Marks of Perfect Love (rewritten)

If the doctrine often called entire sanctification, evangelical holiness, or Christian perfection is true — or if the closely related doctrine known as assurance of faith is true — then an important conclusion follows. It means that even in this present life, it is both our duty and our privilege to experience the fulfillment of that great command: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart.” In simpler terms, it means that it is possible to live in what can rightly be called perfect love. 

This leads us to a serious and deeply meaningful question: When can our love truly be called perfect? That is the question this chapter seeks to answer.

Before doing so, a few necessary foundations must be laid.

Light in Goshen

"And Moses stretched forth his hand towards heaven;  and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt, three days. They saw not one another, neither rose any from his ploce for three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." Exodus x. 22, 23.

In ancient times, when God in anger came,
And troubled Egypt with his mighty hand,
The rayless sun withdrew his midday flame,
And clouds and darkness filled the sightless land,
But there was light in Goshen.  On it lay,
On  pleasant hill and vale, and flower and tree,
The moon's resplendent beam, the sunlight's ray,
The free stars, singing in their liberty.
Thus is it now. God's people walk in light,
With changeless day to cheer them and to guide;
But o'er the godless throng reigns Egypt's night,
The sun and moon and stars their radiance hide,
'Tis God, whose glorious light is never dim,
Illuminates the host, that faithful follow him.

— American Cottage Life (1850) XXIX.