Is there a distinction between heart purity and maturity?

Is there a distinction between purity and maturity?

There is, and a very important one. Identifying and confounding these lie at the base of nearly every objection made to an instantaneous sanctification; and has occasioned many strange notions, and much confusion upon this subject.

1. Purity has respect to moral cleanness or freedom from the defilement of sin. "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Health is not manhood. Maturity as respect to moral stature and strength, to adulthood. "The fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ."

2. Purity, in the light of gospel provisions, is a present privilege and duty. "Be ye holy." Maturity a question of time, and is subject to the laws of growth and development. "Grow in grace."

3. Purity being instantaneous, may be received at once. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Maturity is a gradual, progressive, and indefinite development. "Take heed, and add to your faith virtue," &c.

4. No Christian is cleansed into maturity, nor do any grow into purity. The Bible nowhere promises maturity as a work of God by faith, but purity it does. Even "a babe in Christ " may be cleansed from all inbred sin and become a pure Christian; but "a babe in Christ" becomes "a young man," and "a father," by growth and development, and not by cleansing power.

5. It must be seen that there is a difference between purity or entire sanctification, in infancy -- as just received, and in maturity -- as an advanced and confirmed state of purity -- "rooted and grounded in love." There are "babes," "young men," and "men of full age," a state of entire sanctification.

6. There are two classes of commands and figures in the Scriptures in regard to Christian character and duty. One contains commands and figures enjoining and illustrating growth in grace and maturity the other class enjoins and illustrates Christian holiness or purity.

7. Maturity is nowhere made a condition of entrance to heaven while purity is. Millions of Christians die in immaturity and are saved: they have been made pure, which is th e moral qualification for heaven.

Making this plain and easily understood distinction relieves this subject of difficulties which have perplexed multitudes of good men.