Daniel 11:35

Purged by trial.

I. THE CHURCH NEEDS PURIFICATION . The people "of understanding" are to be purged and made white. These are clearly the people who are "wise unto salvation"—the true Church.

1 . The ends of the gospel are not attained until the Church is completely purified. The first aim is to gather men into the Church by penitence and faith. The second is to perfect them when they are in the Church. The forgiving grace of God does not dispense with the necessity of holiness. It passes over the sin of the past, that it may secure a better life for the future. The ends of Christ's work are not satisfied in releasing us from the penalties of our sins, and securing present peace and future blessedness. They seek the complete renewal and purification of our lives.

2 . These ends are only attained by a lifelong process of purification. The act of conversion does not satisfy them. Though the life may be turned from sin to God, evil still lingers, old sins rise up again, and new temptations often prove too strong. Hence the need of the Christian's daily prayer for forgiveness, and the need of a continual discipline in holiness.

II. THE CHURCH IS PURIFIED BY HER TRIALS . Some of them fall to try, and thus to purge. Trial purges:

III. WHEN THE PURIFICATION OF THE CHURCH IS ACCOMPLISHED , HER TRIALS WILL CEASE .

1 . This will be complete. The battle with sin will not last for ever. The dross will be all purged away, and the people of God will be free from all taint of sin and all indwelling love and power of it. This is the final issue of the discipline of this life which will be accomplished in the next.

2 . Then trial will cease. The present life of probation, education, and discipline is only temporary ( 2 Corinthians 4:17 ). It will be followed by a life of perfect peace ( Revelation 21:4 ).