chapter xxxvi

. verse 25. 29. No promise can be more clear. And to this the apostle plainly refers in that exhortation, _Having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves, from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God_. _2 Corinthians_ vii. 1. Equally clear and express is that antient promise, _The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul_. _Deuteronomy_ xxx. 6.

_Q._ 5. But does any _assertion_ answerable to this, occur in the new Testament?

_A._ There does, and that laid down in the plainest terms. So St. _John_ iii. 8. _For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil._ The works of the devil, without any limitation or restriction: but all sin is the work of the devil. Parallel to which is that assertion of St. _Paul_, _Ephesians_ v. 25, 27. _Christ loved the church and gave himself for it――that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish._

And to the same effect is his assertion in the 8th of the _Romans_, (verse 3, 4.) _God sent his Son_――that the _righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit_.

_Q._ 6. Does the new Testament afford any farther ground, for expecting to be saved from all sin?

_A._ Undoubtedly it does, both in those prayers and commands which are equivalent to the strongest assertions.

_Q._ 7. What prayers do you mean?

_A._ Prayers for entire sanctification; which were there no such thing, would be mere mockery of God. Such, in particular, are 1. _Deliver us from evil_; or rather, _from the evil one_. Now when this is done, when we are delivered from all evil, there can be no sin remaining. 2. _Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word: that they all may be one, as thou Father art in me and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one._ John xvii. 20, 21, 23.

3. _I bow my knees unto the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ――that he would grant you――that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, ♦and depth, and height: and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that he might be filled with all the fulness of God._ Ephesians iii. 14, 16‒19. 4. _The very God of peace sanctify you wholly. And I pray God, your whole spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ._ 1 Thessalonians v. 23.

♦ insert “and depth” per Errata

_Q._ 8. What command is there to the same effect?

_A._ 1. _Be ye perfect as your Father which is in heaven is perfect._ Matthew vi. ultima.

2. _Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind._ Matthew xxii. 37. But if the love of God fill all the heart, there can be no sin there.

_Q._ 9. But how does it appear, that this is to be done before the article of death?

_A._ First, from the very nature of a command, which is not given to the dead, but to the living.

Therefore, _Thou shalt love God with all thy heart_, cannot mean, Thou shalt do this when thou diest, but while thou livest.

Secondly, from express texts of scripture:

1. _The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men; teaching us, that having renounced_ (ἀπειπάμενοι) _ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world: looking for――――the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from_ all _iniquity; and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works_. Titus ii. 11‒14.

2. _He hath raised up an horn of salvation for us――to perform the mercy promised to our fathers; the oath which he sware to our father_ Abraham, _that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, should serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life_. Luke i. verse 69, &c.

_Q._ 10. Is there any example in scripture of persons who had attained to this?

_A._ Yes. St. _John_ and all those of whom he says in his first epistle,