“One of the principles in the doctrine of holy living is, that we should not be premature in drawing the conclusion that the process of inward crucifixion is complete, and that our abandonment to God is without any reservation whatever. The act of consecration, which is a sort of incipient step, may be sincere; but the reality of the consecration in the full extent to which we suppose it to exist, and which may properly be described as abandonment or entire self-renunciation, can be known only when God has applied the appropriate tests. We can not know whether we have renounced ourselves, except by being tried on those very points to which our self-renunciation relates. The trial will show whether or not we are wholly the Lord’s. Those who prematurely draw the conclusion that they are so, expose themselves to great illusion and injury.” “Those in the highest state of religious experience desire nothing except that God may be glorified in them by the accomplishment of His holy will.” “Their continual life of love, which refers everything to God, and identifies everything with His will, is essentially a life of continual prayer.” “The will of God is their ultimate and only rule of action.” “The most advanced souls are those which are most possessed with the thoughts and the presence of Christ.” “The soul in the state of pure love acts in simplicity. Its inward rule of action is found in the decisions of a sanctified judgment. These decisions, based upon judgments that are free from self-interest, may not always be _absolutely_ right, because our views and judgments, being limited, can extend only to things in part; but they may be said to be _relatively_ right; they conform to things so far as we are permitted to see them and understand them, and convey to the soul a moral assurance that, when we act in accordance with them, we are doing as God would have us do.”