had been, like myself, "weary, tost with tempest and not comforted." As my supreme attention was thus fixed upon Christ, as it became the great object of my being to know him, and be transformed into his likeness, and as I was perpetually seeking that divine illumination by which I might apprehend him, an era occurred in my experience, which I have no doubt will ever be one of the most memorable in my entire past existence. In a moment of deep and solemn thought, the veil seemed to be lifted, and I had a vision of the infinite glory and love of Christ, as manifested in the mysteries of redemption. I will not attempt to describe the effect of that vision upon my mind. All that I would say is, that in view of it, my heart melted and flowed out like water. The heart of stone was taken away, and a heart of love and tenderness assumed its place. From that time I have desired to "know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified." I have literally "esteemed all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord," and the knowledge of Christ has been eternal life begun in my heart.

Now when the Lord Jesus Christ was thus held up among us by myself and others, a brother in the ministry arose in one of our meetings and remarked, that there was one question to which he desired that a definite answer might be

given. It is this, "When we look to Christ for sanctification, what degree of sanctification may we expect from him? May we look to him to be sanctified wholly, or not?" I do not recollect that I was ever so shocked and confounded at any question before or since. I felt, for the moment, that the work of Christ among us would be marred, and the mass of minds around us rush into Perfectionism. Still the question was before us; and to it we were bound, as pupils of the Holy Spirit, to give a Scriptural answer. We did not attempt to give a definite answer to it during that time. With that question before us, brother Finney and myself came to New York, and spent most of the winter together, in prayer and the study of the Bible. The great inquiry with us was, what degree of holiness may we ourselves expect from Christ, when we exercise faith in him, and in what light shall we present him to others, as a Saviour from sin. We looked, for example, at such passages as this, passages of which the Bible is full, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and 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." We looked at such passages, I say, and asked ourselves this question, Suppose an honest inquirer

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after holiness, comes to us, and asks of us, degree of holiness is here promised to the believer? May I expect, in view of this prayer and promise, that God will sanctify me wholly, and preserve me in that state, till the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ? What answer shall we give him? Shall we tell him that merely partial and not perfect holiness is here promised, and that the former and not the latter he is here authorized to expect? After looking prayerfully at the testimony of Scripture in respect to the provisions and promises of divine grace, we were constrained to admit, that but one answer to the above question could be given from the Bible; and the greatest wonder with me is, that I have been so long a "master of Israel, and have never before known these things." Since that time we have never ceased to proclaim the redemption of Christ as a full redemption. Nor do we expect to cease proclaiming it as a full and finished redemption, till Christ shall call us home. For myself, I am willing to proclaim it to the world, that I now look to the very God of peace to sanctify me wholly, and preserve my whole spirit, and soul, and body, blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I put up this prayer with the expectation that the very things prayed for will be granted. Reader, is that confidence

misplaced? In expecting that blessing, am I leaning upon a broken reed, or upon the broad promise of God?

There is one circumstance connected with my recent experience, to which I desire to turn the special attention of the reader. I would here say, that I have for ever given up all idea of resisting temptation, subduing any lust, appetite or propensity, or of acceptably performing any service for Christ, by the mere force of my own resolutions. If my propensities, which lead to sin, are crucified, I know that it must be done by an indwelling Christ. If I overcome the world, this is to be the victory, even our faith." If the great enemy is to be overcome, it is to be done "by the blood of the Lamb."

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Believing, as I now do, that the Lord Jesus Christ has provided special grace for the entire sanctification of every individual, for the subjection of all his propensities, for a perfect victory over every temptation and incentive to sin, and for rendering us, in every sphere and condition in life, all that he requires us to be; the first inquiry with me is, In what particular respects do 1 need the grace of Christ? What is there, for

example, in my temper that needs correcting? Wherein am I in bondage to appetite, or to any of

my propensities? What are the particular responsibilities, temptations, &c., incident to each particular sphere and condition in life in which the providence of God has called me to act? What is the temper that I ought, then, to manifest, so that I may every where, and under all circumstances reflect the image of Christ?

Thus having discovered my special necessity, in any one of the particulars above referred to, my next object is, to take some promise applicable to the particular exigency before me, and go directly to Christ for the supply of that particular necessity. By having the eye of faith perpetually fixed upon Christ in this manner, by always looking to him for special grace in every special exigency, yes, for "grace to help in every time of need," how easy it is to realize in our own blessed experience the truth of all the "exceeding great and precious promises" of divine grace. How easy it is to have the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, "keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." "Our peace is then as a river, and our righteousness as the waves of the sea." The mind seems to be borne upward and onward, as upon an ocean' of light, peace, and blessedness, which knows no bounds.