ADVENTURES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN

By Robert Lee Berry

FOREWORD

This book comes out of our heart. It is intended to go to the hearts ofothers. Some of the things written here were learned by long and bitterexperiences. Our "Adventures" were very real, and it is our hope thatsome of them our readers will never have. The real battles are foughtwithin, and the struggle for mastery goes on in the soul, hidden in themysterious depths of the spirit. Usually these battles are fought outalone, many times when others are not aware that anything of moment ishappening. 

Super-critical minds may not find this book interesting; we do not know;we wrote with no other intention than to bless the hearts and lives ofthe great common man and woman. 

We hope you will enjoy this book. We hope it will do you good. If itdoes, our purpose will be achieved, and we shall thank God, whose helpwe gratefully acknowledge in the writing of this book. 

R. L. Berry. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introductory: The Land of Canaan

1. Getting Ready to Enter Canaan

2. The Crossing of the Jordan

3. The Jordan Memorial Stone

4. Troubles of Lingering at the Crossing

5. Exploring Canaan by Faith

6. The Best Inheritance in Canaan

7. In the Hands of Giant Accuser

8. Conflicts with Giant Mistake

9. In the Dungeon of Giant Discourager

10. The Torments of Giant Bad Feelings

11. The Routing of Giant Doubt

12. The Wine of Prayer

13. Pilgrims of the Victorious Life

ADVENTURES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER

THE LAND OF CANAAN

The story of the Israelites from their being in bondage in Egypt to theirconquering Canaan is a type of the experiences of a man from his bondagein sin to his entire sanctification. 

As a Scriptural basis for these remarks, see Galatians 3:6-29, wherePaul, the great Apostle to the Gentiles, quotes a part of the Abrahamiccovenant and applies it to Gentile Christians, the complete fulfillmentof the covenant being expressed in verse 14, where the promise of theSpirit is spoken of as the "blessing of Abraham. " It is also made plainin this chapter that salvation in Christ makes us "Abraham's seed, " andtherefore "heirs according to the promise. " Hence the promise to Abrahamhas its complete fulfillment in New Testament salvation. 

In Romans 4, Paul again dips deep into the promise of God to Abraham andbrings forth beautiful teaching which shows that, to him, God's promiseto Abraham was spiritual as well as material, that there was to be aspiritual seed as well as literal seed, and that "faith" is as potentas natural birth in making men children of Abraham. Also in these versesAbraham is made the "father of us all, " even of Gentiles, which of coursecould not be true except in a spiritual sense. 

The same subject is treated again in chapter 4 of Hebrews. Here thefigure is "rest. " The rest of the Israelites was their settling in Canaan, and in verse 6, speaking of the fact that some did not enter rest becauseof unbelief, allusion is made to the failure to enter Canaan fromKadesh-barnea. Then ten spies brought back such a bad report that thewhole camp wept, and would not go over. For forty years these rebelswandered in the wilderness, until all were dead except Caleb and Joshua, the two faithful spies. 

There is a beautiful analogy between the events of the Israelites intheir journey out of Egypt into Canaan and the fundamental experiencesof the Christian. Note these parallels--far too close not to have beenplanned as type and antitype by the great Author of salvation:

1. Abraham was promised two things: first, his seed should inherit theland of Canaan; second, in him should all families of the earth be blessed(Genesis 12:1-3). 

2. Abraham was the father of both a literal and a spiritual seed, thefirst inherited literal Canaan and the second inherited spiritual Canaan(Romans 4; Galatians 4). 

3. There was a rest promised both to the Israelite and to the Christianbeliever (Hebrews 4). 

4. Israel was in bondage to Pharaoh and his taskmasters in Egypt, andsinners are in bondage to the devil and sin. 

5. By a miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, Israel escaped fromEgyptian bondage; and sinners are saved by the miraculous new birth. 

6. By another miracle of power, Israel entered Canaan through the bedof the Jordan River; and by a second work of grace, believers are whollysanctified by the Spirit through the blood. 

7. By refusing to believe and obey, the Israelites wandered for fortyyears in the wilderness, just as Christians fall away, grow lukewarm andbackslidden many times when they see their privilege of being made purein heart and refuse to walk in the light. 

8. After the Israelites entered Canaan, they had to fight for theirpossessions; and so, too, do we have to fight for our spiritual possessionin the state of holiness. 

9. The literal land of Canaan was a good land, "flowing with milk andhoney, " where the Israelites ate the old corn and wine of the land. Justso spiritual Canaan is the best place of grace under heaven; indeed itis heaven's border-land, where saints have sweet communion with God andChrist and are ready for the great crowning-day. 

In several chapters of this book we shall treat the subject of entiresanctification allegorically, using the types as prefiguring Christianexperience. The battles of the soul against foes are real conflicts, which leave their scars and marks on many a Christian. Perhaps, out ofthe experiences of others, the reader will gather something of profitto himself, and be enabled to fight more effectively and not merely beatthe air. There are spiritual powers in high places that challenge us tobattle; blessed is he who has the armor, the courage, and the skill towin. 

CHAPTER ONE

GETTING READY TO ENTER CANAAN

Can you tell me, please, the first step to take in obtaining the experienceof entire sanctification? I have heard much about it, have heard manysermons on it, too; but the way to proceed is not yet plain to me, notso plain as I wish it were. Can't you tell me the first step, the second, third, and all the rest? My heart feels a hunger that seems unappeased, I have a longing that is unsatisfied; surely it is a deeper work I need!And so I plead, "Tell me the way. "

 * * * * *

Gladly will the endeavor be made to point out the way into the "holiest"of all (Hebrews 10:19). Probably the very first thing to know is thatyou must understand whether or not you are sanctified. Are you, or areyou not? On which side of the Jordan are you, on the Canaan side or onthe wilderness side? A definite answer to this question is essential. Sometimes there are doubts in your mind whether you are or are notsanctified. Well, let us first get rid of all doubts. The experiencesof God in the soul are too definite to need their possession entertainedwith a doubt; and to know where we are spiritually is unquestionably ourprivilege. 

If you find yourself on the wilderness side of Jordan, the next thingto find out is whether you are yet out of Egypt--whether you are justifiedbefore God, whether your sins are all washed away and you are a childof God. 

If you are sure you are justified now, but have not by faith entered theCanaan experience--are not wholly sanctified--then you may know forcertain that the experience awaits you. 

Then there is one more very essential thing--you must believe with allyour heart that sanctification is unquestionably an experience which theBible holds out to all believers. Do you thus believe? If so, all isclear, and all you need to do is to go forward; or, in the words Godused to Joshua, "Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan" (Joshua 1:2). 

Do you need your faith strengthened in this particular doctrine? Let itthen meditate and grow upon these promises and words of God:

"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his ownblood, suffered without the gate" (Hebrews 13:12). 

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17). 

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your wholespirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of ourLord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23). 

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, andgave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with thewashing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself aglorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; butthat it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:25-27). 

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselvesfrom all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in thefear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). 

After you have meditated on each of these texts for ten or fifteenminutes, consider these further promises concerning the giving of theHoly Ghost:

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom theworld can not receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (John14:16, 17). 

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will sendin my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to yourremembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). 

"That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through JesusChrist; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith"(Galatians 3:14). 

"And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them theHoly Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us andthem, purifying their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:8, 9). 

This great experience which Peter speaks of came to the disciples onPentecost, when the Holy Ghost filled the whole company, and it changeda band of common men into the most powerful gospel band the world hasever seen. 

Nothing feeds the soul as does the Word of the Lord. Meditate on thetexts given, drink in the full meaning, comprehend what all of grace andlove and spiritual power they hold for you; yea, consider at what a costthese blessings were purchased for you by the blood of the Lord JesusChrist!

That you may see what your duty is in the matter, permit reference tothese things:

On the cross of Calvary Jesus gave all, all for you and your salvation. There He cried, "It is finished. " There He paid the last debt of all ofus. There He proved His love, perfect, fadeless, unfathomable, boundless. 

Go to the foot of that cross! See the Savior hanging there! Every motivethat can move a soul finds its fountain there. Can you, in the shadowof the cross, be anything less than a full Bible Christian? Can you doless than give all to Him? Does not any selfish feeling or thought ofholding back the full surrender seem sinful, utterly displeasing to yoursoul and to God?

Your duty, then, is clear. From henceforth you can not be less than allfor Christ, you can not do less than go all the way for Him. Being afaithful Christian, you can not do less than your duty, once duty isclear. 

Since conviction is a matter of knowledge, consider this: Christ's workhobbles along because there are so few whole-hearted, wholly consecratedsouls to work for Him, whereas Jesus expects all to be whole-hearted intheir service to Him. 

Will you think also of the sin there is in the world, gnawing ugly woundsin the hearts and marring the lives of millions, and yet Jesus died tosave every mother's child of them. 

What is Jesus going to do if there are not a greater number of volunteersto carry on His work? For every sanctified soul is all the Lord's, readyfor anything. 

After Jesus died on the cross, He ascended to heaven. One day the angelGabriel met Jesus and said: "Master, did you not suffer great pain onthe cross?"

"Yes, " answered Jesus simply and quietly. 

"And, Master, that suffering was to redeem men to God, was it not?"

"Yes, " answered Jesus. 

"Well, how many know of your death and your suffering to redeem men? Howwill the world of sinners find it out? Have you made any plans?" askedGabriel. 

"I have told Peter and his brother Andrew, and James and John, and therest of the twelve to go tell the people about it, " said Jesus. 

"Suppose they do not go?" asked Gabriel. "Have you made any other plans?"

"No, I am counting on them, " said Jesus. 

This is only a story, but it illustrates the point of how necessary itis for us to be consecrated and ready for the Master's service. Jesusis counting on us!

 * * * * *

So you conclude you are still on the wilderness side of the Jordan? Verywell, thank God you are out of the Egypt of sin, that the wildernessjourney through justification is behind you, and that Canaan, that fairland where milk and honey flows, lies just before you. Only the Jordanintervenes. Of course the Jordan always is running strong and out of itsbanks every time, it seems, when souls are to cross, just as it was forIsrael in Joshua's day. But this is only a necessary test to prove thesincerity and valor of the soul. 

Thousands have made bold to strike their feet in Jordan's waters in thename of God and start across. You can see them over on the other sidefrom where you are. Be encouraged; cross over the Jordan and enter theCanaan of soul-rest. 

CHAPTER TWO

THE CROSSING OF THE JORDAN

Just how did you feel at the time you were sanctified? I have heard sometell of how the holy fire of the Spirit seemed to go all through them. Others have told of a deeper, more complete peace. Some have shouted forjoy. Others have wept for joy. And I am wondering how one ought to feel. Can you tell me? And how can I know that I am consecrated? Every teacherof entire sanctification that I ever heard says that the consecrationmust be complete; but how am I to know when it is complete? I haveconsecrated over and over, but I do not feel certain that all, reallyall, is given up. Might there not be some self-will left that I do notknow of? Please help me. 

 * * * * *

Probably it might not be wise to tell you just how I felt when the Lordsanctified me and made me whole, because it might tempt you to want theexperience in the same way it came to me; and, besides, while the blessedexperience is, in its essential features, the same in each case, yeteach person has his own feelings and personal experiences along with it. These experiences are suited to each one's need; they follow the trendof one's natural disposition, and are a source of pleasure to us. Thereally important thing is to be wholly sanctified. 

When Israel under Joshua arrived at the Jordan River, they were commandedby the Lord to "sanctify" themselves and prepare to cross over. Thiscommand to "sanctify yourselves" points to the perfect consecration thatmust be made before the sanctifying power falls upon us. Crossing theJordan signified to them leaving the wilderness life forever behind themand entering upon a new life on the Canaan side. And in order properlyto enter upon that new experience they were asked by God to set themselvesapart by a solemn purification and consecration of themselves. 

To begin with, then, let us consider what a consecration is, and nextwe shall consider the evidences of its being perfect and acceptable toGod. 

Several words and phrases cover what is meant by consecration, as"abandonment, " "surrender, " "lay all on the altar, " "die, " "subject thewill to the will of God, " "let Christ have his way. "

"Abandonment" here expresses the idea that from now on your soul, yourlife, your interests, your time, talents--your all--are no more yourown, but are abandoned to the will of God. You know how some peopleabandon themselves to a life of vice; they know no limit, but givethemselves entirely over to it. Well, you are to abandon yourself to alife of holiness and service to God. 

Did you ever see a potter at work on a piece of clay making a vessel ofit? He gathers up a lump of clay and lays it on the wheel. As it turnsand turns He builds up whatever it is that He wishes to make. The claybeing inanimate, dead, yields absolutely to the potter, who makes of itwhatever He pleases. This illustrates the abandonment you are to make--though with this difference: you have a will and reason, and yourabandonment is to be the yielding of yourself to God because your clearestreason and most mature judgment tells you that such is best. From nowon, instead of willing to do your own will, you are going to submit toGod's will; for the most blessed thing in the world is the will of God. 

Just here is where you may be tempted to draw back; for something maywhisper, "Why, if you abandon yourself what will become of you? MaybeGod would require of you something very hard for you to do. Is it notdangerous thus to yield?"

To illustrate this, suppose you are the mother or father of a boy. Likeall boys, yours has given you more or less trouble by wanting his ownway. There has been more or less of a battle of wills, his will againstyour will. You feel, and rightly, that your experience gives you a betteridea of what is good for him than his experience gives. Suppose he wereto come to you tomorrow and say: "From now on, Mother, I will do anythingyou want me to. I abandon my way and will for your way and will. "

What would you do in that case? Would you make up your mind that now isa good time to put hardships upon him and make life as miserable as youcan for him? "Indeed not, " you would indignantly say. 

Well, then, can the great God, who is love, take advantage of His childrenand, when they give all to Him, lay heavy and grievous burdens on thembecause He can? Just as you, when your boy yielded, would love him allthe more and do all you could to make life pleasant even if there weresome hard things in it, so God seeks to lighten the load His consecratedchildren must bear. To abandon yourself to God is an act of highestintelligence and wisdom. 

"Surrender" implies the cessation of rebellion. Of course the sinner, to be converted, must surrender, and does surrender. And you have alreadysurrendered in that way. Yet there is a self-life or a self-will thatshrinks more or less from the will of God until we enter the Canaan ofentire sanctification. This rebellion takes on the form of refusing orobjecting to some of the Lord's ways with us. For instance, we may feela call to special service--to the ministry, or to the missionary service, or to personal work--and we may have mapped out an entirely differentlife for ourselves and ate to submit to God's leadings. 

Surrender of the will is a part of the consecration. There can be noinner soul-rest so long as our wills pull us one way and God's will pullsus another. When Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden light Hemeant it is easy if we pull with Him, not against Him. How can two walktogether except they be agreed? Then lay your will down; or, rather, actively, enthusiastically, delightedly will that God's will be done inand with you. 

"Lay all on the altar" is a favorite expression with many teachers offull salvation and the victorious life. The figure comes from thesacrifices made under Moses' law. Every Israelite had to offer sacrifices. The main thing about the sacrifice was, whether sheep, goat, lamb, dove, or something else, it had to be a perfect, unblemished sacrifice. Godwould not accept any lame, maimed, blemished, or otherwise marredsacrifice. It had to be the best of its kind. After it was brought tothe priest and dedicated to the Lord, it was laid on the altar andconsumed. It was the Lord's. The one offering it had no more to say aboutit whatever. 

Then on God's altar you should lay all--time, talents, earthly goods, soul, body, and will. Once when Abraham had made a sacrifice, birds cameto steal it. Abraham was careful to drive away the birds. A beautifulfigure is found in Abraham's action. We might say that after you havelaid all on God's altar you may need to guard the offering; for the birdsof self-will, pride, unbelief, and evil desire may carry off yoursacrifice. 

"Die" is a favorite expression with other teachers of perfect holiness--die to self; die out to God; die to all but Jesus. The figure is fullof vital meaning. Mrs. Cleaveland, in her delightful poem on the riverof death, pictures the clergymen of various denominations as losing alltheir distinguishing marks as they cross the river, and over on the othershore not one can be told from another so far as sectarian peculiaritiesare concerned. This is even true of entire consecration, or crossing theJordan into Canaan; for in Canaan there is a delightful absence ofsectarian conflict; every one is too busy doing the will of God. 

Dying is used to express consecration because some felt that theconsecration was so acute that it seemed they had to suffer the painsof death. Others have not so felt. Whatever the feeling, there must bethe dying. 

Two women, one a widow and the other her daughter, lived together. Theywere both devout. The younger woman became sick, and grew worse andworse. At last all hope of life was gone, and mother and daughter beganpraying that the dying girl might have "dying grace. "

The condition for obtaining this grace consisted in an absolute submissionto die, a yielding of all to God's will; as she met the condition, soshe received "dying grace. " But the sequel was unexpected. While onereceiving dying grace was supposed to die, this young woman lived andgot well. But her "dying grace, " as they termed it, was still hers. Oneday she spoke of it to her mother and said: "Mother, I am coming tobelieve that 'dying grace' is the grace we need to live by. " And it is. 

This young woman had made the deathbed consecration. God had acceptedthe sacrifice, had poured out His grace, and the young woman was sanctifiedwholly; and that was exactly what she needed to live by. She had diedto self. 

Now, how shall you know that all is given up and the sacrifice acceptableto God? This may well engage our attention. 

First of all, remember that your will is your own, and that you yourselfknow what your intentions are. Whenever you decide to go to town to buya hat or coat, you have no trouble in knowing your mind, do you? Ofcourse not! And you can be just as sure of your mind or will in thematter of consecration to God. 

You might begin this way: I desire to be wholly the Lord's: my will Idesire to surrender; and my life I wish to be lived for God. Since theLord in His Word has said, "By the mercies of God . .. Present your bodiesa living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonableservice" (Romans 12:1), you may rest assured that God only awaits thissurrender, and will be glad to accept it. 

Now, do not only desire to be consecrated, but at once begin to countyourself the Lord's, permanently, irrevocably, for time, for eternity. Some, in the earnestness and intensity of their souls, in the solemnhour of their complete and definite surrender or consecration have writtenit out on paper, in the form of a will, and, signing it, have called onangels and God to witness the solemn act of their souls. But whether itis written out on paper or be simply the unchangeable determinationwithin the heart, the point must be come to when all is yielded. Theremust be a final "yes" to God; the gift must be deposited on the altar, and from henceforth you are to consider yourself wholly the Lord's nomatter how you feel about it. It must amount to a transaction, like thesigning of a deed, or a contract, and when it has come to this pointwhere you do actually hand yourself over to the Lord, body, soul, andall to be His forever, then you are to count the offering complete andthe die cast forever. 

Should you be tempted to investigate whether you "feel" that you are allconsecrated, remember that your feelings have nothing to do with it. Your will is master here. As your will goes, you go. 

 "When thy soul is on the altar laid, Guard it from each vain desire; When thy soul the perfect price hath paid, God will send the holy fire. "

Do you lay all on the altar? "Whether is greater, the gift, or the altarthat sanctifieth the gift?" (Matthew 23:19). If you have everything onthe altar, your feet, like the priest's in Joshua's day, are dippinginto the brim of the Jordan. You are ready to pass over. Just pass onover! Call the transaction closed. Your heart feels a deep security inhanding all over to God, and there is the witness of your own soul thatyou have, now, given up all and God accepts the offering. 

What next? Ask God to purge your soul until He is satisfied concerningits purity. Ask Him to kill all the things which displease Him, anddestroy the last remains of inbred sin. Ask Him to restore the image ofGod in your soul, to come in and possess His temple. Ask God to fill youwith the Holy Spirit, to let the Comforter take up His abode in you andabide with you forever. Swing wide open your heart's door to the Spirit. Believe that God does what He promised to do; believe He sanctifies youwholly. Since you are His, you are to trust Him to carry on this workin His own way. It is yours to yield and to believe. And we are "sanctifiedby faith" (Acts 26:18). Our hearts are purified by faith (Acts 15:8, 9). Let your faith wrap its arms around God's promise, and the work is done. Oh, marvelous grace of God!

CHAPTER THREE

THE JORDAN MEMORIAL STONE

One thing has always troubled me, and that is the witness of entiresanctification. How may one know all the time that He is sanctified?What is the witness to sanctification? Is it a feeling? an assurance? apeace? or what is it? Is it equally strong at all times, or does it comeand go? If you can give me any information on this line, I shall greatlyappreciate it. 

 * * * * *

One of the things that Joshua commanded the Israelites to do at thecrossing of the Jordan has always been intensely interesting andsuggestive. It was not a miracle, and there was nothing marvelous aboutit; it was just a thing that any man could do. When the crossing wasbeing made, Joshua selected twelve men, one from each tribe, to do aspecial service. After all the people had passed over and the twelvepriests were standing still in the River's bed, with the ark of God, Joshua commanded the twelve men to go to the middle of the Jordan andeach take up a stone, place it on his shoulder, and carry it across tothe camp in Canaan. Here the stones were to constitute a memorial: "Andthese stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel forever"(Joshua 4:7). Joshua also set up twelve stones where the priests' feethad stood in the River; but it is these stones on the bank in Canaanthat are of most interest to us. 

We shall call these stones the "stones of testimony. " They testified toa great fact, a great miracle, a great crossing, to the beginning of anew era in the lives of those hundreds of thousands of Israelites. Whenever an Israelite saw those stones, he was reminded of this fact. 

Now, dear, seeking soul, as you cross the Jordan of entire consecration, the line between the place where you are not wholly consecrated and whereyou are wholly consecrated, the line between the time when you hope tobe sanctified and the time when you shall know you are, as you crossthis, carry out your stone of testimony. You have never passed this waybefore, and you need not pass it again; so get your stone of testimonynow. 

First note that this memorial was stone. It was not wood, that wouldrot, burn up, or float away to the Dead Sea. It was not gold or someprecious metal that would be needed for other uses. It was not a pieceof parchment or paper upon which was written an account of the crossing. It was common, solid, enduring stone. So, too, the testimony of yoursanctification is solid and enduring--as solid and enduring as the Wordof God, the directions of which you have followed. 

Notice also that this memorial was rather large, too large to carryaround all the time, but was dropped and left as a reminder. There isof course an inner witness that is yours forever; but the crossing ofthe Jordan, that is, the obtaining of entire sanctification, is an eventthat will forever stand out as a time when you really received theexperience of entire sanctification. There should be those witnessingspiritual realizations that differentiate it from all the other of yourspiritual experiences. In short, it should mark your entrance into Canaan, the land of rest, of milk and honey. 

What are these realizations? First, that you have been brought to aknowledge of God's will to sanctify you wholly. Next, you have definitelyand solemnly dedicated yourself to God to be His and His alone forever. Then you have asked God to sanctify you according to His Word. You havebelieved that the work is done. All these steps are in direct harmonywith what God said for you to do, and they, being carried out with thehelp of the Spirit, constitute the charter or receipt or evidence ofyour entire sanctification. You have met all conditions, and the graceis yours. You are sanctified wholly, filled with the Spirit, and youdrop your memorial stone on the Canaan side of the Jordan. 

As long as you remain true to your vows, to your covenant and consecration, you will continue in possession of your experience. You have no need ofever going back into the wilderness, much less to the Egypt of sin, butthe fair land is before you--launch out and explore it. Enjoy for yourselfthe boundless riches of the grace of God and eat honey out of the rock. 

CHAPTER FOUR

TROUBLES OF LINGERING AT THE CROSSING

Some time ago I consecrated to God for entire sanctification and thoughtI was sanctified. Then I began to doubting whether I was wholly sanctified;so I consecrated again. This I have done a number of times; in fact, somany times that I don't know what to do. Can you help me any in thisdifficulty? I am in doubts about my consecration. I am as consecratedas I know how to be, yet there is a feeling of unreality and uncertaintyabout it that is distressing, and I have found no way to end my distress. I am almost ashamed to tell how many times I have consecrated, and I amashamed to tell the Lord that I am; for I have doubted so much that Iam not sure of myself. My faith is weak also. If you can help me, I shallbe very thankful. 

 * * * * *

The story of Pilgrim Exactly will probably be interesting, as well ashelpful, to you. He told me the story. I will tell it to you as well asI can remember it. 

Pilgrim Exactly crossed the Jordan for Canaan the first time twenty-twoyears ago, and he had never got away from the place where people crossover. Every now and then you could have seen him examining his memorialstone; and by and by he would pick it up, wade out as far as possible, drop his stone with a pathetic sigh, and then go on back to the wildernessside the best way he could. However, he did not stay over there long, butsoon started for Canaan again. He always aimed to and vowed that he wouldselect another memorial stone; but, mind you, he always came out with thesame one he first brought over. 

Do you ask why he did such a thing? The reason is simply this, brother:Pilgrim Exactly wanted to be so sure that he was in Canaan that he wasnever quite sure that he was there. He was not satisfied with the bestof evidence. No one was brighter in the wholly-sanctified experiencethan he, nor did any one cross over into Canaan with any better evidenceof his crossing than did he. But there is a bad, little, dwarfed giantnamed Doubtful, who lives close about the crossing-place, a half-brotherto old Giant Doubt. Doubtful kept company with this pilgrim. More thanlikely that was one source of his trouble. The strongest pilgrims warnedExactly of the pernicious plots of this little, hard old dwarf, but heseemed not to heed their warnings. 

Exactly would plant his memorial stone with a look that says, "It isdone for the last time!" Then Doubtful would slip up to him, and thisis practically what one present would have seen and heard:

Pilgrim Exactly: "By the grace of God, I solemnly promise never to doubtmy experience of sanctification again, no never. Lord, hear my vow, never, never to doubt again! I have staid by the crossing too long now. I must explore Canaan. "

Giant Doubtful: "Good morning, dear Pilgrim. Are you sure you got thisstone out of the right place this time? Seems to me, too, it is the sameold stone you have brought over ever so often. You know you have neverbeen satisfied with that memorial, and I do not see how you can be, either. Isn't it doubtful whether you really crossed the Jordan? Yourconsecration is likely faulty, and you know your faith is weak. Betterbe careful. You do not want to be deceived, do you?"

Exactly, wiping the sweat from his face: "That is a fact. This is thesame old stone. My God, can't I get a better experience than this? OLord, help!" And the poor Pilgrim would seem the very embodiment ofdistress. 

Doubtful: "It is my opinion that something is wrong somewhere. Probablyyou crossed too soon. Maybe you have left something out of yourconsecration. By the way, were you not neglectful of duty yesterday? Andthen, you know, you promised God you never would doubt. Now just see, youare doubting somewhat at this minute. It is to be seen that you havefailed somewhere. I believe you had better try it again. Something iswrong! you had better try it over. " And dwarf Doubtful would rattle onmuch more in the same strain. 

Just then Pilgrim Exactly would feel of his side, and his hand wouldtouch the handle of the sword of the Spirit. Just when he would aboutdraw it to deal Giant Doubtful a blow, Doubtful would say, "There canbe no harm in being sure. If you cross over Jordan properly you will besatisfied, and it will not take long to go back and do a really thoroughwork of it. "

At this Exactly wilted, dropped the sword, staggered toward his memorialstone, and, lifting it to his shoulders, limped back toward the Jordanto cross and recross again. 

But the next day when Pilgrim Exactly got over into Canaan with the samestone, because there was no other stone in there when he crossed, asevery man has his own stone, he would plant it as before. 

One day, however, after planting the stone, he said, "By the grace ofGod, I am done with doubting. "

When the little old dwarf Giant Doubtful came out that day, PilgrimExactly swung a terrific cut with the sword straight at the dwarf's neck. Doubtful never before ran so fast as he did getting away from that trustysword. Since then Exactly has advanced into the land, overcome severalother giants, and won a home for himself in Canaan. 

The feeling of unreality which you have in regard to your consecrationmay be the result of your vacillation. No one can feel sure of hiscondition if he consecrates and then deserts his word, consecrates againand then doubts that. All of this should and must be cut off shortly byyour honoring your own word and refusing to be confused about it. It canbe ended by gathering yourself in hand in coming to a real, finalconclusion in favor of your sanctification. If you are as consecratedas you know how to consecrate, then that should be sufficient. In thatcase, all you lack is to bring the affair to a point, a conclusion, andgive it all over to God, and let that be the end of it. 

Now that you are ready to make this final decision, it will be worthwhile for you to examine your consecration. Are there any idols to whichyour affections fondly cling? Is it a delight to do something for Christin behalf of others? Does it seem hard for you to give of your money tothe blessed cause? Is prayer a burden? Are you really all the Lord's?Do not make the mistake of thinking a good disposition toward Jesus isconsecration. To consecrate means to come definitely to the point ofyielding all up to Christ once forever. 

Possibly one reason for your feeling of unreality is because you can notsee God and can not hear Him say, "I receive you. " If God could be rightbefore you as a visible person while you knelt and gave yourself to Him, you might think your experience more real. But it would not be. His wordhas been given, and it is "him that cometh to me I will in no wise castout" (John 6:37), and He asks us to "bring . .. All the tithes into thestorehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me nowherewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windowsof heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be roomenough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10). Faith comes in all our dealingswith God. He may appear not to notice us; but rest assured that He does. 

Of course, after consecrating and doubting you have lost confidence inyourself; but this, too, should end quickly, and it will if you pursuea right course. To recover your self-reliance, self-balance, dismiss allthe discouraging and doubtful thoughts about yourself. Take a realinventory of yourself. What are you, anyway? Are you honest? Does yourword mean anything? Can you carry out a resolution? a decision? Verywell then, refuse to be bothered about the past. Quit thinking of thepast; utterly dismiss it from mind, and calmly and deliberately consecrate, and mean it. 

Another difficulty in regard to consecration is that you may think youhave lost yours when it is a trial sometimes to live up to it. You maythink that to be consecrated means that every duty will seem delightful. In this you are mistaken. Did not Jesus, at one with the Father in willand mind, pray three times, 'O my Father, if it be possible, let thiscup pass from me. Nevertheless not my will, but thine be done'? Some ofthe things God may lay on you or allow to be laid upon you are hardthings, things which you will have to ask God for grace to do or bear. The crucial test, however, is will you do or bear them? If, in spite ofthe temptation to evade or go around God's will, you do obey, then yourconsecration is perfect. 

Then, soul, end all this uncertainty, end all this unreality by comingnow to the altar of God and placing thereon your whole self-life, body, soul, spirit, heart, talents, time, goods and gold, will, and all else. Tie it securely by one strong indomitable, irrevocable decision of yourwill. Count yourself all the Lord's. Begin to reckon and consider everyevent of your life in this light. 

Allow nothing to come between you and God; let Him be first and be allto you. 

Please do not think of this dedication as in any wise meritorious, orcapable of purchasing any blessing. It is nothing on these points. Consecration is placing yourself in an attitude or position where Godcan have His way with you. And this He asks you to do for your good. Aslong as any of your will stands in His way, He can not pour out the HolyGhost upon you, and neither could you enjoy the fullness of salvation. 

Nothing is quite so good as the will of God, nothing so adorable. Inthat will is bound up for you the noblest life, the fullest and freestexpression of your individuality, the best adaptation and use of yourtalents, the greatest joy, the sweetest pleasures, the quietest rest, the purest delights in this world and pleasures forever at God's righthand. 

Oh, embrace that will of God! Seek it, hide in it, revel in it, beenthusiastic about it, run to it. Oh, never evade it, fight shy of it, neglect it, nor refuse it! Dropping into God's will means dropping intoour own niche in life and being happy in fulfilling our destiny as Godhas marked out by His infinite wisdom. 

CHAPTER FIVE

EXPLORING CANAAN BY FAITH

I can not understand faith. What is faith, anyway? I try to believe;sometimes I feel that my faith is strong, but at other times I feel thatmy faith is giving way. Can you help me in this matter? Faith seems sucha hazy, intangible, elusive thing; now I think I have it, now it seemscertain I have it not. I feel at times that my faith is so strong I couldbelieve anything, then again I feel that every bit of faith I had isgone. Can you give me any instructions that will help me?

 * * * * *

Suppose we imagine we have an invitation to visit Caleb today (Numbers13:30; Joshua 14:6-14), and we embrace the opportunity. 

We should expect to find the old warrior at home on such a day becauseit is bright and fair; he did the most of his fighting in bad weather. It is not far to Hebron, where he makes his home. See, we are there now!Isn't the prospect from here beautiful and inspiring! To the north alongthe ridge is Bethlehem and Jerusalem; to the east the silvery waters ofthe Dead Sea glitter in the sun; westward is Gath, where Goliath thegiant came from; and to the south is Beersheba. 

Tell us, Caleb, some of your experiences in Canaan. 

"Forty and five years ago I first saw Hebron. It was when Moses had senttwelve spies, of whom I was one, to determine the character of the peopleand land of Canaan. Long ago our father Abraham trod this soil, and GodAlmighty promised to give it to him and his seed for an everlastinginheritance. When I first heard of Canaan, down in Egypt, my faith wasstrong that it was a good land, flowing with milk and honey, as God said, and I longed to set foot upon it. 

"When we twelve first left Kadesh-barnea for Canaan [Numbers 13:1-3, 17-33], I noticed that ten of the spies kept close together; but Joshuaand I were eager to see all that we could of the land, and we ranged asfar and wide as we could. Not far from where your feet rest now we gotour first sight of the Anakims, giants of Canaan. They were giants indeed. Their legs looked like tree-trunks, and covering their faces was a densegrowth of beard out of which their eyes gleamed like crystals in ahaystack. The sight of them set my heart all aflutter, because I knewat once that they were very dangerous foes, not easily reckoned with. We were very cautious that they should not see us, and I must say thatpart of our company trembled violently with fear and, as soon as we gotaway a little distance, they ran with all their might. 

"But something in my heart said that if God gave this land to Israel, then God would give us power over the Anakims, no matter how many or howstrong they were. 

"By and by we came to the walled cities. Joshua and I talked over thematter of taking them. While we could not see just how we were to do it, we decided that, since God had unmistakably promised the land to Abraham, and since He had already marvelously delivered us from the hand ofPharaoh, king of Egypt, and his dark bondage, and since He had helpedus along through the wilderness and now had brought us to the very bordersof the land, surely He expected us to have Canaan. And this I told tothe others. 

"'We can never take it, ' they said, 'never in the world. Let us get outof here and back into Egypt as quickly as we can. We feel so faint. Wecan not conquer such a country. Why, see those giants, we are no biggerthan grasshoppers by the side of them! And look at those walls, reachingalmost to the sky! Let us get back. '

"'But if God said we should inherit this land, shall He not help us?'said Joshua and I. 

"'We thought surely God promised us the land, ' the ten replied. 'But wedid not expect to have to fight for it. We supposed God would just giveit to us without any fighting or trouble on our part. '

"'Oh, no, God never promised Canaan without a battle, ' we replied. 'ButHe will help us fight, then we shall properly appreciate both God andCanaan and the fighting will make us stronger. '

"Well, we could not convince them, and our arguments fell upon veryimpervious minds, hardened as they were by unbelief and doubting [Numbers14]. 

"Then for forty years we wandered in the black wilderness. 

"Five years ago we crossed the Jordan, blessed be God. Those were greatdays in Canaan! God was very near us, and our foes trembled. Jerichofell down, Ai was taken, kings of darkness and giants of iniquity meltedbefore the army of the Lord, until the land was in our possession. 

"Then I went to Joshua and made known my request for Hebron, my home inCanaan. There were several giants making Hebron their home, and I waseager to dispossess them; for I liked the situation. Joshua gave mepermission, and I marched toward it fully confident that our God wouldhelp me. 

"There is no use to tell you the rest. Here am I, by God's help, at homein my possession. The giants are dead, and I hold peaceable possessionby right of divine promise, the oath that God swore to our father Abrahamthat we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Himwithout fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days ofour life [Luke 1:74, 75]. Thanks be to God for His great gift!"

We may visit Caleb again, since the recital of his conflicts and victorieshas uplifted our souls so greatly. 

You say you can not understand faith. Let me ask you if you can understandjoy? or sorrow? or a heartache? or rapturous rejoicing? Can you find thecubic contents of anger? or measure love in bushels or weigh it on scales?And because these things are intangible and elusive, do you think theyare not real? Indeed not! You love someone, and while you can not cubeyour love, nor weigh it, the reality of it you never question. So alsowith acts or decisions of your will. Who ever saw a will in action? Andyet the outer life, in all its forms, is proof enough that a will hasbeen functioning all the while. 

Now faith is the same kind of thing as joy and love. It belongs to thatfamily of intangible, unseen realities of life. They have to do with thespiritual part of our nature, and through them we rise higher or sinklower than we can through any mere physical feelings or actions. Faith, joy, love, are spiritual qualities, spiritual things, things of the soul, affecting it favorably or adversely according as they themselves areaffected by causes good or bad. Doubt, unbelief, anger, wrong ambition, pride, and such are as intangible as are faith and love, but they areat the opposite pole. 

Faith is no harder to understand than is doubt. Faith is believing, anddoubt is not believing. One is the opposite of the other, just as heavenand hell are opposites. Considering doubters more closely, we find thatdoubters believe; but they believe the opposite of what they shouldbelieve. Doubters believe the wrong thing. A doubter is one who couldand ought to believe facts, but for some reason or other can not bringhimself to do it. Instead, he believes another set of things, whichappear to be facts but are not. 

Let us illustrate faith and doubt. You pick up a newspaper this morningand read that a fire destroyed a hotel in Chicago and four persons wereburned, that a train ran off the track in Iowa and no one was hurt, andthat a Congressman from Florida died. Do you doubt these facts or believethem! If you believe them, that is proof that you have faith. You lookat the almanac and find it says that tomorrow there will be an eclipse. If you prepare to look at the sun through smoked glass, it is proof thatyou have faith. If you receive a letter stating that your uncle Johndied and feel sad at the thought of his leaving his family in destitutecircumstances, it is proof that you have faith. If someone in your placeof business brings you a report that fire has destroyed your warehouseand you feel at once the loss, it is proof that you have faith. 

Then, of course, there are things which you doubt. You are told thatsome one has discovered perpetual motion. You smile, and do not believeit. You doubt. Doubt is simply the opposite of faith. 

Now to show or illustrate how faith works instantaneously always, letus suppose you are a parent and one of your children is lost. It is youryoungest child but one. You have hunted until you are exhausted, andfind no trace of the child. Your heart is sick; a load as heavy as leadbears down upon you. You can think of a dozen different things that couldhave happened to the child; he may have been kidnapped, may have beenrun over and killed, may have fallen into the water and drowned, may beweeping his heart out somewhere. At last the whole neighborhood gets outto search, and you, exhausted, sit impatiently waiting. By and by youhear some one halloo. Then you hear another. And then some one runs upexcitedly and says, "The child is found, safe. " The very moment youbelieve that news the load lifts, the heart is light, the soul is happy. Tears of joy flow freely. 

But suppose it proves a premature report, and by and by another comesand says it is a mistake, that the child was found dead. Then all yourjoy is turned immediately to sadness. Faith always works instantaneously. 

The quickness with which faith works has been illustrated by this: Supposesome one rushes into an office of philosophical, higher-criticalprofessors, and cries, "Fire!" You would see those hard-boiled skeptics, if they believed the cry, rush unceremoniously and indecorously out ofthat building with all speed. People may scoff at faith working withlightning speed; but every exhibition of it only proves that it does. 

Now you mentioned that at times you feel as though you believe strongly, and at other times you feel as though your faith is leaving you. You aremaking a great mistake mixing up your faith with your feelings. Theynever did mix; and all who try to mix them only get into trouble; forfaith is one thing and feelings are another. 

The only way for you to know that you have faith is to believe something. Do you believe anything? If so, then you have faith. Do you believe inGod? Then you have faith in God. Faith is believing, just as seeing isseeing and hearing is hearing. If you see something, you know you havesight; if you hear something, you know you have your hearing; and if youbelieve, you have faith. 

Faith in God is just like faith in anything else. God has said He willdo or has done something for you. Do you believe He has done somethingfor you? Do you believe He has done or will do that thing? If so, thatis faith. 

For instance, you have repented of all your sins and have asked God toforgive them. He has said that "if we confess our sins, he is faithfuland just to forgive us our sins" (1 John 1:9). Do you believe this? Yousay, "Yes. " Well, then, you have faith, and "by grace are ye saved throughfaith" (Ephesians 2:8), and, "therefore, being justified by faith, wehave peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). And, moreover, "he that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness inhimself" (1 John 5:10); or, in other words, when you believe you knowit, and God does for you what He promises to do. 

The same reasoning holds good in entire sanctification. The conditionsare consecration and faith. You are to put all on the altar, and ask andtrust God to do the cleansing and give you the filling of the Spirit. Have you thus consecrated? Have you given all? If you say yes, then doyou believe that God sanctifies you wholly? If you do, you have faith, and you are sanctified wholly, because God can not lie nor fail. 

Faith in God, then, is believing God's Word, the Bible. Whenever youobey the Bible and meet the conditions laid down therein for any blessingpromised, you may then believe that God does or is doing for you whateverHe has there promised. And when you believe, you will have all joy andpeace in believing, you will enjoy the riches of God's grace, and Hewill work in you mightily, as He does in all those who believe (Ephesians1:19). 

CHAPTER SIX

THE BEST INHERITANCE IN CANAAN

I am troubled about my sanctification. My conversion was so bright andthere was such a change that I never could doubt it. But when I wassanctified, there was not so great a change. And it was not so great asthat of some I have heard testify. Neither do I feel as bold as some Ihave heard speak, neither did I taste such a death as others have testifiedtoo. In fact, when I compare my sanctification with what others saytheirs is, mine suffers in the comparison. I have often repudiated mysanctification and endeavored to obtain an experience just like others';but it seems I cannot. Must I try to obtain another, or be satisfiedwith the one I have? Any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated. 

 * * * * *

Suppose we go over to Bethlehem this morning; there is a Brother Faithfulthere whose acquaintance you positively will appreciate. He has been inCanaan a number of years and doubtless can tell us some interestingreminiscences of his life. 

This is a famous place. Somewhere about here David killed a lion and abear and composed some of those inimitable psalms of praise to God. Inthat field right over there Ruth gleaned for Boaz, and her maidenlypurity won the hearts of all. 

Here is Brother Faithful's house. Let us knock and go in. 

"Brother Faithful, how did you happen to get such a beautiful home inCanaan!"

"Well, pilgrims, I did not just 'happen' to get it. The truth is, I didall possible to gain a home at Bethel, or on Moriah; either place seemedbetter than this; at least it did for some time, until I learned thathere was where Jehovah wished me to settle. Bethel is close to where thetent of the Lord was pitched, and it has sacred memories of a ladderreaching up to heaven and holy angels ascending and descending onministrations of mercy to man below. To me it, of all places, seemednearest heaven; but, if I may reveal a secret, I have found that Bethelis not the only place that has associations of a ladder planted on itand reaching heaven. 

"The reason I wanted to stop at Moriah was because I heard BrotherDreamgood who lives there tell of the remarkable experiences he hadthere. I began thinking there was no place in Canaan like that, and Idid not stop to consider that all of us could not abide in one place. Brother Dreamgood told the wonderful story of angels and holymanifestations and heavenly illuminations constantly occurring on thatsacred spot till I forgot all about asking where the Lord would have mebe, and forthwith started for Moriah. But I was baffled at every turn. Especially was I chagrined to find there was no place for me on Moriahat that time. Brother Dreamgood had a dreadful battle with the giantsbefore he won a home for himself, and I am not certain that I could havefought them successfully. 

"Then after that I fell in with Brother Worshipful who lived at Bethel. After he told of the good things there, I concluded Bethel was the placefor me. But I made no headway in that direction. 

"Having been in Canaan for some time and still unsettled, I began toinquire of Jehovah where He would have me be. It was made fully plainto me that God had the place for me that was best for me. A glad yieldingto this truth brought great boldness to my soul. I girded on the armor, adjusted the shield of faith, grasped the sword of truth [Ephesians6:10-17], and went where I was directed--toward Bethlehem, a place whichI had regarded as palpably inferior. After severe fighting, I won. AndI am satisfied. "

 * * * * *

Sanctification is a work wrought by God through the blood and Spirit. It is both a cleansing from sin and an infilling of righteousness. Ithas negative and positive aspects. It takes away from and adds to. Notthat sin is a sort of root or germ. It is an evil that affects our nature. This evil is destroyed, and its effects banished. The Holy Spirit comesin, filling the nature of man with righteousness and purity. You mustget your mind on the real work of sanctification, not on some of itsspecial manifestations in some people's experiences. The manifestationsof sanctification may be more specific for some people than others, because they may need such. 

It is possible, too, that your conversion made a greater perceptiblechange in your soul and life than did your sanctification. This matterof change depends largely on circumstances. If you were very deeplyconvicted of sin and were very happily converted, your conversion mayhave been greater apparently than your sanctification. But theseappearances are not essential considerations. 

Still another point you must bear in mind, and that is that sanctification, while a separate and distinct thing of itself, is only the second stepin a work already begun. Justification is essential to sanctificationand is the beginning of those things that work full salvation. 

During a camp-meeting one time a minister related a glowing experiencehe had when he was sanctified. He spoke particularly of boldness. He wasmade very bold. 

When the altar-call was made, an old mother in Israel came to the altar. A minister asked her what she was seeking. She replied, with tears inher eyes, "I thought I was sanctified; but since Brother A---- testifiedto the boldness he received, I doubt whether I ever was sanctified. Idid not feel that way. "

The instructor carefully led her away from any comparison between herexperience and others, and asked her if she were consecrated now. 

"Oh, yes, just as consecrated as I know how to be!" she replied, weeping. 

"Well, if you are all consecrated, what does the Lord do for those whoare all given up?"

"He sanctifies them wholly, " she had to say. 

"And if you do not have as much boldness as Brother A---- said he has, probably you do not need as much. Or, if you really need more, would itnot be better to ask God for more rather than to give up your experienceof sanctification in a vain effort to feel as some one else feels?"

She saw the point, and her tears disappeared beneath happy smiles ofjoy. 

There is yet another item you should consider. Many times those whotestify so beautifully and graphically in describing their sanctificationare under an inspiration, and the blessing is set forth in glowing colors. For the time being their trials and discouragements are forgotten, theirstruggles to keep the victory are out of mind, and they speak in thehighest praise of the work God has done. In the exhilaration of themoment they magnify the work. We do not say they overdraw their experience;for really no tongue can tell it; but while they are all aflame withardor and praise, you may be going through a trial. So, of course, theirexperience seems to outshine yours so far that yours suffers. But rememberthis--the time may come when you will be testifying as they now are, andthey may be the ones going through a trial; then they may compare theirexperience with yours, and they may feel that they are the ones, who arebehind. So compare no more. Be all for Jesus. If He gives some oneseemingly a better experience, let Him have His way. What is that toyou? Follow Jesus. 

CHAPTER SEVEN

IN THE HANDS OF GIANT ACCUSER

I am having such dreadful battles! I have to fight, and fight, and thereseems to be no end to it. Surely I am not sanctified; if I were, I shouldnot be so tried. What shall I do? The desire to be all the Lord's isuppermost; but can I truly be all for Him with so many thoughts of allkinds running through my mind? Could I find rest from these battlesprobably I could feel that all is well; but with this constant battle Ifear something is wrong. Isn't sanctification a grace where one will notbe tried or tempted very much, at least not with such things as I amtried and tempted with? Why, the most terrible things ever heard of aresuggested to me to do! Can you help me any?

 * * * * *

Suppose we should visit a citizen of the land of Canaan and ask him ifhe had any battles with the giants of the land. No doubt the twinkle ofhis eye and the animated expression on his face would show that memorywas at work, and we should wait in all expectation. Ah! here's one; letus hear him!

"Indeed, indeed. Many, many times did I battle with the giants of Canaan. Many people suppose Canaan is the home for soldiers to rest, while intruth it is the great battleground of the world. I recall one battle Ihad with Giant Accuser [Matthew 4:1-11]. 

"Look right over the top of that olive tree due east, down toward theDead Sea. Do you see that shaded valley deep down between those twomountains? That is the Valley of Sorrows. In that valley I had one ofthe greatest battles of my life. 

"It was before I possessed my home. I had been helping my brethren fightoff the inhabitants of the land and was out at this time looking overthe country. I entered that valley. The sun was sinking into the westernsea, and my thoughts grew gloomy and foreboding. All at once right beforeme loomed the big form of one of the worst giants in all Canaan, GiantAccuser. I could not run back, the cliffs were too steep on either sideto climb out, and the fierce old Giant blocked the way in front. 

"'I rebuke you in the name of the Lord, ' I said to him. 

"'Ah, the Lord! Ha! ha! The Lord does not care for you. Steal that sheepyou see yonder; no one will see you. If any one sees you with it, youcan tell him a lie about it, ' he said to me. 

"I stood aghast at the suggestion. Never before had I had any evilsuggestion like that, and I felt sick at heart that any such thoughtshould enter my mind. The old Giant strode closer, and I trembled. 

"'Curse and swear, ' he roared at me, scowling down into my very face. Andfrom his coarse mouth there rolled a volume of blasphemy such as I neverhad heard. The curses had a peculiar effect of sticking on my mind, untilthey seemed to be within me. 

"I fell on my knees, while the old Giant dealt me a blow over the headwith his club. 'You have cursed, ' he shouted. 'See, your mind is fullof evil words. And you would steal; for the suggestion lodged in yourmind to steal that sheep. You are a sinner, that's what you are. Christiansnever have such thoughts as you are having. ' And again he struck me withhis club. 

"I was too weak to fight. Finally I felt as if I really had sinned. 

"The Old Giant then fell to beating me, and after half killing me andlaughing right in my face and telling me he was going to drive me outof Canaan before he was through with me, he walked off. 

"I lay there a long time thinking over the situation. Not an angelappeared, and God seemed to have forsaken me. My mind was all confusedover the battle. 

"While I was lying there, the old Giant came again. I was terriblyfrightened, because it seemed I had no weapon that he feared; if I had, I did not know how to use it. I tried to resist, and felt indignantwithin that he should treat me thus; but how to overcome him I did notknow. I prayed, 'O God, help me! Help me!' But no voice answered, andno help came. The Giant strode right up and, without saying a word, againstruck me with his club. The blow seemed to fall right on my heart, anda sickening feeling of utter discouragement and helplessness filled me. I groaned in complete confusion and bewilderment. 

"'See how discouraged you are! You are not happy as are others in Canaan. Evidently something is wrong. People in Canaan ought not have suchdiscouragements as you are having. '

"Then from some cause or other (it may be the Giant insinuated thesethings into my mind), a whole variety of slimy thoughts, vulgar words, bad imaginings surged through my mind and, together with a feeling thatall was lost, seemed to dig down into the depths of my soul. There Ilay, alone, forsaken, while the towering bulk of the Giant hovered overme ready to club me back into utter helplessness any minute. Finally Iattempted to rise; but down came that dreadful club. Once more I struggledto my knees, determined to arise; but a terrific blow just at my heartfelled me again. 

"'You have sinned, ' he hissed. 'You can not stay in Canaan. God has castyou off. See, He has abandoned you. He loves you no more. Die and bedone with it. You are a sinner, anyway; you might as well do somethingdesperate and end all. '

"I was so confused, I hardly knew what to do. The Giant dealt me onemore blow, then left me to nurse my wounds. 

"Finding myself alone, I began to endeavor to collect my thoughts andfind the significance of the encounter. But my mind was so confused thatthe more I tried to reason out the why of the affair, the more confusedI became. 

"And then, to my consternation, the Giant came in sight again. I knewinstinctively that he would once more beat and wound me. I made a feebleattempt at resistance; but it seemed to avail nothing. He repeated thebeating I had before, and there I lay utterly baffled. The same thingoccurred for many days. 

"Then one day my attention was called to the shield of faith [Ephesians6:16] with which the Lord had equipped me. I had used it slightly, andthere it lay at my feet. And my sword of truth lay unused by my side. Why I had not used it was a mystery to me. No giant can stand before it. I then and there determined that if Giant Accuser came again to beat me, I should use these holy weapons. 

"Not long after this decision was made, the Giant came again. He cameup confidently, expecting to make short work of me and laugh at mycalamity. I did not shout at him, nor utter any sigh of despair as before, neither was I trembling; for I now knew that all I had to do was to usemy weapons. When the Giant got close enough, he bawled out again, 'Youhave sinned. Your thoughts have been on things that are wrong. You havedoubted. You must begin over. You are lost. '

"'You are wrong, ' I declared. 'I am a full citizen of Canaan, with aclear title to a home in this land of Beulah, ' and with that I keptbefore me my shield of faith, and drew the sword [Ephesians 6:17] andstruck at him with all my might. He winced, but immediately again bracedhimself. He was not sure but that I might yield; so he began telling methe wrongs and sins he was accusing me of. 

"'I am not a rebel, ' I declared emphatically, 'and these ugly thingscoming to my mind are from you, old Giant Accuser, ' I added. Then Istruck at him again with all my might. He gave way a little at that, andI saw it, and it gave me immense encouragement. Then I rained blows onhim as fast and hard as I possibly could. Soon he started to run. Summoningall the strength I had, I ran after him, giving him blow upon blow, untilhe jumped into a deep place and disappeared. Then I dropped on my kneesand praised the Lord God Almighty for helping me win so signal a victory. 

"I have fought with Giant Tempter, Giant Discourager, Giant Covetousness, Giant Liar, Giant Lust, Giant Pride, Giant Doubt, Giant Fear, GiantWorldliness, and many others. Thank our God for the weapons of warfare, the shield and the sword, the breastplate and the girdle, which give uspower over them. I have not seen a giant for some time; but if any ofthem should attempt an encounter, by God's help I am ready. "

 * * * * *

Sanctification does not deliver from temptations; but it does make us moresure of winning over them. It is even probable that you will have morebattles to fight, have more temptations to overcome, after you aresanctified than before. The spiritual foes are by no means confined to thejustified state; there are a host of them to meet in the Canaan experience. 

Many newly sanctified people have been overwhelmed, just as you have, with dreadful inner battles. Either the mind is harassed with constantlyrecurring evil thoughts, or evil words keep popping into it till theyapparently spring from within. Or perhaps the suggestion to commit somesinful act keeps persistently coming to mind. Maybe feelings one considersforeign to the sanctified experience possess one. Possibly some diabolicaltemptation keeps whirling one about. All of these are sent with theavowed object of overthrowing the soul. 

It is a favorite method of Satan's to suggest a sin or bring somethingbad to the mind and then accuse you of being guilty of the evil. It isas if a thief should turn around suddenly and accuse the owner of thestolen property of being the thief. Satan may fill your mind with badthings and then try to throw the blame for having them all on you. Hisobject is so to trouble you that you will give up your faith, after whichhe will make short work of you. 

Fight on! No one can grow strong without fighting. And the battles giveproficiency in the use of the spiritual weapons. When your faith isassailed, you learn how to use the shield of faith. Then in the nextassault you can use it more familiarly. The same reasoning applies tothe using of the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Thesevery battles which seem to be more than you can bear are only developingthat which will make you a strong and valiant soldier in God's army. 

Then, too, these violent spiritual battles are proof of your ability toresist, else you would not have them (1 Corinthians 10:13). They areproof of your trueness. So, instead of looking upon them as somethingto be frightened or troubled over, see in them a signal proof of yourstrength and of God's confidence in you. So, then, dear soul, be encouragedconcerning them; rejoice that God counts you able to fight for Him andcounts you able to win. By looking at them in this light you will makeof them a source of encouragement. That being the case, let the battlescome--they will do you good (2 Timothy 2:3; 1 Peter 1:7). 

CHAPTER EIGHT

CONFLICTS WITH GIANT MISTAKE

I make so many mistakes, it seems I am just a bundle of contradictions. I try to do good; but at times my efforts are so crude that I seem todo more harm than good. What shall I do? And though all the time I tryhard not to make mistakes, yet I still make them. It seems to me thatsurely I am not sanctified, or else I should be more perfect. Do not theScriptures command us to be perfect even as our Father in heaven isperfect? I am not perfect; far from it. Really I must be very imperfect. Is it right for me to claim to be sanctified? Can you help me?

 * * * * *

Let us visit some of the pioneers of Canaan today and ask them to tellus some of their experiences. Let us see if Faithful is at home. He hasa possession in one of the most charming vales of Beulah, and the beautifulflowers blooming there and the luscious fruit growing there tend to makehim one of the happiest citizens of the country. I am just certain thathe will be glad to tell us a story. 

Here we are close to his home now. Oh, see the garden! Just like theGarden of the Lord. 

See, it is just a little longer than it is wide, and is fenced with arow of protecting flowers called Grace. The central feature of the gardenis that beautiful white lily called Love. It looks as though unusualcare has been bestowed on this plant; see how it towers above the restso grandly and yet is so majestically humble. Its fragrance spreads farand wide. Doesn't it make you want to sit down under its magnificentfoliage and drink in of its glorious essence? Over there on the left ofLove is a group of flowers of different species. That large cream-coloredflower is called Patience. That crimson one is called Joy, and that withbroad, drooping white petals is Humility. The sweet perfume you noticein any part of the garden is from Humility. That pink blossom on theright is Peace, and a very pleasant odor it has. Next to it is Faith. See it? It is a remarkably robust plant. Notice its blossom of pure goldcolor. It has no perceptible odor. This flower here, with all the colorsmixed most intricately and beautifully together, is called Goodness. Nowonder Faithful is so happy and cheerful, with such a garden! [Galatians5:22, 23]. 

Oh, hush! There is Faithful on his knees now, at prayer to the Almighty!How sublime he looks! Come; he rises. 

"Good morning Faithful. "

"Good morning to you, pilgrims. Blessings upon you in the name of Immanuel. What may I do for you?"

"We are pilgrims in Canaan and have only lately crossed the Jordan. Weseek a home. But we have heard of the giants and we saw one afar off, too. We are a little afraid. We thought probably you would tell us howto overcome these giants. Will you!"

"With the greatest of pleasure. One of my greatest joys is to teachpilgrims the strategy of spiritual warfare and tell them how to overcomethe Anakims of Canaan [2 Corinthians 10:4]. 

"About the first giant I met in Canaan was one Mistake, a large, loose-jointed fellow, who, I found, made a tremendous bluster but was asweak as a pygmy. Really he is not a true Anakim, but a Gibeonite, who arefoes until they are conquered, and then they become hewers of wood anddrawers of water for us--they become our servants betimes [Joshua 9:21]. But at first Mistake assumes all the characteristics of a true giant. 

"Not long after I crossed the Jordan, I met him. He came lumbering downupon me, and I thought my days in Canaan were numbered. It was only afterI made some blunder or said some tactless thing that Mistake botheredme, but at such times he gave me untold trouble. One time a pilgrim namedSlow was standing by the way. As I was passing him, I, not being ascareful as I should be, bumped into him and nearly knocked him off theroad. Poor fellow, he began to cry, and said he was ruined and believedthat if such was the way pilgrims treated each other, he would go backinto Egypt. This, of course, caused me to feel very sorry. I went backand apologized the best I could, but it hardly consoled him. I startedon. And, do you know, up came Giant Mistake! He caught hold of me andgave me a sound thrashing for what I had done [1 Peter 2:20]. 

"But really, Mistake did not cause me so much trouble as did GiantDiscourager. This Giant Discourager is a true giant, of pure Anakimblood, and he is in the habit of accompanying Mistake. And so it wasthat every time I met Mistake, old Giant Discourager was with him. GiantDiscourager beat me unmercifully nearly every time I met Mistake. Hewould flog me within an inch of my life and throw me down so bruised andbleeding that I almost wished I was dead [1 Kings 19:9-18]. It was onlywhen I made a blunder that Mistake and Discourager beat me; but as Imade these nearly every day, my life grew very miserable. I was aboutto conclude that Canaan-land had lost all its milk and honey; for I hadnot found very much of either yet. 

"It got so that I anticipated the approach of these giants, and theynever disappointed my anticipations. Giant Discourager would call me allkinds of names, such as a sinner, a perfect failure, a no-good, a weakling, a coward. And he would tell me, 'You have no faith, ' 'You never will geta home in Canaan, ' 'You will be cast out at last, ' and many such likethings would he say to me. 

"When in my very worst battle with Mistake and Discourager, old GiantDespair came around to see me [1 Kings 19:4]. He claimed that by myrepeated failures he had the right to possession of my soul, and he saidhe was going to carry me to his dungeon and club me to death, just ashe almost did Bunyan's pilgrim, Christian. This frightened me nearly todeath. 

"In the very extremity of this bitter battle, an angel of Immanuel, namedSolicitude, came to my side one day and said, 'I will teach you how totame Giant Mistake and how to put Giant Discourager to flight. '

"'Oh, do tell me!' I cried. 

"'Well, here is your shield of faith. Take it and hold it up. Quitdragging it around in the dust behind you. Here is your sword of theSpirit, get it in your right hand and use it. That is what it is for. It is not for a mere ornament, nor a mere appendage, as you have madeit. Use it. Pull the girdle of truth up a notch or two, tie your gospelshoes on tighter. Press the helmet of salvation upon your brow. And whenthe giants come, fight [Ephesians 6:10-17; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, 7:5-7]. 

"'And, really, so far as Giant Mistake is concerned, ' the angel Solicitudewent on to say, 'he is not a true giant. There is no Anakim blood inhim. He is a Gibeonite; all you need to do to him is to conquer him, andhe will be your servant. You can never get entirely rid of him even inCanaan; but by tactful management he can be of some service to you[Hebrews 12:5-11]. But Giant Discourager--you must win over him; forhe has slain many a poor pilgrim, and waits to slay you. '

"I thanked Immanuel for sending Solicitude to tell me the secret ofwarfare and how to handle Mistake and Discourager. And it was even so. I made my blunders as usual, and Mistake and Discourager came fallingdown upon me. I ignored Mistake. But I gripped my sword, held up theshield, and made for Discourager, giving him a terrible blow over thehead. He challenged me there, and broke forth at me in awful epithets;but I let the sword fall as fast as I could wield it. Pretty soon he ranin a disgraceful riot of retreat and plunged down a dark canyon whichthey say is his home. When I looked around, Mistake had shrunk up toabout half his former size. 

"'You come with me, ' I said to him, 'I can't get along without you; butyou must behave yourself from now on. '

"'I will, ' he said. And he always has since. "

The story of Faithful makes us feel better, doesn't it?

Sanctification purifies the motives, and makes the spring of impulse andaction pure; but it does not give maturity of judgment nor perfectionof reason. If an ignorant person is sanctified, he will find keennessof perception as regards right and wrong, but he will still be ignorant. 

Sanctification does not imply that a sanctified person shall not needto study and advance in knowledge (2 Peter 1:5-9). Though sanctified weare still human beings, and we must utilize the common means to knowledgejust as others do. Sanctification affects the heart, and its work is totake out evil, the sin in the nature, and make it holy and pure. Alsoit means an infilling of God's Spirit, which pervades our nature aftersanctification just as sin pervaded it before. But sanctification doesnot eliminate humanity from our nature. 

Mistakes, therefore, are the common lot of all--sinners, believers, andsanctified ones. 

Not only are we liable to mistakes, we are inseparable from them in ourearthly existence. As one grows in experience, knowledge, and maturityof judgment, one's mistakes may become fewer in number; but no one onearth can ever expect to get entirely beyond making them. 

Let us take a look at some illustrations: A young Christian had a fatherwho drank. One day another Christian saw this Christian young man gointo a saloon. He reported it around that he saw this brother go into asaloon. Well, the young brother must have backslidden, was the instantconclusion, and so it was reported. But the young man had gone into thesaloon to get his father to go home. A very noble act; but the storythat was told was very detrimental to the young man. It was a mistaketo tell that he was backslidden without first knowing the facts of thecase. 

A mother has three children. One of them comes running in crying almostas hard as it can, and says, "John hit me with a stick. " Mother callsJohn and punishes him for hitting Sister with his stick. By and by Motherfinds that John did not do it, but that a playmate did. A mistake wasmade. 

Sometimes one hears something detrimental to the character of another. On the strength of this, one may pursue a certain course of action. Byand by it may be found that this first report is not entirely true tofacts, and one regrets the course of action taken. A mistake has beenmade. 

Mistakes are made in every department of life, mental, spiritual, physical;in the home, in school, in the laboratory; in mechanics, in business, and in government. It is simply impossible to know always what to do orto say. Mistakes, more or less, are occurring all the time. Many of thethings we know we have learned by our mistakes. A farmer becomes successfulby eliminating the mistakes of the past, by ceasing to do the thingsthat proved to be inefficient. A manufacturer becomes successful byeliminating the weaknesses of his product, by eliminating his mistakes. So with every department of life. 

Maturity is gained only by experience covering a period of time, hencesanctified people will have to learn by their mistakes just as othersdo, and by observing closely they are able to eliminate many mistakesand live more happy lives. 

Our Father knows our limitations, and he will not cast us off for ourmistakes. Do not count mistakes as sins. For some of your mistakes youmay ask pardon, of both God and men; but do not allow discouragement tocome in. Be happy along with your mistakes. 

There is a strange but natural law of the mind that works in this way:If you make a mistake and worry and brood over it and live in the fearthat you will make a similar mistake again, you are liable to make thesame mistake--over and over, as often as you fear making it. Someway orother the agitation over it invites it to return. There is a certainattraction your fear and agitation creates toward it, which, even thoughyou abhor it, draws you in it again and again. On the other hand, if onemakes a mistake, and, after promptly asking forgiveness, if necessary, promptly forgets it and goes on as if nothing unusual whatever hadoccurred, he will find that he will hardly make that mistake again. 

Here is a secret for the newly sanctified ones; you will make mistakes, but learn to confess them fully and broadly and completely, and, afterdoing that, then to refuse to think any more whatever about them. LetGod take care of you and also of the mistake. 

Imperfection of human disposition and character is a fruitful sourcefrom which mistakes arise. Here is a person so slow as to be a trial tonearly every one about him, while here is another who, because he is sofast, is continually injuring the feelings of others. Here is a personnaturally so impatient that at times he wounds and hurts others. Theintentions of these persons are often misunderstood, and mistakes arisefrom the misunderstanding. We, thinking that certain things were doneor said for certain purposes, may do and say certain things. Later wediscover some other course would have been wiser and better. 

So, dear anxious soul, do not expect to get beyond making mistakes. Profit by those you make. Use them as stepping-stones to a betterexperience. Keep consecrated, keep your faith clear, and commit yourselfto God, mistakes and all. Sanctification makes us pure; but it takestime and experience to make us mature. 

CHAPTER NINE

IN THE DUNGEON OF GIANT DISCOURAGER

I feel very discouraged at times, and sometimes the spells ofdiscouragement hang on for a long while. I wonder if I am sanctified. From unaccountable sources, bad feelings of every description depressmy soul, and along with these bad feelings come doubts that cast gloomover me. I have prayed and prayed that these feelings of discouragementmight leave me; but they have not done so. I despair of prayer bringingme the help I need. Really, I know not what to do. I earnestly desireto be all the Lord's and have His will done in my life, and it is painfulto believe that these discouragements hinder God's will in my heart. Howdo sanctified people feel, anyway? I should think they ought to feelecstatic joy all the time, being so consecrated and near the Lord asthey are. I need help on this line, and will appreciate any advice yougive me. 

 * * * * *

The Wilderness of Canaan is a wild, rough district bordering on theJordan Valley, through which every pilgrim and home-seeker must passbefore he finds his home site and settles down. Some pilgrims are fortunatein passing through it quickly, while others, coming under the spell oftwo old giants who live there, have a very hard time passing through. These giants are Discourager and Despair, said to be twin brothers, sonsof a bad mighty couple, Unbelief and Doubt, who live in the same wildernessand are, they say, the grandfather and grandmother of one of the worstfamilies of giants in all Canaan. It is in this Wilderness that pilgrimsencounter Giant Accuser, a cousin of Giants Discourager and Despair. 

It is said that Pilgrim Victory had a long and hard battle with thesetwo giants, Discourager and Despair. We shall have time this evening, so why not visit Victory? Probably he will tell us of this battle. Weshould like to know how he overcame them. We hear these two giants arereally afraid of him since he has become so proficient in the use of thesword. 

Very well, let us visit Pilgrim Victory. 

Where does he live? He lives on Mount Moriah, and we shall find him athome, no doubt. 

Oh see, here is a monument by the roadside! Let us stop and read theinscription. Oh! Listen!

"It was on this spot that a desperate battle was fought between PilgrimVictory and two of the worst giants in Canaan, Giants Discourager andDespair. Victory won after a long fight. The castle of Giant Despair issituated in one of the dark ravines to the right. In clear weather itcan be seen from this spot. Pilgrims are warned to be prepared to meetthese giants, for they have slain their thousands. "

Come! Let us hurry away from this place! But look! See! There is thecastle of Giant Despair! It looks more like a jail, or prison, than acastle. Maybe there is some poor pilgrim in there now. O Immanuel, ifthere is, send an angel to tell him to use the key of Promise so he mayget out!

Why, here comes a pilgrim from that direction now. And there comes oldGiant Despair after him. O Immanuel, help!

Will the pilgrim escape? The old Giant is coming so fast! But it is cleartoday. Yes! now the sun bursts full on the old Giant! Ah! he seems tomelt in his tracks. Oh, yes! now we know why--he can not run in clearweather. Here is the pilgrim on the main road again. 

"Pilgrim, we are so happy to see you get away. You look so worn, soweary. And there, what can that be, poor fellow? There is blood andwounds all over your back. That is where the old giant beat you, isn'tit? How did you escape?"

"Blessed be Immanuel forever! For a long time old Despair has had me inhis dungeon. I've been nearly killed. Giant Discourager encountered mefirst and got me off into that ravine over there toward the castle. Thenold Despair caught me and put me in his dungeon. He beat me regularlymorning, noon, and night. He has killed a number of pilgrims. He killedone while I was there; and there is a large heap of the bones of otherpoor pilgrims out of whom he drove the spark of hope. But this morningI thought of a key called Promise [1 Kings 8:56] that Bunyan's pilgrimtold of, and to my surprise it fitted every lock I had to open. The oldGiant ran after me. I do not know what happened to him; I did not lookback to see. But I am safe, anyway. "

"Come on with us, we are going to visit Pilgrim Victory. What is yourname!"

"My name is Honest. "

"Well, here we are on Moriah. And yonder is Pilgrim Victory! He seemsto be polishing or sharpening his sword. Why, it shines like silver now!"

"Blessings on you, pilgrims, and what can I do for you?"

"Oh, Pilgrim Victory, tell us of your battle with Giants Discourager andDespair, will you!"

"To the glory of Immanuel, yes. And I shall begin with an early experience, and this is the way it came about: No sooner had I crossed the Jordanthan Giant Mistake began to keep me company. Not long after that, GiantDiscourager joined us, much to my detriment. I should have fought himthen; but he said he had a right to travel with pilgrims, and I did notknow any better; so I let him stay in my company. When we got fartherinto the Wilderness of Canaan, Giant Discourager began to torment meawfully. Every day he beat me, till I had no strength left. I did nothingbut sit and nurse my wounds for many days. According to Giant Discourager, I was a failure; and it did appear that way. I was not good for anything, he said, and there was much truth, apparently, in that saying, too. Hesaid Immanuel did not care the least bit for me; and it did look thatway. 'You will never get out of this wilderness. You will never be ableto do any good. You will always feel miserable, ' said Giant Discouragerto me. In fact, he saw nothing ahead for me but woe, failure, misery, and despair. And it appeared certain that he was right. 

"Just at that place where you saw the monument, I fought the battlethrough, and won. But I was in Giant Despair's dungeon two weeks at that. It was after I escaped that I fought the fight I won. I had got out ofthe dungeon by using the key of Promise; but the weather was foul, andthe giants caught me at that spot. 

"The battle was a long one. With all the subtlety of his lengthy career, Giant Discourager threw out every idea and insinuation to get me to giveup. But while these insidious attacks were very hard to ward off, I haddefinitely promised Immanuel down in the dungeon that if he would getme out I would never be caught in company with Giant Discourager again. I saw while there that it was my keeping company with him that got meinto Despair's hands. So I had to keep my promise. 

"But Discourager would not leave; so I swung at him with my sword, andsaid, 'Get thee hence, Discourager, I am Immanuel's. I am a citizen ofCanaan, I am across the Jordan, this is my home; here my rest shall be. Get thee hence' [Luke 4:1-13]. His foul breath blew over me, and hisawful concoctions of unbelief and despair almost overthrew me. At that, Giant Despair grabbed me, and was in the act of lifting me bodily andcarrying me away, when a fierce desire to fight to victory possessed me. I made another stroke at Giant Discourager and then aimed one at Despair. This freed me. Then, gathering myself, I rushed at one, then the other, until I chased them back into their haunts. Oh, victory, how sweet! Andhow blessed it was after that not to have that old Discourager's heartlessand despairing conversation poisoning my thoughts! Oh, what a relief!

"On thinking of it, I then and there purposed to build the monument yousaw on your way here. Many a pilgrim has taken warning and escaped anawful death. 

"Pilgrim Honest, I know those are tears of gratitude flowing down yourpoor face; but dry them, and come with me. I will bathe those wounds ofyours and give you food that will relieve all your distress [Isaiah66:10-13; Matthew 12:38-21]. And to you, pilgrims, we say farewell. "

"Good-by, Pilgrims Victory and Honest. May it be well with you. "

Now let us talk between ourselves. 

It is no sin to feel discouraged. The only place where sin can enter inconnection with discouragement is in entirely surrendering faith andletting actual transgressions follow. When the soul is tormented to thepoint where it appears impossible for it to claim the victory any farther, that is no evidence that that soul has sinned and is lost. In this caseGod sees the soul as it really is; He does not look at the soul's ownestimate of itself. Many a sanctified soul has given up faith forsanctification, and even for justification, merely on the strength ofsome argument the devil has presented. For instance, a person mayconsecrate all, have perfect faith, and receive the experience of entiresanctification. In a week or two this person may make a mistake, or forsome reason or other he may begin to have bad feelings in himself. Satannow sends his tempter to accuse the soul and cause it to doubt its havingthe experience of entire sanctification. After a painful struggle, thesoul feels, that, on the evidence presented, it must give up its professionof a sanctified state, and does so. But God, looking down, sees thatthat soul is just as consecrated as ever, and loves God as much as ever. He can not hold that soul as it holds itself. So while the soul despairs, God holds it as all right. The only reason the soul does not get God'sview is because these doubts and accusations obscure God's will andpromise, and the devil's doubts are admitted instead of God's word. 

That more souls are done to death by discouragement than by any otherone thing is probably a true saying. 

You say you are discouraged. Over what? Is it because you do not havethe pleasant feelings you would like to have? This is no cause fordiscouragement. You may be better than you feel, just as many are notso good as they feel they are. Feelings are no standard to go by. Is itbecause you can not accomplish more? Do the best you can and be satisfiedwith that. Is it because you make many blunders and mistakes? Care notfor it, for all make them. Profit by them and go on. 

Discouragement is deadly to the soul. It is a destroyer of hope, faith, confidence, joy, service, and victory. Look at the discouraged man! Therehe sits. Nothing seems good to him; and he hesitates to do anything. What army ever won a victory if it was discouraged? What merchant eversucceeded in business when discouraged? Who ever accomplished anythingwhen discouraged?

Vow never to give way to discouragement. Sign the pledge against indulgencein it. Why not? Discouragement is the effect of the devil's work. Willyou engage in helping the devil at his work?

There is no sound argument in favor of becoming discouraged; there isno reason or logic on its side. If you have obstacles to overcome, discouragement will make them only that much harder to overcome. Do youmake mistakes? Discouragement will only make it harder to overcome them. No matter what may be your trouble, or failure, or other problem, discouragement is a positive hindrance. And if it is given way to, itmust ultimately be overcome, in addition to overcoming the obstacle whichoccasions the discouragement, before one has the victory. 

There is one thing you will do well always to remember, and that is God'spromise in John 3:16. No matter where you are, no matter how hopelesseverything seems, no matter how far down you may get, even into sin--remember that God loves you and has this promise, exactly suited to yourneed. All you have to do to begin to get out is to step upon that promise. 

Yes, sanctified people feel discouraged at times. But since they are allthe Lord's they must not give way to it, but must pray and trust Him tocarry them through. This sooner or later brings them through the trial(1 Peter 5:10). Jesus Christ never gets discouraged. Let us be like Himin the eternal hope of the triumph of the grace of God (Romans 8:37-39). In which triumph we may have a share both while we live here and againin the heaven of heavens. 

CHAPTER TEN

THE TORMENTS OF GIANT BAD FEELINGS

I am just a bundle of feelings. I never imagined one could have such avariety of them as I am now experiencing. Most of them are bad ones andI am greatly disturbed by them. Really, I doubt whether I am sanctified, on account of the feelings I have. Do sanctified people always feeljoyful? I have heard that they do, and if it is true that they do, thenI am not sanctified. Big doubts take up company with me every morning, and so long as I feel as I do I do not see how to dismiss them. My heartis heavy, very heavy, over these questions. Can you tell me how sanctifiedpeople feel? Please do, I am so anxious to know. 

 * * * * *

Nearly every pilgrim in Canaan has met Giant Bad Feelings, a doughty oldgiant with a long bad record for troubling pilgrims. He is not, theysay, so dangerous to life as are some of the other giants, as he rarelyslays a pilgrim; but for inflicting torment on them and as a helper toGiant Discourager no one can equal him. He is a most pestiferous giant, with a numerous family. 

This is going to be a fair day, the sun came up clear this morning; shallwe visit Pilgrim Sunshine? She lives in one of the sunniest, most pleasantvales in all Canaan, so I hear. You think it will be profitable to goover to her home? Very well, let us go. 

By the way, did you ever hear the story of Pilgrim Sunshine? It is saidshe used to be sad, broken-hearted, fearful, and despondent, and thatshe lived long in the Valley of Sighs. Of course, we want to hear thestory from her own lips. She has had a great deal of trouble, has pilgrimSunshine; enough to make one despair, almost. Her people persecuted her, her husband deserted her, her sons reproached her; but, nevertheless, she is one of the happiest inhabitants of Canaan. 

I believe we are nearing her home now, see how clear the air is up here, and the flora is getting more bountiful and beautiful, isn't it! Thereis her place! What a lovely garden she has! And it is growing out ofsuch rocky soil! There she is, the dear old mother in Israel! When weget to her, note the marks of care that line her saintly face; but noticealso the sweet smile that graces her kind countenance. Oh, that we couldbear up under life's cares and burdens as she does!

"The Lord's blessings be yours, Pilgrim Sunshine. "

"Aye, and the riches of His great goodness attend you, pilgrims. Sitdown under this amaranthine bower and rest yourselves. "

"We are new pilgrims in Canaan and we want to settle somewhere in theland. Some one said the Vale of Hidden Delights is a good place to livein. Seems to us it is. Could we find a home here? And we should be gladto hear you tell us some of your adventures in Canaan. Coming along, wesaw some giants. Do any giants live in this vicinity? We are hoping thatwe can gain our inheritance without meeting any of them. Can we?"

"Pilgrims, I could wish you might settle into your inheritance withouta battle; but I have never yet heard of a case where a pilgrim did so. It is true some more sturdy and valiant pilgrims have little troublewith the giants and soon win, but many have hard battles to fight [Luke12:28; 1 John 5:4]. As to your settling here in the Valley of HiddenDelights, remember that it is only by the greatest toil and care we areable to bring loveliness and beauty out of this rocky soil. But ifImmanuel allots you a home here, do not fear; some of the sweetest fruitsand flowers of Canaan grow right here. 

"My hardest battle was with Giant Bad Feelings. Beware of him! I had apensive soul, a sensitive nature, and was conscientious to a scruple[Romans 14:1-6]. Bad Feelings took advantage of this fact and caused metrouble untold. 

"I was very happy when I crossed the Jordan into Canaan, and set up mymemorial stone with a shout. I advanced into the land to explore it atonce. The old corn and wine of Canaan delighted me [Joshua 5:11, 12]. My weapons of warfare were bright, and I felt able to meet any foe. Butinadvertently I got into the Valley of Sighs, and lived there far toolong. I blame Giant Bad Feelings for it, yet I should not have allowedmyself to be influenced by him. 

"It was not long after I had passed Jericho that Giant Bad Feelingsaccosted me. 

"'Good morning, pilgrim, ' he said, 'how do you feel this morning. Seemsto me your feelings are not what they should be. Pilgrims in Canaan oughtto be happy all the time. You are not happy. There is a little load onyour soul. See, you are carrying burdens!' and at that he laid somethingheavy upon my shoulders. 'It is true, ' he chattered on, 'that pilgrimsshould be always happy, and you are not. That is plain to be seen. Now, be honest about it, aren't you sad?'

"Well, I had to confess I felt bad. 

"'Certainly you feel bad. Are you sure you are all consecrated to Immanuel?Are you certain you left all the love of Egypt behind, on the fartherside of the Jordan? Something must be wrong with you since you feel asyou do. '

"At that he blew something into my face that sickened me with feelingsof discouragement and dejection. Really, I felt worse than I did beforeever I crossed the Jordan. I felt faint and sad. 

"'Probably you have failed somewhere! More than likely Immanuel has castyou off, and some giant will carry you out of the land. You are a failure. That is all there is to it. ' And with this he struck me a hard blow thatseemed to land right on my heart. I fainted and fell. 

"After this, Giant Bad Feelings visited me every day. He had the power, it seemed, to make me feel just as he desired. At times he would throwover me feelings that imitated envy, anger, and such like. When BadFeelings would shroud me with ingratitude to Immanuel, then he wouldturn around and beat me for the ingratitude just as though the feelingswere my own. And really it was here that Giant Bad Feelings deceived me. He had manufactured these feelings himself and, on encountering me, wouldlay them upon me, all the while insinuating that they were my very own. He would bring bad words to my mind, bad thoughts, ugly pictures andideas that my soul and mind revolted against. He would deftly cause it allto seem as though it came from my heart. And then he would lay the mostmiserable and heart-deadening feelings upon me possible. 

"Finally some pilgrims found out that Giant Bad Feelings was causing memuch trouble and they visited me. 'Pilgrim, ' they said, 'pay no attentionto Giant Bad Feelings. He is a big blusterer, anyway. Ignore him. Nexttime he comes tell him plainly that you belong to Immanuel, and thatyour feelings are consecrated to Jehovah. Tell him that if Immanuelallows you to have feelings you do not understand, that is Immanuel'sbusiness, and must be a blessing to you in some way or other. '

"Giant Bad Feelings came around as usual after this visit of the pilgrims. 

"'Good morning, Pilgrim Sunshine. Not much sunshine in your soul today, is there?' he bawled out. 

"'Perhaps not, ' I said. 'But I belong to Immanuel, and the state of mysoul is in His keeping. '

"'Oh, pshaw! you feel miserable, and you know it. Be honest! And be sure!you might be deceived if you do not investigate very closely the stateof your feelings. Remember, as a man feels so he is, according toBeelzebub. '

"'I am Immanuel's, ' I declared vehemently. 'How I feel is His concern. Whatever the feeling He allows, there must be good for me in theexperience. Anyway, I am His and He is mine. '

"'Come now, ' said the Giant. 'Do you mean to say that you believe youare all right when you feel as you do! Be careful!'

"'Yes, sir, I mean to say that very thing. I believe I am all right, nomatter how I feel. You have been lying to me. Get thee hence' [Matthew4:1-11; 1 John 5:4, 2:12-14]. 

"At this I swung at Bad Feelings with the trusty sword of the Spirit. It was a hard struggle, but at last I chased him away. Then I moved outof the Vale of Sighs to this Vale of Hidden Delights. "

"Oh, we feel so animated over this recital of your battle and victoryover old Giant Bad Feelings, Pilgrim Sunshine! If he attacks us we believewe shall know what to do. Our armor and weapons are proof against him, this one thing we know. Oh, Immanuel, help us use the weapons thou hastso graciously put in our hands!

"Farewell Pilgrim Sunshine. "

Now let us do some considering. Probably seventy-five per cent of thepeople who consecrate all to God for the grace to live the victoriouslife are troubled over the state of their feelings. It is so natural tothink that if one wholly abandons all to Christ, that one thereaftershould at all times feel joyful, close to Jesus, be conscious of Hispresence, feel the love and peace the Christian has. In general, _feel_at all times that all is well. And when one's feelings are opposite fromthis, a serious question and doubt usually arises as to whether the soulis really in Canaan-land or not. The fact is, one's feelings are nostandard to go by; for they are subject to a variety of conditions, spiritual, mental, and physical, and change and fluctuate in a very swiftand unaccountable manner many times. The ups and downs of the Christianlife would indeed be violent and serious if they followed our feelings;but our faith tells the real story, not our feelings (Ephesians 2:8, 3:17; Romans 8:28, 37-39). 

When you are tempted to regard your feelings, ignore the matter altogether. Look in another place for evidence of your standing. How is yourconsecration? (Romans 12:1-3). How is your faith? (1 John 5:4, 10). Areyou all the Lord's? Do you still believe His promise? If you can say yesto these questions, you are still on victory's side, though you may notfeel it. 

The will, not the feelings, is the controlling factor in life. Thefeelings are like a family of children who may, if allowed to grow updisobedient and unruly, cause one much trouble, but if controlled andmade obedient, contribute to one's happiness. Feelings are a part of us. Christian experiences are felt; that is, they affect the emotions aswell as the will. Feelings fluctuate, and, in fact, in many cases becomevery unruly, like spoiled children, and want everything their own way. Bad news will produce sad feelings. If you receive a letter todayannouncing the wedding of a friend, you rejoice; if it announces a death, you sorrow. If you are sick in body your feelings may partake of thequality of your physical condition. It is well that our feelings enterinto our lives in this way, else we should lack the sympathy, love, andother emotions that are essential to social happiness. So let us thankGod we have feelings; they connect us with the joys and sorrows of others. But let us not gage our Christian experience by the way we feel. 

Sanctified people have feelings that are natural. Man was created withall the social instincts before the fall. Before sin came in, he wastold to multiply and replenish the earth. Out of the two natures, maleand female, arise all the social instincts that produce families, homes, laws, and governments. 

Man, however, is twofold in being, with soul and body in union. Soul andbody function together and each affects the other. By steadily thinkingyou are sick, you can become sick; by overexerting the body, the mindcan be deranged; etc. 

Sanctification restores man morally to where he was in Eden. Sanctificationcleanses away the nature of sin and leaves all the God-given instinctsintact. 

Without trying to be technical, we may set down man's natural instinctsand feelings as follows:

Man's nature as created by God had capacity for love, joy, sorrow, justice, fear. These may be called basic instincts. There are phases ofthese we may profitably mention and discuss in connection with how orwhat a sanctified person may feel. 

A sanctified person may feel: (1) The working of the law of self-preservation. (2) Sorrow at the death of loved ones. (3) Pleased whenreceiving words of appreciation. (4) Rising of righteous indignation attimes. (5) Impatience at the slowness of justice or the wrong actions ofothers. (6) Pleasure in social life. (7) Craving of sex impulses anddesires. (8) Hurt when illy spoken of or to. (9) Heavy through manytemptations. 

Taking these in order, let us explain them more fully. And we shall givehere the results of over twenty years experience in the sanctified life, and many of these facts have been learned by bitter experience. 

1. Self-preservation is a natural law. Fear is a part of it. Perfectlove casts out fear, the fear that is slavish and results from sin; butperfect love does not destroy all timidity nor the sense of the need ofprotecting one's life. A sanctified person has just as good a right torun to a storm-cellar when a cyclone comes as has any one else. One formof fear is timidity. A newly sanctified person may feel somewhat timidin performing some duty. If, however, God's will calls to duties thatmean even death, the fully consecrated soul goes on. So in such casesthe law of self-preservation gives way to the higher law of self-sacrificefor Christ's sake. 

2. Sorrow at the death of loved ones is compatible with sanctification. Many other things cause sorrow, such as disaster, disease, and sin, andthese affect the wholly sanctified. The sanctified, however, have theComforter to help support them and assuage their griefs. 

3. If a sanctified person receives words of appreciation, he feelspleasure; not that they exalt him, but that they create in him a naturaljoy at being so appreciated. It is said by some that sanctified personsare "dead, " and the point is illustrated by saying that pins might bethrust into a dead man and he will not wince. If sanctification destroyedthe natural feelings, it would be a disaster rather than a blessing. Itpurifies them, but does not destroy them. 

4. God planted in man the sense of justice. God made man in His ownimage. What we find in God, we find in man. God is just; so the principleof justice abides in man. Sanctification destroys the selfishvindictiveness of anger, but it does not destroy the sense of justice, and a sanctified person will feel the rise of a righteous indignationat evil. This is illustrated in Jesus, when He "looked round about onthem with anger" (Mark 3:5), and also when He made the whip of cords anddrove the robbers out of the temple (Matthew 21:12, 13). If the righteousman can not feel indignant at evil, how can God judge the world? Justiceimplies anger at evil. If righteous anger is wrong in man, it is wrongin God. Because God is God does not mean that He can do a moral wrongand it be right because God did it. His acts must be intrinsically rightof themselves. Therefore, on the fact that He will judge the world wepredicate the righteousness of sanctified indignation. And this is notcarnal anger, which raves and slays and destroys unmercifully and wickedly. 

5. It is rather hard to divide impatience into a just impatience and anunjust impatience. The point may be too fine for definition, but Scriptureand experience both prove that sanctification does not make one perfectlypatient. In fact, who should judge as to what perfect patience is if itwere a possible attainment? Sanctification does make us patient. Theconstant ruffling of soul over untoward events stops. We grow patient. Wetrust God. We wait and hope. But we read that "tribulation workethpatience" (Romans 5:3); so hard experiences make us patient, that is, ifwe bear them. James says, "The trying of your faith worketh patience"(James 1:3). So what tribulations and trials work is not completely doneby the Spirit when we are sanctified. 

6. It used to be said by some that sanctification destroyed socialinstincts to the point of making social diversions distasteful. It seemsvery hard to disentangle the true state of holiness from asceticism. Once, holy men were supposed to be dead to social enjoyments--they wouldnot marry, they would not wear ordinary clothing, they would not associateon a common plane with their fellows. But Jesus did not live that way. He made wine for a marriage feast; He ate dinner at a rich Pharisee'shouse; He enjoyed being at Martha's home. John leaned on His bosom atthe last supper. Jesus was no ascetic. 

Sanctification lifts social contact to its highest level. Brilliantconversation on a plane of purity is as enjoyable to holy people as toothers. Figures of speech, puns, and riddles may mark the conversationof holy people as well as others. Yet their talk does not descend to thevulgar, frivolous, giddy, jay chatter of the wicked. As is said ofconversation, so may be said of parties and picnics, which are names foroutings or gatherings of various kinds at which refreshments may or maynot be served. Should God's children be debarred from these pleasurableassociations because the world goes too far in them?

7. Sanctification does not destroy sex impulses, but it does ennoblethem and bring them under control. Hence the drawing of natures to eachother is common to all, and courtship and marriage are honorable, asPaul said. 

8. Since sanctified persons can appropriately feel pleasure at words ofappreciation, so can they feel hurt at slights and impositions heapedon them by others. Perhaps the dividing line between what is right andwhat is wrong in this matter is this: so long as one feels hurt but doesnot feel like hurting in return, he may be safe; but when one is hurtand then feels the retaliating spirit which boils over in anger, thatone feels the mark of an unsanctified soul. We may be hurt, but we alsocommit and trust it to God. 

9. Joy is not always overflowing in the hearts of the sanctified. Heavytrials will produce a heaviness of spirit (1 Peter 1:6-9). 

These trials are profitable, really indispensable. 

Sanctification restores the soul. It purifies the affections and motivesof the life, it lifts all of life up to a plane of holiness and love, but it leaves us men and women. Do not expect impossibilities of it, butexpect it to cleanse out sin and carnal wicked elements. 

God's plan for the earth is for salvation to extend to all men untilthis world shall be ruled by divine principles and love instead of lustand selfishness. 

Give yourself wholly to God, then, dear soul; fully yield all up to thedivine will and care not how you feel. Let God care for your feelingsas well as for everything else. He will "keep him in perfect peace whosemind is stayed on" Him. Glorious peace, precious rest, delightfulconfidence!

A certain woman lived a precarious existence, but she was so happy inher life with Jesus that she was the marvel of her town. 

You have given all to God, let Him keep all of you and for you. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THE ROUTING OF GIANT DOUBT

Doubts! doubts! doubts! Just a company of them around me all the timeworse than Job's miserable comforters. What can I do with them? I shouldlike to dismiss them, but it seems I can not. They make me much trouble, but it seems I can not get them to leave me. Especially are the doubtsconcerning my entire consecration aggravating, and those, too, concerningmy entire cleansing. I fear to come out boldly and declare that I believethat Christ fully saves me now. I believe He can and will, but the wordsdie on my lips when I attempt to bring it down to the present moment. Yet I know these doubts are dishonoring to God, who has made such greatand glorious promises. Can you give me some instructions on what to dowith doubts? How did you overcome yours? Please help me, in Christ'sname. 

 * * * * *

Pilgrim Sincere lives in what I hear is one of the best parts of Canaan. He had a great encounter with old Giant Doubt; so let us pay him a visit. We have met the old Giant already, and we have no hesitation in sayingthat if there is a worse giant than he in Canaan, we are not eager tomeet him. Pilgrim Sincere may tell us something about him that it willbe of profit to us to know. 

Here! We are at Sincere's place already. There is no question of hisvictory over Giant Doubt. Such a shield of faith as his is I never sawbefore!

"Pilgrim Sincere, we have been talking with pilgrims and residents ofCanaan, and now we have come to see you. Will you tell us something thatwill enable us to gain a freehold in Canaan? We have met many poorpilgrims who say they have never yet gained a clear title to a home here. They have been driven here and there by this or that old giant. We areeager not to be defeated in this great adventure in Canaan. "

"If you will give all honor to Immanuel and none to me, I will relate myexperiences--a few at least. There are many giants in Canaan, very many ofthem. There is Giant Lust, who has slain thousands. Poor souls! GiantPuff-up, who causes pilgrims to act as foolish as did the toad that saw anelephant and burst itself trying to be as large; Giant Lethargy, whooperates an opiate factory in a hollow that runs directly down into Egypt;Giant Covetousness, who decoys pilgrims to the silver-mine run by Balaamand Demas; Giant Pride, an evil giant who has troubled pilgrims for timeout of mind; Giant Liar, who uses an abundance of camouflage; and others[Galatians 5:19-21]. "

"My, you almost scare us naming them! Can it be we must fight all ofthem? Is not this that rest-land!"

"My dear pilgrims, this is Beulah-land, and Sabbath-land. Here is thetrue rest. But remember, Canaan has its giants, more so than thewilderness; the true rest is found in overcoming them. Do not befrightened. Look at the armor with which you are equipped. "

"Sincere, the armor is all right, but it is ourselves that we are doubtfulof. Can we use the sword and the shield as they should be used?"

"Indeed you can, pilgrims, no doubt of it. Why, when I got into CanaanI was so weak I nearly lost my life fighting. "

"Tell us about it. "

"About twenty-five years ago I entered Canaan. It was a great day forme! At last the long journey through the wilderness was over, the deep, wide waters of Jordan passed! Canaan was my own! I praised Immanuel andbegan to possess the land [Joshua 1:2, 3]. 

"Not long after that I met a lean, white-whiskered man named Legality. He said he was my friend. He looked venerable and sincere, even if hedid appear rather stern and immovable! 'Now friend Sincere, ' he said, 'I have something here that will help you walk safely and straight, ' andwith that he slipped a peculiar jacket over my head and buckled it uppretty tight around my waist [Galatians 5:1]. 

"'There, ' he said, 'that jacket just fits you. You are in Canaan now, and must walk, oh, so straight and carefully! Why, if you make even everso little a mistake, you will be punished, I fear, dreadfully. But thatjacket will help you and keep you from doing anything far out of theway. ' And with that he left me. 

"Well, I wanted anything that would help me, so I kept the jacket on. It bothered me considerably. It was made of stiff, iron stays, woven inwith rough haircloth, both of which were made, so Mr. Legality said, byone Mr. Over-Conscientious Scruple who lives in the town of Sensitive. 

"Every move I made was retarded by that jacket. By and by sore placesappeared where the end of the stays engaged my flesh. I met Mr. Legalityonce and told him how bad the jacket was treating me, but he said thecure was to buckle it on tighter. Oh, my, how it did hurt! But he saidit would be dangerous to take it off. So I continued to suffer. I couldnot act freely in any matter. 

"Just about this time old Giant Doubt met me. He carried a book and abig pencil. 'Sit down here while I give you an examination; that is mybusiness, ' he said. 'My lord has commissioned me to do this work. 'Something inside me told me that here was an enemy; but he spoke withsuch a show of authority that I passively sat down. And he began. 

"'How do you feel?'

"'I do not feel very good, just now. ' I said. 

"'I thought so. No doubt there is something wrong with you. Have yougained an established home in Canaan yet?'

"'No, I haven't, ' I replied. 

"'Well, you never will; at least there are serious doubts about it. Itis my business to make sure that pilgrims possess the land. Did you putup your memorial stone!'

"'Yes, I carried a stone out of the middle of Jordan and set it up. Isuppose it is there yet. '

"'That stone was no good, a little rough rock it was. Why didn't youselect a nice large stone such as Pilgrim Joyful carried out?'

"'I did the best I could; that was the only stone I saw in passingthrough. I noticed it was not like Pilgrim Joyful's, and not like PilgrimHonest's, either. '

"'No good, no good! Too small! I doubt if it is really stone at all. Didyou leave all the wilderness luggage on yonder side Jordan?'

"'I intended to. I dropped the whole bundle as I stepped into the Jordan. '

"'I doubt it. I believe you have considerable wilderness trappings inyour possession. More than that, I doubt whether you left all your loadwhen you crossed the Red Sea. Did you?'

"'I thought I did, ' I replied. 

"'I doubt it. How do you feel now?' said old Giant Doubt. 

"'I feel bad, worse than before the examination began. ' I replied. 

"'I see you do. Something is wrong with you. You have passed a poorexamination. It is my business to carry you out of Canaan as unworthyto be in this good land. Come on, ' and with that he arose and advancedtoward me with both hands extended. I trembled violently, but seemedpowerless to resist. He picked me up and started off with me. Just thenI spotted a sturdy post with a sign-board nailed to the top. I eagerlysought to read the legend. 'Beware!' it began. 'At this place a certainold giant, named Doubt, has a habit of stopping pilgrims and taking themthrough a pretended examination. He claims to hold a commission from hislord to do this work. His commission is true; but his lord is Beelzebub. After the examination, he usually carries off the pilgrim who allows himto question him. Many have fallen to his devices. He is a cruel, oldgiant, and he carries his victims to'--and here I could read no more. 

"We soon left the main road and entered a dark valley called Vale ofDestruction. 

"'Let me go, ' I shouted. 

"'I will not, you are not fit to be in Canaan, ' he replied. 

"I struggled and shouted for help with all my might. He held me close, however, and the vale grew darker and darker. 

"'O Immanuel, do send me help! Oh, deliver me from this cruel giant!' Icried. Just then there appeared ahead a stream of light, which came infrom one side of the valley. When we reached the light, I saw a beautifulmansion built high up on the sides of a valley that broadened out in abeautiful vale named Hope. Some people were singing on the lawn of themansion. Either they caught a glimpse of the old giant carrying me, ormy loud shouts for help reached them. At any rate, I saw two of themstart toward us [Galatians 6:2]. 

"Old Giant Doubt attempted to run faster, as he also caught sight of them;but a periodic rheumatism attacked him, and he made little progress. Thetwo pilgrims, who I found were Valiant and Faithful, rushed to my rescue. 

"'You wicked old Giant Doubt, ' they shouted, 'let go of Pilgrim Sincere. 'And they attacked him with their swords. 

"'Sincere, ' they cried, 'take your sword and use it!'

"By this time my arm was free enough to grasp the sword, and I gave thegiant a close thrust. At this he dropped me and ran as fast as he could. 

"'Poor pilgrim, ' said Valiant. 'How fortunate for you that you shouted!We heard the call. Praise and honor to Immanuel. ' And Valiant reverentlylifted his hands and eyes heavenward. 

"'Where did the old, evil giant overcome you?' asked Faithful. 

"'Back at a place where there is a sign warning pilgrims against GiantDoubt. But I did not see the sign till he started off with me. '

"'I wonder if we can not mark that spot more plainly, so that no pilgrimwill ever allow Giant Doubt to hold his false examination there?' askedValiant. 

"'No, ' said Faithful. 'It has been tried over and over. No sign exceptthe one that is there ever remains even if it is put up. '

"'What kind of garment is that you are wearing around your waist?' askedFaithful. 

"'This is a jacket that Mr. Legality gave me to wear. ' I answered. 

"'The crafty villain, ' exclaimed Faithful. 'Put it away from you!'

"But I was afraid to do this, and told them so. They related how thatsame jacket had caused them much trouble. They further said that no onecould unbuckle it but me, as there was a secret lock on each jacket thatno one but the wearer could work. 

"After this I got back to the main highway again. But the first thing Iknew was that old Giant Doubt was with me again [Matthew 14:28-31]. Andhe began to talk to me just as if he had never said anything to me before. I wondered what I should do if he attempted to carry me away. And thenI remembered what I read on a monument just after crossing the Jordan:'Every pilgrim must overcome the giants for himself. ' But just how todo this I did not know. So I had another encounter with him. 

"'Do you still think you are a pilgrim in Canaan?' he said. 'More thanlikely you will never find rest. I doubt it very much. See how bad youfeel. And you are always saying or doing something that hurts you. Pilgrims should live better than you do. ' And with that he grabbed me inhis big, burly arms and nearly squeezed the life out of me. I couldn'tfight at all. The jacket held me so rigid that I could not even use thesword or hold up the shield. In fact, Mr. Legality told me hisstraight-jacket was a better protection than any sword or shield; and Ihad gradually grown into dependency on it. 

"Next day Giant Doubt assailed me again. This time he unmercifully beatme with his wormwood club. And after cuffing me about until I was nearlydead, he again left me. Then he came every day. It is peculiar how longhe kept my company. Or, rather, it is strange how long I allowed him tobe with me. And every day I found myself weaker; and when the old giantthreatened to throw me into the sea of the dead, I had very littleresistance in me--just enough to keep him from his purpose. 

"I found that every time I used the sword ever so little it scared theold giant; and when he shot hot darts, I found that the shield wouldstop them if I held it up. But that old jacket was very much in my way. 

"At last I said to myself, 'I believe this jacket is a nuisance. Offwith it!' and I pulled it off and threw it as far as I could down intothe crevasse of Worn Out Laws [James 1:25]. 

"After this, I met Giant Doubt again. But my wounds had become well, andI determined to fight for my life and my liberty. I told the giant that, Immanuel helping me, I should not let him travel with me another step ofthe way. 

"'Oh, yes I will!' he said. 'You can not travel without me. I'm yourfriend. '

"'You are no friend, ' I cried, 'but an enemy. You have made my journeymiserable. You have driven away my peace; you have killed my joy; youhave beaten me, deceived me, and threatened me with death, and haveindeed nearly killed me. Go! Get behind me! you enemy of my soul' [Matthew4:1-11]. 

"And at this I smote him with the sword of truth. He ran away and gotout his arrows to shoot at me as before; but I simply held up the shield, and not one hurt me [Romans 16:20]. Then I ran after him with all mymight and chased him away--and I haven't had a real encounter with himsince. "

 * * * * *

The cure for doubts is faith; not prayer, nor fasting, nor working--just faith. Faith is believing God, believing just what God says. Godhas said many things and made many promises. Faith expects God to fulfillHis word. Trust is faith holding on and waiting. 

We are sanctified by faith; we enter into complete soul-rest by faith. There is no other way. We must come to God and simply ask Him to workHis complete redemption in our hearts and fill us with the Spirit. Afterwe give ourselves wholly to Him, after we lay all on the altar, thereis nothing more that we can do except trust and obey. It is God's partto complete in us the work for salvation; our business is to trust Himto do it. We trust carpenters and builders to build our houses, we trustbankers with our money, we trust men every day and hour of our lives;shall we not trust God?

In all battles with doubt, go back to basic facts. Allow no confusionof mind, no agitation of spirit; calm every fear and find out just whereand how you are. First, ask yourself if you are all the Lord's. Do younow lay on His altar your all? Do you now choose His will? Do you intendto serve Him? Do you answer, "Yes"? Put that down then as a settled fact. Never allow yourself to doubt a point that has been settled. Let it staysettled. Next ask yourself if you believe God is true to His word, ifyou believe He will do what He promised. If you say, "Yes, " let thatpoint be settled also. Stand by it. If you have met the conditions uponwhich God promised to cleanse and fill you, you must believe that Goddoes these things for you. 

Doubts have a way of coming in early in the morning. They are like badneighbors, they come when they are not wanted. Doubts may arise becauseyou do not "feel" as you should like to, or because you have made mistakes;or simply because you have been sorely tempted. You must learn thatfeeling is no true gage of your spiritual experience. 

An encounter with doubts may be something like this: You awake in themorning and are possessed of a feeling that is utterly non-religious. You do not feel one whit as though you are fully saved and trusting, butjust the opposite. Not having learned to pay no attention to this, butinstead to jump up and praise and thank God for all His goodness, youbegin to question, "Am I really and truly consecrated? Where are all myjoyful feelings? Why do I feel this way? Surely something is wrong. "

The longer you think, the more doubtful you become, and at lastdiscouragement takes charge of your whole soul. 

There is no harm, but good, in examining ourselves; it is all right toput hard and searching questions to our hearts as to our standing withGod. But when doubts lead to such an examination, the result is usuallydisastrous. 

Doubting gets to be a bad habit; one very hard to break. It is a sortof self-depreciating, self-deprecating, self-condemning habit. Doubtingbecomes easy and natural after the habit is formed. A chronic state ofdiscouragement follows. You are as miserable as you can be. And yet theidea of abruptly cutting off the whole bad thing fills you with dismay. You are afraid to do it. A sort of up-and-down life seems preferable toa bold, upstanding victorious life. A sort of weakness or spiritualcowardice follows, too; and one habitually doubting prefers to be apygmy, a dwarf, for Christ, rather than a real man, a warrior in Him. 

Doubt has a dreadful reaction on the soul and mind. Its influence isdeadening and damning. It shrivels and dries up the joy and spontaneityof service. It makes one feel inferior and weak. Instead of causing oneto fight, doubts lead one to give up the fight; instead of promptingresistance, doubts make one lie down and get wounded and bruised. Doubtsmake us failures. They blight, mar, and drag down. They are the devil'sown poison to kill off God's people. 

There is only one thing to do to overcome doubts: have faith in God. Kill the doubts, or they will kill you. "This is the victory thatovercometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4). 

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE WINE OF PRAYER

I am troubled with listlessness in prayer. When I kneel to pray, my mindwanders here and there out over the world--to my business, or probablyto some trifling thing that amounts to nothing. I feel chagrined anddisappointed. Jesus is so loyal to me, so worthy of praise and prayer, that to feel thus in prayer is mortifying. I have confessed it, but havenot obtained a satisfactory deliverance, nor a solution of the matter. Can you give me any help? It will be much appreciated if you can teachme how to feel unction in prayer, and how to pray the fervent prayer ofthe righteous. Oh, do help me! My heart longs, yea yearns, for thatnearness to God in prayer that will draw out my soul in mighty petitionsfor others, especially for the suffering and the lost. 

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We heard of the fruits of Canaan long before we arrived. There weregrapes of Eschol, pomegranates, milk and honey, and the old corn andwine of the land. Back in the Wilderness we were told of fruits sowonderful that they made the pilgrims strong and valiant for Immanuel, and of course we were eager to pluck them for ourselves. But we foundthat every one must grow or gather his own fruit, and also that thefinest food is obtained from the most unlikely places, on hard, stonysoil, and in rather inaccessible spots. 

For instance, the honey. Hardly any of this delightful food was obtainableexcept in the crags of Hard Trials Mountains. And the Wine of Prayer waspressed from grapes that grew best in the Valley of Sore Temptation. 

Do you suppose Caleb could tell us how to obtain these fruits? We arespecially interested in the Wine of Prayer, suppose we go and see Calebtoday. He received us so graciously on our former visit, he probablywould be glad to see us again. Let us go!

Yes, he is at home today. See, there he is now. Oh, he is on his knees!Dear old saint of Canaan! And what is that he is doing? Oh, see, he seemsto be drawing something from a cask in the shades of his beautiful garden!Yes, indeed, that must be Wine of Prayer he is drawing! What a blessedfavor to call upon Him on such an occasion. He does not see us. Let uswait here, apart from his sanctuary. 

Caleb seems lost in earnest communion with Immanuel. Note the heavenlysmile that lights up his weather-beaten old face! He seems animated bythe draughts he takes from his wine-cask. When his devotions and communionsare over, we shall greet him. See, he rises! What a glory emanates fromhis face! It causes me to feel eager to slake my thirst at the same holyplace! My life seems so earthly, so lacking in heavenliness andsaintliness!

"Pilgrim Caleb, do tell us what you were drinking and how we may obtainsome of the same wine. "

"Most gladly. First, I must tell you a secret. The grapes from which thebest Wine of Prayer is made come from the Valley of Sore Temptation. That is not a pleasant place, by any means. Several bad giantsrendezvous there. Old Giants Lust, Pride, Persecution, Worldliness, Covetousness, and others make it a sort of headquarters. They neverbother the grape-vines; it is only the pilgrims that they annoy. Thesoil is rocky and hard to subdue and cultivate. I wanted the very bestfruits the land had; so I, too, was obliged to take a plot of ground inthe Valley of Sore Temptation and make a beginning. 

"No sooner had I marked off my little plot than the giants haunted me. They buffeted me about rather rudely. Old Giant Pride tried to make methink I was one of the greatest men who ever came into Canaan. Old GiantCovetousness told me all about a silver-mine which Balaam opened andDemas worked in. I could easily get rich, he said, if I would abandonthe cultivation of grapes and follow him to the mine. He certainly tolda plausible story, and tried hard to influence me to go. Giant Lustpointed out ways and means to capture silly souls, and tried hard toattract my attention toward a valley that leads down into Egypt; I hadhad enough of Egypt, and resisted him with all my might. But no matterhow hard I resisted or rebuked these giants, they stayed in that valley. No one, it seems, can rout them completely from it. Their presence theregoes with the cultivation of grapes. 

"Well, I grew a small crop the first season. Then I made a wine-pressout of pieces of faith, patience, and obedience, and placed a heavyweight on top made of perseverance. I got a little wine, and, oh, it wasdelicious and refreshing! Since then I have learned more about raisingthe fruit and making wine. I can get more wine out of the grapes, too, than formerly, by getting a heavier weight and using larger pieces ofmaterial in the press. 

"Nothing is so refreshing as the Wine of Prayer. The whole soul is caughtup, invigorated, revitalized, inspired. It gives mighty strength. Giantstremble and quake and run for their lives when they see a pilgrim freshfrom his wine-cask move upon them. Blessed be Immanuel! Glory, praise, and honor, hallelujah to His high name, forever and ever! Oh, He providessuch power and unction and sweetness! Never rest, pilgrims, till you getyour vineyard started. And may Immanuel bless you!"

Thanks to Caleb for his words!

Listlessness in prayer is the result of a lack of interest; no one islistless about things he is vitally interested in. The thing to do is, not work against listlessness, for listlessness is only a symptom, butwork up a real interest in the object of prayer. Find something to prayfor, and pray for it with all your might. 

Mind-wandering during secret prayer can also be attributed to lack ofinterest in the right thing. If your mind wanders, it is no sin, but asign that you have nothing very pressing to pray for. If you were wantingsomething which you needed very much--if you were sorely and severelytempted, or were sick and suffering, or if you were persecuted and neededhelp--you would pray earnestly enough. Or, if you had in mind a friendor relative who was in need of help, then you could pray earnestly. 

The cure for listlessness and mind-wandering, therefore, is in feelingand knowing the need, either of ourselves or of others, for which weengage in prayer. There is too much need for any listlessness in prayer. To be sure, no one can always feel the same degree of fervor and unctionin prayer; but there may always be enough to make prayer a reallyrefreshing season to the soul. 

Prayer is more than asking; it is praise, thanksgiving, communion. Weare exhorted "to be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer andsupplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God"(Philippians 4:6). Prayer, then, is partly thanksgiving. 

Begin with thanksgiving. If the Lord has done anything for you, thankHim for it. Count your blessings as you kneel. Remember the pit of sinyou were taken out of; consider how often you have been helped andprotected. Exercising the soul in this way produces the most favorablestate of mind for further prayer, for making requests. 

Give God a chance to talk to you while you are in prayer. Ask for aconversation. Be still and listen for God's voice; expect Him to speak. 

In making requests, be willing for God to have His way. Ask, and youshall receive; but not always as soon as you ask. 

Importunity in prayer is needed as well as perseverance and patience. 

It is a blessed thing, this life of trust, the life of prayer. In dailycommunion with Christ we may travel life's road and enjoy a fellowshiptoo rich, too deep, too holy to describe adequately. Enter in and seeand taste for yourself. 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

PILGRIMS OF THE VICTORIOUS LIFE

Please tell me, will you, if a really victorious life is possible to me;I mean a day-by-day, year-in-and-year-out experience? I have so much ofstruggle and battle in my life that a life of constant victory seems avague, faraway dream. It seems to me that the only ones capable ofobtaining and retaining this blissful state are those living very shelteredlives and with few obstacles in their way. These may live victoriously;but as for me, with my toils and troubles of various kinds, how can itbe possible? I have met many victorious Christians. Of course I do notknow how it is with them; but I believe their sweet temper pointed plainlyto the fact that their lives had fallen in very pleasant places. Can yougive me any clue to this matter? If a victorious life is possible forme, I want it. Will you help me? Thank you!

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Well, upon my word! There goes Pilgrim Serene, who lives in Poverty Vale, close by Caleb's fair Hebron home! Shall we engage her in conversation?They say she is one of the sweetest-tempered pilgrims in Canaan, and yetwe are told that her home is in one of the poorest spots in the land. And who is that walking by her side! She seems to be very happy. Oh, yes, that is Pilgrim Joyful! And where does she live? They say she livesin Trouble Hollow, close by Offense Mountain. My, those names soundominous, don't they! Do let us engage them in conversation; for it seemssweeter faced pilgrims we never have seen. 

"May we walk with you in the way? And may we inquire about your home inCanaan, and why it is you seem so happy and calm? We are only a few daysover the Jordan, and are trying to learn all we can of the land. Wheredid you get those beautiful flowers in your hands? Tell us yourexperiences! Please do!"

"You are welcome to our company, gladly. I am Pilgrim Serene; my companionis Pilgrim Joyful. These flowers came from the garden of Patient Endurance, which is situated on Mount Calm. The flowers are free to all pilgrims;but the road to the garden is a very rough road, and thorn-bushes fringeit for a considerable distance. Some pilgrims once organized a band toclear out the thorns; but the bushes have such a tough bark that no knifewas able to cut through them. So they stand there still. Another bandgathered out all the stones; but new stones fall from the cliffs aboveall the time, and some of the new stones are worse to cut the feet ofpilgrims than the old ones were. So it is thought best to let the pathalone. Just smell how sweet these are!"

"Where do you live, Pilgrim Serene?"

"I live in Poverty Vale. The floor of the valley is very hard and poor. But Immanuel walks and talks with me. Every day He comes and helps me;every day He lifts burdens off my back. Showers of blessing fall everyday or two. "

"You never have any trouble do you, Pilgrim Serene? I am sure you donot; for you look so free from care and worry. "

"My dear pilgrim, I have a struggle all the time. I never know what itis to be free from pain or poverty. If it were not for Honey Rock, Icertainly should have famished long ago. "

"Where is Honey Rock?"

"Oh, it borders the Vale, high up in the mountains. Only a faint pathleads to it; for it seems only a few pilgrims know where it is. Andbesides, it is the roughest path I ever tried to follow. But once oneis at the Rock, all one has to do to feast on the nectar is to smite theRock in the name of Immanuel, and forthwith there comes out the mostdelicious honey in all the world. "

"Oh, we wish to eat of it! But, there is that rough foot-path. I don'tknow whether we can walk it or not!"

"Have you been to Honey Rock too, Pilgrim Joyful?"

"Yes, pilgrims, I have. I was there yesterday. "

"Is it that which caused the scratches and blood stains on your feet andhands and which tore your garments?"

"Yes, pilgrims. As to my home, it is in Trouble Hollow. Offense Mountainrises high on two sides of it. Not many pilgrims like my home; butImmanuel gave it to me, and any home in Canaan is preferable to the bestspot in the Wilderness, better than the grandest mansion in Egypt. Itis true my home is in a dark valley, and old Offense Mountain has continuallandslides that I have to help clear away; but, glory and praises toImmanuel! a bare existence in Canaan surpasses anything I ever enjoyedbefore. Hallelujah! Angels in bands visit me often. Heaven seems insight!"

"Thank you Serene and Joyful. We shall be glad to meet you again. "

These two pilgrims whose lives are spent in Canaan's most troubled spotshave a holy serenity that shames us when we think of how we complain ata few hard things that we have met. Thank God for such pilgrims!

Here is a true story. Mrs. B---- is a cripple woman who walks with acrutch. Years ago she was converted and later was wholly sanctified. Herhusband was a wicked man who gave her a great deal of trouble and atlast died and left her with several children. They were miserably poor. She took her family overland for a hundred miles to another place, walkingand carrying their effects as best they could. She is still poor, thoughher children have now become self-supporting. No one could think ofanything harder to go through with than this woman had. Her physicalhandicap prevented her doing many things she could otherwise have done, she was compelled to work at the hardest jobs, and had to see her childrengrow up without schooling. All was hard; just plain, hard living. If thefamily had enough to eat, it was a thing to be thankful for. And yet, in those years this woman has always been cheerful, and gives a brillianttestimony to the grace of God to keep her sweet and joyful. 

Another case is that of "Brother H, " we shall call him. Brother H wasafflicted with tuberculosis. He was called to the ministry, was a splendidsinger, mightily gifted in prayer, and was used of God in working severalremarkable miracles of healing. His family was numerous, much more sothan his afflicted condition made possible for him to support. He livedin a small three-room house, with eight or nine children and anoverburdened wife. He could do no work. His neighbors frowned on him andpersecuted him mildly for not working. His home was the very picture ofpoverty; nothing could be worse in that line, scarcely. Yet he was a manof the highest Christian integrity and faith, and was one of the happiestChristians one could meet. And his happiness was not that of the carelessman, not the happiness of a callous, uneducated person; for he feltkeenly the poverty to which he was subjected and was always embarrassedat his state and the condition of his home. He had that fine intuitionand grace of a gentleman of the highest order; and yet he was happy inthe Lord. His happiness was the genuine joy of full salvation in hisheart, born of a faith that believed all things were working togetherfor his good. 

Entire sanctification is not something that takes troubles out of thelife, neither does it change one's outward circumstances; but it doeslift the soul above all earthly troubles and let it soar in God's freeair of victory. 

To the fully consecrated soul there are no "second causes"; that is, noone is between him and God who can harm him or affect him in any wayapart from God's will. It may be that others will mistreat us grievously, and their acts be wrong and utterly opposed to God's will; but thoseacts have had to pass God's will in getting to us. By this they becomethe will of God to us. For instance, some one may persecute us. Thespirit of persecution is wicked and God has nothing to do with it; butbefore that persecution reaches us it must pass God's will; so thepersecution becomes God's will to us, and we bear it for His sake. Godmay put some bad medicine in human bottles and cause us to drink of themfor our good. 

This victorious life is a life on wings. We are to mount up with wingsas eagles. The wings are faith and consecration. When troubles come, weflap our wings and fly over them. Since we are God's, it is His placeto bring us out and help us over, hence the fully consecrated soul trusts, and lets God work matters out. Of course, this does not mean that weshall not help ourselves. In fact, little trust can be exercised untilwe have done all we can do to help ourselves; but if we can not availor prevail, we carry it to the Lord and leave it with Him to work out. 

David speaks of the Lord's hiding him in His secret place, in His pavilion, under His wings. Jesus has said that not a hair of our head shall fallwithout our Father's notice. Peter says we are to cast all our care uponGod, for God careth for us. And Paul exhorts us to be careful for nothing, but with prayer and thanksgiving let our requests be known to God. 

The greatest of all comforts is this, "We know that all things worktogether for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28). "All things"means _all things_. The Christian who gives up all is certain of God'scontinual care and protection. He can not expect to escape trouble ortrial or temptation; but he is kept in these things. "Thou wilt keep himin perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee. " "Great peace have theywhich love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. " That is, nothingshall cause them to fall. They may be hurt, and be wounded by theinconsiderate or deliberate acts or words of others; but they will sailon in peace in God. 

The will of God surrounds us like a wall, and nothing can penetrate thatwall and touch our consecrated souls unless God so wills, or permits. 

Of all lives, the victorious life is the richest and best. There is joyin serving, giving, sacrificing. If we are persecuted for Christ's sake, there is great joy. Life's problems are met with faith. A colored womanwho had to wash for a living was very happy all the time. Rich womenwould marvel at her peace of mind, and one time one of them chided herfor her optimism, which to the rich woman seemed based on nothing. "Why, suppose you should get sick, or suppose something should happen, " saidher rich friend. "Oh, I never supposes, " said the poor woman. "That iswhat is the matter with you, you supposes and supposes and imagines alllands of ill coming on you. The Lord is my shepherd, and I shall notwant. So I never supposes, I know everything will come out all right. "She just flapped her wings, so to speak, and flew over her troubles. 

The victorious life is free from worry, fretting, overanxious solicitude, burdensome care. It is free from malice, ill will, retaliation. It isfree from bad temper, sees the bright side of things, and wears itsclouds inside out. The sanctified life is a life of faith, and it is alife of obedience. To trust has to it become a habit, to obey a secondnature. The victorious life looks not behind, but ahead; it ignores pastfailures and goes forward in faith. 

And this victorious life is for all. Instead of being for favored folk, it is for the weak, the burdened, the poor, the sick, the troubled, thepersecuted. Enter in by consecration and faith. Yield all just now. Layall on God's altar. Be His alone. Then by faith enter into this lifewhich will be yours every day as you live by faith and trust and obey.