The question is one that is of special importance in the present day。
Crude and strange opinions are floating in men's minds on some points
of doctrine； and among others on the point of 〃growth in grace；〃 as an
essential part of true holiness。 By some it is totally denied。 By
others it is explained away； and pared down to nothing。 By thousands it
is misunderstood； and consequently neglected。 In a day like this it is
useful to look fairly in the face the whole subject of Christian
growth。
In considering this subject there are three things which I wish to
bring forward and establish：
I。 The reality of religious growth。 There is such a thing as 〃growth in
grace。〃
II。 The marks of religious growth。 There are marks by which 〃growth in
grace〃 may be known。
III。 The means of religious growth。 There are means that must be used
by those who desire 〃growth in grace。〃
I know not who you are； into whose hands thi