"The Work And Witness Of The Spirit," The Gospel Messenger (Mar. 1883)
IF PAUL, WHO WAS FAVORED with an abundance of revelation, was fearful lest while he preached to others he himself would become a castaway, should we not fear the doctrine of final perseverance of the saints does us no good, if we are not sanctified to persevere? The doctrine of election will do us no good, if we have not, through sanctification of the Spirit, been elected unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Christ (I Pet. i. 2.) Man’s inability to come to Christ for life and salvation, will do us no good, if it never makes us lie at mercy’s gate, poor beggars, that God feeds with the hidden manna, without money and without price. There must be a work of grace in the soul, as well as a knowledge of doctrine in the mind. |
