PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION. 365 Much has also been advanced in favour of another kindred doctrine, a doctrine with which St. Peter must have been utterly unacquainted, when he exhorted his converts to " GROW in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus. Christ." St. Paul could not have heard of it when he said to the Thessalonians, " I am bound to thank God that your faith GROWETIT exceedingly." The preceding opinion having encouraged the new proselytes, for they can create as well as destroy, has called another into existence, that there is no such thing as progressive sanctca. tion. This novel doctrine, if practically adopted, would not fail to contribute its full share to the extermination of any remains ofmoral goodness, which its pre- cursor might have left behind. It may, indeed, deserve some little toleration, when its founder shall have been able to produce one individual child of Adam, who is already as good as he ought t9 be, or even as he might have been. If this doctrine be true, a large portion R 3
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