“‘Does God work this great work in the soul _gradually_ or _instantaneously_? Perhaps it may be gradually wrought in some, I mean in this sense: They do not advert to the particular moment, wherein sin ceases to be. But it is infinitely desirable, were it the will of God, that it should be done instantaneously; that the Lord should destroy sin by the _breath of His mouth_, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. And so He generally does,—a plain fact, of which there is evidence enough to satisfy any unprejudiced person. _Thou_ therefore look for it every moment. Look for it in the way above described;[317] in all those _good works_, whereunto thou art created anew in Christ Jesus. There is then no danger; you can be no worse, if you are no better for that expectation. For were you to be disappointed of your hope, still you lose nothing. But you shall not be disappointed of your hope; it will come, and will not tarry. Look for it then every day, every hour, every moment. Why not this hour, this moment? Certainly you may look for it _now_, if you believe it is by faith. And by this token you may surely know whether you seek it by faith or works. If by works, you want something to be done _first_, _before_ you are sanctified. You think, ‘I must first _be_ or do thus or thus.’ Then you are seeking it by works unto this day. If you seek it by faith, you may expect it _as you are_; and, if as you are, then expect it _now_. It is of importance to observe that there is an inseparable connexion between these three points, expect it by _faith_, expect it _as you are_, and expect it _now_. To deny one of them is to deny them all; to allow one is to allow them all. Do _you_ believe we are sanctified _by faith_? Be true then to your principle; and look for this blessing just as you are, neither better, nor worse; as a poor sinner, that has still nothing to pay, nothing to plead, but—_Christ died_. And if you look for it _as you are_, then expect it _now_. Stay for nothing, why should you? Christ is ready, and He is all you want. He is waiting for you; He is at the door! Let your inmost soul cry out,— “‘Come in, come in, Thou heavenly guest! Nor hence again remove: But sup with me, and let the feast Be everlasting love.’” (p. 288). Footnote 317: