the service a stranger came into the
vestry to thank me for my sermon; and when we were alone he put the
question to me, "How long have you known Sanctification?"

I replied, "Do I know it now?"

"Yes," he said, "you preached it experimentally this morning; and I
shall be very much surprised if you have not some inquiries on the
subject before the day is out."

I felt reproved before this stranger's steady gaze, and confessed that I
had received the blessing that very morning; but thinking that it might
be a temptation, I had determined to say nothing about it.

He said, "That was a temptation from the devil, sure enough, to hinder
you; for the Lord spoke on this subject through your sermon as dearly as
ever I have heard. Do not be afraid, but go on and tell others."

So in the evening I preached on Sanctification, and we had an
after-meeting in the schoolroom. Many believers stayed behind to ask
questions upon the subject of my sermon. I do not remember how I replied
to them; but imperfect as my statements must have been, it nevertheless
led others to desire to enter into the experience of this same blessing.

The following morning, I happened to take up a tract by John Fletcher,
of Madeley, in which I read, that at a breakfast party on the occasion
of a wedding, to which he was invited, just in the middle of idle and
frivolous conversation which was going on, he was constrained to rise up
and say, "I have three times had an experience of joy and liberty, which
I believe to be Sanctification, and it has passed away; now that it has
returned again, I take this opportunity to testify." The company were
all struck with amazement; the power of God was present; and the festive
gathering was turned into a meeting for prayer and praise. I took
warning from this tract never to withhold my testimony on this subject.

Soon after this, I was holding an afternoon Bible class in another part
of the parish; we were going through St. Luke's gospel, and had come to
the fifth chapter; I said with reference to the miraculous draught of
fishes, that the fish had been swimming about in their native element in
all quietness and freedom, till they came in contact with a net, and it
came in contact with thorn. Observe, I said, three things: 1. They are
caught in the net. 2. They are drawn out of their native element. 3.
They are laid in the boat at the feet of Christ. So it is, where people
are caught in' the Gospel net--this is convi