〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OR CHRIST OUR Sanctification Faithfully Explained fully Confirmed and Practically Applied for the special Benefit and Consolation of the truly sanctified as also for the discovery of the Formalist or Hypocrite And for the awakening of the secure Sinner who makes a mock at sin and either scorns or slights Holinesse Being the substance of several Lectures or Meditations By Tho. Pichard Preacher of the Gospel Heb. 13.12 Wherefore Jesus also that he might sanctifie the people with his own Blood suffered without the Gate John 37.19 And for their sakes I sanctifie my self that they also might be sanctified through the Truth Hebs 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is without which Holiness no man shall see the Lord. Deu. dedit filium omnium Bonorum fontem Quidni cum eo omnia alia darer huc recurrendum est si desertio divina si Egestas inopia solicitet Pareus Fidelis non minus apprehendit Regenerationem in Christo quà m Peccatorum veniam Calvin London Printed for Tho. Passinger at the 〈…〉 upon London-Bridge 〈…〉 To all that are sanctified in Christ Jesus especially to my Christian Friends and Acquaintance in and near London The Authour wisheth all prosperity and true felicity the progress of Sanctification in this world with the perfection thereof in Glory Worthy and good Friends BY the wonderful over-ruling and sole-disposing hand of Providence which some call the Queen of the World Providentia Dei Regina mundi I had the honour and the happiness to be cast into your Acquaintance with whom at a leastwise with many of you I have had for years through mercy comfortable and sweet society in the things of God and from whom I have received so many real and ample manifestations of cordial respect and kindnesse for my support and succour in the crisis of my extremity For all which according to my bounden duty in all humility and sincerity I desire to blesse and Magnifie the Possessor of Heaven and Earth as also to thank you Begging the Father of mercies to reward your labour of love an hundred fold And to enrich you with the fulness of the Blessings of the Gospel of Christ 'T is I confess Rom. 15.29 a duty incumbent on me To render ye a due acknowledgment of hearty thanks for youâ— kindness to me not long since a perfect stranger to all your faces least otherwise I should câ—â—tract the stain Ingratum si dixeris omnia dixeris and Oâ—â—um of that monstrous and multipliâ—a sin Ingratitude debating in my thoughts not how to make Compensation or requital foâ— that as the case standâ— with me is impossible but how at most to make some small Testification of the unfeigâ—â—d honour and lâ—â—e I bear you not onely for your Gooâ—nesse to mee but primarâ—â—y and principâ—lly for the spiri ual worth and goodnesse the God of all Grace according to the riches of of his Grace hath I trust confer'd upon ye and infuâ—ed into ye I knew no better expedient than the dedication of this ensuing Treatise which is not presented to ye or any mortals for Patronage or pro ection but for Acceptance and perusal at your most serious hours I never loved to dawb with untempered mortar nor to sew Pillows under mens elbows since I knew any thing of the mind of God in truth If this small piece doth not cannot speaâ— for it selâ— though in weaknesse I will not speak a word for it neither do I desire Veritas non quaerit angulos Vâ—â—tas stat in aperto Campo that any should 'T is an old and true Maxim Truth needs to Patronage and Errour I am sure deserves none What by the Word and rule of truth ye finde consonant and conseâ—taneous to the mind and will of God the prime Truth that call God's and Christ's and therefore prize and practice it But whatsoever you finde of errour obliquity and deflexion from the Rule that call mans and mine and carefully eschew it imputing to it humane frailty and weaknesse for humanum est errare I remember I have read of Artaxerxes a most noble and munificent King of Persia Plutarch in the life of Artaxerxes that such was the Princely condescension and sweetnesse of his disposition as not onely to give great Gifts unto his Friends and Favourites but also kindly to accept of mean Presents from mean persons so hoping with the like candour you will please to receive this small Tract I have presumed to dedicate and commend it to your Christian consideration I modestly confesse I have been sollicited to print some of my former Meditations though I know Apologi s of this nature are little credited yet through sense of my own weaknesse I â—ave forborn as iudging none of my Grapes worth the Presse Besides the great numbers of profitable and practical Books of many famous men already extant But at length at the friendly desire of some sober Persons willing me to leave some Manifesto of my love or Legacies in their hands as they pleased to tearm it I have Adventured to make these Labours publick which I trust will not seem nauseous or unpleasant to a spirit truly sanctified I have long since thought that every faithfull labourer in the Lords Vineyard had principally a double work to do both tending unto and terminating themselves in holiness viz. 1. To convert Sinners 2. To confirm Saints 1. By the Spirit of Grace and word of Truth to beget holinesse in unholy souls to bring in them that are without Jam. 1.18 who belong to the election of Grace 2. By the same effectual means the Word and Spirit to nourish and nurse up the new Man begotten 1 Pet. 2.2 to breed up those that are within I hope through grace this holy and blessed work hath been the white the mark I have aimed at in the series of my Employment and particularly in this undertaking of Sanctification here offered to your Judgments which is a Doctrine most Necessary most Excellent most Comfortable 1. 'T is a Doctrine most needfull for the sons of men to learn and practice 't is the one thing needfull 't is the principal thing there is no seeing the face of God without it Luke 10.42 Pro. 4.7 Heb. 12.14 for without holinesse no man shall see the Lord. Consider the Decree of the Father the Mission of the Son the Office of the holy Spirit the publication of the Gospel the Jewels of the Covenant the nature of the great and precious Promises the Tendency of all Gods Dispensations Whether smiles or frownes mercies or afflictions do they not all respectively speak the same thing and mutually conspire yea meet and center in the same end viz. to make ye partakers of his Holiness nay Heb. 12.10 they all tell ye in plain tearms ye must be holy God will not alter his Decree for you nor send another Saviour nor chalk out
one is Christ He did not only satisfie divine Justice pacifie the Fathers wrath make reconciliation for the sins of the people but also as the Hâ—gh-Priest of old he did and doth still appear before the Lord in garments of glory and beauty See Exod. 28.2 3 4 5. Those garments of gold blew purple scarlet c. did consecrate Aaron to his Priestly Office Those glorious garments without controversie did typifie the pure habitual and actual holiness of our great High-Priest Jesus Christ expressed by his annointing Isa 61.1 and receiving the Spirit without measure Joh. 3.34 That unction and unmeasurable effusion of the Spirit upon him did consecrate and sanctifie him to all his Offices he was annointed for us to be a Prophet to us to be a King in us to be a Priest for us which fulness of the Spirit of grace in our Head Christ is reputed to every one sanctified in Christ Jesus for their sanctification or holiness which doth also expiate and purge out of the sight of God all their impurity or unholiness This holy person described by his glorious titles viz. the Son of God the Heir of all things the Maker of the worlds the brightness of his Fathers glory the express Image of his person the upholder of all things by the Word of his Power is said by himself to have purged our sins Heb. 1.1 2 3. As by the merit of his passive righteousness to purge us from the guilt of sin so by the influential efficacy of his sanctity or inherent righteousness to purge us from the filth of sin and take down the power of it God accepts of believers in themselves impure and imperfect as perfect and compleat in him who is our Head and fulness Thus Christ is our Sanctification by way of Imputation 2. Jesus Christ is our sanctification by way of Union Union with him is the ground or Basis both of our Justification and Sanctification by him He that hath the Son hath life Joh. 1.5.12 Dulcius ex ipso fonte With him is the fountain of life Psa 36.9 by Faith through the spirit a believer hath union with Christs person and so communion with his life He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life Joh. 3. ult Whereupon Jesus Christ is called the life Joh. 14.6 and our life Col. 3.4 our life of righteousness our life of holiness our life of glory or happiness and this life is in his Son 1 Ioh. 5.11 By believing we are united to Christ who is our Head Fountain and Principle of spiritual life or holiness as the Head is the Principle and Fountain of sense and motion Ephes 4.15.16 From him the Head the Apostle tells us the whole body is fitly joyned and compacted together and so maketh encrease to the edifying of it self in love All the grace that is in us is but a measure or overflowing of his fulness Christ is principle of holiness by which it is wrought and also the rule unto which it is proportioned Dr. Reynolds in his life of Christ Heb. 12.2 Christ is the Author and finisher of our faith he is the first and the last the Alpha and Omega both the beginner of our sanctification here on earth and the perfecter thereof in heaven As the members by nerves and ligaments are firmly knit to the Head the superstructure to the foundation the branches to the Vine the Wife to the Husband by the Marriage-knot so are the Saints of God firmly and closely united to Jesus Christ in the spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 By vertue of which union they cannot but derive and draw down continual supplies of spiritual life from him for he is the life and he is their life Consider a little the nature of this wonderful Union I shall but touch it in transitu 1. It is an Union of Nature we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones Heb. 2.14 because the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same Christ condescended to assume our Humane Nature that we might partake of his Divine Nature he took upon him our rag of flesh that he might cloath us with his robe of glory 2. It is an union of and in the spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit as man and wife united make one flesh so Christ and believers united in and by the spirit make up one spiritual Christ 3. It is an union of relations and that of the neerest and sweetest Christ is the everlasting Father Isa 9.6 and begets children to God in his own likeness Christ is the Son of God believers are the Sons of God but Christ is the Son of Gods Nature but we are the Sons of Gods will he by eternal Generation but we by the grace of Regeneration to conformity to whose Image we are predestinated Rom. 8.29 He is the first-born among many Brethren and is not ashamed to call us Brethren Heb. 2. which relation also bespeaks likeness for brethren for the most part resemble brethren Lastly Christ is our redeeming Kinsman and Husband and we are his redeemed Kindred and Spouse These relations also import similitude and proportion between Christ and us Christ as our Redeemer came to deliver us c. that we might be like him and serve him in holiness and righteousness Luke 1.74 75. he came not only to justifie but also to sanctifie Tit. 2.16 he came as Redeemer not only to save from hell but also to save from sin Mat. 1.21 not only to deliver us from eternal condemnation but also from our vain conversation 1 Pet. 1.18 Isa 61.1 2 3. not only to proclaim liberty to the Captives and the opening of the prisons to them that are bound Zech. 3.3.4 but also to pull off their rotten rags their nasty prison garments and to cloath them with change of rayment to cleanse and wash them from the pollution of sin and put upon them a robe of righteousness and renew them with inward holiness and so to present them as beautiful and glorious without spot or wrinkle c. To shew consent M. Jeremy Burroughs in his Saints Treasury p. 46. I shall take the boldness to transcribe the words of a Famous man now in heaven Our Sanctification saith he is not only from Christ meritoriously but efficiently and in a kind materially too he doth not only merit it and work it by his spirit but through our union with him there is a kind of flowing of Sanctification from him into us as the principle of our life as from the liver there flows blood into all the parts of the body so through our union with Christ he having the fulness of the Godhead in him from him as from a Fountain sanctification flows into the souls of Saints their sanctification comes not so much from their strugling I wish all disconsolate souls desponding for want of holiness would in the strength of the
Lord take his counsel and endeavours vows and resolutions as it comes flowing to them from their closing with Christ and union with him There may be saith he a great deal of striving and endeavouring that may be utterly ineffectual for want of having recourse to Christ as the Spring and Well-head of all grace and holiness Thus Jesus Christ is our Sanctification by union with him we are sanctified in him and daily receive supplies of grace from him 3. Jesus Christ may be said to be our Sanctification and to be given of God for our Sanctification in regard of Assimilation 1 Christ is the pattern of our Sanctification 1. As Christ is the Author so Christ is the Rule and Pattern of our Sanctification formal and compleat Sanctification consists in a souls conformity to Jesus Christ as the Exemplar or Pattern of his obedience Heb. 12.3 Consider him that endured c. i. e. consider him as the Pattern and President of your obedience both active and passive Wherefore ye shall find that Christ propounds his own example as the pattern of our obedience Ioh. 13.15 I have given you an example i. e. of meekness and humility that you should do as I have done to you So Mat. 11.29 Learn of me for I am meek and lowly Again Phil. 2.5 Let the same mind be in you as was in Christ i. e. the same opinion judgement affections compassions Once more 1 Pet. 1.15 As he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation Christ throughout his whole life was a standing rule a walking Bible a visible Commentary on Gods Law whose ordinary communicable works and duties are recorded for our imitation 2. Holiness is the Image of Christ 2. Holiness is the Image of Christ Now as the face is both the fountain of that Image or Species which is shed upon the glass and likewise it is the exact pattern and example of it too so Jesus Christ is both the principle of holiness by whom it is wrought and the pattern to which it is conforme Now in an Image there are two things 1. Proportion 2. Deduction 1. Proportion A similitude of one thing to another 2. Deduction A derivation or impression of similitude upon the one from the other and with relation thereunto Now our Renovation is after the Image of Christ 1 Cor. 15.49 As we have born the Image of the earthly so we shall bear the Image of the heavenly Adam begat a Son in his own likeness i. e. his Son was like him in corruption and mortality so in the Regeneration Christ begets children to himself in his own likeness i. e. like him in grace and holiness in spirituality and immortality for the seed of which we are begotten is incorruptible 1 Pet. 1.23 When man had lost that glorious Image of God wherein he was created he became an ugly and a miserable creature presently ugly because he had lost his holiness miserable because full of guilt and horror he durst no more draw neer to the most holy inaccessible Majesty than stubble before the flames No man can see his face 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deficiuntur and live We all by sin are come short of Gods glory Rom. 3.23 both of the glory of his Image and of the glory of his Kingdome Now unless the Lord be pleased to exhibit this Image to us through some glass or veil we must be for ever both desolate and destitute And this the Lord hath graciously been pleased to do by the veil of Christs flesh he is God manifest in the flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 The glory of God now shines in upon us and before us in and from the face of Iesus Christ Col. 1.15 2 Cor. 4.6 Christ is the Image of the invisible God and he that hath seen him hath seen the Father So that now by the Incarnation of the Son there is a Vision of Gods glory and a restauration of Gods Image Ioh. 1.18 No man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son who is in the bosome of the Father he hath declared him The glittering beamings of the Invisible and Eternal Glory did and do shine most resplendently through the transparent medium of Christs Humane Nature which seen and taken in by the eye of Faith do strangely irradiate and enlighten beautifie and glorifie the soul of man Ephes 4.23 24. and renew it according to the Image of God in righteousness and true holiness 4ly and lastly Jesus Christ is our Sanctification by way of influence and communication This is more general and hath some connexion with and dependance upon the former Ye have received an Vnction from the Holy One i. e. Christ c. Ioh. 1.2.20 This Unction is like that oyntment that ran down from the head of Aaron unto the skirts of his garments to note the plentiful effusion of the Spirit on Christ and from Christ unto his lowest members 1. The Spirit of holiness was Christs right jure proprio by vertue of the personal union so that Christ had a plenitude or fulness of the spirit in him like the fulness of a fountain but to us the spirit belongs by an inferiour union through Christ our Head So Bishop Downâ—m in his Justification by way of influence from Christ our Head from the grace of the Spirit is derived in such proportion as Christ is pleased to communicate yet 't is the same holiness for truth and substance Simile As it is the same light which breaketh forth in the dawning of the day with that which inhereth in the body of the Sun shining in his strength 't is in Christ in fulness in us in measure The Apostle tells us 2 Cor. 3.18 We are changed into the same likeness with Christ by the Spirit of the Lord. 2. Of this fulness of the Spirit which is in Christ believers do receive and grace for grace Ioh. 1.16 As the Child receives member for member from the Father and as the paper receiveth letter for letter from the Press c. so a sanctified soul receives grace for grace i. e. all manner of grace exactly and proportionably from Jesus Christ The glorious Image of Gods holiness in Christ fashioneth and produceth it self in the hearts of the faithful Simile as an Image or species of light shining on a glass doth from thence fashion it self upon a wall by reflexion As the head communicates real influences to the body so Iesus Christ who is both an head of eminence and of influence communicates his spirit grace light life comfort to his Body the Church for he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are both of one As they are one in Nature so one in Spirit and in spiritual likeness also For the farther explication and illustration of this deep and illustrious truth viz. That Jesus Christ is our Sanctification Before I come to the definition of Sanctification Causa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
Surfet he may fall into sin yea fowly fall into great sins Nemo esse sine delicto potest quamdiù indumentâ— carni oneratus est Lactant. de vero cultu and labour under the sense of a wounded spirit a long time Notwithstanding all this the immortal seed of God in him of which he is begotten by the supplyes of the Spirit of Life will revive and corroborate the man again The divine Nature in him will get head exert its influence and repair the man again Grace like Leaven will ferment the whole lump the whole soul and work out the disease of sin Psalm 1.3 Rev. 22.1 in a word the withering stock of Grace within like a Tree planted by the River of Life will spring and flourish scent and bud again 8. Blessed effect or Priviledge If thou art sanctified or regenerated thou hast a true and undoubted Title to the Kingdome 3 Joh. 3.5 Except ye are born again ye cannot see ye cannot enter into the Kingdome of God This Negative is inclusive of the Affirmative If ye are born again ye shall both see and enter into Gods Kingdome This Kingdome of God if born again is thy Inheritance If thou hast the sanctification of the Spirit thou art begotten again unto a lively hope this lively is also a most glorious hope here hope is put for the object hoped for and what is that the 3d. v. informs ye an inheritance incorruptible undefiled which fadeth not away reserved in hea-for ye The children of Regeneration are most certainly and unquestionably the children of the Kingdome Sanctification is the Genuine and Evangelical Title to salvation see 2 Thes 2.14 When ye are born from above ye are at that instant born for above ye are born children of God brethren of Christ Companions with Angels and heirs of Glory Nay let me tell ye more Sanctification is the very entrance into the Kingdome of God Sanctificatio est Ingâ—estus in Regnum Dei Caâ—v Phil 3.20 Holinesse is not only the way to Heaven but it is Heaven it self A sanctified person lives the life of Heaven * his conversation is in Heaven he lives rhe Life of God whilst his body is here on earth it is life eternal in the ptesent tense in specie and in primitiis in the kind and first-fruits of it to know God in Christ John 17.3 When ye begin to be holy ye then begin to enter into the white cloud of Glory Ah then seeing every one would be happy who would not be holy Holinesse becometh thine House O Lord for ever Without holinesse no man shall see the Lord that is with joy hereafter Heb. 12.14 No nor any enjoyment of the favour and fellowship with God here An unsanctified person is very miserable he misseth heaven in both Worlds he hath nether holiness nor happiness he hath neither the seed nor the flower neither the first-fruits nor the Vintage he hath not a grain of saving Grace no sweet dews falling from heaven on him not a drop of the water of Life to comfort him But his soul is like the Heath in the Desart and shall not see when good cometh but shall inhabit the dry and parched places in the wildernesse in a salt land and not inhabited Jer. 17.6 A most dismal state saltness and barrenness is his doom here fire and brimstone is his portion for ever Certainly an unholy man must needs be very miserable Lastly True sanctification is an abiding flourishing progressive Principle 1. It is an abiding Principle it lives and abides in it self Semen manenâ— and it also quickens the soul in the life and keeps the soul in the love of God for ever 1 Pet. 1.23 A man externally sanctified may fall away and come to nothing like a barren Tree he may lose in time both leaves and fruit but a man internally sanctified can never fall away neither totally nor finally for the Name and Nature of God the Mark and Seal of God the Image and Seed of God is in him And this is incorruptible and immortal * 1 Pet. 4.14 the spirit of Glory and of God rests upon him the sp rit of Holiness dwels and abides in his soul for ever the Father Son and Spirit according to their omnipotency faithfulness and immutability will never suffer their seed seal nature image to be lost Though Hymenaeus and Philetus hypocrites and hereticks may err concerning the truth overthrow the faith of some and throw themselves and others down to Hâ—ll Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2.17 18 19. The love of God in Election and in Vocation or Sanctification is like himself unchangeable The Gifts Joh. 13.1 Rom. 11.29 and Calling of God are without Repentance There may be partial and gradual Apostacy in some of the Saints of God they may backslide in their apprehensions in their affections and in their conversations as is too too manifest by the Scripture-evidence and by sad experience but to backslide totally from all the truths of God and from all the profession of the Gospel and with the mind and will with the consent of the whole soul and finally to fall away bid an eternal farewell or depart from God for ever This cannot shall not be Among others consult these Texts Heb. 12.6 2. He that is the Author will also be the Finisher of our faith 1 Phil. 6. Hee that hath begun the good work in ye will also perfect it And Jer. 32.40 And I will make saith God an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from me Here God in the Riches of his Grace through Christ undertakes both for himself and his Saints 1. For himself I will not turn away from them to do them good 2. For his Saints I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me Though they fall they shall rise again though they step aside into the wayes of death God will bring them back and give them repentance unto life They may turn from God for a season but they shall never finally depart from him The Gates of Hell shall never prevail against them that is either the infernal spirits Eph. 6.12 called principalities and powers or the strength of Death and powers of the Grave shall never dissolve the Union between Christ and them for I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come Rom. 8.38 39. nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2. It is a flourishing and progressive Principle Psalm 92.12 13 14. The Motto of the Palm-tree is Depressa Resurgo The Righteous shall flourish like the Palm-tree he shall grow like
precious life to spill his precious blood for you Gal. 2.20 Christ by the merit of his blood the price of your Sanctification hath impetrated and obtained of the Father the holy Spirit with all the gifts and graces of the same for your sanctification and salvation see John 16.7 13. John 14.16 17. 3. Consider the infinite power and efficacy of the Spirit The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead called the Spirit of Holiness Rom. 1.4 quickens the Saints to a new life and dwelleth in them Rom. 8.11 This new life of holiness which is in Christ Jesus is by the Spirit of life imparted to you Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus Rom. 8. 2 hath made me free from the law of sin and death Holiness in us is the fruit of Christs Purchase the product of his merit the sprinkling of his Unction a parcel of his Fulness and a measure of his Spirit we have as great need of his Spirit to sanctifie us as of his blood to justifie us yea the Eternal Spirit was indispensibly needful to sanctifie and dignifie the blessed Sacrifice of Christs Humane Nature upon the Cross or else I must profess my Ignorance of that Text Heb. 9.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Supe eminens magnitudo virtutis ejus So Montanus 'T is not only the power but the exceeding greatness of the Spirits power to raise up a person morally dead to an estate of newness of life 't is a work proportionate to that power God wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the Heavenly places Eph. 1.19 20. Notwithstanding the Fathers Eâ—ection and the Sons Redemption yet without the Spirits Efficacy we had all at this day lain rotting â—ike stinking Carrion in the Grave of sin and death Gods Mercy Christs Merit and the â—pirits efficacy It is very observable that all the three Persons challenge an equal share in the working of holiness in the creature it being such a part of Gods Gâ—orie Mr. Burroughs Saints Treasury p. 16. must have their distinct glory The Father is said to sanctifie the Son to Sanctifie the Spirit to sanctifie but with their distinct Idioms or Characters our sanctification is from the Father in the Son and by the Spirit the Inchoation is from the Father he is the prime â—â—iâ—inal the Dispensation is by the Son he is the way of Communication the Application and Consummation is by the Spirit he receives of the Father and the Son and shows it unto us that is he works grace or holiness in us Thus all the persons work jointly and yet distinctly the love of the Father makes way for the Mediatorship of the Son and the Mediatorship of the Son for the Office of the Spirit The Sanctification of the Spir t is as necessary as the blood of Jesus you may see 1 Pet. 1.2 how all the persons have their distinct operations Communion with the Spirit is as sweet and choice a priviledge as the Grace of our Lord Jesus or the Love of God the Father 2 Cor. 13.14 Thus sanctifie the Name of God give Glory to the Father Son and Spirit to the Triuni Deo the three one God three in Persons one in Essence and Nature for your Sanctification Iâ— Jesus Christ be made of God Sanctification Use 2 to us the Procuring Meritorious and Moral cause of our Sanctification then primarily and principally let your thoughts ascend to God the Father as the supreme original of your Sanctification let not your thoughts stop or stay till they center in him 'T is the Father who of his own will hath begotten us by the Word of Truth Jam. 1.18 't is God the Father of our Lord Jesus who of his aboundant Mercy hath begotten us again c. 1 Pet. 1.3 Therefore we ought to bless and exalt his aboundant Mercy as the Apostle doth 'T is the Father the Heavenly Husbandman that purgeth the Branches John 15.1 2. that they might bring forth fruit As we ought to believe in Christ the Mediatour so in God as the first Fountain and Authour of Grace and as the ultimate end of our happiness 1. As the Fountain of all Grace John 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave c. Ephes 2.4 5. God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us when we were dead in sins Ephes 2.4 5. Rom. 4.24 hath quickened us together with Christ We must believe in him that raised our Lord Jesus from the dead He that believeth in me So Dr. M â—ton Expounds it in his Commentary on Jude believeth not in me but in him that sent me there not is not negative but corrective not only in me but his thoughts must ascend to the Father also who manifests himself in me for God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself c. 2 Cor. 5.19 2. You must believe in God as the ultimate end of your happiness Christ suffered for sins 1 Pet. 3.18 the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God When the Mediatour brings the Soul into peace with God by Justification and into the likeness and fellowship of God by Sanctification he hath attained the utmost end of his Mediatourship and the Soul hath attained its chiefest good and utmost happiness therefore is it said that the Saints by Christ do believe in God 1 Pet. 1.21 c. I would not wittingly or willingly speak a word for a world to detract any thing from the honour of my blessed Saviour or from the glory of the sacred Comforter but to rectifie your understandings and to heighten your apprehensions of the Fathers love because many Christians carry all things in the Name of Christ and of the Spirit being more apprehensive of the Sons love and of the Spirit 's grace than of the Fathers aboundant mercy Give me therefore leave to subjoin these four weighty Reasons Reas 1. Because all grace begins with the Father he is the first in order of Being and the first in order of Working the Fountain of the Trinity as we may conceive 't is the Father that floweth out to us in Christ by the Spirit he is the Father of lights Jam. 1.17 And the Text tells ye we are of God in Christ Jesus 't is true Christ as the second Person is coequal with the Father in power and glory but Christ as Mediatour must be considered as the Fathers Servant Isa 42.1 as his elect or chosen Instrument Reas 2. Glorifie the Father for whatsoever good Christ hath done for you or in you all is done with respect to the Fathers love and grant 2 Tim. 1.9 Joh. 17.2 God hath saved us according to his own Purpose and Grace given us in Christ Jesus God gave Christ power over all Flesh that he should give eternal life to those God had given him Righteousness Holiness Heaven
another new way to Heaven nor proclaim another Gospel for you nor for any Creatures breathing If Christ be not your sanctification as is held forth in this Treatise sin will be your condemnation you will perish and die eternally if there be a necessity of your salvation there is as absolute a necessity of your sanctification If the Lord hath reveâ—viled Christ to ye as the Lord your Righteousnesse he hath also revealed Christ to ye and iâ— in ye as the Principle and Prince of your Life as the High Priest your holinesse and ye must look up daily to Jesus Christ for both and receive of his fulnesse John 1.16 You see there is an indispensible need of Holinesse and whence and in whom all your springs and supplies are against the guilt punishment dominion and filth of sin viz. in your Mediatour Christ Jesus 2. Holinesse is most excellent Col. 1.19 most excellent in 1. It s Authour 2. It s Nature 3. It s End 1. T is excellent in its Authour it hath a divine Origination Isa 57.15 Ephes 2.10 The High and lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity his Name is Holy he that is the Creatour and former of all things is the former and Creatour of the new Birth 2. 'T is excellent in its Nature more precious than Rubies than the Topaz of Aeâ—â—opia than the Treasures of the Indies or any sublunary excellency whatsoever it hath the Image and Life of the Authour in it it hath the Name and Glory of God upon it 't is divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Therefore most excellent because divinely Excellent 3. 'T is excellent in its end salvation 1 Pet 1.9 Finis Coronat opus We use to say that is well which ends well for the end Crowns the work If Holiness be implanted in ye it will not only march about the world with ye in all conditions and estates of Life and be your Companion in labours but it will also follow ye yea go along out of the World with ye and be your Companion in Glory Revel 14.13 1 Sam. 16.13 as Samuel annointed Saul aforehand for the Kingdome so the Holy Oyl of Grace sets ye apart aforehand for the fruition of Glory it never leaves ye till it hath placed ye on Thrones arrayed ye with Robes put Palmes into your hands and incircled your heads with a Crown of Life and immortality The perfection of Grace is Glory 3. The Doctrine of Sanctification or Holiness is very Comfortable There are two Rivers of joy springing or having their Well-head in the precious side and heart of Christ 1. The Blood for Justification 2. The Water for Sanctification Both streaming from one Fountain equally cheering Psalm 46. refreshing and making glad the City of God and nourishing up the Believer to eternal life Amongst my Acquaintance I have observed two sorts of dejected souls as also two sorts of Causes of their dejection and two sorts of means or helps for their Cure and recovery 1. Some trembling hearts do much despond and droop for want of the sense of pardon their justification is dark unto them they know not whether God hath pardoned them The children of Light may sometime walk in darkness And then they would give millions of worlds did they possess them for God the fathers face to shine upon them Isa 50.10 and for the holy Spirit the Comforter to pronounce peace and proclaim pardon to them 2. Other deserted souls mourn sore like Doves for want of holinesse Comparing their hearts wih the perfect nature of God and their lives with the pure shining Law of God they are alwayes complaining for their defects and decays of Grace for the streâ—gth and prevalence of corruption and for the manifold spots and staines of their conversations Wherefore they are afraid their spot is not the spot of Gods Children Deuâ— 32.5 and that such deadness dulnesse vanity of thoughts and disorders of spirit and life cannot be consistent with saving grace And hereupon they wander in Meanders of perplexities and disquietments The Indies if they had them they would freely part with for the plentifull effusion and influence of Christs Unction and to see him clearly to be made of God sanctification to them But O yee Bruised reeds and smoaking flax the Captain of your Salvation will bring forth judgement unto Victory and perfect your Grace in Glory There is Balm in Gilead there is a Physitian there Christ is a Saviour and a Sanctifier to the uttermost Heb. 7.25 The Plaister is as bread as the soar the blood of Christ is both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the price of our Redemption and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Laver of Regeneration also 1. Let the first sort Trust in the Name of the Lord and stay themse ves upon their God Isa 50.10 See Dr. Goodwins Childe of Light Trust in the name of the Lord that is the infinite mercy of God through the merit of Christ God is rich in Mercy Pâ—eâ—â—ous in Redemption abundan â—â— goodnesse and Truth the mercy of God is the Name of God yea the very first letter of his Name Exod. 34.6 Mercy leads the chorum in that Catalogue of the Divine Attributes Exo. 34.6 2. Trust in the infinite Merit and Righteousnesse of Jesus Christ for this is his Name the Lord our Righteousnesse Jer. 23.6 Let Faith drive thee quite out of self and thy own righteousnesse and lay fast hold on Christs Righteousnesse Know that Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth Phil. 3.8 9 Consider him that hath satisfied Justice Rom. 10.4 fulfilled all righteousness in his own Person and brought in everlasting righteousnesse for thee who loved thee and gave himself for thee Dan. 9.24 And so let faith grow up unto Assurance Gal. 2.20 for this Righteousnesse is revealed from Faith to Faith called the Righteousnesse of God Rom. 1.17 because 't is the righteousnesse of God as well as man and which God appointeth and accepteth for thy justification This divine Righteousness thou must live upon as thy daily food and bread of life 2. Let the second sort of disconsolate souls consider these Particulars 1. That an enlightned soul that communes with his own heart seeth more vileness filthiness and contrariety in himself to the holy nature and Law of God than such as are in a state of gross darkness who are strangers to God and in this sense perfect strangers to their own hearts 2. Let such consider a Christian state in this world is militant there must be warring and wrastling Eph. 6.12 not only with flesh and blood but also with Principalities and Powers i. e. with the Devils of hell and the corruptions of the world every day Shall any say because I fight I am a Coward because I fâ—de a law in my members warring against the law of my minde a double interest flesh and spirit lusting in
all all in all in in Illumination all in all in Justification all in all in Reconciliation all in all in Adoption all in all in Sanctification 2 Tim 4.10 all in all in Redemption all in all in preservation to his heavenly Kingdome And though it be saâ—d of the Saints enjoyment of God in heaven that God i. e. God the Father is all in all 1 Cor. 15.28 yet certainly as God the Father is pleased to communicate himself in the riches of his grace through the Son to his Saints here so he will everlastingly communicate himself in the treasures of his glory through the Son to his Saints in heaven as Christ is the Medium of your spiritual union with God here so he will continue the eternal Medium of your glorious communion with God hereafter in his lâ—ght ye shall see light The Soul-ravishing Vision of Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant Heb. 12.24 Domine fecisti nos pro te cor irrequietum est denec venial ad te Aug. and the Beatifical Vision of ever-blessed and glorious Deity in and through the Mediator is no small part or portion of the Saints Coelestial happiness God indeed is the Essence of the Soul the Eternal Entity of our happiness the Father of Spirits is the only rest and centre of our immortal Spirits for 1 Pet. 3.18 Christ once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God our approximation or drawing nigh to God being the ultimate end as to us of Christs passion yet the seeing of Christ as he is when he shall appear in his Fathers glory when he shall come in power and great glory to see him as he is in his greatest glory and fullest Majesty sitting at the right hand of the Father and to see our humane nature in him as far exalted above so far more glorious than those glittering morning stars the Angels will be no small part or measure of our blessedness though not the quintessâ—nce compendium or complement thereof 1 Joh. 3.2 Beloved now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be But we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is But to return Our Lord Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Eminency called that one Pearl of great price Mat. 13.46 which the wise Merchant-man sold all that he had and bought This Pearl eminently and virtually contains all other Pearls in it is comprehensive of all excellent and Soveraign good which our souls stand in need of infinitely more precious and excellent than the rest and infinitely to be prized and preferred above the rest Christ not only hath but is wisdome to the simple rayment to the naked riches to the poor rest to the weary bread of life to the hungry water of life to the thirsty righteousness to the guilty sanctification to the filthy redemption to the captive peace and reconciliation to the enemy power to the faint a rock and refuge to the afflicted a shineing Sun to the disconsolate a saving shield to the assaulted in a word a full fons of living water of rich supply to those that labour under any distress or misery whether inward perplâ—xity or outward calamity Philosophers brag much of their Elixir Naturalists boast much of their Panacea and Catholicon and they would bear the world in hand as though these were Soveraign remedies against all maladies good against all diseases but these and all other whether natural artificial or moral excellencies are less than Cyphers to Jesus Christ compared with him they are less than nothing and vanity Isa 40.17 1. As Christ is God the worlds were made by him and for him by his power and for his glory Heb. 1.2 Col. 1.16 2. As Christ is Mediator God-man so he is Heir of all things Heb. 1.2 whom he that is the Father hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the worlds Now can he want light that lives in the midst of the Sun Can he want air that lives upon the top of the highest Mountain Can he want water that lives at the Well head No more can he want light life grace strength comfort or any good thing that lives in union and communion with Jesus Christ in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2.9 * Qui habet habentem omâ—ia habet omnia He that hath him that owneth and possesseth all things hath all things 'T is an old and true saying Si Christum noscis nihil est si caetera nescis Si Christum nescis nihil est si caetera noscis Hath the Father given us the Son the Son of his eternal love of his eternal bosome then we may safely make with the Apostle this sweet inference How shall he not with him freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 All things pertaining to life and godliness as the Apostle expresseth and explaineth it elsewhere 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. presents ye with a Christians Inventory and with a Christians tenure 1. A Christians Inventory All things A Christian hath a large dominion a great possession all things are yours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for all things are yours Descend from generals to particulars then all things must be referred to or subdivided by persons and things All persons are yours that is for your good and benefit whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas whether Ecclesiastical or secular persons whether godly or ungodly whether spiritual men or carnal men therefore v. 22. he adds the world the wicked World or rather the wicked of the world who ere long shall be judged by the Saints as Assessors with Jesus Christ the Supreme Judge 1 Cor. 6.2 shall be subservient to Gods glory and to the Saints good Those Slaves and Scullions that rub off the rust and scoure and cleanse the Vessels of Honor by temptations afflictions imprisonments persecutions c. though not intentionally as to them yet accidentally and eventually by the blessing of God shall really promote and carry on their spiritual and eternal interest 2. As all pâ—rsons so all things are theirs whether life or death or things present or things to come all are yours ver 22. What can a soul either have or wish for more for a man not only to enjoy the comforts of life but also to find sweetness in death to find meat in this Eatâ—r to find honey in this Lyon to live in the midst of death to lie down in peace in the arms or rather Jaws of the King of Terrors for this deadly Enemy by the death of Christ to be made one of our best friends Again For a man to be rich in possession and rich in reversion too for a man to have an interest in all things present and an interest in all things future also to have Territories as broad as the earth and a treasure as high as heaven and returns
of glory coming in unto him and upon him to all eternity this is an incomparable rich person and an incomparable blessed estate indeed 2. Note the Tenure Ye hold all in Capite in and by union with him who is Gods Heir and your Head Ephes 1. last and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods v. 23. Ye are the Bride Christ is the Bridegroom ye are the Body Christ is the Head as the Head of Christ is God so the Head of the Church is Christ The Father in an ineffable manner communicated as of old the Divine Essence and Nature so at his Incarnation an unmeasurable an overflowing fulness of the Spirit and Grace to the Son yea it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell even as Mediator Col. 1.19 And the Son by the Ordination and appointment of the Father communicates derives and by his Spirit imparts unto his Saints Eph. 1.3 Eph. 3.8 all those spiritual blessings all those unsearchable riches all those riches of glory or glorious riches Ephes 3.16 which he hath received of his Father for them Some of which heavenly and choicest treasures we find lying in the field or rather Mine of this Text viz. Wisdome Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption I shall now Deo juvante consider the Text it self open the sense of the words and draw some practical conclusions from the whole The Apostle having humbled and dejected the Corinthians ver 26 27. of this Chap. in calling upon them to see or consider their calling for ye see your calling Brethren c. where calling is put metonymically for the persons called that is what manner of men they themselves were and generally are which God calls by the Gospel not the wise after the flesh not the Mighty not the Noble but commonly the foolish weak and base for the poor receive the Gospel Now in this verse the Apostle comforts and cheers them Quos antea dejecerat nunc supra omnes mortales evehit sed ita ut omnem ipsorum dignitatem doceat non ab ipsis sed à Christo emanare idque à Deo id est Dei unius vi ac beneficio Beza in loc and lifts up their heads above all other mortals by informing them of their Origination from God their Vnion with Christ their spiritual descent from him in Christ Jesus But of him are ye in Christ Jesus Here the Apostle shews them the true rise of true honour Corinthiorum animos de jecerat revocando eos ad intuendam suam ipsorum vocationem quod fuit propemodum acsi dirisset eos insipientes ignobiles infirmos omnes fuisse quasi non essent quum ad Christum vocarentur Quare nunc illos erigit pulchrè consolatur dâ—â—ens licèt ex vobis ipsis tales fueritis ut modò estis à me descripti Attamen jam ex Deo estis P. Martyr in loc and of divine dignity not springing from noble birth or liberal breeding not from any natural moral or secular accomplishments or considerations whatsoever But from the special grace of God the Father in Christ Jesus manifested and put forth in a double act of divine love 1. In Election 2. In Regeneration 1. In Election God the Father did chuse all believers in Christ before the foundation of the world Ephes 1.4 in that eternal compact or Foederal transactions between the Father and the Son Emphasis est in verbo estis q. d. à Deo vobis est principium qui ea quae non sunt voâ—at in Christo verò subsistentia c. Calvin commonly called the Covenant of Redemption Ye are of God in Christ Jesus viz. by vertue of the Eternal Purpose and Decree of God The gracious purpose of God the Father in Christ is the beginning of the wayes of God the Original and highest Well-head of all our holiness and happiness as appears 2 Tim. 1.9 where ye shall find that both our Salvation and Calling are no other than the genuine efflux and products of Gods purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus before the world began So Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie D. Jacomb in his Sermon upon Isa 55.10 promised before the world began How was this life promised before the world began but in this everlasting Covenant wherein the Father promised unto Christ eternal life for all his Seed Though the Decrees of God are immanent Decreta Dei nihil ponunt in Actu and not transient acts abiding with reverence in the Mind or Breast of God and not actually passing upon the creature yet Gods eternal purpose in electing us in Christ is the primum mobile the great wheel that sets all the other inferiour wheels at work that animates quickens and actually moves and influenceth and constantly carries on and perfects all other intermediate acts of grace in order to our Salvation Gods blessing us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things and places is said to be in relation unto in correspondence with in pursuance of his electing us in Christ according as he hath chosen us in Christ Ephes 1.3 4. They are all Emanations from this Fountain Thus in the first place and I think not improperly we may be said to be of God in Christ Jesus viz. of God originally and primarily Neque hoc intelligit quoad creationem sed ait de eo quod per gratiam Regenerationem consequnti erant P. Martyr in Christ Jesus vertually and radically by vertue of Gods electing love to us in Christ before the world began 2. More principally according to the purport of this place we are of God in Christ Jesus by the grace of Regeneration we are Gods workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works Ephes 2.10 Believers are of God i. e. born of God in Christ Jesus for the Father of our Lord Jesus as our Spiritual Father is said to have begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead Eadem sententia est cum illa qui non ex sanguinibus neque ex voluntate carnis c. Pomeran 1 Pet. 1.3 By vertue of his Will we are elected and by the Power of the same Will we are called and regenerated Jam. 1.18 Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth c. One saith This sentence is the same with that Joh. 1.13 which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Let it not grieve the Saints in that they are not born of Nobles nor descended of the blood of Princes but rather rejoyce and raise up their spâ—rits in the midst of all reproaches and sufferings in that they are the Sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus a Divine Off-spring of an heavenly Extraction rejoyce in this that your names are written in heaven Ye are wise noble honourable every way glorious creatures in Christ Jesus Eph
Light and Darkness between Christ and Belial It was an old saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 between an holy God and an impure sinner God is Light in the abstract 1 Joh. 1.5 and an impure sinner is darkness in the abstract Ephes 5. Holinesse is the principle of Union and Communion between God and man Ephes 2.13 when we are converted sanctified 1 Cor 6.17 He that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit the soul is made nigh to God who before was afar off and is now joined to the Lord in the Spirit As a man cannot have communion with the Beasts because they live not the same life nor the Beasts with the Plants because they live a contrary life no more can a natural man have communion with God because he lives not the same life but the Saints through sanctification of the Spirit live a spiritual life the life of God and are therefore fitted for Communion with him and for the communications of his goodnesse to them 12. Sanctification turns moral Vertues into Graces Some persons are naturally meek patient As 't was said of Augustus Caesar He turned brick into Marble sober temperate c. Some natural persons are morally just and righteous in their dealing and Conversation in the World honest Dealers good Pay-masters make their word their deed All this a man may be and do yet perish for ever but when once Wisdome enters into thy heart whence once Sanctification in the power of it comes into thy soul there is a great change wrought The new soul acts and works in natural and moral Actions from inward renewed principles The principle of Grace the true Elixir turns moral Vertues into Graces and dignifies a mans natural Endowments and moral actions with a tincture of holinesse which makes a sweet perfume in Gods Nostrils hee now acts from God and for God in all he doth whether he eats or drinks or buys or sels 1 Cor. 10.31 all is for the glory of God As carnal hearts are alwayes carnal in spiritual performances for the streams never run higher than the Head so on the contrary gracious hearts are spiritual in natural and moral actions The reason is the new man hath a new principle to act from and a new End to act for and aim at but before he was sanctified he had neither 13. Another excellency of Sanctification is this That the righteousnesse of Sanctification next to the righteousnesse of Christ for justification will be of the greatest worth and value support and comfort at death and judgment At Death and Judgment the rich mans Riches the wise mans wisdome the ambitious mans honours the voluptuous mans pleasures the hypocrites formality the civil mans civility and the moral mans morality These Lying Idols and rotten sticks which unholy persons have made their hope their stay and the Rock of their Confidence shall then all fail them and sink quite under them but then shall the pure in heart see God Mar. 5.8 Mat. 13.43 then shall the Righteous lift up their heads like Princes and shine as the Sun in the presence of their Father a dram of saving Grace will be then more valuable and more comfortable thâ—n mountains of Gold than millions of Worlds This was a River of comfort flowing in upon Ezekiahs heart as he lay upon his sick-bed for ought he then knew upon his death-bed viz. the review of his sanctified heart life Isa 38.3 Remember O Lord how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart c. Beloved There will be a great Cry at midnight the Bridegroom comes go forth to meet him Matth. 25.6 The coming of Christ to Judgment will be very sudden and very terrible to secure sinners if you with the foolish Virgins have only oyl in your Lamps a blaze of profession without and not with the wise oyl in your Vessels the true stock and treasure of grace in your hearts Mat. 25.12 Mat. 7.22.23 Read those words and Tremble you will cry most dolefully and shriek most dreadfully at that day but Christ will not hear you hee will take no notice of you The King of glory will enter his Presence-chamber with all his Saints and shut the door against you ver 10. And the door was shut then knock never so hard Grace is the Bridegrooms favour by which they are admitted into his Chamber of Glory cry never so loud the door is shut there 's no hope of entrance the Lord will Answer I know you not vers 12. Then your sop will be sorrow weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth for madnesse and anguish will be yâ—ur portion no grace no glory Wherefore Siâ—s for the Lords sake and for your own souls-sake look about you the coming of the Lord draweth nigh If ever ye hope in earnest to be saved be sure you are truly and throughly sanctified for there is no hope of salvation without sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth 2 Thes 2.13 14. 14. And lastly To name no more Sanctification is the early dawning of Salvation the very beginning of Heaven In that golden Chain Rom. 8.30 there is mention made of Calling Justification and of Glorification but nothing of Sanctification to note that sanctification is Heaven begun already it is not only the way to Heaven but 't is Heaven it self the more holy thou art the more thou dost live the life of God and the more thou dost anticipate the life of Heaven that Glorious life which the Angels of God and the blessed spirits of just men made perfect live there Heb 12.22.23 Thus through the assistance of God wee have hinted something of the transcendent excellency of Sanctification which we have in by and from our Lord Jesus who is made of God or given of the Father to be our Sanctification Holinesse is the Name of God the Seed of God the Will and Word of God it is the Work of God 't is the very Image of God it is the Life of God 't is the Nature of God 't is the Glory of God Again Sanctification renders one man far mâ—re excellent than another 't is one grand Attainment of the death of Chr st 't is the principal of Union and Communion with God Sanctification turns moral Vertues into Graces 'T is the second best Cordial of Comfort at Deâ—th and Judgment Lastly 't is the dawning of Salvation the Aurora of Glory THat Christ is given of the Father to be our Sanctification we have proved how Christ may be said to be our Sanctification we have shewed what are the several Causes concurring to our Sanctification we have explained The definition of Sanctification wee have given Something of its glory and excellency we shadowed forth in the last Discourse and now are arrived at the last Stage the last General in the doctrinal part propounded viz. what are the sweet streams that issue from this Fountain They may also
accomplished Though your wills be perverse and obstinate God can bend and bow them God never made a Creature too strong for himself he that hath begun the good-work in you will perfect it he is able to do this thing in us Phil. 1.6 and for us and he is faithful in the performance of his Promises to us 1. He is able Who hath resisted his will Rom. 9.19 Isa 59.1 Phil. 3.21 1 Thes 5.24 Heb. 10.23 His hand is not shortned He by the mighty power of his Spirit can subdue us and all things to himself 2. He is faithful Faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it Believe O ye doubting desponding Souls in the veracity fidelity and immutability of the great and good God Hear what God and not what the Tempter speaks God hath promised to work in you to will and to do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Et velle perficere These words are a Mâ—osis Phil. 2.13 That Assertion carries along with it the nature of a Promise Hath not the living and true God Promised in the New Covenant to sprinkle you with clean water to circumcise your hearts to put his Law into our mindes to write his Law in our hearts to take away the heart of stone to give us the ministration of his Spirit not to quench the smoaking Flax that is to kindle it not to break the bruised Reed that is to strengthen it and to send forth Judgement unto Victory that is to carry on the work of Sanctification in the Soul in spight of all opposition till it be compleat in Glory Oh then What remains but that we should all act Faith upon Gods power and faithfulness in making good his Promises or else wee shall discomfort our selves needlesly and dishonour God exceedingly And withal remember 't is very expedient to turn these Promises into Prayers and act Faith on them in Prayer The Promises are as so many Bills under Gods own hand which in the name of Christ we ought to present to the Father and to put them in suit at the throne of Grace Thus come in Faith and ye shall go away with Comfoâ—t Use 5 As a consequent of the former let such as are distressed through the sense of Sin and for want of holiness look up to Christ Jesus for Sanctification he of God is made unto us Sanctification Joh. 6. Joh. 14.1 believe in the Mediatour in him whom God hath sent honour the Son as ye honour the Father God hath so appointed it Look up to him all ye the ends of the Earth and be saved Isa 45.22 so look up to him and ye shall be also sanctified be daily looking up to Jesus the Authour and Finisher of your Faith the Alpha and Omega of your holiness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aspicientes in illum Isa 61.1 1 Joh. 1.7 Heb. 12.2 Look up to Christ for the Spirit of Sanctification from Christ if ever ye would partake of his Unction The Christal stream wherein we are washed and made clean flows out of Christs own heart The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin Faith makes Application of this blood and so it purifies you may be poring long enough on your own filthiness and be filthy and dejected still unless you look up to this Fountain and see Christ given of God for your Sanctification you must apprehend him as the Lord your Righteousness and also as the High-Priest of your holiness else your Consciences will never be pure nor peaceable Naaman by the Prophets order was to go down and dip himself seven times in Jordan if he would be cured 2 Kings 5.10 So by Gods order and appointment you must go down daily by the renewed Acts of believing to this Fountain and bathe and wash thy unclean Soul in the streams of this Jordan I mean Christs blood if ever thou wouldest be healed of thy sinful Leprosie My sixth Use shall be to press us all to a serious sense of Use 6 our absolute need of holiness Sanctification is not a thing indifferent which a man may have or not have and yet be happy no such matter You must be holy if ye will be happy 't is the unum necessarium the one thing needful Luk. 10 42 Prov. 4.7 Sanctification is the principal thing Sanctification is the Wedding-Garment which renders ye amiable in the eyes of the King of Heaven without this the King will say Binde him hand and foot and cast him into outer darkness Mat. 22.12 13. Certainly this Wedding-garment is woven of the glorious beams of the Sun of Righteousness 't is both the Righteousness of Christ imputed and imparted Christs Righteousness say others with Faith and Holiness So Calvin and other Modern Writers The Graces of the Spirit are as Parliament-Robes The Peers say some by rule of Peereage are not to sit in Parliament without their Robes The Graces of the spirit are the Jewels of the Covenant and Robes of Heaven No living or reigning there no sitting in Heaven as Peers of State as Kings and Priests without these Robes of Glory the Righteousness of Christ for Justification and the Graces of Christ for Sanctification without all this white Linnen the Righteousness of the Saints Sanctification is the Seal or Mark of Heaven There is a Necesse est put upon Sanctification 1. For the honour of God of each Person in the Trinity 2. For our own happiness 1. For the honour of the Father that his choice be not disparaged 2. For the honour of the Son that his Members be not deformed nor polluted 3. For the honour of the Holy Spirit that his charge may not miscarry or fall short of Glory 1. For the Honour of the Father whose choice we are we are chosen in Christ to be holy Ephes 1.4 and chosen to the Sanctification of the Spirit 2 Thes 2.14 Meere morality hath something of Majesty in it in the eye of nature Those abominable Bruits at Rome could not practice their filthy lascivious pranks while grave Cato was on the Theatre the most carnal men have some inward respect for holiness for all their quarrelling with it and dislike of it Now should not Gods chosen be an holy People and live holily they would be a dishonour to his Name a scandal to his Gospel a cloud to his Glory God therefore chiefly aims at our holiness in all his dispensations I shall instance in these three 1. God Chuseth us 2. Calleth us 3. Correcteth us that we might be holy 1. God Chuseth us the chosen Generation are to be an holy Nation and to shew forth Gods vertues God chuseth us that we should be of a choice Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 virtutes 1 Pet. 2.9 he loved us with a singular love that we should be persons of singular lives to him 2. God calleth us that wee may be holy that hee may put the honour of holiness upon us in the eye of the whole
to receive Christ and his righteousness * Undè fides impatatur ad justitiam ut Paulus loquitur Rom 4 5. Non qâ—atenus est qualitas nobis inhaerens nec quatenus est opus multo minùs quatenus est meritum sed metonymiâ adjuncti correlativè intellectâ per vocem sidei justitia Christi quâm fides apprehendit ut patet ex codem cap. 4. v. 11 13. And again nec quâ—tenus est cullus Dei radir omnium aliorum bonorum oâ—erum sed quatenus nos Christo conglutina un â— cum illo fâ—cti paâ—tiâ— pâ—â—iane jâ—st tiae ejus f uamur Polan p. 456 Faith is an empty and a naked thing without its Object Faith puts on this Robe of Glory and wraps the Soul in it but 't is this glorious Robe Christs righteousness that justifies 'T is very certain that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 credere cannot doth nâ—t justifie as Socinus and Arminius teach it d th 'T is true 't s said Rom. 4.5 Faith is imputed for righteâ—usnesse and is accepted of God through Christ for the performance of the whole Law but this is to be understood mâ—tonimically and relâ—tively in respect of Christ the object of faith who is the end and perfection of the Law to them that believe by fulfilling the righteousness of the Law for them Fâ—ith invites a Soul to Christ brings it into Union with his Person and so into communion of his righteousness And then for works what shall we say of them The Apostle is peremptory and absolute in his Conclusion Rom. 3.28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law So also Gal. 2.16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the faith of Jesus Christ c. that is by the works which Christ hath done in our stead by the obedience of Christ which we apply to our selves by Faith alone saith Polanus * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scripserit Paulus pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sicut etiaâ— accipitur Matth. 12.4 1 Cor 7.17 Beza in loc sed taâ—â—um per fidem Iesu Christi hoc eâ— per opera qua Christus loco nostro fecit per obedientiam Christi quam solâ side noble applicamus Polan Faith justifies a sinner before God and works justifie Faith and demonstrate to the world and to our own consciences that our faith is not dead and barren but Jam. 2.4 Living because fruitful saith as working doth not justifie but sound justifying faith is a working faith 2. VVe come to consider the essential material cause of our justification that very thing which is our righteousness which God imputeth to us and accepteth on our behalf To this I answer 1. Negatively 1. Negatively what it is not 1. It cannot be our own righteousness inherent in us because inchoate and imperfect Justitiam qua-coram Tribunali Dei Consistimus perfectam omnibus numeris partibus gradibus esse necesse est Quid enim ex se agere poterat ut semel amissam justitiam recuperaret home servus peccati vinctus Diaboli assignata est proinde aliena qui caruit suà Bernard and the righteousness of justification must be most absolute perfect by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified 1 no meer man Rom. 3.20 We may therefore cry out with Bernard what is man that is a servant of sin a Bondslave of the Devil able of himself to do for the recovery of righteousness once lost there is therefore the righteousness of another assigned to him who hath lost his own 2. Nor secondly is it the righteousness of Christ meerly and solely as man considered though that was pure and spotless yet it was not infinite and meritorious for Christ taking upon him an humane nature was bound to keep the the Law being made of a woman he was also made under the Law under the Covenant of Works Gal. 4.3 4 the obedience of Christ meerly as man had been no work of supererogation as to us it would have served to justify himself but without the personal Union there would have been no redundancy or over-flowing of merit in it to justify those millions of guilty miscreants Non propter seipsum sed propter nostram salutem â—b demolitionem mortis Condemnationem Christus Advenit Athanas Orat Tertia contra Arrian who through the infinite grace of the Father by the blood of the Son are justified Wherefore Christ came not for himself but for our salvation c. saith Athanasius Non est essentialis justitia Dei ut Andreas Oâ—â—ander contendebat cujus errorem refutavit Calvin Institut teâ—tio lâ—bro 2. It is not the Essential Righteousness of the God-head not that righteousness wherewith God is righteous 't is not the righteousness of Christ as God solely though it is called the righteousness of God 2 Cor. 5.21 Rom. 1.17 and so called because 't is the righteousness of him who is truly God as well as truly man in one person and 't is the righteousness which God appointeth and accepteth for our justication But it is not the Essential uncreated righteousness of God which being the Essence of God cannot be communicated to any creature much less can it become the accidental righteousness of any creature 2. Posiâ—â—vâ—ly 2. Positively that which is our righteousness for justification It is the most Adequate and perfect obedience of Jesus Christ the Mediatour God-man to the whole Law of God Gonsisting in a most exact conformity of his whole humane Nature with all its actions and passions thereunto whereby Justitia Iesu Christi per quam justificamur coram Deo est perfectissima totius legis divinae obedientia consistens in exactissimâ totius naturae Humanae Christi omniumque Actionum passionum ejus internarum externarum conformitate cum tota lege Dei quam loco nostro pe fectissime implâ—vit ut nobis a morte aeternâ liberationem jus vitae aeternae acquireret Syntag Polan p. 457. both actively and passively he fulfill'd the Law most perfectly For proof you may please to read Rom. 8.3 4. Gal. 4.3 4. Rom. 5.16 17 18 19. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous vers 19. O Believers this Garment of Sun-beams wrought out for ye by the Sun of righteousness must needs be glorious if ye consider 1. That Christs humane Nature was never stained neither with original nor actual sin for by his divine Conception by the Holy Ghost he received of his Virgin Mother a pure un-deflowred Virgin Nature which all along he kept immaculate 2. The Humane nature in him is dignified with Union to the Divine to the second person in the Trinity in which it doth subsist as God descended to the lowest to become man so now man viz. the humane Nature ascendeth to