clientsbetween the 〃Shepherd〃 and His sheepbetween the 〃Master〃 and
His scholarsthere is evidently implied a habit of familiar
intercourse； of daily application for things needed； of daily pouring
out and unburdening our hearts and minds。 Such a habit of dealing with
Christ is clearly something more than a vague general trust in the work
that Christ did for sinners。 It is getting close to Him； and laying
hold on Him with confidence； as a loving； personal Friend。 Tins is what
I mean by munion。
Now I believe that no man will ever grow in grace who does not know
something experimentally of the habit of 〃munion。〃 We must not be
content with a general orthodox knowledge that justification is by
faith and not by works； and that we put our trust in Christ。 We must go
further than this。 We must seek to have personal intimacy with the Lord
Jesus； and to deal with Him as a man deals with a loving friend。 We
must realize what it is to turn to Him first in every need； to talk to
Him about every difficulty； to consult Him about every step； to spread
before Him all our sorrows； to get Him to share in all our joys； to do
all as in His sight； and to go through every day leaning on and looking
to Him。 This is the way that St。 Paul lived： 〃The life which I now live
in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God。〃 〃To me to live is
Christ。〃 （Gal。 ii。 20； Phil。 i。 21。） It is ignorance of this way of
living that makes so many see no beauty in the book of Canticles。 But
it is the man who lives in this way； who keeps up constant munion
with Christthis is the man； I say emphatically； whose soul will grow。
I leave the subject of growth in grace here。 Far more might be said
about it； if time permitted。 But I have said enough； I hope； to
convince my readers that the subject is one of vast importance。Let me
wind up all with some practical applications。
（1） This book may fall into the hands of some who know nothing whatever
about growth in grace。 They have little or no concern about religion。 A
little proper Sunday church…going or chapel…going makes up the sum and
substance of their Christianity。 They are without spiritual life； and
of course they cannot at present grow。 Are you one of these people？ If
you are； you are in a pitiable condition。
Years are slipping away and time is flying。 Graveyards are filling up
and families are thinning。 Death and judgment are getting nearer to us
all。 And yet you live like one asleep about your soul！ What madness！
What folly！ What suicide can be worse than this？
Awake before it be too late； awake； and arise from the dead； and live
to God。 Turn to Him who is sitting at the right hand of God； to be your
Saviour and Friend。 Turn to Christ； and cry mightily to Him about your
soul。 There is yet hope！ He that called Lazarus from the grave is not
changed。 He that manded the widow's son at Nain to arise from his
bier can do miracles yet for your soul。 Seek Him at once： seek Christ；
if you would not be lost for ever。 Do not stand still talking； and
meaning； and intending； and wishing； and hoping。 Seek Christ that you
may live； and that living you may grow。
（2） This book may fall into the hands of some who ought to know
something of growth in grace； but at present know nothing at all。 They
have made little or no progress since they were first converted。 They
seem to have 〃settled on their lees。〃 （Zep。 i。 12。） They go on from
year to year content with old grace； old experience； old knowledge； old
faith； old measure of attainment； old religious expressions； old set
phrases。 Like the Gibeonites； their bread is always mouldy； and their
shoes are patched and clouted。 They never appear to get on。 Are you one
of these people？ If you are； you are living far below your privileges
and responsibilities。 It is high time to examine yourself。
If you have reason to hope that you are a true believer and yet do not
grow in grace； there must be a fault； and a serious fault somewhere。 It
cannot be the will of God that your soul should stand still。 〃He giveth
more grace。〃 He 〃takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants。〃
（James iv。 6； Ps。 xxxv。 27。） It cannot be for your own happiness or
usefulness that your soul should stand still。 Without growth you will
never rejoice in the Lord。 （Phil。 iv。 4。） Without growth you will never
do good to others。 Surely this want of growth is a serious matter！ It
should raise in you great searchings of heart。 There must be some
〃secret thing。〃 （Job xv。 11。） There must be some cause。
Take the advice I give you。 Resolve this very day that you will find
out the reason of your standstill condition。 Probe with a faithful and
firm hand every corner of your soul。 Search from one end of the camp to
the other； till you find out the Achan who is weakening your hands。
Begin with an application to the Lord Jesus Christ； the great Physician
of souls； and ask Him to heal the secret ailment within you； whatever
it may be。 Begin as if you had never applied to Him before； and ask for
grace to cut off the right hand and pluck out the right eye。 But never；
never be content； if your soul does not grow。 For your peace sake； for
your usefulness sake； for the honour of your Maker's cause； resolve to
find out the reason why。
（3） This book may fall into the hands of some who are really growing in
grace； but are not aware of it； and will not allow it。 Their very
growth is the reason why they do not see their growth！ Their continual
increase in humility prevents them feeling that they get on。 ＇18＇ Like
Moses； when he came down from the mount from muning with God； their
faces shine。 And yet； like Moses； they are not aware of it。 （Ex。 xxxiv。
29。） Such Christians； I grant freely； are not mon。 But here and
there such are to be found。 Like angels' visits； they are few and far
between。 Happy is the neighbourhood where such growing Christians live！
To meet them and see them and be in their pany； is like meeting and
seeing a bit of 〃heaven upon earth。〃
Now what shall I say to such people？ What can I say？ What ought I to
say？ Shall I bid them awake to a consciousness of their growth and be
pleased with it？ I will do nothing of the kind。Shall I tell them to
plume themselves on their own attainments； and look at their own
superiority to others？ God forbid！ I will do nothing of the kind。To
tell them such things would do them no good。 To tell them such things；
above all； would be useless waste of time。 If there is any one feature
about a growing soul which specially marks him； it is his deep sense of
his own unworthiness。 He never sees anything to be praised in himself。
He only feels that he is an unprofitable servant and the chief of
sinners。 It is the righteous； in the picture of the judgment…day； who
say； 〃Lord； when saw we Thee an hungred； and fed Thee？〃 （Matt。 xxv。
37。） Extremes do indeed meet strangely sometimes。 The
conscience…hardened sinner and the eminent saint are in one respect
singularly alike。 Neither of them fully realizes his own condition。 The
one does not see his own sin； nor the other his own grace！
But shall I say nothing to growing Christians？ Is there no word of
counsel I can address to them？ The sum and substance of all that I can
say is to be found in two sentences： 〃Go forward！〃 〃Go on！〃
We can never have too much humility； too much faith in Christ； too much
holiness； too much spirituality of mind； too much charity； too much
zeal in doing good to others。 Then let us be continually forgetting the
things behind； and reaching forth unto the things before。 （Phil。 iii。
13。） The best of Christians in these matters is infinitely below the
perfect pattern of his Lord。 Whatever the world may please to say； we
may be sure there is no danger of any of us being 〃too good。〃
Let us cast to the winds as idle talk the mon notion that it is
possible to be 〃extreme〃 and go 〃too far〃 in religion。 This is a
favourite He of the devil； and one which he circulates with vast
industry。 No doubt there are enthusiasts and fanatics to be found who
bring evil report upon Christianity by their extravagances and follies。
But if any one means to say that a mortal man can be too humble； too
charitable； too holy； or too diligent in doing good； he must either be
an infidel or a fool。 In serving pleasure and money it is easy to go
too far。 But in following the things which make up true religion； and
in serving Christ there can be no extreme。
Let us never measure our religion by that of others； and think we are
doing enough if we have gone beyond our neighbours。 This is another
snare of the devil。 Let us mind our own business。 〃What is that to
thee？〃 said our Master on a certain occasion： 〃Follow thou Me。〃 （John
xxi。 22。） Let us follow on； aiming at nothing short of perfection。 Let
us follow on； making Christ's life and character