♦ “familiary” replaced with “familiarly”
4. For these ten years I have enjoyed this haven of rest. It has been to me as a day without a cloud. I never have had a tedious moment, nor a murmuring thought. I have been tempted in all things; yet nothing obscures my light, or obstructs my way; but still _I rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in every thing give thanks_. My heart is prepared, whenever my Lord knocks, to open to him immediately. For grace has overcome death: the thoughts of death are my glory and joy. I know, that I am every moment ready to be offered, being made in Christ unrebukeable, without spot, a spiritual sacrifice, wholly devoted to God.
5. God now permitted the grace he had given to be tried. I was not born to dwell on one spot of ground, but was banished from all that was near and dear to me, and driven from city to city. I now proved the happy effects of faith. When I was buffetted by Satan, his darts took no place in me: I defied him, and all his works. When I am roughly treated by the world, _I stand still, and see the salvation of God_. And the more I am tempted, so much the more the pure flame revives; and the love of God, ever flaming in the heart, keeps out every occasion of stumbling. This enables me to _rejoice in tribulation_, and glory in the cross: for I find, by his grace, my soul is _even as mount Zion, which cannot be moved_. I am freed from all anxious thoughts and painful fears. I _take no thought for the morrow_. I live to-day, and have nothing to do but to die. I know, my soul is prepared to meet my God. In nothing hitherto have I been ashamed, with all boldness giving thanks unto the Lord. And now I ascribe all glory to him, who hath made me a partaker of that holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
6. Think it not strange, that he should give this suddenly. When he comes to justify, he comes quickly. And when he comes to sanctify, he comes quickly. This also is an instantaneous work. And no man can love God with all his heart, and grow up into Christ in all things, so as to enjoy all the mind that was in Christ, till he is _sanctified throughout, body, soul, and spirit_.
7. As we were justified, so are we sanctified by one single act of faith. Then is the soul made like a flame of fire, and the heart is in one continual frame of praising God. Then the fulness of Christ is brought into the soul; even as much of the glory of God as this earthly tabernacle can bear. Then is our inbred sin destroyed. This is the cause of all our transgressions, and while any of this remains, it is the believer’s hell, and makes him cry out, _Who shall deliver me from the body of this death_? Christ will deliver you. He has purchased for you a full redemption. He has regained paradise, and restores the soul to that acquaintance with God which _Adam_ lost. By faith, I ever see him that is invisible, and converse with him, as it were, face to face. I stand naked before the Lord, and am not ashamed; but rejoice in being sensible, that he knows the secret thoughts of my heart. I rejoice, that he has taught me to _put on the whole armour of God_, and has made it as easy to me, to do and suffer the will of God, as it is to _the sparks to fly upward_.
8. Pull off then this veil of unbelief, and trample sin and Satan under your feet. Be _you_ also a faithful witness of Christ, that he is _able to save to the uttermost_, that he hath power even on earth to save from all sin, _from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit_. My experience will profit another nothing, unless applied to the heart by the Spirit of God. And is not this the one thing needful for _you_, to be _filled with faith and with the Holy Ghost_? May the Lord hasten the time, when this faith shall cover the earth, _as the water covers the sea_! Then shall they not need to teach this to one another: For _all shall know Him, from the least even to the greatest_.