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.
9. O that sinners would give up their own wisdom, and become fools, that they may be made wise! Cannot the Lord do a great work in a little time? In the hour that he convinced me of the necessity of it, before that hour was expired, I was justified. Thirteen months after (as I before observed,) I was convinced of the necessity of full sanctification. That night, before I slept, God gave me the blessing. And is he a respecter of persons? Who then would not cry unto him? Who would not spend a few hours in fervent prayer? O let your hearts yield! Draw near unto the Lord, and he will draw near unto you. He will draw you after him by the cords of his love, and you will begin to smell the sweet odour of his ointments. Then open your hearts to my beloved; for his voice is sweet, and his countenance comely. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruit. He says, Arise, my love, and come away! I will chide thee no more for thy past follies. Only now give me thy heart. Thou shalt then find, the winter is past, the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in the land. Then will you get new eyes, new hearts, new delights, and every thing will have a satisfying relish. Then will you chide yourselves, for having been so long in pursuit of the things that perish in the using! Then will he give you the pearl that Adam lost, that heart-felt union with God, whereby you shall steadily enjoy his immediate presence: and his presence makes our paradise. You shall walk in the light, having his bright beams ever shining upon you. So that
Not a cloud shall arise,
To darken the skies,
Or hide for a moment the Lord from your eyes.