I. The course of conduct commanded.—“Prove.” 1. By an appeal to the Word of God as supreme. 2. Sincerely. 3. Thoroughly. 4 Prayerfully.

II. The extent to which the course of conduct is to be carried.—“All things.” 1. Things taken for granted to be right. 2. Things wrong. 3. Things doubtful.

III. Some hindrances to the adoption of this course.—1. Dislike to the trouble it may cause 2. Fear of the demands which the result may make.

IV. Blessings likely to result from this course.—1. Activity of mind in matters of religion. 2. A specific acquaintance with the Word of God. 3. Legitimate independence of thought. 4. Increasing strength of Christian character. 5. Increase of Christian sagacity. 6. The adorning of the Christian doctrine in the eyes of men.—J. Holmes.

Hold Fast that which is Good.

  1. Be well assured of the value and goodness of the possession.
  2. Cherish a deep sense of responsibility because you have been led to prove and to be convinced of the good.
  3. Be assured that powerful influences will be exerted that you may lose your hold.
  4. Do not allow your convictions of its goodness to be unsettled.
  5. Do not take hold of anything which you cannot hold at the same time that you firmly grasp this.
  6. Do not let a little of it go.
  7. Hold it more firmly.
  8. Regard how others have been affected by the way they have held.
  9. Depend entirely on the grace of God to enable you to do this.—Ibid.

MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Verses 23, 24.

A Prayer for Sanctification.

Sanctification is the supreme end of the Christian life, and everything should be made to contribute to the grand result. It is the crown and ornament of all other graces, the perfecting of every moral virtue. The fact that man is capable of so lofty a degree of personal holiness indicates that it is the supreme end for which he ought to live. He misses the glory that is within his reach if he does not attain to it. Sanctification in its radical meaning is simply separation—a separation from what is evil to what is good. It then implies to make holy that which is unholy. It begins in a moral transformation, the regeneration of the heart, and advances to perfection. Observe:—

I. That sanctification is a complete work.—“Sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless” (ver. 23).