possess the Spirit of Truth, which shows them the plan of salvation, and the essentials of Gospel religion: thus being qualified by the Holy Ghost to form a correct judgment of these essential matters, they are hard to be drawn aside by the enemies of the truth as it is in Jesus. In minor points the holiest men frequently differ in opinion, and greatly need instruction from others. Read the six first verses of the fourth chapter of St. John's first Epistle, carefully.

The sum and substance of the matter is this: Possessing the anointing from above, we need not the teaching of false prophets, or carnal persons, in spiritual matters.

"We by his Spirit prove,

And know the things of God."

Our oracle is the Holy Ghost. In matters of salvation the Gospel must be consulted, the Spirit of Truth received; and when our experience and lives correspond with the Epistle of John, depend upon it we are altogether right in matters of salvation, however ignorant we may be in nonessentials. "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man" (such as the heretical Gnostics, and judaizers of apostolic times, nor Papists, Unitarians, Antinomians, or Mormons, of modern times) "teach you: but as the same anointing teachyou of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. We know that we are of God by the Spirit which he hath given us." "Be filled with the Spirit."

eth

Now the believer may possess this, and yet in other respects be a most unqualified man. But while he greatly needs instruction in other matters, he is well able to give the most learned some instruction in experimental holiness. Here a peasant may instruct a philosoper, and the most

ignorant man prove the wisest. He cannot give a philosophical account of his sanctification, but he can "confound the wise" by an honest declaration of experimental and practical facts, and such facts as speak volumes in the ears of reasonable men. "God has revealed these things unto babes," and "the wise and prudent" may know them to greater advantage if they would but come down to the same place to learn them-the feet of Jesus.

Every man in this world is liable to err in many things, and often greatly needs the instruction of others. The Holy Spirit often instructs us by means of others, by his servants, as well as by reading his word. Those who profess such a perfection in knowledge as supersedes all instruction of this kind have sooner or later to pay dearly for their pride, madness, and presumption. Let us pray more in the spirit of humility, for the Comforter, and he will lead us into all truth, either directly or indirectly teaching us all things essential.

CHAPTER VIII.

BE PERFECT.

ROMAINE says, "The new covenant runs thus: I will put my law in their inward part.' The Lord here engages to take away the heart of stone, and give us a heart of flesh, upon which he will write the ten commandments. The love of God will open the contracted heart, enlarge the selfish, warm the cold, and bring liberality out of the covetous. When the Holy Spirit teaches brotherly love he overcomes all opposition to it among Christians; he writes upon their hearts the two commandments on which hang all the law and the prophets. The love of God, saith St. Paul, is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us! And to the Thessalonians-Ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another!' Thus he engages the soul to the holy law, and inclines the heart to love obedience. It ceases to be a yoke and a burden. How easy it is to do what one loves. Let love rule in the heart to God and man, his law will then become delightful, and obedience to it will be pleasantness. The soul will run; yea, inspired by love, it will mount up with wings as eagles, in the way of God's commandments. Happy are the people that are in such a state."

An old divine says, Love is the jewel Christ's bride wears; it is the diamond in the ring of graces. This is the grace

that seasons all our actions, and makes all our religious services a sweet odour to God. Prayer is compared to incense. Now, incense, if it be laid on the altar, and have no fire put to it, doth not smell so sweet; the incense of prayer doth not cast such a fragrant smell, unless kindled with this fire of love. Love is the badge and cognizance "By this shall all men know that

of the true Christian.

ye are my disciples, if ye love one another." Not if ye work miracles, but "love one another."

This is the livery

St. Bernard says,

by which ye are known to belong to me.
"Love is the sweet dew which distils from a Christian, and
refresheth all whom it drops upon." Love is the golden
clasp that knits hearts in one; it is the cement that sold-
ers Christians together. St. Paul calls it "the bond of
perfectness ;" and if this bond be broken, all falls to pieces.
"Love is the fulfilling of the law." All the duties con-
tained in the moral law, piety toward God, and equity to-
ward our neighbour, are comprehended in love. Love is all
-embodies all-does all. Be filled with love.

Perfect love promotes and perpetuates peace in the church. It is the antagonist of envy, jealousy, domination, ill-feeling, slander, backbiting, disputings, and unholy strife of every sort. A want of this lies at the foundation

of all our troubles in the church. When a want of love gives rise to unpleasantness among us, a possession of love must set matters straight again.

This is the strong bond of union, harmony, and power, among the followers of Christ. This perfect love is the great simplicity of our religion, and the mysterious mightiness of Christianity. Pure Christians sincerely love one another-will live and die for one another-unite with one another in enjoyment and effort-feel the happiness of the brethren to be interwoven with their own by the golden thread of heaven-born sympathy-bring with them a gra

G

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cious influence into the house of God-are tremendous arguments in favour of Christianity-put a spell upon their unconverted neighbours by their cheerfulness and devotion

-rear up an adamantine barrier, whose front is strong and high, against, the powers of hell; and do more to put down infidelity and immorality than all the disputants in the universe. They may be poor, or they may be rich; they may be meanly clad, or splendidly dressed in richer costume; they may be sovereigns or subjects, dukes, lords, esquires, masters or servants, tradesmen or labourers, or inmates of the union-house; they may be ministers or hearers, philosophers or illiterate persons, tempted, persecuted, afflicted, distressed, penniless; and, while foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, may be without a place to lay their heads to rest; yet all may be perfect in love. All these circumstances are compatible with the blessing. It pushes out all sin, and brings in all holiness. Pray for it. Believe for it. Live it. Get it by the prayer which takes hold by faith. Keep it by the faith which works by love.

Remember, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and thy neighbour as thyself."

As to this blessing being obtained immediately or gradually, this depends upon our conduct when seeking it.

Instantaneously-if we take hold of the promise with a faith that grasps all that is promised, believing that the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin, and expecting to be filled with love just now; under such circumstances the entire sanctification of the soul is instantaneous: in fact, it must indeed be so, from the very nature of the case, and because we are taught that "according to our faith it shall be done unto us." Then believe for it now without doubt

ing, and it is all yours at once. "All things are possible