ERTAINLY SUCCESSFUL MEANS

of sanctification. "We all, with unveiled face, reflecting in a mirror
the glory of Christ (the character of Christ) assuredly--without any
miscarriage--without any possibility of miscarriage--are changed into
the same image." It is an immense thing to be anchored in some great
principle like that. Emerson says: "The hero is the man who is
immovably centered." Get immovably centered in that doctrine of
sanctification. Do not be carried away by the hundred and one theories
of sanctification that are floating about in religious literature of
the country at the present time; but go to the bottom of the thing for
yourself, and see the _rationale_ of it for yourself, and you will
come to see that it is a matter of cause and effect, and that if you
will fulfill the condition laid down by Christ, the effect must follow
by a natural law.

What a prospect! To be changed into the same image. Think of that!
That is what we are here for. That is what we are elected for. Not to
be saved, in the common acceptation, but "whom He did foreknow He also
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son." Not merely
to be saved, but _to be conformed to the image of His Son_. Conserve
that principle. And as we must spend time in cultivating our earthly
friendships if we are to have their blessings, so we must

SPEND TIME

in cultivating the fellowship and companionship of Christ. And there
is nothing so much worth taking into our lives as a profounder sense
of what is to be had by living in communion with Christ, and by
getting nearer to Him. It will matter much if we take away with us
some of the thoughts about theology, and some of the new light that
has been shed upon the text of Scripture; it will matter infinitely
more if our fellowship with the Lord Jesus become a little closer, and
our theory of holy living a little more rational. And then as we go
forth, men will take knowledge of us, that we have been with Jesus,
and as we reflect Him upon them, they will begin to be changed into
the same image.

It seems to me the preaching is of infinitely smaller account than the
life which mirrors Christ. That is bound to tell; without speech or
language--like the voices of the stars. It throws out its impressions
on every side. The one simple thing we have to do is to be there--in
the right relation; to go through life hand in hand with Him; to have
Him in the room with us, and keeping us compa