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Is it possible for a Christian to sanctify himself? Yes; for man has a part to play in his own sanctification. Man must co-operate with God in working out his own salvation. Man works, God works, and the result is man's sanctification. Many Christians have failed to recognise this union of the human and the Divine in the work of their sanctification, with the result that they have erred greatly, and made little or no progress in the Divine life. For example, we find Christians who overlook the fact that man is to work out his own salvation; they say it is all of God, and they throw themselves passively on God for their sanctification. This course of action, or rather want of action, ends in their becoming impractical and useless Christians, making no progress themselves in the Divine life, and of no use to the Church in its fight against sin and Satan. On the other hand, we find Christians who overlook the fact that it is God who worketh in man both to will and to work. Such try to work out their salvation in their own strength; they seek, by power of will, to overcome their weaknesses and their sinful tendencies, and in this they are largely successful. They attain to the point of being free from all gross and outward sins of the flesh. But, alas! they make no progress in eradicating the sin of their heart. There is no internal change of heart corresponding with the outward reformation in life. This course of action leads to spiritual decay and death. Man cannot sanctify himself. The work of sanctification is carried on in the heart of the believer by the co-operation of the human and the Divine: man works, God works. God, in all His dealings with man, in grace, recognises man as a free agent, capable of receiving or rejecting His grace. Man is not passive, he is active. He is of his own free will to yield to the influence of the Spirit of God. lie is to resist sin. lie is to prove how he may most successfully overcome temptation, He is to keep himself unspotted from the world. He is ever to be watchful. In fact, he is to act as if everything in his sanctification depended upon himself. This is the point which I wish to emphasise to-day, namely, man's work in his own sanctification. How, then, are we to sanctify ourselves?

I. BY SEPARATING OURSELVES FROM EVERY KNOWN SIN. It is pre-supposed that we are true Christians, that we have been re generated; for no sanctification is possible before conversion; the order is, first justification, then sanctification. The seed of the tree of righteousness, planted at conversion, must pass through many stages before the seed has grown into a tree of righteousness. The tender plant, the sapling, the young tree, the mature tree. Before it comes to maturity, it has to be watched and tended and watered and digged about and pruned. Its growth is a very gradual process. Even so is the growth of the soul in holiness. If we would sanctify ourselves the first thing we must do is to separate ourselves from known sin. It may be that our sin lies in eating and drinking too much. Our easy circumstances enable us to live a life of leisure and luxury. If we wish the blessing of God, we must separate ourselves from these sins. It may be that our sin lies in being vain and proud: our vanity is seen in our dress and in our behaviour; our pride is seen in our bearing to equals and inferiors. If we wish the blessing of God, we must separate ourselves from these sins. It may be that our sin lies in unbelief. This is the sin of sins. We limit the Holy One of Israel. Practically, we say God can do this for me, but He cannot do this other thing — I must do it for myself. If we wish the blessing of God, we must separate ourselves from this sin of unbelief. In fact, whatever be our known sin, we must separate ourselves from it. To do this thoroughly we must go about it with firmness of purpose, with a fixed determination. Which of us have resisted unto blood, striving against sin? We need nerve so to resist sin. The motto of the Irish family of O'Neill is "The Bloody Hand." It had its origin in the following incident: — In days of old the leader of a band of pirates gave out that whoever first touched the land they were making for should be possessor of it. One of the band, named O'Neill, determined to gain it; he pulled ashore with all his might, but a rival passed him when near the shore. What was to be done? Instantly this strong-nerved, resolute, determined man rose, lifted his battle-axe, struck off his hand, threw it ashore, and so touched the land first. This nerve and resolution was shown to gain a possession of land. What will we do to gain possession of ourselves? Will we deal thus resolutely with sin? Yes. We will cut it off, and cast it from us. I make a distinction between known sin and unknown sin. If we live up to the light we have, and deal faithfully with the sin which God has revealed to us in our lives, He will give us more light. This is what is meant by gradual sanctification. The more we know of the holiness of God, the more will we know of our own want and holiness. As we grow in grace, our spiritual eye becomes keener, and we see new sins in our life which were not manifest before. When we discern these sins, we are to deal with them at once, and separate ourselves from them.

II. Besides separating ourselves from every known sin, it is necessary, if we would be ready to meet with God, to PREPARE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS. Our hearts and minds must be set on God, so that we may be ready to hear, and to remember, and to obey. Every appetite and passion must be stilled; the cares and anxieties and the work of the world are to be set aside. We must give as much time as we can to reading and meditating upon the Word of God, so filling our hearts and minds with the truth. We must spend long periods in prayer, following the example of our blessed Master, who spent whole nights in prayer. If we would be thoroughly prepared to meet God, we must dwell on the thought of what God is — the Holy One of Israel, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the God of our salvation. We must come to God in a spirit of expectant faith, believing that He is able and willing to enrich us with all spiritual blessing, and that He will give to each of us the very blessing which we need. The more we are prepared in heart and mind to meet with God, the greater blessing shall we receive. To great faith our gracious Saviour still says: "Be it done unto thee even as thou wilt."

(Wm. Galbraith.)

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KJV: And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;

WEB: It happened after three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp;