us the Spirit of adoption. He redeemed us from death, and God gives us the kingdom.

But, are not these blessings of justification ' and sanctification, in their nature, essentially dif'ferent? Is not the one, as our catechism very

properly defines it, the act of God's free grace 'towards us; the other, of God's free grace in us? Is not the one a complete act, the other a progressive work?'

Justification is God's act towards us, sanctification the work of God's grace in us. I do not understand this distinction of act and work, nor do I believe it to be scriptural. We are justified by faith; and it is God who fulfils in us the good pleasure of his will, and the work of faith with power. This is the work of God, that we believe on him whom he hath sent. God brings his righteousness near to the sinner; he imputes it to him, and covers him with it. It is God that justifieth; and this he calls, not his act, but his work: "Thy people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever; the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified."

Is not the one a complete act, the other a progressive work?'

I believe all God's work is perfect; nothing can be added to it, to make it more so; nor taken from it, to make it less so: and that the weakest believer who holds the head is God's complete workmanship, and is complete in Christ; though,

as considered in the body, he hath not already attained, neither is he already perfect, because he hath not attained unto the resurrection of the dead, Phil. iii. 11, 12. As to sanctification being a progressive work, it is best to consent to the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ, lest we set poor, weak believers, to inquiring how long this progressive work is to be on the wheels, what part of it is wrought, what measure of it is required, and how much remains to be done: and, like Sarah, with her bondwoman, they begin to forward the business by the works of the flesh, instead of lying passive to be worked on: "He that believeth shall not make haste;" but, "he that hasteneth with his feet, sinneth."

We read of a growth in grace and knowledge, of a building up on our most holy faith, and of growing up into Christ Jesus, and that in all things. This growth ought to be enforced, without limiting the work of sanctification to a lingering progress. We may warrantably assert, that sanctification, as well as justification, is God's work, and sometimes an instantaneous work. The thief on the cross was justified, and made meet for paradise, in a few hours. If God cuts short his work in righteousness, he does it in holiness also: "There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days; for the child shall die an hundred years old." Whom God calls he justifies, sanctifies, and defends : "And he that is feeble among them at that day,

shall be as David; and the house of David as God, as the angel of the Lord before him." These things will lead the babe in grace to be thankful for what God has done; and teach him to submit to his sovereign will, whether it be for a quick dispatch or a gradual progress.

'Few will deny the necessity of personal holi'ness and good works; but there are many who,

by their doctrine, degrade both the one and the 'other, and brand those with legality who express 'the least concern about them.'

If, by personal holiness, you mean the indwelling of the Holy Ghost in believers, as well as Christ being made sanctification to them in the purpose and covenant of God, you speak right; but, if you mean any kind of holiness, internal or external, which God is not the efficient cause of, it is something in opposition to what is called true holiness, which is either ceremonial or conceited. It is best to leave the word personal out of the question, lest ignorant people deify themselves, as there is none holy but the Lord; and call believers holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, and of the Spirit of Christ; and say, that the bodies of God's saints are the temples of the Holy Ghost; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them. And whosoever denies this, either in heart, life, or doctrine, is a subject of the devil's kingdom; for, except a man be born again of the Holy Ghost, he cannot see, much less enter into, the kingdom of God.

Surely no good man, by his doctrine, will degrade good works. Good works are things that are profitable unto men; and, as self is the main concern of most men, they seldom degrade those by whom self is profited. "Every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts." But any faithful minister may degrade a mere pretender to good works, as the Saviour did the Pharisees: Whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not after their works, for they say, and do not. If people are branded with legality for expressing any concern about good works, it is to be feared that they are not so concerned to perform them as they are to express them. Good works are never dumb, nor do they want a trumpeter. Many good works Christ shewed from his Father, and told the recipients of his mercies to conceal their benefits; but, the more he charged them, the more they spread it abroad. Good works will praise the workman in the gates, without obliging him to sound his own trumpet. He has nothing to do but to go on with his works of faith and labours of love; all who partake of his benefits will bear witness of their benefactor's charity, even before the churches. He who degrades the works of faith is a daring rebel; and he that expresses a concern about them, and never performs, is a varnished hypocrite.

'If any man be in Christ, he is a new creaWithout holiness no man shall see the 'Lord. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth

'ture.

'not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is ' not in him.'

Can any man be in favour, in covenant, and in union with Christ, and not be a new creature? And can any man be a new creature, and be without holiness? And is there any other way of being sanctified, or made holy, than by being made a partaker of Christ, who is our sanctification; and by the Spirit, who renews and sanctifies all that believe? for we receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Does an external observation of, and conformity to, the letter of the law, perform this? Or, do the works of faith, labours of love, and patience of hope, spring from this new creation in Christ, and from the prolific and renewing operations of the Holy Ghost? It is God who creates us anew, sanctifies us, and works in us both to will and to do; and such souls can just as soon live in sin, and without the performance of good works, as the Spirit of God can fail from the elect, or his covenant of promise be broken, which saith, They shall never cease from yielding fruit."

'He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not 'his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not ' in him.'

It is necessary, Sir, to tell believers what you mean by his commandments: Whether you mean the letter of Moses's law, which killeth, 2 Cor. iii. 6; or whether you mean the Father's commandment by Christ, which is life everlasting, John xii. 50. Because there is a material difference be