8. From the time of our being _born again_, the gradual work of sanctification takes place. We are enabled _by the Spirit_ to _mortify the deeds of the body_, of our evil nature. And as we are more and more dead to sin, we are more and more alive to God. We go on from grace to grace, while we are careful to _abstain from all appearance of evil_, and are _zealous of good works, as we have opportunity, doing good to all men_. While we walk in all his ordinances blameless, therein worshipping him in spirit and in truth: while we take up our cross, and deny ourselves every pleasure, that does not lead us to God. 9. It is thus that we wait for entire sanctification, for a full salvation from all our sins, from pride, self-will, anger, unbelief; or, as the apostle expresses it, _go on to perfection_. But what is perfection? The word has various senses: here it means, perfect love. It is love excluding sin: love filling the heart, taking up the whole capacity of the soul. It is love _rejoicing evermore, praying without ceasing, in every thing giving thanks_. II. But what is that _faith_ through _which we are saved_? This is the second point to be considered. 1. Faith in general is defined by the apostle ♦Ἔλεγχος πραγμάτων οὐ βλεπομένων _An evidence_, a divine _evidence and conviction_ (the word means both) _of things not seen_: not visible, not perceivable either by sight, or by any other of the external senses. It implies both a supernatural _evidence_ of God and of the things of God, a kind of spiritual _light_ exhibited to the soul, and a supernatural _sight_ or perception thereof: accordingly the scripture speaks of God’s giving sometimes light, sometimes a power of discerning it. So St. _Paul_. _God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ._ And elsewhere the same apostle speaks, _of the eyes of_ our _understanding being opened_. By this twofold operation of the Holy Spirit, having the eyes of our soul both _opened_ and _enlightened_, we see the things which the natural _eye hath not seen, neither the ear heard_. We have a prospect of the invisible things of God: we see the _spiritual world_, which is all round about us, and yet no more discerned by our natural faculties, than if it had no being: and we see the _eternal world_, piercing through the veil which hangs between time and eternity. Clouds and darkness then rest upon it no more, but we already see the glory which shall be revealed.