From that time a believer gradually dies to sin, and grows in grace. “Is this ordinarily given till a little before death? “It is not, to those who expect it no sooner. “But may we expect it sooner? “Why not? For, although we grant, (1.) That the generality of believers, whom we have hitherto known, were not so sanctified till near death; (2.) That few of those to Whom St. Paul wrote his Epistles were so at that time; nor, (3.) He himself at the time of writing his former Epistles; yet all this does