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. Dulcius ex ipso fonte 12. 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. not only to proclaim liberty to the Isa 61. 1 2 3. Captives and the opening of the prisons to them that are bound but also to pull off their rotten rags their nasty prison garments and to cloath Zech. 3. 3 4. 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 I shall take the boldness M. Jeremy Burroughs in his Saints Treasury p. 46. 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 and endeavours I wish all disconsolate souls desponding for want of holiness would in the strength of the Lord take his counsel vows and resolutions as it comes flowing to them from their closing with
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 most excellent in Col. 1. 19. 1. It s Authour 2. It s Nature 3. It s End 1. T is excellent in its Authour it hath a divine Origination The High and lofty One that Isa 57. 15. Ephes 2. 10. 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 Aethiopia 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 Therefore 2 Pet. 1. 4. most excellent because divinely Excellent 3. 'T is excellent in its end salvation We use 1 Pet. 1. 9. Finis Coronat opus 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 as Samuel Revel 14. 13. 1 Sam. 16. 13. 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 refreshing and making glad the City of Psalm 46. 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 Isa 50. 10. possess them for God the fathers face to shine upon them 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 with 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 strength 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 Deut 32. 5. and that such deadness dulnesse vanity of thought 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 The Plaister is as Heb. 7. 25. broad 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 Isa 50. 10. See Dr. Goodwins Childe of Light the Lord and stay themselves upon their God Trust in the name of the Lord that is the infinite mercy of God through the merit of Christ God is rich in Mercy Plenteous in Redemption abundant in goodnesse and Truth the mercy of God is the Name of God yea the very first letter of his Name Mercy leads the Exod. 34. 6 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 Let Faith drive Jer. 23. 6. 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 Phil. 3. 8 9 to every one that believeth Consider him that hath satisfied Justice fulfilled all righteousness Rom. 10. 4. in his own Person and brought in everlasting righteousnesse for thee who loved thee Dan. 9. 24. and gave himself for thee And so let faith grow up unto Assurance for this Righteousnesse is Gal. 2. 20. revealed from Faith to Faith called the Righteousnesse of God because 't is the righteousnesse Rom. 1. 17. 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 not only with flesh and blood but also with Eph. 6. 12. 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 finde a law in my members warring against the law of my minde a double interest flesh and spirit lusting in the same soul yea in the Luke 11 21 self-same faculty therefore I am no Christian this very warring evinceth the clean contrary for when the strong man armed keeps the house all things are in peace thy very sensibility of sin and Gal. 5. 17. groaning under the burden and bondage of it thy strugling with it and sincere endeavours to subdue it are evident signs of sanctification begun in thee 3. Consider Grace begun destroyes not sin utterly nor carries away a compleat Victory presently thou must be trained and exercised a long time in Christs School and endure hardness like a good Souldier of Christ
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 light ye shall see light The Soul-ravishing Vision of Jesus the Mediator Heb. 12. 24. â—omine fecistinos pro te cor irrequicâ—um est donec veniat ad te Aug. of the New Covenant 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 quintessence 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 perplexity or outward calamity Philosophers brag much of their Elixir Naturalists boast much of their Panaecea 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 omnia habet oâ—nia 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 persons 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 Eater 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 Caepite 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
Christ and union with him There may be saith he a great deâ— 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. As Christ is the Author so Christ is the 1 Christ is the pattern of our Sanctification 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 Now as 2. Holiness is the Image of Christ 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 When man had lost that glorious Image 1 Pet. 1. 23 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 and live We all by sin are come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deficiuntur 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 2 Cor. 4. 6. Christ is the Image of Col. 1. 15. 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 and renew it according to the Image Ephes 4. 23 24. 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 So Bishop Downâ—m in his Justification through Christ our Head 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 As it is the same light which breaketh forth in the dawning Simile 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 as Simile 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. The Jesus Christ is our Sanctification Before I come to the definition of Sanctification I shall subjoyn these particulars Causa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
called a Royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2. 9. To be sanctified is more than to be purified for besides the expulsion of sin in Sanctification there is an infusion of grace a new disposition and frame of soul called a new heart and a new spirit Ezek. 36. 25 26 27. i. e. a new mind new apprehensions a new will new desires new affections from whence there follows newness of life and conversation 1. There is a new heart that is conformity to Gods Nature when the heart of man is like the heart of God as David is said to be a man after Gods own heart Conformity to the 2 Pet. 1. 4. Divine Nature is this new heart The Nature of God is the pattern of that Sanctification which is wrought in the heart of man 2. There is a new life that is our conformity to Gods Law or revealed Will whose will is our Sanctification 1 Thes 4. 3. An holy heart breathes and breaks out into an heavenly conversation Phil. 3. 20. Our conversation is in heaven The first is our habitual holiness the second is our actual The sum is this our habitual conformity to the Nature or Image of God and our actual conformity to the Will of God thereon depending is formally our Sanctification Thus I have shewed what it is to sanctifie and have opened the more eminent acceptations of it We come now to the fifth thing propounded 5. The Spirit of Christ is the efficient cause of our Sanctification The work of Creation is commonly ascribed to God the Father the work of Redemption to God the Son and the work of Sanctification to God the Holy Spirit yet Sanctification being a work ad extra is common to all the persons 1. It is ascribed to God the Father Jude 1. to them which are called and sanctified of God the Father 1 Pet. 1. 3. Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope c. 2. Christ is said to sanctifie us He is made of God to us Sanctification 1 Cor. 1. 2. To the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus Heb. 13. 12. Wherefore Jesus that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the gate 3. The Spirit is said to sanctifie Hence these phrases the sanctification of the Spirit 1 Pet. 1. 2. 2 Thes 2. 13 14. and the spirit of holiness Rom. 1. 4. The Sanctification of the Spirit is as necessary as the mercy of the Father or the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ by the redundancy of his Merit hath impetrated and obtained the Spirit of the Father to sanctifie those whom he means to save to purifie and make them meet for glory whom he died for and justified by his blood The Inchoation is from the Father the Dispensation is by the Son the Consummation by the Spirit 'T is from the love of the Father and by vertue of the Merit of the Son that we are sanctified but 't is properly the Office and the distinct personal operation of the spirit of holiness to sanctifie and it must be the mighty power of the eternal spirit that converts or sanctifies because 't is such a power as is commensurate and proportionate to the raising of the dead Ephes 1. 19 20. called the exceeding 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Supereminens magnitudo Montan. greatness of his power c. We are not sanctified or converted as the Papists and Arminians say by a moral suasion or by the bare improvement of our own free will nor by the accession of some additional help to Nature but by the most strong and yet most sweet efficacy of the Almighty Spirit Psa 110. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power or as some render it in the day of thy Armies 't is therefore called a Regeneration a begetting In die Copiarum So M. Ainsworth a soul again 't is a new Creation 't is a Vivification or quickning a man before dead in sins and trespasses not languishing and declining but in a moral sense stark dead nay 't is a Resurrection a rising out of the grave of sin and death All these works of wonder or rather this one mysterious work of Sanctification illustrated by these Metaphors bespeaks no less than the Almighty power of a God who is able to subdue all things to himself Phil. 3. 2â— 1. 'T is a Regeneration or a begetting again 1 Pet. 1. 3. Jam. 1. 18. 2. 'T is a Creation Ephes 2. 10. We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good works 2 Cor. 5. 17. He that is in Christ is a new creature Behold saith Christ I make all things new 3. 'T is a vivification or quickning Eph. 2. 1. You hath he quickned who were dead in sins and trespasses A natural man is both legally an morally dead till the Spirit of Life breaths upon him and quickens him Joh. 5. 25. That promise is still in fulfilling now that the dead shall heaâ— the voice of the Son of God and they that heaâ— shall live 4. 'T is a Resurrection Col. 3. 1. If ye then â—â— risen with Christ seek the things that are above yea 't is more a kind of con-session or sitting together with Christ Eph. 2. 6. And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus If we live to God we live the life of heaven Now to regenerate to create to make all things new to revive a mâ—â— dead to raise up a man out of the grave â— Lazarus both dead and buried all these arâ— the Acts of Omnipotency the works of â— God and all those works are done in this oâ—â— work by the invincible efficiency of the Spirit 6. The word and faith are the Ministring are Instrumental causes of our Sanctification The Spirit is called the Spirit of Faith Aristotle calls the hand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the instrument of instruments Faith being the gift of God and wrought by the operation of the Spirit unites the soul to Christ the Fountain of Holiness and Heaâ— of Influence and having united the soul â—â— him continually receives supplies from him 'T is the hand of the soul that useful instrument whereby we apprehend Christ and whereby we draw down vertue from Christ Hence as an Organ or Instrument it is said to purifie Acts 15. 9. Having purified their heart by faith As Faith hath the Noblest Objects so Faith for its use and â—ffice here is the Noblest grace Faith indeed infused and created in us by the Spirit is commonly called the See Dr. Owens death of death p. 126. Simile Mother grace and is it self formally a great part of our sanctification As the woman sick of the Bloody Issue put forth her hand and touching the Hem of Christs garment drew vertue from him and was healed So that soul to whom
become operative to several ends and Objects Hence those Acts which immediately spring from other graces as their proper stock are attributed to faith that being the principle of their heavenly working in this respect as the success of an Army redounds to the Generals Honor so the victory which is effected by other Christian qualities is here ascribed to Faith which animates them and leads them forth as their chief Captain 6. Faith Amplifies dilates enlargeth the heart to run the wayes of Gods Commandments 1 John 5. 1. and 3. verses compared together whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God c. vers 1. For this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments c. verse 3. Faith is the ground of Love and Love the Author of Obedience holy obedience is the daughter of a lively Faith when and where Christ dwels in the heart by faith that soul being rooted and grounded in love comprehends with all Saints secundum quid what is the breadth and length and depth and heighth of the love of Christ Ephes 3. 17 18 19. Which love like a fire in his bones like a flame in his bowels enflames his soul with love to God and Christ opens and enlargeth his heart to duties of obedience to serve the Lord with a most free and Princely spirit The soul of an affectionate Believer runs swiftly chearfully nobly in the wayes of God like the Chariots of Aminnadib Cant. 6. 12. Faith thus argues Amminadib i. e. my voluntary free bounteous or noble people Ainsworth in Cant. 6. 12. Psal 103. 3 4. Ephe. 1. 3. Hath God loved me in his Son from everlasting and will hee love me to everlasting Hath God in Christ forgiven such a wretch as I all mine iniquities redeemed my life from destruction and crowned me even me with loving-kindness and tender mercies yea with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Then what shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits Nothing I can do nothing I can suffer too much for him I am and will be his for ever at his Command and for his service Thus the faith of a sanctified Person reasons 7. Faith Corroborates it strengthens the weak it revives the faint it supports the desponding and sinking spirit The Psalmist in great tryals and troubles had great experience of the supports of faith Psalm 27. 13. I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the Living Love keeps you from dissembling Hope keeps you from desponding Patience keeps you from tyring but 't is Faith that keeps you from fainting When a * 2 Chron. 2. 20. Psal 57. 7. My heart is fixed in some translations 't is suffultum est cormeum my heart is underpropt great multitude from beyond the Sea on this side Syria came up against Judah and the people were in sore distress Jehosaphat their good King encouraged the people saying believe in the Lord your God so shall ye be established believe his Prophets so shall ye prosper 2 Chron. 20. 20. Faith in God is the souls establishment wherefore a Believer shall not be affraid of evil tydings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord his heart is established he shall not be affraid until he see his desire upon his enemies Thus the Psalmist sweetly sings Psalm 112. 7 8. The fixation of the soul by faith on God on Christ on his Attributes on his Promises yields the surest strength the speediest and sweetest relief and succour in the Crisis of any Exigence When David for fear of Saul was got into a Wood Jonathan leaves his Father and privately came to David 1 Sam. 23. 16. into the Wood and strengthened his hand in God So when a Believer is in a wood of fears and dangers he strengthens his hand the hand of his faith in God and the more his faith is up the more his fears are down Divines use to compare the base fears of men and the embondaging fears of Death to the Lead that weighs the Net under water and faith to the Cork that keeps up the Net from sinking Hope the eldest daughter of Faith is an Anchor sure and stedfast Heb. 6. 19. but Faith is the Rock which this Anchor rests on according to the Proverb were it not for Hope heart would break and the Scripture tels us Rom. 8. 24. We are saved by hope but Hope receives all its subsistence strength Faith is both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 substantia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 argumentum Heb. 11. 1. from Faith Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. 8. Faith exhilarates comforts cheers the soul fils it with joy and peace in believing Rom. 15. 13. The God of hope fils the soul with joy and peace in believing Faith is as a twinkling star in a dark Night as a shining Sun in a cloudy Day as Rivers of water in a dry place as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land The Apostle Peter elegantly expresseth the soul-exulting operation of saving faith 1 Pet. 1. 8. Whom that is Christ having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory Faith opens a crevis of light and springs a Mine of * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exultatis gaudio ineffabili gloriosa Beza exulting joy in the most insulting danger When once a Believer is justified by faith and hath peace with God hee then rejoiceth in the most glorious Hope viz. in the hope of the glory of God and not only so but he glories also in tribulations hee glories in them and he glories over them because the love of God is shed abroad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 effusa est is poured forth into his heart by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5. 1 2 and 5. verses by faith in Christ and by communion with Christ in his Conquests hee knows he shal be more than a Conqueror over all his Enemies Rom. 8. 37. * Neque enim simpliciter dixit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 idest ut vertit Cyprianus Epist 26. supervincimus Amplius quam victores sumus Beza 't is not only said Conquerours but more than Conquerors as Cyprian and Beza on the place Thus I have endeavoured to present you with some of the precious properties and vital operations of precious Faith which every one that is born of God or sanctified doth enjoy to his inestimable benefit Faith is an inseparable Concomitant with and an infallible evidence of our Sanctification for whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God 1 John 5. 1. This is the third Adjunct and evidence of our Regeneration 4th Effect and evidence of our sanctification is love to God and to the Brethren As Christ dwels in the heart by faith Ephes 3. 17. so the soul
sweetly reposeth it self in the â—osome of God by love 1 John 4 7 8. Beloved let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is Love You see love to God and to the Brethren is both a sure sign and a genuine effect of Regeneration which is synomminous with Sanctification This grace of Love is the very soul of all Religion the very life of the new Creature the closure of the soul with God in the sweetest manner he that hath most of this grace hath most of all graces This is one of the precious things promised in the new Covenant Deut. 30. 6. viz. An heart to love the Lord the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul This is made a special effect and evidence of thy spiritual Circumcision or Sanctification In Sanctification as the understanding is enlightned to know God so the will and affections are renewed changed rightly ordered and enclined to love God as his chiefest good and as his utmost End Corn and Wine and Oyl and all the world is then counted nothing to the light of Gods countenance All other Beloveds are no body to Jesus Psalm 4. 6 7. Cant. 5. 10. Christ the chiefest of ten thousands A sanctified soul exactly viewing and well weighing the glittering pomp and splendor of this world all natural and moral excellencies on the one hand and Jesus Christ on the other cryes out with the Martyr Lambert None Foxes Acts and Monuments 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 propter eminentiam cognitionis Christi Iesu Moâ—â— but Christ none but Christ Counts all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dogs-meat garbage to the excellency of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ Phil. 3. 8. A Christian loves himself his Relations and worldly comforts with a common love but God and Jesus Christ with a special love He loves his temporal Enjoiments secondarily and subordinately but he loves God and Christ primarily intensively and superlatively yea so highly intensive is his love to God his Father to Christ his Saviour to the holy Spirit his souls Comforter to Heaven and heavenly things his only Treasure that his love to other things comparatively may be called an Hatred i. e. a much inferiour a far more remiss love See Luke 14. 26. more distinctly First A sanctified heart loves God with a Amore desideriâ— love of desire The strength of the heart goeth out in love this is called the breathing thirsting and panting of the heart after God Psalm 42. 1 2. The soul that loves God above all things desires God above all things both intensivè with the greatest vigor and Adequatè as its Adequate and compleat Object Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee 2. A sanctified heart loves God with a love of Union as the heart of Shechem Amore unionis clave to Dinah Gen. 34. 3. So an holy soul cleaves unto God in Christ Barnabas exhorted the Disciples that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord Acts 11. 23. As the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David 1 Sam. 1. 18. So this Love is as it were a knitting of the soul with God Faith makes a mystical union of Persons Love makes a moral union of affections This is the very essence of Gospel-love God bestows himself Aâ—or â—oâ— est nisi dâ—num amantis in amatum on us and we freely surrender our selves to God Thirdly A sanctified heart loves God with a love of good will or Benevolence we wish and will give and ascribe all honour and 〈◊〉 Benevolentia praise all glory and dominion unto him This is the genuine product of his love in Christ to us as Revel 1. 5 6. Vnto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Lord saith an holy soul let all thine be mine and let all mine be thine and let thine be for thy glory let every person Cant â— 16 and creature and thing in Heaven above and in earth beneath be a shril Trumpet a loud Cymbal to sound forth thy praises Fourthly A sanctified heart loves God with Amore complacentiae acquiescentiae a love of Complacence and Rest Where we love the eye of the soul the mind is fixed with a delightful stay ubi amor ibi oculus the Object dwels in the 〈◊〉 we are still looking where we love When I awake saith the Psalmist Anima plus est ubi amat quà m ubi animat I am still with thee in my contemplations and affections My meditation of him shall be sweet I will be glad in the Lord Psalm 104. 34. Love goeth forth upon the feet of Desire and rests in the bosome of Delight There is an holy acquiescence of the heart in God God saith of his Saints This is my Rest for ever Psal 132. 14. Psal 116. 7. Psal 91. 9. Ephes 3. ult here will I dwell the Saint saith of God Return to thy rest O my soul A Saintt makes God the most High his Habitation and a Saints heart is the Habitation of God through the Spirit Here lyes the sweetness of holiness the marrow and fatness of Religion This World would be a Dungeon and Heaven it self a melancholly shade without the love of God 't is this that makes Heaven and Earth sweet unto the sanctified Heaven would be no Heaven God could not be the joy if he were not the love of Saints but there both love and Psal 16. ult joy shall be full But whilst the Saints are solacing themselves with Heaven and delighting themselves in God other men are following after other Lovers The covetous man makes Mammon his God the voluptuous man makes Pleasure his God the Ambitious man makes Honour his God the Formalist and Hypocrite makes Common grace self-righteousness a bare profession or the meer externals of Devotion his God and Saviour because every one of these make some of these their only Treasure and Happiness They dote upon them addict themselves to them trust to them and in them and love them more than God But a Saint that knows God makes Jehovah his God he hath but one the living and true God to honour love and serve who is the fountain of his life and blessedness Psal 36. 9. Psal 87. 7. Col. 3. 3. in whom all his springs are in whom with Jesus Christ all his Comforts live and from whom by Jesus Christ all his felicity is conveyed to make him happy in both worlds The new creature hath a new heart according to that full and free Promise Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart will
sanctity and a spirit of magnanimity indeed his sanctity is his Magnanimity which makes him so high that the world cannot master him and so holy that Inimicos dei jam hoc ipso quod non cessimus vicimus Cyprian the VVorld cannot in some sence defile him Thus in his measure he keeps himself unspotted from the world James 1. ult by the world is here meant whatsoever resists the Commands of God Neither the worlds frowns nor favours neither its Comminations nor its Invitations neither the fears of the world not Quicquid mandatis Dei resistit Polan the flatteries of the world can turn a regenerate person from the faith of Christ nor from obedience to the Gospel nor bring him unto their Bow In the German Reformation when some perswaded Erasmus to write to Luther to bring him back to Popery or else at least wise to write against his Doctrine Erasmus answers â—uther was too great for him to write to or against A Gracious spirit is too great a spirit for the great Ones of the world to force by power or to bribe by favour into a base compliance with them against the honour of their God and the conscience of their Duty The Aegyptians were wont to paint their Judges without hands and eyes without hands they must not take bribes without eyes in judgment they must not be partial Thus a godly man that hath made God his portion is hand-less and eye-less he is hand-less the world doth not shall not bribe him he is eye-less he beholds none of the worlds Terrors so as to daunt him Thus a sanctified or regenerate person in the strength of Christ overcomes the world 6. A regenerate or sanctified person hath the honour of Sonship Sanctification layes the foundation of our Adoption when we are born again we are born Gods Children we bear the Image of Christ by grace as we have have borne the Image of Adam by nature when we are converted ipso facto we are adopted Regeneration is the root or stock from which and on which this Peer-less and never fading flower Adoption grows When a sinner becomes a Saint at that very moment a childe of wrath is made a son of God a member of the first is made a member of the second Adam a relative change is contemporary with a real Behold ye Saints this priviledge with admiration Behold What manner of love is this that we should be called 1 Joh. 3. 1. the sons of God c. When Christ had converted the Paralytick he cals him Son When Christ had converted Mat. 9 2. the Menstruous woman which appears by her faith in touching him and drawing in vertue from him he cals her daughter daughter be Mark 5. 34. of good chear c. The new creature hath both the white stone and the new name the white stone of Absolution the new name of Adoption There be some Honours a man can never attain to unless he be born of Nobles or descended of the blood of Princes I cannot Fortuitum est nasci a principibus teach you to be Princes in this sense 't is a rare thing to be born of Princes but sure I am unless ye be born again not of bloods or of the will of man but by the will and of the Spirit of God 1 John 13. 3 John 3. ye shall not see the Kingdome of God much less become the sons of God or Kings and Priests to God Rev. 1 6. and least of all live and reign as Princes and Peers of state in Glory Now every sanctified soul to his great Comfort may draw up this Syllogisme He that hath the disposition and the Affections and doth the work of a childe of God is a childe of God But I have the disposition and the Affections and do the work of a childe of God Therefore I am a child of God If ye are right in the Assumption ye are thrice happy in the Conclusion 7th Effect of Sanctification Holinesse brings the soul to its right frame and Temper Psalm 23. 3. He restoreth my soul c. Sanctification 〈◊〉 the souls restauration not only to joy and comfort but also to its former soundness health and vigour which was impaired by the fall The health of the Bodie consists in the right and sound constitution of of it when all the members are in their due positure and all the humours in their right temperature then the body is in health so the health of the soul consists in the rectification or right Constitution of all the faculties So Dr. Sybs By the fall they all suffered deordination disorder deformity confusion by Regeneration they are set in joint again renewed rightly ordered and re-inclined to their proper and right objects Grace coming into the soul like Physick taken down into the body works out the peccant humours heals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the soul of its old distempers cleanseth it of its former filthiness and superfluity of naughtinesse repairs nature by restoring to it the divine Nature and so makes the soul hail and healthful in Gods service for indeed none but the vessel of Honour which is sanctified is meet for the Masters use Sin is the souls sickness what sickness is to the body that sin is to the soul Sin is compared to the worst of sicknesses to the plague of the heart the noysome pestilence the running Leprosie A sick person cannot walk nor work with comfort nor rellish the sweetness of meat and drink nor enjoy himself in any of his enjoyments Wherefore health is counted the greatest temporal blessing far greater than wealth honour beauty c. Now sin being a spiritual distemper like a disease Physicians call a Corruption Corruptio totius substantiae of the whole substance of animals vitals naturals an unholy sinner cannot walk in Heavens way nor work the works of God nor savour the things of the Spirit nor rellish the sweetness of Communion with God nor the pleasures of Piety his spirit is corrupted this internal Palate and appetite are vitiated the whole man is quite out of frame and order he loves like a Swine to rowt in the dung and filth and cannot delight in God not in his holy Law Things that are in themselves most excellent the great and glorious Mysteries of the Gospel he looks upon as things contemptible and vile but sin in in its lusts and acts viler than the vilest filth he lives in as his Element and counts his greatest pleasure and Glory he glories in his Phil. 3. 11 19. shame O Lord how sadly is man fallen But in sanctification the man is quite altered the minde is informed the will is reformed the affections are rightly ordered the conscience is purged the Inner-man is recovered to its right temper yea the members of the body which before were weapons of unrighteousness are now made sub-servient to the Spirits Dictates And the whole man body soul and spirit being
Sanctification and give distinct glory to each Person 1. Consider the love of the Father in Election 'T is from the love of the Father that we are blessed with all Spiritual blessings c. that Eph. 1. 3 4. we are chosen in Christ that we might be holy c. Christ himself was a gift of the Fathers love for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son c. this was unutterable John 3. 16 and unconceivable love indeed wherefore give due praise to the Father 2. Consider the wonderful love and merit of the Son his love was transcendent his merit was Infinite wherefore to him that hath loved Rev. 1. 5 6 us and washed us from our sins in his own blood â—nd hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen It was superlative love in Christ to lay down his 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 â—â—stifie 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. 'T is not only the power but the exceeding greatness of the Spirits power to raise up a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Supoâ—eminens magnitudo virtutis ejus So Montanus 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 Election and the Sons Redemption yet without the Spirits Efficacy we had all at this day lain rotting like stinking Carrion in the Grave of sin and death Gods Mercy Christs Merit and the Spirits efficacy must have their distinct glory The Father is said to sanctifie the Son to Sanctifie It is very oâ—servable 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. 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 original 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 Officâ— of the Spirit The Sanctification of the Spirâ—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 Use 2 It Jesus Christ be made of God Sanctification 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 't is God the Father of Jam. 1. 18. our Lord Jesus who of his aboundant Mercy hath 1 Pet. 1. 3 begotten us again c. Therefore we ought to bless and exalt his aboundant Mercy as the Apostle doth 'T is the Father the Heavenly John 15. 1 2. Husbandman that purgeth the Branches 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 hath quickened us together with Ephes 2. 4 5. Rom. 4. 24 Christ We must believe in him that raised our Lord Jesus from the dead He that believeth in me believeth not in me but in him that sent me there not is not negative but corrective not So Dr. Manton Expounds it in his Commentary on Jude only in me but his thoughts must ascend to the Father also who manifests himself in me for God was in Christ reconcâ—ling 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 the just for the unjust that he might bring us Pet. 3. 18 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 he utmost end of his Mediatourship and the Soul hath attained its chiefest good and utmost hâ—pâ—iness therefore is it said that the Saints by Christ do believe in God c. Pet. 1. 21 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
with that Cooling-Card 2 Pet. 2. 19. While they promise them liberty they themselves are the servants of Corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought in bondage They are the slaves of Satan in the bonds of lust I wish that all Prodigals and presumptuous sinners would seriously mind that Text But my Brethren I trust that ye have otherwise learned Christ If so be ye have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus then ye do put off concerning the former conversation the old man c. ye do put on the new man which after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in sanctitate veritatis vulg God is created in righteousness and true holiness or holiness of Truth Ephes 4. 22. 23 24. I trust the Lord hath given ye an understanding to know things that are excellent and to approve them that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ as the Apostles prays for the Phillippians Phil. 1. 9 10. Many excellent Gifts the Father of Lights bestows upon his Children indeed every good and perfect gift comes from him Christ himself is the Jam. 1. 17. first Best Gift of God A Gift of Gifts and sanctification in or by Christ Jesus I take to Joh. 1. 10. be the next Best Now you that are righteous with this inherent Righteousness hold on 1 Cor. 1. 2. your way and prosper the Lord be with ye The Angel of his presence save ye The Spirit of Jesus guide ye to the Hill of holiness and help you to perfect holiness in the fear of God You are under the vertue of sure and sweet promises for your great encouragement in Heavens way The Righteous shall hold on his way and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger Job 17. 9. The Lord strengthen your hearts and quicken your See these Texts Isa 40. 2 last verses Phil. 1. 6. Heb. 12. 2. Ezek. 36. 27. speed by these powerful and precious Promises and give ye a prosperous arrival at the fair Havens of rest and peace Amen We come now to close the whole with these two uses 1. By way of Conviction 2. By way of Caution Though I know the Rules of Method and the exigence of the Subject Command me yet I shall not proceed directly by way of Examination because that hath been already done from that Text Rom. 1. 7. To all that be at Rome beloved of God called to be Saints from whence the doctrine of calling hath been discussed the nature of Saintship and the signs and tryals of Sanctification have been largely shewn We shall therefore God willing proceed to the next in order viz. the Use of Conviction Use 8. This Doctrine of Sanctification we have so long insisted on serveth for Conviction If those that are Gods and Christs are sanctified in Christ Jesus if God the Father hath given them Christ his Son for their sanctification to make them holy Then this Point brings doleful news sad tidings in the mouth of it to three sorts of Persons To the Prophane To the Persecutors To the Scorners 1. The profane who mock at sin and slight holiness are hereby convicted and condemned 1. The prophane God hath no Birthright for such profane Esaus The people who are the Lords portion are an holy Nation washed from their filthinesse If ye are converted ye are washed and sanctified in the name and by the spirit of the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 6. 11. but prophane ones have â— spot upon them which is not the spot of Gods Children Deut. 32. 5. see what St. John speaketh of such kinde of persons as wallow in their filthiness 1 John 3. 8. He that committeth sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning he that tradeth in sin and maketh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui operam dat peccato So Beza sin his constant businesse work or practise as a workman doth his calling and followeth the same daily and deliberately A godly man may slip into sin through humane frailty and in the hurry of temptation may be overtaken with a fault But it is the profane man that is a trader in sin and a constant worker of iniquity Though such men may presume that they belong to God yet our Saviour expresly speaks they are the Devils Children John 8. 44. Ye are of your father the Devil for his works ye do c. These men have not the least pretence of a claim to Heaven they come exceeding short of Hypocrites who pretend to holiness and seem to be so but the prophane are neither civil nor moral Such gross sinners are called Dogs and Swine They are welâ—â—ing in the gall of bitterness and bound fast with the bond of iniquity as Peter told Simon Magus Acts 8. 23. All that such kinde of sinners have to say for the most part for themselves is this 1. That God is merciful 2. That their hearts are better than their lives To the first I answer that God is holy and just as well as mercifull and gracious The Lamb will turn a Lion the Saviour of the world will come as a terrible Judge in flaming fire to render vengeance to the ignorant and disobediext 2 Thes 1. 8. And if the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the wicked and ungodly appear 1 Pet. 4. 18. They shall appear indeed but like as chaffe before the Whirl-wind and as stubble before the flames Sinners do little All the Attributes of God aâ— justice mercy c. do run in the channel of his Holiness think that Gods mercy is an holy mercy which in a saving manner he will dispence to none out of Christ Sinners do err exceedingly to think that God is prodigal either of his own mercy or of his Sons Blood 't is only the sanctified in Christ Jesus exclusively who shall be the objects of his saving mercy the mercy of God and the merit of Christ are most sacred and precious things 1 Pet. 1. 18. The former is bestowed on none the latter is spilt for none but an holy and a peculiar people Justice must be satisfied else mercy can be never 1 Pet. 2. 9. dispensed if the merit of Christ be thine then the mercy of the Father is thine otherwise though the Ocean of Gods pardoning mercy be boundless and bottomless thou shalt not taste one drop of it Well then wouldst thou know that God will be mercifull to thy soul at the last day it highly concerns thee to know Christ in the power of his Resurrection and in the fellowship of his sufferings in this thy Phil. 3. 10. Day 2. To the other Plea That their hearts are better than their lives I answer This is to appeal to a witness that cannot be found to a witness that is as to us invisible 't is as if a man should lay claim to another mans Land and pretend he hath lost the evidences the
distance Omne simile non est idem look like Sanctification but at a nearer view and by an exacter tryal and scrutiny they appear in their colours to be quite contrary not only diversa but adversa also I might mention many but I shall name these four only inclusive of all the rest which in my reading I have received from worthy hands Civility Formality Restreining Grace Temporary or Common Grace 1. Civility which is nothing else but a fine smooth demeanour in the world a fair Gal. 6. 12. shew in the flesh as the Apostle phraseth it rather heathenish strictness than Christian holiness it is something to be a Civilian but much more to be a Christian Ye may descry it by these Notes Note 1 1. Meer Civility is usually accompanied with ignorance of God and of the Mysteries of his Kingdome Men may be no Drunkards no Swearers no * As Alexander kept himself from Darius his Virgins and Scipio from a most beautiful Captive Lady Adulterets no rude debauched persons and yet grosly ignorant of spiritual matters as Nichodomus was John 3. 10. a Ruler in Israel a strict Pharisee a civil Person but a meer Ignoramus in the new birth Now spiritual life or holinesse where-ever it is begins with Knowledge where is Quarta expositio â—orum est qui putant alluâ—isse Paulum ad mundi creationem c. Buling in 2 Cor. 4. 6. Life there is Light indeed the grace of God is the light of Life As in the old so in the new Creation the beginning of the Creation of God is Light Gen. 1. 3. 2 Cor. 4. 6. A sanctified person called out of darkness into Gods marvellous light he sees his way and knows his Duty he hath received an Unction from the holy One And what he doth he doth 1 John 2. 20. Omne bonum fit ex integrd Causá upon right Principles by a right Rule and to a right End Civil men live plausibly but know not the ground nor end of their Actions Faith in God through Jesus Christ is not the Principle the word of God is not the Rule the Glory of God is not the End of their Actings They neither live to God nor for God not according to his Will revealed in his VVord nor for the honour and glory of his Name The Spirit of Wisdome and Revelation Ephes 1. 17 18. hath not enlightned their understanding to see into the mysterie of his Will they do not act out of faith in Christ and pure love to God in what they do Note 2 2. Jesus Christ is little prized by civil men they are satisfied with their own but do not hunger and thirst after Christs Righteousness The Law is more natural to men than the Gospel men naturally are more for doing than than for believing Therefore legal straines and moral Maxims suit more with them than Gospel Doctrines and promises that breed Faith Men naturally desire to be under a Covenant of works because ignorant of the glory of the Covenant of Grace Meer civil men see not the mer it of Christs blood they apprehend not the sweetness of his fellowship nor the efficacy of his Spirit but go on smoothly without rub and difficulty whereas to a true Christian Jesus Christ is All in All the Author and maintainer of his Heb. 12. 2. life the Alpha and Omega of his happinesse the man doth not live so much as Christ lives in him and every day he seeth an indispensible Gal. 2. 20. need of Christ and what abundant cause he hath to bless God for Christ who is made to him wisdome righteousness sanctifitation and redemption Note 3 3. Usually some reigning lust keeps company with Civility Civility is but a freer slavery one way or other Satan holds them captive by one fetter of sin or other they are entangled I have observed commonly this sin is Covetousness The young man in the Gospel was a civil honest man a fair Dealer in the world and had kept all those sayings from his youth as to the letter of them but his possessions were a snare unto him at the narrow Bridge of self-denial Christ and Matth. 19. 22. his soul parted There is some sweet morsel rolled under the Tongue some delicate Dalilah lying in the Bosome some reigning sin kept with greater allowance from Conscience Commonly this Viper is worldly-mindedness Note 4 4. Civil men take more care about their actions than about their lusts wrath pride concupiscence vain worldly unclean thoughts and affections are digested because the conversation seems to be smooth and fair these crawling Vermine swarm without controul Civilility is all for an outward carriage it minds not the frame of the heart nor the right tempering of the affections But holy Paul complaines of the law in his members and of the motions of lust within him which fall not under the cognizance of the light of Nature Rom. 7. 7 23 24 25. the first risings of sin the least rebellion of Nature forbidden in the Tenth Commandment a true Saint is sensible of and deeply humbled for But the affairs of the inward 1 King 6. 8. man the workings of the heart are not minded by meer civil men but the eyes of sound Christians like the windows of the Temple are broad inwards they look much within they mourn over the sins of their hearts as well as over the sins of their lives 2. Formality or pretended grace The Apostle speaks of true holiness Ephes 4. 24. in opposition to that which is feigned and counterfeit Ye may discover it also by these four Marks Mark 1 1. False grace is acted from forreign considerations The Hypocrites principles of motion are without him as popular applause carnal respects by-ends just as Puppets that want the natural motion of life within them and are artificially moved by an outward He may be forma assistens to him but not forma informans in him force The Spirit of God may assist an bypocrite in some duties but he is not in him as an informing quickning renewing principle But true Grace in the heart of the sanctified is like a living Fountain naturally bubling up and working towards God and heaven out of his belly shall flow forth Rivers of living Joh. 7. 37. 38. Waters True Grace hath an inward propensity a natural tendency to comply with the will of God The Law of God is written in his heart he delighteth in the Law in the inner-man Rom. 7. 22. This is the peculiar Character of a Saint which no Formalist or hypocrite in the world can do Mark 2 2. False grace is shy of Gods sight and presence Hypocrites neither can nor do appeal Hypocrita cupit videri justuâ— Hypocrita in verbis sanctus in corde vanus intus Nero foris Cato c. to God for their sincerity nor do they live as in the eye of his Omniscience and Omnipresence but their chiefest care is to blind