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CHAPTER XXV.

Testimony

HE Rev. John Fletcher once said to Mrs. Hester Ann Rogers, “Come, my sister, we will covenant together to spread the sacred flame, and testify before men and angels 'the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.' With flowing tears Mrs. Rogers replied, "In the strength of Jesus I will "; and she did, until she went sweeping through the gates washed in the blood of the Lamb." It seems to have been the custom among early Methodists to make humble, prudent, but frank acknowledgment of the work of entire sanctification, when it was wrought in their souls by the power of the Holy Ghost. We give a few testimonies which come first to hand:

"The Lord for whom I waited came suddenly to the temple of my heart, and I had an immediate evidence that this was the blessing I had for some time been seeking."

No sooner had I uttered the words 'I shall have the blessing now' than refining fire went through my heart, illuminating my soul, scattered its life

through every part, and sanctified the whole. I then received the full witness of the Spirit that the blood of Jesus had cleansed me from all sin."

"My heart was softened, and warmed, and filled; my prayer was turned into praises, and I could do nothing but shout, 'Glory be to God.' Whether I hold or not, I am sure that God took full possession of my heart on the 14th of July."

These are but samples of the numerous testimonies which have been handed down to us in the biographies of those who are held up before us as "epistles" to be "read and known of all men."

At first Mr. Wesley advised that great caution should be exercised in making definite confession of heart purity, but as the doctrine and experience became more generally known and appreciated, he changed his attitude, and constantly urged the duty to confess it upon Ministers and people. Writing to John King, one of his preachers, in 1787, he said, "It requires a great deal of watchfulness to retain the perfect love of God; and one great means of retaining it is, frankly to declare what God has given you, and earnestly to exhort all the believers you meet to follow after full salvation." It was soon found that this testimony humbly and truthfully given moved the hearts of others as nothing else could do. Those who heard it were stimulated to seek the same grace, and a general revival followed. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

The testimony of the cleansed leper will do more to recommend the physician than the most persuasive

and cogent arguments. We might advertise a remedy for cancer, but who would believe in our remedy unless we could point out to some we had cured? St. Paul recognised experience to be one of the chief elements of Evangelical power. Writing to Philemon, he said, "That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." Though he was the master logician, on occasions when life and liberty were at stake, he did not attempt any elaborate argument to justify his action, but told the story of his conversion. Three times his commission was renewed, and each time he was reminded that he was chosen not so much to preach as to testify. St. John often left the advocate's stand and entered the witnessbox, as is seen from the frequent occurrence of the words "We know," so characteristic of his Epistles. He believed that man might be saved from all sin and know it, so as to be able to testify, as he did, The blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin."

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The great need of our times is a witnessing Church and ministry. "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord." Not that we would recommend loud professions as to attainment. Instead of professing anything, let us confess Christ as a Saviour from all sin, if we have proved Him to be such. This will make Him and what He is to us prominent as contrasted with some attainment which might call attention to ourselves. If by humbly declaring how great things God hath done for us we can encourage some trembling and fainting soul, and kindle desire after like precious blessing, it would be cowardice or false prudence not

to do it with humility. For this reason the writer ventures once again to relate how he was led into the experience which he has, in these pages, been attempting to describe.

My conversion was so clear and satisfactory that I could never doubt its reality. Need I say it was an eventful day in my history when I first realised God's pardoning mercy, and received the assurance of His favour? The beginnings of this life of loyalty and love I shall never forget. It seems but yesterday, though many years have now passed since the love of God was shed abroad in my heart, and I was reconciled to God, who loved me, even me. It was a change as from death unto life. A new fountain of joys was at once opened in my heart, so exceedingly precious and sweet as to utterly extinguish all desire for that which I had called pleasure before. All my fears of death, judgment, and hell were fully swept away, and I could do nothing but praise God continually. My tastes, desires, and impulses were all changed; "all things became new." I was truly a new creature, and seemed to be in a new world.

With such experiences is it any wonder I imagined the work of moral renovation was perfected, that sin was not only forgiven, but fully expelled from my soul? But soon I discovered my mistake. My highlywrought emotions subsided, and petty annoyances of life chafed, the temptations of the devil assailed; and then I found out, as pride, envy, unbelief, self-will, and other forms of heart-sin stirred within me, that much needed to be done before I could be "meet for the inheritance of the saints in light." The "old

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man was bound, but not cast out; the disease was modified, but not eradicated; sin was suspended, but not fully destroyed. True, sin was stunned and deadened, and held in check by grace; its power was broken, but its pollution continued. It did not reign, but it existed, making its presence felt in a constant "bent to sinning," and at times a painful sense of duality contrasting most strikingly with the sweet feeling of oneness with Christ I now experience. There were foes within as well as without; some of the Canaanites remained, and were thorns in my side. and pricks in my eyes; the flesh and spirit were in a state of antagonism, which I saw to be manifestly only a temporary position-one or the other must eventually conquer; the light was mingled with darkness, and love with its opposites.

How many headaches and heartaches I had in struggling with my bosom foes, no language can describe. All the time I was enjoying sweet fellowship with Christ, was blessedly conscious of acceptance in Him, was an earnest worker in the Lord's vineyard, and would rather have died than wilfully sinned against Him. But though I never was a backslider in the ordinary sense, my Christian life was unsatisfactory, at least to myself. There was much of vacillation about it, sinning and repenting, advancing and retrograding, swinging like a pendulum between God and the world. My experience was full of fits and starts, changeable and uneven. I was conscious also of a mighty want; there seemed a vacuum in my nature which grace had not filled, a strange sense of need, which I cannot describe, but which all who

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