niv.of ill. Library 51 *7 &r -,4 or / * % t DIALOGUES ON SANCTIFICATION, FOR THE USE OF THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING FULL SALVATION. BY THE REV. J. S. PIPE. ELEVENTH EDITION. “As He is, so are we in this world.” — 1 John iv. 17. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY JOHN MASON, 14, CITY-ROAD; AND SOLD AT 66, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1846. As these Dialogues have sometimes been put into the hands of persons not much acquainted with spiritual religion , it has been thought proper to prefix the Dia- logue containing its first principles , that the mind of the humblest seelcer of salvation may be led to the enjoyment of every precious promise of God in Christ Jesus, and thus be made “ a partaker of the divine nature THOMS, PRINTER, 12, WARWICK SQUAR3. DIALOGUE BETWEEN A PREACHER AND AN ENLIGHTENED HEARER. Hearer . Sir, may I ask you a few questions concerning religion ? Preacher. Certainly, as many as you please ; and I am glad that you begin to make such inquiries. H. It is high time I did ; for I confess that I have been too careless and indifferent about my spiritual concerns. I have not been what God requires, but hope soon to be in a better state. P. This is very well ; and God has promised, “ If the wicked forsake his way, and the unrigh- teous man his thoughts, and return to him,” that “ he will have mercy upon him, and abundantly " : pardon him.” (Isai. lv. 7.) ; H. This is one of the things I wanted to know ; ^ whether, after all my sins, I can hope for forgive- ^ ness from God ? You have, however, satisfied my doubts on that head, by the scripture you have ft- mentioned. P • However numerous, great, and aggravated the sins of men may be ; or how long soever they | A 2 704174 4 DIALOGUES ON may have persisted in them ; or how unprofitable and unworthy they may be in the sight of Heaven; if they forsake them, and come to Jesus Christ, he says, he “ will in no wise cast them out.” (John vi. 37.) H. This is encouraging: but will not some think that this is like giving a licence to sin ? for if men may be forgiven, do as they please, will they not sin the more? P. There may be such vile persons, who say, “ Let us sin that grace may abound;” but such are in a most awful state, and must be left to their righteous Judge. This is far from being my meaning ; and the cause of your remark seems to be, that you think I am only speaking of the worst characters among men, when the truth is, that what I have said is more or less applicable to all ; which I think may be made clearly to appear. H ’. That we may be worse in the sight of God than we imagine, may be true ; for there are doubtless many sins committed which are forgot- ten ; and many things may be sinful which we do not consider as such ; and our self-love makes us gloss over many things which are not right before Him that tries the heart. P. True : there is much more of this in the world than men are aware of, and this is one rea- son of their looking only to the more enormous offences ; and hence conclude, that there is much less sin in the earth than God's word declares. SANCTIFICATION. 5 H. How shall I come to the true knowledge of this business ? How shall I see into “ the exceed- ing sinfulness of sin ? ” P. By the law of God, contained in the Ten Commandments. This is the glass which shows the present weak, sinful, and imperfect state of man. Here shine the glorious perfections of God, especially his greatness in commanding, his wis- dom in appointing, and his justice in insisting on these rules of righteousness to his rational crea- tures. In this moral law, which is holy, just, and good, we behold his unspotted holiness, and tran- scendent excellency ; and how impossible it is to break this law, and not forfeit his favour. It is by this law, brought home to the conscience by the Spirit of God, that sinners discover their true state of mind, “ for by the law is the know- ledge of sin ; ” and by the law they read their condemnation, “ for the law worketh wrath ; ” and being once broken, righteousness can never come by it to any soul ; for “ he that offends in one point” is considered as being “ guilty of all and hence it can save none ; but through the divine mercy it is used with other means as a school- master to bring us to Christ, that we may be “justified by faith ; ” for “ if righteousness came by the law, then Christ died in vain : ” but who will affirm this ? Who will say he died in vain ? No ; our salvation is only through him ; and A 3 6 DIALOGUES ON to him we must have recourse, or perish eter- nally. Let me now present you with this law for this purpose, not to set you upon keeping it for your justification, but, first, as a means of convincing you of sin, and, secondly, as a rule of life for you to walk by, when you have obtained mercy of the Lord, and as that standard by which God will judge the world. (Rom. ii. 12.) First Command. “ Thou shalt have none other gods but me.” God, the glorious maker and supporter of all things, by whose providence we are sustained, and by whose grace we are redeemed, is the only God we should acknowledge and worship ; he alone is to be feared, loved, honoured, and obeyed : and all other beings, in heaven, earth, or hell, are to be considered as nothing, and totally disregarded, in comparison with him. And the worship we pay him must not be dead, formal, and hypocriti- cal ; but sincere, fervent, spiritual, grateful, and such as he requires in his holy word. All, there- fore, who forget, neglect, despise, and hate him ; all who forsake his ordinances, and refuse to pray to him, to praise and love him ; all who offer him mere lip-service, and draw near to him in person, while their hearts are far from him ; all who neg- lect to read or hear his holy word, that they may know his will and do it ; and all who do not give their hearts to him, are breakers of this first com- SANCTIFICATION. 7 mandment. And now I leave you to judge whe- ther you are guilty or not guilty. Second Command, “ Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, or the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth : thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor worship them ; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me ; and show mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” This commandment forbids all kinds of idolatry, or the worshipping of the true and living God in an erroneous manner. It also forbids the substi- tuting of the creature or created things in the place of the great Creator, seeking our happiness in them instead of him, or in any thing which stands in opposition to him. Whatever is loved, feared, obeyed, followed, and imitated more than God, is to us an idol, — that is, our god. All in- ordinate affection places us in the same state : thus the covetous man makes a god of his wealth ; the ambitious man, of his honours ; and the volup- tuous man, of his pleasures and sensual gratifica- tions : all which is contrary to the love of God, and to that worship and obedience which are due to him, and which are paid him by his servants ; and brings his displeasure down upon such as hate him, and upon their offspring who 8 DIALOGUES ON tread in their steps, to the third and fourth generation. This commandment also forbids the broaching of human doctrines, creeds, and ceremonies, as coming from God; of all superstitious services, fanatic devotion, cruel rites, and formal and hypo- critical services : for God is a jealous God, and all attempts to impose upon or deceive him are vain and impious. He requires our hearts : and if we refuse to offer them to him, whatever else we place them upon is idolatry and wickedness in his sight, who sees and knows us altogether. Now think : are you guilty or not guilty ? Third Command . “ Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain : for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” This commandment not only forbids the light and irreverent use of any of the names by which God has revealed himself to us in his holy word ; but all trifling with his nature, perfections, service, and government. There are some who, upon any surprise, will exclaim in an impious way, “Good Lord! Lord, bless us! Lord Jesus! God, have mercy ! ” &c. Others will awfully swear by him, both in their mirth and malice ; and wish the bit- terest wishes to themselves if they do, or do not, act thus or thus, which they think no more of, nor perhaps ever intended. Others will blaspheme God himself, or call upon him to exert his ven- SANCTIFICATION. 9 geance, to curse either persons or things which have displeased them, in defiance of that word, “Bless, and curse not.” There are those also who will ridicule the exercises of piety, and those that engage in them by the divine command ; but all such as do these things should remember, that He who sees, hears, and knows all things, will bring them to a strict account. Do you here plead guilty or not guilty ? Fourth Command . “ Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath-day. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do ; but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God : in it thou shalt do no manner of work, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, thy cattle, and the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day ; wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it.” This commandment, in the most solemn manner, forbids the profanation of the Lord's day. If you should ask how this day is profaned, it is answered, By not remembering its institution, its design, its importance, and its superior excellence, when com- pared with that portion of our time which is dedi- cated to secular purposes. (Isai. lviii. 13,14.) By spending it in worldly concerns ; buying, sell- ing, labouring, unnecessary travels or visits ; or in idleness, neglecting the worship and service of 10 DIALOGUES ON God ; in feasting, revelling, gaming, or riot ; and, in short, doing any thing which may and ought to be done on working-days, or neglecting to per- form those services of piety and mercy which that day requires. Have you been or are you guilty of the breach of this commandment ? Fifth Command . “ Honour thy father and mother : that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” By this commandment we learn that it is the duty of children to pay all due respect to their parents, and to manifest it by the most genuine expressions of affection and liberality; avoiding stubbornness, self-will, and all unkind and ungrate- ful speeches and behaviour ; and as all who are placed over us in the order of Providence, whether Ministers, Magistrates, or masters, are in a sense parents, or at least ought so to be, it is incumbent upon us to fill up the duties of our several stations with fidelity, submission, and diligence ; especially we ought to love and respect those Ministers who are placed over us in the Lord, and esteem them highly in love for their work’s sake. It is admitted that it is equally the duty of su- periors to perform their respective services towards such as are placed under them: and if they do them not, they must give a strict account to him who is the Lord of all. The blessing of Heaven is, in this command, promised to the obedient. Ask yourself, then, whether this commandment SANCTIFICATION, 11 has been carefully and religiously observed by you or not. Sixth Command . “ Thou shalt do no murder .” This commandment forbids every kind of murder whatever; whether it be committed out of revenge, covetousness, pride, or lust. Murder is a dread- ful sin, highly provoking to God, shocking to human nature, and fills the consciences of the bloody wretches who are guilty of it with the most bitter remorse and terrifying accusations. Self- murder is, if possible, more shocking, because it not only is such an opposition to God, and so per- fectly unnatural in itself, but so completely ex- cludes the possibility of repentance, as to make eternal perdition inevitable. Whatever, therefore, tends to murder ; whether anger, malice, excessive self-love, ambition, extravagance, distrust of God's providence, or any other cause, must be considered as a breach of this law ; and were we to speak of the neglect of the soul, and the sins consequent upon it, I know not but this soul-murder may also be intended amongst the rest. Here, then, pause, and say how far you have, in heart and design, been a breaker of this divine law. Seventh Command . “ Thou shalt not commit adultery.” This commandment forbids all sinful intercourse between the sexes, either in married or single state ; all kinds of whoredom, lewdness, and impurity of the heart or senses ; premeditated or sudden, secret or open, of our own contrivance 12 DIALOGUES ON or that of others. It enjoins chastity upon all, and an opposition to every word, person, place, or thought that would infringe upon it. It is only known, to God and to the offenders themselves how often and in how many ways this law is violated ! The Apostle says, It is a shame even to speak of these abominations. Now I leave you to judge, if the heart is concerned in this matter, how oft you have transgressed this command. Eighth Command . “ Thou shalt not steal.” As no man possesses any right, human or divine, to take away my character, property, or person, without my consent ; so neither have I any right to take away his : if either I or he do this, then the offending party breaks this right- eous commandment. This law also forbids in- justice in all its forms and bearings: unjust transactions in business ; unjust lawsuits ; unjust accounts, weights, and measures ; and all impo- sition upon the ignorant and unwary ; all pilfering and knavery ; all extortion and over-reaching ; all borrowing with an intention to deceive; un- faithfulness in servitude; and cruel neglect and defrauding in masters towards the persons they employ ; all these and such like things, as well as avowed felony and robbery, are here forbidden. To which may be added, the keeping back the heart from God, and neglecting to offer those praises, and perform those services, which are due to the divine Majesty. (Mai. iii. 8, 9.) Examine SANCTIFICATION, 13 yourself whether you are clear: — Guilty or not guilty? Ninth Command . “ Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” This commandment forbids all false depositions, "Which any man may bring against another to his injury, either in a Court of Justice or elsewhere. Perjury, lying, and deceit, are hateful both to God and man. Whoever is guilty of them stamps his character with disgrace and infamy. All backbiting, slander, and evil-speaking, in a more private way, are of the same family, and are con- demned by the same law. O, how oft is the tongue employed in opposition to the heart, and to known truth ! How often may it be said of the tongues of many, that they are “ set on fire of hell,” by the mischief they produce! Put this question to your hearts, Have I never been guilty, from fear, or shame, or covetousness, of uttering falsehood? Or this, Have I never brought an unjust accusation against another, or never aimed at misrepresentations to his prejudice ? Am I, in this respect, altogether clear ? Tenth Command . “ Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neigh- bour s wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his.” This commandment condemns all discontent and dissatisfaction in the situation in which Pro- vidence has placed us ; it also forbids all envy at B 14 DIALOGUES ON others* possessions or prosperity, with all unjust and unworthy attempts to raise ourselves by effecting their downfal. It forbids all inordinate self-love, and all those passions and desires which would lead us to take to ourselves what, of right and justice, belongs to another. Covetousness is idolatry, and the chief spring of all the injustice and deceit that is in the world ; and, it might be added, of its miseries also. Here then you may examine yourself, and know whether your heart has ever gone astray, and whether in this respect you are guilty or not guilty before a heart-search- ing God. H. Alas ! I confess myself a guilty sinner be- fore God. I have broken this holy law, and exposed myself to its curse and condemnation ; and if I cannot be saved by conforming in future to its precepts, on what ground can I hope to be saved ? P. The goodness of God must be the ground of your hope. Thus the Psalmist prayed when dis- tressed on account of his sins, “ Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions : accord- ing to thy mercy remember thou me for thy good- ness* sake, O Lord.** (Psal. xxv. 7.) And then it is added, “ Good and upright is the Lord : there- fore will he teach sinners in the way.** (Verse 8.) H. This is encouraging : but how shall I know that God is good, and how will he make known to me his goodness ? SANCTIFICATION. 15 P. God is good in himself; and he shows him- self good in his works of nature, providence, and grace. ff. How is he good in his works of nature ? P. As God is the fountain of goodness, nothing but good, or what is perfectly consistent with goodness, can come from him. When, at first, by his infinite power and wisdom, he formed the heavens and the earth, he (and he cannot err) pronounced all to be good. If there are now many evils found among his works, they arise solely from mans disobedience, and are to be considered as the chastisements of our offended Lawgiver and sovereign Judge; as the sacred writer informs us, that God said to the first offending man, “ Cursed is the ground for thy sake:” (Gen. iii. 17 :) and thus you see that sin, by entering the world, has brought with it pain, and misery, and death. Yet after all the evils sin has brought upon us, there are yet many glorious displays of the divine goodness. Lift up your eyes, and behold the wide expanse of heaven ; and meditate upon the earth on which you tread. Consider the number, order, distances, uses, and magnitude of the hea- venly bodies. Look at the glorious luminary which makes our day, that discovers to us the beauties of creation, that warms the cold ground, and draws from its fruitful bosom the comforts and conveniences of life. Observe, attentively, the b 2 16 DIALOGUES ON “moon walking in brightness,” cheering the gloom of night, and, by its perpetual change, re- minding us of the lapse of time. See how admi- rably one object is suited to and connected with another ! Reflect upon the various elements, with the nature, form, and food of their numerous inhabitants. Yiew the sea, that world of waters and of wonders, where myriads of living crea- tures have their abode; and the air and earth, swarming with insects, birds, and animals ; con- sider these things, and the manner in which their respective species are preserved, and their wants supplied, and you will be ready to exclaim, with the Psalmist, “ 0 Lord, how manifold are thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made them all ; the earth is full of thy riches.” Such meditations as these are calculated to melt, expand, and delight the soul ; and to fill it with gratitude and unutterable sentiments, while tracing out the wisdom and goodness of God. He is truly great in all his works ; but on man he has bestowed peculiar care, and all the powers and faculties of our nature should be consecrated to him. “ He made us, and not we ourselves ; ” and the more we know of our frame, the more we shall be constrained to acknowledge “ how fear- fully and wonderfully we are made.” How various, useful, and necessary are the several members of our bodies ! The senses, how exqui- sitely formed, how wisely and elegantly placed ! SANCTIFICATION. 17 What strength and firmness are given to the bones ! What readiness, elasticity, and power to the muscles ; and what delicate sensibility to the nerves ! What a surprising fitness of the several parts for the purposes intended ! With what rapidity does the crimson current continue its course ! With what silence and secrecy do the different glands perform their respective secretions ; and with what more than chemical art are the animal juices separated, concocted, and dispersed to every part of the body, for the purposes of health, comfort, and stability! Nor is the mind less wonderful. How little do we understand of its nature and essential pro- perties ! its vast capacities ; or manner of acting upon the bodily organs ! How extraordinary its self-determining power, its perceptions, judgments, recollection, and diversity of thought ! How high its character, made after the similitude of God, — his vicegerent in this lower world, for the harmony of the whole system ; and intended for the en- joyment of consummate and endless felicity in a future state! Is he, then, not good in these respects ? H. I am constrained to acknowledge the wis- dom and goodness of God in these things ; but wish for a view of them in his superintending care and providence. P. These are not less discernible in his provi- dential dispensations ; but as there are those who b 3 18 DIALOGUES ON shut their eyes, and will not see his hand in the works of nature, refusing to acknowledge his power and Godhead there, we may suppose that such persons will form the same notions of his wise and righteous government ; but they greatly err. He it is “ that upholds all things by the word of his power,” and incessantly renews the face of creation. He numbers and preserves the particles of earth ; the drops of water ; the minute globules of air ; and the still smaller but active rays of light. He bridles the fury of the winds and waves; bounds the severity of the frost ; and checks the raging of the devouring fire. His whispers calm the tempestuous ocean ; he directs the flaming bolts, shot from contending clouds; and pours through the vault of heaven, in successive peals, the majestic thunder. He causes the seasons of the year to know his voice, and run their regular but diversified race. In winter he opens the magazines of cold, spreads his snow over the face of nature, congeals the standing lake, and arrests the course of the murmuring waters; yet pre- serves life, and fertilizes the ground for the ap- proaching spring, when, by the cheering beams of the returning sun, he spreads beauty, vigour, and the flattering prospects of the fruitful year, through nature's realms. Creation wakes at his mild com- mand ; and the springing of the verdant grass, the charming music of the groves, the rustling of the quivering leaves, the diversified scenery of SANCTIFICATION. 19 wild and cultivated shrubs and flowers ; the whole of this enchanting and re-animating season is by his appointment. This ushers in the fruitful sum- mer, when he causes the boughs to hang with delicious fruit, and the fertile fields and gardens to pour forth, in rich abundance, their vegetable stores. “ He visiteth the earth, and watereth it : he greatly enricheth it with the river of God, which is full of water : he prepareth us corn, when he hath so provided for it. He watereth the ridges thereof abundantly, and settleth the furrows thereof : he maketh it soft with showers, he bless- etli the springing thereof : his paths drop fatness upon the pastures of the wilderness, and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks ; the valleys also are covered over with corn, they shout for joy.” (Psal. lxv.) Autumn then succeeds, which ripens and prepares the precious fruits of the earth for the sustenance of man and beast. Thus he multiplies his favours without grudging, and daily “loadeth us with his benefits.” “ He crowns the year with his good- ness,” and “ fills our hearts with food and glad- ness,” while millions of inferior beings, in fulfilling the laws of their nature, imperfectly honour him for his unbounded liberality. Thus you see that the Lord is good. H. He is good : O that I might offend him no more ! P. Let us now endeavour to trace his goodness 20 DIALOGUES ON in our redemption. His works of grace are set forth in the Gospel in the clearest and richest manner. There we behold u the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” There we see the evil nature of sin ; the guiltiness of offending man ; his condemnation by the holy law of God ; his wretchedness, misery, helplessness, and liability to endless perdition. There is set forth the goodness of God, in giving his well-beloved Son to be our Instructer in righ- teousness; our example of holy walking with God; and the great atoning sacrifice for our sins, that we might not perish, but have eternal life. There the great benefits arising from his passion and death are revealed, and the means also by which they are conveyed to penitent sinners. There the most awful threatenings are denounced against those who continue in disobedience and impeni- tency, that they shall be “ punished with everlast- ing destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power ; ” and the most gra- cious promises to those who will accept his mercy and salvation : “ Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest/' There are laid open to us the solemn realities of a future state of rewards to the righteous, and of punishments to the wicked. “ He will render to every man according to his deeds : to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life : but SANCTIFICATION. 21 unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil : for there is no respect of persons with God.” (Rom. ii. 6, &c.) Yet all things discover the goodness of God: the more dreadful are intended to awe, restrain, and save ; and the others to charm, to draw, and to redeem. H. These are very solemn things. What then must I do to be saved ? how must I shun the pit of hell, and gain an admittance into the kingdom of heaven ? I see and acknowledge that God is good ; but how can he be good to me ? how can he pardon and save unholy me ? P. There is certainly a way made for you to escape ; and if you are willing to walk in that way, you will be saved. In order to this, there are some things necessary for you to know , some things for you to avoid , some for you to experience , some for you to practise , and some things for you to suffer . H . What are the things I must know ? P. 1. You must know God; that he is an infinite, eternal Spirit, filling all places with his presence ; that he is wise, holy, just, merciful, and true; that he has revealed himself to us under three distinct persons, in the same nature and Godhead, — Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; that he made all things for his glory; and that the happiness of his creatures arises from their walk- 22 DIALOGUES ON ing in the ways marked out by his infinite wisdom and goodness. 2. That God entered into covenant with man in a state of innocency ; the conditions of which were, that he should offer to his God sincere, con- stant, perfect, loving, and lasting obedience ; in the performance of which he was entitled to im- mortality and eternal happiness; but subject to death on his opposition to or non-fulfilment of these engagements. 3. That man violated this covenant of his God, and reduced himself and posterity to such a state of sin and weakness as rendered it impossible for either him or them to fulfil its conditions ; and consequently all were condemned to everlasting destruction, being unable to observe the before- mentioned conditions, or of offering to the offended and insulted majesty of heaven an equivalent for the obedience they owed to him and his holy law. 4. That God, full of tender mercy and com- passion, did, of his own goodness, freely make a new covenant with guilty man, making his beloved Son the grand surety thereof ; and did accept of his sufferings and death as more than an equiva- lent for human obedience under the first covenant ; and has promised life and salvation to all who “ truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel.” 5. That it is therefore vain to seek salvation by the deeds of the law ; for the law, as hinted before, SANCTIFICATION. 23 cannot justify. (Acts xiii. 39.) We shall be judged by it; (Rom. ii. 12;) but by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified ; for by the law is the knowledge of sin; (Rom. iii. 20 ; Gal. ii. 16;) and the law worketh wrath ; for where there is no law, there is no transgression. (Rom. iv. 15.) That, therefore, by which we are to be judged cannot justify us; that which discovers to us our numerous transgressions, extending even to the thoughts, (Rom. vii. 7,) cannot acquit us; and that which worketh wrath can never bring salva- tion to our souls. 6. You must then understand that salvation is of grace ; that is, of the free mercy and goodness of God ; and cannot therefore be merited by us. It must be received as a free gift, or not at all. Whoever, conscious of his lost state, and humbled for his past transgressions, willingly accepts the Lord Jesus Christ in his various offices, and gives himself up to the service of God through him, “ his faith is imputed to him for righteousness ;” he receives the Holy Spirit as a Spirit of adoption, and is empowered to walk as it becometh the Gospel. Happy in himself, and ascribing his salvation to God alone, he rejoices in hope of everlasting glory, and goes on his way in the true spirit of gratitude, love, and obedience. H. What are the things I must avoid ? P. 1. As the great end for which Christ came into the world was to save us from our sins, all 24 DIALOGUES ON who would partake of his salvation must give up the service of sin, or they will seek after it in vain. “ Repent, and turn yourselves from all your trans- gressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” (Ezek. xviii. 30.) This includes all kinds of wickedness, profaneness, deceit, treachery, intem- perance, lewdness, wrath, strife, and malice, and whatever is contrary to the Gospel, dishonour- able to God, hurtful to others, or dangerous to ourselves. 2. We must avoid all those persons, places, and things which would tempt us, and either lead us farther into sin, or prevent our flying from it. “ Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.” (Prov. iv. 14, 15.) “ If sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” (Prov. i. 10.) This may subject you to some trouble, inconvenience, or ridicule ; but no matter : God has spoken, and must be obeyed rather than men. “ Come out from among them, and touch not the unclean thing,” says he, “ and I will receive you.” 3. All sinful recreations must be avoided. These only tend to corrupt the heart, and turn it from God and his holy ways. How abominable in the sight of a merciful God must those cruel sports be to which many are addicted ; such as cock-fighting, bull-baiting, horse-racing, and such like! And what better are games of chance, card-playing, indecent dancing, theatrical representations, and SANCTIFICATION. 25 many others ? They are calculated only to please a vain and unbridled fancy, or to bring into exer- cise the basest passions of our fallen nature. They cannot be used in the name of the Lord, neither do they tend to his glory ; and what cannot be thus used, must, if we would enjoy his favour, be set aside, and entirely forsaken. According to the Scriptures, they that live in pleasure are dead while they live ; (1 Tim. v. 6 ;) and “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God” are ranked among the vilest characters. (2 Tim. iii. 4.) 4. Prejudice against religious persons and their profession must be set aside. That some have taken up the profession of religion on unscriptural and hypocritical ground, I pretend not to deny, “ for they are not all Israel which are of Israel but it does not follow, because some have acted deceitfully, that all professors do the same ; nor does it follow, that religion itself is bad, because some, under a pretended regard for it, have vio- lated its precepts. Do not then suffer the bad impressions which have from any cause been made upon your heart, and especially from the lying and scandalous reports which have been or are still spread abroad to the prejudice of religion, or its sincere professors, to remain there : on the con- trary, think what a mercy it is, when wickedness so greatly abounds, that there are a few to stem the torrent; and let them have your affection and esteem. Our Saviour commands us to love one c 26 DIALOGUES ON another ; and without it we cannot be his disciples. Nathanael, that man of a truly upright character, once doubted whether any good thing could come from Nazareth ; but was convinced of his error, when he found that the blessed Jesus came from thence. Endeavour then to learn wisdom and candour from this pious Israelite. 5. Avoid excuses and delays. Some think that it is not required of them to be religious, because they are poor, afflicted, have a bad trade, a large family, and many worldly cares ; or, if they must turn to God, it must be when they are older, when this or that person dies, when things are better, — or some such like excuses : but remember, there are persons in these trying circumstances who love and fear God ; and if others can thus be religious, so may all. Besides, as without holiness no man can see the Lord, all such excuses are vain ; and since life is so uncertain, all delays are dangerous. I hope these do not much apply to you ; but if they do, come to a resolution in the strength of divine grace to give up yourself to the service of God immediately. 6. Avoid all self-righteousness. As our salva- tion is of grace, we must never think of bringing a price in our hand to pay for it : the idea, there- fore, of our being forgiven and accepted for our goodness is both unscriptural and hurtful. Jesus came not to call the righteous but sinners to re- pentance. Do not, then, imagine that any righte- SANCTIFICATION. 27 ousness of your own will justify you before God ; for it cannot. To attempt covering yourself with this would be folly. You might as well aim to cover, defend, and ornament your body with a spiders web. Cast away, therefore, all confidence in yourself, and put your trust wholly in the Sa- viour s merits, and you will find acceptance, and be assisted by his Spirit for every good word, and every good work. H. What are the things I must experience ? P . 1 . It is necessary that you experience true contrition of soul before God on account of your sins ; which implies a deep sense of your vileness in the sight of a holy God ; self-abasement, hum- bled as unto the dust at his compassions and your own ingratitude ; unfeigned sorrow for your mis- spent time, foolishness, and impieties ; sincere confessions of your wanderings and imperfections ; a determination, by divine grace, to forsake every false way, and give yourself to him ; and a renun- ciation of every other plea for mercy in the sight of your offended heavenly Father, but the precious blood of Christ, as the Lamb of God slain for guilty men. When you feel this genuine sorrow, you are not far from the kingdom of God. 2. You must have the “ knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of sin.” The language of Jesus to the truly penitent is, “ I will give to him that is athirst of the water of life freely.” If you, then, are troubled on account of your sins, and are c 2 28 DIALOGUES ON weighed down with the burden of iniquity and guilty fears, and thirsting for salvation; when Jesus imparts to you this living water, and gives J you rest by writing forgiveness on your heart, you will be as conscious of it as you are of ease afterj pain, or rest after excessive fatigue and labour. When he makes his goodness pass before you, and proclaims himself the Lord God, — “ forgiving ini-| quity, transgression, and sin,” — then you will be enabled to say, “ O Lord, I will praise thee for “ though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me.” Then, being justified freely, you will have peace with God ; the “ kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy” will be set up in your heart ; you will “re- joice in hope of the glory of God,” while the 4 6 seasons of refreshing” will come from his gra- cious presence, and “ fill you with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” Thus God will make you truly happy; and by these marks you will know that “ there is now no condemnation” to you, and that you are assuredly “ passed from death unto life.” 3. You must know your admission into the family of God. All who receive the Lord Jesus are adopted into his family, as the Scriptures say : “ As many as recei ved him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God;” and, “because they are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts, crying, Abba, Father ;” and again, “ The Spirit itself bcareth witness with our spirits SANCTIFICATION. 29 r that we are the children of God.” Thus, “ though they were without Christ, having no hope, and without God in the world,” they “ are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” These things you must know for yourself, that you may trust in the Lord without being moved by any storm from any quarter, and may have his joy fulfilled in yourself. Some of the sweetest mo- ments the Christian spends on this side death are those in which, assisted by the Holy Spirit, and persuaded of his acceptance in Christ, he can grate- fully and confidently say, My Father ! my Father ! This is happiness indeed. 4. You must become holy in the sight of the Lord. Old things must pass away, and all things must become new. (2 Cor. v. 17.) As you stand in an entirely new relation to God, it is expected that your heart should be made anew, that you may please him in all your ways. And he has promised that he will sprinkle clean water upon you, and make you clean ; and from this inward purity all your actions must flow. Both your principles and practice must be according to his will. Y our company, pleasures, pursuits, tempers, words, and conversation in general, must be pure; the necessity of which will more fully appear as you obtain a clearer view of the nature of God and his holy law, and are brought to meditate upon the order, harmony, and holiness of heaven. In c 3 30 DIALOGUES ON a word, he says, “ Be you holy, for I am holy ” and declares, that “ without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” H . What are the things I must practise ? P. 1. As you have sinned against God, you must repent of your sins ; for “ God commandeth all men every where to repent.” If you wish to know what is meant by repentance, it is such a sight and sense of the evil of sin as leads you to loathe both it and yourself in the presence of God for having been guilty of it, attended by such unfeigned humiliation and contrition of spirit as constrains you to confess its evil, and to forsake it altogether. In short, it is turning from the ser- vice of sin to the service of God without reserve ; acknowledging our own unworthiness, and the divine goodness in sparing us ; and earnestly seek- ing mercy at his hands, that we may not perish everlastingly. 2. You are required to believe in the Lord Jesus for salvation. By this faith you are not to understand the bare assent of the mind to a given truth : it is more ; it is receiving Christ as he is set forth in the Gospel, as our Wisdom , to enlighten our minds with divine knowledge ; as our Righte- ousness, that we may be justified freely through the redemption that is in him, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousndfes for the remis- sion of sins that are past, through the forbearance SANCTIFICATION. 31 of God;” as our Sanctification, through whose Spirit we are made holy, and assisted to perform all the good pleasure of God ; as our Redemption, placing no dependence upon ourselves, but look- ing to him to save us from sin, and wrath, and hell, and to bring us at last to his eternal kingdom of glory. Thus you are to plead the merit of his atoning sacrifice, and rely upon his intercession at the right hand of God, and confidently look up for mercy in his name, till he fills your soul with joy and gladness through believing, and crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Then you will be truly happy, your sorrow will be turned into joy, and you will be clothed with the u garments of praise and salvation.” 3. It will now be necessary for you to attend all his ordinances. Though you may be only a poor labourer or mechanic, and have not much time on your hand, yet you should find oppor- tunity, twice a day at least, to spend a little while in secret prayer, meditation, and thanksgiving before God; you should contrive, morning and evening, to call your family together for prayer ; and if you could sing a hymn, and read a psalm, or some small portion of Gods word, it would be better. You should also attend the holy sacra- ment, drawing near to God with thankfulness to him for the gift of his beloved Son, and for all the benefits of his passion and death : and do not keep away from groundless fears of eating and drinking 32 DIALOGUES ON condemnation ; for that is impossible, if you sin- cerely desire to be saved through the Lord Jesus. Be careful to love and reverence the Lord’s day ; do nothing upon it of a servile nature but what is quite necessary. Spend it rather in reading, in- structing your family, attending public worship, or, if you have an opportunity for it, in works of love and mercy. Then your soul will be as a “ well- watered garden,” and you and yours will be blessed indeed. 4. You must also endeavour to promote his cause upon earth. A great part of mankind are yet far from God and righteousness ; but the Christian world is beginning to awake out of its long slumber, and various societies are formed for the spread of divine knowledge among those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. If you can assist one, or more, or all of these, do it ; if not, assist them by your prayers ; and rejoice that God has cast your lot in such times, when there is such attention paid to the mental and moral improvement of mankind. Strive thus to live in a spirit of benevolence towards your fellow-crea- tures ; overlook their failings, as far as you can with a good conscience ; forgive their trespasses ; bear with their weakness ; console them in their troubles ; rejoice in their prosperity ; and resolve, whatever they think or say of you, that you will never harbour any unkindness and revenge, but love and serve them, for the sake of Him who SANCTIFICATION, 33 lived and died and rose again for you. Such a spirit and temper cannot fail to promote the cause of piety. 5. You must seek the glory of God in all you do. You must not seek your own honour, but his. You must remember that you are not your own, hut are bought with a price, and should glorify God in your body and spirit, which are his property. Keep an eye to this in your family and connexions; in your particular calling; in your neighbourhood, and among your friends ; in religious society, and in the world ; in private and in public: so will you be preserved from going astray, and meet the approbation of your Judge. Then “ your light will shine around you ; and men, seeing your good works, will glorify your Father which is in heaven ,” by giving themselves to his service, encouraged and animated by your pious and steady example. H. What are the things I may be called to suffer ? P. 1. “ As many as I love,” said the Saviour, “ I rebuke and chasten.” This he does, or per- mits to be done, in various ways; and his design is to call forth the exercise of the various graces which his Spirit has planted in our souls, that we may know the truth of his work in us ; that we may not be too closely united to this world ; that we may distrust ourselves, and put all our confi- dence in him ; and may ever be longing and pre- 34 DIALOGUES ON paring for that rest which remains for the people of God. 2. It may be your let to be persecuted for righ- teousness* sake ; your religious professions may be called in question ; you may be considered in the light of a hypocrite and deceiver, and your name may be cast out as evil, and your company de- spised : but hear the words of your gracious Sa- viour, whom the world hated, with all his grace and excellencies : “ Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of mans sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy : for, behold, your reward is great in heaven/* Whatever you suffer for God, in a truly Christian spirit, will be amply rewarded another day. 3. You may be called to suffer affliction of body ; yet always remember, “ The Lord does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men :** it is not for his pleasure, but for our profit ; he sends these things, that we may be “ partakers of his holiness.** Let it therefore be your care to submit to the rod, without murmuring or repining; and when he has tried you in this furnace, he will make you to shine as the pure gold. 4. You may meet with great trials in your family, or in the world ; and may sometimes be ready, with the old Patriarch, to say, “All these things are against me;** when, as was his case. SANCTIFICATION. 35 they may all ultimately tend to your advantage. This present life may be compared to the ocean ; sometimes calm, and sometimes stormy, but never perfectly free from agitation ; and it is in vain to expect constant repose when there are so many changes. Be not, however, discouraged. Divine Providence will continually watch over you ; and as your day is, so your strength will be ; for there shall never be more laid upon you than you shall be assisted to bear. 5. You will have to suffer and sympathize with others. Your eyes will be open to see what dreadful havoc sin has made in the world ; human distress will meet you in a thousand forms ; and your feeling heart, whether you can mitigate that distress or not, will heave many sighs on its account ; and especially you will mourn to see so many hastening to perdition, by obstinately perse- vering in their sin and wickedness ; but blessed are such mourners, and blessed such merciful cha- racters; for they are the children of God, and theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Especially remember that you must die. No piety, however deep, no religion, however spi- ritual, can save from death. “ Dust we are, and to dust we must all return.” Yet there is nothing dreadful in death to the real Christian. Its sting is drawn, and its terrors cease, on our acceptance in the Beloved ; and it proves the gate of life and of unmingled and eternal happiness to the believer. 36 DIALOGUES ON Go on, then, keeping a conscience void of offence towards God and man ; and when your heart and flesh fail, your God will be the strength of your heart, and your portion for ever. H. I am thankful for your advice. I see the way I am to take : may I be assisted by divine grace to walk therein, that I may find rest to my soul, and be happy in God for ever ! P. Watch your opportunities for prayer; con- fess all your past sins with true humility of soul ; forgive all your enemies ; and keep lifting up your heart to God for his mercy, till you can gratefully, feelingly, and confidently say, “ Thou that know- est all things, knowest that I love thee.” Then you will find yourself in Christian liberty ; and devoting yourself to his blessed service, and walk- ing according to the Gospel, you will be happy SANCTIFICATION. 37 DIALOGUES BETWEEN A PREACHER AND A BELIEVER. “ O Thou who dost prefer, before all temples, The upright heart and pure, inspire my breast.” Milton. DIALOGUE I. Preacher. Brother, I am glad to see you : I hope you are still mindful of the “ one thing needful/’ and pressing forward to the u prize of your high calling.” Believer. I desire to bless God for his abun- dant mercy ; I do possess the divine favour, and rejoice in his salvation. P. I am thankful to hear it. W e serve a good Master. We are blessed now; and by perse- vering in his ways, we shall be blessed for ever. B . I am fully persuaded of that important truth ; for I find it far better with me since I forsook my sins, than I did while living in them ; and I see more fully than ever that the will of God is my complete and eternal salvation. D 38 DIALOGUES ON P. It certainly is ; and it should be our con- tinual care to be prepared for that glorious reward. B. That is what I greatly desire ; and shall esteem it a favour to converse with you a little upon this subject, that I may be better acquainted with every thing which will prepare me for the presence of that God who is “glorious in holiness.” P. I am glad to find that you are making such inquiries ; and, as a steward of the mysteries of God, I shall willingly set before you that great salvation which is promised in the new covenant to all believers. B. I am convinced that the more I have of the divine Spirit influencing my mind, the more I shall be enabled to glorify God. P. In this you are right; for his glory is the end of our being; and all our powers, both of body and mind, should be freely and fully em- ployed in his holy service ; but this cannot be done unless we are graciously assisted by his blessed Spirit. B. This entire devotedness to God is what my soul longs for. I have often read of it, and have often heard it spoken of in public, which has had a good effect upon my mind ; yet still I want to see more clearly into this very interesting sub- ject : I have, therefore, many questions to ask concerning it. P. Many excellent things have been written concerning Christian holiness, and we shall do SANCTIFICATION. 39 well seriously to attend to them ; and if I can cast one ray of light more upon the subject, I shall cheerfully do it. You are therefore welcome to ask what questions you please, and I will endeavour to speak to the point as much as I possibly can. B. I am thankful for the readiness you discover to instruct me; and I hope so to retain what may be said as greatly to profit thereby. The first thing, then, which I desire to know is, what do you mean by entire sanctification? P. By entire sanctification you are to under- stand the purification of our souls from all sinful defilement, their renewal in the image of God, and the dedication of the whole man to his service : or thus, — the purification of our nature by the Holy Spirit, its renewal in righteousness and true holiness, and its entire dedication to God.* B . This seems very clear and satisfactory to me. P. It is no small mercy to have right views of this blessed state : what you now want is, to see that it is your duty and privilege to possess it. B. I certainly feel my want of it, and am de- sirous of obtaining it, yet I shall be thankful to see it more perfectly. Be pleased, therefore, to lay before me some of the traces of remaining evil ; for though I feel it, it is not easy to de- * See ** Scriptural Conversion,” (page 518,) where the subject is treated of more at large, and in a different form. D 2 40 DIALOGUES ON scribe this conflict of nature and grace : perhaps it may have a tendency to inspire me with greater longings for a full deliverance. P. The evil of our nature branches itself out so very widely, that it would be difficult indeed to follow it through all its windings ; but before taking further notice of this matter, I should wish to recall to remembrance your state when you were under the full power of it. B. You purpose then to speak of my uncon- verted state. P. Yes, that is my intention. You know how complete a dominion sin had gained over you ; so great, that you were without hope and without God in the world, and consequently free from evangelical righteousness, rendering your mem- bers instruments of unrighteousness unto ini- quity. When the Lord, in mercy to your soul, con- vinced you of sin by his Holy Spirit ; when your heart was humbled and broken for your ingrati- tude and offences; when, through faith in the blood of Christ as your great atonement, you were delivered from the bondage in which you had been held; being no longer under the law of sin, you renounced its authority ; and yielded yourself to God as one alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to holiness; you experienced a marvellous change. The heavenly sweetness which then filled your SANCTIFICATION. 41 mind caused you to rejoice with unspeakable joy, and to pour forth the most heartfelt gratitude to your Redeemer. While this continued, while your heart kept soaring above, and the Lord, who knew your weakness and inexperience, kept you free from the violence of temptation, you did not perceive the remains of corrupt nature. Afterwards, when you entered into various conflicts, trials, and dif- ficulties, which damped your joy, you then began to feel that the life and love you had received were comparatively small, and sometimes perhaps proved that they were insufficient ; so powerful were your temptations, and so strong the risings of evil in your heart. And may I not add, that many times you have grieved the Holy Spirit after such a manner, that you have been constrained to re- new your repentance with much grief and sorrow of mind, that he might not depart from you ? B. This, I confess, has too often been my state ; yet when I bemoaned my folly, and ex- ercised faith in a crucified Saviour, he forgave, and comforted me again. P. It was because he loved you, and willed your salvation ; but unless you experience a deeper work of grace, you are still liable to be 4 tossed about in the same way. While any prin- ciple contrary to holiness remains in your heart, it affords a handle to the powers of darkness ; and they will not fail to lay hold of it, that they may 42 DIALOGUES ON destroy your peace, and prevent you from glorify- ing the God of your mercies. Now for your farther information in this matter, and that you may see the greater necessity of having this leprosy of the soul removed ; I will endeavour to set be- fore you what has been passing in your breast, or may have been felt by you : yet observe, I do not speak thus to discourage you, but as a means of humbling you, and of bringing you nearer to God. B. I hope to be thankful for the trouble you give yourself on my account, and shall willingly hearken to whatever will tend to my real ad- vantage. P. I would then ask, if you have not sometimes found that pride has had too much place in your heart ? Have you not sometimes been ready to think yourself possessed of more religion than you really had ? And have you not been in danger of thinking more highly of yourself, on account of this your piety, and of undervaluing others, to the feeding of your own vanity ? Have you not been exceedingly hurt, if some have been wanting in respect to you, or have spoken things to your apparent disadvantage? Have you not secretly applauded yourself for your performances ? Have you not taken more pleasure in those who flattered you, than in those who even justly and lovingly reproved you ? Have you not hearkened to what has been spoken to your praise with too great eagerness and satisfaction? Have you not often SANCTIFICATION. 43 set too great a value upon your person, gifts, and abilities ? Can you enumerate the vain thoughts which have lodged within you? Have you not in many things (and those of no great moment) been too stiff and opinionated ? Have you not gloried too much in your friends, relations, and possessions? Have you not occasionally made too splendid a show of your natural, spiritual, and intellectual riches or gifts ? Has not finer or better apparel made you look for more respect from others, or think much more highly of your- self? Has not this subtle pride mixed itself with your secret thoughts, your conversations with your friends, and even your devotional exercises ? To follow this evil through all its aspirings, boast- ings, inventions, conceits, arrogance, and scorn- fulness, would be difficult indeed. How true then is that saying, “ A man’s pride shall bring him low!” for so long as the heart is not purified from this evil, it cannot be advanced high in the estimation of Heaven. B. This has too often been my case. And it has been matter of surprise that I, who feel myself so completely indebted to divine grace, should ever observe such propensities to vanity, self-applause, or haughtiness. Proceed in your description. P. Have you not felt also much of the workings of unbelief ? After the clearest and most de- lightful discoveries of your Redeemer’s love, have you not been ready to question it? Would not 44 DIALOGUES ON something in your heart, if submitted to, cause you to discredit many of the revealed truths of God? Have you not been too apt to distrust others, placing less confidence in them than you ought ; though you had not the least reason for so doing? Are you not sometimes inclined to doubt the care of divine Providence, and to fear that you will one day be forgotten of God ? Have you not suffered the reasonings of evil men secretly to undermine your faith? Have you not given place to doubt and fear, from no other cause than your unbelieving reasonings ? Have not your prayers been without faith ? At least, have you not offered up petitions without expecting an answer ? In seasons of temptation, coldness, and indifferency, have you not been more inclined to derive consolation from your past experience, than to look to the Lord as a present help in trouble ? Have you not sometimes been ready to question the being or attributes of God, — the truth of the Christian dispensation, — and the reality of grace in your own heart? Have you not sometimes been more ready to hear, or give, an evil report of the good land, and to turn again to spiritual Egypt, than to go forward to Canaan? Have you not sometimes been so much off your guard, that when you have seen worldly men in their pleasures and prosperity, you have felt as though their portion was better than yours? While unbelief thus lurks in the heart, will it SANCTIFICATION. 45 not produce a most plentiful crop of doubts, fears, suppositions, suspenses, unprofitable reasonings, fruitless speculations, and idle and perplexing thoughts, till the precious grace of God is well nigh choked, — till peace and joy have taken their flight ; and the heart is filled with hardness, the tongue with complainings, and the life with un- fruitfulness ? B. This is a great truth. These evils must have exceedingly retarded my growth in grace. P. This is the case of too many : unbelief not only tends to hinder the progress of the soul in holiness ; but it greatly dishonours God, impairs the soul's health, and prevents the Redeemer from working his mighty works among us. B. May the Lord increase my faith ! There is great need of it ; — but I am interrupting you. Go forward then in your discoveries ; that seeing the sinfulness of sin, I may loathe and cease from it for ever. P. My next inquiry then is, Do you not some- times find yourself troubled with anger , and too much warmth of temper? We should show forth our works in all that meekness which heavenly wisdom teaches ; but have not your looks been by far too severe, and your words more sharp and cutting than that wisdom allows ? Have you not hurt yourself by peevishness, by quarrelsome disputations, obstinate debates, and unkind reflections? Have you not sometimes 46 DIALOGUES ON felt too much satisfaction in paining others ? Have you not at times been carried away by resent- ment ? Has there not been something like malice in your heart, towards those who have offended or deceived you ? Have not little things frequently quite discomposed you? Has there not some- times been something overbearing, froward, and vexatious about you? Has not the zeal and piety of others so far provoked you as to draw unguarded and unwarrantable expressions from your lips ? Have you not warmly insisted upon your right in frivolous matters ? Have you not sometimes been guilty of an unjustifiable and sullen silence towards some that have intentionally or unintentionally grieved you? On other oc- casions, have you not indulged so vindictive a temper that you were scarcely to be spoken with ? When you have offended others, have you not been too slow to seek forgiveness ? Have you not been guilty of menacings and threaten- ings, when a milder mode would have been better received, and attended with happier effects ? By these questions I do not suppose that you have been guilty of every thing here brought to your view, though it is not impossible ; but my intention is to give you an opportunity for self- examination, that in whatever instances you find you have been wrong, you may see the necessity of having more help from the Spirit of God, and a larger measure of grace communicated to you. SANCTIFICATION. 47 This warmth of temper is but too common, and is very inconsistent with the meekness and gen- tleness of Christ. Whatever visits we receive from God, whatever refreshings of his grace, this anger destroys their blessed effects, and leaves us mourning and dis- couraged. It promotes shyness, impatience of contradiction, painful reflections, and distraction of mind. And should you remain under the power of it, you will grieve the Spirit of God, exceedingly lessen yourself in the estimation of your pious friends and acquaintance, destroy your own peace, and thereby render yourself incapable of performing all the good you might wish to do or wish to prove. B . What you say is too true an account of my heart : this warmth of temper has hurt both myself and others. The Lord help me to put it entirely away ! P. Another thing which I suppose has given you trouble is envy. It is a great thing to see others honoured, and ourselves neglected, and not be hurt by it ; to see others prosper, and not ourselves, and yet rejoice at it ; to see others well-circumstanced, and be thankful to God for our own situation. But have you not been pained when you have seen others preferred to yourself, especially if you believed they were not much better, if so good as yourself? Are you never pained at another’s welfare? Have you 48 DIALOGUES ON not envied the wise for their wisdom ; the rich for their riches ; and sometimes the truly spiritual even for their religion ? Envy is one of the worst of evils, and should have no place in re- generate souls. It is exceedingly opposed to the very genius and spirit of the Gospel, which is a complete system of benevolence. This disposition can never enter the abode of angels. It is an evil that must be utterly destroyed. If you think I speak too strongly concerning this, consider it was envy that moved Satan to tempt the first happy pair, by which means all the human race were involved in one common destruction : by this Joseph was sold as a slave ; Daniel cast to the lions; Jesus given over to the Roman Go- vernor; — this “bitter envy,” as St. James terms it, springeth from the wisdom that is earthly, sensual, devilish, &c. From hence arise mur- muring, complaining, discontent, whispering, evil surmising, unthankfulness, and selfishness. My prayer is, that you may obtain a complete deliver- ance from it, and an everlasting aversion to it. Have you not also found yourself beset with worldly-mindedness ? Have you not sometimes felt yourself too much alive to pleasure ; too de- sirous of riches; too eager to be esteemed by worldly men ; entering too much into their spirit, maxims, principles, and designs ; too much afraid of losing your good name, character, and business for the cause of religion? Have you not too SANCTIFICATION. 49 much dreaded persecution and its consequences ? Have your views been pure in the prosecution of business ? According to the Scriptures, you should labour for the supply of your own wants, the maintenance of your family, the relief of the ne- cessitous poor, and the support of religion and the state. Have you not entered so fully into business, as to neglect prayer, reading, and me- ditation? Have you not been so expensive in dress, furniture, and various superfluities, as to be under the necessity of being a scanty, instead of a liberal, giver ? and have you not sometimes given rather grudgingly than cheerfully? Is it not said, “ Be not deceived ; God is not mocked : for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap ? ” and have you not, in many cases, sown to the flesh where you should have sown to the Spirit? Have you not neglected, from the fear of man, or some other cause, to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow the Saviour ? Has not inordinate affection prevailed in some in- stances, avarice, in others, and frequently desires inconsistent with purity ? Have you not found a want of both purity of intention, and purity of affection, on many occasions ? Now the advice given us by the Apostle is, “ Love not the world, neither the things of the world and, “ Be not conformed to this world.” So far as you are alive to these things, you are proportionally hindering and destroying the life E 50 DIALOGUES ON of God in your soul, and depriving yourself of many blessings. For these and such like things so distract and divert the mind from God, that it frequently becomes cold or negligent about vital religion ; exceedingly deficient in warm and affectionate praise ; loses the spirit of prayer and watchfulness ; falls into lightness and trifling ; is carried away from its rest and centre ; gets shorn of its strength, and thus becomes a more easy prey for the lion that goeth about seeking whom he may devour. The Lord may visit you in this state ; yet his visits are likely to be transient, and your soul will advance exceedingly little in the way to heaven. Nothing then is more evident, if it is required of us to perfect holiness in the fear of God, than that it is impossible for us to be entirely devoted to him, while such things cleave to us; and hence you see the necessity of obtaining a higher salvation. B. I sincerely thank you for the observations you have made upon the necessity of my being entirely sanctified, from the consideration of re- maining impurities. I must leave you at present ; but hope to see you again, when I shall be thank- ful for the subject to be resumed. P. Farewell. The Lord be with you ; and “ fulfil in you all the good pleasure of his good- ness, and the work of faith with power/* SANCTIFICATION. 51 DIALOGUE II. B. I have thought closely upon what passed in our last conversation; and, by a careful ex- amination of my own heart, find your interro- gations must, in general, be answered in the affirmative. I am fully satisfied that these evil propensities must be purged away before I can stand with joy in the presence of God. P. It is well that such a discovery is made to you ; but there are other reasons why you should be entirely sanctified, beside those already pro- duced. B . What are they ? P. You are in a world abounding with iniquity ; exposed to numerous temptations from Satan; among apostates, backsliders, false brethren, and lukewarm professors ; among despisers of this sal- vation; in danger from your own imagination, natural slothfulness, wants, fears, and desires. You are in danger of being deceived by your own senses. Your friends may betray you. In short, you are constantly exposed to some temptation, whether at home or abroad, in private or in pub- lic, in your labours or devotions, in prosperity or adversity, in all states, circumstances, or con- ditions ; there is no place free, no Christian is exempt. Now the more you live to God, and e 2 52 DIALOGUES ON under the influence of his Spirit, and the more you are dead to sin, the better you will understand the nature and tendency of Satans devices, and find power to cast them down and trample them under your feet, and to say, with your blessed Saviour, “ The prince of this world cometh, and findeth nothing in me.” B. I believe this : I believe that the more I have of God in me, the more easy and complete my victories must be ; for greater is He who is in us that believe, than he who is in those that believe not. But what other reason do you as- sign to induce me to seek entire sanctification ? P. When you are entirely sanctified, you will be the better fitted for the service of God. The most acceptable services done for his glory are those performed by the holy angels ; and they are so pleasing to him, that our Lord has taught us to pray, that his will may be done by us on earth, as it is done by them in heaven. And the Apostle Paul tells us, that if we purge ourselves from sin and error, we shall be “vessels unto honour, sanctified and meet for the Masters use, and prepared unto every good work.” As you then are laid under the greatest obligations to love and serve God, a sense of the benefits you have received will cause you to desire that the best and most perfect services should be paid him ; and therefore a state of pure love is not only desirable, but highly necessary. SANCTIFICATION. 53 B. This I most readily acknowledge, and ear- nestly desire. P. Another reason why you should seek this blessing is, it will render you more useful to others. The Lord says, “ Them that honour me, I will honour;” and the Christian considers, that, next to the approbation of God, there can be no greater honour put upon him than to be em- ployed in doing good to others. The more holy you are, the more effectual will your prayers be with God, both for your family, the church, and the world. Your advice and example will have a more powerful influence upon all around you, and greater thanksgiving will ascend to God for his exceeding grace on your account. What a number of examples have we in the Scriptures, of holy men of God, who have averted the divine displeasure from persons ripe for destruction, ulti- mately brought blessings upon families and nations, and have given cause for millions to praise God that such persons were ever born ! Aim, then, my friend, to be, in the fullest sense of the w T ord, “ the salt of the earth, the light of the world, a servant of the church, and the glory of Christ.” B. I greatly approve of this. I would be useful. It is one end of my being. And, as the more holy I am, the more useful I am likely to be, I trust that I shall not be satisfied till I awake up after the likeness of my beneficent Redeemer. What other reason have you to assign ? e 3 54 DIALOGUES ON P. This, — the more holy you are, the more happy you .will be. When the cause of human misery is removed from your heart, its effects will cease. The good things of the Spirit will no longer be kept from you. In his light you will see light, and gaze with inexpressible pleasure on your Lord and Saviour : while the transforming influence of the Holy Ghost will change your grateful soul into the same image from glory to glory, and fill you unutterably full of happiness and God. For “ the work of righteousness shall be peace ; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever.” The love which the Apostle speaks of in his Epistle to the Corinthians being brought into your soul, you will have a foretaste of future felicity ; for what a poet says of liberty, with a little alteration, may be said of this precious love of God : “ Hail, Liberty, thou goddess heavenly bright, Profuse of bliss, and pregnant with delight ; Immortal pleasures in thy presence reign; And smiling plenty leads thy virgin train ; Thou mak’st the smiling face of nature gay, Giv’st beauty to the sun, and pleasure to the day.” P. This is glorious indeed ; but how does this agree with, “ It is through much tribulation ye must enter the kingdom ? ” P. I do not mean that such a state of happiness is to be perfect and uninterrupted. It is not to be expected here. Where so many contrary winds SANCTIFICATION. 55 are frequently blowing, it is no wonder that the surface of the soul, like the troubled sea, should sometimes be agitated, though its waters are pure ; yet it may be truly said, though there may be a suspension of joy, yet the regular progress of the soul need not be retarded by its trials and conflicts, however various they may be ; love and peace lie there at too great a depth to be destroyed? while the eye remains single. As soon as the temptation ceases, things continue as they were, and the real believer is again enabled to rejoice, pray, and give thanks : and his state was no worse in the sight of God when in trouble, than when at rest ; any more than the blessed Jesus was less beloved of his Father when sweating blood in the garden, or pouring it forth on the accursed tree ; and when the fight is over, and the victory ob- tained, there is additional love and joy communi- cated from the fulness of your Lord. B. I am satisfied. The will of God is best : if we met with no difficulties, this life could not be called a state of trial ; and if they tend to increase our conformity to the Lord Jesus, I do not see how we can expect, or desire, to be exempt from them. P. Remember that word, “ Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness : now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous ; nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable 56 DIALOGUES ON fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby.” But I have one more reason to assign for entire sanctification : and that is, the more you are devoted to God on earth, the more glorious and happy you will be in heaven. The stars do not differ more in their degrees of brightness, than the saints in their different degrees of glory in the heavenly state. “ Every man shall be rewarded according to his works.” Think then, my friend, of the prize before you. Let no man take your crown. If you wish to be near the throne, among the most holy, grateful, honourable, and happy spirits, this is the way ; let your whole life, and every part of it, be devoted to God, and you will have the brighter, clearer, and fuller discoveries of himself and his infinite perfections to all eternity. You see then, from what has been said, that this salvation is so necessary in itself, that without it we cannot be admitted into the divine presence ; and with it we shall be blessed ourselves, be a blessing to others, more abundantly honour and glorify God, and be more gloriously rewarded in the world to come. B. Yes; I see enough to encourage me to pro- ceed in the pursuit of this great salvation. P. I am glad to observe your fervent desire after it : I will therefore endeavour to set before you the encouragements you have to be more de- sirous of obtaining it. These are from the nature of God ; his hatred and punishment of sin in the SANCTIFICATION. 57 angels ; his first design in man ; in the punish- ment of his rebellion ; in the coming of Christ ; by his choice of the most holy persons for his service ; in his commands to observe it ; in his promises for the attainment of it ; by the prayers offered up for it ; the many examples given us of its possessors ; the design of the Gospel ministry ; the nature of its rewards ; the remarks and exhor- tations concerning it; the love which the Lord bears to you as a living member of his mystical body ; and from the preparation which he has wrought in you already for obtaining this blessing. 1. From the nature of God. “ He is holy; glorious in holiness, without iniquity; righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.” He is perfectly independent of all creatures, receiving no addition to his happiness, but every moment com- municating from his fulness a rich supply to each. As his happiness is therefore from himself alone, must it not arise from the contemplation of his own most holy nature and perfections ; from that complete and inexpressible rectitude which he pos- sesses in himself? This being the source of his infinite complacency and delight, must he not approve of his own image in his creatures ? Un- doubtedly he must. This then is great encour- agement for you to desire that with which he is so well pleased ; that, being “ created after him in righteousness and true holiness,” you may re- semble him for ever. 58 DIALOGUES ON 2. His hatred and punishment qf sin in the angels who kept not their first estate* These were once pure and holy spirits, observant of his will, and rejoicing in his presence ; but falling into sin, they were banished from before his throne with- out recall, and are now “ reserved in everlasting chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” If sin in them was so hateful in his sight as to bring those dreadful marks of his displeasure, it certainly must be acceptable to him that you should desire a full deliverance from so great an evil, and it must be his will and pleasure that your desire should be speedily and fully accom- plished. 3. From his first design in man , who was cre- ated in his own image, and so free from every kind of moral defilement, that his all- comprehending wisdom pronounced him “ very good.” Is he, then, “ the Father of lights, with whom is no variable- ness, neither shadow of turning?” Surely, then, that state of purity which was so pleasing to him when he uttered these words, must be equally pleasing to him now. As he has graciously under- taken to restore you to purity of heart, his will must be your sanctification ; and his willingness again to bless you with the resemblance of him- self must be as great as his power to effect it. 4. The punishment of mans rebellion , though he did not cast him finally away, shows how hate- ful sin is to his holiness and majesty. He was SANCTIFICATION, 59 driven from the fruitful and luxurious plains of paradise, exposed to a thousand evils during the short journey of life, necessitated to die and return to dust, and in danger of being delivered over to the same punishment with the fallen angels ; yea, multitudes, through their obstinacy and unbelief, have actually drunk of the cup of his indignation, being shut out of his everlasting kingdom. As therefore sin is the cause of such disorder and misery, and so exceedingly opposed to God, it must be his good pleasure that his children should be saved from it in all its parts and appearances. He that so pursues his enemy must intend his de- struction. Your desire, then, to be delivered from the body of sin will necessarily meet a hearty wel- come at the throne of grace, where your Redeemer is seated, “ making all things new.” 5. The end of Christ' s coming into the world was “ to save us from our sins ; that we, being delivered from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteous- ness before him all the days of our life.” He sanctified himself, that we might be sanctified through the truth. “ He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” “ He loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or 60 DIALOGUES ON wrinkle, or any such thing ; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” If this was the end of his coming into the world, can that end be an- swered unless you be entirely sanctified ? Has he not power to effect his purpose ? If Satan had power to efface your Lord’s image in you, cannot He destroy all his evil works in your soul ? Un- doubtedly he can. u Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” How sweetly is this exemplified in the case of the leper ! — “ The dire disease had spread Throughout his mortal frame ; He heard of Jesu’s power, and fled To know and prove the same. “ 1 Lord, if thou wilt/ he cried, * Thou canst thy servant heal/ 4 1 will/ at once our Lord replied : Then touch’d, and he was well.” So he will say to you ; and your iniquity shall all be purged away, to your comfort and his glory. 6. We see the same truth in his choice of the most holy persons for his service . “ Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ; and who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart : the Lord hath set apart for himself him that is godly.” From these he chooses his messengers ; these are the most pre- cious in his sight ; these he most delights to ho- nour ; these he makes the most useful to men ; and these he will crown with greater glory for ever. SANCTIFICATION. 61 The most holy, like their blessed Lord, “ love righteousness and hate iniquity and therefore they will be “ anointed with the oil of gladness above their fellows/' both here and hereafter. O, then let it be your only ambition to be as holy as possible, that you may always have the witness that what you do is right. Aim to walk with him, as Enoch ; to fear him, as Noah ; to trust in him, as Abraham ; to meditate upon him, as Isaac ; to wrestle with him, as Jacob ; to submit to his providence, as Joseph; to converse with him, as Moses ; to be bold for him, as J oshua ; to be stead- fast in his cause, as Caleb ; upright as Samuel ; thankful as David ; loving as John ; and zealous as Paul : in a word, to be a follower of them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises ; that, being a Christian in whom is no guile, and having the image deeply stamped upon your soul, you may thus be made meet to be a rich partaker of the glory to be revealed. 7. The Lord has commanded it in a hundred places ; and his authority is not to be disputed. Proud and haughty Pharaohs may say, “ Who is the Lord, that we should obey him ? ” but the obedient Christian should say, “ What the Lord commandeth, that will I do/' If you now are willing to submit, hear his voice from heaven speaking to you in these solemn words : “I am the Almighty God, walk before me, and be thou perfect. Ye shall sanctify yourselves, and ye F 62 DIALOGUES ON shall be holy : for I am holy. Wash you, make you clean. Wash thy heart from wickedness: how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee ? My son, give me thy heart. Make you a new heart and a new spirit. Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect. As he that hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself. Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ. Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump. Ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify God in your body and spirit which are his. Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Put off the old man ; and put on the new, which after God is created in righte- ousness and true holiness. Be filled with the Spirit. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceas- ing. In every thing give thanks ; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Fol- low peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Beloved, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. Serve God with a perfect heart and willing mind," &c. 8. The Lord has graciously 'promised this great blessing ; and what he has promised he will surely make good to you, “ with all his heart and all his soul.* “ Blessed are they that hunger and thirst SANCTIFICATION. 63 after righteousness ; for they shall be filled. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms : and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee ; and shall say, De- stroy them. I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thy offspring. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean : from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you ; and a new spirit will I put within you : and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them. I will also save you from all your unclean- nesses. He shall save his people from their sins. He will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” And let it be here observed, that all the pro- mises of God are made and given to believers, that they may be made meet for heaven by partaking of the divine nature ; and then be put in actual possession of the incorruptible inheritance. It is not possible that any thing that defiles should enter those most holy mansions ; for the felicity of hea- ven consists in our union with God, who abhors F 2 64 DIALOGUES ON iniquity, and will not suffer evil to unite with his spotless nature. O how exceedingly great and precious are the promises of our God ! And they are all “yea and amen in Christ Jesus” to those who believe. 9. I will next remind you of the prayers offered up for the attainment of it. These holy persons who thus petitioned for the unspeakable gift for others, or for themselves, prayed in the Holy Ghost, and according to the divine will ; you may there- fore ask, if necessary, in the same words, and expect the answer to your unspeakable comfort. Our blessed Lord prayed for his disciples, “ Sanctify them through thy truth ; ” and has taught us to pray that the will of our heavenly Father may be done on earth as it is in heaven ; which shows that we should be fully conformed to him in all things. His servants have also said many things of the same import, requesting such a fulness of grace as might renew the soul in true holiness and love. Hear the great Apostle of the Gentiles: “I bow my knees to the God and Fa- ther of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man ; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith : that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height • and to know the love of Christ, which passeth SANCTIFICATION. 65 knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men: to the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God. The very God of peace sanctify you wholly ; and I pray God that your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The God of all grace, who hath called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, and settle you.” More might be added, but these are suf- ficient to show you what you may plead at the throne of grace. May the Lord “ fulfil in you all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. And grant unto you, that being delivered out of the hands of your enemies, you may serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of your life.” 10. You may also take encouragement from those who are said to enjoy this blessing. As the privileges of the Christian dispensation are so much greater than any that preceded it, (the least in the kingdom of heaven being greater than John the Baptist, though the greatest of the Pro- phets,) I shall speak chiefly of New Testament believers. We read, that all who were assembled on the f 3 66 DIALOGUES ON day of Pentecost were “ filled with the Holy Ghost and afterwards, when the number of disciples was increased, it is said, that, after the prayer offered up concerning the trial of Peter and John, they were 46 all filled with the Holy Ghost,” spake the word with boldness, and were all of one heart and one soul; perfectly united in mind, judgment, and affection. St. Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, says of himself, and his fellow-labourers, that they walked “ holily, justly, and unblameably among them.” In the Epistle to the Hebrews it is observed, that “ he who sanctifieth and they who are sanc- tified are all of one ^nature]: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.” St. Peter calls the believers to whom he wrote,