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people talk of having received 〃such a blessing；〃 and of having found
〃the higher life；〃 after hearing some earnest advocate of 〃holiness by
faith and self…consecration；〃 while their families and friends see no
improvement and no increased sanctity in their daily tempers and
behaviour； immense harm is done to the cause of Christ。 True holiness；
we surely ought to remember； does not consist merely of inward
sensations and impressions。 It is much more than tears； and sighs； and
bodily excitement； and a quickened pulse； and a passionate feeling of
attachment to our own favourite preachers and our own religious party；
and a readiness to quarrel with everyone who does not agree with us。 It
is something of 〃the image of Christ；〃 which can be seen and observed
by others in our private life； and habits； and character； and doings。
（Rom。 viii。 29。）
（3） I ask； in the third place； whether it is wise to use vague language
about perfection； and to press on Christians a standard of holiness； as
attainable in this world for which there is no warrant to be shown
either in Scripture or experience？ I doubt it。
That believers are exhorted to 〃perfect holiness in the fear of
God〃to 〃go on to perfection〃to 〃be perfect；〃 no careful reader of
his Bible will ever think of denying。 （2 Cor。 vii。 1 ； Heb。 vi。 1 ； 2
Cor。 xiii。 11。） But I have yet to learn that there is a single passage
in Scripture which teaches that a literal perfection； a plete and
entire freedom from sin； in thought； or word； or deed； is attainable；
or ever has been attained； by any child of Adam in this world。 A
parative perfection； a perfection in knowledge； an all…round
consistency in every relation of life； a thorough soundness in every
point of doctrinethis may be seen occasionally in some of God's
believing people。 But as to an absolute literal perfection； the most
eminent saints of God in every age have always been the very last to
lay claim to it！ On the contrary； they have always had the deepest
sense of their own utter unworthiness and imperfection。 The more
spiritual light they have enjoyed the more they have seen their own
countless defects and shortings。 The more grace they have had the
more they have been 〃clothed with humility。〃 （1 Peter v。 5。）
What saint can be named in God's Word； of whose life many details are
recorded； who was literally and absolutely perfect？ Which of them all；
when writing about himself； ever talks of feeling free from
imperfection？ On the contrary； men like David； and St。 Paul； and St。
John； declare in the strongest language that they feel in their own
hearts weakness and sin。 The holiest men of modern times have always
been remarkable for deep humility。 Have we ever seen holier men than
the martyred John Bradford； or Hooker； or Usher； or Baxter； or
Rutherford； or M'Cheyne？ Yet no one can read the writings and letters
of these men without seeing that they felt themselves 〃debtors to mercy
and grace〃 every day； and the very last thing they ever laid claim to
was perfection！
In face of such facts as these I must protest against the language used
in many quarters； in these last days； about perfection。 I must think
that those who use it either know very little of the nature of sin； or
of the attributes of God； or of their own hearts； or o！he Bible； or
of the meaning of words。 When a professing Christian coolly tells me
that he has got beyond such hymns as 〃Just as I am；〃 and that they are
below his present experience； though they suited him when he first took
up religion； I must think his soul is in a very unhealthy state！ When a
man can talk coolly of the possibility of 〃living without sin〃 while in
the body； and can actually say that he has 〃never had an evil thought
for three months；〃 I can only say that in my opinion he is a very
ignorant Christian！ I protest against such teaching as this。 It not
only does no good； but does immense harm。 It disgusts and alienates
from religion far…seeing men of the world； who know it is incorrect and
untrue。 It depresses some of the best of God's children； who feel they
never can attain to 〃perfection〃 of this kind。 It puffs up many weak
brethren； who fancy they are something when they are nothing。 In short；
it is a dangerous delusion。
（4） In the fourth place； is it wise to assert so positively and
violently； as many do； that the seventh chapter of the Epistle to the
Romans does not describe the experience of the advanced saint； but the
experience of the unregenerate man； or of the weak and un…established
believer？ I doubt it。
I admit fully that the point has been a disputed one for eighteen
centuries； in fact ever since the days of St。 Paul。 I admit fully that
eminent Christians like John and Charles Wesley； and Fletcher； a
hundred years ago； to say nothing of some able writers of our own time；
maintain firmly that St。 Paul was not describing his own present
experience when he wrote this seventh chapter。 I admit fully that many
cannot see what I and many others do see： viz。； that Paul says nothing
in this chapter which does not precisely tally with the recorded
experience of the most eminent saints in every age； and that he does
say several things which no unregenerate man or weak believer would
ever think of saying； and cannot say。 So； at any rate； it appears to
me。 But I will not enter into any detailed discussion of the chapter。
＇2＇
What I do lay stress upon is the broad fact that the best mentators
in every era of the Church have almost invariably applied the seventh
chapter of Romans to advanced believers。 The mentators who do not
take this view have been； with a few bright exceptions； the Romanists；
the Socinians； and the Arminians。 Against them is arrayed the judgment
of almost all the Reformers； almost all the Puritans； and the best
modern Evangelical divines。 I shall be told； of course； that no man is
infallible； that the Reformers； Puritans； and modern divines I refer to
may have been entirely mistaken； and the Romanists； Socinians； and
Arminians may have been quite right！ Our Lord has taught us； no doubt；
to 〃call no man master。〃 But while I ask no man to call the Reformers
and Puritans 〃masters；〃 I do ask people to read what they say on this
subject； and answer their arguments； if they can。 This has not been
done yet！ To say； as some do； that they do not want human 〃dogmas〃 and
〃doctrines；〃 is no reply at all。 The whole point at issue is； 〃What is
the meaning of a passage of Scripture？ How is the Seventh chapter of
the Epistle to the Romans to be interpreted？ What is the true sense of
its words？〃 At any rate let us remember that there is a great fact
which cannot be got over。 On one side stand the opinions and
interpretation of Reformers and Puritans； and on the other the opinions
and interpretations of Romanists； Socinians； and Arminians。 Let that be
distinctly understood。
In