Scriptural Sanctification - Media Sabda Org

SCRIPTURAL SANCTIFICATION:
An
Attempted Solution of the Holiness Problem
By The
Rev. John R. Brooks, D.D.
Chapter 13
TESTIMONY FROM EXPERIENCE
Now, the question arises, What must the Christian do with this experience? Shall he suppress this
knowledge? May he hide this light under a bushel? Is he at liberty to bury this precious talent? Or
shall he testify to this experience, impart this knowledge, and let this light shine out for the glory of
God and the good of others? There is almost as much difference of opinion touching this matter as
there is as to the value of Christian experience. But it seems to us that there ought to be but one
opinion as to the believer's duty to testify; albeit, there may be much ground for difference as to one's
motives for testifying, and the way in which this testimony is to be given. We will only say that, as
we view the matter, the glory of God and the good of man should be the sole ends had in view, and
the plan of testifying which promises most fully to reach these ends should be the one adopted. Every
believer may and should say with the psalmist, "My soul shall make her boast in the Lord," expecting
that "the humble shall hear thereof and be glad." He may properly add: "O magnify the Lord with
me, and let us exalt his name together." And he may join David in his invitation to "come and hear,
all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul." But we should remember that
we are to "boast" of what the Lord has done, and not of our own attainments. We are to "magnify"
and "exalt" him, and not ourselves. We are to "tell" what "God hath done for us," and not what we
have wrought for ourselves or others. And all this is to be done, that others, hearing thereof, may be
"glad" -- shall be encouraged to seek like blessings for themselves -- such testimony being confirmed
by a godly life.
Of course all admit that an air of inordinate self-assertion in testifying to the crucifixion of self
is unseemly. This testimony is to be given with "meekness and fear," reverence for God and fear lest
we unduly magnify ourselves. And, at the same time, it must be conceded that there is less of self
in humbly and gratefully telling what God has instantaneously done for our souls, on the simple
conditions of consecration and faith, than there is in speaking of like results that have proceeded
from our painful and persistent effort after growth. The once-blind man, in testifying from his
experience of instantaneous healing to the divinity of our Lord and his power to heal, "magnified"
his Master more and himself less than he would have done by saying that, by his faithfulness and
constancy, through a course of years, in using the means which Jesus had prescribed for his healing,
he had received his sight.
We have already intimated that our Lord not only prescribed the experimental method of
investigation but that he also enjoined the duty of testifying from experience. "Ye shall receive
power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me." It is, hence,
not merely a privilege, but also a duty we owe to him and others, that we "tell what God has done
for our souls." We are not only to have a "reason for the hope that is in us," but we are to hold
ourselves "ready " on all proper occasions to "give" that reason. Christ has summoned us to be his