pusness sake, who that has a proper opportunity for it, that will not declare the goodness of God, "either secretly," or, if necessary, "in the great congregation," in the renewal of his soul after his own image; and say, welcome ridicule and reproach, in such a cause, welcome the seasons which afford me the opportunities of declaring from my own personal knowledge that the Lord Jesus saves to the uttermost all them that come unto God by him?

Another suggestion of the enemy is, that it is too great for us to expect; or, if we should attain it, and lose it again, our last state will be worse than if we had never known it; and at least, we had better put it off for a while; and besides this, we are not fully prepared to receive it.

That this is a great salvation is a most glorious truth; but may we not joyfully declare, that he who has given us his beloved Son will with him freely give us all things; and purity of heart among the rest?

And we may also say, that there is no necessity that we should give up, or lose any blessing we have received from the Lord: we have only to give up both ourselves, and all the spiritual blessings we have received from him, into his hands who neither slumbers nor sleeps, and he will keep all committed to him to the day of eternity.

With respect to the temptation to postpone this important business, which of us but what knows that we cannot be thus holy too soon, and that neither time nor this blessing is at our own disposal; the time past being gone for ever, and the time to come so very uncertain, that the present moment alone can with certainty be called our's?

Many other temptations of a similar nature may arise to hinder us from entering this promised rest, and to fill the mind with perplexing doubts and fears concerning it; and we may especially be staggered at the debates and disputations which have taken place among learned and pious men respecting this entire devotedness of heart: one affirming, another denying, the possibility of entire sanctification here, However this need not discourage us; for it will be generally

found, that the difference among them is more in the mode of expression than in the thing itself. Ask any upright man under heaven, whether he does not desire to be saved from every thing contrary to the will of God, and to love him with all his heart; and what may be expected in reply? Will he not answer in the affirmative?

And now if you are resolved to "prove what the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God" is, with regard to this salvation, remember the promises of your faithful God, and receive them not only as belonging to his church in general, but to you in particular. Dare, O christian believer, fully to receive his truth. Be fully persuaded that he is both able and willing to purify your heart. If you are willing to place yourself and all your powers and faculties under his divine controul, you shall prove "the workings of his mighty power," and be assisted to cast yourself upon that precious foundation laid for you in Zion. Pour out your soul before him in such language as the following: 'O Lord my God, my Holy One, I offer myself to thee, unworthy as I am, and sinful as I have been, to be thy devoted servant for ever! I will no longer, assisted by thy grace, stagger at thy promises through unbelief. I now willingly accept thy full and free salvation. I receive thy Spirit to dwell in me, to renew my heart, and to guide me in all my ways, that I may live to thee alone. Hast thou not commanded me to love thee with all my heart? and this cannot be done in nature's strength. Send then the Spirit of burning down. Baptize my soul with thy love. Let it now and ever burn on the altar of my heart. I would be deeply humbled before thee. I confess my sin, and loathe myself for all my transgressions. I acknowledge my weakness and stupidity before thee; but confidently wait upon thee, my all-sufficient Saviour, till lasting peace, and constant purifying love shall dwell and reign in me. To see thee as thou art, requires that I must be a partaker of the Divine nature. Come then, and let me from henceforth be one spirit with thyself, and let that union be eternal?'

In this manner offer yourselves to him, whose ransomed servants you are, and he will assuredly reveal himself to you. His presence will "speak his future home;" and then diffuse an indescribable calm and serenity through all the powers of your souls. You will behold by faith the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and humbly, gratefully, and joyfully adore him. Your past experience of the Divine goodness will be clearer to you than ever; your present acceptance fully satisfactory; and your confidence in God respecting futurity much stronger than before. You should not, however, begin to conclude, because your hearts are purified, that your conflicts are all past, that your temptations are all ended, and that you are to remain all your days in a state of joy and rapture. Surely not: the state of man in this world forbids it; and though we may have anticipations of the heavenly rest, we are not to expect that here, which is reserved for us, as the reward of our perseverance and victories. We should, however, comfort ourselves with the thought, that temptation is not sin; that sin can only be committed by yielding to temptation, or suffering the heart to depart from God.

After commencing a closer walk with God, some persons are greatly exercised with temptations, all tending, without care, to undermine their faith, and to fill them with doubts and fears respecting what has been done for them. The enemy of souls may suggest, that they have deceived themselves, or their joy, activity, fervour, and gratitude, would be greater than they are; and that their testimony, without a more visible change, is not worthy of being received. They may be tempted to a great variety of evils, and these temptations may be very powerful, and are sure to be subtle, well-timed and plausible, so that without a due attention to divine direction, we shall too easily submit to the impressions made upon our minds at such harassing seasons. Let us, however, not forget that word, "We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end." And it is our duty, in the strength of grace,

never to yield. We should, on the contrary, believe in what he has done for us, and praise him for it; and as often as we do this, we shall be more than conquerors, and be more abundantly filled with the Spirit. If we do not act thus, the enemy will press us to give up all, and entirely to relinquish our prize; and this would prove a loss indeed.

While nothing contrary to love remains in our hearts, we must never question the reality of the work; for a state of entire sanctification, as already observed, does by no means exempt us from trials and temptations. It requires indeed great spiritual discernment always to distinguish between sin and temptation; and we may give up the blessing through not attending to it. We must then be careful to wait daily at the posts of wisdom's doors, that, by the light of heaven, we may escape from every snare which may be laid for our feet, and go on our way rejoicing in the Lord.

I have remarked that some, even believers, when they have heard their brethren speak of their temptations, have suspected them of sinning, which has made some more cautious of speaking of their's: but temptation and sin are widely different. When Joseph was tempted by his adulterous mistress, he resisted her shameless solicitations with, "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God!" He would have fixed an everlasting blot upon his character, if he had given way to the temptation. By overcoming, his conduct is applauded, and his name mentioned with honour. By the grace of God he was made more than conqueror; and a greater than Joseph was tempted in all points like ourselves, and yet remained as pure and spotless after his temptations as before.

Should any inquire whether the Spirit of God witnesses this work to the soul, I would answer, The witness of the Spirit in this state, is much the same as that which followed our justification and adoption. He then bore witness with our spirits that we were the children of God; and now that we are purified and made entirely his, he witnesses the same, only with clearer light, and brighter manifestations, dis

covering to us the certainty of this great change. There is some difficulty in speaking on this subject, because it is better felt than expressed, yet something may be said, though it cannot be fully explained, of its influence and effects.

says,

Its influence is clearly expressed by St. John, where he "The anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." Where this is experienced, the testimony of our own mind is equally clear, that the work is wrought, agreeing with the blessed Spirit of truth, that we are sincerely and fully given up to the Lord, or as it is expressed by St. Paul, "Our rejoicing is this-the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity, and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have our conversation in the world."

The Spirit of holiness, as has been already observed, is the great agent in the renovation of our nature. While in our carnal state, and without his gracious assistance, we cannot please God. We are none of his, but transgressors under condemnation: for to be carnally-minded is death. We then are at enmity with him, and neither are, nor can be subject to his holy law. Consequently, if we were not to receive assistance from above, we could never be saved, not having either desire or inclination towards it.

When the Lord in great compassion begins the work of our salvation, he first becomes a "swift witness" against our sins, reproving us especially for our unbelief. By this "spirit of bondage to fear," we are constrained to renounce all our vain confidences, enpty pretences to goodness, false and ill-founded hopes, and to lie at his feet as guilty, helpless criminals. Whatever alarms are excited in the soul, which manifestly tend to God, are from the Holy Ghost, who teaches us by these rigorous measures, the absolute necessity of believing in the Lord Jesus for salvation, whom he glorifies, taking of the things of his kingdom, and shewing