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specially invited to attend on Sunday morning, that such plans might be adopted as would best conduce to that object. When they met, it was agreed that those children and teachers who had received blessings during the revival, should be called out of the school room into the vestry, while a verse was being sung; that, while two of the friends made minute inquiries into the spiritual state of each child, and whether she had met in the class to which she had been appointed at the chapel, one of the superintendents should deliver a short address in the school, and commence a prayer meeting, inviting all who felt a desire to save their souls to come forward to be prayed for. The vestry was shortly filled with children who had been saved at the chapels, and it was a glorious sight; and soon after brother James Wilkinson had spoken a few solemn words, the power of the Holy Ghost descended and melted us all into tears. It was with some difficulty that we could get to our work of inquiry; but, when entered upon, it was most satisfactory. Out of more than eighty present, only nine had not been to class; and some of the nine had only been saved on the Thursday evening previously, and had not had the opportunity. Before, however, we had got through this part of our blessed labour, the room was again half filled with girls, who, with streaming eyes, and joyful countenances, came to tell us what God had done for their souls in the prayer meeting that was being carried on in the school room. From this time (soon after eleven o'clock) the children continued to throng into the vestry until nearly twelve, when eightytwo precious souls were rejoicing in a sin-pardoning God, and were appointed to suitable classes. During all this time my hands were so full I had not an opportunity to mingle with our friends in the school room; and, though we felt the presence of God with us in the vestry, in a remarkable manner, yet, I am told, that

the scene in the school room, and the glory felt, surpassed description. At one period it seemed as if the whole congregation of teachers and children were bowed down with the weight of the overshadowing glory. Hundreds were in distress; and it seemed a small matter for the whole school to be saved. In the afternoon, the prayer meeting was commenced again, and sixty-three more souls entered into the glorious liberty of the gospel. The whole number for the day being one hundred and forty-five. All glory be to God! We little expected such a result when God first put it in our hearts to care for the stability of the work among the children; and our cry is now, 'Lord, what shall we do next?' And I think there seems to be no answer but, Walk by the same rule, mind the same thing.' The Lord help us!

"I should say that these details refer only to the girls' school, in which there are above five hundred scholars, nearly half of whom are now professing to believe on Jesus Christ to the salvation of their souls. There were also at least two clear instances of entire sanctification.

"I have written much more than I thought would be necessary. Please to pardon my prolixity, and believe me to remain, ever yours, most affectionately, G. CHALONER.'

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I send you a Sheffield paper, the Iris, which takes special notice of my proceedings, but in a kind and generous spirit.

Love to all. As ever, most affectionately in Jesus Christ,

J. C.

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I HAVE only a few moments, but you are welcome to them. My replies to your two important inquiries, must necessarily be brief and broken. "1st. How do

you account for the fact that so few of the Methodists profess to receive, or enjoy, the blessing of entire sanctification?" I cannot answer this better than in the words of Mr. Fletcher: "1st. Because they do not see the need of it; because they still hug some accursed thing; or because the burden of indwelling sin is not yet become intolerable. They make shift to bear it, as they do the tooth-ache, when they are still loath to have a rotten tooth pulled out. 2nd. If they are truly willing to be made clean, they do not yet believe that the Lord both can and will make them clean, or that now is the day of this salvation. And, as faith inherits the promises of God, it is no wonder if their unbelief misses this portion of their inheritance. 3rd. If they have some faith in the promise that the Lord can, and will circumcise their hearts, that they may love him with all their hearts; yet it is not the kind or degree of faith, which makes them willing to sell all, to deny themselves, faithfully to use the inferior talent, and to continue instant in prayer for this very blessing. 4th. Frequently, also, they will receive God's blessing in their own preconceived method, and not in God's appointed way. Hence God suspends the operation of his sanctifying Spirit, till they humbly confess their obstinacy and false wisdom, as well as

their unbelief, and want of perfect love. It may be with the root of sin, as with its fruit: some souls parley many years before they can be persuaded to give up all their outward sins, and others part with them instantaneously. You may compare the former to those besieged towns which make a long resistance, or to those mothers who go through a tedious and lingering labour; and the latter resemble those fortresses which are surprised and carried by a storm; or those women who are delivered almost as soon as labour comes upon them." Read the above over and over again; perhaps the specifications may include some one or more of your own hinderances.

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In answer to your second inquiry, I would say : know of no particular standard laid down in the scriptures, as to "the depth of our convictions of indwelling sin, in order to obtain deliverance from it." One thing only is recognized in the New Testament, as absolutely necessary for the attainment of purity,-and that is faith: "Purifying their hearts by FAITH." Acts xv. 9. Sanctified by FAITH." Acts xxvi. 18. If there be time and opportunity, Mr. Wesley thinks, there may be many such "preparatory feelings" as you have mentioned; otherwise, God may sanctify without them. Faith is the only revealed condition; but that must be sincere. Faith lays hold of the promises of God, and puts undoubting confidence in his veracity. Christ has said: "What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark xi. 24. Observe, "desire;" this is an indispensable condition, and genuine faith certainly implies it; without it the mind is dead and motionless, and in this state saving faith can have no existence. Desire, as some one has said, is to the soul, as spurs to the horse, as sails to the ship. Desires are, among all classes of men, the sails of the mind, by which they are carried forward

When "DESIRE" is

to that which they like best. sincere, it includes much,-all, in fact, that a sanctifying God requires. It is like thunder and rain, it always comes in clouds,-clouds of preparation. If you have desire, you are prepared; leave all the rest to the Holy Spirit ;-I mean as to the "depth, painfulness, softness, and earnestness" of your heartconvictions. These may not come at your bidding; they are dependent upon numberless circumstances; and frequently they are quite independent of anything of the kind, but are wrought by that same Spirit, immediately and independently, as it pleases him. Only show the sincerity of that "desire," by renouncing and forsaking everything that you know to be contrary to purity. For, be assured, the Holy Ghost never sanctifies a heart that gives indulgence to sin. To this desire, in accordance with the promise, add prayer,-whatever “ ye desire when ye PRAY." To this add FAITH; that is, "BELIEVE that ye receive;" a better definition of sanctifying faith you could not find. Then, he who has promised, and who cannot lie, will fulfil the "desire" of your heart, and will honour your faith,-" and ye shall have." Christ will honour his own veracity, and will stand by it, to the very uttermost claims of faith,—that is, till you are cleansed from all sin, and filled with all the fulness of God. Praying that you may never forget that faith is the only absolute condition of obtaining all that Christ purchased for you on Calvary; and that you may soon be saved to the uttermost. I remain, your brother, in Christ Jesus,

J. C.

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