The works of holiness, which appeared wearisome, are now his delight. The word of God, which was dull and uninteresting, is now chosen as his study, the man of his counsel. It is as a letter written to him from God, bearing the inscription of the Eternal. His thoughts, his words, and his deeds are brought to this rule and tested. He trembles at the commands and threatenings which it contains, while he firmly grasps its promises and strengthens his soul by appropriating them to himself. The society of the most godly is now chosen by him, and the wicked, whose company he once loved, he no longer delights in. He weeps over those sins in them at which he once laughed. Self-love and vanity are renounced, and he lives unto God, and is rich in good works. This is the sanctification which God requires. Nothing short of this will He accept. {2T 294.3}

Helligheds gerninger, der syntes at være så besværlige, er nu (295) hans lyst. Guds ord, som var kedeligt og uinteressant, vælger han nu til sit studium og til sin rådgiver. Det er som et brev skrevet til ham fra Gud med den Eviges egen skrift. Det er hans vejledning, en regel og målestok, hvormed han prøver sine tanker, sine ord og sine handlinger. Han bæver for de påbud og trusler, som det indeholder, medens han med fasthed griber dets løfter og styrker sin sjæl ved selv at tilegne sig den. Han vælger nu de mest gudfrygtige til sine omgangsfæller og de ugudelige, hvis selskab han engang elskede, glæder ham ikke mere. Deres synder, som han engang lo ad, græder han nu over Han forsager egenkærlighed og forfængelighed, lever for Gud og er rig på gode gerninger. Dette er den helliggørelse, Gud kræver. Noget mindre end dette vil han ikke godkende.