house. Nor must the social meeting for prayer be neglected. The first thing the disciples did after they received their commission to go and preach the gospel, was, to meet in an upper room for the purpose of praying together for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And frequently after this we read of them meeting together to pray for grace and strength to maintain their course, to testify of Jesus and the resurrection, and for signs and wonders to be performed in the name of Jesus; and if we would be preserved blameless we must not neglect these means of grace. We should pray without ceasing. This is a precept enjoined in immediate connection with the text. In short without prayer we cannot maintain our religion, and the favour of God at all. To these duties must be added meditation on the word of God. This is a duty frequently inculcated. "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein." Josh. i. 8. It is not sufficient to read the word of God; we must meditate therein; ponder it in our minds; turn it over and over. This is a precious exercise, a delightful means of grace. It is like eating the book. And we should meditate on ourselves, and on the dealings of God with us: "Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still." Psalm iv. 4. Our past history, our future prospects; our present state, our duties, temptations, and dangers, should all pass in review before our minds. This might occupy our thoughts, lead to converse with God when we scarcely know how to pass the time; and those who have not cultivated this duty know not the profit and advantage it affords, When alone it enables us to hold sweet communion with God.

Nor must we forget to mention a regular and devout attendance on the Lord's supper. This is one of the most delightful and profitable ordinances of the christian church, and the experience of every christian proves that it cannot

be attended in a devont and prayerful spirit without deriving much profit to the soul. Here our faith is increased, our love strengthened, our humility deepened, and all the graces of the Holy Spirit invigorated. The man who is sanctified wholly needs not to be reminded of the command of the Saviour, "Do this in remembrance of me," to induce him to be there. His love to the Saviour impels him to remember his death, and the sweet communion he enjoys there with his Lord, leads him to anticipate the time, and with delight to welcome it. The language of his heart is,

"Gethsemane, can I forget,

Or there thy conflict see,-
Thy agony and bloody sweat,

And not remember thee.
When to the cross I turn my eyes

And rest on Calvary,

O Lamb of God, my sacrifice,

I must remember thee.

Remember thee, and all thy pains,

And all thy love to me;

Yea, while a breath, a pulse remains,
Will I remember thee."

These in connexion with other means of grace, such as, the public ministry of the word, christian communion, and religious conversation, &c. must be attended to if we would maintain a blameless course through the world. God has not appointed and instituted these ordinances, and means of grace unnecessarily, and let not any individual suppose that he can retain the blessing of entire sanctification and be preserved blameless in spirit, soul and body, and yet neglect them. No. Brethren, rather constantly pray that he would stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness; and to this end, read diligently the word of God, meditate on it day and night, examine your conduct and feelings and purposes by it; be regular in your attendance at the house of God, and the ordinance of the Lord's supper; and at your

class meeting, and religious conversation meeting &c. "Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure," and then, you "shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Pet. i. 10-11.

CHAPTER X.

THE WAY IN WHICH SANCTIFICATION IS OBTAINED.

Ir is now time to notice the manner in which this blessing is to be sought and obtained. You may perhaps earnestly desire it. You see that it is your privilege, and that your peace and happiness are involved in it; and you are asking How shall I seek it? What means shall I use to obtain it? May the Holy Spirit enable you to understand while you attend to the following directions.

1. Ascertain whether your character and attainments are similar to those of these persons on whose behalf the apostle presented the prayer of the text. Unless they be you cannot enjoy this blessing at present. No one can understand the higher branches of a science until he has mastered its first principles. He cannot read, for instance, till he has learned the alphabet. A building cannot be erected until the foundation has been laid. Neither can you leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ, and go on to perfection before you enjoy and posess the first principles. Are you yet sinners impenitent and unpardoned?

Then your first duty is to do well;" to "repent and nothing to do with this You must repent and be

converted that your sins may be blotted out, and then you may think about being sanctified wholly, but not before. If you have begun to repent and to forsake sin, and are now anxiously desiring salvation, then your present duty is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; and you shall be saved. For "to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Rom. iv. 5. At present your chief concern must be to obtain pardon, and to receive the Holy Spirit to bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God. Till this is the case you cannot be happy. And to this end we exhort you not to strive to make yourself better, or to work out a salvation for yourself, but to believe on him who is set forth to be a propitiation for sin; and your faith shall be counted to you for righteousness. God will pardon you for Christ's sake, and send his Spirit into your heart to cry, "Abba Father." If you are a backslider, your first duty is to repent and turn unto the Lord; to pray, "Restore unto me the joys of thy salvation." You have fallen by your iniquity. You must therefore put away your sins and pray, "Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. Asshur shall not save us : we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our Gods." Then God will heal your backslidings, and love you freely, and turn away his anger from you. Hos. xiv. 1-4. lf you are a lukewarm christian: you have a duty to perform before you can enter on this subject. You must be convinced of the sinfulness and danger of your present state. "So then because thou art lukewarm," says the Saviour, "and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." Rev. iii. 16. You must "Repent and do your first works,” and seek your first love and zeal. Till this is done, it is useless to preach entire sanctification to you. But if you have been converted to God, and still enjoy a clear sense of

his favour; if you are endeavouring to do his will, and to please him in all things; if you see the corruptions that yet remain in your heart, mourn over them and earnestly desire their entire destruction; if you are truly hungering and thirsting after righteousness; then you are in a proper state to seek and to expect this blessing, and if you seek it in the exercise of a living faith; in the way we hope to point out, you shall not go hungering and thirsting all your days. Jesus has declared, Blessed are ye for ye shall be filled. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and those evils that remain in your hearts he will entirely remove.

2. Get a clear idea of what you are called to seek. If you look for too much you will be disappointed; if you look for too little, you will fall below your privilege, and not enjoy what God has provided, and offered in the gospel. We have endeavoured to describe this blessing in such away as to prevent you from running into either of these errors. And now we tell you that the simplest and shortest idea we can give you of it is this, It is supreme love to God, and perfect This is its nature, perfect love casting out

love to man.

fear and sin. This is what you are to seek, to expect, to enjoy. Do not confound raptures and extacies, &c. with it. Look for this alone; perfect love, and every thing else will spring from this principle. When it fills the heart you will bring forth all the fruits of righteousness which are to the praise and glory of God, and be found sincere and without offence at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. You must believe that this blessing is attainable; that it is within your reach. We have already remarked many may dispute this. They think it is impossible to live without sin, and that they cannot be entirely delivered from it so long as they are in this world. They do not positively say that God has made no provision for their deliverance from sin; but they believe that deliverance cannot be attained in this life, and they suppose they must drag on with the burden of sin