Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

devil and all his works; and be determined never to rest till they had
found that He had bruised him under their feet, and that the blood of
Christ had cleansed them from all unrighteousness. Why is it that men
will not try how far God will save them? nor leave off praying and
believing for more and more, till they find that God has held his hand?
When they find that their agonizing faith and prayer receive no farther
answer, then, and not till then, they may conclude that God will be no
farther gracious, and that he will not save to the uttermost them who
come to him through Christ Jesus.
But it is farther objected, that even St. Paul himself denies this doctrine
of perfection, disclaiming it in reference to himself: "Not as though I had
already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after," Phil. iii,
12. This place is mistaken: the apostle is not speaking of his restoration
to the image of God; but to completing his ministerial course, and
receiving the crown of martyrdom; as I have fully shown in my notes on
this place, and to which I must beg to refer the reader. There is another
point that has been produced, at least indirectly, in the form of an
objection to this doctrine: "Where are those adult, those perfect
Christians? We know none such; but we have heard that some persons
professing those extraordinary degrees of holiness have become
scandalous in their lives." When a question of this kind is asked by one
who fears God, and earnestly desires his salvation, and only wishes to
have full evidence that the thing is attainable, that he may shake himself
from the dust, and arise and go out, and possess the good land—it
deserves to be seriously answered. To such I would say, There may be
several, even in the circle of your own religious acquaintance, whose evil
tempers and unholy affections God has destroyed; and having filled them
with his own holiness, they are enabled to love him with all their heart,
soul, mind, and strength; and their neighbour as themselves. But such
make no public professions: their conduct, their spirit, the whole tenor of
their life, is their testimony. Again: there may be none such among your
religious acquaintance, because they do not know their privilege, or they
unfortunately sit under a ministry where the doctrine is decried; and in
such congregations and churches holiness never abounds; men are too apt