should not only devote at least one hour a week to the development of the Christ life in one of his fellow men, as previously stated, but that he should personally devote at least another hour a week to conference and study with other true Christians, to whom the Holy Spirit would direct him, that his own spiritual life might be purged from error, vanity, or apathy, and that it might be deepened and intensified for a far better and more effective service in the future.

XLI

A NOTE OF WARNING AND ASSURANCE

In the last chapter of this book I desire to sound a note of warning and assurance to all true Christians who may undertake and persist in this blessed work.

The theme of this book, in a word, is that Man of himself, is an all-needy, all-sinful and all-helpless creature; and that the Lord, his Creator, is all-sufficient, and allwilling to satisfy all of his needs and to deliver him from all of his sin.

Man is a creature of needs innumerable, not one of which can he of himself supply. The Lord God, his Creator, has provided a perfect supply infinitely greater than all of his needs. All that Man can do, or is expected to do, is gratefully to receive the supplies, without price, from his Creator and appropriate them according to the all-righteous laws and loving will of his Creator, when all of his imperative needs would become avenues, or channels, of constant and boundless pleasure to his body and joy to his soul.

Man is also a creature with sins innumerable, not one of which can he of himself atone for or make good. The Lord God, his Creator, has provided for him a salvation infinitely greater than all of his sin. All that Man can do or is expected to do, is to turn from his sin and receive with sincere repentance and belief this salvation freely offered to him, and appropriate it according to the

all-gracious and loving will of his Creator, God. Then, every sin forgiven would thrill his heart with gladness and the complete deliverance from all of his sin would fill his soul with inexpressible joy and delight.

1. Therefore, in the first place, if any true Christian should reach a high plane of pleasure to his body and joy to his soul, by receiving and appropriating the boundless provisions of the Creator, God, for the needs of his body and of his soul, as previously indicated, and should he also be the means of leading others to the same high plane of pleasurable and joyful experience, let him not for a moment boast of it as his own achievement, or credit himself with its attainment. He must give all the praise and glory to the Lord God, his Creator and Provider. Then will he continue to reach higher planes of pleasure and joy; otherwise, he would not only fail to make any further true advancement in this blessed service, but would lose much of what he had already attained and experienced.

2. Since the service of any true Christian for his fellowman, as previously outlined, is primarily voluntary, personal and private, it should not be made known in public addresses for display, or in printed reports for financial support. It should be kept as much as possible from public notice. There is no need of financial support secured in that way for such service.

3. While the Lord will receive the humblest service of the humblest disciple, when done in good faith, let no man pretend to do this Christlike work for appearance sake to be seen of men, when his heart is not in it. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

21. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:21-23).

Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, paid the penalty with the loss of their lives for trying to deceive the Apostles by professing to do what they did not do (Acts 5:1-11).

4. When any true Christian has attained a high plane of Christian life and activity in this blessed work, and has been the means of leading others to the same high plane of Christian experience, let him not for a moment stop to claim for himself holiness or Christian perfection because of what he is of himself, or has accomplished. He is yet a sinner, saved by grace. The only real holiness or perfection that can be claimed for him, or for any true Christian in this world, is that which is imparted to him from the holiness or perfection of "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," (Rev. 13:8); of the Man of Calvary "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree," (I Peter 2:24); and of the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ "Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God" (I Peter 3:22). While we live in this world, our warfare is not done. Therefore let us:

10. "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

II. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Eph. 6:11-18).

While we live in this world, our race is not yet run.

1. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin" (Heb. 12: 1-4).

While we live in this world, we must live our Christian life by faith alone. Therefore,

23. "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith with