abandonment to God's will, and full dependence on the merits of
"the precious blood," the "faith that works by love," for "faith
without works is dead." And thus we draw nigh to God, and God
draws nigh to us, and the Holy Ghost falls upon us, comes into
us, and cleanses our hearts by the destruction of sin, and the
shedding abroad within us of the love of God.

The advocates of entire sanctification as an experience wrought
in the soul by the baptism with the Spirit subsequent to
regeneration call it "the second blessing."

But many good people object to the term, and say that they have
received the first, second, third, and fiftieth blessing; and no
doubt they have; and yet the people who speak of "the second
blessing" are right, in the sense in which they use the term; and
in that sense there are but the two blessings.

Some years ago a man heard things about a lady that filled him
with admiration for her, and made him feel that they were of one
mind and heart. Later, he met her for the first time, and fell in
love with her. After some months, following an enlarged
acquaintance and much consideration and prayer, he told her of
his love, and asked her to become his wife; and after due
consideration and prayer on her part she consented, and they
promised themselves to each other; they plighted their faith, and
in a sense gave themselves to each other.

That was the first blessing, and it filled him with great peace
and joy, but not perfect peace and joy. Now, there were many
blessings following that before the great second blessing came.