The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 514

;

XI.

The

Pietist

and the *'

Perfectionist.

He chastens us for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. "—//<f^.

Sanctification

is

xii.

lo.

a gracious work of God, whereby in a super-

way He gradually

divests from sin the inclinations

and and clothes them with holiness. Here we meet a serious objection which deserves our careful

natural

dispositions of the regenerate

To the superficial observer, the spiritual experience of God's children seems diametrically opposed to this professed gift of sanctification. One says: "Can it be that for more than ten years I have been the subject of a divine operation whereby my attention.

desires and inclinations

ness? for in first

If this is

were divested

the Gospel, then

I

of sin

and clothed with

holi-

belong not to the Lord's redeemed

perceive scarcely any progress; I only know that my become cold and that the inward corruption is apSome dream of progress, but I discover in myself scarcely

myself

I

love has

palling.

anything but backsliding. of the account.

My

No

only hope

gain but is

loss, is

Immanuel

my

the sad footing-up

Surety."

While the experience of a broken heart vents its grief in this way, others exhort us not to encourage spiritual pride. They say: " We should not foster spiritual pride in God's children, for by nature they are already thus inclined. What is more conducive to spiritual pride than the conceit of

an ever-advancing holiness?

not holiness the highest and most glorious attainment?

Is it

Is

not

our comprehensive prayer to be made partakers of His holiness?

And would you have number

these souls imagine that, since they were con-

have attained already a considWould you give license to older Christians to feel themselves above their younger brethren? Holiness wants to be noticed hence you incite them to a display

verted a

of years ago, they

erable degree of this divine perfection?

;

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen