sanctification have been brought before us。 What practical reflections
ought the whole matter to raise in our minds？
（1） For one thing； let us all awake to a sense of the perilous state of
many professing Christians。 〃Without holiness no man shall see the
Lord〃； without sanctification there is no salvation。 （Heb。 xii。 14。）
Then what an enormous amount of so…called religion there is which is
perfectly useless！ What an immense proportion of church…goers and
chapel…goers are in the broad road that leadeth to destruction！ The
thought is awful； crushing； and overwhelming。 Oh； that preachers and
teachers would open their eyes and realize the condition of souls
around them！ Oh； that men could be persuaded to 〃flee from the wrath to
e 〃！ If unsanctified souls can be saved and go to heaven； the Bible
is not true。 Yet the Bible is true and cannot lie！ What must the end
be！
（2） For another thing； let us make sure work of our own condition； and
never rest till we feel and know that we are 〃sanctified〃 ourselves。
What are our tastes； and choices； and likings； and inclinations？ This
is the great testing question。 It matters little what we wish； and what
we hope； and what we desire to be before we die。 Where are we now？ What
are we doing？ Are we sanctified or not？ If not； the fault is all our
own。
（3） For another thing； if we would be sanctified； our course is clear
and plainwe must begin with Christ。 We must go to Him as sinners；
with no plea but that of utter need； and cast our souls on Him by
faith； for peace and reconciliation with God。 We must place ourselves
in His hands； as in the hands of a good physician； and cry to Him for
mercy and grace。 We must wait for nothing to bring with us as a
remendation。 The very first step towards sanctification； no less
than justification； is to e with faith to Christ。 We must first live
and then work。
（4） For another thing； if we would grow in holiness and bee more
sanctified； we must continually go on as we began； and be ever making
fresh applications to Christ。 He is the Head from which every member
must be supplied。 （Ephes。 iv。 16。） To live the life of daily faith in
the Son of God； and to be daily drawing out of His fulness the promised
grace and strength which He has laid up for His peoplethis is the
grand secret of progressive sanctification。 Believers who seem at a
standstill are generally neglecting close munion with Jesus； and so
grieving the Spirit。 He that prayed； 〃Sanctify them；〃 the last night
before His crucifixion； is infinitely willing to help everyone who by
faith applies to Him for help； and desires to be made more holy。
（5） For another thing； let us not expect too much from our own hearts
here below。 At our best we shall find in ourselves daily cause for
humiliation； and discover that we are needy debtors to mercy and grace
every hour。 The more light we have； the more we shall see our own
imperfection。 Sinners we were when we began； sinners we shall find
ourselves as we go on； renewed； pardoned； justifiedyet sinners to the
very last。 Our absolute perfection is yet to e； and the expectation
of it is one reason why we should long for heaven。
（6） Finally； let us never be ashamed of making much of sanctification；
and contending for a high standard of holiness。 While some are
satisfied with a miserably low degree of attainment； and others are not
ashamed to live on without any holiness at allcontent with a mere
round of church…going and chapel…going； but never getting on； like a
horse in a milllet us stand fast in the old paths； follow after
eminent holiness ourselves； and remend it boldly to others。 This is
the only way to be really happy。
Let us feel convinced； whatever others may say； that holiness is
happiness； and that the man who gets through life most fortably is
the sanctified man。 No doubt there are some true Christians who from
ill…health； or family trials； or other secret causes； enjoy little
sensible fort； and go mourning all their days on the way to heaven。
But these are exceptional cases。 As a general rule； in the long run of
life； it will be found true that 〃sanctified〃 people are the happiest
people on earth。 They have solid forts which the world can neither
give nor take away。 〃The ways of wisdom are ways of
pleasantness。〃〃Great peace have they that love Thy law。〃It was said
by One who cannot lie； 〃My yoke is easy； and my burden is light。〃But
it is also written； 〃There is no peace unto the wicked。〃 （Prov iii。 17；
Ps。 cxix。 165； Matt。 xi。 30； Is。 xlviii。 22。）
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P。 S。
THE subject of sanctification is of such deep importance； and the
mistakes made about it so many and great； that I make no apology for
strongly remending 〃Owen on the Holy Spirit〃 to all who want to
study more thoroughly the whole doctrine of sanctification。 No single
paper like this can embrace it all。
I am quite aware that Owen's writings are not fashionable in the
present day； and that many think fit to neglect and sneer at him as a
Puritan！ Yet the great divine who in monwealth times was Dean of
Christ Church； Oxford； does not deserve to be treated in this way。 He
had more learning and sound knowledge of Scripture in his little finger
than many who depreciate him have in their whole bodies。 I assert
unhesitatingly that the man who wants to study experimental theology
will find no books equal to those of Owen and some of his
contemporaries； for plete； Scriptural； and exhaustive treatment of
the subjects they handle。
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＇5＇ There is mention in the Scripture of a twofold sanctification； and
consequently in a twofold holiness。 The first is mon unto persons
and things； consisting of the peculiar dedication； consecration； or
separation of them unto the service of God； by His own appointment；
whereby they bee holy。 Thus the priests and Levites of old； the ark；
the altar； the tabernacle； and the temple； were sanctified and made
holy； and； indeed； in all holiness whatever； there is a peculiar
dedication and separation unto God。 But in the sense mentioned； this
was solitary and alone。 No more belonged unto it but this sacred
separation； nor was there any other effect of this sanctification。 But；
secondly； there is another kind of sanctification and holiness； wherein
this separation to God is not the first thing done or intended； but a
consequent and effect thereof。 This is real and internal； by the
municating of a principle of holiness unto our natures； attended
with its exercise in acts and duties of holy obedience unto God。 This
is that which we inquire after。〃John Owen on the Holy Spirit。 Vol。
iii； p。 370； Works； Goold's edition。
＇6＇ 〃The devil's war is better than the devil's peace。 Suspect dumb
holiness。 When the dog is kept out of doors he howls to be let in
again。〃〃Contraries meeting； such as fire and water； conflict one with
another。When Satan findeth a sanctified heart； he tempteth with much
importunity。 Where there is much of God and of Christ； there are strong
injections and firebrands cast in at the windows； so that some of much
faith have been tempted to doubt。〃Rutherford's Trial of Faith； p。
403。
＇7＇ 〃There is no imagination wherewith man is besotted； more foolish；
none so pernicious； as this；that persons not purified； not
sanctified； not made holy in their life； should afterwards be taken
into that state of blessedness which consists in the enjoyment of God。
Neither can such persons enjoy God； nor would God be a reward to
them。Holiness indeed is perfected in heaven： but the beginning of it
is invariably confined to this world。〃Owen on Holy Spirit； p。 575。
Goold's edition。
＇8＇ 〃Christ in the Gospel is proposed to us as our pattern and example
of holiness； and as it is a cursed imagination that this was the whole
end of his life and death： namely； to exemplify and confirm the
doctrine of holiness which He taughtso to neglect His being our
example； in considering Him by faith to that end； and labouring after
conformity to Him； is evil and pernicious。 Wherefore let us be much in
the contemplation of what He was； and what He did； and how in all
duties and trials He carried Himself； until an image or idea of His
perfect holiness is implanted in our minds； and we are made like unto
Him thereby。〃Owen on the Holy Ghost； p。 513。 Goold's edition。
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III。
HOLINESS
〃Holiness； without which no man shall see the Lord。〃Heb。 xii。 14。
The text which heads this page opens up a subject of deep importance。
That subject is practical holiness。 It suggests a question which
demands the attention of all professing ChristiansAre we holy？ Shall
we see the Lord？
That q