THE WAY OF HOLINESS, WITH NOTES BY THE WAY: BEING A NARRATIVE OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE RESULTING FROM A DETERMINATION TO BE A BIBLE CHRISTIAN. BY MRS. PHOEBE PALMER: BOD FIRST ENGLISH EDITION, REPRINTED FROM THE WITH PREFACE BY THE REV. THOMAS COLLINS. LONDON: ALEXANDER HEYLIN, 28, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1856. 141. d. 3;2. PREFACE. THE preparation of an English edition of this work, with the approbation of the excellent writer, resident herself in America, is a circumstance that affords me very much satisfaction. My attention was drawn to the book by a beloved brother in the Ministry, a competent judge, who spoke of it in terms of commendation so decided, that I was induced to give it a reading, and then in my turn I began to recommend it; and I am happy to state that its adaptation to usefulness has been proved in more than one instance within my knowledge. I cannot but desire, therefore, that it may have an extensive circulation. To write instructively upon entire sanctification is to confer a general benefit, the value of which it is impossible to overstate. The Lord has not abrogated His first and great command; He has not relaxed its obligation; He has not at all abated its large claim; He never will. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might," is still His law: and as long as "the Lord our God is one Lord;" as long as His right to us upon the ground of creation and of redemption remains sole and absolute; as long as all the law and the Prophets hang upon that and upon the twin command which is like unto it, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself;" so long that law must remain in force. Whatever forms of idolatry in the heart of the children of men oppose the Divine dominion, the Lord does not abdicate His throne; on the contrary, He calls His people to fight His battle, and bring over the whole world to His side. By perfect love He separates them entirely to Himself, secures their whole service, and gives them victory. Only perfect love to God can cope with the perfect hatred of His foe. Satan hates Him perfectly, and sin is the Satan's enmity through man. expression of None of that ought therefore to remain in those who fight for God: otherwise secret insubordination will grieve the Holy Spirit, and be a perpetual check upon right effort. That was a pitiable condition of the Galatians : For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would:" (Gal. v. 17:) yet undoubtedly it is the condition of many Christians now; hence the comparative absence in the Church of its ancient power. It is enough to break the heart, to think that though the Captain of my salvation loved me and gave Himself for me, yet I have requited Him with a partial consecration only; that His victory has been delayed by my loving Him less than with all my heart, less than that degree in which His enemy hates Him. Does the reader ever reflect upon himself thus, and sigh to enter upon a close and constant walk with God? Does he? Then this book will help him. The way of holiness is before him, the way of an unreserved faith in the blood of the Lamb, the way of unreserved consecration. That way is marked out in the Bible as with a sunbeam; and here are the results of the experience and observation of a judicious and thoroughly earnest traveller. May the Holy Spirit bless the perusal ! THOMAS COLLINS. |