The Heart-Cry of Jesus

In Short

This book serves as a passionate defense of the doctrine of entire sanctification, a "second blessing" of grace occurring after conversion. Rather than a dry academic treatise, it functions as a pastoral encouragement for those seeking a deeper, more refined spiritual life. By arguing that true Christian success is found only in a heart purified of its base, sinful inclinations, the author provides a roadmap for the reader to move beyond simple belief into a life of complete, energetic, and unwavering devotion to the service of Christ.

The Story

The narrative follows the spiritual progression of a soul moving from the initial state of conversion to the more profound, transformative experience of entire sanctification. The author opens by asserting that the modern church suffers from a famine of the soul; it has traded the "bread and meat" of spiritual depth for the "bugs of biology" and the hollow distractions of secular culture. He establishes that Christ’s high-priestly prayer was not for the world, but specifically for his disciples, demanding a sanctification that makes them "intensely good."

The path to this state is fraught with resistance. The author characterizes Satan as a crafty adversary who uses "bear-skins"—frightening falsehoods—to keep seekers from their inheritance. These lies include the idea that sanctification is a life free from temptation or a way to create an exclusive, clannish sect. The author dismisses these notions, clarifying that temptation remains a reality for all humans, but that the sanctified soul is uniquely empowered to navigate it. He compares the process of purification to the clearing of a wild, overgrown garden; the heart is filled with "serpents," "vipers," and "embryos of crime" that must be eradicated. Using the metaphor of a volcano hidden beneath a fertile field, he warns that no stable Christian character can be built over the smoldering embers of inbred sin.

As the argument deepens, the author critiques the modern obsession with religious aestheticism. He laments those who decorate the cross with flowers but refuse to carry it, using the analogy of a passenger steamer, the Puritan, to illustrate how many people linger in the church as "visitors" without ever fully committing to the journey of faith. He insists that discipleship requires "Spartan heroism" and the willingness to let go of personal ambitions.

The climax of the spiritual life, according to this account, is the development of a profound responsiveness to Christ. The sanctified soul becomes like a tuned instrument, vibrating instantly at the sound of the Master’s voice. This intimacy is mirrored in the author's own life, which he recounts in the concluding sections. He shares his upbringing in the Society of Friends, his childhood conversion, and his eventual, reluctant surrender to a life of preaching. He describes the altar experience where he finally accepted the "holiness crank" label and committed to a life of service. The story ends on a note of triumphant expectation, with the author looking past his own labor toward the "homecoming," where the struggles of the ministry are exchanged for the peace of eternity.

How It Unfolds

The necessity of depth The book begins by identifying a spiritual malaise in contemporary congregations that are distracted by intellectual pursuits. The author insists that hungry souls are demanding a deeper experience of grace than what is currently offered from the pulpit.

The nature of the hurdle Satan is presented as an active, deceptive force trying to keep believers from seeking holiness. The author systematically dismantles common misconceptions, such as the idea that sanctification brings a life free from temptation or causes social elitism.

The anatomy of the heart The middle chapters focus on the internal condition of the believer, characterizing the unsanctified heart as a dangerous landscape containing hidden, destructive passions. The author uses vivid imagery to illustrate that these internal "serpents" must be removed for a true, lasting faith to take root.

The test of true discipleship The author moves to the practical implications of faith, arguing that external religiosity—fine music and architecture—is a poor substitute for the inward change of sanctification. He challenges the reader to move beyond the aesthetic enjoyment of religion into the "rugged self-denial" that defines a true follower of Christ.

The call to active service The closing sections shift toward the result of a sanctified life, which is a life of intense prayer and effective, soul-winning ministry. The author concludes by sharing his personal testimony, framing his own career as a direct result of the surrender he has advocated throughout the work.

The People

The book is populated by archetypes rather than traditional characters, centered on the figure of Jesus, who serves as the ultimate standard of holiness and the object of the author’s absolute devotion. The disciple is the primary subject, a person who must transition from a state of divided loyalties to one of total, "intensely good" dedication. The doubter or the milksop stands in the way, representing those who prefer the "tissue-paper bond" of a shallow, inclusive religious culture over the rigorous demands of true doctrine. The author himself emerges as a relatable guide, admitting his own initial reluctance to become a preacher and his struggle to accept the life of a "holiness crank." Through his own testimony, he shows the reader that the "dull scholar" can eventually be established in grace, moving from youthful fear to a mature, unwavering reliance on the presence of the abiding Christ.

In Its Own Voice

"Tens of thousands of pulpits do an active business on both the wholesale and retail plan, with science and philosophy as stock in trade."

The author critiques the state of the modern church, arguing that it has abandoned spiritual nourishment for academic distraction.

"The embers from which hell-fire is kindled smoulder in the unsanctified heart."

This line serves as a warning about the danger of maintaining an outward appearance of faith while harboring unresolved, "inbred" sin.

"There is no more sobbing, no more desperate praying, no more shouting; all is 'decent and in order,' as well it may be, for all is dead."

The author expresses his disdain for a version of Christianity that values decorum over the genuine, emotional fervor of a revivalist spirit.

What It's Really About

The central argument is that the Christian life is fundamentally incomplete without the experience of entire sanctification. The book contends that the "carnal heart" is an inherently unstable foundation, and that until this internal nature is purged, a believer will always be susceptible to the "embryos of crime." It is an urgent plea for a return to a more primitive, uncompromising, and experiential faith. The author asks: Is your religion a set of external observances, or is it a moral miracle that has fundamentally altered your nature? Ultimately, the book posits that the only true evidence of a successful life is a heart that has been fully "cleaned out" and rendered wholly responsive to the divine voice.

Why Read It Today

Readers who are drawn to the history of revivalism or the theology of the Holiness movement will find this book an exceptionally clear and passionate primary source. Its tone is earnest and urgent, reflecting the fervent, sometimes combatant spirit of late 19th-century American religion. You will feel the author’s genuine, heart-felt desire to help others find what he calls "the Canaan life," and his prose is filled with memorable, if sometimes abrasive, metaphors for the human condition.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the author’s blunt, polemical style. He does not mince words regarding those he considers "milksops" or "cowardly" ministers, and his dismissal of scientific and philosophical inquiry as a substitute for faith will feel jarring to many today. Additionally, the text assumes a high degree of familiarity with biblical terminology and the specific sectarian landscape of the 1890s. If you are looking for a nuanced, balanced dialogue, you will not find it here; this is a work of advocacy, written with the conviction of a man who believes he has found a "divine recipe" for success. What stays with the reader is the author’s uncompromising intensity and his persistent focus on the internal, emotional mechanics of a life lived for the divine.