125. What good will be secured by confessing perfect love'?
1. A Christian testimony will obey and please God. "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord."
2. It will benefit the confessor. This is not questioned in regard to regeneration; why should it be in regard to entire sanctification? Bishop Hamline says, the confession of holiness "promotes humility," "aids self-consecration," and "strengthens faith itself" James Caughey says: "The more frequently I spoke of this great blessing, confessing it, and urging others to press after it, the clearer my evidence became." Lady Maxwell says: "I am enabled to bear a more public and decided testimony for Christian perfection by my lips and pen, and I find that the Lord owns me in it, at least, so far as respects my own soul." By a law of our nature, an experience, or a feeling expressed, is increased. Anger unexpressed, subsides; expressed, becomes fury. Love uttered is increased. Gratitude expressed glows with a warmer flame. Praise confined within the secret recesses of the heart, dies away; but when it finds utterance from the lips, it becomes a triumphant song. So it is with every feeling of our hearts. In accordance with this law, the relation of our experience improves it. To express our faith in Christ, increases our faith. God has so ordered things, that in communicating good to others we receive good ourselves.
3. It will benefit others. "Many shall hear it, and fear and trust in the Lord." This is never doubted in regard to justification, why should it be in regard to our complete cleansing? Bishop Jesse T. Peck says:
"This testimony, humbly and truthfully given, will move the hearts of others as nothing else can. We have seen even multitudes swayed and dissolved, and sinners awakened under its influences, as if the breath of God were in it."
Dr. Adam Clarke says: "It has been no small mercy to me, that in the course of my religious life I have met with many persons who have professed that the blood of Christ had saved them from all sin, and whose profession was maintained by an immaculate life." -- Theology, p. 188.
"If an intelligent believer," says Dr. Raymond, whose spirit, manner of life, and conversation whose character and conduct are in harmony with a profession of perfect love should testify that he has the witness of the spirit, that he is cleansed from all unrighteousness, sanctified wholly, filled with all the fullness of God, there is no good reason why any one should doubt his testimony." -- Systematic Theology.
Millions of sinners have been led to seek Christ through the testimony of saints regarding their justification, and many, many thousands of partially sanctified believers have been encouraged to seek a fullness in Jesus, by the clear testimony of those who have experienced this fullness themselves. Let us not forget,
"That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." "The humble shall it hear thereof and be glad."
126. Should holiness be professed before a promiscuous audience?
There should be prudence and judgment exercised in this, as in all other Christian duties. In the confession of "perfect love," the same prudence and judgment should be exercised as in the confession of justification, as to time, place, &c. Christ bade his disciples "cast not their pearls before swine," intimating a proper discrimination with respect to circumstances and hearers. There may be seasons and occasions when it will be wise and useful to give testimony before all classes. But this profession, the same as that of justification, should usually be made among the pious, and in social meetings.
127. What terms are best and safest in professing holiness?
We are always safe in keeping close to the Bible. We may reasonably infer that the Holy Ghost has chosen the best terms expressive of his own work. Bible terms are less likely to mislead people than those of our own selection. While we do not think there is any authority for shutting a man up to any particular form of expression yet we have no right to ignore the inspired terms significant of this blessing. "Higher life," "life of faith," "more religion," "a deeper work of grace," and like phrases, are well enough in their place, but should not take the place of the deeply significant words of inspiration. God has named his own religion. "And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be CALLED, The way of HOLINESS the unclean shall not pass over it." "Why, then," asks Dr. Adam Clarke, "are there so many, even among sincere and godly ministers and people, who are so much opposed to the terms, and so much alarmed at the professor?
128. Should the profession be definite, and in terms which will not mislead?
It should. We should not be so indefinite, or make choice of such terms as amount to an actual or virtual denial of the work, or a refusal to bear the responsibility of this "high and holy calling." It is the truth that we are to profess, the exact truth, in our experience.
Dr. Adam Clarke says "This fitness, then, to appear before God, and thorough preparation for eternal glory, is what I plead for, pray for, and heartily recommend to all true believers, under the name of Christian perfection. Had I a better name, one more energetic, one with a greater plenitude of meaning, one more worthy of the efficacy of the blood that bought our peace, and cleanseth from all unrighteousness, I would gladly adopt and use it." -- Christian Perfection, p. 184.
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