be holy here.

"But, still ascending, we come to the wrestling stage.

"Here the travellers are met by numerous enemies, who are in dead
opposition to their ever reaching the summit.

"I observe that the enemies attack those travellers with doubts as
to the possibility of ever reaching the mountain's top, and with
scores of questions about apparently conflicting passages of
Scripture, and contradictory experiences of Christian people; and,
alas! with only too frequent success, for the whole plateau seems
to be strewn with the records of broken resolutions relating to the
renouncements of evil habits, tempting companions, and deluding
indulgences.

"And I observe that lying about are many unfulfilled consecrations
relating to friends, and money, and children, and time, and other
things; in fact, this stage seems to be a strange mixture of faith
and unbelief; so much so that it is difficult to believe that we
are on the slopes of Mount Purity at all.

"Here you will find posted on the sides of the rocks in all
directions placards bearing the words: 'The things I would do those
I do not, and the things I would not do those I do, and there is no
spiritual health in me.' And up and down you will also see
notice-boards warning would-be travellers not to climb any higher
for fear they should fall again.

"But, thank God, while many chicken-hearted souls lie down in
despair on this plateau, or retrace their steps to the dreary
regions below, others declare that there is no necessity for
failure. These push forward in the upward ascent, singing as they
go:--

"Though earth and hell the world gainsay,
The word of God can never fail;
The Lamb shall take my sins away,
'Tis certain, though impossible;
The thing impossible shall be,
All things are possible to me.

"So, persevering with our journey, higher up, very much higher up,
we come to the sin-mastering stage.

"This is a glorious plateau. All who enter it do so by the narrow
passage of repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ; receiving in their souls, as they pass the threshold, the
delightful assurance of full and free forgiveness through the Blood
of the Lamb.

"Here men and women walk with heads erect in holy confidence