CHAPTER XIX.

AND IN THE HOLY GHOST, WHO SANCTIFIETH ME, AND

ALL THE ELECT PEOPLE OF GOD.

LLEN," said Mrs. Stancombe to her little daughter, on the following Saturday, "I am going to-day to see this lame girl that Nellie Morton mentioned, and you may come with me."

There were few things Ellen liked better than a Iwalk with her mother. The hat and cloak were soon on, and with her hand in Mrs. Stancombe's, and a face prepared for attention, Ellen set out quite ready for "a talk."

"You said, mamma," she began, " that perhaps this lame girl would help Nellie to understand the next sentence in the Catechism. Why did you say so ?"

"Because, Ellen, Nellie said she was so good;' and what do you think can make this lame girl, or any one else good?"

"The Holy Spirit, of course, mamma.'

"That was all I meant, Ellen. Nellie is going to learn for me, next Tuesday, the words which say that she believes in the Holy Ghost, who sanctifies

all the elect people of God. This is a very important article-a very necessary 'joint' indeed, Ellen, in the body of our belief. If this little lame friend of Nellie's is so good,' she may help her to understand what goodness really is-where it comes from-what, or rather who produces it. Goodness is sanctification'-a long word, Ellen; but you know its meaning, and I do not think it will be difficult to make Nellie understand it also. I shall not try to teach her yet all the different meanings of the word sanctification' which you have learned in studying this sentence in your Catechism."

"I did not learn them all at first, mamma. I only learned the most important."

"And it is the most important one which I want Nellie now to understand, and which I said her lame friend, if she is so good,' might help her to understand better. You can tell me, Ellen, what is the principal meaning of the word 'sanctification '?"

"It means making people holy who were unholy before-making them good-giving them right thoughts and wishes, teaching them what they ought to do, and enabling them to do it."

"Which is the work of the third Person in the Holy Trinity, Ellen. God the Father made us. God the Son hath redeemed us. God the Holy Ghost sanctifieth us. You see, Ellen, the Catechism says, 'God the Son hath redeemed me.' It does not say, 'God the Son redeems me.' But it says, 'God the

Holy Ghost sanctifieth me'-not hath sanctified me."

"I know why, mamma. Papa has often told me that. He used to tell it me very often, when first I said my Catechism, because sometimes I used to forget, and say both the sentences alike. 'I believe in God the Son, who hath redeemed me and all mankind, and in God the Holy Ghost, who hath sanctified me and all the elect people of God.' Only papa told me I must not make that mistake. He said it was very important to remember the difference in the two sentences.”

"Yes, Ellen, as Jesus Himself declared upon the cross, when He gave his life a sacrifice for sin and sinners, the work of redemption was finished. The price was paid. Man was bought back to God. There remained no more sacrifice to make. Christ hath redeemed us, and all mankind. But it is quite different with the work of our sanctification, with the matter of making us holy. When does that work begin, Ellen ?"

"When we are little children, mamma."

"Was there ever a time in your life, Ellen, when God the Holy Ghost was not in you, seeking to sanctify you and make you holy? Can you remember the time when you had no conscience, and could do wrong without knowing that it was wrong, and displeasing to God?"

"No, mamma, never."

"That was the beginning of the work of God

the Holy Ghost in your heart. Now tell me when this work ends ?"

"Never, mamma."

"Never," repeated Mrs. Stancombe. "It goes on increasing and increasing. It is not, like the work of God the Son in our redemption, done once and for ever. God the Holy Ghost carries on his work daily, hourly, in our hearts-always progressing, always increasing-just as it is so beautifully described in the prophet's vision. You remember that chapter, Ellen?”

"Oh, yes, mamma! You know I always like so much to read it. I think it is such a beautiful story, how Ezekiel was brought to the door of the house, and saw the waters issuing from under the threshold of the house eastward and northward, and going on increasing, and growing deeper and deeper, until when they were measured; they were first to the ankles, then to the knees, then to the loins, and afterwards, when measured for the last time, were a river that one could not pass overwaters to swim in."

"And do you remember, when Ezekiel and the man stood by the banks of the river, what they saw there?”

"Very many trees on the one side and on the other."

"Wonderful trees those were, Ellen; their leaf was not to fade, their fruit was not to be consumed. I think David tells us something about them also, in the first Psalm. What is said there of these trees of the Lord's planting ?"