God's simple truth on Holiness...

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Wesley's works were the first to give me light, but Sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Ghost was so seldom preached in the pulpit, that I received no light, so that I had both an inward and outward warfare going on continually. I was called to preach the gospel, but could not get a license to do so without a compromise with the devil, that is, conform strictly to the theories of the church which was contrary to the dictates of my conscience. I then exhorted and preached occasionally for a time without heeding the church, but was condemned by the ministers; and yet they would tell me I was called to preach, but I must learn their theology. Thus I sometimes seemed to be on the mountain top betimes, then again away down in the valley covered in fog and mist. And after nearly 50 years of this kind of life the Holiness people came to our place, and more from their wonderful earnestness, than their knowledge of interpretation of the word, putting the word in spiritual power, I began to search the word on the line of Sanctification and Holiness, and 0, what light broke into my soul, when I saw that there was two special conditions to the covenant of grace: first, justification in the forgiveness of our actual sins committed, putting us in a state of probation to go on and complete the covenant by doing His will, and get the seal of the covenant through Sanctification and baptism of the Holy Ghost, placing ourselves on the last probation for eternal life, being sealed by the blood, and having the comforter, this seal only being given to those who have complied to the terms of the covenant, w T hich is to have the old Adam purged out. I immediately complied with the terms, and now live gloriously saved, having the covenant sealed and His promise sure, if I trust in Him,

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Now, after getting this experience, I asked the Lord to tell me what He wanted me to do. I told him I was old; memory, sight, and hearing, naturally, through much affliction, somewhat deranged or weakened, yet if He would show me what to do I would do it; that I wished to do like Sampson, who slew more in the day of his death, than he slew in all his life. The spirit said write a book on Sanctification and Holiness, you can reach more souls than any other way, and after you are gone home, your works will follow you. I reasoned but there are so many books on these points, written by men superior to me in talent and education, that my meagre, attempts to explain such a great question, that is now agitating the public mind, would only be winked at with scorn and derision. The spirit saith humble thyself before the Lord; have I not chosen the weak things of earth to confound the mighty; doest thou, poor worm, dictate to the Almighty. Knowest thou not that the wisdom of God is foolishness to man; have I not chosen you for this purpose. Write thou now, this book, I will guide and direct thy mind; trust in God. Believing that the Holy Spirit has directed me, I present it to the reading world in its simplicity, hoping and trusting that God will make it the means of bringing souls to the light and truth, as written in His w r ord. And if it be the means of bringing but one soul to God, it will pay for all the pains I have taken. I have just written as I believe the spirit dictated. I now remain the unworthy servant of God and friend of

the reader.

JACOB R. McFARREN,

Gainesville, Texas.

September 10th, 1893.

SANCTIFICATION AND HOLINESS.

First, Ave will try to show what we must do, and what God wants us to do in relation to sanctifi cation, sin and holiness, and his will towards us, in these matters. 1 Thess. 4:3, 4. This is the will of God, even your sanctitieation, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor. Now if it be the will of God, then it is essential that we do His will. Ver. 7. For God hath not called us to uncleanness, but unto holiness. Ver. 8. He, therefore, that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit. (Read the 8th verse again thoughtfully.) Matt. 5:48. Be ye perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. What, blessed Jesus, Master, do you tell us, and even command us to be perfect ? even as our Father in heaven is perfect? How could you say such a thing, when you knew that in these last times, perilous times would come? w T hen men and women would not endure sound doctrine.

Yea, but I, even I your Saviour Jesus Christ, say in Matt. 6:22-23: The light of the body is the eye: if, therefore, thine eye being single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness; if therefore, the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness. For (Matt. 6- 24) no man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. The Psalmist says: (Psa. 4:4) Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and put your whole trust in the Lord. For (7, 8 verses) thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. Gen. 4:7. If thou dost well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou dost not well, sin lieth at the door. Job. 10:6, speaking to God: " Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand. (Praise the Lord for such trust.) Psa. 32:1, 2. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not in iniquity, and in whosespirit thereis no guile. (Read Psa. 119, chap, and also the 11th verse.) Prov. 14:34. Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. For Isaiah says (Isa. 30:1): Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin. (I was told by a minister while writing this, that it meant the w r icked.

Yes, the church wicked, who try to cover their sin by saying you can't live without sin, making out God a liar. This is their covering, not of God's spirit. May God by his wisdom guide and direct both my mind and pen that I may be able to show that we must live without committing sin, and that we must be sanctified by His truth and walk in the way of holiness, in this life, or we can never see God in peace, and receive eternal life. For without holiness no man shall see God. John 12:9. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. (What is the sin of the world? the adamic nature inherited that causes you to commit sins.) John 5:14. Behold thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing befall you, or come unto thee. (Now this man was made whole, the w r ork complete.) Paul says that you must not continue in sin. Rom. 6:1, 2. 8, What shall we say to them? "Shall w T e continue in sin, that grace may abound?" God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death. 6th Verse. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, (what for?) that the body of sin might be destroyed, (Why?) that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. (Now r that old man is Adam or the adamic sin that we inherited from Adam, and the new man Christ Jesus is put on w r ho was without sin. Glory be to God for the witness of His spirit to this truth. 8th Verse.

Now if we be dead with Christ, (How? to sin) we believe that we shall also live with him. (Praise Plis holy name.) 11th Verse. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but made alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12th Verse. Let not sin therefore reigh in your mortal bodies, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Now He tells you in Rom. 6:16: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, His servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness. 22d Verse. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23d Verse. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Hallelujah.) Rom. 8:1. There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. ( Why Paul ?) 2nd Verse. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Repent therefore ye sinners, the time is short. Rom. 11:9. For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. (Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.) 1 Cor. 15:34. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God; I speak this to your shame. 1 Cor. 16:58 Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (Praise the Lord.)

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong in the power of His might. (But a few days gone since that a professed christian insulted my zealousness for the pure name of my Master, by saying that even Christ sinned, he presumed that I must be as ignorant of the Scriptures as himself. Poor blind sinner. But we are told not to cast our pearls before swine. Therefore we will turn to those that will hear. Rom. 13:14. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Rom. 14:17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Praise the Lord hallelujah.) What is that meat and drink, spoken of here? Rom. 15:18. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through (What?) the power of the Holy Ghost. Let us now accept brother Paul, and his teachings for just what God elected him for, a preacher of righteousness to the gentiles. For He saith in Acts 26:18: That he was sent to open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and the power of satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them, (among whom?) them that are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Them that are sanctified, not them that will or maybe, but them that are already sanctified. So you see there were some that were already sanctified nearly 1900 years ago, and under the same gospel that is preached to us, for he, Paul was chosen to preach the gospel to us, the gentiles, chosen by the Lord. And in John 17:14 to 21 verses, Jesus prays to the Father after this wise, sanctify them through thy truth: (Who, the Deciples, or the Apostles.) Now he says, as thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I sent them into the world. (How?) And for their sakes I sanctify myself, (Why?) that they also might be (What?) sanctified through the truth. ( Well, but says the doubter, this meant the Apostles. 20th Verse. Neither pray I for these alone, (Who else Jesus?) but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (What for?) That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; (Why? that they also may be one in us: (Who is us?) the Father and Son. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; (What the glory that Christ had?

What is the glory?) that they be made perfect in one. (How?) As thou Father art in me, (plainly, sanctified and made free from sin; for we are to walk in the footsteps of the Saviour, and His footsteps left no stain of sin, and His ways was ways of holiness. Now in the 15th verse He says that He prays not that He should take them out of the world, but that He should keep them from evil. (What evil?) Why, sin of course, for sin is the evil of the world. And as Christ was free from sin so must we be, by His grace, or we will never see God in peace. (But, says the doubter, I can't see it that way; no sir, nor you never will until you get that self-conceit out of you; this is God's word; it is truth; and if you don't take Him at His word, you make (_iod a liar, and you will hive to take or suffer the penalty of unbelief. (But you say the Bible teaches that all men have not faith.) It is only because you are too selfish; you want to know more than God; you are proud of your little wisdom; self-willed and stubborn, you won't humble yourself, and take God at His word; you say God is merciful, loving and kind; that He will let you go on in your ungodly stubborn, proud, selfish ways; that you don't have to do all God's word tells you to do; that only a part of it was meant for you to do; you say in your sin stained heart, that God is not as particular to what you believe or say, as He expresses in His word; you seem to think that by some of your shrewdness you will escape hell.

But let me tell you, God's law must be obeyed; His will must be performed in you, and by you, or you will be damned, as sure as you now live. It always has been the rebellious that suffered the vengeance of a sin avenging God, and He always will avenge the wicked, for vengeance belongeth to me saith the Lord. It is the unbelieving that will be lost. For if you believe in your heart, you will do what He bids you do. Repent and believe; then it follows tha>t you love God from the pure motive which is in your faith towards God; you accept His word as truth and good works will follow. You are afraid of persecution; " Christ suffered for us."

1 Peter 2:21, 22. For hereunto were ye culled: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow after His steps: Who did no sin; neither was guile found in his mouth.

1 Pet. 2:21, 22. For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered. (Yes, all will suffer persecution that stand up for his truth; those that seek for popularity are afraid to speak the truth.) 24th Verse. Jesus himself bare our sins in His own body on the tree, (What for?) that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: (Now,thereisnosin in righteousness) consequent!}' if we live unto righteousness, we must live without sins, because Christ was righteous, was without sin in the Avorld, he bare our sins on the tree, made the sacrifice once for all, and when he pardons us he pardons indeed. Read Isa. 53:9, 10; Luke 23:41; John 8:46, 47.

2 Cor. 5:21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, (What for?) that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (Now if we be made the righteousness of Gocl in Christ, by believing on him, and certainly in the righteousness of God is no sin.) Then have we no sin, if we be made the righteousness of God through Christ. (Again I say we are to follow the footsteps of Christ, and in him was no sin.)

Heb. 4:15. And this man Christ was given for our example, (Why?) that we should follow after his footsteps. (How? Why to live without sin in this ungodly world.)

1 Pet. 2:21, 22. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. (Live without sin.) 22 Verse. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. How many poor deluded souls quote for their defense.

1 John 1:8. If we say that we have no sin. we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (How quick one that loves to sin will grasp at a straw to cover their sin: and this is a straw sure enough.) Now, who is he speaking about here? He says in the 4th verse: And these things I write unto you. that your joy may be full. 5th Verse. This then is the message which we heard of him. (Who? why Christ) and declare unto you (What is the message?) that God is light, and in Him is no darkness (sin) at all. 6th Verse. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, (sin) we lie, and do not the truth. 7th Verse. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another. (What then?) and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Bon, (Does what?) cleanseth (Who?) us (From what?) all sin, s-i-n. Not from our sins, but from all s-i-n. the old Adamic sin of inheritance, the very sin that Christ died to redeem us from. For when the cause is removed there will be no effect, and when the seed is dead there will be no production of fruit. We have already proved that we die to sin, therefore there can be no fruit of sin unless we let the devil sow more seed in our hearts. When we die to sin Jesus plants the seed of righteousness in our hearts, and it brings forth fruit unto holiness.

Now John explains in the 10th verse just what he meant in the 8th verse. He says: If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us (His truth). That means emphatically, before we accepted the truth, His word. 7th Verse. His blood cleanseth from all sin, and 9th verse; If we confess our sins. (What sins?) I say the sins we had before we had the light, before we accepted the truth, His word. Now again, here is another bugaboo, to so many Christians:

John 2:1, 2. And if a man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins: (that is the sins of commission,) and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (Now this language sounds very much to my mind as though this meant the sins committed before our reconciliation with Christ, because in the 3rd verse He says, and hereby we do know, that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. (Now if we keep His commandments, we will not commit sin.) 4th Verse. He says he that saith I know him, and keepeth- not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (Now if we keep His commandments, w r e will not sin, because He commands us to be perfect as He is perfect, and Holy as He is holy; and that is without sin.) 6th Verse. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, (How?) even as He walked without sin. But admitting that it meant sins committed after being born of God, would you presume on the mercy of God to the extent of sinning against Him every day just because He was merciful? Would you presume to knock me down every day, just because I took no offense the first time you did so? No, and you have too much sense to think God will pardon you every day, for it says that He cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance. My dear brother do not try any longer to cover up your sin because you think you can excuse yourself before men, by saying you believe the word of God justifies you in sin. You are wrong my brother. You say God knows your heart. Yes, I say so too; and remember sin is of the devil, and when you sin the devil becomes your father, and if the devil be your father, then is God no longer your father, and you are yet in your sins. May God help these whining professing Christians to get the devil out of them, root and branch, and be no more stumbling blocks in the way of sinners; for their eyes are upon you, and if they stumble over you into hell, be sure they will catch you at the weakest point and drag you down with them. Even John is speaking here to his little children who was converted through his ministry, yet babes in Christ, and he was trying to teach them to abide in God and become establised, so that they could not sin, for love of Christ. For he saith in the 10th verse, that he that abideth in Him (liod) hath none occasion to stumble, loth verse. He says, love not the world, (What else?) neither the things that are in the world. 16th verse, if any man love the world, the Father is not in him. (Why John?) Because 16:17 verse, all that is in the world passeth away, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, and the lust of the eye, it is not of the Father, but of the

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world, and the world and the lust thereof passeth away, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. (What is the will of God?) Even your sancti fixation. (What is sanctification?) To be made free from sin, and as Paul says, let not sin re'gn in your mortal bodies; here Paul says bodies, now you say you don't sin in the soul, but in the flesh. -Paul says you must not let sin reign in your mortal bodies. What else is your mortal body but the flesh. And now John says, (1 John 20) But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (Now unction, means annointing, Divine or sanctifying grace.) John here is speaking to the sanctified ones, because he says they have an unction from the Holy One, knowing that if these brethren were sanctified, that they were annointed by the Holy One, which means the Holy Ghost here. And he knew that they knew, what they were to do, for the Holy Spirit would guide them. For he says, 21st verse: I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Now, John knew that they knew the truth, but cautioned them for fearsome might stumble and deny the Christ, by some careless step, knowing that there were many ways to deny Christ, in words, deeds, and acts, and thereby become an antichrist, for he says in the 22d verse, who says that Jesus is not the Christ, is a liar, and he is antichrist. Now you deny him by saying that he is not able to cleanse you from all sin, or if you admit that he can cleanse you from all sin, and deny that he can and will keep you from sin if you trust in him, you deny his word, and become an antichrist.

If you say he will pardon you every day, you deny his- word, and when you do not His commandments every day, for His commandment is to do no sin. Then again you deny his word, and become antichrist. And if you say we cannot become sanctified in this world, you deny Him. Read 1 John 17. And if you say we can't live holy lives on earth you deny him, and are antichrist, for he says be ye holy even as I am holy. (That means without sin in the world.) Now my beloved, we must watch and pray every hour, so that we will not become antichrists in word, deed, thought or action, for I tell you there is great danger, for if you deny Him in your acts and words, you deny Him in all. Gods word is truth, and his word is God, as it says in John 1:1. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word w r as God. 4th Verse. In Him was life; and the life w r as the life of men. 14th Verse. And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Now this same word, that w r as made flesh and dwelt among men, prayed to the Father in John 17:19. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, (What for?) that they also might be sanctified through the truth, (What truth?) I answer Gods word, for his word is truth, and it is God. Yes; you say that means the Apostles,— let us see. 20th Verse. Neither pray I for these alone, (Who else Lord?) but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word.

But you tell me that means the Apostolic age and only those that hear the Apostles preach it. Poor, poor blind and wilfully ignorant, self-willed brother, does not Jesus say for them also that shall believe on Him through their word? And is their word not written so that we may believe it? It says through their word, and not by the words of their mouth. Now why were they to be sanctified? 80 they would believe the truth, so that they might be one in Christ Jesus, even as the Father and Jesus were one. Now if we are made one, then we must be without sin in the world, because the Father and Son were one without sin. Then if we be made one in Christ Jesus, as he and the Father are one, and they be one without sin, how can we be one in him, with sin in us. Yes you say but that means that we are sanctified and free from sin only when we die, or in some future time or place. Wrong again, for in the loth verse he says, I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldeth keep them (From what?) from the evil. Evil is sin, you can't deny that. And he further says, 21st verse: And the glory which thou gavest me 1 have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one. (Who are they spoken of here?) The Apostles and all that believe on them through that same word. Further in the very last part of the prayer he winds up by praying the Father, 26th verse, that the love wherewith the Father loved him might be in them, and Jesus himself in them. Now if Jesus is in us, you may call it the word if you like, and the love of the Father also be in us, the very love that the Father bore the Son, then indeed are we pure, or we could not be one.

For he saith I in you, and you in me. Now you cannot mix oil and water, no more can you harmonize the pure and spotless Lamb of God, and sin as one body, for the body of Christ was, and is without sin, and his blood cleanseth from all sin, sin is purged out, and Christ comes in and rules in, and reigns over you the God of every motion, and if he be every motion, then is there no more sin in you, if so be that you have Him in your heart, and if you have Him not in your heart, and only in the head, then you are none of his, for if Christ be in your heart He is King, King supreme and He cannot look upon you with the least degree of allowance. Then if Christ and the Holy Ghost be not in you, the devil and sin, and darkness is in your soul, for there is but two sides to this all important subject. Either you are for or against, you cannot serve God one minute and the devil the next. Now John says, 1 John 2:3: And hereby w 7 e do know (Know what?) that we know him, (Yes, w r e do know him, there is no doubt about it, but how do we know him?) if we keep his commandments. (But how will we know what the commandments are? by the study of his word.) For he that saith, I know him and — - (And what John?) keepelh not his commandments, (Is what?) a liar and the truth is not in him. That is pretty strong John. "Yes, nevertheless true,there was a time when men could be ignorant and plead it as an excuse, but that time passed over 1800 years ago." Acts 17:30. At the times of this ignorance ijrod winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.