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new covenant provisions, so as to place salvation before them, and put it in their reach?" We answer, unequivocally and unhesitatingly, He did. For if "by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men" under the first covenant, "even so, by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men," under the second covenant. And let it not be forgotten, that it was by the grace of God that Christ" tasted death for every man”—that he "gave himself a ransom for all." Hence we safely assert, that the grace of God that "bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared." O, then, let no son of Adam reject, or receive this grace in vain; for it bringeth salvation.

Here is a system of grace, and grace beforehand with human ability, or exertion. "It preventeth man that he may have a good will, and worketh with him when he hath that will." So that it is by grace that man hath power to comply with the terms of salvation, or reject the counsel of God against himself. The grace of God by Christ Jesus, reaches down and takes hold of man in his low estate of mental, moral, and physical degradation, in order to raise him up, illuminate, pardon, purify, and reinstate him in the favor and image of God, which he lost in Adam, and from which he had become further removed by actual transgression. We allow, indeed, that "there is a spirit in man," which, doubtless, implies a capacity to receive, but yet it is the "inspiration of the Almighty that giveth them understanding." This inspiration is illuminating, quickening or life-giving, and purifying, and comes from God, through Christ, by the Holy Ghost; a measure of which is given to every man to profit withal. And thus

"Jesus, in whom the Godhead's rays

Beam forth in mildest majesty,"

And

becomes the light of the world, and the life of men. so John the Baptist bears witness of him, that all men through him might believe. Faith, then, by which the

testimony which God hath given of his Son is cordially received-faith, apprehending and receiving Christ, and God as he was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, is the condition of justification and salvation under the new covenant. Let the sinner, then, come to Christ, with a broken spirit and a contrite heart, confessing and forsaking his sins, and claiming an interest in the matchless merit of a Savior's dying love, and he shall be justified freely through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Justification implies the pardon of sins that are past-removes personal guilt-puts the pardoned sinner in a state of reconciliation with God. He now has peace with God, and is delivered from the spirit of bondage unto fear. In this grace he stands and rejoices in hope of the glory of God. But the grace imparted and received, in justification, must be improved by faith-working faith; for faith that works not by love, purifying the heart, is dead-is good for nothing. For as Dr. Watts saith,

"Faith must obey the Father's will,

As well as trust his grace."

Be it known, then, that those who have received the grace of God in justification, being quickened into spiritual life, are required to improve that grace, and advance in the same, by adding to "faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity."

Thus sanctification commences in illumination and justification, and goes on in the soul in proportion as the believer grows in grace; for it is a gradual, progressive work of the Spirit and grace of God: "First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." The babe becomes a young man-the young man a father; the deposited leaven spreads, or is diffused through the whole lump; the roots of bitterness are all extracted; and thus

improving the grace of God, and growing therein, we put off the old man and put on the new man; for while by faith we behold as in a glass the glory of God, we are changed into the same image, and become new creatures in Christ Jesus.

And now what is wanting but the Spirit-the Holy Ghost, witnessing to the work, and affixing the seal? When all the graces of the Spirit appear-as love, peace, joy this witness of the Spirit is, for the most part, direct and instantaneous, and is received by faith; for, saith the apostle, "After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." While the soul is waiting, looking, longing, breathing after God, and all the mind that was in Christ, the Spirit takes some exceeding great and precious promise," and applies it to the hungering and thirsting soul, saying, "According to thy faith, so be it unto thee." The anxious soul replies, "Behold thy servant: be it unto me even as thou sayest." The Spirit says, "This is thine." Faith says, "It is mine," and gives all the glory to God. "Now He is mine, and I am his."

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So the old Methodist divines believed and taught that sanctification was both gradual and instantaneous-gradual in its rise, progress, and developments; and instantaneous in its consummation, witness, and seal. One of the most profound divines I ever knew, according to years, Rev. Samuel Parker, used to say, that "the grace of God by Christ preventing us, and working with us, if duly improved by us, in the exercise of obedient faith, could not fail to gain a complete ascendancy, so that where sin hath abounded grace shall much more abound."*

* Of dear Parker, permit me to say, that he was a most amiable and interesting youth. We were boys together, and both began to study divinity together in an old-fashioned Methodist Sunday school, near sixty years ago, with the Testament and a Scriptural Catechism

But the body, too, as it has borne the image of the earthy, shall, also, bear the image of the heavenly-shall bear the image of Christ, in his glorified humanity; for Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again his body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven; and there, in glorified humanity, he appears; and in that nature and form, no doubt, he will be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels. Christ, as exalted to the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and glorified in human nature, hath all power in heaven and earth; is the source of spiritual life, and has power to impart, or restore, natural life, reorganize the human body, and reunite matter and spirit, soul and body, after having been long separated by death. All this he has done. Having power over all flesh, he rose from the dead to die became the first fruits of them that slept. O Christian; for "if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall, also, quicken your mortal body, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." The saints are dear to Christ. Is he the head? They are the members of his body. Is he the vine? They are branches in him. Does he live? They shall live, also; for their life is hid with Christ in God. In death, they but sleep in him. And when he shall descend with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God, he will bring them with him, change their vile body, and fashion it like his glorious body. "Then will he be glorified in his saints,

no more, and so Rejoice in this,

before us. We became men, preachers, presiding elders, and delegates to General conference together. We labored, suffered, and sympathized with each other, in the western wilds, more than forty years ago. Ah! I loved him much. But more than twenty years are gone since the Master called him hence; while I am still here, with the mere shreds of my former self.

and admired by all them that believe." But we feel as if forbidden to pursue this subject further, being almost struck blind by the outbeaming of glory. Verily, "It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." Thus far saith Revelation: says faith, "It is enough." Here we cast anchor, and wait for the daylight of eternity. But we must now draw the subject to a close.

Beloved brethren, I may have delivered to you my last message; for "time is shaking me by the hand," and death is near. In view of this solemn and sublime subject, let saints rejoice and sinners tremble. The time will come “when all that are in their graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and come forth: they that have done good to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation." Only the saints shall participate in the glories of the world of light and immortality. Those, and those only, who follow him in the regeneration shall walk with him in white; but "indignation and wrath upon every soul of man that doeth evil," remaining in unbelief and impenitence. And, O Christian people, remember you are called to be saints; that is, holy ones. He that hath called you is holy; so be ye holy in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for, and hastening to, the coming of the Lord. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

SERMON VII.

BY REV. ELMORE YOCUM.

PERFECT LOVE.

"Perfect love casteth out fear," 1 John iv, 18. .

IN the whole range of doctrines taught in the Bible, none is more clearly expressed, or stamped with greater

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