doctrine of imputed
righteousness?"

"You thought truth, Mrs Gertrude."

"Well, but what is that save believing that Christ hath wrought all
goodness for me, and I need not work any goodness for mine own
salvation? Look you, there is no need, if all be done."

"No need of what? No need that you should attempt to do what you never
can do, or no need that you should show your love to Him that did it for
you at the cost of His own life?"

"Well!" said Gertrude in a slow, deprecating tone, "but--"

"Mrs Gertrude, you mix up two things which be utterly separate, and
which cannot mix, no more than oil and water. The man whom Christ hath
saved, it is most true, hath no need to save himself. But hath he no
need to save others? hath he no need to honour Christ? hath he no need
to show forth to angels and to men his unity with Christ, the oneness of
his will with His, the love wherewith Christ's love constraineth him?
You mix up justification and sanctification, as though they were but
one. Justification is the washing of the soul from sin; sanctification
is the dressing of the soul for Heaven. Sanctification is not a thing
you do for God; 'tis a thing God doth in you. There is need for it, not
that it should justify you before His tribunal, but that it should make
you meet for His presence-chamber. It were not fit that you should
enter the King's presence, though cleansed, yet dressed in your old
soiled clothes. But you make a third minglement of things separate,
when you bring in imputed righteousness. The righteousness of Christ
imputed unto us justifieth us before the bar of God. It payeth our
debt, it washeth our stains, it unlocketh our fetters. But this is not
sanctification. Justification was wrought by Christ for us;
sanctification is wrought by the Holy Ghost in us. Justification was
completed on Calvary; sanctification is not finished so long as we be in
this life, Justification is quick and lively; the moment my faith
toucheth the work of Christ for me, that moment am I fully justified,
and for ever. Sanctification is slow, and groweth like a plant. I am
as entirely justified as I ever shall be, but I am not as sanctified as
I ever shall be. I look to be more and more sanctified--`to grow up
unto Him in all things,' to be like Him, to be purified even as He is
pure. I pray you make no mingle-mangle of things that do so differ in
themselves, though 'tis true they come all of one source--the union