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The plain truth is that there is no literal and absolute perfection
among true Christians； so long as they are in the body。 The best and
brightest of God's saints is but a poor mixed being。 Converted；
renewed； and sanctified though he be； he is still passed with
infirmity。 There is not a just man upon earth that always doeth good
and sinneth not。 In many things we offend all。 A man may have true
saving faith； and yet not have it always close at hand； and ready to be
used。 （Eccles。 vii。 20； James iii。 2。）
Abraham was the father of the faithful。 By faith he forsook his country
and his kindred； and went out according to the mand of God； to a
land he had never seen。 By faith he was content to dwell in the land as
a stranger； believing that God would give it to him for an inheritance。
And yet this very Abraham was so far overe by unbelief； that he
allowed Sarah to be called his sister； and not his wife； through the
fear of man。 Here was great infirmity。 Yet there have been few greater
saints than Abraham。
David was a man after God's own heart。 He had faith to go out to battle
with the giant Goliath when he was but a youth。 He publicly declared
his belief that the Lord who delivered him from the paw of the lion and
bear； would deliver him from this Philistine。 He had faith to believe
God's promise that he should one day be King of Israel； though he was
owned by few followersthough Saul pursued him like a partridge on the
mountains and there often seemed but a step between him and death。 And
yet this very David at one time was so far overtaken by fear and
unbelief that he said； 〃I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul。〃 （1
Sam。 xxvii。 1。） He forgot the many wonderful deliverances he had
experienced at God's hand。 He only thought of his present danger； and
took refuge among the ungodly Philistines。 Surely here was great
infirmity。 Yet there have been few stronger believers than David。
I know it is easy for a man to reply； 〃All this is very true； but k
does not excuse the fears of the disciples。 They had Jesus actually
with them。 They ought not to have been afraid。 I should never have been
so cowardly and faithless as they were！〃 I tell the man who argues in
that way； that he knows little of his own heart。 I tell him no one
knows the length and breadth of his own infirmities if he has not been
tempted。 No one can say how much weakness might appear in himself if he
was placed in circumstances to call it forth。
Does any reader of this paper think that he believes in Christ？ Do you
feel such love and confidence in Him that you cannot understand being
greatly moved by any event that could happen？ It is all well。 I am glad
to hear it。 But has this faith been tried？ Has this confidence been put
to the test？ If not； take heed of condemning these disciples hastily。
Be not high…minded； but fear。 Think not because your heart is in a
lively frame now； that such a frame will always last。 Say not； because
your feelings are warm and fervent to…day； 〃to…morrow shall be as
to…day； and much more abundant。〃 Say not； because your heart is lifted
up just now with a strong sense of Christ's mercy； 〃I shall never
forget Him as long as I live。〃 Oh； learn to abate something of this
flattering estimate of yourself。 You do not know yourself thoroughly。
There are more things in your inward man than you are at present aware
of。 The Lord may leave you as He did Hezekiah； to show you all that is
in your heart。 （2 Chron。 xxxii。 31。） Blessed is he that is 〃clothed
with humility。〃〃Happy is he that feareth always。〃 〃Let him that
thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall。〃 （1 Pet。 v。 5； Prov。
xxviii。 14； 1 Cor。 x。 12。）
Why do I dwell on this？ Do I want to apologize for the corruptions of
professing Christians； and excuse their sins？ God forbid！Do I want to
lower the standard of sanctification； and countenance anyone in being a
lazy； idle soldier of Christ？ God forbid！Do I want to wipe out the
broad line of distinction between the converted and the unconverted；
and to wink at inconsistencies？ Once more I say； God forbid！I hold
strongly that there is a mighty difference between the true Christian
and the false； between the believer and the unbeliever； between the
children of God and the children of the world。 I hold strongly that
this difference is not merely one of faith； but of lifenot only one
of profession； but of practice。 I hold strongly that the ways of the
believer should be as distinct from those of the unbeliever； as bitter
from sweet； light from darkness； heat from cold。
But I do want young Christians to understand what they must expect to
find in themselves。 I want to prevent their being stumbled and puzzled
by the discovery of their own weakness and infirmity。 I want them to
see that they may have true faith and grace； in spite of all the
devil's whispers to the contrary； though they feel within doubts and
fears。 I want them to observe that Peter； and James； and John； and
their brethren were true disciples； and yet not so spiritual but that
they could be afraid。 I do not tell them to make the unbelief of the
disciples an excuse for themselves。 But I do tell them that it shows
plainly； that so long as they are in the body they must not expect
faith to be above the reach of fear。
Above all； I want all Christians to understand what they must expect in
other believers。 You must not hastily conclude that a man has no grace
merely because you see in him some corruption…There are spots on the
face of the sun； and yet the sun shines brightly and enlightens the
whole world。 There is quartz and dross mixed up with many a lump of
gold that es from Australia； and yet who thinks the gold on that
account worth nothing at all？ There are flaws in some of the finest
diamonds in the world； and yet they do not prevent their being rated at
a priceless value。 Away with this morbid squeamishness which makes many