What course do most professors of religion pursue in regard to holiness?
Like the ancient Israelites, instead of going directly Canaan, they take a zigzag course of wandering in the wilderness. Their unbelief and disobedience prevent their entering the spiritual Canaan, and subject them to the necessity of a return to Egypt, or to ceaseless wanderings in the wilderness, almost in sight of the beautiful hills of that land, which flows with milk and honey. It was only twelve days' journey from Horeb to Canaan. Mr. Wesley tells of believers who passed into Canaan, "some ten days, some seven, some four, and some three days" after they were delivered from the bondage of the devil.
What are the results of this course on the part of the Church?
The results are similar to those which befell the ancient Israelites. With their refusal to obey God, and go into Canaan, their backslidings and troubles commenced.
1. The ten cowardly, unbelieving. rebellious spies were struck dead on the spot. And may the Lord have mercy those ministers, who, following the example of the ten unbelieving spies, bring up an evil report from the land. Even some ministers who have been through the land, and have tasted of its precious fruits, have gone back into the wilderness, and have ceased to urge the people to go over. It is to be feared, when Jesus comes, such ministers will be found wanting.
2. The Israelites were ordered back into the wilderness; Christians begin to backslide when they feel it their duty. and see it their privilege, to seek holiness, and refuse to do it. As Israel could not stay on the borders of the promised land and not go over, so believers will backslide if they do not go on unto perfection.
3. Sin changed the countenance of God toward the Israelites, and put them under a terrible discipline. The same is strikingly true of those who know their duty in regard to seeking holiness, and do it not.
4. The Israelites were forsaken of God, defeated by their enemies, visited by destroying angels, by fiery serpents, leprosy, plagues, and earthquakes. They murmured, rebelled, and became cowardly, licentious, idolatrous, and a merciful God only knows what not. The carcasses of three millions of them fell in what was to them a howling wilderness. Analogous to all this are the terrible spiritual results of a refusal, on the part of the church, to go on to perfection. Among these results are, being forsaken of God, defeat in spiritual conflict, fiery trials, doubts, fears, and cowardice, coldness and moral stupor, worldliness, licentiousness, and idolatry. These things are fearfully prevalent in the various churches of Christendom.
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