feit the blessing. Grace has saved me! Grace has kept me! Hallelujah to God and the Lamb!"

"Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord." Very many lose the blessing through not witnessing for God by declaring what he hath done for their souls. Their omission of this scriptural duty has grieved the Holy Spirit, who, on account of such ingratitude has withdrawn his hallowing unction. Very many in the church have experienced the truth of this remark to their great grief. The word of God, the relation which one Christian bears to another, and the experience of the best men and women, all insist upon this duty being performed. It can be done by writing to our distant friends, in which way we may do good in the distance. It can be done verbally at home among God's people, where we may kindle a holy fire around us. In these respects the sanctified believer may be "a burning and a shining light," and diffuse the light of full salvation, and scatter the fire of perfect love both far and near.

Allow me to appeal to your reason and judgment.-Was the cure of your sinful disease and restoration to God's image of love, a less blessing than the dispossession of the legion of devils and deliverance of the man among the tombs? No, it was by far a greater salvation! Then why not "show how great things God hath done for thee " Men are scarcely ever so happy as when they are declaring their temporal exploits, and is it at all reasonable and in keeping with the spirit of Christianity that we should hold our tongues as to our spiritual success, which is ten thousand times more worthy of being spoken of? Many have done violence to their feelings in refusing to witness to God's honour, who commands-" Declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted." True it may excite the wonder and contempt of some carnal professors

who have no relish for such a blessing; but does that alter our duty? Certainly not. On the other hand, it would excite the encouragement and joy of many sincere seekers, who groan to be set free from sin and filled with God. By this very means hundreds have been led to the fountain.

I ask again, are you under less obligation to declare the goodness and grace of God to your soul than was David, Asaph, Habakkuk, the man before referred to, Saul of Tarsus, St. John, and others? I am persuaded that you are not. It is your duty as much as their's, and if you perform it not you will lose your enjoyments, though you fall not into any wilful sin. God says, "Ye are my witnesses." It is a great thing is salvation from sin-declare it! It is a noble work to witness for such an one as JEHOVAH-Confess him! The stillness of Christians is the dearth of the church! If you put your light under a bushel, it will soon go out for want of air. What a thought, that infidels are bold in witnessing for the devil, and Christians are shy in witnessing for Christ! Let us not only light our candle at the fire of redeeming love, but let us also hold it up in the church. Show what we have received, and how we received it.

When an earthly friend confers upon you some remarkable favour, or enriches you with his liberal gifts, you feel obliged by sentiments and feelings of gratitude to acknowledge such kindness. What are your thoughts on such an occasion as this? You think, to be sure, "the best return I can possibly make him for such kindness, is, to acknowledge it both to him and to others, and the contrary would ill become me indeed." And can you be less grateful to God, and less concerned for his honour? He wishes and commands you to be his witness. You must declare your experience, 1. Because it is a fulfilment of his promise. 2. It shows by living example what God can do for those

who believe. 3. It is an inducement to the hungry and thirsty to go and get filled. 4. It glorifies God. If you give way to the serpent when he tempts you to refrain from a grateful acknowledgment of spiritual blessings bestowed, no wonder at all if you are punished with a withdrawal of the holy fire, and coldness and leanness of soul. Rather than give way to the enemy who tempts us to hide the grace of God, you should say, "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." "O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works unto the children of men."

Look into the Bible and behold the happiness of some of the ancient saints who, on all suitable occasions, publicly witnessed for God! Look at the shameful coldness and joylessness of the ungrateful saints of modern times! We have heard it said in many instances, "I once had the blessing of a lean heart and perfect love, and for some time enjoyed a heaven on earth, but not so now: I refused to be a witness to the truth of a sanctifying God, and so lost it by my unfaithfulness." This is the substance of many a complaint. Such persons since they lost the great blessing have been cold and deadening to others, and very often find it exceedingly difficult to rise again. Such unfaithful individuals, in order to receive the blessing again, must determine that they will honour God by being his witnesses. If they can bring their minds to this mark, faith will spring up again, and the cleansing blood soon be felt afresh. Then let heart, tongue, and life, glorify God.

Confessing the blessing to others and declaring our experience of the power of Christ's blood to cleanse from all sin, has stimulated many to faith, love, and good works.

One obtaining the blessing moves another to follow his example. One Christian's happiness and holiness draws others to Christ. Many have exclaimed, "Why, that is just what I want, and if one has obtained it, why may not another?" The result is, he is sanctified through your witnessing for God. This is such an important matter, that the accomplishing of a vast amount of good depends upon it. Do so, and in ninety cases out of a hundred you will be made a blessing both to yourself and others. "And though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord.”

The great day of final account is coming, when we shall have to deliver up our talents—may it be with increase! Tremble at the thought of being ashamed of Christ, his words, his works, his goodness to your soul! Confess him -Declare the virtue of his blood-Witness to his promise and faithfulness-Labour to make others love him, and like him! We must do so if we would keep right. "Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father and his holy angels." Let your obligation to God, your responsibility to his bar, your own soul's prosperity, and the good of the church, move you to be a witness for Christ.

CHAPTER XVI.

BABES AND MEN IN GRACE.

REGENERATION and entire sanctification are not the same thing. A justified believer is perfectly regenerated, but not necessarily perfectly sanctified. Regeneration is no more sanctification, properly considered, than the tender blade shooting out of the soil is the full grown harvest. Some hold that entire sanctification generally lies a long distance away from justification, and expect the young convert to wait a good while before he is made perfect. Others have taught that a man is a perfect Christian when he is justified, that seeking a further cleansing is unnecessary, as all regenerated persons are saved from all sin and filled with love. The former theory is below the truth, and the latter theory is above the truth. The former prevents sincere Christians from being just now perfect in faith, the latter makes uninstructed persons perfect in presumption and enthusiasm. The truth lies in the midst between the two.

Regeneration is an initiation into newness of life, an introduction into the spiritual kingdom of grace, which is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. It is the commencement of spiritual life in the soul; a change of will, disposition, and affection, which gives the life a new turn, and a new tone. It is a blessing which embraces faith in the atonement, pardon of sin, the witness of adoptiɔn