A person hallowed to God is holy. How can he become more hallowed, or his hallowing "higher"? Certainly Jude 20 speaks of the most holy faith, thus giving the faith superlative standing; but this is unique. Others speak of "deepening spiritual life"; but, again, it is questionable whether this form of words has any relation to experience. Certainly it has none to Scripture. By making the life more spiritual? But, surely, what is spiritual is, simply, spiritual; "more" adds nothing. It were far better and more practical if Murray had urged keener interest in the things of God, deeper study of His Word, greater desire to cut out of our lives the traditions of men, more earnest love for Him, higher dedication to truth, a sincere spirit of enquiry instead of easy acceptance of whatever seems convenient. These are the rock-bottom requirements for growth to maturity—the actual facts of spiritual life. These are objective, whereas preoccupation with one's own holiness, one's own life, are subjective and essentially introspective. To think more of God and less of self—that is the way, the only way, to spiritual progress; to look outwards to Him and His, not inwards to "me" and "my." Feelings are of the soul; and everything that tends to lead us to dwell on them is soulish, not spiritual. Talking of "deepening the spiritual life" or "higher holiness" is putting the cart before the horse, "getting our priorities wrong." Deeper understanding of God's Word will do for us all the other deepening.
R.B. Withers
