10. Secondly, All works of mercy, whether they relate to the bodies or souls of men: such as feeding the hungry, cloathing the naked, entertaining the stranger, visiting those that are in prison, or sick, or variously-afflicted: such as the endeavouring to instruct the ignorant, to awaken the stupid sinner, to quicken the lukewarm, to confirm the wavering, to comfort the feeble-minded, to succour the tempted, or contribute in any manner to the saving of souls from death. This is the repentance, and these the fruits meet for repentance, which are necessary to full sanctification. This is the way wherein God hath appointed his children to wait for compleat salvation.
11. Hence may appear the extreme mischievousness of that seemingly innocent opinion, That “there is no sin in a believer; that all sin is destroyed, root and branch, the moment a man is justified.” By totally preventing that repentance, it quite blocks up the way to sanctification. There is no place for repentance, in him who believes there is no sin either in his life or heart. Consequently there is no place for his being _perfected in love_ to which that repentance is indispensably necessary.
12. Hence it may likewise appear, that there is no possible danger in _thus_ expecting full salvation. For suppose we were mistaken, suppose no such blessing ever was, or can be attained, yet we lose nothing: nay, that very expectation quickens us in using all the talents which God has given us; yea, in improving them all, so that when our Lord cometh, he will _receive_ his _own with increase_.
13. But to return. Tho’ it be allowed, That both this repentance and its fruits are necessary to full salvation, yet they are not necessary either in the _same sense_ with faith, or in the _same degree_: not in the _same degree_; for these fruits are only necessary _conditionally_, if there be time and opportunity for them, otherwise a man may be sanctified without them. But he cannot be sanctified without faith. Likewise let a man have ever so much of this repentance, or ever so many good works, yet all this does not at all avail: he is not sanctified till he believes. But the moment he believes, with or without those fruits, yea, with more or less of this repentance, he is sanctified. Not in the _same sense_; for this repentance and these fruits are only _remotely_ necessary, necessary in order to the continuance of his faith, as well as the increase of it: whereas faith is _immediately_ and _directly_, necessary to sanctification. It remains, that faith is the only condition, which is _immediately_ and _proximately_ necessary to sanctification.
14. “But what is that faith whereby we are sanctified, saved from sin and perfected in love?” It is a divine evidence and conviction, 1. That God hath promised it in the holy scripture. Till we are throughly satisfied of this, there is no moving one step further. And one would imagine, there needed not one word more, to satisfy a reasonable man of this, than the ancient promise, _Then will I circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord your_ God _with all your heart, and with all your soul_. How clearly does this express the being perfected in love? How strongly imply the being saved from all sin? For as long as love takes up the whole heart, what room is there for sin therein?
15. It is a divine evidence and conviction, secondly, That what God hath promised he is _able_ to perform. Admitting therefore that _with men it is impossible_, to bring a clean thing out of an unclean, to purify the heart from all sin, and to fill it with all holiness, yet this creates no difficulty in the case, seeing _with_ God _all things are possible_. And surely no one ever imagined it was possible to any power less than that of the Almighty! But if God speaks, it shall be done. God saith, _Let there be light: and there is light_.
16. It is, thirdly, a divine evidence and conviction that he is able and willing to do it _now_. And why not? Is not a moment to him, the same as a thousand years? He cannot want more time to accomplish whatever is his will. And he cannot want or stay for any more _worthiness_ or _fitness_ in the persons he is pleased to honour. We may therefore boldly say, at any point of time, _Now is the day of salvation_. To-day, _if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Behold! All things are now ready! Come unto the marriage!_