Many are in the dark in regard to their Justification; but there is no necessity for that, for where this work is wrought in the heart there are evidences that are unmistakable. For, says the Apostle, “Ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” Here are two unimpeachable witnesses to the fact of a man’s conversion to God. First, the Spirit of God witnesses to the fact; that is, God the Holy Ghost divinely impresses the soul that the work is wrought--an inward conviction that our sins are forgiven; that so far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Again, our spirit or our mind is turned inward, and being illuminated by the Holy Ghost can discern or perceive the great change wrought within; and the witnesses uniting declare the great transaction done, and the soul cries out instinctively, “I am my Lord’s, and he is mine.” Glory to God! Amen. Again the fact that the kingdom is fixed within, bringing forth its legitimate fruit--righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost--is positive assurance that reconciliation to God has been consummated. “That being translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God’s dear Son,” the soul is exquisitely happy, and in joyous exclamation sings, “Tongue cannot express the sweet comfort and peace of a soul in its earliest love;” and so long as the soul retains pardon, it can sing, “Jesus all the day long is my joy and my song, O, that all his salvation might see.”
Again reconciliation to God implies that we have renounced the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that we will not follow or be led by them. Here, is coming out from the world. The eye has become single to the glory of God, and the whole body is full of light. A justified soul has the light in regard to all the demands the Almighty has upon them and a determination to walk in it; hence, everything that is designed to please the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, will be laid aside. We shall eat, drink, labor and dress for the glory of God, and, if in any of these practices, whether it be eating or drinking, chewing, snuffing, or smoking tobacco, there remains a doubt in regard to the right or wrong of the matter, we are under condemnation if we practice the same, and this extends to all the relations of life. “He that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith, for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”