that they are 〃elect through sanctificationchosen unto salvation
through sanctificationpredestinated to be conformed to the image of
God's Sonand chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world that
they should be holy。〃Hence； when St。 Paul saw the working 〃faith〃 and
labouring 〃love〃 and patient 〃hope〃 of the Thessalonian believers； he
says； 〃I know your election of God。〃 （1 Peter i。 2； 2 Thess。 ii。 13；
Rom。 viii。 29； Eph。 i。 4； 1 Thess。 i。 3； 4。） He that boasts of being
one of God's elect； while he is wilfully and habitually living in sin；
is only deceiving himself； and talking wicked blasphemy。 Of course it
is hard to know what people really are； and many who make a fair show
outwardly in religion； may turn out at last to be rotten…hearted
hypocrites。 But where there is not； at least； some appearance of
sanctification； we may be quite certain there is no election。 The
Church Catechism correctly and wisely teaches that the Holy Ghost
〃sanctifieth all the elect people of God。〃
（5） Sanctification； again； is a thing that will always be seen。 Like
the Great Head of the Church； from whom it springs； it 〃cannot be hid。〃
〃Every tree is known by his own fruit。〃 （Luke vi。 44。） A truly
sanctified person may be so clothed with humility； that he can see in
himself nothing but infirmity and defects。 Like Moses； when he came
down from the Mount； he may not be conscious that his face shines。 Like
the righteous； in the mighty parable of the sheep and the goats； he may
not see that he has done anything worthy of his Master's notice and
mendation： 〃When saw we Thee an hungered； and fed Thee？〃 （Matt。 xxv。
37。） But whether he sees it himself or not； others will always see in
him a tone； and taste； and character； and habit of life unlike that of
other men。 The very idea of a man being 〃sanctified；〃 while no holiness
can be seen in his life； is flat nonsense and a misuse of words。 Light
may be very dim； but if there is only a spark in a dark room it will be
seen。 Life may be very feeble； but if the pulse only beats a little； it
will be felt。 It is just the same with a sanctified man： his
sanctification will be something felt and seen； though he himself may
not understand it。 A 〃saint〃 in whom nothing can be seen but
worldliness or sin； is a kind of monster not recognised in the Bible！
（6） Sanctification； again； is a thing for which every believer is
responsible。 In saying this I would not be mistaken。 I hold as strongly
as anyone that every man on earth is accountable to God； and that all
the lost will be speechless and without excuse at the last day。 Every
man has power to 〃lose his own soul。〃 （Matt。 xvi。 26。） But while I hold
this； I maintain that believers are eminently and peculiarly
responsible； and under a special obligation to live holy lives。 They
are not as others； dead and blind and unrenewed： they are alive unto
God； and have light and knowledge； and a new principle within them。
Whose fault is it if they are not holy； but their own？ On whom can they
throw the blame if they are not sanctified； but themselves？ God； who
has given them grace and a new heart； and a new nature； has deprived
them of all excuse if they do not live for His praise。 This is a point
which is far too much forgotten。 A man who professes to be a true
Christian； while he sits still； content with a very low degree of
sanctification （if indeed he has any at all）； and coolly tells you he
〃can do nothing；〃 is a very pitiable sight； and a very ignorant man。
Against this delusion let us watch and be on our guard。 The Word of God
always addresses its precepts to believers as accountable and
responsible beings。 If the Saviour of sinners gives us renewing grace；
and calls us by His Spirit； we may be sure that He expects us to use
our grace； and not to go to sleep。 It is forgetfulness of this which
causes many believers to 〃grieve the Holy Spirit；〃 and makes them very
useless and unfortable Christians。
（7） Sanctification； again； is a thing which admits of growth and
degrees。 A man may climb from one step to another in holiness； and be
far more sanctified at one period of his life than another。 More
pardoned and more justified than he is when he first believes； he
cannot be； though he may feel it more。 More sanctified he certainly may
be； because every grace in his new character may be strengthened；
enlarged； and deepened。 This is the evident meaning of our Lord's last
prayer for His disciples； when He used the words； 〃Sanctify them〃； and
of St。 Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians； 〃The very God of peace
sanctify you。〃 （John xvii。 17； 1 Thess。 iv。 3。） In both cases the
expression plainly implies the possibility of increased sanctification；
while such an expression as 〃justify them〃 is never once in Scripture
applied to a believer； because he cannot be more justified than he is。
I can find no warrant in Scripture for the doctrine of 〃imputed
sanctification。〃 It is a doctrine which seems to me to confuse things
that differ； and to lead to very evil consequences。 Not least； it is a
doctrine which is flatly contradicted by the experience of all the most
eminent Christians。 If there is any point on which God's holiest saints
agree it is this： that they see more； and know more； and feel more； and
do more； and repent more； and believe more； as they get on in spiritual
life； and in proportion to the closeness of their walk with God。 In
short； they 〃grow in grace；〃 as St。 Peter exhorts believers to do； and
〃abound more and more；〃 according to the words of St。 Paul。 （2 Pet。
iii。 18； 1 Thess。 iv。 1。）
（8） Sanctification； again； is a thing which depends greatly on a
diligent use of Scriptural means。 When I speak of 〃means；〃 I have in
view Bible…reading； private prayer； regular attendance on public
worship； regular hearing of God's Word； and regular reception of the
Lord's Supper。 I lay it down as a simple matter of fact； that no one
who is careless about such things must ever expect to make much
progress in sanctification。 I can find no record of any eminent saint
who ever neglected them。 They are appointed channels through which the
Holy Spirit conveys fresh supplies of grace to the soul； and
strengthens the work which He has begun in the inward man。 Let men call
this legal doctrine if they please； but I will never shrink from
declaring my belief that there are no 〃spiritual gains without pains。〃
I should as soon expect a farmer to prosper in business who contented
himself with sowing his fields and never looking at them till harvest；
as expect a believer to attain much holiness who was not diligent about
his Bible…reading； his prayers； and the use of his Sundays。 Our God is
a God who works by means； and He will never bless the soul of that man
who pretends to be so high and spiritual that he can get on without
them。
（9） Sanctification； again； is a thing which does not prevent a man
having a great deal of inward spiritual conflict。 By conflict I mean a
struggle within the heart between the old nature and the new； the flesh
and the spirit； which are to be found together in every believer。 （Gal。
v。 17。） A deep sense of that struggle； and a vast amount of mental
disfort from it； are no proof that a man is not sanctified。 Nay；
rather； I believe they are healthy symptoms of our condition； and prove
that we are not dead； but alive； A true Christian is one who has not
only peace of conscience； but war within。 He may be known by his
warfare as well as by his peace。 In saying this； I do not forget that I
am contradicting the views of some well…meaning Christians； who hold
the doctrine called 〃sinless perfection。〃 I cannot help that。 I believe
that what I say is confirmed by the language of St。 Paul in the seventh
chapter of Romans。 That chapter I mend to the careful study of all
my readers。 I am quite satisfied that it does not describe the
experience of an unconverted man； or of a young and unestablished
Christian； but of an old experienced saint in close munion with God。
None but such a man could say； 〃I delight in the law of God after the
inward man。〃 （Rom。 vii。 22。） I believe； furthermore； that what I say is
proved by the experience of all the most eminent servants of Christ
that have ever lived。 The full proof is to be seen in their journals；
their autobiographies； and their lives。Believing all this； I shall
never hesitate to tell people that inward conflict is no proof that a
man is not holy； and that they must not think they are not sanctified
because they do not feel entirely free from inward struggle。 Such
freedom we shall doubtless have in heaven； but we shall never enjoy it
in this world。 The heart of the best Christian； even at his best； is a
field occupied by two rival camps； and the 〃pany of two armies。〃
（Cant。 vi。 13。） Let the words of the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Articles