The work God carries out in us,' he said after a short pause, 'is not often what we expect. A great deal of the time the Holy Spirit seems to be working backward in us and wasting time. If a lump of iron could form an idea of the file that's slowly rough-shaping it, how furious it would be! Yet that's how God shapes us. Certain saints' lives seem horribly monotonous and desolate.

As it is with spiritual discoveries and affections given at first conversion, so it is in all subsequent illuminations and affections of that kind; they are all transforming. There is a like divine power and energy in them as in the first discoveries; they still reach the bottom of the heart, and affect and alter the very nature of the soul, in proportion to the degree in which they are given. And a transformation of nature is continued and carried on by them to the end of life, until it is brought to perfection in glory.

Tolerating a wrong attitude toward another person causes you to follow the spirit of the devil, no matter how saintly you are.

The aim of the gospel is the creation of people who are passionate for doing good rather than settling for the passionless avoidance of evil.

If we begin to study the Scriptures, our souls shall be sanctified.

Without sanctification, dwell in the state of impurity.

Sanctification leads to renewal of the spirit.

We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Sanctification of the Spirit is the grace of salvation.

Sanctification of souls!