6. But it is seldom long, before they are undeceived, finding sin was only suspended, not destroyed. Temptations return and sin revives, shewing it was but stunned before, not dead. They now feel two principles in themselves plainly contrary to each other, _the flesh lusting against the spirit_, nature opposing the grace of God. They cannot deny, that, although they still feel power to believe in Christ, and to love God; and although his _Spirit_ still _witnesses with_ their _spirits, that_ they _are children of God_: yet they feel in themselves, sometimes pride or self-will, sometimes anger or unbelief. They find one or more of these frequently _stirring_ in their heart, though not _conquering_: yea, perhaps, _thrusting sore at them, that they_ may _fail: but the Lord is_ their _help_.
7. How exactly did _Macarius_, fourteen hundred years ago, describe the present experience of the children of God? “The unskilful (or unexperienced) when grace operates, presently imagine, they have no more sin. Whereas they that have discretion cannot deny, that even we who have the grace of God, may be molested again.――For we have often had instances of some among the brethren, who have experienced such grace, as to affirm that they had no sin in them. And yet after all, when they thought themselves entirely freed from it, the corruption that lurked within, was stirred up anew, and they were well nigh burnt up.”
8. From the time of our being _born again_, the gradual work of sanctification takes place. We are enabled _by the Spirit_ to _mortify the deeds of the body_, of our evil nature. And as we are more and more dead to sin, we are more and more alive to God. We go on from grace to grace, while we are careful to _abstain from all appearance of evil_, and are _zealous of good works, as we have opportunity, doing good to all men_. While we walk in all his ordinances blameless, therein worshipping him in spirit and in truth: while we take up our cross, and deny ourselves every pleasure, that does not lead us to God.
9. It is thus that we wait for entire sanctification, for a full salvation from all our sins, from pride, self-will, anger, unbelief; or, as the apostle expresses it, _go on to perfection_. But what is perfection? The word has various senses: here it means, perfect love. It is love excluding sin: love filling the heart, taking up the whole capacity of the soul. It is love _rejoicing evermore, praying without ceasing, in every thing giving thanks_.
II. But what is that _faith_ through _which we are saved_? This is the second point to be considered.
1. Faith in general is defined by the apostle ♦Ἔλεγχος πραγμάτων οὐ βλεπομένων _An evidence_, a divine _evidence and conviction_ (the word means both) _of things not seen_: not visible, not perceivable either by sight, or by any other of the external senses. It implies both a supernatural _evidence_ of God and of the things of God, a kind of spiritual _light_ exhibited to the soul, and a supernatural _sight_ or perception thereof: accordingly the scripture speaks of God’s giving sometimes light, sometimes a power of discerning it. So St. _Paul_. _God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ._ And elsewhere the same apostle speaks, _of the eyes of_ our _understanding being opened_. By this twofold operation of the Holy Spirit, having the eyes of our soul both _opened_ and _enlightened_, we see the things which the natural _eye hath not seen, neither the ear heard_. We have a prospect of the invisible things of God: we see the _spiritual world_, which is all round about us, and yet no more discerned by our natural faculties, than if it had no being: and we see the _eternal world_, piercing through the veil which hangs between time and eternity. Clouds and darkness then rest upon it no more, but we already see the glory which shall be revealed.
2. Taking the word in a more particular sense, faith is a divine evidence and conviction, not only that _God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself_; but also that _Christ loved_ me, _and gave himself for_ me. It is by this faith, (whether we term it, the _essence_, or rather a _property_ thereof) that we _receive Christ_, that we receive him in all his offices, as our prophet, priest, and king. It is by this that he _is made of God unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption_.