THE CALL TO

HOLINESS

‘There is no such thing as holiness apart

by
from “Christ in you”.’
(Samuel L. Brengle) FREDERICK L. COUTTS

D A ND
O

F IR
B LO

MY
TH

R
E
A
SA
LVATION

SALVATIONIST PUBLISHING AND SUPPLIES, LTD.

JUDD STREET : KING’S CROSS : LONDON, W.C.1
 CONTENTS
Page

1. The Will of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

2. The Example of Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
3. The Nature of theExample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
4. The Power of the Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
5. The Experience Examined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
6. The Experience Examined (Continued) . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
First published 1957
7. The Experience Examined (Continued) . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
This online edition with footnotes 2007
8. The Experience Enjoyed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
9. The Experience Compared . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
10. The Fruit of the Experience—Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
11. The Fruit of the Experience—Joy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
12. The Fruit of the Experience—Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
13. The Fruit of the Experience—Longsuffering
and Gentleness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
14. The Fruit of the Experience—Goodness . . . . . . . . . . . .84
15. The Fruit of the Experience—Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
16. The Fruit of the Experience—Meekness and
Temperance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
17. The Glory of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
 CHAPTER 1
THE WILL OF GOD
‘This is the will of God, even your sanctification’

(1 Thessalonians 4:3)

the Tait Chapel at Fulham Palace, London, a

I N
mural by Brian Thomas depicts the command of
Jesus to His disciples: ‘Go ye into all the world, and
We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to preach the gospel.’ Below is portrayed the descent of the
be ‘ wholly sanctified ‘ and that their ‘ whole spirit and Holy Spirit at Pentecost, by whose power the command
soul and body ‘ may ‘ be preserved blameless unto the could be fulfilled. But among the group in the Upper
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ’. Room is a man in the dress of our own day. Is not this
touch of modernity saying that the presence of the Holy
Article Ten of the doctrines of Spirit is to every generation and for all? This experience
The Salvation Army. is not the fancy of a small group of Christian eccentrics,
nor the exclusive concern of autumn conventions or
Whitsuntide rallies. The doctrine of holiness should
always be considered in its proper setting—as an
integral part of the redemptive purpose of God for men.
Rightly understood it is the one serious attempt which
believers may make (as God shall help them) to
translate the spirit of Jesus into a recognizable pattern of
Christian behaviour.
Certainly this was how the doctrine was understood
in New Testament days, for it spoke of a state of grace
intended to be as universal as salvation and as open to
slave as apostle. All were called to holiness and all might
attain—and in these terms was the message proclaimed
in the first city of imperial consequence which Paul
reached after leaving Asia for Europe.
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 History was written on the walls of Thessalonica. reeds. If desire of itself could transform us into men
Pompey had sheltered there before his last losing battle after God’s own heart, we would have been that long
with Caesar and his fatal flight to Egypt. Much of the ago. We know our weaknesses and are shamed by them.
east-west traffic of the Roman Empire passed along the Shamed so much that when in the sessions of silent
main street of the city, and it was a proverb that ‘so long thought we take counsel with our conscience, we say:
as nature does not change, Thessalonica will remain ‘See that thou tell no name. Keep it dark!’ A man who
wealthy’. It was to this place that Demas returned when has never known a touch of grace may be unaware of his
he deserted Paul. There was money to be made there deeper needs, but not those who have tasted of the
and that backslider knew it. And it was in this setting heavenly gift. We might be more content had our eyes
that the call to holy living was sounded. never been opened to the beauty of holiness, but we are
The visit of the Apostle to the seaport lasted for little dissatisfied because we have glimpsed what might be.
more than three weeks. Because of a riot staged by some The forgiven soul cannot be content to remain
loungers who were urged on by the orthodox Jewish forgiven only. When theologians declare that ‘a
community, Paul had to leave the town hurriedly under justification which does not issue in sanctification is no
cover of darkness. His first letter calling his converts to justification at all’, they are but stating in their own
Christian holiness may have been written a couple of idiom what simpler believers instinctively realize. For
months later. Their standards of personal living were not the ideal of Christian holiness has a most disconcerting
to be lowered because they were ‘babes in Christ’, nor power. Once we have seen it we can never unsee. What
because they were left an island of Christian decency in a happened to the rich young ruler after he went away
sea of gross heathenism. Wrote the Apostle: ‘You know sorrowful is one of the minor mysteries of the New
the words of command we passed on to you with the Testament. but it may well be that thereafter he was
authority of the Lord Jesus. “God’s will for you is haunted by the sight of a homeless Carpenter who had
complete sanctification”’ (J. W. C. Wand). no purse of His own yet possessed a beauty of character
Note, first of all, that the Apostle was not saying to which no money could buy.
his converts: you can be holy because you long to be And by our very desire for holiness we may be
holy—though doubtless this was their desire as it is encouraged to believe that the experience itself is no
ours. Not many of us share the sickness of the Master of mirage but substantial fact. Article Ten in our
Ballantrae who, when asked why he was so bad a man Salvation Army creed is not a piece of wishful thinking.
when he had all the machinery to be a good one, Within us there is no desire which cannot enjoy its
replied: ‘No, not all. The malady of not wanting.’ legitimate satisfaction. For hunger there is food; for
If wanting could make us better, we would be better. thirst there is drink; for fellowship there are friends. We
If wishes were horses—but more often they are broken in no way underestimate the reality of that bias toward
evil which afflicts all human nature if we also

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agree with the scholarly Rudolf Otto that holiness is a as their achievement in grace confirmed his highest
‘hidden predisposition of the spirit’. The hunger for hopes, he kept his own wishes out of the picture. He
holiness is there, and for that there must be adequate was not attaching his converts to himself. His counsel
satisfaction. was not: I want you to be holy, but: God’s will is that
Yet though this line of reasoning may have its you should be holy. This grace was founded neither on
appeal, it was not the one taken by the Apostle. Nor did human wishes nor on the hopes of a leader, but on the
he say: you can be holy for I long to see you enter into express will of God.
this experience—though that must have been one of his Now this word ‘will’ can be understood in, at least
dearest wishes. two senses.
The preaching of the gospel in Thessalonica had One has to do with intention or purpose. As General
been for him something of a test case. Within less than Orsborn* wrote: ‘God wills for His people an uttermost
a month of his arrival he had been chased from the salvation.’
town. Could he hope that the Christian seed, of That has always been God’s will for His people. The
necessity so hastily planted and then so untimely left, meaning of the word ‘holy’ was deepened by the
could take root and bear fruit? If so, then he might hope prophets and altogether transformed by the coming of
for equally happy results in the other great cities of the Jesus, yet the New Testament can freely quote the Old
Roman Empire. The Apostle was so consumed with Testament command, ‘Be ye holy; for I am holy’,
anxiety on this point that, when later he reached because that has always been the purpose of God. The
Athens, he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to word itself comes from a root meaning separated, and
discover how his converts were faring. When at last he with Israel it was the divine will that they should be
heard that they were standing firm in the faith he could separate from their neighbours in faith and practice.
hardly express his joy. ‘You… became examples to all With the new Israel it is still His will that we should be
who believe,’ he wrote. ‘You have become a sort of separate from the world in habits because we are separate
sounding-board from which the word of the Lord has at heart. We are to be a peculiar people, His very own,
rung out, not only in Macedonia and Achaia but possessing and possessed by the faith that works by love.
everywhere where the story of your faith in God has But the word ‘will’ can also mean power or ability to
become known. We find we don’t have to tell people do. ‘I will come to the holiness meeting next Thursday
about it. They tell us the story…’ (J. B. Phillips). evening’ means ‘It is my intention to come’ and also ‘I
Here was his Christian dream coming true! Amid am able to come’.
the wildest excesses of heathenism men and women These two do not always coincide in human living.
could walk before God in white. Often ‘to will is present with me, but how to perform
Yet, last of all, though the Apostle greatly longed … I find not’. But with God it is axiomatic that what
that his children in the Lord should so live, and much He wills He can perform. So my sanctification,

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* Albert Orsborn, General of The Salvation Army 1946-54
like my salvation, lies in yielding myself to Him with
whom all things are possible.
Here then is ground which believers may feel firm
beneath their feet. Here personal desire and scriptural CHAPTER 2
teaching meet to provide the open door by which grace
may fully enter. The experience of holiness is not merely THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS
one for which I long nor to which I am counselled by
‘The Holy One’ (Acts 3: 14)
my teachers. This is that which God wills and which,
with man’s active consent, can be fulfilled in every life. was one of the earliest titles given to Jesus and
T HIS
seems to have been a favourite with Peter. It is the
name which he used as disciple to confess Jesus as
Messiah (John 6: 69, R.S.V.) and which, as apostle, he
quoted from Psalm 16: 10 on the day of Pentecost. ‘The
Holy One’ was a title of messianic rank, but we may also
take it as a description of character.
For Jesus was the Holy One, and to look to Him is
to have answered many of our questions about the
nature of holiness. For questions do arise. It is no use
pretending that wayfaring men in general find the
highway of holiness easy going. Salvation we
understand after our fashion. The simple scriptural
imagery of, for example, The Pilgrim’s Progress* supplies
us with ways and means by which we can interpret our
own experience. As with Christian, the City of
Destruction behind us and a sense of personal need
within drove us along the path fenced on either side by
a wall called salvation. Though, like him, we could not
make great haste because we were so laden, at length we
reached the place ‘somewhat ascending’ where, at the
sight of the Cross, the burden was loosed from our
shoulders and we ‘said with a merry heart, “He hath
given me rest by His sorrow, and life by His death”’.
In this sense nothing is simpler than salvation. The

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* The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (1628-1688)
way to Heaven is straight and plain. Nothing is easier to the Author of our salvation is also the pattern of all holy
make than the sign of our salvation. One short stick at living.
right angles to another and there is the shape of the In the first place, Jesus makes holiness visible. ‘Our
Cross. An illiterate can make that saving sign. The highest, holiest manhood Thou.’ In Him this doctrine
French writer Bernanos has described how the Spanish is changed from an abstraction into a living example.
peasantry, lacking any official spiritual comfort when The word holiness becomes flesh and dwells among us.
led out like sheep to be shot in the civil war, would No man was ever holier than Jesus though, in the
make the sign of the Cross by kissing their thumb. days of His flesh, the word was never on His lips for the
Nor have we overmuch difficulty in recognizing the very good reason that He could allow His life to speak
Author of our salvation whose work was finally for itself. The fourth Gospel records Jesus as saying that
accomplished on the Cross. We know Him in His the Holy Spirit would ‘receive of Mine, and… shew it
cradle for His crib is with us every Christmas. And, as unto you’. That is to say, the Holy Spirit interprets to us
many youth workers have learned, the rowdiest the mind of Jesus, and all that the Spirit bids us do will
children’s meeting will be awed into silence by a be in harmony with the example of Jesus. But it is
picture of Jesus on the Cross. Recently a teacher tried equally true to say that the historic Jesus shows us what
to interest a ‘D’ stream class of boys in religion by the Holy Spirit can do with a human life whom He fully
having them read together part of Man born to be possesses.
King*. At this account of the Crucifixion one young And the Holy Spirit fully possessed the Master. The
tough was visibly moved and had to brush away a tear. Holy Spirit came upon Him at the Jordan. He was led of
Even the stations of the Cross have the merit of this the Spirit into the wilderness. Temptation ended for a
direct appeal. This was how He loved us and gave season, He ‘returned in the power of the Spirit into
Himself for us. Galilee’. God gave not ‘the Spirit by measure unto
But to pass from salvation to sanctification is for Him’. We may reverently believe that, as man, Jesus
some like passing from clear sunshine into a damp and suffered the limitations of the humanity He embraced.
clinging sea mist which hides every landmark and He grew up as we grow up. He learnt by the things He
blankets all sense of direction. There are seekers who suffered. He increased in wisdom and stature. The only
confess themselves lost in a theological wood where grace of which He did not empty Himself was love. The
such names as ‘the fullness of the Spirit’, ‘entire Holy Spirit whose nature, like that of the Father, is love,
sanctification’, ‘the Canaan rest’, ‘the second blessing’ was His without measure. In Him we have an example
rise high above their heads and hide the sun from sight. of what human life can be when filled with the Spirit.
How can this experience be made visible, intelligible To the prophets the Holy Spirit was given by measure.
and desirable ? To the Son without measure. As the Puritan, John
The answer is in Jesus and by Jesus, for He who is Owen, said: ‘The grace of God was not in Christ in

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* The Man Born to be King by Dorothy L.Sayers (1893-1957), a series of 12 plays for
radio, first broadcast between December 1941 and October 1942.
parcels, and in first beginnings, as it is with us. But in by the extravagance of his public utterances. Our own
Him the divine grace was in all things, and at all Brengle* was so handicapped in his day by holiness being
times, without measure.’ Jesus has shown us what it is ‘degraded… to describe religion on the loose. The “baptism
to be filled with the Spirit. His is holiness made of the Holy Ghost” was synonymous with wild eyes and
visible. wilder tongues, the unintelligible gibberings of which
And His is also holiness made intelligible— purported to be a gift from Heaven in token of the Spirit’s
intelligible in its naturalness. There was nothing forced coming’.
or artificial about the goodness of Jesus. We cannot so But that is nowhere seen in Jesus. He talked sanely.
much as imagine Him putting on an act, or behaving in Common people heard Him gladly. He reasoned
a religious manner because someone was watching sanely. ‘How think ye…?’ He behaved sanely. If He rose
Him, or assuming a pious tone when speaking of God up ‘a great while before day’ He could also be the guest
or to God. His holiness was too much part of the of honour at a supper party in Bethany. To Him human
texture of His daily living for that. His goodness friendships could be holy, human laughter could be
expressed itself in His craftsmanship, in yokes that holy, human affection could be holy. He whose eye was
were ‘easy’, in carpentry which was its own single found His whole body full of light.
recommendation. To Him the creation of His Father was holy. The
His holiness enabled Him to eat and drink so flower in the crannied wall spoke of divine care. The
naturally that His enemies wrote Him off as ‘a drunkard lilies of the field—in our tongue, a carpet of bluebells in
and a glutton’. Their traditional picture of a holy man an English wood—were to be preferred to the glory of
was a John the Baptist who wore a garment of camel Solomon. The Master’s first followers themselves seized
hair tied about him with a leather belt, and who fed on on this truth for, on the walls of the catacombs where
what he could find on the open moor—locusts and wild they sheltered, brightly coloured birds and fish and
honey. His was a noble life, nobly lived. But is not the palms spoke of their happy delight in all that the Father
least in the Kingdom greater than he? Not because any had made. As Augustine said: ‘I find the sky good, the
of us is fit to unloose the latchet of the Baptist’s shoe. sun good, the moon good, the stars good, the things
But because, thanks to the revelation of God in Christ, which are brought forth from the earth and rooted
we are allowed to see holiness not as a denial of the there, all good.’
good things of creation but as their acceptance and So can we. We do not honour God the more by
dedication to the glory of their Giver. plucking the thorn and throwing away the rose.
Intelligible as well in its sanity. For too often the Holiness is not twentieth-century asceticism. We are
holiness mission or the holiness teacher has been not called upon to deny any human affection in order to
regarded—as much within the church of God as without— be holy in the Father’s sight. Jesus did not love His
as an eccentric whose private oddities were matched Father’s will the less because He loved Martha and

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* Commissioner Samuel Logan Brengle (1860-1936), American Salvation Army officer,
author and teacher on the subject of holiness.
Mary and Lazarus. Holiness is an experience of grace had joined in a common cremation. Even my paints were
gone, and my pencils and brushes. There was nothing left—
for normal people living normal lives, set in families as nothing whatever of all that that room had stood for.
God intended, and finding their highest happiness in ‘Painting’, said Edward’s father, ‘must cease
the sanctification of their common joys. So intelligently altogether.’
to live the life of holiness is intelligently to commend it. But such a paragraph is a libel on Christianity.
Finally, the experience of holiness made visible and Whoever says that holiness has no place for beauty
intelligible in Jesus, appears in Him to be most desirable. knows neither the nature of holiness nor the nature of
The repulsion which men sometimes feel over this beauty.
word is often due to one of three reasons. Or take a typical study of factory life such as
Occasionally a believer will discredit his cause by his Daylight on Saturday*. In the whole of the book there is
own inconsistency. But the surprising fact is, that only one religious character, and he a man suffering so
remembering how exacting are the standards of sadly from religious mania that he attacks a girl who
Christian living, how rarely such a failure occurs. That works on a nearby bench.
failure is headlined when it does occur is testimony to This is supposed to be realism, but is it? Let those
its rarity. Did it occur often it would soon come to pass who live anywhere in the manufacturing belt in
without comment. Mention is frequently made of a England say whether this is not a caricature of our social
single failing, but a lifetime of consistency will go, if not life. Decent, wholesome Salvation Army bandsmen in
unhonoured, at least often unsung. any of our Midland divisions must surely protest by the
Again, few works of modern fiction, like few score that this is not industrial life as they know it. This
paragraphs in the press, seem willing to do justice to is not seeing life steadily and seeing it whole. It is a
goodness. It is sin that is news, and sin gives not a few selection of material which reveals the bias of the
of our writers elbow room in which to earn their bread selector.
and butter. But finally—and here is the real reason why men
Take two examples. Is there a more cruel travesty of stub their toe over the word holiness—such a life goes
Christian conversion than the account of young Edward against the grain of the natural man. For all of us, apart
Pentecost returning home to Manchester from a from grace, are greatly disinclined to gird up our loins
holiday in Cornwall to find that his father has been and become what God can make us. With some of us,
saved while he was away? But when the boy climbs to ease would have to go. With others, some pet
his sky-lighted attic which was his ‘studio’, he finds that indulgence would need throwing out. For all the beauty
not a picture remained on the walls. Not only were the
reproductions gone, but my own paintings too. In the of the good life made visible in Jesus, it will never
fireplace was a heap of charred paper and canvas. I turned it become popular with the unregenerate heart. But at
over with my toe, and fragments of colour disinterred
themselves from the ashes. All had been burned. A strip or
least let us see what it is we are rejecting. If we
two of silk and satin showed how Blanche’s dreams and mine are to turn aside, let it not be from a caricature but
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* Daylight on Saturday, Wartime propaganda novel by J.B. Priestley first published
1943.
from the ideal made visible in Jesus. An impossible
ideal? But at least is it not desirable?
And not so fast with impossible either. George Fox* CHAPTER 3
used to say: ‘Look not at thy temptations but at the
Christ, and thou wilt receive power.’ To those who thus THE NATURE OF THE EXAMPLE
look all things are possible.
Let us lay aside every weight… looking unto Jesus’

(Hebrews 12: 1, 2)

of the first laws of the spiritual life is that the

O NE
experience of holiness is best understood in the
light of the example of Jesus.
This is true doctrinally, for the Holy Spirit came to
the first disciples in place of the Jesus whom they had
known in the days of His flesh. In the Spirit Jesus came
to them again in power, and by the Spirit He
continually comes to every honest seeker. There is no
difference in character between the Holy Spirit and the
spirit of Jesus. The Holy Spirit illuminates the mind of
Christ; the life of Jesus exemplifies the work of the
Spirit. The testimony ‘I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me ‘could as accurately read
‘I can do all things through the Holy Spirit who
strengtheneth me’. ‘Christ’ here is but the Apostle’s
swift abbreviation for the ever-present spirit of Christ
who, like the wind, can clear our lives of rubbish and,
like the fire, can burn up all that is wood, hay and
stubble. To invoke the Holy Spirit, supposing that He
can do more for us than the other two Persons in the
Godhead is bad theology. We know but one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who share every act of
thought, will and feeling.
If the nature of the Father was fully and finally
revealed by the Incarnation, the same divine event
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* George Fox (1624-1691), founder of the Society of Friends.
made clear the nature of the Holy Spirit. For by the the sinner’s salvation but for the perfecting of the saints
Incarnation we mean not only the birth of a Baby in a in grace. He who has made salvation real to us will also
manger but the whole disclosure of God in Christ until make holiness real, for holiness is growth in
‘a cloud received Him out of their sight’. If God the Christlikeness. Not growth into Christlikeness, for that
Father has always been as Jesus showed Him to be, God would be to assume that a corrupt tree could bring forth
the Holy Spirit always strives with man with the good fruit. But to learn to walk as he walked is the
compassionate strength of Christ. And when I pray, I do essence of holiness.
not pray to One and turn my back on the Others. When Wrote John Wesley to one of his itinerant preachers:
I say, ‘Holy Spirit, come, O come’, I am really using a ‘You never learned, either from my conversation or
kind of theological shorthand which, if written out in preaching or writings, that “holiness consisted in a flow
full would read, ‘O Holy Spirit, who art ever with the of joy”. I constantly told you quite the contrary. I told
Father and the Son, one God, come, O come.’ you it was love… the image of God stamped on the
So the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost meant heart; the life of God in the soul of man, the mind that
that men were now set on the way to becoming was in Christ, enabling us to walk as Christ also
Christlike in zeal, in patience, in compassion—in short, walked.’
in all the qualities of the divine character. The coming And as his brother Charles wrote:
of the Holy Spirit did not make the group in the Upper Holy Lamb, who Thee confess,
Room superior in spiritual attainment or power to Followers of Thy holiness,
Thee they ever keep in view,
anything that Jesus had ever been, but the Spirit set Ever ask: what shall we do?
these men who had been so painfully human on the way Governed by Thy only will,
to becoming fully Christlike. All Thy words we would fulfil,
Now what is true doctrinally is true experimentally. Would in all Thy footsteps go,
For holiness is an abstract noun, and men are not Walk as Jesus walked below.
greatly moved to admiration, hope and love by an Now the reason for the text at the head of this
abstraction. Truth has to become incarnate if our hearts chapter may be clearer. And first of all we look to Jesus
are to be won and our wills moved to action. for pattern.
Jesus as Saviour is already known to us. We Scholars point out that ‘looking unto’ is a very strong
recognize Him by the ‘five bleeding wounds He bears’. phrase, and is a translation of a single Greek word used
Our need of salvation is met in the flesh and blood nowhere else in the New Testament. One of its
figure of Jesus of Nazareth. But it would be wrong to meanings is to look fixedly at, to look at a person or
limit His work to that primary need. We may not object to the exclusion of all else. A modern translation
dissociate Him from the satisfaction of any of the needs reads: ‘with no eyes for anyone else but Jesus’.
of the human heart. The saying, ‘And I, if I be lifted Look to Him only or exclusively, for about us there
up… will draw all men unto Me’, is not only for are all manner of caricatures of the holy life. Some are
16 17
born of human weakness but many are framed with heart’s longings be not mocked nor our spiritual desires
intent to deceive. misdirected.
Think what a mistaken idea we should have of our But more than pattern is needed—and more than
Founder* if we knew him only through the eyes of the pattern can be found when we look to Jesus. This ideal,
cartoonist. Suppose the only picture we had of him was when accepted, has a compulsive power enabling us to
the malicious drawing which shows him gloating over grow like Him.
his presumed money-bags like a bigger and brassier This becomes true of a man’s thinking, for it is a
Silas Marner. Would we imagine this to be the man mistake to think that the experience of holiness affects
who voluntarily paid over to The Salvation Army the one particular habit only, leaving all other areas of
profits on the sale of his In Darkest England and the personal living untouched. Such a piecemeal conception
Way Out, amounting to £7,838? Would we think him of holiness allows a salvation soldier to love sinners but, as
to possess so scrupulous a conscience in matters of in the poem of Flora Larsson*, to have little patience with
money that in the spring of 1888 he paid into Army ‘the awkward saints’. By the same token a soldier may
funds the sum of £500, being the valuation by a manifest great zeal for duty but this is eclipsed by a still
London firm of chartered accountants of the eleven greater zeal that this duty should be seen and known of
years’ premiums paid on his life assurance policies all. His thinking is not yet fully transformed. He is not
when these were being defrayed by the committee of wholly possessed by the mind of Christ. And for the mind
The Christian Mission? that was in Christ there is no substitute or equivalent.
Or what impression would we have of our fathers in Take an illustration from a man whose thinking was
the faith if all we knew of them was after the manner of transformed by his surrender to Christ. We know a
a paragraph in Punch** which said that when the Lower good deal about this man for his writings occupy the
House of Convocation petitioned the Upper House for larger part of the New Testament. He began, according
guidance as to the attitude to be taken towards the new to his own statement, as a Hebrew of the Hebrews, a
Movement, the Bishops replied that ‘there was less of Pharisee of the Pharisees.
the Army than the Knavey about these Salvationists’? Now there never existed a more exclusive race than
And how mistaken will be all our ideas of holiness if the first-century Jews. And this exclusiveness was not
we view this experience in the light of the caricatures accompanied by any shamefaced apology, as a blue
we see of it. No wonder the good life is thought to be blood may like it to be known that he has not yet lost
grim when sanctification is confused with the common touch. ‘God loves Israel alone of all the
sanctimoniousness and holiness with humourlessness. nations of the earth,’ said one rabbi. The important
How can holiness be accepted as life abundant, which it word in that sentence was ‘alone’. The question
is, if it is thought to be repression run riot? How urgent ‘What advantage hath the Jew?’ was answered ‘Much
the need to keep a right pattern before us so that our in every way’.

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*William Booth, Founder and first General of The Salvation Army (1829-1912). * Commissioner Flora Larsson (1904-2000), author of five popular volumes of prayer-
** Punch – humorous and satirical British magazine published from 1841 to 2002. poems.
 And of this exclusive race the Pharisees were most Ought we not to give this spiritual ideal at least
exclusive group, self-appointed to maintain the purity equal time and attention? Sometimes we say of a person
of their blood and obedience to their ancient laws. How who may not have impressed us favourably at first
come then, that this separatist of separatists should blush: ‘He improves with knowing.’ Reverently we may
spend the second half of his life declaring that in say the same of the life of holiness as exemplified in
matters of eternal destiny there was no difference Jesus. This improves with knowing.
between Jew and Greek. All had sinned but all could be Finally, look with eyes for none but Him, for only
saved. He can stir us out of our lazy content with the lower
How come? Simply that he had been looking, and levels of spiritual living.
looking long, at Jesus—‘with no eyes for anyone but Have you travelled by road over a mountain range
Jesus’. And in the five bleeding wounds he had seen that and marked the habits of that road? Will it climb a foot
For all my Lord was crucified, more than is necessary? Not if it can be avoided. It will
For all, for all my Saviour died. turn and twist, double back on itself, wriggle along a
A man’s thinking can be changed radically when he shelf of rock, take a long and circuitous route, even dive
looks long enough, and searchingly enough, at Jesus— into a tunnel than rise any higher than is necessary to
his thinking about God, his thinking about his cross the range at the lowest available point.
neighbours, his thinking about himself. And our human nature, left to itself, always clings to
But the compulsive power of this ideal can change a the lower levels. Despite Longfellow’s ‘Excelsior’, few of
man’s willing as well. He who loves Me, said Jesus, us seize that banner with the strange device, ‘Holiness
will keep My commandments. But only he who unto the Lord’, and are lost to sight making for the
loves—for that is the only way in which His summit of the holy hill of God.
commandments can be kept. Otherwise they become Only Jesus can rouse us into making such an
impossible burdens. But as we look and love we receive attempt. Then look to Him that He may quicken you
strength to obey. with holy desire which, by the presence and power of
This is where we must give the life of holiness as the Holy Spirit, may find its fullest expression in holy—
exemplified in Jesus a fair chance. Some of us do not do that is to say, Christlike—living.
that. We do not take the trouble to look long enough at
Him. We pay more attention to a human interest
picture in the daily paper. We gaze more intently at the
T.V. screen. We treat this ideal more summarily than a
new piece of band music. At least we give the latest
journals a run over. We try them once over before we
turn them down.

20 21
 all holy, not because they possessed any moral qualities
of their own—how can a thing possess intrinsic moral
worth?—but because they were set apart from secular
CHAPTER 4 life for sacred use. And such holy robes or utensils
might not be touched save by men who were holy, that
THE POWER OF THE EXAMPLE is, set apart for the service of God.
Examples of this ceremonial meaning of the word
‘It is written, Be ye holy; For I am holy’ (1 Peter 1: 16)
‘holy’ abound in the Old Testament. There was the holy
word ‘holy’ is one of the oldest religious words, oil reserved exclusively for use in the tabernacle (Exodus
T HE
and its roots stretch out far and away beyond the
covers of the Bible. So far as scholars can tell, the word
30: 33). There was the holy incense, the recipe for
which was not to be otherwise employed (Exodus 30:
was originally applied to the sacred as distinct from the 38). There was the holy ark, and a layman who touched
secular. The root meaning was separate. That which was it died through his imprudence (2 Samuel 6: 6). Similar
holy was set apart from common use and dedicated to the religious habits were current in surrounding nations,
service of God. A simple illustration can be found in the and no injustice is done to the religion of Israel by
story of David’s flight to Nob where he asked the resident recognizing this fact any more than injury is done to the
priest for food. The reply was that the only bread on Christian faith by admitting that prayer is a practice
hand was ‘hallowed bread’—that is to say, bread which common both to Christianity and Islam. What makes
had been dedicated to the worship of the shrine, but this the difference is the nature of the One to whom prayer
David insisted on being given. Necessity drove him to is addressed. And what Israel possessed uniquely above
defy the taboo because no other food was available. To a all her neighbours was an increasing revelation of the
hungry man fleeing for his life ‘holy’ bread was as good to nature of God, and a growing understanding that
eat as any other bread, and so he ignored a distinction holiness had less and less to do with ritual actions and
which otherwise he would have respected. more and more with human motives. For this we have
For respected it was—and in many parts of the to thank the early demands of the Decalogue, and later
world today still is. In ancient times anything the revelation accepted and proclaimed by the prophets
connected with a god was holy. An amulet, a charm, a that the holiness which God required was a separation
nose ring, a piece of ground associated with his worship from sin. Those who named His name were required to
was holy because it was linked with his name and be different—in heart.
person. Moral consideration as such did not then enter If, of the ten commandments, four dealt with man’s
overmuch into human thinking. Holiness was mostly relationship to God, half as many again had to do with
an affair of ritual—so in Israel the priestly garments, his relationship to his neighbour. A God who was
the golden candlestick, the altar vessels, were righteous expected His people to behave righteously.

22 23
Upon this foundation the prophets built. A king, accomplishments of holy love. ‘Be ye holy’ is therefore
though he were a king, could not annex his neighbour’s best understood as it is translated ‘Be ye Christlike’.
vineyard. A David, though he were David, could not And that adjective, far from weakening our thoughts of
arrange to have one of his mercenaries killed in battle so holiness, is a more demanding word. What was a vague
that he might possess his wife. A man of property was noun is now given a sharply marked outline. An ideal
not thereby entitled to sell a debtor into slavery for a has been made incarnate. We are confronted not with
song, nor regard the poor as dust beneath his chariot an abstraction which each man may define as seems him
wheels. He might go into the holy place and offer all the good, but with a Figure whose example defies the touch
prescribed sacrifices but, in God’s sight, he would of time and whose words brook no denial. To use this
remain unholy. To no purpose would be the multitude short and simple definition of holiness as Christlikeness
of his sacrifices if his hands were stained with blood. is not to bypass any of its theological implications. It is
Such conduct might pass unchallenged in Nineveh not to water down a doctrine whose strength, with some
or Tyre but not where the Holy One of Israel ruled. past expositors, has seemed to lie in the exclusively
Isaiah saw that He who was high and lifted up was Pauline language employed. But here the experience
different from mortal man not only in His majesty but stands stripped of all verbiage and is set out in the
in His measureless moral purity. The separateness of plainest of language. Where Christ is enthroned, there
God was a separateness from sin—the thrice repeated is true holiness.
‘Holy! ‘ announced that fact—and His followers were to There is confirmation of this truth in our own
be equally separate. So the prophet prayed that he Salvation Army teachers of earlier days. Here is a
himself might be purged from sin before he called upon paragraph from the biography of Brengle.
his people to cry for a like cleansing. What, then, is the essence of his definition of this much
This principle then emerges: a man’s conception of maligned and little-understood subject of holiness? The
answer, for the sake of clarity as well as brevity, may be given
holiness is governed by the character of the God he in one word: Christlikeness. He teaches that this experience of
worships. Like God, like worshipper. So that when holiness—or blessing of a clean heart, the Army’s term for
what is otherwise spoken of as entire sanctification, indwelling
Jesus came, enriching beyond measure our of the Spirit, full assurance of faith, overcoming power, death
understanding of God, He also deepened beyond to the self-life… is wrought in the believing heart by the Holy
Spirit… and the believer is thus rendered Christlike…. And,
measure our conception of holiness. When Jesus said, say those who know him, Brengle is himself the best
‘He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father’, He made argument for his teaching.
it clear for all time that the nature of God had been Only one exception can be taken to that paragraph.
finally revealed in His life. And if the call to holiness is It is the omission of a single word. For the definition
a call to resemble God, then to be holy is to be like of holiness as Christlikeness not only includes clarity
Jesus. Holiness means Christlikeness, not only in the and brevity but the sovereign virtue of accuracy—
negative virtue of sinlessness but in the positive

24 25
which is more important still. ‘Dear brother,’ wrote a veneer of polish, pass as a ‘gentleman’. Was not this
Brengle to a questioning comrade, ‘there is no such the essence of the famous experiment with Eliza
thing as holiness apart from “Christ in you”.’ Doolittle, daughter of a dustman and London flower
Confirmation of this is found in the New girl, as told in Pygmalion?* Professor Higgins wagered
Testament. Where a man is ‘strengthened with might that by teaching Eliza to speak correctly and to dress
by the Spirit’, there Christ dwells in his heart by faith. correctly he could in six months pass her off in London
And where Christ dwells by faith is also known the society as a duchess. But the experiment failed for, as
power of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit can do no other the Professor himself said, one has to consider ‘not only
than make us increasingly like to Christ. And when in how a girl pronounces, but what she pronounces’.
any life there are the beginnings of Christlikeness, that Conversation about the weather will not carry a person
must be the work of the Holy Spirit. How can it be far in intelligent company.
otherwise? These two cannot work to conflicting ends. Christian holiness is more than poise, though he
They are allies not rivals. Every claim to holiness stands who knows Christ within will know a heart’s repose. It
or falls by its likeness to Jesus. Every gift of the Spirit is more than the cultivation of courtesy, though that is
which a believer may claim to posses must be judged by part of its outworking. We are not here concerned
its power to produce a more Christlike character. primarily with external manners but with inward
Finally, what is taught in the New Testament and change. This experience is nothing less than the final
confirmed by our Army teachers can be verified in our dethronement of self and the infilling of the
own experience. For this likeness to Christ is no affair surrendered life by the spirit of Him who is the
of external imitation. It has been well said that all summation of all virtue.
imitations are bad—even the imitation of Christ. ‘ O God,’ prayed Socrates, ‘make me beautiful
Holiness does not begin with an outward conformity of within.’ With a greater knowledge of sanctifying grace
habit but with an inward receiving of the Spirit. To than that Greek philosopher could ever have imagined,
conform to a pattern is not difficult. We see that we can utter the same prayer, knowing that to possess
process at work in a school, in a community, in a union. the spirit of Christ within will transform us without.
Newcomers assume the colour of the group far more That this is true holiness let the Army Mother** bear
quickly than they assimilate its spirit. They conform witness, as in the concluding sentences of one of her
and are accepted—and this is as true of a club in the outstanding addresses in the St. James’s Hall, Piccadilly:
West End as in Bermondsey. This process begins as a Sanctification does not mean that Christ comes and works a
work in me, and then departs to Heaven to look on and see
pressure working from without, but in Christian how I maintain it. No, He truly does a divine work in me, but
holiness the work is from within. He cleanses the temple for Himself [her italics] for His use.…
Then is fulfilled the promise: ‘I will come in to him, and will
It might be possible for me to acquire the garments sup with him.’
and cultivate the accent of a man about town and, by Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly!
26 27
* Pygmalion, 1914 play by G.B. Shaw, later adapted as the musical My Fair Lady.
** Catherine Booth, with her husband William co-Founder of The Salvation Army.
 The most impossible of all
Is that I e’er from sin should cease.
But Charles Wesley did not stop there, and neither
should we. Memories of the second world war are now
CHAPTER 5
fast fading, but one which should not be allowed to fade
THE EXPERIENCE EXAMINED is that ordinary people showed themselves capable of
great heroism. The anonymous nurse, the nameless
‘ Your aim must be… holiness’ (Hebrews 12: 14, Knox) mother, the unknown bus conductor all revealed a
E holiness my aim on earth,’ wrote Richard Mant,
courage which, displayed on an actual battlefield in a
B sometime Vicar of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate,
London—a line to be found in the fourth verse of No.
previous century, would have evoked the most purple of
passages from governors and rulers. After the first world
346 in The Song Book of The Salvation Army.* war there was a unique parade in London in so far that
There is no shortage of texts to support this aim, but everyone taking part had been awarded the Victoria
the experience itself does not depend on any single Cross. As this somewhat mixed company marched
proof text so much as on the whole spirit and teaching down Whitehall an observer was heard to remark: ‘They
of the New Testament which bids us bear fruit unto look a very ordinary crowd.’ To which answer was
holiness. made: ‘But ordinary people are capable of great valour.’
This is a high aim; some think too high an aim. In This truth applies to the good fight or faith. The life
the second play of the Man born to be King cycle, of holiness is not for spiritual supermen only. The God
Dorothy Sayers puts this very thought into the mouth who was the God of Elijah was also the God of Jacob.
of John son of Zebedee. With Andrew, Simon Peter The struggle under cover of darkness at Jabbok was no
and Philip, he is talking to Jesus. less significant than the victory won on Carmel in full
light of day—for which thanks be to God as there are
‘Master, what is holiness? Is it just to keep the
commandments and say the right prayers, and do the right always more Jacobs than Elijahs. What matters is not
things, and pay the proper dues, as the priests tell us? Or is it our all too human weakness but our willingness to allow
something quite different? The preaching of John the Baptist
has troubled our hearts.… We are disheartened because that weakness to be transcended by the presence and
nothing we do seems to be any good, and the righteous God is power of the Holy Spirit. On those terms, nothing is
so great and terrible and far away. How can we rise so far
above ourselves? What sort of heroic thing is holiness?’ impossible. With the consent of the human will
That is a superb phrase. But the question must not nothing is too hard for the Lord.
be quoted in order to daunt our spirits. None must take This means that the first aim which the doctrine of
this as a reason for edging away on the ground that here holiness sets before us is victory over sin, not immunity
is a form of spiritual heroism beyond human from temptation.
attainment. Of the promise of victory there can be no doubt.

28 29
* 1953 edition. The song, beginning ‘There is a dwelling-place above’, was omitted from
the 1986 edition.
The New Testament delights to declare this possibility. was that the front line ran through tile factories. The
In places the Epistles catalogue a list of sins as dark as victories of holiness can be won in our factories and
night, not that men might extol a lurid past—which was kitchens and back streets. Indeed, that is where they
how Shaw” mistakenly thought of testimony in a must be won if an unbelieving generation is to be
Salvation Army meeting—but that the excellency of persuaded of the truth of this Christian doctrine.
grace might be seen to be of God. But victory is not immunity. Here more than one
Take, as illustration, the passage in which Paul seeker has gone astray. There is a full surrender to the
reminds certain of his converts at Corinth of what they will of God at the Mercy Seat or at the quiet of a
once were. There is hardly a vice of our own day which bedside, but instead of peace and tranquillity
he does not mention. ‘Do not be deceived; neither the temptation comes in like a flood. The believer is
immoral, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor discouraged afresh. ‘Is this the happiness you told me
homosexuals, nor thieves… nor drunkards… will of?’ he inquires with Pliable. ‘If we have such ill speed at
inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of our first setting out, what may we expect betwixt this
you’ (R.S.V.). And such they were, not because they and our journey’s end?’
belonged to the refuse of society, a kind of submerged Immunity from temptation is nowhere promised. In
tenth, but because these sins of physical uncontrol were his first book on holiness Brengle* devoted a whole
the sad commonplaces of the world in which they lived. chapter to ‘the temptations of a sanctified mam’. This is
These converts had not been sinners above the rest of ‘a fight (to quote his own words) as real as that of
men. But they were saved above the rest—and not saved Waterloo or Gettysburg with consequences infinitely
only. There are sounds of exultation in what follows more far reaching’. The form of the temptation may alter
which echo to this day. ‘Such were some of you: but ye but the fact of temptation remains. A converted drunkard
are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified.’ may be so radically changed as to dislike the familiar
All this was the Lord’s doing and marvellous in their smell of the saloon bar. He can now sell Salvation Army
eyes. No man could wash himself clean of sin or sanctify papers where once he was too drunk to stand, and the
himself, but God could—and did. very thought of a pint be repulsive. But is that same man
E. V. Rieu has said that when his son heard that he never tempted to think what a wonderful fellow he now
was undertaking a translation of Scripture for the is to be able to do all this? Unless he is ‘kept low by grace’
Penguin Books, he remarked: ‘It will be very interesting is he not in danger of being lifted up by pride?
to see what Father makes of the Gospels. It will be more We can no more escape temptation than we can
interesting still to see what the Gospels make of Father.’ escape being jostled by people during the rush hour. Of
Rieu’s comment when he had completed the translation course, I do not need to go out during the rush hour
was, ‘My work changed me.’ unless I must. If I do put myself in harm’s way, then
That experience all may share. A war-time saying my excuses are as lame as that of the negro servant

30 31
* Playwright and critic George Bernard Shaw was both a vocal admirer and trenchant * See p11.
critic of The Salvation Army.
found in the chicken run who protested that he was searching but more. On no count can it be urged that
there testing his will power. But if my work, or my Jesus was less tempted than we are. Only the soul who
Army duty, or an errand of mercy, calls me out in the has resisted all the wiles of Satan knows their full
rush hour, then out I must go. My daily occupation or strength. Many of us know little of Satan’s real power
my service to God may expose me to temptation, but I because we yield so easily. He has no need to exert
am no more obliged to parley with it than I am to himself unduly. We fall so quickly for so little. Only
start up a conversation with a stranger on evil bent he who resists steadfast in the faith knows how
who accosts me in the street. I can choose with whom powerful can be the tempter’s pull. And spotless Lamb
I will stop to talk even in the rush hour. And at any of God though He was, Jesus knew the savage power
waking moment I can choose whether to toy with of that pull.
some sinful suggestion or to turn to Christ with a cry The experience of holiness does not confer
for help. immunity from temptation. Nor need we be cast down
‘Temptations here upon me press.’ That was true or suppose we are out of God’s favour when tempted.
for Jesus Himself. His temptations were not to Brengle defined temptations as ‘God-permitted
gluttony or avarice or the coarser sins of the flesh. opportunities’. In that sense we may rejoice with James
But that He was tempted there can be no doubt. His and count ourselves happy when assailed by temptation.
were not the more obvious lures to evil but more Here is a God-permitted opportunity for victory, and
subtle suggestions which concerned that which lay such opportunities will recur from our conversion till
nearest His heart—the accomplishment of His our translation to realms above. Not until Mr. Valiant
Father’s will. for Truth heard the final summons did he yield his
As small children we may have seen pictures of Satan sword to the one who was to succeed him on the pilgrim
in traditional form appearing to the Master during the way. What said Stephen the Sabaite?
forty days in the wilderness. Fork, tail, cloven hoof make If I find Him, if I follow,
the evil one plainly recognizable. But surely if ever he What my portion here?
Many a sorrow, many a labour,
appeared as an angel of light it was during that period. Many a tear.
Scripture was on his lips. He breathed concern as to the In our aim for holy living we are not promised
happiest way in which Jesus might fulfil His divine immunity from temptation, God having provided some
mission. His suggestions wore a most plausible air. Any better thing—victory by His grace.
one of them might have been accepted for a dozen good
reasons. If ever Ithuriel’s spear was needed to reveal the
tempter in his true colours it was then. It may be urged
that these were the temptations, not of a mortal man,
but of a Saviour. Agreed, and that made them not less

32 33
 First there must be a beginning. There arises an
awareness of personal need which draws a man on to an
act of full surrender. The forgiven soul awakes to the
truth that forgiveness is not enough. Blessed is the man
CHAPTER 6
whose iniquity is forgiven—but that act of divine grace
THE EXPERIENCE EXAMINED arouses in him a longing to be like the One to whom he
(Continued) owes his forgiveness. The prodigal who has been
welcomed back from his wild excesses in the far country
‘ Your aim must be… holiness’ feels his need to be clothed in the garments of holiness
making holiness my aim on earth a further truth fit for his father’s house.
I N
has to be kept in mind. The question is sometimes
debated whether the experience of holiness is gained
Or the beauty of holiness as seen in another life may
awaken this desire. Here is the magic of Christian love
instantly or gradually. The answer is that the life of shining in other eyes and the light of Christian joy
holiness is both a crisis and a process. illuminating another face. What could be more
Now this phrase is not mine. We owe it to the inviting? True Christian living not only is good but
saintly Handley Moule, Bishop of Durham from 1901 looks good. Grace and charm are never far apart.
to 1920, so fervent an admirer of the Army that he used Goodness is usually attractive. That was why John
to tell his confirmation classes about our early Sunday Donne could break into raptures over George Herbert’s
morning knee-drills*. aged mother.
Nor spring nor summer’s beauty hath such grace
This is one more illustration of the many-sidedness of As I have seen in an autumnal face.
the experience of holiness, the deepest work of grace in Or it may be that we ourselves have come so far as to
the human heart. Here is richness which includes be forgiven for Christ’s sake and yet not wholly to be
opposites and which makes those seeming opposites not possessed by His spirit. That stage can be more
contradictory but complementary. That is to say, they are discouraging than enheartening. Here is Jesus our
like two sides of the same coin. I cannot have one without Saviour and Friend, and yet can we make our awkward
the other. And if by artifice I manage to sever the one side limbs dance to His heavenly tune? They just won’t.
from the other, I have destroyed the value of the coin. They have not the grace—in more senses than one. We
This is true of the life of holiness. Separate crisis from are clumsy and maladroit where He is all lightness and
process, and the value of the doctrine in which both are beauty. Despair seizes us in our vain attempts to
united is destroyed. There can be no experience without a resemble Him. That was how John Newton spoke of his
beginning, but no beginning can be maintained without own early experience. ‘I acknowledged the Lord’s mercy
growth. So here is no paradox; these two aspects of the life in pardoning what was past, but depended chiefly on
of holiness do not deny but supplement each other. my own resolution to do better for time to come.’
34 35
* Salvation Army term for prayer meetings.
 ‘Chiefly on my own resolution’; so much self-effort hands. A full surrender is the beginning of the life of
and so little of the Holy Spirit’s energies could not holy living; the end of that experience I do not—I
provide Newton with spiritual power for spiritual cannot—see. Fanny Crosby sang of those ‘depths of
achievements—and cannot for us. The life that is love’ and ‘heights of joy’ which lie beyond the narrow
wholly forgiven needs to be wholly possessed. And to be sea. The end of holy living is lost in the white light
fully possessed requires a full surrender. which surrounds the Father’s throne where those who
That is my part in the commencement of the life of are His will be presented before the presence of His
holiness. But my part is the lesser part. What God does glory with exceeding joy. There’s a long, long trail a-
in me counts for more than all I do myself. Need, of winding between start and finish. Any comprehensive
which I am made conscious by a variety of reasons, may view of the doctrine of holiness must have room for
drive me to my knees in total surrender. That is simple both The experience can neither be explained nor lived
enough. I am giving nothing away. I am bringing without crisis and process.
empty hands. I am bringing an emptied life. God’s We may welcome this truth with both hands.
answer is to grant me of His Spirit according to my Personal living requires it and Scripture teaches it. This
capacity to receive. In penitent obedience I yield up a is not to put these reasons in order of importance but to
forgiven life. In faith believing I receive of His Spirit. proceed from the lesser to the greater.
That is the beginning.
For example, there is an age at which legally I
The beginning—but not the end. This is the
become a man. But is anyone, on that particular day, at
commencement of the life of holiness, not its crown.
once possessed of all adult wisdom? When is a man fully
This is the start, a good and necessary start, but only the
mature? At twenty-one, or thirty-one, or forty-one? Are
start. And a start loses all meaning unless there is a
there not some who never put away childish things?
continuance. As Charles Wesley wrote:
Yet when the work is done,
Must there not be a growth within the state of
The work is but begun. adulthood? Let a middle-aged man go back twenty-five
Partaker of Thy grace, years. Am I the same man as then? There is an identity
I long to see Thy face.
The first I prove below, of consciousness. I am still I. But I am also different.
The last I die to know. And unless I have grown more wise I have become less
The crisis must be followed by a process. In the wise. There must be development in adulthood if it is to
initial act of surrender I receive of the fulness of the remain adulthood. In the homely north-country phrase,
Spirit according to my capacity to receive. But that a man has to be his age.
capacity grows with receiving—as a bandsman’s In grace as in wisdom ‘hills peep o’er hills and Alps
facility to play grows with playing, or to speak with on Alps arise’. Spiritually there is always the glory of
speaking or to follow his craft by practising it. I learn going on and still to be.
by doing, not less in matters of the heart than of the An aged and devout reader of the Koran was being
36 37
ridiculed by younger men for his devotion to what was God. There must be a resolve, as God may help, to part
to him the sacred text. ‘You must know it by heart. with all that is wrong. We can hear these phrases in
Don’t you get tired of always reading the same thing?’ dozens of our meetings as the invitation to the Mercy
‘For me it is by no means the same Koran,’ was the Seat is made.
reply. ‘When I was a boy I understood it as a boy. When But here am I also delivered from the peril of
I was a man in my prime I understood it as a man in his complacency, from any vain thought that a single act of
prime. Now I am old I understand it as an old man. surrender is enough. At no point is the believer ever as
Always for me it has something new.’ good as he can be. Ever must there be growth in grace,
How much more is this so of the education of the and every day of growth will prepare the way for days of
Spirit where new light is continually surprising the further growth. Just as the longer a musician practises
believer as he thinks of what grace can do, and receives his art, the more sensitive becomes his ear to any
continually of that grace in his own life. untunefulness, so the closer a believer draws to Christ,
What we learn by experience in this matter is also the more sensitive will he become to anything un-
taught by Scripture. For example, no man was more Christlike in his life. That is the reason why the greatest
certain than Paul that there was no condemnation to saints have ever been the greatest penitents. But their
those who walked ‘not after the flesh but after the penitence has brought forth fruits meet for spiritual
Spirit’. The spirit of life in Christ had made him free progress until glory has finally crowned what grace
from ‘the law of sin and death’. Once for all the ding- began below.
dong struggle of the past had ended. In the old familiar Such an ending in sight demands a beginning in
phrase, this work of grace was a finished work. No more faith. And the beginning will assuredly, under God,
would he long for the good he could not, nor mourn the lead to so happy an ending.
evil which he would not. That crisis point was past.
But no man was also more assured that he was only
seeing in part and knowing in part. Late in life he
wrote from imprisonment in Rome, ‘I do not consider
myself to have “arrived”, spiritually, nor do I consider
myself already perfect. But I keep going on…’
(J. B. Phillips).
Every believer can rejoice in these allied truths. Let
him hold to the one as firmly as the other. For here,
in the true tradition of Salvation Army teaching, is
the starting point. An act of surrender is demanded.
The forgiven life must be wholly yielded to the will of

38 39
 tutors in the Lord who would hold up before him what
some regard as an honours course in the school of
faith—holiness unto the Lord—and bid him think of
this not as an option but as a compulsory subject. The
CHAPTER 7 poor man is nearly on his knees. It is as if our tenth
article of faith was pitched in the minor key and read:
THE EXPERIENCE EXAMINED We believe it is the sad and almost insupportable
(Continued) burden laid upon all believers to be wholly
‘ Your aim must be… holiness’ sanctified… Whereas Article Ten* reads, ‘We believe
that it is the privilege…’
E may be still more encouraged to make holiness
W our aim when we think of the experience as a
privilege, not a burden.
Privilege or burden; which is true?
That religion is a burden, and an unnecessary one at
that, is the view of many an unconverted man. He has
In the opinion of some the salvation soldier is, if not his work cut out earning his bread and butter and
weary, at least heavy laden. He is looked upon as a kind keeping a roof over his head. Why should he add to his
of minor Atlas who bears on his shoulders as many cares by supporting a religion which would, in the first
burdens as the ordinary man—the responsibilities of his place, rob him of things pleasant and, in the second
daily employment and his home and then some more. place, require him to do things unpleasant such as going
There is the burden of doing. While neighbours on to church on a Sunday morning when all he wants to do
either side of him can be at ease—gently pottering is to read the paper and listen to the Light Programme?
round the garden in summer or watching ‘telly’ in the So runs his reasoning.
winter—he must be at the hall, or marching along to This is an outlook which is as ancient as it is modern.
the open-air, or attending a practice, or taking part in Let a page from the Old Testament illustrate this point.
some meeting. He has hardly a moment to call his own. There was a day in history some six centuries
His time and energy are mortgaged in advance. before Jesus lived when Babylon was going down
There is the burden of giving. The labour of his before the rising power of Cyrus the Persian, and a
hand and heart must be supported by his pocket— prophet described the growing panic threatening the
though in all honesty it must be added that some who doomed capital. Israel never had any fellow-feeling
say the most about this give the least. for Babylon. From the first hers was the name given
There is the burden of being. High standards are to that confusion of speech which descended upon
demanded of him. Ceaselessly he has to watch his those who sought to make a name for themselves by
step lest any scorner cry out: ‘There’s that Army man scaling the heavens. Most of the exiled Jews were in
for you!’ And as if keeping well saved was not a hard Babylon against their will, compelled to labour for
enough task in an ungodly world, there are always the benefit of a city whose rule they abhorred. And
40 41
* of The Salvation Army’s Doctrines.
now that the tables were about to be turned, the plight To cover the length, the breadth, the depth, the
of the gods of Babylon wrung no Israelite heart-strings. height of this privilege is, as Doddridge said of grace,
‘Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth.… They stoop, ‘a work so sweet, a theme so high’ as to require eternity
they bow down together; they… themselves are gone for its exposition. Here we can but sum up this
into captivity’ (Isaiah 46: 1, 2). privilege as ‘righteousness, and peace, and joy in the
These were two of the leading gods in the Holy Ghost’.
Babylonian pantheon. Nebo formed part of the name of Righteousness may sound a forbidding word, but
several of the best known Babylonian kings— basically it stands for a right relationship with God. Is
Nebuchadnezzar, for example. But could the idols of that not a desirable privilege? An unconverted man may
Babylon save Babylon in the hour of need? Why, they not think so, but then he is no judge for he does not
themselves had to be saved. They could not carry a know what it means. But we do, and when we do not
single human soul; they had to be carried away instead. enjoy that right relationship with God we are of all
They were not a help but a hindrance. In the general people most miserable. No person is so unhappy as the
panic, every man for himself, these idols had to be heart backslider. The old world is not for him. He has
manhandled off their pedestals, through the temple seen through its shams. He is not to be deceived any
doors, loaded on to waiting oxen, lest the conqueror more by its catchpenny tricks. He has discovered for
seize them and parade them as trophies of victory. In himself how chilly is its painted warmth and how false
the hour of need they were more of a burden. than a its surface smiles. So he does not really want any more
blessing. And the Old Testament prophet scorns a faith truck with it. But some miserable sin has come between
which, as one scholar has said, was reduced to so many him and his Lord so that he enjoys neither the spurious
pounds avoirdupois of sheer deadweight. consolations of the world nor the solid comforts of his
Plainly this was a heathen idea, excusable on the faith. He might be more content had he never been
ground of ignorance. Men knew no better. But any saved at all.
thought of Christian experience—or any part or aspect So it is when two friends fall out. Had they never
of that experience—is a burden is equally heathen, and been friends their disagreement would not be so
not excusable on the ground of ignorance for we know wounding. But they each know what they have lost,
better. No Christian exercise, no Christian practice, and that is why their estrangement is so sore. And the
rightly understood, is a burden. All are privileges, in so believer knows what he has lost when his
far that they carry me. I do not carry them. To think transgression comes like a thick cloud between God
like that is to allow heathen poison to corrupt the and himself. He has known the sunshine of His smile,
truth of the gospel. The life of holiness is not a and this chilly gloom is now insupportable. To be
burden, not a deadweight. Our doctrine is never closer restored to the old relationship would be the blessing
to the heart of Scripture than when it describes this of blessings.
experience as a ‘privilege’. This right relationship is one which the experience
42 43
of holiness would conserve. It is not, of course, a state the assurance that none could take it from them. When
which the believer can ensure for himself. It is always Bunyan heard ‘three or four poor women sitting at a
God that justifies. All is of grace to begin with, and to door in the sun, talking about the things of God’, it was
go on with as well. But our continual yieldedness to the ‘joy which did make them speak’ more than their
His will is our part in maintaining that right poverty which caught his eye. The half-smile which
relationship which is the necessary strength of those hovers uncertainly upon the lips of Franz Hals’
who serve Him. misnamed ‘Laughing Cavalier’ is faint compared with
‘And peace.’ This assuredly follows, for when we are the ‘solid joys and lasting treasure’ known to Zion’s
in a right relationship with God we are at peace with children. Side by side with a meditation and an account
ourselves. Ended is that civil war of which Paul of of a meeting, Brengle wrote: ‘Next to virtue, the fun in
Tarsus was not the first nor the last to write. this world is what we least can spare.’ And so says every
They cease not fighting, cast and west, man who has caught the spirit of his Lord.
On the marches of my breast.
Finally, let Article Ten be read once more with the
Here the truceless armies yet emphasis on the ninth word, ‘We believe that it is the
Trample, rolled in blood and sweat, privilege of all believers…’ For as no man is to be
They kill and kill and never die…
If the moderns despise the apostolic remedy, at least denied the opportunity of salvation, none shall be
they have to acknowledge the apostolic struggle. ‘I refused the joy of holy living. This privilege, like the
hold’, said Dylan Thomas, ‘a beast, an angel and a wideness of God’s mercy, includes all. The gate which
madman in me, and my inquiry is to their working, and God has opened let no man shut. It is the wayfaring
my problem is to their subjugation.’ Now if holiness man who can walk the way of holiness. And that means
means an integration of life with Christ at the centre so me—and you.
that these warring confusions are ended and inward
peace is proclaimed, is that not a privilege?
But more still—‘joy in the Holy Ghost’.
Lest it be thought by any that this is a queer,
fanatical kind of happiness, what the phrase implies is
that Christianity is a supernatural religion and that its
joy is yet one more gift from God to man. In other
words, Christian joy is not an emotion which has to be
worked up from the human end but is a blessing which
descends unsought upon the man who is in right
relationship with God.
So Jesus could pass this gift on to His disciples with

44 45
 ‘Let those of us who are mature be thus minded’
(Philippians 3: 15, R.S.V.).
‘Till we all attain… unto a fullgrown man’
CHAPTER 8
(Ephesians 4: 13, R.V.).
THE EXPERIENCE ENJOYED ‘ Let us… go on to maturity’ (Hebrews 6: 1,
R.S.V.).
‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is This comparison eases my mind and renews hope in
perfect’ (Matthew 5:48)
my heart. In the first place, I am relieved of an
DUFF* once described the New Testament impossible demand. Mortal cannot be as immortal.
M ILDRED
as a severe book, and this call to perfection may be
regarded as one of the severest of texts.
Finitude cannot be compared with infinitude. I cannot
be perfect as God in His person and attributes is
In our common usage perfection implies a state not perfect—the omnipotent, the omniscient, the
requiring, indeed not admitting of, further omnipresent of the theologian. I cannot do what God
improvement. There are no comparative and superlative does, for He is the almighty Creator who sustains
comparisons of the adjective perfect. Perfection is the moment by moment what He has created.
final goal of all endeavour, the summit peak beyond But closer inquiry makes it clear that I am not required
which no climber can go. to do what He does, but as He does. That is to say, God
Nothing is more natural or understandable than to does all in love for He is love. Love is not just one of His
carry over into the spiritual life the current meaning of attributes but the very essence of His nature. ‘God is love.’
this word, and to say that if Christian perfection is a He creates, sustains, redeems and judges in love. And I,
state of grace in which a man is so good that he cannot on my finite scale, am required to do all I do in the same
be any better, then this is not for mortals this side of the spirit. Of myself I cannot do this. Love is not my native
grave. We would blush to make such a claim. All our air. But I can receive of His Spirit who is the Holy Spirit.
English habit of under-statement would rise in protest Of Him I already know something for by His power I was
against it. And were this the meaning of this word when first convicted of sin and then led into grace.
applied to Christian experience, then such comments If this truth relieves my mind it also revives my
would be fully justified. heart. Words, like men, are known by the company they
But it is not. The Bible is careful to guard against keep, and when the New Testament was written the
such misunderstanding as is clear when we compare word perfect was often associated with such words as
version with version. Scriptural alternatives for expressed purpose. That is, that thing was regarded as
perfect and perfection are ‘full grown’, ‘mature’, ‘full perfect which fulfilled the end for which it was made.
growth’. Cast your mind back to the story of Philip the
Here are three examples. evangelist joining the chariot of the Ethiopian eunuch
46 47
*Salvation Army officer and prolific writer in the early years of the 20th century.
on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. What sort of a Salvation Army is perfect when fulfilling her appointed
beast drew that chariot? The equivalent of our cart- end—seeking in the highways and byways for the
horse? Certainly not the same breed as roused the maimed and halt and lame so that they may share in
spectators at the race-meetings in Rome to such the feast of good things prepared by Him who keeps
excitement that their frenzied cheering must have been open house for sinners. This is not easy work for the
heard by Paul in his own hired lodging. But each was Army and, busy with her task, her dress may be soiled,
perfect after its kind; the one for the crowded stadium, her face flushed, her accent not always impeccable, her
the other for the long pull. grammar shaky under stress of emotion, her
Or compare the boat which Peter used for fishing on appearance not always so collected as others of the
the Sea of Galilee with the Castor and Pollux on which Lord’s servants, but she is perfect in His household in
Paul completed his voyage to Rome. The corn ships that she is accomplishing that good thing which is His
were the state-controlled clippers of the Mediterranean will for her.
world. Saving weather conditions, they were capable of Once this basic truth is grasped, all foolish desire to
fulfilling that for which they were designed—to bring as copy the manners or the methods of any other of God’s
weighty a cargo of corn as possible from Egypt to Rome faithful ministers will disappear. Each will in his office
in as short a time as possible. But Peter’s fishing smack wait, as Doddridge said of divine duty. Each has his
was no less capable of fulfilling its function—again place, each his purpose, and each is perfect as he is
saving winter and rough weather. Both in their separate obedient to that purpose. To one his Lord says: go; to
ways were perfect. another: come. Each must be ‘observant of His heavenly
This sense of purpose or designed end cannot be word’. And while God gives the Army work to do, as
dissociated from the word perfect when applied to our He does, none need care if by some we are written off as
spiritual experience without impoverishing—even outside the church, or by others welcomed as within it.
distorting—its meaning. That thing, person or institution As we are His servants we can abide His judgment. The
is perfect when fulfilling its God-planned end. Lord knoweth them that are His.
For example, the church of Christ is perfect when And further, that person in that part of the church of
she is fulfilling her intended end as the body of Christ, Christ known as The Salvation Army and called a
acting as His eyes to search out human need, His feet to salvation soldier is perfect in the measure in which he
run to meet that need, His hands to succour need, His fulfils God’s revealed will for him. No more than Paul
lips to speak comfortable words to those in need. Thus does he count himself perfect in any sense of final
behaving, His church is a glorious church, without spot accomplishment, but perfect in consecration and
or wrinkle, perfect in the Father’s sight because she is intention he can be. Were he ever to account himself
fulfilling His purpose for her. perfect in the sense of having nothing more to learn, the
That part of the church of Christ known as The strong possibility would be that he had looked away
48 49
from that perfection which is Christ and fallen back on reply with serious humour: ‘Then I must be a worse
the age-old refuge of the unprofitable servant, I am as organist than most.’
good as my neighbour. What is required of him is With the image of Jesus before him, who can count
perfection of intention, and even the beginner can yield himself to have attained? Yet with that same image
himself so fully to God that in this sense he has a before him and all the compulsive power of that
perfect heart towards the Lord. Example to stimulate him, who cannot but long to
This word heart is a much used piece of spiritual attain? God’s will is expressed for us in Jesus. It is that
symbolism so that even a convert knows that the physical we should stand ‘holy and without blame before Him’ as
heart is not meant. In ancient times human emotions did His dearly beloved Son. Let every believer embrace
were identified with certain organs of the body. In Old that will as his own.
Testament days the kidneys were regarded as the seat of Lord, that I may Thy doctrine know,
motive and the heart as the source of will and desire. The A will to do Thy will bestow.
King James translators found a way out of the first
difficulty by employing an obsolete word ‘reins’ for the
organ of motive. We still keep ‘heart’ for that centre of a
man’s life where religious experience has its roots and
influences conduct. So that when we say that a man’s
heart is the Lord’s, we mean that his will is the Lord’s.
The central and determinative factor within him is in
God’s hands for Him to direct and control as seems Him
good. No man can be more fully the Lord’s than he whose
will is the Lord’s. That life is perfect in the scriptural sense
when the will has been fully yielded to God.
Once again let it be said, not perfect in any degree
of finality. That is not possible this side the grave.
What is perfection, anyway? Is it not the pot of gold
always in the next field but one? In the arts are not the
best of players always seeking a perfection of
accomplishment beyond that which they now possess?
Else why should a Schweitzer climb into the organ loft
at St. Paul’s and spend the long hours of daylight in
rehearsal before a night recital and, when told that
most organists were content with a couple of hours,
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 A man of three worlds—Roman, Greek and
Jewish—such as Paul was—would find corroboration
of this wherever he turned. He must have heard of
CHAPTER 9
Ovid’s ‘I see and approve the better, I follow the
THE EXPERIENCE COMPARED worse’, for the whole Roman world, from Augustus
downwards, knew that though the poet was a master
‘The works of the flesh… the fruit of the Spirit’ of words—having ‘lisped in numbers’ even as a child—
(Galatians 5: 19, 22) he never became master of himself in matters of
HE Articles of War signed by every salvation
elementary self-control.
T soldier state that ‘he that believeth hath the
witness… in himself’. For that inward witness we may
Born in a Greek-speaking city boasting a Greek
university, the Apostle would also have known that the
Greeks had a word—many words—for this inner civil
praise God. Our evangelical fathers made much of
war. Writing to Timothy (1. 1: 9) he referred to the
this. ‘I believe every Christian… should pray for the
‘unholy’ who had no regard even for the basic
witness of God’s Spirit with his spirit,’ wrote John
decencies of life, and to the ‘profane’ who dirtied
Wesley, ‘and this witness I believe is necessary for my
everything they touched because they themselves had a
own salvation.’
dirty mind. There was no lack of moralists who
But there is an outward as well as an inward witness,
bewailed the low levels of living of their age. Said one
for the visible fruit of the Spirit bespeaks His presence
Greek visitor to Alexandria: ‘To come here is like
within. This testimony is all the more convincing when going to see a beautiful house, and to find its master a
the ugliness of the works of the flesh are set in good-for-nothing slave, not even fit to open the door
intentional contrast, as in this passage, with the fruit of to a visitor.’
the Spirit. A Jew by race, Paul would early learn from his
To begin with, man’s plight is contrasted with the rabbinic masters that man was possessed of two
Spirit’s power. impulses—one good, one evil. There was a school who
Can there be any doubt about man’s plight? ‘When taught that these conflicting powers were present in a
I would do good,’ wrote Paul, ‘evil is present with me’; baby even before he was born. Another said that the
and no one can seriously question the reality of what evil nature awoke at nine years of age; another at
James called ‘the war in his members’. Ever since twelve. All agreed that this impulse was ever waiting,
man has begun to reflect on the complexity of his until the last recorded syllable of life, to slip the leash
nature he has been aware of this inward division. and drag a man to his doom. To love the law was
‘Talk about two natures,’ wrote Charles Gordon to his regarded in theory as a stout enough rein to hold evil
sister Augusta, ‘I have a hundred and they all want to in check. But one man at least knew differently,
rule.’ Hebrew of the Hebrews, Pharisee of the Pharisees
52 53
though he was, Paul knew that the war between the law In the Old Testament the word ‘spirit’ meant strong
in his members and the law of his mind brought him breath or blast and was associated with power, not
into captivity to the law of sin. infrequently violent power. So in the New Testament
Now the strong man armed can be cast out only by a where the Spirit ‘driveth’ Jesus into the wilderness. So
stronger, and this is where we have to think greatly on the day of Pentecost when the coming of the Spirit
about the power of the Holy Spirit. was likened to ‘a sound… as of a rushing mighty wind’.
‘Spirit’ and ‘ghost’ are words which have come down No pale shade of anything here. Said Willie Keith to
in the world. In our common speech these are but May Wynn in The Caine Mutiny, ‘I’m a sort of pale
disembodied shades. The ghost of Banquo in the Christian.’ None of his kind were in the Upper Room
banqueting hall of the palace at Forres might unman a on the day of Pentecost. This was no residual influence
Macbeth, but in a century such as ours where time and of a dead person, destined to grow fainter as the years
sense are all, children cheer Marley’s ghost in The wore on. Here was the living Spirit of the living God
Christmas Carol as only a piece of play acting. They are entering men’s lives in power. The Comforter was the
more amused than terrified. The word spirit has Strengthener; not the easer of burdens to suit the back
become devalued until when we speak of ‘the spirit of
but the Giver of grace to bear all burdens. Left to
Nelson’ we are referring to the diminishing influence of
himself a man might be the slave of his passions;
a dead person in a particular medium which has lost its
fortified by the Comforter he could be their master.
former importance in the clash of arms.
In the second place this comparison contrasts man’s
So with ‘Comforter’, another word for the Holy
disunity with the Spirit’s unifying presence.
Spirit. Jesus spoke of the Comforter as One who would
be to His followers in every age what He had been to ‘I’m not a man but a mob,’ said a character in one of
the disciples in the days of His flesh. Someone unique H. G. Wells’s novels. The works—note the noun in the
was needed to meet that unique demand. Yet in giving plural—of the flesh are a disorderly bunch of outlaws.
the meaning of comforter in our day as ‘a person or They own no head. Each is a law unto itself. In their
thing that gives comfort’, the dictionary defines comfort grip the same man can be haughty and cringing, loud-
as ‘to ease’ and ‘anything that makes trouble easier to mouthed and apologetic, impatient and slothful in turn.
bear’. In other words, a soothing syrup; almost a mild At no time is he all of a piece. He lacks any unifying
narcotic. It has been well said that some of these principle. Within all is discord.
outstanding biblical words now lie about like rusting In the preliminary moments before an orchestral
explosive shells from which the charges have been concert begins the instruments will sometimes indulge
removed. But not so in the first century, and not even in such fancy as seems them good. The woodwind will
the sixteenth century when ‘to give comfort to the king’s run up and down scalic passages with incredible
enemies’ meant not consoling them but fighting to the dexterity; the bass violins grunt in the depths; the
death for them. brass tootle and trumpet. There is anything but
54 55
music until the conductor enters and at a stroke brings trying at the wrong time, for just as salvation is
harmony out of disorderly noise. A unifying power is at primarily the action of God—that is to say, a man
work. So here the fruit—a singular noun—of the Spirit cannot save himself; it is God who saves—so it is God
is one. Christian graces all stem from the one root. who sanctifies. Of course we have to play our part.
They agree with, not contradict, each other. The There has to be the active consent of the will. There
musical analogy is not far-fetched when it is must be renunciation of all wrong and a laying of our all
remembered that Wycliffe translated John 20: 22 as ‘He upon the altar. Thereafter His is the power to cleanse
blew on hem and seide, take ye the holi goost’. It is the and, with our co-operation, to keep clean. The blessing
word of a flute player. The holy breath evokes divine of holiness is God’s answer not to our struggles,
harmonies. Was that why Paul was so disappointed however well-meaning, but to our full surrender.
when the Corinthians sounded only like a noisy gong Yet, while this is all true, at no point is it ours to lean
instead of producing the music of the Spirit? indolently upon divine power, settling back in comfort
As in the majestic language of the hymn of Creation as if we were spiritual hikers who had managed to
the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters to thumb a lift. Ours is no passive idleness with God
bring order and life out of what was formless and void, raising the crop while we look on but lift no finger to
so that same strong Spirit can create unity out of chaos help. His power does not do away with our effort as to
in human lives. With Charles Coller* we can say: inspire us to greater effort. But our effort is no longer
To the heart where strife was reigning, self-effort. It is the Spirit working within us to will and
Jesus spake, dissension ceased. to do of His good pleasure. If without Him we can do
Finally, this inward order is not the result of human nothing, with Him nothing is impossible. There is
effort but is the gift of the Spirit. Left to his own scriptural warrant for that.
devices, all that man can do is to produce a crop of Understood in this way, the doctrine of holiness is
weeds and thistles such as is itemized in vv. 19-21. By the way to spiritual power but is the end of human
contrast, the fruit of vv. 22 and 23 is the harvest of the pride. If every virtue I possess and every victory won are
Spirit’s sowing. The Holy Spirit is the creative Spirit owed to the Holy Spirit alone, then I realize where I
without whom all is sterility and barrenness. come in. All is of God and nothing of myself. I am ‘kept
There are still those who think of the life of holiness low by grace’. But this is vastly different from being
as the climax of an almost superhuman struggle in kept low by the works of the flesh. The new humility
which at long last they succeed in knocking into shape a has nothing of failure in it, for in lowliness of heart I
character which may pass muster at the judgment seat may praise God continually for what He has done, is
of Christ. A poor thing, they say, but mine own. At now doing, and will ever do.
least I have tried.
Full marks for trying, but this is the wrong sort of
56 57
*Salvation Army officer and songwriter.
 before our own. There may or may not be an emotional
content in one or both of these relationships, but
primarily these are twin expressions of an attitude of
CHAPTER 10 the will.
Emotion may accompany our love to God. This has
THE FRUIT OF THE EXPERIENCE—LOVE been particularly true with some of the saints of past
ages who have poured out their hearts in passionate
‘The fruit of the Spirit is love’ (Galatians 5: 22)
adoration. They have not hesitated to use the most
N contrast to the unedifying list of the works of the fervent terms for none other could do justice to their
I flesh which begins with adultery and ends with
revellings, the Apostle lists nine graces of the Spirit who
devotion to their Lord. So St. John of the Cross wrote
of his search for Him who was his soul’s delight:
is the Lord and Giver of life. He it is who can make the That light did lead me on
More surely than the shining of the noontide
desert of the sinful heart blossom like the rose yet, to do Where well I knew that One
so, He requires our active consent. A series of penicillin Did for my coming bide.…
injections works independently of a man’s willing. They Upon my waiting breast
Wholly for Him and save Himself for none,
can have the desired effect whether he himself wishes it There did I give sweet rest
or not. In a sense he is a guinea-pig. But not so with the To my beloved One.…
work of the Holy Spirit. Our relationship with Him is Few among us have the gift of such expression and
as with a person whose advice we can accept or reject, maybe would not even desire it. So be it; such language
whose company we may welcome or refuse. If such is is not obligatory. At the same time love to God is never
our mood we can grieve the Spirit. But if such is our only an intellectual exercise, the chilly assent of the
desire He will dwell with us and be in us. mind. Who can repeat such a hackneyed line as ‘My
The first sign of His presence is the grace of love— Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine’ without
which word must at once be rescued from the emotional feeling his heart strangely warmed? Any expression of
slough of despond into which it has fallen. Too often in love which does not involve some emotion is as
the spiritual life we read into this term the vagaries of defective as one which is all emotion. The truth is that
our own human nature. We think of love as a feeling our response to God must include the whole
which, like the wind, bloweth where it listeth, its personality, the regulative centre of which is the will. I
source, object and strength being both unpredictable love God when I put His will first in my life.
and uncontrollable. The word (it has been said) can In any exposition of love in the New Testament
cover everything from Heaven to Hollywood. sense, it has become a commonplace to distinguish
But basically to love God is to put His will first in between the meaning of the various first-century
our lives. To love our neighbour is to put his needs words which are all rendered in the English language

58 59
by our one four-lettered word. Certain current that we stop at nothing to help them. C.T. Studd*
meanings have to be strained away. Affection between spoke of his desire to run ‘a rescue shop within a yard of
man and woman is not intended here. Family unity— hell’. The expression may or may not be to our taste, but
the ‘blood is thicker than water’ idea—has also to be that was his way of saying—and practising—a love that
ruled out. The David and Jonathan friendship—‘Thy would not let men go, not even on the lip of eternal loss.
love to me was wonderful, passing the love of woman’— That is love’s calculated risk.
is not what is meant either. Human preference, in the William Temple** used to say that the only true
sense of liking this rather than that—‘I love a holiday on progress was progress in love. Progress in technology is
the south coast’—also falls very short of the New no true progress at all unless it is the work of men who
Testament ideal. What the earliest Christian thinkers care, in whose lives caring directs the exercise of their
did was to adopt a Greek word which was something of gifts. In the twentieth century we are being made to
a waif and stray and turn it to divine use. The word they learn afresh this necessary truth. A man may understand
chose for love to God and man was little known and less all mysteries and all knowledge, and be able
used, but they brought it to their Mercy Seat to be scientifically to remove islands from their bed in the
baptized with the power and warmth of the Holy Spirit. Pacific, yet without love it profits him and his fellows
Words as well as men can be converted, and this one nothing. Is this not a text to be inscribed on the lintels
was sanctified to Christian use so that love as Jesus used of every research station?
the word means caring whatever the cost. When we love Loveless knowledge is the antichrist of every age.
men we care for them as God cares, which is caring till Time and energy have been spent on the task of
it hurts. identifying antichrist with a particular person. The truth
A Bible translator working among the Bantu of the is that he belongs to no one country or century. Were
Congo basin was searching for the native equivalent of this spirit limited to a specific time and place, and
the love of God when he heard a mother crooning over identifiable with one person only, he would not be so
her child. When asked to explain the meaning of the greatly to be feared for his place and power would be
word she was using she replied: ‘White man, that word correspondingly limited. This is not to say that antichrist
means that when I think of what will befall my baby girl is timeless, for that would in one respect be raising him
when she grows up, it hurts me.’ The translator had his to equality with God. Antichrist is the opposite in time
word. That is how God loves, and the extent of His to the eternally compassionate Christ; the opposite of
hurt is to be seen on the Cross. that love which cares for men whatever the cost.
When we love men we see them as God sees them. Antichrist does not care. His reasons for not caring
It was said of Dick Sheppard* that he had a ‘God- may have the highest intellectual warrant. It may be
sight’ of his fellows. That was why he laboured to argued that pure research cannot be halted; that
exhaustion for their salvation. So to love men means nature demands that man shall solve her mysteries.
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* Hugh Richard Lawrie Sheppard (1880-1937), vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London * C.T. Studd (1862-1931), famous as a cricketer, became a missionary to the Far East.
from 1914 to 1926. ** William Temple (1881-1944), Archbishop of York 1929-42, and then of Canterbury to
1944
Ours not to reason why, only to keep on inquiring; incarnate love manifested in the historic Jesus and
others to decide to what use our findings are to be put. eternally present in the world by His Spirit. For the love
Such an evasion of personal responsibility is in itself of which the New Testament speaks is not my love for
loveless, and where knowledge is not ruled by love, God or man. It is not an extension, even on the loftiest
there is antichrist. Where knowledge is applied without plane, of the affection which can undergird the most
love, there again is antichrist. The highest names may intimate human relationship. Even that is not enough
sponsor such research. The most demanding national to dethrone antichrist for no human power is exempt
necessities be adduced in support of the application of from human weakness. And where love is only a word
such research. But if it be riot done in the spirit of substitute for fancy, as in many minds today, our
caring, there is antichrist. personal whims may but further his evil purposes. The
This truth applies to more than the cosmic effect of only conqueror of antichrist is the love of God which ‘is
nuclear physics. If it did not, we ordinary folk might shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost’. We love
suppose ourselves immune from this spirit of evil. Self- because we have first received of His love. This grace is
righteously we might welcome the opportunity of not the product of my weak but amiable nature which
sitting in judgment upon our intellectual superiors and desires to think well of those who think well of me. It is
supposing ourselves untouched by their temptations. the first-fruit of the Spirit who would have me care for
But we are not. Loveless knowledge has its evil way all whatever the cost.
when, from the vantage point of experience or power, a This gift, though divine, is not exclusive. All who
parent dominates his home, a foreman his gang, a will share its pains may know its joys.
teacher his class, a secretary his society, a master his
men. Wherever what we know is used regardless of
what the other man is, there is antichrist. He can be as
evident in the backdoor gossip of a down town street as
in decisions of state. Antichrist is the spirit of not
caring. If one of his sayings be recalled as ‘Bother, Jack,
I’m in the dinghy’, then service and ex-servicemen may
recognize him when they meet him. His speech betrays
him for it reveals his loveless heart. He is sometimes
present where least expected in religious circles. By
contrast he is gloriously absent whenever a thirsty man
asks, and is given, a cup of cold water.
To put down such a mighty one from his unlawful
seat requires a mightier yet. There is one such—the
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 Take conversion as an example. In The Old Corps is
told the story of a cheerful reprobate known as ‘Old
Harry’ who lived in the Old Town, Folkestone. One
CHAPTER 11 night he was brought home dead drunk by two
Salvationists and consequently was so intrigued by the
THE FRUIT OF THE EXPERIENCE—JOY thought that anyone should care so much for his welfare
that he started to attend the Army meetings.
‘The fruit of the Spirit is… joy’ (Galatians 5: 22)
One Sunday evening, his grimy face wreathed in one
rarely found a Salvationist deficient in large smile, he rose from his accustomed place at the
‘I HAVE
humour,’ wrote General Bramwell Booth*. ‘I have
sometimes dared to think that humour was one of the
back of the hall and made his way to the Mercy Seat.
The officer was shocked. He had been preaching a stern
special graces of Salvationism.’ On one of his several address on the righteous judgments of a holy God, and
visits to America, Brengle** said to him: ‘There are two here was a man smiling his way to grace.
books, General, that I should like you to write before ‘This is no laughing matter, brother,’ he said. ‘Be
you die. One is on answers to prayer and the other on ashamed of yourself for coming to God in this way. You
funny stories.’ ought to be weeping, not laughing.’
‘Those two things are not quite unrelated,’ ‘What,’ answered Old Harry, laughing so loudly
commented the General. ‘Some of our Salvation Army that he could be heard above the prayers which were
saints and warriors have had a keen eye for the piquant being offered on his behalf, ‘d’ye mean to tell me that a
situation.’ man can’t laugh when he’s gettin’ ’is sins forgiven?’
Humour is not joy, though a near cousin. With some And with that he laughed as he had never laughed
folk, however, humour and holiness are poles apart. before.
Their line is what they have put asunder let not even Anyone who thinks that Harry was lacking a due
God join together. A believer must be a killjoy. sense of decorum should remember in what good
Goodness must be deadly dull. The tragedy with many company he was. Among the Friars Minor of Assisi joy
a man is that the only joke he knows is an unclean joke was rated as highly as chastity. Bunyan met those who
so that wit is equated with smut. The life of true said that ‘he laughs too loud’. Henry Drummond
holiness is the complete answer to that folly. We are described Christianity as ‘the Gaiety club’. The last of
called not to unhappy holiness but to a holy happiness. the sections on the life of holiness in our Army song
Second only to love as a fruit of the Spirit is joy. book* is entitled ‘Holiness Enjoyed’. And that same
First of all let the obvious be stated. Christian joy is song book can quote Doddridge on his ‘glowing heart’
the fruit of Christian experience, and this is true at all telling ‘its raptures all abroad’, John Newton on his
stages of that experience. ‘solid joys’ and Isaac Watts with his ‘cheerful songs’.
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* Bramwell Booth (1856-1929), son of William and second General of The Salvation * 1953 edition.
Army from 1912 to 1929
** see p11.
A greater than these wrote: discover the second truth that Christian joy is the fruit
In the heavenly Lamb of Christian obedience. When God’s will is accepted,
Thrice happy I am,
not sullenly or reluctantly as if it were something from
And my heart it doth dance at the sound of His name.
which there was no escape and had to be borne, but as
If Wesley of Oxford could be allowed a dancing the loving guidance of Him who does all things well,
heart, Harry of Folkestone can be allowed his laugh. then joy abounds and even much more abounds.
They have probably long since recognized each other as ‘Be it unto me according to thy word,’ said Mary to
kindred spirits in the presence of Him where there is the angel Gabriel. Thereafter she could say, ‘My soul
‘neither sorrow, nor crying’. doth magnify the Lord, and my Spirit hath rejoiced in
Tertullian spoke of ‘the hilarity of the saints’, and God my Saviour.’
this was as true of Saint Francis with his witty repartee Acceptance of the holy will of the holy God brings its
which won from Saladin an invitation to remain own joy. This is joy which is born of God and which
permanently at the Moslem court as of ‘Saint’ William concerns His kingdom and His will. It is not joy in what
Booth, who could include in a serious letter to his eldest I am or what I can do. Nor is it joy in triumph over
son a funny story he had heard about a Yorkshire another, much less that cruel pleasure in another’s
preacher. misfortunes. The joy which is of the Spirit bears its
No less true of ‘Saint’ Samuel Brengle who, fairest bloom when I forget myself, my virtues (if any)
changing quarters, was confronted by an irate removal and my failings (to dwell upon which may be only
man who had lost his hammer. ‘Where in ’ell’s the another form of egoism), and lose myself in the praise of
’ammer?’ he snapped. Him who was, who is, and who ever shall be, and who
‘There’s no need to go there to get it; the hammer’s has granted to me, who am less than the least of all
right here,’ was the twinkling reply, and irritation saints, the amazing privilege of preaching the
changed to a grin. unsearchable riches of Christ. This is surely why the very
No less true of ‘Saint’ Clara Case who, while making Epistle which speaks most of sharing the fellowship of
an entry in her personal notebook concerning a most Christ’s sufferings can repeatedly call upon its readers to
difficult problem which faced her in her Indian rejoice in the Lord, and again to rejoice.
command, could add a nineteenth-century Chinese What Paul preached to others he himself practised.
description of a bicycle. ‘No pushee, no pullee, no His words of good cheer were not written from some
shovee; ridee once backee, holdee by ee ears, kickee in ivory tower. The heavy clouds of the Neronian
ee sides, makee go.’ Said one who served her: ‘Her eyes persecution were already darkening the sky. The cry
moved readily to merriment; there were laughter lines at was about to rise for the blood of those who were to be
their corners.’ made scapegoat for a Caesar’s folly. The Apostle’s life
If we inquire how these servants of God maintained had been no easy one. Nagging ill health, no home of
their gaiety amidst vexatious responsibilities, we his own, arguments within the church, failures
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among the brethren, hunger, the hazards of travel, riots, Or a man may think to forget the troubles that
floggings and now prison had been his portion, yet plague him in a bout of uncontrol. This sad familiar
wrote he ‘if it should be that my life blood is poured waste of spirit is no remedy either.
out… then I can still be very happy’. Like his Lord, he Enjoyed no sooner but despised straight,
could speak of joy in face of death, a joy which no man Past reason hunted, and no sooner had
Past reason hated…
could take from him. A bliss in proof, and proved, a very woe…
No man can take this joy from us either—yet our Sex is regarded by some as the equivalent of joy; it is
own sinning can rob us of it. This is where the its chief destroyer. No serviceman who has seen a
experience of holiness not only bears the fruit of joy but respected pal—perhaps the holder of a decoration—
is its sole guardian. emerge from a brothel in an Oriental garrison town can
This truth is rarely grasped by those outside the but feel sick at the mingled greatness and weakness of
fellowship of faith and not always understood by those this being called man. We are betrayed by what we are,
within that charmed circle. For example, some duty and never more swiftly is a man totally undone than by
becomes irksome or some corps task provokes that which is his strength.
unexpected disagreement. The will sags. The soul’s Amid these sad confusions the experience of holiness
temperature drops abruptly. The life goes out of our remains the sole fount and source of abiding joy. Not by
step and, partly in weariness and partly in disgust, we adding hours of pleasure to hours of pleasure can be
fall back on some practice from which we normally extracted so many moments of joy. There is no
abstain in order to restore (so we think) our native
distillation of earthly elements which will produce this
cheerfulness.
heavenly pleasure. Joy belongs to God. Joy is born of
Now that is the practice of unconverted men. A
God. Joy is the gift of God to those who delight in His
business deal goes awry—and there seems to be an
will.
inviting magic in alcohol which will banish worry and
Jesus is the supreme example of this. ‘Man of
induce a sense of well-being. But it is black magic, for
the relief is but temporary and next morning life awakes sorrows He was and acquainted with grief. That had to
with its problems still unsolved. be. The sin and unwisdom of men are enough to sadden
The world of the stage and screen knows that their all who love them. But Man of joy he was as well. ‘He
clients want to forget their burdens and be made happy endured a cross and thought nothing of its shame
for a couple of hours. That is why comics are in such because of the joy He had in doing His Father’s will’
demand. The music hall jester would not have his vogue (Hebrews 12: 2, J. B. Phillips).
did he not speak after his imperfect fashion to man’s That joy His every follower may share.
condition. But the effect of his witty drug wears off and,
next morning, the day’s burdens are seen to be
undiminished in weight.
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 speaks of a sermon which shook him as no other had
done before. ‘And so went home… with a great burden
CHAPTER 12 upon my spirit.… But hold, it lasted not, for before I
had well dined the trouble began to go off my mind,
THE FRUIT OF THE EXPERIENCE—PEACE and my heart returned to its old course.… When I had
satisfied nature with my food, I shook the sermon out of
‘The fruit of the Spirit is… peace’ (Galatians 5: 22)
my mind, and to my old custom of sports and gaming I
is the third of the graces listed as being born returned with great delight.’
P EACE
of the Spirit. We have to consider each of these
graces separately, but that is only because of our
In recent years more than one man has acted as did
Bunyan on that Sunday. In his Off icers and Gentlemen
inability to grasp at one and the same time the multifold Evelyn Waugh describes the plight of a boatload of men
nature of the harvest of the Spirit. In practice the trying to reach Alexandria in a small boat after the
Spirit’s fruit is one and indivisible. He who enjoys one evacuation from Crete:
will enjoy all. The life of the Spirit is a harmonious Guy’s thoughts for the last thing he remembered was praying.
They had prayed in the boat in the days of extremity, some
whole. offering to do a deal. ‘Get me out of here, God, and I’ll live
In a novel based upon prison camp life in the Far different. Honest I will.’
East, an officer is described as having ‘two obvious traits Few were saved, and maybe fewer still remembered
of character: he was humane and a physical coward. any vow once they reached the mainland in safety.
They were traits which warred within him whenever Conscience was temporarily shaken by fear, not
one of his men was being beaten. His cowardice always permanently moved to repentance. Once the spasm
won’. died down conscience reverted to its former sleep which
The work of the Holy Spirit is not so self-divided. passed for peace.
One rich fullness includes these nine graces as the There is a peace which is born of unconcern. What
rainbow blends all the colours of the spectrum. The matter who sinks if I swim. In his picture of Dives
parent grace is love and, should that tender bud be and Lazarus, Gustave Doré painted the rich man’s
frostbitten, little else will grow. But if love flourishes servants driving the beggar away with whips. But
there will be gentleness; if temperance, then joy; if faith, factually and imaginatively the painter was wrong.
then meekness; if goodness, then peace. If the tree is Lazarus was left to lie. He starved at the gate of
alive every bough will be laden. plenty, and plenty was content to let him starve. Had
First distinguish between peace which is of the Spirit he been driven away Dives might have pleaded the
and its counterfeits. lame excuse that the beggar was out of mind because
There is a peace which is born of an easy conscience. out of sight.
In the early pages of Grace Abounding John Bunyan There is a peace which is born of escapism. The
70 71
world is evil; let us flee it. Politics are a dirty game; let’s not only in nature—as when we declare Him to be ‘truly
keep out. Civic work makes too many demands upon a and properly God and truly and properly man’—but one
man’s leisure; leave me to watch the ‘telly’. To take up a in purpose as well. Is it irreverent to say that here were
local position in the corps would involve me in corps two minds with but a single thought, two hearts that
difficulties; I pray thee have me excused. In short, beat as one? Consequently the Saviour knew a peace
anything for a quiet life. Peace at any price. which the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune could
Even the Oxford English Dictionary may mislead us not disturb. At one with His Father, He was at peace in
here for peace is described as ‘freedom from war or civil a world of jangling men.
commotion, from quarrels or dissension, from mental or This peace was part of His legacy to His disciples,
spiritual disturbance, the absence of noise, movement, among whom we may number ourselves. The peace
activity’. The virtue is defined negatively as if its which is of the Spirit is not necessarily peace with
existence did not depend upon its own intrinsic worth events but peace with God. Every reformer and soul-
but upon the absence of any opposing external factor. winner who has ever lived has warred mightily with
Whereas the Christian word regarding peace is that it events. This goes from the Early Church to our own
can be enjoyed in the midst of tribulation. That was day. This same Epistle to the Galatians describes how
what Jesus said. ‘These things have I spoken unto you, Paul withstood Peter to his face—that is, ‘withstood
that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall him publicly’, speaking to him ‘so that everyone could
have tribulation.’ But the world’s tribulation and hear’. That must have set tongues wagging in Antioch!
Christ’s peace could exist together because His peace And how many accounts of that story reached the other
was not—and is not—as the world gives. pillars of the church in Jerusalem?
The salutation ‘I give you peace’ was as common Recall John Calvin finding a vulgar, scurrilous
among first-century Jews as ‘Goodbye’ is with us. placard in his pulpit in Geneva, of guns being let off
Goodbye is an abbreviated form of ‘May God be with outside the cathedral doors as he preached, of being
you’ and has been a genuinely religious greeting, minuted by the Council: ‘M. Calvin… preached today
though now it mostly means little more than ‘I’m off’. with great anger.… It is ordered that he be called
The Jewish greeting had also sunk to the level of a upon to explain why he preached like this.’ ‘I
conventional phrase. The peace which the world gave promised myself an easy, tranquil life,’ he wrote to his
was only a form of words without corresponding friend Francis Daniel; ‘but what I least expected was
reality. at hand.’
But when Jesus said, ‘Peace I leave with you, My Recall William Booth speaking on his sixtieth
peace I give unto you’, He was speaking of a peace birthday. ‘My life has been one of almost uninterrupted
which was born of His union with the Father. When trial, conflict and difficulty. I was thinking the other
He declared that ‘I and My Father are one’, He meant day how few hours there have been in which
72 73
there has not been some cloud in the sky.’ And his can begin life anew without terror clutching their hearts
greatest trial, the loss of his beloved Catherine, was yet every time a cloud darkens the sky.
to come. Peace depends not on our relationship to A tribesman leaves his ancestral tents and treks
circumstances but to the Father. As with Christian joy, across the desert to a land he knows not of, depending
Christian peace is the fruit of Christian experience. The upon the word of God to guide him and to settle him in
fruit cannot be enjoyed unless the root has first been all unknown home. Abraham could trust ‘the soul’s
planted. invincible surmise’. Like Columbus he
Now the enjoyment of this grace depends primarily …found a world, and had no chart
Save one that faith deciphered in the skies.
not on what we are but on what God is. The soul’s
peace is based upon the dependability of God and then And at the close of the Old Testament a prophet
upon our confidence in the divine character. announces God as saying, ‘I am the Lord, I change not;
That God was dependable was one of the first—and therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.’ God is
last—lessons to be learnt by His chosen people. They dependable, declares the Scriptures.
were surrounded by nations who followed after gods Hath He said and shall He not do it,
Or hath He spoken and shall He not make it good?
whose behaviour was capricious and unpredictable. A
god might favour a man today and ruin him tomorrow. In due season this truth was visibly ratified in the life
A god might be awake or asleep, at home or gone on a and death of Him who was God Incarnate. Who could
journey as Elijah taunted the prophets of Baal. Who then question the dependability of Him who had
knew how to please him? Lightning might strike a fulfilled His promise to redeem that which He had
farmer’s cattle in the field; the god was angry. Hail created? The Apostle Paul regarded this as a self-
might bruise the young grapes; the god was vexed. How evident proposition. ‘He that did not hesitate to spare
could he be appeased? By a lamb from the flock? Or His own Son but gave Him up for us all—can we not
perhaps he was in such a temper that only a child from trust such a God to give us, with Him, everything else
the homestead would put him in the right mood again. that we can need?’
A simple countryman could be driven nearly silly trying If God be utterly dependable, then our hearts can
to guess which way his god was going to jump. All be at peace through fellowship with Him. We can all
strange to us, maybe; but a matter of life and death to a relax. Not relax into sin or sloth. But we can sit more
parent in Egypt or Syria or Babylon. easily to life. We can cease trying to lay an
Not so the God of whom Moses and the prophets apprehensive grip upon the steering wheel of the
spoke. At the beginning of the Old Testament story a universe. A wiser hand than ours is at the helm.
man sees in the rainbow shining in the rain-washed Nothing that can happen can harm the soul who
skies a pledge of the dependability of God. This trusts and obeys. A false faith will try to make out that
calamity will not happen again. He and his family what you dread may never happen. The true faith
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says that the worst that can happen cannot make God
lose hold of the believing soul. There are only two facts
which men and women have to face. One is the fact of
life, the other of death—and both are in the control of CHAPTER 13
love. Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. THE FRUIT OF THE EXPERIENCE—
Therefore ‘let not your heart be troubled, neither let it
be afraid’. LONGSUFFERING AND GENTLENESS
‘The fruit of the Spirit is… longsuffering, gentleness’
(Galatians 5: 22)

in the harvest of the Spirit come two

N EXT
unspectacular graces called longsuffering and
gentleness. At first inspection they seem passive
qualities, but so to dismiss them would be to underrate
their worth. One very important truth these two words
are declaring is that the Spirit’s presence and power are
to be seen not only in the extraordinary and unusual—
the tongues of fire and the rushing mighty wind—but in
that daily growth in Christlikeness which is the
hallmark of true holiness.
A matter of translation must now be considered.
Most versions, ancient and modern, agree in naming
the first three graces of the Spirit as love, joy and peace,
but thereafter they part company. Longsuffering is
rendered as forbearance (Twentieth Century, S.A.
edition), good temper (Moffatt) and patience (R.S.V.,
Phillips and Goodspeed). Gentleness is given as
kindliness (Twentieth Century and Moffatt) and
kindness (R.S.V., Phillips, Goodspeed and Knox).
Some scholars say that an accurate English equivalent
for the word which Coverdale translated ‘longsuffering’
does not exist. But the simple believer has to live and so,
taking courage where scholarship might hesitate,
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let longsuffering be defined as patience with a purpose apply—and all the more because they were the chosen
and gentleness be described as patience with a purpose people. ‘You only have I known of all the families of the
in action. earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.’
This at once redeems both words from an undeserved To whom much had been given much would be
air of passivity. Christian patience is not the spiritless required. The measure of revelation is always the
attitude which accepts whatever may be because to try to measure of responsibility.
effect any change would be too much trouble. Here is no ‘Thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which
spineless acceptance of whatever is—good, bad or do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt
indifferent. Patience with a purpose will work to a escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the
mark—over centuries if needs be—and never be shaken. riches of His goodness and forbearance and
We see this as one of the attributes of God. The first longsuffering?’ In Paul’s view his people were trading on
announcement at Sinai of the divine nature proclaimed the patience of God. They thought they could do wrong
‘the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering’. and get away with it. This is what many a sharper thinks
Moses dared to quote this divine declaration against its today. He lives (in his own, slang) by ‘taking a chance
own Author when pleading the cause of a generation on it’. If he does it once too often, that’s just too bad.
who, at the gate of the land of promise, murmured But more than tricksters cherish what has been
about the impossibility of going further. Surely, said he, described as ‘a vague and undefined hope of impunity’.
the Lord would not summarily cast off His people. Was The very patience of God is presumed upon as though
He not longsuffering? He had need to be with a race He were unconcerned about evil or powerless to stay its
whom their own prophets described as stiff-necked and course. Zangwill used to say that the patience of God,
rebellious. It was of the Lord’s longsuffering they were not His peace, passed his understanding. How could
not consumed. He go on allowing men to trade upon His forbearance?
The New Testament underlines the same truth in The answer is found in His longing, not for man’s
more than one place. The parable of the wicked punishment but for His redemption. After all, man is
husbandmen is a parable of the patience of God. Sudden His child, made in His image. A parent will put up
destruction did not come upon them like a whirlwind. with much—sometimes too much—from his child.
Other servants were sent more than the first, and then Love sinks to the level of indulgence. The refusal to
last of all the son and heir. No hasty action here. dominate becomes an unwillingness even to direct.
The opening of the second chapter of the Epistle to God is not man that He should be guilty of man’s
the Romans makes the same point. After the Apostle’s errors of judgment, but in His patience of purpose
searching indictment of the Gentile world he turned on He is not less resolved than man. ‘If the world had
his own countrymen lest they suppose that the judgments treated me like it has treated God’, said Luther, ‘I
of a righteous God did not apply to them. They did would long ago have kicked the wretched thing to
78 79
pieces.’ The wicked husbandmen killed the heir yet, Carlyle somewhere says that the strong man is not
in purposeful patience, God turned that worst of all he who, in a sudden frenzy, can lift an immense weight,
sins into the means of mankind’s redemption. Here is but he who can carry the heaviest weight the longest
patience with a purpose, a patience that can bide its distance. Patience with a purpose is of this nature. The
time. It is God’s intention to bring many of His sons inevitable disappointments which are the lot of all who
into glory and He is not going to be put off by any serve God are faced and overcome. The servant of God
silly fractiousness on their part. Of course, if they will goes on working for God by good report, by evil report
not, they will not. Even the divine heart can be and—hardest of all—without being reported at all! Is
broken by unyielding refusal. ‘O Jerusalem… how not this a gift of the Spirit, and of Him alone?
often would I have gathered thy children together… Here is Thomas Clarkson, colleague and fighter
and ye would not!’ with Wilberforce against the iniquities of the slave trade
From this picture we have of the longsuffering of in England in the eighteenth century. To complete a
God three practical truths follow. particular case he needed the evidence of a sailor whom
First of all, we must be patient with our work for he had once seen but whose name he did not know.
God. Here the young idealist has a hard lesson to learn. Systematically he went from port to port in this country
‘We thought’, said Cromwell of the Civil War, ‘that one and from ship to ship in each port till, on the 317th ship
battle would have ended it.’ ‘The war will be over by he visited, he found his man. Here was patience with a
Christmas’, was a common saying in the late autumn of purpose.
1914, but one battle, one good meeting, one campaign, Or here is Matilda Hatcher, pioneer Salvationist in
is never enough. The Children of Israel had to march Japan (her story is told in The Rising Sun*), summoned
seven times around Jericho before the walls fell. And in the late evening to visit an outpost where defection
there are veteran Salvationists who have been seventy had been reported. By the time her train reached its
times seven years marching around certain citadels of destination the hour was so late that no other
iniquity and these have not yet fallen. conveyance was available and Matilda had to walk the
Moses is a Bible instance of a young reformer in a remaining three miles over a flinty unmade road in her
hurry. Brought up in the sheltered luxury of Pharaoh’s straw shoes. Soon she was limping more than walking
court, he suddenly became aware of the plight of his and in the end almost crawling more than hobbling. On
countrymen. A swift blow, and an Egyptian lay dead on reaching the officer’s quarters such a tale of backsliding
the hot sand. But Israel’s captivity was not to be ended was unfolded that she collapsed on the floor and wept.
by one blow. There was exile for the over-hasty Later she was taken to sleep in a friendly home and
enthusiast, and then forty years in the wilderness were part of the way was by the path she had come. In the
not enough to transform a race of slave mentality into a light of the paper lantern she could see the blood marks
people fit to enter Canaan. of her own feet.
80 81
* by Cyril Barnes (Salvation Army, 1955).
 …Whence are those blood-drops all the way yet with those who have stumbled, be gentle. We are
That marks out the mountain’s track?
They are shed for one who had gone astray… instructed to rebuke ‘with longsuffering’. Wounds
require gentle treatment. Surgeons have gentle fingers.
Here again was patience with a purpose—the
Steel is there all right but no unnecessary roughness.
hallmark of the mature servant of God. It is the
‘Gentle Jesus’ is not ‘spiritless Jesus’. Gentleness is
inefficient and unskilled who grow impatient—the
strength controlled by love.
schoolboy with his homework, the learner at the piano,
Last of all, a man should be gentle with himself.
the apprentice at the bench. Pray God give you this
This is no plea for self-indulgence, but there is an
grace of maturity.
exaggerated form of self-condemnation which is in
We must also be gentle—which is patience in
action—with one another. This will not be hard for him essence a refusal to admit the power of grace. If God
in whose heart the love of God is shed abroad, for ‘love has hope for a man should any man lose hope for
is very patient’. himself? If God has patience with you, why lose
We must be patient because God uses many servants patience with yourself? ‘The Lord is… longsuffering to
of many temperaments for He has many kinds of work us-ward, not willing that any should perish.’ If there has
to do. ‘There are different ways of serving God,’ been failure, then turn to Him in penitence, and ‘let
observed Paul, ‘but it is the same Lord who is served.’ patience have her perfect work, that ye may be…
That truth should enable us to work for God alongside wanting nothing’.
those with whom we may not always agree. We must
never think that ours is the only way of serving the
Kingdom. Our comrade local officer may be right in his
way. Nothing ever entitles us to say: ‘If it isn’t done this
way I’m finishing.’ Everyone who is working for Jesus is
working for us as well.
We must also be gentle with those who are not yet
fully possessed by this patience with a purpose. There
are many Pliables on the way to the Celestial City who
never get further than the first slough of despond into
which they fall. All they want to do is to struggle ‘out of
the mire on that side of the slough next to home—and
off they go.
While it is true that some offenders merit the
judgment that it were better had they never been born
because of those whom they have caused to stumble,
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 meditation had not Martha been busy with the cooking.
Activity is not the sum total of religion, and the
Salvationist has to beware lest his service becomes a
CHAPTER 14 substitute for a personal experience of grace. But the
ability to get things done in the cause of Christ is not to
THE FRUIT OF THE EXPERIENCE be despised for in this way the Spirit can work.
—GOODNESS Goodness which is born of the Spirit carries itself
with an attractive air—and here is where the suggestion
‘The fruit of the Spirit is… goodness’ (Galatians 5: 22) of generosity may be of help. Nothing evokes
is a well-known rule that the simpler a word, the admiration more than a generous deed or a generous
I T
harder it is to define. How define goodness? Three of
our most used modern translations give ‘generosity’ as
speech or a generous gift. Generous is as generous does.
Even the ranks of Tuscany are compelled to cheer the
the best rendering. Others feel that the Authorized generous heart. And it would be a strange omission if
Version cannot be bettered and repeat ‘goodness’, this appealing gallantry were absent from the teaching
leaving the reader to say what the word means. or the practice of the experience of holiness which, on
Certainly goodness could never be charged, as might all counts, is the summation of the virtues.
longsuffering, with passivity. Goodness gets down to Nor is it absent. Goodness was never intended to
look dowdy. The word translated ‘good’ in our
the job. Goodness is love with her sleeves rolled up.
Authorized Version carries the suggestion of pleasant or
Goodness is not afraid of dirty work. The good
agreeable. In this sense the Creator ‘saw every thing
Samaritan bandaged the wounds of the hapless
that He had made, and, behold, it was very good’.
traveller, set him on his own beast, took him to the
Beauty adorned the work of His hands.
nearest inn and paid his reckoning in advance. The good
The word has a character value as well. William
shepherd sought the sheep that was lost, for he could Temple rendered John 10: 11 as ‘I am the Shepherd,
not lie down to rest even though the ninety and nine the beautiful One’. ‘The translation exaggerates,’ he
were safely in the fold. If required, he would lay down added, but the exaggeration (if such it be) is allowable
his life for that sheep. The good and faithful servant for holiness is not without beauty. Nothing can be
laboured mightily with his lord’s five talents until he more attractive than the good life well lived. It is
had made five talents more. goodness of this pleasant kind which is goodness of the
Goodness has willing hands, a ready mind, an eager proper kind. We can all be so good, so uncomfortably
heart, winged feet. Goodness cannot be idle in face of good, so awkwardly good, that we put people off
need. Goodness is the Martha of the graces. She has instead of winning them to our fellowship. Remember
been compared unfavourably with the contemplative that Luther translated Ephesians 1: 16 as ‘He hath
virtues, but Mary might have had less time for made us pleasant in the beloved’. A general dis
84 85
agreeableness is no sign of piety. Sourness is not the Spirit as proof that we are part of the Body of Christ,
fruit of sanctity. We are intended to adorn the doctrine we must not hesitate to acknowledge His presence and
we profess. work elsewhere.
Here is what the New Testament has to say on this Read again, for instance, the superb exchange of
point: ‘Your beauty should not be dependent on an letters between the Army Mother* and Father Ignatius.
elaborate coiffure… but on the inner personality—the Note the firmly courteous stand by Catherine Booth for
unfading loveliness of a calm and gentle spirit’ (J. B. her own principles. Note also her generous wishes for
Phillips). Peter was writing to married women, but his God’s blessing on another. The date is the late autumn
words apply to men and women, single and married, of 1868.
alike. Beauty as such is not discounted; it is the source Reverend and Dear Sir,
of beauty which is under discussion, and the fisherman- I return your kind and Christian greeting with all sincerity
apostle is saying that it is more than skin deep. The and Christian affection, and I pray most earnestly that your
desires for me may be fully realized, that I may be led into ‘all
artist knows this. The beauty of a mature face does not truth’.
depend upon the freshness of the skin, for that cannot From a child I have loved and studied the Scriptures, and I
bless God that He has given me His Holy Spirit, thus
escape the inevitable lines which the years bring. But revealing to me that ‘the kingdom of God is not meat and
where the underlying bone structure is generously and drink’, or anything outward, but righteousness and peace, and
joy in the Holy Ghost’…
handsomely moulded, there is a beauty of maturity
I pray, my dear sir, that whatever other revelation you may
which surpasses the untried beauty of youth. The hold, above or beyond this, that you may not fail of this…
fashioning of the years works from within without. I trust that we shall meet when the fogs of time will be
This generosity of spirit can be exercised in several dispersed, and all His saints will see eye to eye. My heart
burns in anticipation of that glorious oneness with all His real
ways. Israel.…
For example, we Salvationists should generously Years later when Mrs. Booth was promoted to
appreciate the work of all other followers of Jesus Glory, Father Ignatius wrote to a friend:
Christ. This does not require us to undervalue our own What a glorious woman! What ‘a mother’ of giants ‘in Israel’!
Movement nor to suppose that we lack any of the What an astounding fact is The Salvation Army! What a
shame and what a glory to the churches.
necessary means of grace. On the other hand, we need I wish you would see General Booth and tell him how deeply
not be in the least perturbed should any, concerned and affectionately I have mourned with him. Newman,
with the ecclesiastical letter which killeth rather than Liddon, Booth—true saints ‘promoted’ almost together!
the Spirit which giveth life, question whether we Newman—Roman Catholic Cardinal, Liddon—the
belong to the true Vine. The answer to that is to show last of the Tractarians, Catherine Booth—married
that we belong to the Vine by bearing the fruits woman Salvationist, who but a generous spirit would
thereof. Such evidence puts the matter beyond have linked these three together?
dispute. But if we appeal to the work of the Holy We Salvationists are accustomed to hearing our work
86 87
* See p27.
commended. We have almost come to expect this as a the Monday night that follows.’ That was setting the
prescriptive right. Let us not be slow generously to laity to work with top speed. If no church can function
acclaim all good work everywhere and, as we appreciate adequately without its lay people, no Army can fight
the Christian service of others, learn how better to do without its soldiers. They are greatly to be praised, for
our own. the faithfulness of the many far transcends the
Let us also be generous with one another. We must limitations of a few.
give the lie to the cynicism that one potter cannot bear But the soldier must also generously value the work
to hear praised another potter’s pots. of his officer who has set aside commercial rewards and
‘See how that noble Collingwood carries his ship recognized working hours in order to be a shepherd of
into action,’ cried Nelson as the Royal Sovereign broke the sheep. We can all do with some encouragement,
the French line at Trafalgar. Collingwood had been even the most austere of us, and maybe some young
Nelson’s successor three times over; not always a Lieutenant would thank God and take courage if you
situation to make for generous speech. The children of told him that last Sunday morning’s holiness meeting
light must not show themselves more small minded had been a great blessing to you. If it was not, would
than the children of the world. you inquire within yourself how much this was due to
One corps section must learn to appreciate the work personal inattention rather than the officer’s
of another Here is a senior band which is strengthened inexperience ?
at frequent intervals by lads from the young people’s Last but not least, let everyone unite to welcome
band. ‘Back to hymn tunes again,’ said a band leader most generously into our Salvation Army fellowship the
after transferring the best of his players to the senior
men and women who kneel at the Mercy Seat.
band and taking on a batch of new learners. Those
Converts may be neglected on two counts. In a large
senior bandsmen enjoy the pleasure of competent public
corps they can be lost to sight amid the multifarious
work, but no small part of their continued usefulness is
activities of the sections. Indeed, those who leave the
due to the faithful but unregarded service of the young
Sunday night prayer meeting before its conclusion may
people’s band leader.
Let the work of the soldiery be generously not be aware that there have been any seekers at all. In a
appreciated by the officer. Much is said nowadays about small corps a solitary convert may be too prominent. He
the function of the layman in the church, but much that stands out to his own embarrassment amid the few.
is now said as if it were new was said to the salvation Never forget that in entering into a new fellowship
soldier more than half a century ago. ‘I want’, said with God a convert has to find a new fellowship with
William Booth on his sixtieth birthday, ‘to see The man. In breaking with his sinful ways, he has broken
Salvation Army reach such a degree of perfection that with those with whom he shared those ways. The easy
the charwoman who gets saved on a Sunday will find unquestioning fellowship of the bar parlour is no
her proper place and have her work set out for her by longer his. So long as a fellow has enough money for
88 89
a pint, who is to inquire what his business is. The
associations of the factory dinner hour are ended as
well. No longer will his ‘I’ll prop’ be answered by a
mate’s ‘I’ll cop’. A man needs friends—none more so CHAPTER 15
than the new convert. It is not enough to shake his
hand and say ‘God bless you’ at the hall door. His old THE FRUIT OF THE EXPERIENCE
companions would do more for him than that. He —FAITH
would be welcome till turning out time at the ‘Dog ‘The fruit of the Spirit is… faith ‘ (Galatians 5: 22)
and Dart’. Should not the generosity of our welcome
exceed theirs? NCE more a modern translation will help to give
We may be moved so to behave when we recall the
generosity of God to us. If He had marked iniquity
O edge to a familiar word. Here faith means fidelity
(Moffatt and Phillips), faithfulness (R.S.V. and
who should stand? Ours was the debt of ten thousand Goodspeed) and good faith (Weymouth). The word so
talents, but that astronomical sum has been forgiven translated was in common use in Paul’s day to indicate
us. ‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies trustworthiness.
of God,’ wrote Paul to believers in Rome. That was This grace suffers because of its very nature. In any
the main head of an address which had but one point voluntary association of people the regular attender or
of application. They were to present themselves to worker stands in danger of being overlooked because he
God a living sacrifice. But by the same mercies of God is regular. The Captain never loses any sleep over
ought we not freely to present ourselves to every Brother Faithful. He will be at the open-air rain or
convert in salvation fellowship. The generosity of shine. But Brother Fancy, who is here today and gone
heart and mind which makes this possible is also a tomorrow, gets the Captain’s attention because he is
fruit of the Spirit. such an uncertain quantity. Poor Faithful thinks that
the Captain is always on Fancy’s doorstep; but doesn’t
the Captain wish he had no need to be!
It is Sister Flighty who gains most attention from
the young people’s sergeant-major. Sister Faithful is
always at the company meeting on time, but for her
opposite number the sergeant-major may be standing
anxiously at the door ten minutes after the responsive
exercises are over. ‘Your company is all here,’ he
greets her. ‘The Bibles are ready as well. I’ve taken
care that yours have no leaves missing. Forgotten
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your Company Orders*? Look, borrow mine for this pass the lions, Faithful answers simply, ‘I think they
afternoon.’ were asleep, for it was about high noon.’
Does Sister Faithful wonder whether her work is O faithful Faithful! And O discerning Bunyan! This
overlooked? No one dances attendance on her. But He is a master’s touch. Though the sun was high overhead
who has granted her the spirit of trustworthiness and not a shadow for shelter, Faithful plodded on. The
recognizes how she labours ‘with steady pace’. lions were overcome by sleep, not he. He passed them
‘With steady pace’ was not intended by Richard deep in their after-dinner nap.
Jukes as a reflection upon the pilgrim whose journey he Difficulties disappear for the man who is faithful. It
hymned. A steady pace is a maintained pace. The race is when we are off duty or, worse still, neglecting duty,
which is set before us is a long-distance course, not a that a net is spread for our feet. But the man who is
hundred yards’ sprint; an affair of years, not of even intent on what God would have him do is delivered
seconds. Much of the way from here to the Celestial from danger unawares. He breasts the rise in the road
City is, as Evelyn Underhill remarked, through a built- without noticing the gradient. He covers the distance
up area. Bursts of speed and flashy cornering are a without marking the milestones. Plain honest
menace, where cross the crowded ways of life. This faithfulness will make the rough places smooth and the
journey has to be done with due regard for all other crooked way straight. Not brilliance, or learning, or
traffic and ‘with steady pace’ is a commendable virtue. personality; just faithfulness.
Remember Livingstone’s ‘characteristic forward tread… Faithfulness is a tower of strength in the hour of moral
neither fast nor slow, no hurry and no dawdle, but or spiritual danger. In one of his early books A. S. M.
which meant getting there’. Hutchinson told of a girl in a seaside town into whose
It has been pointed out that this is a little noticed home comes a young city editor suffering from overstrain
but most effective point in Pilgrim’s Progress. Faithful and needing relief from the high pressure demands of his
leaves the City of Destruction after Christian but London office. In his new surroundings he finds the Bible
passes him on the way because he never lingers to talk is read and prayer is offered, habits which he himself had
with this one or that. No fellow traveller or chance never followed, and slowly a peace from another world
acquaintance beguiles Faithful from the narrow path. begins to invade his heart. He is attracted to the girl as
But Christian, who is Everyman, can be counted on to well. With Effie as his companion all his needs would be
make the most of every possible difficulty. If there is a met, so he proposes that they should go away together.
slough of despond, he will be in it. If Apollyon is She is flattered—for she cannot parallel his brilliance; but
about Christian will be bound to cross him. If there are puzzled—for while there has been a declaration of
lions in the way he will be sure to face them in their affection there has been no suggestion of marriage. He
angriest mood. But when he and Faithful meet and presses his suit. Let them go away together today,
Christian asks his new companion how he managed to tomorrow. ‘And live in sin?’ asks Effie, still bewildered.
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* Teaching notes for those leading young people’s Bible studies.
 The Sunday-school phrase angers the man beyond faithfulness has drained away. Because the cause of
measure. That his offer, from his height, should be so Christ seems to be fighting a losing battle they think
construed is humiliating beyond measure. Why ever did themselves justified in withdrawing from the field.
he think that such a girl could give him anything. He Such behaviour would not be tolerated at Molineux
will call it off. But the truth was that his offer broke on or Maine Road*. Does a player leave the pitch because
an unsophisticated loyalty to the teaching of home and his team is taking a pasting? His name would be reviled
Bible class. in a dozen sports writers’ columns if he did.
Fidelity to what we know can save us in our hour of It may be that some of those who quit have never
peril. No blinding light from heaven is needed to make been truly committed to the army of the Lord. At heart
us aware of the abyss at our feet. We have but to be they have thought of themselves as spectators,
faithful to the truth already in us. If there is a suggestion commending or condemning according to the ebb or
to default on Sunday duty in high summer, we know flow of the struggle. If he is wearied a spectator can go
where our first loyalty lies. If it is said that a glass at a home before the final whistle blows; but not a player.
friend’s wedding party is neither here nor there, we Now we are not spectators of the eternal warfare
know without anyone telling us what our answer should between good and evil, part of which front line runs
be. If a conversation gets too near the bone, then we through our factory or home. We are personally
know full well we are not obliged to take part in it. In a involved and it may be that God, in His providence,
dozen daily matters we need no fresh revelation of has brought us on to the field for such a time as this.
truth; just grace to be faithful to the light already given. He is looking for men and women who can serve Him
The simple virtue of faithfulness can sustain us in without a following wind of public interest. Today we
the hour of discouragement as well—and that may be a are in much the same position as believers in the first
present hour for those who take the work of God century. Christianity is a minority movement. No
seriously. His church is not everywhere like an army convention requires any person to make a show of
with banners. In some places she is being driven back; allegiance to the faith. Material prosperity is not
in others bravely clinging with depleted forces to former linked with religious practice. Indeed Christian
strong points. Especially is this true in our large cities scruples may be a bar to social success. In this setting
where even the well-filled places of worship are but our faith has to be practised for its own merits and
islands set in a horrid sea of paganism. Some believers commended in its own right. Are we willing to serve
have lost heart and are swift to say so. They are equally God for naught?
swift to blame some other person or some We rise to this faithfulness as we receive the spirit of
administrative blunder or some internal strain for their Him ‘who was faithful to Him that appointed Him’.
discouragement. But what has really gone awry lies The phrase occurs in the New Testament where a
deep in their own spirit. The sober hidden grace of writer, steeped in the thought forms of his Jewish
94 95
* Stadiums of leading English football clubs.
countrymen, was working out a parallel between Jesus
and Moses (Hebrews 3: 1-6).
In Jewish history Moses held a unique place. ‘My CHAPTER 16
servant Moses… is faithful in all Mine house. With him
will I speak mouth to mouth.’ No man had been THE FRUIT OF THE EXPERIENCE—
granted closer fellowship than Moses. To him had been MEEKNESS AND TEMPERANCE
given the Law. One rabbi taught that, in the economy
‘The fruit of the Spirit is… meekness, temperance’
of God, the faithfulness of Moses ranked him higher (Galatians 5: 23)
than the ministering angels. His trustworthiness stood
again let it be said that these nine Christian
on record for all ages to read. But he was out-soared by
Jesus in that the Son must be higher than the greatest of O NCE
graces are part of the one fruit of the Spirit. No
man may pride himself that the joy of the Lord which is
God’s servants. The argument is that if we are loyal to
the highest, we shall be sustained by Him to whom our his makes him so happy-go-lucky that he cannot be
highest loyalty is due. relied upon. Nor can a believer construe fidelity as sour
‘The heart of every private man’ can drink in valour devotion to duty. Joy of heart must not detract from our
from this divine Captain’s eyes. Our faithfulness derives dependability nor duty make us joyless.
from Him who is ‘the faithful Witness’. This grace is These graces are not listed in any order of priority,
not our own lest any man should boast. Like the other save that love is the tap root of all. The last two—
fruit of the Spirit, it is born of the sanctifying presence meekness and temperance—are as essentially of the
of God in the hearts of those in whom He is fulfilling Spirit as faith or peace.
His perfect work. These last are seen to be closely related when we
note their present-day equivalents. For temperance
most modern translations give self-control and for
meekness, gentleness, though Phillips prefers
adaptability. Perhaps temperance could be briefly but
accurately defined as meekness in action.
Meekness has come down in the world of words.
Moffatt takes care never to use it in his translation.
He substitutes ‘gentle’, ‘pious’, ‘humble’, ‘afflicted’,
‘the poor’; never the oft misunderstood meek. Who
cares that ‘it’s safer being meek than fierce’? To
many such a line only evokes a picture of a nervous
and hesitant lad in a barrack room who has decided
96 97
that the best way to keep out of trouble is to remain in session, hurried there from the boat. Hunch-backed,
unnoticed. It’s safer! So as a protective device and to less than five feet tall, arms longer than legs, much of
keep out of harm’s way he reduces himself to a his face hidden in a snowy beard which fell over his
colourless nonentity. chest, his clothes undyed, he must have looked
With savage irony Mark Antony employed the word something like a troll to staid Friends in London. His
over the dead body of Caesar. reception was as chilly as his appearance was unusual
Pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, and, after he had tendered his papers, a Friend rose to
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers.
say that the visitor might now feel his mission was
He intended to be anything but that. By the time he
discharged and be free to return home.
had finished in the Forum he was determined that
Woolman was stricken. He had crossed the Atlantic
public passion should be beyond control.
under divine concern and at no small self-sacrifice.
Nor is the grace of meekness over welcome within
After a silence he meekly rose to say that he did not feel
the church of Christ itself. Someone has said that the
led of the Spirit to leave but, as he could work with his
Apostle listed it near the end of these virtues because it
hands, he would be glad to be employed by someone so
was one of the hardest to practise. Meekness is wrongly
as not to be a burden to any. Before the session ended
understood as spiritlessness, insipidity, lifelessness; a
rebuff had changed to welcome.
meek person can be kicked around with impunity.
We revise our notion of meekness most searchingly
With the Bible in hand we should know that this is
when we consider Him who was ‘meek and lowly in
neither the meaning of the word nor its visible sign.
heart’. Meekness and lowliness were the Master’s
Moses is described as being ‘very meek, above all…
favourite graces. He said so Himself, and his actions
men’. Very meek, not very weak. No spineless character
witnessed to the truth of His personal testimony. But
could have brought Israel out of Egypt, nor led a band
the Jesus of history was no pale Galilean. There was
of ex-slaves through their years of desert wanderings
what has been called ‘a stormy north side’ to Him.
until they emerged a disciplined people.
Whittier wrote some lines about the Quaker Joseph
Malory quotes Sir Ector saying to Sir Launcelot,
Sturge:
‘Thou wert the meekest man… that ever ate in hall… Tender as a woman, manliness and meekness
and thou wert the sternest knight to thy mortal foe that In him were so allied
ever put spear in the rest.’ At Arthur’s court great That they who judged him by his strength or weakness
Saw but a single side.
meekness was not incompatible with great courage. So Jesus cannot be written off merely as ‘Gentle
Let an incident from John Woolman’s life illuminate Jesus’. Meekness is controlled strength, and of that
this grace still further. One June morning in the there are abundant examples in the Gospels. Here is
eighteenth century he arrived in London and, knowing the Master in the Jewish synagogue on the Sabbath. A
that the yearly meeting of the Society of Friends was man with a deformed hand is present in the congre-
98 99
gation—planted there by the Pharisees who wish to women he never knew. They may not compare with
charge Jesus with Sabbath-breaking. Mark describes him in stature but they are carrying on his mission. No
how the callous faces about Him move the Master to salvation soldier need suppose himself to be at any
anger, but controlled by love He says to the sufferer: disadvantage compared with the Founder for he can
‘Stretch forth thine hand.’ emulate that ‘early resolve that God shall have all there
Such an incident floods this grace with life and light. is of William Booth’.
Scholars have pointed out that the Greek word thus The life controlled by the Spirit will not rebel at the
translated used to be applied to an animal which had place of service which God appoints. The meek of
been tamed. A horse which had been broken in and heart will not complain about being frustrated, which is
now answered to bit and bridle was ‘meek’. The animal sometimes a high-flown phrase for not getting our own
had not been robbed of its strength but now used its way or not being in the limelight. Not every man at the
strength at the bidding of another. Instead of the De Havilland plant at Hatfield can fly the Comet II.
untamed wildness of the open moor, there was now There are fitters, riggers, engineers, carpenters,
directed energy for worth-while tasks. labourers—and the tea boy, each of whom must do his
Temperance does not mean that form of self-control work as competently as the pilot is expected to do his.
by which a man says, ‘I’m cutting my smoking down to He who works together with God may be technically
five a day’, or ‘You’ll never see me drunk, I know when to unskilled but none is ever redundant. There is more
stop’. This control is not of external restraint nor of self- work to do than hands to do it. The Kingdom of God
willing, but arises from the presence of the Holy Spirit at cometh not by automation. In this economy men still
the regulative centre of a man’s life. In this sense count most of all.
temperance is more properly understood as God-control. Said Bernard of Clairvaux to a young novice whom he
This inner divine control bids us accept ourselves for found idling in the monastery kitchen: ‘If you neglect to
what we are rather than waste time complaining about wash the pots and pans you will neglect to worship God.’
what we are not. God has made us as we are because He As in family life, so in the Kingdom, there is always a lot of
likes us that way. There is a place in His fields for the washing-up to be done, and not so much of it at a stainless
bluebell in the forest as there is for the lily in the steel sink unit either. Many sinks are too low for the back.
hothouse. And as exotic blooms have a hard time in In some places the water is hard; in others it is not yet piped
some of our comfortless summers, it is just as well that on. The elegant host and hostess at table may not take
there are daises and daffodils to cheer the eye. kindly to the after-dinner chores. But they must be done,
Let every man thank God for what he is. There are and character comes out at the sink. For general usefulness,
tens of thousands of Salvationists to one William Booth. a willing pair of hands may be a greater blessing than a
And while there might not have been any at all but for witty tongue. Meekness has an unbreakable strength which
him, his work is now being perpetuated by men and can sustain drudgery by treating it as divine.
100 101
 To sum up, let it be remembered that all these graces
are of the Spirit. They are not our human virtues
brushed up and given a high polish. This is not me
working at myself until I think I can pass for the very CHAPTER 17
handiwork of God. The fruit of the Spirit is the result
of His creative power in my life. And if I am to be like THE GLORY OF GOD
Christ in whom these graces were displayed to
‘Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God’
perfection, then I must first yield myself to the Spirit (1 Corinthians 10: 31)
who was His without measure.
experience of Christian holiness may finally be
Such a surrender will bring the harvest in due season.
Let none stumble here through lack of faith. Let none T HE
defined as one in which the whole man is
redirected towards the highest spiritual end—that is,
suppose the soil of his heart too unpromising. If weeds
will grow there, why not wheat? Even the presence of likeness to Christ, and in this he is granted the
tares shows that the soil will support life. continual help of the Holy Spirit.
Look at a seed. It is small, hard, dry, seemingly The whole man—for in considering this doctrine we
lifeless. Yet all the possibilities of fragrance, form, taste must not make the mistake of supposing that holiness
and colour are there. means the eradication of any of our normal human
All the wonder and glory of the life of holiness appetites. The redirection and control of all to the
awaits the full surrender of your forgiven heart to the divine glory—yes; but the elimination of none.
presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Let the seed be Whatsoever we do can be done to His glory for no
planted. The harvest will follow. human appetite is of itself evil. To suppose otherwise is
a reflection upon the Creator whose handiwork we are.
Man is the creation of God, not the devil. His origin is
divine, not satanic. Scripture describes him—and
Scripture quotes this scriptural description
approvingly—as ‘little lower than the angels’. Or, as the
American R.S.V. reads: ‘little less than God (Psalm 8:
5).
Man was born to greatness but has fallen away from
his high estate. Light was in him, but in many that
light has turned to darkness. This makes his ruin more
saddening. Lilies that fester not only smell worse
than weeds; they look worse as well. We never expect
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weeds to be anything but weedy. That is their nature. had dark eyes which could flash fire. When ragged by
But in lilies we look for beauty and fragrance. And from schoolmates she would flare up. Cruelty to animals
man, part of the creation which God pronounced to be moved her to anger. One day, seeing a drover ill-
good, there is high promise but sad performance. treating some sheep, she tried to stop him, but failing to
But there is every difference between a good thing do so, ran almost choking with indignation and flung
gone wrong and something which was bad from the herself on the sofa.
start. The easy notion that we can blame our ‘fallen’ Still in her early teens, she was out driving with some
nature for what we do is in essence an evasion of friends when ahead she saw a donkey driver abusing the
responsibility. To excuse an action by saying, ‘Sorry, but beast who was pulling his cart. Before her own carriage had
I’m made that way’, is to twist the doctrine of original stopped she jumped out and, catching her foot on the step,
sin to excuse sinning. To lay the burden of my measured her length on the road. But without waiting to
behaviour upon my make-up—as if that was something recover breath, she ran after the cart, tried to halt it by
apart from my real self—is to play with truth. clinging to the shaft, meanwhile addressing the culprit in
Sin lies in the will, not in the instincts. There is no such vigorous terms that not only did he surrender the
sin in the farmyard for there is no choice there. The offending hammer with which he had been hitting the
animal does as his nature dictates. But I am not an donkey but gave his name and address to Catherine as well.
animal in that sense, and those who blame their nature After her promotion to Glory on October 4, 1890,
most would be loudest in their protests were they her husband, William Booth, said of her: ‘She was a
treated like animals. The man who demands the right thorough hater of shams, hypocrisies, make-believes.
to please himself must accept the fruits of his choosing. She was a warrior. She loved to fight.’
The truth is that no part of me—eye, temper, God did not deprive the Army Mother* of her
hand—is in itself evil, though each may be put to an evil passion. How could she have moved audiences without
end as my will may determine or allow. Let this be it? Her passion was part of herself. ‘Her utterances’, said
illustrated in two ways—first with a human quality and one who listened to her often, ‘blazed with the sacred
then by a human member. wrath of the Hebrew prophets. She cried aloud and
Take temper. Sanctifying grace does not mean the spared not. Others might falter and fear. She ever
abolition of temper but its control and redirection. God pressed right forward.’ Her passion was accepted of
will not take a man’s temper from him. Why should God and sanctified to His glory.
He? A man without temper is as useless as a knife As the other illustration take such a bodily member
without temper. Holiness does not mean that a lively as the human hand. Look at your right hand. Is not so
and spirited lad thereafter becomes the bloodless familiar a thing fearfully and wonderfully made, so
shadow of his former self. strong that it can grip a sledge-hammer, so sensitive
Here is a child, Catherine Mumford by name, who that it can caress a pianissimo from a violin string.
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* See p27.
It is not in itself evil. A man’s right hand can be a Margaret Allen to an early day Naval and Military
pledge of friendship. Leaguer* (and her letter is an outstanding example of
And there’s a haun’, ma trusty friend, Salvationist common sense in an age when frankness
And gie’s a haun’ o’ thine. was the exception rather than the rule), ‘natural
But it can wound in the house of a friend. Lady instincts which He has placed there for a lawful and
Macbeth’s hand could close upon the dagger which useful purpose. I have heard men pray, as if to
would dispatch Duncan sleeping under her roof. accomplish holiness, God would pick to pieces their
Count our ancestors more brutal in their habits than physical being and take out from it all that forms the
ourselves if you wish, but they were too honest to law of human attraction. What a poor sort of salvation
indulge in the sophistry which would excuse evil by that would be!’
saying that it was in the nature of hands to strike and As wise a word was said by Bramwell Booth’s eldest
fingers to choke. Men knew when they were wrong and daughter of her father: ‘This [his dedication to a God of
were men enough to acknowledge themselves love] did not exclude human relationships as with some
blameworthy. men drawn to Christ by love. Love for mother, wife,
children, friends was intensified and beautified for him,
O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven;
It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t, for the very reason that he was drinking at the fount of
A brother’s murder. eternal love.’
The fault is not with the eye or the temper or the hand. There are others beside that anonymous Leaguer
Responsibility lies much deeper—and that is at one and who have thought to find in some natural desire that
the same time a relief and a warning. ‘root of bitterness’ which, if only it were removed,
A relief—in so far that we can gladly welcome a would leave them holy. But do not misunderstand this
holiness which is not a denial of our humanity. That scriptural allusion. A ‘root of bitterness’ is not a
bypath has been explored, and those gifted with physical thing nor a physical desire; it is a biblical
Christian wisdom have been able to halt in time. In a figure of speech. Here are the relevant passages for
passionate eagerness to make sure that nothing should comparison.
come between them and the blessing of holiness so First Deuteronomy 29: 14-18
earnestly desired, John Wesley and his helpers Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this
debated in their second conference in August, 1745, oath; but… with him that is not here with us this day… lest
there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or
whether ‘an entirely sanctified man would ever get tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our
married’. To their everlasting credit they quickly saw God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there
should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood.
how great was their peril in trying to treat God’s good
as evil. Now here is how the Epistle to the Hebrews (12: 14,
‘God is not going to pluck out of you’, wrote Major 15) quotes that passage.
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* The Salvation Army’s special services to those in the armed forces. Now called the Red
Shield Services.
 Follow peace with all men, and holiness… looking already been quoted, let his personal experience on this
diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of
bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be point be our further guide. Wrote his biographer:
defiled. Bramwell is seeking for himself. His entrance by faith into
the peace of that experience came almost abruptly. One
Plainly the allusion is to a person who, by his own Sunday… after leading the morning meeting in one town he
evil example, could corrupt the whole life of a was walking to another. His thoughts were dwelling on the
community. Early Christian converts were to beware of question of a holy life and his own lack of faith, when he
suddenly apprehended with great clarity that this was a matter
such folk. One bad apple could spoil the whole dish. of the will. He stopped, turned aside to a gate in the lane, and
Of course, if anyone is seeking the real ‘root of immediately challenged his own heart’s will to believe.
Vaulting into the field he then prayed, submitting himself
bitterness’, that culprit is the evil will. Where the will is wholly to Christ.
corrupt, the whole life is corrupted. But if the will be Those who do likewise can thereafter do all to the
yielded to the cleansing of God, then all may be done to glory of God.
the glory of Him who first made man in His own
image.
Let it be clear then that holiness is not the enemy of
any human affection. Holiness is not the cuckoo which
would drive out of the nest all other cherished
satisfactions. Holiness but blesses what is already
blessed and hallows what is already holy—the heart’s
affections.
But if we accept this truth to the enrichment of our
joys, let the warning be also accepted that holiness
stands like a passionate angel guarding the gateway of
our human Garden of Eden, denying an entrance to the
licence which would be the ruin of our happiness.
Because no human appetite is of itself evil, that does not
mean that any may flourish uncontrolled. Hunger is
satisfied by eating, not gluttony. Love is satisfied by
affection, not lust. Love has its own delicate restraints
of which licence is the destroyer. Once a lad and a girl
have made that discovery their mutual joy is safe.
To sum up—what needs to be sanctified is the will.
As the will is the source of all sinning, so it can be the
spring of all right living. And as Bramwell Booth has
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