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these days。
（2） I ask； in the second place； whether it is wise to make so little as
some appear to do； paratively； of the many practical exhortations to
holiness in daily life which are to be found in the Sermon on the
Mount； and in the latter part of most of St。 Paul's epistles？ Is it
according to the proportion of God's Word？ I doubt it。
That a life of daily self…consecration and daily munion with God
should be aimed at by everyone who professes to be a believerthat we
should strive to attain the habit of going to the Lord Jesus Christ
with everything we find a burden； whether great or small； and casting
it upon Himall this； I repeat； no well…taught child of God will dream
of disputing。 But surely the New Testament teaches us that we want
something more than generalities about holy living； which often prick
no conscience and give no offence。 The details and particular
ingredients of which holiness is posed in daily life； ought to be
fully set forth and pressed on believers by all who profess to handle
the subject。 True holiness does not consist merely of believing and
feeling； but of doing and bearing； and a practical exhibition of active
and passive grace。 Our tongues； our tempers； our natural passions and
inclinationsour conduct as parents and children； masters and
servants； husbands and wives； rulers and subjectsour dress； our
employment of time； our behaviour in business； our demeanour in
sickness and health； in riches and in povertyall； all these are
matters which are fully treated by inspired writers。 They are not
content with a general statement of what we should believe and feel；
and how we are to have the roots of holiness planted in our hearts。
They dig down lower。 They go into particulars。 They specify minutely
what a holy man ought to do and be in his own family； and by his own
fireside； if he abides in Christ。 I doubt whether this sort of teaching
is sufficiently attended to in the movement of the present day。 When
people talk of having received 〃such a blessing；〃 and of having found
〃the higher life；〃 after hearing some earnest advocate of 〃holiness by
faith and self…consecration；〃 while their families and friends see no
improvement and no increased sanctity in their daily tempers and
behaviour； immense harm is done to the cause of Christ。 True holiness；
we surely ought to remember； does not consist merely of inward
sensations and impressions。 It is much more than tears； and sighs； and
bodily excitement； and a quickened pulse； and a passionate feeling of
attachment to our own favourite preachers and our own religious party；
and a readiness to quarrel with everyone who does not agree with us。 It
is something of 〃the image of Christ；〃 which can be seen and observed
by others in our private life； and habits； and character； and doings。
（Rom。 viii。 29。）
（3） I ask； in the third place； whether it is wise to use vague language
about perfection； and to press on Christians a standard of holiness； as
attainable in this world for which there is no warrant to be shown
either in Scripture or experience？ I doubt it。
That believers are exhorted to 〃perfect holiness in the fear of
God〃to 〃go on to perfection〃to 〃be perfect；〃 no careful reader of
his Bible will ever think of denying。 （2 Cor。 vii。 1 ； Heb。 vi。 1 ； 2
Cor。 xiii。 11。） But I have yet to learn that there is a single passage
in Scripture which teaches that a literal perfection； a plete and
entire freedom from sin； in thought； or word； or deed； is attainable；
or ever has been attained； by any child of Adam in this world。 A
parative perfection； a perfection in knowledge； an all…round
consistency in every relation of life； a thorough soundness in every
point of doctrinethis may be seen occasionally in some of God's
believing people。 But as to an absolute literal perfection； the most
eminent saints of God in every age have always been the very last to
lay claim to it！ On the contrary； they have always had the deepest
sense of their own utter unworthiness and imperfection。 The more
spiritual light they have enjoyed the more they have seen their own
countless defects and shortings。 The more grace they have had the
more they have been 〃clothed with humility。〃 （1 Peter v。 5。）
What saint can be named in God's Word； of whose life many details are
recorded； who was literally and absolutely perfect？ Which of them all；
when writing about himself； ever talks of feeling free from
imperfection？ On the contrary； men like David； and St。 Paul； and St。
John； declare in the strongest language that they feel in their own
hearts weakness and sin。 The holiest men of modern times have always
been remarkable for deep humility。 Have we ever seen holier men than
the martyred John Bradford； or Hooker； or Usher； or Baxter； or
Rutherford； or M'Cheyne？ Yet no one can read the writings and letters
of these men without seeing that they felt themselves 〃debtors to mercy
and grace〃 every day； and the very last thing they ever laid claim to
was perfection！
In face of such facts as these I must protest against the language used
in many quarters； in these last days； about perfection。 I must think
that those who use it either know very little of the nature of sin； or
of the attributes of God； or of their own hearts； or o！he Bible； or
of the meaning of words。 When a professing Christian coolly tells me
that he has got beyond such hymns as 〃Just as I am；〃 and that they are
below his present experience； though they suited him when he first took
up religion； I must think his soul is in a very unhealthy state！ When a
man can talk coolly of the possibility of 〃living without sin〃 while in
the body； and can actually say that he has 〃never had an evil thought
for three months；〃 I can only say that in my opinion he is a very
ignorant Christian！ I protest against such teaching as this。 It not
only does no good； but does immense harm。 It disgusts and aliena