nd Peter sets before us the steps
by which Bible sanctification is to be attained: "Giving all diligence,
add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge
temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to
godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.... If ye
do these things, ye shall never fall."(802)

Those who experience the sanctification of the Bible will manifest a
spirit of humility. Like Moses, they have had a view of the awful majesty
of holiness, and they see their own unworthiness in contrast with the
purity and exalted perfection of the Infinite One.

The prophet Daniel was an example of true sanctification. His long life
was filled up with noble service for his Master. He was a man "greatly
beloved"(803) of Heaven. Yet instead of claiming to be pure and holy, this
honored prophet identified himself with the really sinful of Israel, as he
pleaded before God in behalf of his people: "We do not present our
supplications before Thee for our righteousnesses, but for Thy great
mercies." "We have sinned, we have done wickedly." He declares, "I was
speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people."
And when at a later time the Son of God appeared, to give him instruction,
Daniel says, "My comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I
retained no strength."(804)

When Job heard the voice of the Lord out of the whirlwind, he exclaimed,
"I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."(805) It was when Isaiah
saw the glory of the Lord, and heard the cherubim crying, "Holy, holy,
holy, is the Lord of hosts," that he cried out, "Woe is me! for I am
undone."(806) Paul, after he was caught up into the third heaven, and
heard things which it was not possible for a man to utter, speaks of
himself as "less than the least of all saints."(807) It was the beloved
John, who leaned on Jesus' breast and beheld His glory, that fell as one
dead before the feet of the angel.(808)

There can be no self-exaltation, no boastful claim to freedom from sin, on
the part of those who walk in the shadow of Calvary's cross. They feel
that it was their sin which caused the agony that broke the heart of the
Son of God, and this thought will lead them to self-abasement. Those who
live nearest to Jesus discern most clearly the frailty and sinfulness of
humanity, and their only hope is in the merit of a crucified and risen
Saviour.

The sanctification now gai