Scriptural Sanctification - Media Sabda Org

"How has it been with me since?" There have been failures on my part, but God has kept me
wonderfully. There have been great and exceedingly subtle temptations -- angel of light temptations
-- but Jesus has carried me through. There have been great trials and fearful sorrows -- greater, I
believe, than the average Christian, or even the average holiness man, is called to endure; but Jesus
sustains and keeps and consoles ... I wish the number [saved through Him] was manifold greater, as
it might have been if I had been wholly the Lord's from my youth; but I can rejoice now when others
preach and write better than I, and are the means of gathering in hundreds where I bring units.
"On the 19th of February, 1887, I do still testify that, by the grace of God, I am reckoning myself
dead to sin; and I have a sure confidence that now the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth me from all
sin, and that I have received, and now have, the gift of the Holy Ghost. Praise the Lord!"
Here is the same testimony to conversion and witness of the Spirit to adoption, followed by an
"unsteady and unsatisfactory" experience, and a struggle with the "old man," backsliding and
repenting, until, after a full consecration and faith there comes the instantaneous baptism with the
Spirit, which cleanses and establishes the soul in uniform peace and obedience. In this case the result
of this baptism is declared to be "a clean heart," "perfect love," and "the endowment of power,"
which continued with Him for fifteen years of "temptation" and "blessed service."
The Rev. David B. Updegraff is well known as a minister and writer among the Friends of Ohio.
We give the following extracts from the record of his experience, written by himself in 1888. He
says:
"I was born near Mount Pleasant, Ohio, on the 23d day of August, 1830. I cannot doubt that I was
solemnly given to God from my birth by pious parents. My infant lips were taught to pray, and when
I said,
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
I really expected him to do it. My young heart was not a stranger to the gracious visitations of the
Spirit of God, and was often melted by the power of love. But I grew up in sinfulness and in
rebellion against God ...
"After being settled in life I renewed my covenant with God, and sought to do right because it is
right. I was a birthright member of the Church, and was 'zealous toward God according to the perfect
manner of the law of my fathers.' I certainly did 'fear the Lord,' and was a 'servant under the law that
gendereth to bondage' for many years. But I had not received the adoption of a son. In March, 1864,
I made this discovery. The gospel of God came to me in great power.
My spiritual conflict was somewhat protracted, but it came to an end in the silent watches of the
night, and I had 'peace with God.' his Spirit witnessed with my spirit that I was his child ... But first
neglect, then disobedience, then waywardness interfered with my Christian life. Chastening and
suffering from the hand of the Lord were followed by restoration of soul.