The third measure of the gift of Christ is that given for the personal sanctification of individuals. Now in order to form a clear idea of sanctification, it must be considered, that man, as a fallen creature, stands in need of two things, a deliverance from the guilt of sins past, and an emancipation from the power of sin present and future. The former of these is styled justification, the latter sanctification. The one is performed without a man, by the blood of Christ effectually offered and pleaded for him in the presence of God, upon his repentance and faith; the other is wrought within him, by the Spirit sent into his soul, in consequence, as well as evidence, of its justification. Christ first made the atonement for sin by shedding his blood, then ascended to plead it, and then sent the Spirit. The atonement he made once; but he liveth continually to make intercession for us, by pleading it on our behalf; and as continually to send the Spirit to renew the soul of every sinner, who, by repentance and faith, through the ministration of the church, lays hold on the benefits of that prevailing intercession, and is "accepted in "the beloved." Justification, whensoever granted, must be perfect, because forgiveness cannot be partial; sanctification may be imperfect, and always is so till death, because till then "in many things we "offend all," and still stand in need of fresh justification and forgiveness: else why pray we for it to our last breath, in the words which Christ himself hath taught us, Forgive us our trespasses?" And why said the holy and experienced Augustine, that "the "best posture in which death can find the most per

"fect Christian, is upon his knees, confessing his sins, and entreating forgiveness ?"

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The first portion of sanctifying grace is given at baptism, which, is the seal of justification, and the beginning of sanctification; inasmuch as the sinner being then sacramentally buried with Christ into his death, arises with him in the power of his resurrec→ tion, justified from the guilt of sin through repentance and faith in his blood, and renewed unto holiness by the operation of his Spirit. This total renewal, at first conferred by the baptismal laver, is styled regeneration, and answers, in things natural, to the birth of an infant. But then, as an infant, though born complete in all its parts, yet comes to its full stature and strength by slow and imperceptible degrees; by being supplied with proper kinds of food for its nourishment when in health, and proper medicines for its recovery when otherwise: so is it with the rege nerate spirit of a Christian; while it is (as St. Peter calls it) a babe in Christ, it must be fed with the milk of the word; when it is more grown in grace, with the strong meat of its salutary doctrines; when it is infirm, it must be strengthened by the comforts of its promises; and when sick, or wounded by sin, it must be recovered and restored by godly counsel and wholesome discipline, by penance and absolution, by the medicines of the word and sacraments as duly and properly administered in the church, by the lawfully and regularly appointed delegates and representatives of the Physician of souls. This gradual and complex work of our sanctification, is carried on, through our whole lives, by the Spirit of God

given, in due degree and proportion, to every individual for that purpose. And it is marvellous to behold, as the excellent bishop Andrews observes, how, from the laver of regeneration, to the administration of the Viaticum, this good Spirit helpeth us, and poureth his benefits upon us, having a grace for every season. When we are troubled with erroneous opinions, he is the Spirit of truth; when assaulted with temptations, he is the Spirit of holiness; when dissipated with worldly vanity, he is the Spirit of compunction; when broken with worldly sorrow, he is the Holy Ghost the Comforter. It is he who, after having regenerated us in our baptism, confirms us by the imposition of hands; renews us to repentance, when we fall away; teaches us, all our life long, what we know not; puts us in mind of what we forget; stirs us up when we are dull; helps us in our prayers; relieves us in our infirmities; consoles us in our heaviness; gives songs of joy in the darkest night of sorrow; seals us to the day of our redemption; and raises us up again in the last day; when that which was sown in grace shall be reaped in glory, and the work of sanctification in spirit, soul, and body, shall be completed.-What Christian, that considers this unspeakable gift of God, but must say of him with the Psalmist, "He hath put a new song " in my mouth, even a thanksgiving unto our God?” seeing every one of us may now so properly take up those other words of the same sweet Psalmist; "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the

w Psal. xl. 3.

days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of "the Lord for ever*.

As,

What therefore remains, but that we show forth the thankfulness of our hearts by the holiness of our lives, and live as becometh those whom Christ, having redeemed by his most precious blood, hath sanctified with his most holy Spirit. Seeing Christ our Saviour has bestowed such a gift upon his church, let us never provoke him to take it from us. As it is a gift, let us always be forward to acknowledge as much; not attributing to nature what is due to grace, or robbing the Holy Ghost to adorn reason. though a gift, it is given to every man to profit withal, let us have that day continually in our thoughts, when an account of our profiting will be required; and let us never forget, that the same fire burns for the unprofitable and unbeliever; for him who neglects this gracious gift and for him who rejects it. Since by the ascension of Christ the heavens have been opened, and the Holy Dove has been sent down upon the earth, let us not give sleep to our eyes, nor slumber to our eye-lids, till we have prepared in our hearts an habitation for him. Let pride depart, that it drive not away the Spirit of humility; let anger be put from us, that we quench not the Spirit of meekness and let not that which is unchaste be named or thought of, that we grieve not the Spirit of purity. So shall we be meet entertainers of this heavenly guest, and "to every one of us will be given the gift of "Christ."

But as there are different measures of this gift, let every one take care that he think not more highly of himself, or arrogate more to himself, than he ought; but let him know himself, his station, and his abilities, and think and act soberly, according as God has dealt the measure to him. The God who sent the Spirit is a God of order, and from the beginning "has appointed divers orders in the church," and set different officers in different posts. Let every man therefore, in his own order, do the work allotted him. Let not the layman take upon him the office of a deacon; nor the deacon intrude into the function of the priest; nor the priest usurp the authority of the bishop; much less fancy himself invested with the cecumenical commission of an apostle. Good men have had occasion to lament the calamities that have been brought upon the church, from age to age, through a neglect of this important consideration; a consideration, on which is suspended the felicity of every society in heaven and earth. When the soul of the learned, the pious, the incomparable author of the Ecclesiastical Polity was about to take her flight to the regions of everlasting harmony and love, a friend asked him, what might then be the subject of his contemplations! He replied, that, "he was "meditating the number and nature of angels, and "their blessed obedience and order, without which

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peace could not be in heaven-and, O that it might "be so on earth!" With our endeavours let us add our prayers to his, that our eyes might behold Jerusalem "a city at unity in itself;" a city, on this ac