But some may inquire: "How can we become perfect at once?" Do you see that little babe? As soon as it is born it is a _perfect child_; perfect in its father's love, perfect in its mother's tender care; perfect as a child--not yet a perfect man, but all the _germ of the man is there_. His limbs, hands and feet are perfect; of his body there is no part lacking; and under the fostering care, and tender nursing of his mother, the rigid but wholesome discipline of the father, he must grow to perfect _manhood_,--and who can fix the time when the child ceases and when the man begins. Or, see the branch in the vine; as soon as it shoots its buds out of the vine, it is a branch in the vine, and never ceases to be such until cut off. The grain of mustard seed cast into the ground becomes a tree; but who can tell when it ceases to be a plant. So is every one that is born of the Spirit. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, thou hearest the sound thereof and canst not tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth." As soon as we believe we are perfect in Christ; and through the wise and just discipline of God the father, and the loving and tender care of Christ as our mother, being fed with the word, we grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth daily. We can no more exist in a justified state and not be sanctified, than a child can be born without a _natural mother_! _Ye must be_ _born again_,--born of the water, and of the _spirit, and of the blood_; for that which is born of the flesh is flesh! The natural mind is "enmity against God; it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." But if we are in Christ, we are new creatures; "old things are done away, and all things are become new. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit." Then "Christ the sanctifying blood applies, And makes us white as snow." Sanctification. BY MRS. R. S. A father, while making provision for his children, whether rich or poor, will naturally expect love and obedience from them in return; and an unkind or disobedient act in them must be a cause of great sorrow to the father's heart, yet it is very seldom that he will go so far as to turn the child away from his door. So with our Heavenly Father. He has done all for us that can be done; He has laid up an eternal Inheritance for us; He has prepared for us "many mansions," and preserves for us a crown "that fadeth not away," and now requires of us humble obedience, full submission to His holy will. He not only commands us to repent and believe, but to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus. If we wish to follow any one we must either see the person or the way in which he has walked; let us then find the foot-prints of Jesus, that we may walk therein and live.