A real saint, has the outside, and the inside of real salvation, which renders them God’s peculiar people; inside, and outside, righteousness. It consists first, in having our sins taken from us—removed as far as the east is from the west, so that it has no more dominion over us, having our inner being washed and set free from all the remains of the carnal mind. This is preceded by a real death to carnality—a death which too few experience, but necessary in order to prove the heights and depths of love divine.
It is to be so dead to sin and self, that we shall be just like clay in the hands of the potter, fashioned by Him as he wills and we lovingly submit and say, “Thy will be done, O, Lord! my God, and my Redeemer.”
To be a peculiar people, means death to the tricks and wiles of the devil—so that in presenting his claims with all his Satanic art, there is no response within, but a repelling power springs up immediately. He will tempt you to disbelieve in Jesus Christ, that is, don’t expect Him to save you so thoroughly as some claim. He will persuade you if possible to tone down a little; but with this death, and this resurrection power, you are more than a match for him.
He will follow you all the way down to death. Everywhere he will present his claims, and with the least possible chance, he will overcome you.
We are not above our Master. The world, with all its grandeur, will make its demands. As Christ was tempted to bow the knee, so will it be with us. The flesh will clamor for indulgencies, but the child of God that is dead indeed to sin and alive to Him, will overcome by the word of their testimony and the blood of the Lamb. The internal evidence that you are one of that family, a peculiar people, is grandly pronounced in the following manner:
The first noticeable manifestation after you have made clean your escape from the land of bondage and destruction, will be a state of peace that will thrill your entire being. This will appear strange, after the awful conflict that you so recently passed through. Coming into a state of reconciliation—everything about you will seem to be in a lovely mood. As you move on in the divine life, this state of joy and gladness will increase, so that your peace will flow as a river; and as you continue faithful in the grace already given, you will soon have what the Psalmist called “Great peace.” “Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them.” That is, if you are sanctified wholly, made perfect in love, you have a peace that will not stumble over anything that may occur; the ungodly things that are on all sides will not turn you out of the direct way to Heaven. Everlasting joy belongs to this people; it comes natural to them, as rays of light from the sun, or as rain from the clouds. The command is, “Rejoice evermore.” This would be impossible without a pure heart and a holy life. “The redeemed come to Zion, with songs and with everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
While the saints all have joy, they do not all have the same degree of joy; neither will they in the world to come. St. Paul says that “one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection.” Holy joy is like a musical scale, with its added lines. Every note of praise has its positive, comparative and superlative development. The first note of holy joy that will be discovered in us will be in singing the songs of Zion. The redeemed come with songs; and yet there may be the joy, not only of the justified believer, but of the wholly sanctified. Glory to God. While this may be true, not all that sing the songs of Zion are blessed with this holy, triumphant joy. Only the redeemed have it.
The second degree of joy, in the natural scale, will be found in the hearty amen; especially if it be born of the Spirit. A great many amens were never born of the Spirit; they are counterfeits. How blessed are the sanctified amens. How rich the service that is well interspersed with them. The amen corners in our churches are of inestimable value; as much so as the Urim and Thummim in the Mosaic dispensation. It clearly revealed the presence of the Most High; so do the spirit-inspired amens. How encouraging the unctious amens to the saints. How it lifts the preacher while proclaiming the everlasting gospel. Oh, that God would baptize the church with more sanctified, Holy Ghost amens.
The note of praise running still higher in the scale of holy joy will be, “Praise the Lord.” How little we hear of this, to what we ought to hear. But as we advance in the divine life, the praises of God will increase in our hearts, and upon our lips, and we shall feel like saying: “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.”
The next higher note of joy will be “Glory.” This will spring up so natural if you occupy just the right spot on the scale of experience. You cannot pump it up, if the well is dry. There must be living water in the well. Jesus said, “The water that I give you shall be in you a well of water springing up unto everlasting life.”