HOLINESS DEFINED. We read this paper before the ministerial association of Oswego, N. Y., January, 1880. We give the paper, and some of its criticisms: They gave me this scripture to write from. “_And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly._”--1 Thess. 5:23. We formulated it in this way. What more did the prayer embrace than what they already had? They were a Christian people. This they manifested. First, by their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, by their love for God and each other. And thirdly, by their keeping the commandments, and entertaining a blessed hope of a glorious resurrection. In this epistle, the first I think that the apostle wrote to any church, he does not reprove them for any faults, or failures in their moral or religious character, which he was always sure to do, if the condition of things required it; but treated them as a pure church; manifesting at the same time, a strong desire that they should attain unto all that completeness of life and character, which God required at their hands; and that holiness, which will alone permit us to see his face in peace. “_And holiness, without which, no man shall see the Lord._”--Heb. 12:14. Do the scriptures teach a distinction between regeneration, and entire sanctification? They do. “And I brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. For ye are yet carnal; for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” In that wonderful prayer of the Saviour, “Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth,” the same doctrine is clearly brought to light. The scriptures do assume a distinction between regeneration, and entire sanctification, or being sanctified wholly. To sinners, God says--“Ye must be born again.” To the regenerate, He says, “be ye holy, for I am holy.” Unanswerable argument. These two classes of commands, in their various forms, are prominent through the gospels, and epistles. Different terms are employed in the scriptures to represent the same state, a perfect salvation. Perfect love, perfection, sanctification, and holiness, are synonymous terms, pointing to the same exalted state of saving grace, enjoyed in this life. But while they all denote the same religious state, each one of them indicate some of its essential characteristics, and peculiar phases. These terms are significantly expressive of the _state_. The term, “_sanctification_,” has regard especially to the work of a complete consecration of soul and body to God. To “_sanctify_,” means to set apart; to devote to holy uses. “_Sanctify_ yourselves therefore, and be ye holy.”