7. 1 Thessalonians 5:16, 18 17. Job 12:2
Take a parallel case for example: For many years I have preached, "There is a peace of God that passes all understanding."'' Convince me that this word is no longer
O that I as a little child true, that in all these years none have attained this peace,
May follow thee and never rest that there is no living witness of it today, and I will preach
And lowly mind into my breast! it no more.
Nor ever may we parted be "O, but several people have died in that peace." Perhaps
Till sweetly thou hast breathed thy mild Till I become one spirit with thee. so, but I want living witnesses. Indeed, I cannot be entirely certain that any person is a witness. But if I were certain there are none, I would have to abandon this doctrine.
Still let thy love point out my way _ (How wondrous things thy love "You misunderstand me. I believe some who died in this hath wrought!) love enjoyed it long before their death. But I was not cerStill lead me, lest I go astray, tain that their former testimony was true until some hours before they died." You did not have complete certainty
Direct my word, inspire my thought; And if I fall, soon may I hear Thy voice, and know that love is near. then. You might have had a reasonable certainty before.
Such a certainty might have enlivened and comforted your own soul and answered all other Christian purposes. Supposing there is any living witness, any honest person may have such a certainty as this simply by talking one hour with that person in the love and fear of God.
In suffering be thy love my peace, In weakness be thy love my power; And when the storms of life shall cease,
Jesu, in that important hour, In death as life be thou my guide, ea ee whe for ine hack died Q. But what does it mean, whether any have attained it or '
> f not, seeing so many Scriptures witness for it?
Collection, #362, stanzas 7-9 A. If I were convinced that none in England had attained what has been so clearly and strongly preached by so many preachers, in so many places, and for so long a time,
I should be clearly convinced that we had all mistaken the meaning of those Scriptures. Therefore, for the time to come, I too must teach that "sin will remain until death."
Endnotes 1. See 1 Corinthians 15:53.
11. John 7:24, NRSV 2. Matthew 6:12
12. John 7:46, NRSV 3. John 15:4-5, NRSV 13. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 4. See 1 Corinthians 13:7.
14. James 4:2-3, NRSV 5. Psalm 40:3
15. Philippians 4:4
6. James 3:2
16. Philippians 3:14
7. 1 Thessalonians 5:16, 18 17. Job 12:2
8. 1 Corinthians 15:22; Romans 5:19
18. Psalm 91:1
9. Luke 21:3, NRSV 19. Philippians 4:7
10. John 7:24