be unacquainted with the great things God would do for them if they would only believe. They are in the condition of a man who was half starving on a poor farm while, unknown to him, there was a valuable mine underneath. When this became known to him, and he was assisted to work it, he went, almost at a bound, from poverty to wealth. The "riches of grace "" are within the reach of many sincere disciples, if they only knew it, and would comply with the conditions. Have these things been clearly made known? Is the ministry quite clear in this matter? Has it declared "the whole counsel of God," and "striven mightily to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus ? " If there had been no more definite preaching on the subject of justification by faith than there has been on entire sanctification by faith, is it thought that we should have as many witnesses as we have at present, who testify that forgiveness of sins is a reality in their experience. Yet purity is as surely a blessing of the new covenant, provided by grace and obtainable by faith, as is pardon. Two centuries ago a person would, in most circles, be thought guilty of presumption who confessed that God had, for Christ's sake, pardoned all the sins of his past life. But the general preaching of the doctrine of justification by faith, and the number of witnesses who by lip and life testify that by heartily embracing the author of this grace they are different from their former selves, has obtained for it general acceptance, if not in the hearts, yet in the creeds of men. There is at present a pretty general confession that the Church is living far beneath her privileges, and that there is something vastly better for her if she will only seek it. There is something better, a definite good which she is to receive "after" she believes, "after the Holy Ghost has come upon her. "Speaking of a good to come to those who are already Christians, the Word of 66 vii. God thus expresses it:-"From all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you." "Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.". "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." "I will put my laws into their minds, and write them in their hearts; and 1 will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be the partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust." "I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it." Now, why should it be thought a thing incredible for God to fulfill these promises? He has in all ages fulfilled them to all who have believed with their hearts unto righteousness. He is fulfilling them at this day, and is working a work which some will not believe though it be declared unto them. There are others waiting for evidence who may be assisted by the testimony of living witnesses who have received this grace, and for their benefit the following witnesses are called to give evidence. Our faith does not stand in the testimony of man, but in the power of God; yet the testimony of credible witnesses very greatly assists faith. The persons who have volunteered to testify for their Lord are well known in the churches which were privileged to recognize them. Some have already finished their course in triumph, and others remain, by God's grace, the very life of the churches with which they are associated. Mrs. Palmer has lately passed to the Church triumphant. Friends were gathered around her bed to witness her closing hours-life's labour was done-she was ready for the bridegroom, and had nothing to do but pronounce the benediction. As she passed away she said, "The blessing of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost abide with you for ever. Amen." Entire Sanctification, is it ever received at the same time as pardon? 9 Faith, without regard to feeling Full Salvation, gives power for suffering and trial Holy Lives, power of Lukewarm Churches, evil influence of Ministers of the Gospel, call to ... 13, 76, 84 28, 30, 52, 63, 64, 72, 79, 85 62, 72 74 41 43, 59 43, 50 37, 56, 65, 70 11, 17, 41 15, 78 Rogers, H. A., life alluded to ... Sign-seekers, a word to Salvation Full, conditions of 13, 23, 37, 44, 46, 53, 84 Scepticism, as to a distinct blessing subsequent to pardon Temptation, a common one Trials, &c., do not prevent communion with God ... 42, 54, 67 40, 77 18, 33, 71 PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. I.-BY REV. E. W. BEARD. I WAS powerfully converted to God December 28, 1854. The time, the place, and the circumstances are written upon my memory, never to be erased in time or eternity. So powerful was the baptism of the Spirit which I then received that my soul was not only filled, but my whole being seemed pervaded with the divine influence. And if there be such a thing as entire sanctification in and at the same moment with justification,-which to me seems doubtful,—I have reason to believe that I was then made partaker of both blessings. Whether it were the former or both, it was all that the body seemed capable of containing. If it were both, I did not long retain the latter, as my following experience will show. Nearly one year previous to my conversion the memoir of Carvosso fell into my hands, and while perusing its contents I became convinced that he was a model Christian; and I very much desired to be like him, which led me to carefully observe the manner in which he was by the Spirit led into the way of all truth. He speaks of his conversion as being genuine beyond a doubt; and for the space of three months he floated upon the sea of redeeming love. After this his peace was disturbed by inward enemies, which began to make no small stir. And upon due examination he discovered the roots of sin were still remaining in his heart. "Alas!" he says, "what a work was to be done!" He then fled to the word of God, as the man of his counsel, and, unaided by any human agency, found the promises of full salvation, claimed the fulfilment of the same, and was made the happy recipient of perfect love. From that time his holy march seemed onward, ever walking in the path that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Scores of B believers were led into the shining way by the light which he reflected, while thousands of sinners were pierced to the heart by the burning accents which fell from his inspired lips. Such was the piety of the now sainted Carvosso, and such was the piety that I desired when I became a seeker. Nothing seemed more detestable to me than a half-hearted or backslidden Christian, many of which were then living around me. Why so many of the professed children of God walked like unto the children of disobedience had to me been a mystery. I had learned from the Bible and the sacred desk that it was the duty and privilege of Christians to grow better, wiser, and happier as they advanced in life; and most certainly, I thought, if this were true, every Christian would guard against sin, and secure all the means calculated for his advancement in the spiritual race. But, alas! few, comparatively, seemed to embrace this privilege. And if religion made men happy, as many of these had often declared, why did they not labour for more of it, recommend it, and exhibit it in their daily walk? This was a question in my mind unanswered, until my eyes fell upon the above portion of Carvosso's experience. This explained it. They remained in the arbour of their first love until they fell asleep, during which time they were shorn of their strength by the enemy, and chained down with unbelief. If they had, like Carvosso, left the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, and gone on to perfection, they might, like him, have been living epistles, known and read of all men. With these views I had determined to be an Israelite indeed, in whose heart there should be no guile. Consequently when I became a seeker of religion, nearly a year afterwards, I had the two doctrines, i.e. justification and sanctification, blended into one, and, without regard to names and distinctions, I sought for both in one. My idea was that if the work were thoroughly done, all inward causes of sin would be removed. Thus, after having one thorough baptism of the Spirit, lest there should remain some roots of bitterness in my heart, I repeated the exercise of faith several times within the same hour, each time receiving the baptism of fire. For many days after a deep, deep peace reigned throughout |