The necessity of
experiential communion with Jesus Christ through the Spirit by faith is also by
no means a Keswick distinctive. A host
of old evangelical theologians, such as the profoundly influential Puritan John
Owen (1616-1683) clearly proclaimed this glorious truth. Indeed, history demonstrates that, so far
from the necessity of communion with Christ being a Keswick distinctive,
Christians with a non-Higher Life theology of sanctification have preached and
written on the topic with a spiritual vigour that surpasses the productions of
the Keswick movement. Regretably, despite
the profound impact John Owen’s works have made on the Christian world’s
understanding of the doctrine of sanctification, and the importance many non-Keswick
evangelicals and historic Baptists place on his writings as a model of
non-Keswick Biblical piety, Stephen Barabas’s extensive bibliography in So Great Salvation does not include even
one work by John Owen. Not a single work
by Jonathan Edwards, John Bunyan, John Flavel, Horatius Bonar, Charles
Spurgeon, or many other classic writers on sanctification are listed either.[1] Since Owen’s writings have led many away from
Keswick theology to a more Biblical piety,[2]
they provide a good example of what the tradition of orthodox evangelical piety
that rejected Keswick after its invention had been teaching for centuries
before the rise of the Higher Life. Owen
wrote:
[Christians
ought to] make this observation of the lively actings of faith and love in and
towards Jesus Christ their chiefest concern in all their retirements, yea, in
their whole walk before God. . . . [T]he effects of his presence with us, and
the manifestation of himself unto us[,] [are as follows:]
(1.) Now the
first of these is the life, vigor, and effectual acting of all grace in us.
This is an inseparable consequent and effect of a view of his glory. Whilst we
enjoy it, we live; nevertheless not we, but Christ lives in us, exciting and
acting all his graces in us. This is that which the apostle instructs us in;
while “we behold his glory as in a glass, we are transformed into the same
image, from glory to glory,” 2 Corinthians 3:18—that is, whilst by faith we
contemplate on the glory of Christ as revealed in the gospel, all grace will
thrive and flourish in us towards a perfect conformity unto him. For whilst we
abide in this view and contemplation, our souls will be preserved in holy
frames, and in a continual exercise of love and delight, with all other
spiritual affections towards him. It is impossible, whilst Christ is in the eye
of our faith as proposed in the Gospel, but that we shall labor to be like him,
and greatly love him. Neither is there any way for us to attain unto either of
these, which are the great concernments of our souls—namely, to be like unto
Christ, and to love him—but by a constant view of him and his glory by faith;
which powerfully and effectually works them in us. All the doctrinal knowledge
which we have of him is useless, all the view we have of his glory is but
fancy, imagination, or superstition, which are not accompanied with this transforming
power. And that which is wrought by it, is the increase and vigor of all grace;
for therein alone our conformity unto him does consist. Growth in grace,
holiness, and obedience, is a growing like unto Christ; and nothing else is so.
. . .
This
transforming efficacy, from a spiritual view of Christ as proposed in the
Gospel . . . [is] the life of religion . . . there must be a view of Christ and
his glory, to cause us to love him, and thereby to make us conformable or like
unto him . . . [which] is by our beholding his glory by faith, as revealed in
the Gospel, and no otherwise. . . . [S]o, unto our stability in the profession
of the truth, an experience of the efficacy of this spiritual view of Christ
transforming our souls into his own likeness, is absolutely necessary. . . .
[T]he beholding of Christ is the most blessed means of exciting all our graces,
spiritualizing all our affections, and transforming our minds into his
likeness. . . . [I]t is a real experience of the efficacy that there is in the
spiritual beholding of the glory of Christ by faith, as proposed in the Gospel,
to strengthen, increase, and excite all grace unto its proper exercise, so
changing and transforming the soul gradually into his likeness, which must
secure us against all [sinful] pretences[.] . . .
[I]f we grow
weak in our graces, unspiritual in our frames, cold in our affections, or
negligent in the exercise of them by holy meditation, it is evident that
[Christ] is at a great distance from us, so as that we do not behold his glory
as we ought. If the weather grow cold, herbs and plants do wither, and the
frost begins to bind up the earth, all men grant that the sun is withdrawn, and
makes not his wonted approach unto us. And if it be so with our hearts, that
they grow cold, frozen, withering, lifeless, in and unto spiritual duties, it
is certain that the Lord Christ is in some sense withdrawn, and that we do not
behold his glory. We retain notions of truth concerning his person, office, and
grace; but faith is not in constant exercise as to real views of him and his
glory. For there is nothing more certain in Christian experience than this is,
that while we do really by faith behold the glory of Christ, as proposed in the
Gospel, the glory of his person and office, as before described, and so abide
in holy thoughts and meditations thereof, especially in our private duties and
retirements, all grace will live and thrive in us in some measure, especially
love unto his person, and therein unto all that belongs unto him. Let us but
put it to the trial, and we shall infallibly find the promised event. Do any of
us find decays in grace prevailing in us—deadness, coldness, lukewarmness, a
kind of spiritual stupidity and senselessness coming upon us? Do we find an
unreadiness unto the exercise of grace in its proper season, and the vigorous
acting of it in duties of communion with God, and would we have our souls
recovered from these dangerous diseases? Let us assure ourselves there is no
better way for our healing and deliverance, yea, no other way but this
alone—namely, the obtaining a fresh view of the glory of Christ by faith, and a
steady abiding therein. Constant contemplation of Christ and his glory, putting
forth its transforming power unto the revival of all grace, is the only relief
in this case[.]
Some will say,
that this must be effected by fresh supplies and renewed communications of the
Holy Spirit. Unless he fall as dew and showers on our dry and barren
hearts—unless he cause our graces to spring, thrive, and bring forth
fruit—unless he revive and increase faith, love, and holiness in our souls—our
backsliding will not be healed, nor our spiritual state be recovered. . . . And
so it is. The immediate efficiency of the revival of our souls is from and by
the Holy Spirit. But the inquiry is, in what way, or by what means, we may
obtain the supplies and communications of him unto this end. This the apostle
declares in [2 Corinthians 3:18]: We, beholding the glory of Christ in a glass,
“are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even by the Spirit of
the Lord.” It is in the exercise of faith on Christ . . . that the Holy Spirit
puts forth his renewing, transforming power in and upon our souls. This,
therefore, is that alone which will retrieve Christians from their present
decays and deadness. . . . [The] remedy and relief [of a] . . . dead [and] dull
. . . condition . . . is, to live in the exercise of faith in Christ Jesus.
This himself assures us of, John 15:4, 5, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the
branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can
ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth
in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can
do nothing.”
There is a
twofold coming unto Christ by believing. The first is that we may have
life—that is, a spring and principle of spiritual life communicated unto us
from him: for he is “our life,” Colossians 3:4, and “because he liveth, we live
also,” John 14:19. Yea, it is not so much we that live, as he liveth in us,
Galatians 2:19, 20. And unbelief is a not coming unto him, that we may have
life, John 5:40. But, secondly, there is also a coming unto him by believers in
the actual exercise of faith, that they may “have this life more abundantly,”
John 10:10; that is, such supplies of grace as may keep their souls in a
healthy, vigorous acting of all the powers of spiritual life. And as he
reproacheth some that they would not come unto him that they might have life,
so he may justly reprove us all, that we do not so come unto him in the actual
exercise of faith, as that we might have this life more abundantly.
(2.) When the
Lord Christ is near us, and we do behold his glory, he will frequently
communicate spiritual refreshment in peace, consolation, and joy unto our
souls. We shall not only hereby have our graces excited with respect unto him
as their object, but be made sensible of his acting toward us in the
communications of himself and his love unto us. When the Sun of Righteousness
ariseth on any soul, or makes any near approach thereunto, it shall find
“healing under his wings”—his beams of grace shall convey by his Spirit holy
spiritual refreshment thereunto. For he is present with us by his Spirit, and
these are his fruits and effects, as he is the Comforter, suited unto his
office, as he is promised unto us.
Many love to
walk in a very careless, unwise profession. So long as they can hold out in the
performance of outward duties, they are very regardless of the greatest evangelical
privileges—of those things which are the marrow of divine promises—all real
endeavors of a vital communion with Christ. Such are spiritual peace,
refreshing consolations, ineffable joys, and the blessed composure of
assurance. Without some taste and experience of these things, profession is
heartless, lifeless, useless; and religion itself a dead carcass without an
animating soul. The peace which some enjoy is a mere stupidity. They judge not
these things to be real which are the substance of Christ’s present reward; and
a renunciation whereof would deprive the church of its principal supportments
and encouragements in all its sufferings. It is a great evidence of the power
of unbelief, when we can satisfy ourselves without an experience in our own hearts
of the great things, in this kind of joy, peace, consolation, assurance, that
are promised in the Gospels. For how can it be supposed that we do indeed
believe the promises of things future—namely, of heaven, immortality, and
glory, the faith whereof is the foundation of all religions—when we do not
believe the promises of the present reward in these spiritual privileges? And
how shall we be thought to believe them, when we do not endeavor after an
experience of the things themselves in our own souls, but are even contented
without them? But herein men deceive themselves. They would very desirously
have evangelical joy, peace, and assurance, to countenance them in their evil
frames and careless walking. And some have attempted to reconcile these things,
unto the ruin of their souls. But it will not be. Without the diligent exercise
of the grace of obedience, we shall never enjoy the grace of consolation. . . .
It is peculiarly
in the view of the glory of Christ, in his approaches unto us, and abiding with
us, that we are made partakers of evangelical peace, consolation, joy, and
assurances. These are a part of the royal train of his graces, of the reward
wherewith he is accompanied. “His reward is with him.” Wherever he is
graciously present with any, these things are never wanting in a due measure
and degree, unless it be by their own fault, or for their trial. In these
things does he give the church of his loves, Song of Solomon 7:12. “For if any
man,” saith he, “love me, I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him,”
John 14:21—“yea, I and the Father will come unto him, and make our abode with
him,” verse 23; and that so as to “sup with him,” Revelation 3:20—which, on his
part, can be only by the communication of those spiritual refreshments. The
only inquiry is, by what way and means we do receive them? Now, I say this is
in and by our beholding of the glory of Christ by faith, 1 Peter 1:8, 9. Let
that glory be rightly stated . . . the glory of his person, his office, his
condescension, exaltation, love, and grace; let faith be fixed in a view and
contemplation of it, mix itself with it, as represented in the glass of the
gospel, meditate upon it, embrace it, and virtue will proceed from Christ,
communicating spiritual, supernatural refreshment and joy unto our souls. Yea,
in ordinary cases, it is impossible that believers should have a real prospect
of this glory at any time, but that it will in some measure affect their hearts
with a sense of his love; which is the spring of all consolation in them. In
the exercise of faith on the discoveries of the glory of Christ made unto us in
the Gospel, no man shall ever totally want such intimations of his love, yea,
such effusion of it in his heart, as shall be a living spring of those
spiritual refreshments, John 4:14; Romans 5:5.[3]
Such declarations were by no
means an exception, centuries before the invention of the Keswick theology, in
the Biblically-based piety of Owen and vast numbers of like-minded Christians. He wrote elsewhere:
The . . . daily
exercise of faith on Christ as crucified . . . is the great fundamental means
of the mortification of sin in general, and which we ought to apply unto every
particular instance of it. This the apostle discourseth at large, Romans
6:6-13. “Our old man,” saith he, “is crucified with Christ, that the body of
sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Our “old
man,” or the body of sin, is the power and reign of sin in us. These are to be
destroyed; that is, so mortified that “henceforth we should not serve sin,”
that we should be delivered from the power and rule of it. This, saith the
apostle, is done in Christ: “Crucified with him.” It is so meritoriously, in
his actual dying or being crucified for us; it is so virtually, because of the
certain provision that is made therein for the mortification of all sin; but it
is so actually, by the exercise of faith on him as crucified, dead, and buried,
which is the means of the actual communication of the virtue of his death unto
us for that end. Herein are we said to be dead and buried with him; whereof
baptism is the pledge. So by the cross of Christ the world is crucified unto
us, and we are so to the world, Galatians 6:14; which is the substance of the
mortification of all sin. There are several ways whereby the exercise of faith
on Christ crucified is effectual unto this end: —
(1.) Looking
unto him as such will beget holy mourning in us: Zechariah 12:10, “They shall
look on me whom they have pierced, and mourn.” . . . A view of Christ as
pierced will cause mourning in them that have received the promise of the
Spirit of grace and supplication there mentioned. And this mourning is the
foundation of mortification. It is that “godly sorrow which worketh repentance
to salvation not to be repented of,” 2 Corinthians 7:10. And mortification of
sin is of the essence of repentance. The more believers are exercised in this
view of Christ, the more humble they are, the more they are kept in that
mourning frame which is universally opposite unto all the interests of sin, and
which keeps the soul watchful against all its attempts. Sin never reigned in an
humble, mourning soul.
(2.) It is
effectual unto the same end by the way of a powerful motive, as that which
calls and leads unto conformity to him. This is pressed by the apostle, Romans
6:8-11. Our conformity unto Christ as crucified and dead consists in our being
dead unto sin, and thereby overthrowing the reign of it in our mortal bodies.
This conformity, saith he, we ought to reckon on as our duty: “Reckon ye
yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin;” that is, that you ought so to be, in
that conformity which you ought to aim at unto Christ crucified. Can any
spiritual eye behold Christ dying for sin, and continue to live in sin? Shall
we keep that alive in us which he died for, that it might not eternally destroy
us? Can we behold him bleeding for our sins, and not endeavor to give them
their death-wound? The efficacy of the exercise of faith herein unto the
mortification of sin is known unto all believers by experience.
(3.) Faith
herein gives us communion with him in his death, and unites the soul unto it in
its efficacy. Hence we are said to be “buried with him into death,” and to be
“planted together in the likeness of his death,” Romans 6:4, 5. Our “old man is
crucified with him,” verse 6. We have by faith communion with him in his death,
unto the death of sin. This, therefore, is the first grace and duty which we
ought to attend unto for the mortification of sin.[4]
The precious Biblical truths set
forth by Owen are by no means the peculiar prerogative of Keswick theology, since
he wrote of them centuries before the Higher Life entered into the world. Owen’s declarations that the “efficacy of the
exercise of faith . . . unto the mortification of sin is known unto all
believers by experience” illustrate the indubitable historical fact that the
necessity of faith for sanctification is by no means a Keswick distinctive.
See here for this entire study.
[1] Barabas’s
lengthy bibliography includes nothing at all by Thomas Adams, Archibald
Alexander, Richard Baxter, Joseph Bellamy, Andrew or Horatius Bonar, Thomas
Boston, Charles Bridges, John Broadus, Thomas Brooks, Anthony Burgess, Jeremiah
Burroughs, John Calvin, B. H. Carroll, Thomas Chalmers, Stephen Charnock, R. L.
Dabney, John Dod, Thomas Doolittle, Ebenezer or Ralph Erskine, Jonathan
Edwards, John Flavel, Samuel H. Ford, William Gadsby, Thomas Goodwin, William
Gouge, William Gouge, J. R. Graves, James Haldane, Robert Hawker, Thomas
Hooker, Charles Hodge, Balthasar Hubmaier, John Angell James, Buell H. Kazee,
Benjamin Keach, F. W. Krummacher, D. M. Lloyd-Jones, Thomas Manton, Robert
Murray McCheyne, Matthew Meade, D. L. Moody, George Mueller, Asahel Nettleton,
John Newton, J. I. Packer, J. M. Pendleton, J. C. Philpot, Arthur Pink, William
Reid, John R. Rice, A. T. Robertson, Samuel Rutherford, Richard Sibbes, Charles
Spurgeon, Solomon Stoddard, Gilbert Tennent, R. A. Torrey, Robert Traill,
Thomas Vincent, Thomas Watson, Francis Wayland, George Whitfield, Thomas
Wilcox, Octavius Winslow, or many others with valuable compositions on
sanctification or Christian devotion and piety.
As
for historic Baptist works in particular, in addition to the absence of the
Baptists in the list above, and with the sole exception of the theological
liberal F. B. Meyer, concerning whom one can note the chapter in this
composition dedicated to him, the only work in Barabas’s bibliography by a
Baptist published before 1900 is by Alvah Hovey, who wrote against the Higher
Life in his “Higher Christian Life Examined,” Studies in Ethics and Religion, Boston, 1892. While it was appropriate for Barabas to focus
most of his reading on specifically Keswick works in light of his subject
matter, before making statements such as:
“One has
to go back to the book of Acts for a parallel to the exaltation of the Holy
Spirit found in the meetings at Keswick” (pg. 38, So Great Salvation), or “the most widely-held view of
sanctification” among Christians “is that it is to be gained through our own
personal efforts . . . sanctification by works . . . mere moral processes to
overcome sin” (pgs. 74-75, Ibid), he
would have done well to have performed much more extensive reading in the
history of evangelical Christian spirituality.
[2] E. g., “J.I. Packer’s . . . earliest personal Christian
experience [was] marked by frustration with Keswick piety then liberation
through the influence of John Owen” (pg. 181, The Theology of the Christian Life in J. I. Packer’s Thought, D. J.
Payne). Note that while elements of
Packer’s doctrine of Christian sanctification are superior to those of Keswick,
his theology as a whole contains serious errors.
[3] Pgs. 146-154, Meditations
and Discourses Concerning the Glory of Christ, in His Person, Office, and Grace,
John Owen.
[4] Pgs. 36-37, A
Treatise of the Dominion of Sin and Grace, John Owen. Note that in Owen’s day “virtue” meant
“power,” as it does, at times, in the Authorized Version (Mark 5:30).
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