In _Luke 7:1‐10_, the centurion does not think himself worthy to go to Jesus, or to have him come under his roof, yet the elders of the Jews say: “_He is worthy that thou shouldest do this_”; and Jesus himself says of him: “_I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel_.” “_Holy to Jehovah_” was inscribed upon the mitre of the high priest (_Ex. 28:36_). Others saw it, but he saw it not. Moses knew not that his face shone (_Ex. 34:29_). The truest holiness is that of which the possessor is least conscious; yet it is his real diadem and beauty (A. J. Gordon). “The nearer men are to being sinless, the less they talk about it” (Dwight L. Moody). “Always strive for perfection: never believe you have reached it” (Arnold of Rugby). Compare with this, Ernest Renan’s declaration that he had nothing to alter in his life. “I have not sinned for some time,” said a woman to Mr. Spurgeon. “Then you must be very proud of it,” he replied. “Indeed I am!” said she. A pastor says: “No one can attain the ‘Higher Life,’ and escape making mischief.” John Wesley lamented that not one in thirty retained the blessing. Perfectionism is best met by proper statements of the nature of the law and of sin (Ps. 119:96). While we thus rebuke spiritual pride, however, we should be equally careful to point out the inseparable connection between justification and sanctification, and their equal importance as together making up the Biblical idea of salvation. While we show no favor to those who would make sanctification a sudden and paroxysmal act of the human will, we should hold forth the holiness of God as the standard of attainment, and the faith in a Christ of infinite fulness as the medium through which that standard is to be gradually but certainly realized in us (2 Cor. 3:18). We should imitate Lyman Beecher’s method of opposing perfectionism—by searching expositions of God’s law. When men know what the law is, they will say with the Psalmist: “_I have seen an end of all perfection; thy commandment is exceeding broad_” (_Ps. 119:96_). And yet we are earnestly and hopefully to seek in Christ for a continually increasing measure of sanctification: _1 Cor. 1:30_—“_Christ Jesus, who was made unto us ... sanctification_”; _2 Cor. 3:18_—“_But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit_.” Arnold of Rugby: “Always expect to succeed, and never think you have succeeded.”