More Consecration by E. B. Saunders

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 4, 1872

More Consecration.

By E. B. Saunders

WHEN we first learned the great truths of the three messages, our feelings were much stirred, and we felt like taking hold of this work with considerable energy. But with some of us it was a hard struggle to consent to the Sabbath truth; for that required a change of habit, while other points required only a change of mind or belief.

Generally, when we had committed ourselves to these truths, we manifested much zeal to get others to investigate and understand the reasons we had for our belief. This zeal, on the part of some, it is to be feared, was not prompted so much by a sincere love for the truth, or for souls, or God, as it was by a desire to increase their party, and out-argue their opposers. Besides, new acquaintances were formed with similar views, and, by intercourse with them, we felt encouraged to believe ourselves right in the sight of God. And God, in his infinite mercy, regarding the first dawning of amendment in us, sometimes let a few mercy drops fall on us, and then we connected ourselves with the church, and participated in the sacred rites of the Christian religion.

The desire for eternal life, and to enjoy the rich reward, prompted many of us to try to overcome our evil habits, lusts, and appetites; and sometimes a victory would be gained when the appetite or habit was not firmly seated, or when, by abstinence for a season, the desire would be worn out. But, oftener than otherwise, the evil was only curbed or checked, not cured. Our own wills, unassisted by the grace of God, were not strong enough to subdue those fierce passions which ruled our hearts. They would constantly rise with such power as to overcome all our good resolutions, and then a depressed, discouraged feeling would weigh us down, while our zeal for others would die out, and the joy we should feel in communion with those whose lives were pure, would be almost entirely wanting, and rather a sense of relief from uneasiness would be felt by us when out of their presence. Also our interest to meet for worship would gradually die out, so that a mere shadow of an excuse, like bad roads, a slight rain, or cold, or snow, or perhaps a tired feeling from overwork, or anything that could serve for an excuse to quiet the conscience, would keep us from the house of God. And the meetings would not seem interesting, especially if the majority of those present had passed through about the same experience.

Such meetings always drag, and about all the confidence some get to speak or pray, is the thought that others are not aware of their failings. While in such a state of mind, our prayers are formal; but our consciences must be quieted, so the daily task of praying must be kept up. Conscience requires us to read the word of God; so, besides the daily chapter, some portion, like the story of Joseph or Samson, Elijah or Jonah, is read occasionally, to make us think that we really love the Bible.

Our Systematic Benevolence we pay, but it does not increase proportionally to our property; in fact, it sometimes decreases. With some, the subscription for the REVIEW remains unpaid, and everything indicates that our religion is getting shabby; yet we flatter ourselves that we are going to be saved.

At the same time, we do not feel that we have the victory, but at some future time intend to obtain it, while it ought to be evident to us that we are losing ground. We feel rich and increased with goods, and that we have need of nothing, when, if our eyes were opened, we should find ourselves poor, and blind, and naked.

Now, what can be done to help us? Nothing but the heavenly anointing can reach our cases. We need to be converted through and through. Our hearts must be cleansed from sin, and the Spirit of God must come in and dwell there, or we shall be among the lost. “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” “Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts.” But the Spirit of God is not in the heart of the lukewarm, or worldly-minded, professor. The Spirit of God dwells only with the pure in heart—the victor over sin. “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

The Spirit of God does not dwell in a heart that loves sin; and the reason that so many are almost entirely unacquainted with the movings of the Spirit of God, is because sin, which God hates, is cherished. Such is the deceitfulness of the human heart that we think all we possess is devoted to the service of God, when this world and its pleasures are first in all our thoughts. Even our worship, both public and private, is marred with meditations of a worldly nature; our means is often squandered to gratify self. We ask God to bless us with health and strength only to consume it upon our lusts.

There must be an entire willingness to give up our darling sin, whatever it may be, before Christ will dwell in us by his Spirit. And when the Spirit of Christ is received into the heart, you will need no one to tell you of it; the sweet harmony between the heart and the word of God, the sacredness of his law, sweeter than honey and the honeycomb, will make it evident to yourself that God accepts you. Others will judge you by the fruits, “Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” These fruits may be counterfeited, but they always seem unnatural, stunted, and irregular, when connected with a corrupt heart.

One who is acquainted with the Spirit of God need not be deceived by them. These graces, in the one case, will seem forced and put on for appearance sake; while in the other, they will spring spontaneously from a good heart.

Unless we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we shall be lost. We can never truly get the victory without it; but when it dwells in us we are virtually victors. Oh! how easy then to keep the commandments; and God does not then seem to be a hard master. His law will seem “sweeter than honey and the honeycomb,” and we shall feel it to be a privilege to improve the talent entrusted to our care. The service of God will be a pleasure, and this world will seem to us small indeed.

My brethren, will you seek this conversion, this consecration, this Spirit? If you feel like waiting awhile, till you have enjoyed the pleasures of sin a little longer, it is evident that you are unacquainted with its sweetness, and your heart not right before God. I entreat you, as a servant of God, to make no delay, but seek the Lord by confessing and forsaking sin, and by earnest prayer to God for pardon, till the Spirit of Christ returns to you again, and you can say from the heart, Jesus is mine, and I am his. E. B. SAUNDERS.