contented with our attainments, while one sin
remains unsubdued in our hearts. The Scriptures are full of this
doctrine. The apostle Paul expresses far more earnestness of desire
after higher attainments in the divine life than is ever felt by such
Christians as have only a feeble and glimmering hope of entering the
abodes of the blessed. "If _by any means_," says he, "I might attain
unto the resurrection of the dead;" or that state of perfect holiness
which the saints will have attained at the resurrection. And the kind of
effort which he put forth to obtain the object of his desires is most
forcibly described in the passage quoted at the beginning of this
letter. In view of this standard, you will be able to see, in some
measure, the exceeding sinfulness of sin; and it will drive you more
entirely out of yourself to the cross of Christ. You will see the
necessity of daily renewing your repentance, submission, and faith.

You see, from what the apostle says of his own experience, that high
spiritual attainments are not to be expected without great labor and
strife. True piety is indeed the work of the Holy Spirit; but the fact
that God works in us to will and to do of his good pleasure, is made the
ground of Paul's exhortation to work out our own salvation with fear and
trembling.

The attainments of eminent saints are too generally looked upon as out
of the reach of common Christians. They seem to think God is not willing
to give all his children the same measure of grace. But he could not
have said more than he has in his holy word, to convince them to the
contrary. "Open thy mouth _wide_, and I will fill it." Our Lord
repeatedly assures us that God is more willing to give good things to
those that ask him, than earthly parents are to give good gifts to their
children. And whoever will read the lives of such eminent Christians as
Edwards, Whitefield, Brainerd, Martyn, Payson, Mrs. Edwards, Mrs.
Anthony, Mrs. Huntington, James B. Taylor, and many others which might
be mentioned,--and take notice of the means which they used, will not be
surprised at their attainments. The Bible represents the Christian as in
the constant exercise of holy affections; and we should never rest with
anything short of this. Some of the persons I have mentioned did arrive
at such a state of feeling. President Edwards enjoyed, for many years,
the constant light of God's countenance, and habitual communion with
him. And so did Mrs. Edwards,