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
1.6 In Christo Jesu id est per Christum Jesum pâ—opter Christum Jesum nâ—m per Christum propter Christum accepti grati samus Patri in Christ Jesus that is by Christ Jesus and for Christ Jesus for indeed we can be no way amiable or acceptable to the Father but in the beloved We are said not only to be Elect in Christ Jesus but also to be sanctified in Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 1.2 For indeed all our good the Father hath laid up in him and daily dispenseth the same to us by him and through him Thus I have considered the former clause of the Text in haec verba But of him are ye in Christ Jesus Now the latter fall under an Analytical Examen in these words Who of God is made unto us wisdome righteousness sanctification and redemption For the better explaining whereof I shall briefly speak to these four 1. Quis. 2. Quid. 3. A Quo or unde 4. Quomodo 1. The Quis Who is made of God unto us Wisdome who or what is the Antecedent to this relative who why Christ Jesus Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who or which Christ Jesus is made of God unto us wisdome c. Valde observandus est hic locus in quo ad quatuor praecipua capita revocantur omnia quae in Christo adipiscimur beneficia Beza 2. The Quid What is Christ Jesus made to the Saints he is made indeed in effect all in all and all things to the Saints specifically in this Text these four wisdome righteousness sanctification and redemption to which four chief Heads all the benefits dignities and priviledges we obtain by Christ may be reduced as a learned Writer well observes Though the believing Corinthians and all other truly sanctified in Christ Jesus as men are as vile as the dung and as low as the dust Factus est nobis à Deo sapientia c. i. e. ut sapientes justi sancti liberi simus Theohylact in loc yet as Christians they shine as the stars and are exalted as high as heaven 1. Their understandings are enlightened by the Spirit of Wisdome and Revelation their darkness is scattered their ignorance healed by Jesus Christ their Wisdome and they in their measure like the Angels of God for wisdome though they are foolish both in the worlds matters and in the worlds accompt for commonly the children of this world are wiser in their Generation than the children of light yet they are wise with the wisdome of Christ the highest and purest wisdome they are wise for heaven wise for eternity wise unto salvation This is the first excellency 2. They are freed from the guilt and punishment of sin both from the dominion of sin and condemnation and reputed righteous in foro coeli in the Court of heaven justified acquitted and accepted as Heirs of eternal life and glory by Jesus Christ their righteousness The Lord their righteousness Jer. 23.6 3. They are delivered from the power of sin and cleansed from the filth of sin decked with grace endued with inward holiness beautified with this purest glory by Jesus Christ their Sanctification 4. They are delivered from the power of darkness from the bondage of corruption from all the pollutions of this world from the slavish fears of death and hell redeemed or â—t leastwise ere long actually shall be from all the sins sorrows sufferings and miseries attendant upon or contingent unto this mortal and frail life and lastly saved from all their enemies and from the hands of all that hate them Luke 1.71 by Jesus Christ their Redemption These are the special dignities the Saints are advanced to and the spiritual Royalties the Saints by Christ Jesus are invested with who of God is made unto us wisdome righteousness c. Here is Christ displayed in all his glory a Mine discovered in all its Treasures a Fountain opened in all its fulness our Mediator revealed in all his Offices our illumination or wisdome belongs to the Office of Christ as Prophet both our Justification and Sanctification belong to the Office of Christ as High-Priest and great Apostle of our profession Heb. 3.1 our Redemption externally from all Enemies and internally from all sins and sorrows respect the Office of Christ as Lord and King for our Saviour must be a Princely Saviour a Saviour and a Prince Acts 5.31 And the Father hath made him both Lord and Christ Lord over the dead and living 't is he that delivers us from the power of darkness and translates us into his own Kingdome Col. 1.13 3. A Quo or unde By whom is Christ made unto us wisdome righteousness c. I answer by God the Father who of God is made unto us c. Christ the Son in the Oeconomy or Dispensation of the Mediatorship must be considered as Gods servant he is so called Isa 42.1 Behold my servant whom I uphold The Father broke the business to him of our Salvation 't was the Father that sent him into the world and annointed him Isa 61.1 He had both his Mission and Commission from his Father him hath God the Father sealed 't was the Father that gave him the Spirit without measure that filled him with an overflowing fulness of all good to us and for us therefore we have this phrase here who of God is made unto us wisdome c. Neque enim Christus creatus aut factus est quoad essentiam divinam sed ordinatus donatus nobis ad haec bona conferenda ergo dicitur factus nobis Par. 4. Quomodo How is Jesus Christ or may Jesus Christ be said to be made unto us wisdome c. who is made to us non creatione sed ordinatione not by Creation but by appointment he is constituted ordained or appointed by the Father to be our Wisdome that is to be our Prophet to open our ears to Discipline and teach us wisdome to be our Righteousness that is to be our Justifier our High-Priest to reconcile us to God and make an attonement for us to be our Sanctification that is to be our Sanctifier for whom he justifies by his Merit them he sanctifies by his Spirit to restore our souls for us to renew us in the Spirit of our minds by the Spirit of holiness Postremo dicitur nobis factus Redemtio quod ita per cum justificati sanctificati certam Redemtionem tandem assequamur Beza to be our Redemption that is to be a perfect and compleat Redeemer to us by being all this before he will be Redemption in the abstract a glorious Redeemer or Saviour to the uttermost at the last Heb. 7.25 Factus est nobis à Deo c. id est qui datus est nobis à Deo who is made to us of God that is who is given to us of God c. to be our Wisdome c. Christ is not here given of the Father to us empty or scanty but he
that is by his Blood and Spirit whereof the washing of water in Baptisme is a sign and seal and withall the means whereby the Spirit of Christ doth more and more strengthen this cleansing The sum whereof is this Christ by the will of God and our Father gave himself to death for his Church The Blood of Christ is the meritorious cause the Spirit of Christ is the efficient cause Instrumenta in divinis operantur acsâ—noâ— operantur the Word and Ordinances are as subservient causes they work as Instruments in the hands of Christ for the Churches sanctification all the vertue that is in them or flows out to the Saints from them they receive from the efficiency of Jesus Christ These Pipes receive the Golden Oyl from this Candlestick Lastly the end of all is this that he might present her to himself a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle c. Thus the Church must be prepared by the Bridegrooms grace and so fitted for the Bridegrooms glory As the Virgins in Esther were to be purified with Oyl of Myrrhe Esther 2.12 and sweet Odours before they entred into the Kings Palace or stood in the Kings presence So all the Virgins and followers of the Lamb are to be purified and refined by the Spirit and grace of the Lamb and perfectly sanctified compleatly glorified at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb Rev. 19.7.9 Christians your blessed Saviour is made of God both righteousness and sanctification to ye he hath both a glorious Robe of justification to impute and a glorious Robe of sanctification to impart to all believers and this without controversie is the white Linnen of the Saints which render them truly glorious which commends them to God to good men to the holy Angels which garment of glory and beauty they shall wear for ever in their Fathers presence The believing Corinthians called to be Saints are said to be sanctified in Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 1 2. The Church considered in her Inherent Grace is but fair as the Moon hath many spots in her but in her Relation to Christ so she is clear as the Sun c. Wherefore though the Church in her self may be said to be poor forlorn deformed needy yet by Union with Christ being implanted into him * Ecclesia omnem suam sanctitatem venustatem pulchritudinem omnia sua bona in genere à Christo Jesu sponso suo accipâ—re habere dicitur P. Mart. she is rich with her Husbands riches holy with his holiness comely with his comeliness illustrious with his glory replenisht with his fulness He that is in Christ is a new creature 2 Cor. 5.17 When by faith unfeigned we are united ingrafted into Christ the true Vine We really partake of spiritual life and sensation from him we are sanctified in him and by him Wherefore speaks a worthy †Sanctificamur ergo dum in Christi corpus inserimur extra quod non nisi pollutio est nec aliunde etitiam nobis confertur spiritus quam à Christo per quem Deo adhaeremus in quo simus nova creaturae Calv. Author we are then sanctified when we are ingrafted into Christs body out of which instead of sanctification there is nothing else but pollution and no other way but from and by Christ is the Spirit of Holiness conferr'd upon us c. Christ in his most heavenly prayer solemnly confesseth that his Father sent him into the world for the sake of true believers Joh. 17.18 and that for their sakes he did sanctifie himself i. e. dedicate and give up himself for an holy Sacrifice that they viz. believers might be sanctified by the truth that is as most render it might receive remission of sins and sanctification of the Spirit and in fine the salvation of their souls as evidently appears from Heb. 10.10 Through the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all And v. 14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified All which Scriptures seem to a judicious ear to joyn in Consort and speak one voice and language with the Text and point in hand That Jesus Christ is given of God the Father for our Sanctification Thus much for the first thing promised viz. the proof of the point We come to the second general 2. How or in what sense Jesus Christ may be said to be our Sanctification or made ordained constituted or given of God to be our Sanctification I conceive Christ may be said to be our Sanctification in Scripture sense these four wayes 1. By Imputation 2. By Vnion 3. By Assimilation 4. By Influence and Communication 1. By Imputation 'T is the saying of a Reverend man now with God That the perfect purity of Christs Humane Nature is reckoned unto believers by free imputation of faith M. Wilson in his Christian Dictionary Christ is made unto us Sanctification this is saith he Sanctification imputed Jesus Christ being consecrated and set apart of God to be the Messiah and Mediator for mankind and having for that purpose all the bounty and fulness of the Father poured on him being truly God and truly Man and as Man being conceived of the Holy Ghost without sin ordained to be a Sacrifice for sin and to sanctifie and make his people holy is worthily in Scripture called That Holy One Psa 16.10 Act. 3 1â— Joh. 1.2.20 Also he is termed the Holy of Holies or most Holy Dan. 9.24 And to annoint the most Holy The poor imperfect Church of Christ notwithstanding all her blots and spots Uxor illuce scit radiis mariti Qui justificantur sanctificantur hae gratiae individuo nexu cohaerent Calv. blains and blemishes contracted by original and actual sins is reputed as a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing as she shines by the rayes of the Sun of righteousness through the sanctification or perfect holiness of her Bridegroom Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is a believers righteousness for Justification and his holiness for sanctification also These two are Twins inseparable The Lamb of God without spot was slain 1 Pet. 1.18 to purge us from the guilt of sin for without shedding of blood there could be no remission Heb. 9.22 And it must be a Lamb without spot and blemish and offered up to God by the Eternal Spirit This Lamb must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-man or else your pollutions had never been removed your Natures never sanctified your consciences never purged from dead works Heb. 9.14 But Christ by the Hypostatical union is eminently qualified to be both vertually and efficiently your sanctification As the benefits of Redemption accrue to us by the Kingly Office of Christ so the benefits of Justification and Sanctification do accrue to us by the Priestly Office of Christ as Pareus notes Such an High-Priest it became us who is holy harmless separate from sinners Heb. 7.26 And such an
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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
this hope doth purifie himself even as he is pure Faith exerts the office of all the senses and if all the members 't is the eye the hand the mouth the foot of the Soul c. as might be proved easily if I should exspatiate As Christ is all in all to the soul in the sanctification of it so Fai h of all graces is all in all in the out-going of the soul to Christ and in the Incomes of grace from him 2. As Faith is the Instrumental Causa Administra Evangelium est medium ceâ— instrumentum quo Spiritus sanctus efficaciam suam exerit fidem conversionem operatur Syntag Polan so the Word is the ministring cause or medium of sanctification Psa 19.7 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul the Law in all its Exhortations Commands Consolations Prohibitions Comminations and Promises is a perfect Law serving as a perfect means for conversion But the Promissory and Consolatory part â—h reof is pâ—incipally more purifying Having these promises let us cleanse our selves c. 2 Cor. 7.1 2 Pet. 1.4 The Gospel or Law of Faith is vehiculum spiritus the Chariot in which the spirit rides to give your souls a gracious visit Gal. 3.2 Received ye the spirit by the works of the Law Fides quae creditur He that makes the Clouds his Chariots makâ—s also his Word his Ordinances and his Ministers his Chariots wherein he â—â—des down into these lower parts to give the world a meeting Mr. Alâ—ens Heaven Opened p. 172. or by the hearing of faith i. e. by the hearing of the Gospel which is the doctrine of faith The sanctifying spirit accompanying the holy Word then the Word is sanctifying Joh. 17.17 Sanctifie them by thy truth thy Word is truth When the Gospel is spoken and heard in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit and of Power then is the Arm of the Lord revealed Isa 53.1 then the Word of God works and grows mightily for sanctification and salvation then the blind eyes are opened then are the captives released then are the dead raised then are the lepers cleansed then are the devils dispossessed then are filthy souls washed unholy souls sanctified 7. Causa Exemplaris The Exemplar or Pattern to which our Sanctification in the two parts of it viz. our mortification and vivification is conformable is the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ by vertue of the force and energy whereof through the operation and application of the spirit of faith our sanctification is effected The Apostle Paul holds forth a clear Analogy or proportion between our dying to sin and Christs dying for sin and between our newness of life or vivification and Christs Resurrection Rom. 6.4 5 6 7 8. where ye may see at large the parallel between them And the Apostle Peter tells us We are begotten again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 8ly and lastly The glory of Gods Grace in the Consecration and Salvation of a sinful creature is the supreme end or final cause of our Sanctification there is a mutual intimate coherence and relation of these three to oâ—e another 1. The glory of Gods Grace is the Supreme end as of our Election in Christ so of our Sanctification by him All the Acts of Gods love in Christ whether immanent or transient they are all for the praise of the glory of his grace both in this and in the other world Eph. 1.4.6 And specifically Sanctification hath a direct tendency unto and termination in the glory of God When we keep our bodies and spirits chaste and holy we are then said to glorifie God 1 Cor. 6.20 Glorifie God in your bodies and in your spirits which are Gods 2. Consecration This is finis qui the end for which quoad nos we are sanctified and necessary necessitate medii to our Salvation Jam. 1.18 We are begotten by the Will of God that we might be a kind of the first fruits of his creatures that is as Beza Polanus and others observe that we might be consecrated and devoted to the Lord separated from the common lump of mankind as an holy offering at the first fruits under the Law were presented to the Lord as an holy Offering as the Lords own portion 3. Salvation This is our ultimate end the Apostle Peter acquaints us 1 Pet. 1.3 We are begotten again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ c. What is that lively hope we are begotten and born to in Regeneration he tells ye in ver 4. Even to an inheritance incorruptible undâ—filed that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you This incomparable Inheritance See Dr. Owens Death of Death p. 119 120 121 122 c. dignified with all these transcendent Epithets is comprehended in one word Salvation 2 Thes 2.13 14. God hath from the beginning chosen us to Salvation that is the end through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth that is the way and means Thus having cleared our way now we come to the plain and full definition of Sanctification Sanctification in the sense of the Text and of this Tract is a new inward habitual frame of grace infused by the power of the Eternal Spirit into the heart of a justified person united to Christ whereby he is renewed after the Image of Christ in knowledge righteousness and true holiness and thereby enabled to die to sin and to live to God for the praise of Gods glorious grace in his Consecration and Salvation This definition is the sum of the former discourse every part and branch of this description hath been already proved in the aforegoing particulars therefore I shall not actum agere do over the same things again only give me leave to acquaint you Holiness is not any single grace alone but a Constellations conjunction of all graces together in the Soul our Sanctification or Inherent Holiness consists in these two things 1. In the infusing of holy principles divine qualities or supernatural graces into the soul such as the Apostle mentions in Gal. 5.22 23. But the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against such there is no Law These habits of grace which are severally distinguished by the names of faith love hope meekness patience temperance c. are nothing else but the new nature the new creature the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Ephes 4.24 1 Joh. 3.9 2 Cor. 1.21 1 Joh. 2.27 These seeds of holiness these habits of grace are those sweet oyntments wherewith all must be annointed that ever expect to be glorified Though men may talk much of God and brag much of their Interest in heaven and happiness yet without these habits and seeds of holiness I am sure they shall never reap a crop of blessedness 2. Holiness lies in the use and lively exercise of those
we see as in a glass darkly Now the dust is in our eyes much blindness and darkness in the eyes of the most enlightned our understandings are partly light and partly darkness our wills are partly flesh and partly spirit we find do we not a contrary Principle working a contrary Law rebelling that when we would do good evil is present with us Rom. 7.21 There is a Law in the members Rom. 7.23 and a Law of the mind There is a double Enemy carrying on a double interest in one soul there is a Jacob and an Esau strugling and striving for Mastery in one heart there remains the being of sin concupiscence evil lusting and motions many sins of ignorance negligence and of invincible infirmity in the Saints for whilest they abide in earthly they abide in sinful Tabernacles The bitter moans groans complaints tears together with the sad lapses of the Saints do sadly evidence the truth of this 1 Kin. 8.46 Jam. 3.2 1 Ioh. 1.8 Eccl. 7.20 As a child as soon as born is a true man though not a perfect man he hath all the parts of a man not the strength and stature besides the ample testification of many Scriptures The Saints that are sanctified in Christ Jesus are in a sense perfect and in a sense imperfect they are perfect as to perfection of parts every part and faculty of soul and body is sanctified and yet they are in a sense imperfect i. e. as to perfection of degrees thus the word perfect is differently to be understood Phil. 3.12.15 In the 12th ver it notes the fullest measure or highest Achme of perfection attainable by a Christian In the 15th ver it notes sincerity o◠integrity which is a Christians Evangelical perfection God according to the tenour of the New Covenant accepting his person in Christ as perfect viz. in and through Christs perfect righteousness and intercession and thereupon a believers gracious desires and endeavours for performances his will for the deed and his sincerity for perfection Perfection of degrees being too great a priviledge for a Militant estate is reserved as one of the peculiar Flowers or Jewels of the Triumphant Crown for the Saints to wear in their Fathers Kingdome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A precious jewel which nothing can defile or dull its shining so is the state above wherefore among the singular distinguishing Epithetes given by the Spirit of God to our inheritance this is one an inheritance undefiled 1 Pet. 1.4 By our Justification now we have peace with God Rom. 5.1 all our sins past and present are actually pardoned and this favour received is a pledge of assurance that for the future by applying our selves to Christ we shall receive remission of daily sins and that at the last day we shall be for ever free from all accusations and condemnation Our Justification is perfect now though the most solemn pronunciation of it in a magnificent manner is the work of the great day but our Sanctification is inchoate imperfect and progressive here by the supplies of the Spirit of Grace there must be a going on from faith to faith from strength to strength but it shall be most compleat and perfect at Christs appearing the Picture of Christ will be gloriously drawn even to the life then We know Phil. 1.6 that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 2. The righteousness of justification is equally perfect and equally imputed to all believers my meaning is all believers are alike justified one as well and as much as another the weak as much as the strong the new-born Babes so much as the old Fathers the feeblest Lambs as much as the Hee-goats of the Flock he that hath the least as well as he that hath the greatest measure of the Spirit Gemmam amplectitur Gigas puerulus licet Gigas fortiùs eam amplectitur quà m puerulus tamen manet gemma aequè preciosa Luther A Giant holdeth a jewel and so doth a Child the jewel is the same though the Giant holdeth it with a stronger hand So here the righteousness of justification is the same though the faith of believers is not the same some being weak and others strong in faith As to inherent righteousness there is much difference but as to imputed righteousness all the Saints are equal none have purer linnen than the rest A believer of the lowest form in Christs School of the meanest stature or growth in Christ of the weakest and dullest capacity in the mysteries of the Kingdome of Christ So M. Burroughs on the Beatitudes Matth. 5. is in point of justification equal with Abraham Isaac and Jacob Moses Samuel and David equal with all the most glorious Patriarchs Prophets Martyrs and eminent Saints that are Thou if a believer art as much acquitted from sin and as much accepted as righteous in the sight of God and as undoubted an Heir of and hast as true a title to the Inheritance of heaven as the most famous Saints that are But there is a great deal of difference among the Sain s themselves as to sanctification some Saints are children some are strong men 1 Cor. 15.41 some are fathers one star excelleth another star in glory There are stellae primae secundae magnitudinis c. Some Saints are more sluggish and dull of hearing more dull and dark in understanding others are more acute and quick some are younglings weaklings and have need of milk viz. the principles of the Oracles of God others are strong men and have need of meat can dive into and digest the deepest mysteries revealed in the Gospel Heb. 5.12 13 14. God having given them senses exercised to discern both good and evil Some are more dead to duty and in duty others are more vigorous more fervent in spirit and lively some walk more humbly with God more holily before God more exactly and venerably before the world than others do Some do much fully and stain their garments others comparatively walk in white and keep their garments clean and also keep themselves unspotted from the world Jam. 1. ult Thus great is the difference between Saint and Saint in sanctification Cant. 5.10 My beloved is white and ruddy white in the glory of his Deity ruddy in the preciousness of his Humanity and white in the beauty of his purity and ruddy in the blood of his Oblation Owens Communion p. 52 53. as great is the difference between man and man in growth and stature but in justification the infant of daies and man of grey hairs the shrub and the Cedar the smaller and greater stars the Saints of all dimensions and denominations of all ages and statures are equally perfect and shine equally bright and glorious because the glory of that righteousness is not inherent in them as the light is inherent in the body of the Sun but this robe of righteousness so 't is called Isai
serve for Tryals of your estate What are the precious Fruits that grow upon this Tree of Sanctification You may also call them the inseparable Concomitants and Adjuncts of Sanctification if you please 1. If you have received the spirit of Sanctification ye have also received the spirit of Supplication Zech. 12.10 The Spirit is entitled both the spirit of Grace and the spirit of Supplication where he is the former there he is the other also where he dwels as the spirit of holinesse there he dwels as the spirit of prayer Every sanctified heart is an Harp or Cymbal to sound forth Gods praises an habitation of God through the Spirit Ephes 2. ult and the Temple of the Holy Ghost The Temple of old was an holy place a place of relative and Typical holiness and an house of Prayer Every gracious heart like Gods Altar offers up to God the sweet sacrifice and incense of praises and Prayers Every new-born Babe for the most part comes into the world crying The word Abba signifieth Fa her in the Syriack tongue which the Apostle here reteineth which also young Children retein almost in all Languages Annotat. I am sure every spiritual new-born Babe cryes Abba Father Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4.6 And because ye are sons God hath sent the spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Now if ye are Prayer-less persons ye are graceless persons persons without Prayer 'T was the saying of an old Disciple A man of much prayer is a man of much Grace are persons without Holiness or though ye pray yet if ye pray not in the Spirit according to the caution Ephes 6.18 i. e. in Faith in fervency with the vigor and intension of the Spirit or inner-man if it be not Jam. 5.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If ye have no Communion ravishing have yee Communion sanctifying an inwrought prayer as the phrase is if yee wrestle not with God in the strength of God as Jacob did if ye have no holy boldness or Confidence at Gods Throne if ye never feel the sweet melting quickening warming moving breathings of the Spirit in your souls In a word if ye find no growing conformity in your hearts to the divine Nature by Duty no sweet sanctifying refreshing communion with God in Duty 't is an evident sign to me the Spirit of holiness dwels not in yee and consequently if ye have not the spirit of Christ ye are none of his Rom. 8.9 But as for such as pray in the Spirit as make conscience of this Duty and of the spiritual performance of it and find the rellish of God and Heaven in private prayer 't is one happy sign and symptome of their translation from death to life from a state of Nature to a state of Grace There are diversities of Gifts but the same Spirit 1 Cor. 1â— 4 Secondly If the spirit of Sanctification dwels in thee the same Spirit as a spirit of Illumination dwels in thee If Jesus Christ be thy sanctification he is thy wisdome also as thy holiness to sanctifie thee so thy wisdome to instruct thee It is the godly or holy man that feels the vertue and influence of that blessed Promise I will instruct then and teach thee in the way that thou shouldst go I will guide thee by mine eye Psalm 32.6 8. verses compared together That Text is famous for this purpose * Non acumine proprii sensus rectè sâ—pere homines sed illuminatione Spiritus Buling in loc What Unction is per unctionem Gratiam So. S. intelligit Beza in loc 1 Joh. 2.20 Ye have received an Unction from the Holy One and ye know all things By this Unction or annointing is meant the gracious operation of the holy Spiriâ— whereby they that are regenerate or sanctified are also enlightened with the saving Knowledge of Christ This is compared to the pâ—uring out of costly Ointment Psalm 45.8 and 137.2 Unction properly signifies the separation and consecration of a person to the Lord tog ther with the gifts of Wisdome Knowledge Faith Love c. Wherefore it must follow that a person annointed consecrated unto God is also illuminated by God if his person be sanctified his eyes are opened annointed with Eye-salve if annoâ—nted with Grace then instructed in Knowledge 2 Cor. 1.21 Rev. 3.18 if a V ssel full of Grace then a Vessel full of oyl a burning lamp and shining light For in Vnction sanctification and illumination are both together inseparably and indivisibly as light and heat in the Sun-beams The holy oyl of Grace casts a sweet perfume and splendid light in the hearts and lives of the annointed By vertue of this Unction Darkness is now in a great measure scattered and the man is made light in the Lord Ephes 5.8 An enlightned soul admires how foolish he was and ignorant even bruitish in his knowledge before Conversion he neither knew God nor himself he neither knew his present danger nor his future misery he neither saw sin as a vicious or as a Penal evil neither the evil in it nor the evil after it but went on like a Fool to the stocks like an Oxe to the slaughter and ran like a mad man toward the Gulf of Ruine Before sanctâ—fication he neither saw his want of Christ nor knew the worth of Christ The glory of Christs Person the beauty of his wayes the merits of his Blood the benefits of his Offices the comforts of his Spirit the sweetness of his Fellowship the savour of his Ointments the blessings of his Kingdome All these before Conversion were hid from his eyes for the God of this world had blinded him 2 Cor. 4.4 Besides the natural Veil of darkness he brought into the world with him he is blinded by another viz. a diabolical but in and by Conversion comes in illumination in turning from Satan to God his eyes are opened and his understanding turns from darknesse to light Acts 26.18 Now the eyes of his understanding being enlightned by the spirit of Wisdome and Revelation Ephes 1.17 18. He comes to know what is the hope of his Calling and the riches of the glory of his Inheritance in the Saints Every word is a word of weight 1 John 5.20 Phil. 1.9 10. he hath now a visive faculty an understanding given him to know things that are excellent he hath now a new spiritual clear affectionate knowledge of and a more distinct piercing knowledge in the Mysteries of the Gospel than ever he had before An enlightned head and a sanctified heart go both together This is the second effect or rather sweet Concomitant of Sanctification viz. Illumination 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est eandem fidem ex ejusdem spiritus afflâ—tu dono Beza 3. The third Effect or rather Concomitant or Adjunct of our Sanctification is Faith hee that hath the spirit of Holiness hath also the spirit of Faith 2 Cor. 4.13 wee having the same spirit of Faith the spirit of
your blessed Saviour in the armes of Faith vail your souls to him close with him cling and cleave to him glory and rejoice in him draw down vertue daily from him lay all your wants upon him the oftner you come to him the more welcome and the suller and richer you shal go from him As God hath made him your All in All Joh. 1.16 so believe in him and make use of him as your All in All. Now is this precious faith this faith unfeigned this faith of Gods Elect wrought in your souls yea or not Know assuredly if you are sanctified in Christ Jesus if you are Gods workmanship created in Christ Jesus c. Ephes 2.10 This precious grace is wrought in you called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the work of God * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 6.29 This is the work of God that you believe in him whom he hath sent Where this precious Faith is 't is alwayes found with these precious principal properties or vital operations 1. It Animates 2. It Purifies 3. It Fructifies 4. It Pacifies 5. It Operates 6. Amplifies 7. It Corroborates 8. It Exhilarates 1. Faith Animates enlivens and quickens the soul of man it is such a principle of spiritual Life that a Believer doth not so much live as Christ by faith lives in him The spirit of Faith I am certain if not faith it self which of all graces leads the Chorum is the forma informans whereby a man before both legally and morally dead is now enlivened and lives to God Gal. 2.20 Hab. 2.4 Rom. 1.17 Heb. 10.38 Our whole life here is a life of Faith our life hereafter is a life of Vision or Sight here we walk by faith and not by sight 2 Cor. 5.7 How sweet and heavenly is that Life which is derived from and maintained by the life of Christ himself 2. Faith purifies where there is life there is motion where faith is there is purification A Believer having a vital principle like a living Fountain labours to work out the mud of sin to cleanse and purge it self from inward filthinesse so as not to approve it allow it or mingle with it Acts 15.9 having purified their hearts by faith as sicknesse is poyson to the blood and spirits so is sin to the soul now as all the spirits in their natural motions tend to self-preservation so the spirit of faith or the spirit by faith musters together and stirs up all the powers of the Inner-man for self-purification without purification there can be no preservation and Faith is the principal grace that purifies 3. Faith fructifies a living faith is a working a fructifying or a fruit-bearing faith as the Apostle James demonstrates James 2.14 to the end They that are purified by faith in the blood of Christ are zealous of good works Tit. 2.14 How many Believers at large are there that look green and fair and make a brave flourish afar off but come near them and well observe them view their hearts and their lives or their hearts by their lives and works and you shall finde them like the barren Fig-tree which Jesus saw full of leaves but without fruit to relieve him in his hunger the Curse of barrenness will strike to the hearts of such Professors as it did to the heart of that Fig-tree Psal 36.9 Jer. 2.13 Joh. 15.1 Rev. 23.2 By Faith we have Union with Christ the fountain of Life the fountain of living waters the True Vine and Tree of Life that grows in the midst of the Paradise of God All these Metaphors bespeak abundant fruitfulness and that of the choicest fruit The grapes of Canaan the graces of the Spirit the works of Righteousness and Acts of charity and mercy to the praise and glory of God by Jesus Christ In a word have you faith in Christ Jesus and hope in Heaven why then yee bring forth fruit as they do all the world over that have recieved the grace of God in truth Consider well 1 Col. 4.5 6. 4. Faith pacifies as well as fructifies as it fructifies a barren Desart and makes the wilderness and solitary place to blossom as the Rose as Lebanon Psa 35.1 2 Sharon and Carmel so it pacifies a troubled Conscience it stils the rage and surges of this Sea As once Christ said to the Winds and Waves so faith in the name and power of Christ speaks to the perplexed soul peace and bee still and there is a great calm Christians would live more the life of peace if they lived more the life of Faith the more of faith the less of â—ervile fear being justified by faith we have peace with God c. Rom. 5.1 Phil. 4.7 And this peace of God passeth all understanding When the Clouds of Temptation and the winds and waves of passion are up a few thoughts of Faith will quiet all as Dr. Tho. Goodwin in his Vanity of Thoughts a worthy Man observes There is no peace saith my God to the wicked Isa 57.21 but a true Believer hath peace with God through Jesus Christ the Prince of peace he hath peace in Heaven and peace on Earth peace with God and peace with his own conscience for the Kingdome of God is righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 5. Faith operates it acts and works by love Gal. 5.6 for in Jesus Christ neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision Magnes amoris amor but faith which worketh by love Faith worketh love wee love God when by faith wee apprehend that God loveth us first 1 John 4.19 we love him because hee first loved us and as faith works love so it works by love Faith is the great Wheel the principal Grace that animates actuates moves influences love patience zeal and every other grace that sets all other wheels a going that quickens and strengthens all other graces in their proper respective motions and operations The words of Dr. Bates in his Sermon upon Heb. 11.6 In the 11 Chapter to the Hebrews Faith is represented as the principle of Obedience conveying vigor and strength to other graces whereby they 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
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 Psalm 4.6 7. Caâ—t 5. â—0 All other Beloveds are no body to Jesus 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 Foxes Acti and Monuments 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 propter eminentiam cognitionis Christi Iesu Mont. None 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 Amore dâ—sideris A sanctified heart loves God with a 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 Amore unionis as the heart of Shechem 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 Amor non est nisi donum amantis in amatum God bestows himself 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 Amore Benevolentiae give and ascribe all honour and 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 Cant 2.16 let all thine be mine and let all mine be thine and let thine be for thy glory let every person and creature and thing in Heaven above and in earth beneath be a shril Trumpet a loud Cymbal to sound forth thy praises Amore complacentiae acquiescentiae Fourthly A sanctified heart loves God with 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 eye we are still looking where we love Anima pluâ— est ubi amat quà m ubi animat When I awake saith the Psalmist 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 here will I dwell the Saint saith of God Psal 132.14 Psal 116.7 Psal 91 9â— Ephes 2 ult Return to thy rest O my soul A Saint 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 Psal 16. ult but there both love and 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 Psal 36.9 Psal 87.7 Col. 3.3 and serve who is the fountain of his life and blessedness 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 I give you and a new spirit will I put within you which new heart I take to bee the Genus of all the following graces And where there is this new heart there will bee new Affections new longings and earnest breathings of soul after God Christ Heaven and Immortality for behold saith Christ I make all things new Rev. 21.5 Love of the Brethren an evidence of Regeneration Secondly As a sanctified person loves his God so also he loves his Brother this is made one great evidence of our happy and new Translation 1 John 3.14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the Brethren he that loveth not his Brother abideth in death Qui diligit fratrem magis novit d lectionem quâ diligit quam fratrem quem diligit Aug de Trinit Many a be-nighted soul I have read and heard upon the plank of this evidence have been kept from sinking down into the Whirl-pool of despair it
hath been a refreshing Cordial to many a doubting Christian upon their Death-beds 1 Joh. 4.7 Every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God and in v. 20. the Apostle draws down a negative inference from the Premises If a man say I love God and hateth his brother he is a lyar for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen That interrogation is a plain Negation if the amiable and visible workmanship of God be not loved 't is impossible the invisible Author of that woâ—kmanship should Query Who are the Brethren intended in this Epistle Answ 1. There are Brethren by Nation Acts 7.23.25 Rom. 9 3. 2. Brethren by Nature descended of the samâ— Parents Matth. 1.2 3. Brethren by Office 2 Pet. 3.15 2 Cor. 1.1 c. 4. Bre hren by Grace and super-natural Relation and so understand the Term here Query How shall we know whether we truly love the Brethren which is so great a sign of our new birth Answ I answer Affirmatively 1. When we love them as such The Brethren for their spiritual brotherhood Christians for their Christianity the Saints for their Sanctification 1 John 5.1 He that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him he that loves the Father loves the Image of the Father in the Childe Hee that loves the Person loves the picture for the Persons sake Grace must be the principal Load-stone of our affection not Beauty birth sweetness of disposition Breeding Learning Wealth Honour or any outward or carnal accomplishments whatsoever Secondly When we love and delight in them above all other people Psalm 16.2 3. David a King cals them the Excellent in whom was all his delight and Christ prefers his spiritual before his own natural Relations Mâ—t. 12.47 48 49 50. 3. When wee love those of the Brotherhood most that are most gracious if grace allures Love Caeteris paribus the more of the former the more of the latter Christ loved all his Disciples John 13.1 but John eminently gracious was eminently beloved wherefore called the beloved Disciple John 21.20 Noscitur ex Comâ—te qui noâ— digno â—itur ex se 4. When we singularly and peculiarly love their society above all other I am said David a Companion to all them that fear thee The sanctified can have no intimate contenting fellowship with the unholy Psalm 26.4 5. I have not sate with vain persons c. I have hated the Congregation of evil doers and will not sit with the wicked Again Psalm 15.4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. This is one Character of an Inhabitant in Gods holy Hill 5. When we are willing in some cases to lay down our lives for the Brethren A Christian is bound not only to lay down his life for Christ and for his Gospel when God cals him to it but also in some special Cases for the Brother-hood * Significat in eo â—â—obari nostram charitatem si amorem nostri in fratres transferimus ita ut sui quisque quodammodo oblitus aliis Câ—nsulat Calv. in loc 1 John 3.16 Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us and wee ought to lay down our lives for the Brethren If our love to the Brethren be singular and to the life as Christs was to us we shal lay down our lives for them 't is not a common or cold love of the Brethren that evinceth your Regeneration every new born babe doth with John desire to decrease so that Christ Mystical may encrease that the Kingdome of Christ be enlarged the generation of the Righteous multiplied amplified and preserved though it be that in the promoting of it he himself his Honour his Name his Liâ—e must lie in the dust of Death To these things I have spoken more fully from another Subject I pass on to the fifth particular 5. A sanctified or regenerate person overcomes the world 1 John 5.4 Hee that is born of God overcometh the world 1. Here we have two Adversaries the Regenerate and the World Secondly the Victor 1. The regenerate who are chiefly defensive as the whole Armor of God is chiefly defensive Ephes 6.14 to 19. verses 2. The world on the other part principally offensive John 15.18 19 20. Now what is the world 1. Partly the men of the world these lie in wickedness 1 Joh. 5.19 these hate the Saints because they are not of the world but chosen out of the world by Christ John 19.19 1. By the world understand wicked worldlings with their persecutions of the Saints 2. Partly the lusts of the world So Calv. Zanch in loc in Charms and Aâ—lurements 1 John 2.16 the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life i. e all the delights pleasures and Contentments which the flesh or body desires Thus the world with all its oppositions and insinuations frowns and flatteries sets upon the Saints Secondly The Victor he that is born of God overcometh the world he carrieth away the Conquest Whilst the Saints are in the world h ey are in an estate militant there is carried on a spiritual War between two Antagonists viz the Spirit of Regeneration in the Saints and the Spirit of the World with all his worldly lusts and allurements which Syren songs do draw in and drown which Cups of fornication do choak and poyson millions in the world Now hee that is born of God by the spirit of faith dwelling in him both as the Forma informans forma Assistens is empowred to subdue corruptions within and to vanquish temptations from without so that by partaking of the divine Nature he escapes the pollutions that is in the world through lust 2 Pet. 1.4 as the Apostle speaks A sanctified man hath in him the spirit of sanctity and a spirit of magnanimity indeed his sanctity is his Magnanimity which makes him so high that the world cannot master him Inimicos dei jam hoc ipso quod non cessimus vicimus Cyprian and so holy that 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 whatsoâ—ver resists the Commands of God Neither the worlds frowns nor favours neither â—s Comminatious nor its Invitations Quicquid mandatis Dei resistit Polan neither the â—ears of the world nor the flatteries of the world can turn a regenerate person from the fâ—ith of Christ nor from obedience to the Gospel nor bring hâ—m unto their Bow In the German Reformation when some perswaded Erasmus to write to Luther to bring him back to Popery or else at leastwise to write against his Doctrine Erasmus answers Luther was too great for him to write to or against A Gracious spirit is too great a spirit for the great Oâ—es of the world to force by power
and the Son have committed the Saints to the Spirits charge to this very end and purpose that they might be sanctified Sanctification is made the Spirits personal operation 2 Thes 2.14 1 Pet. 1.2 The Spirit is to shape and fashion all the Vessels of Mercy and prepare them for Glory he is to deck the Spouse of Christ with the jewels of the Covenant 'T is the great advantage the Saints have in the Oeconomy or dispensation of Grace that they have the Father to purpose it the Son to purchase it and the Spirit to work it the Father Word and Spirit are all one and agree in one for our sanctification Now 't is a great grief to the Spirit when the work of Grace doth not go on and prosper in the soul for 't is he that worketh us to this very thing and therefore is called the Spirit of holinesse 'T is not for the Spirits honour that Gods Nursery or Plantation committed to his care and charge should not thrive and flourish 'T is not for the Spirits honour to dwell in defiled Temples nor to let the people go naked without their Ornaments 'T is not for the Spirits honour that any committed by the Father and the Son to his charge should perish or miscarry should fall away either totally from all Grace finally for all time for ever to miss of heaven in the end The Father hath left the Son in charge to be the Captain of our salvation Heb. 2. and to bring many children to Glory The Son hath left the Spirit in charge with all his Fathers children to guâ—de them by his Counsel and to bring them to his Glory When Christ as man left earth and went to Heaven he comforts his Disciples by sending another Comforter and who he is Christ tels ye even the Spirit of truth to guide his people into all truth for he shall not speak from himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak and he will shew you things to come he shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you all things that the Father hath are mine therefore said I that he shall take of mine and shall shew it unto you John 16.13 14 15. The Spirit of Christ is Christs Pro-rex or Viceroy by Comm ssion from his Father and himself to rule and govern the affairs of his providential Kingdom Ezek. 1.20 21. The spirit of the living creature was in the wheels The Spirit acts the Angels called living Creatures and the living creatures or Angels act and move the wheels that is the Transactions of divine Providence in the world and Christ by the Spirit governs and guides his Subjects in his spiritual Kingdome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aux viae vobis erit in omnem veritatem So Beza in John 16.13 the Spirit is Dux viae the Captain of the way to lead his people into all truth their Glorious Guest to dwell with them and to abide with them for ever John 14.16 17. and by his inhabitation and constant influence and operation to perfect his own work in them and ripen their souls for Heaven Thus our sanctification is absolutely necessary for the honour of the Father Son and Spirit 2. Our sanctification is absolutely and indispensibly needfull as for the honour of God so also for our attainment of true happiness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the masculine â—rticles must be refered to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holiâ— is Nâ—gat queâ—qâ—am poss videre Dâ—â—m sine sanctimon a â— moniam am 〈◊〉 oculis 〈◊〉 debâ—mus Deum quam qui reformati fuerint ad ejus imaginem Calv. Grace and Glory holiness and happiness sanctification and salvation individuo nexu cohaerent These are tyed and twisted together with a knot inseparable and indissoluble There is no going to Heaven without holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 Some there are which ignorantly and fondly do restrein the word Saints to the Saints departed the Saints in Heaven but we must be Saints here or else can never expect to be Saints hereafter The Apostle denyes saith Calvin that any one can see God without holiness because he shall see God with no other eyes than those which shall be renewed according to his Image the Image of God is bâ— begun on earth 't is perfectly and compleatly drawn by the Vision of God in Heaven Be sure you are real Saints sanctified in Christ Jesus and not only nominal and notional as too many are your Saintship is all the evidence you have to shew for your inheritance be sure then you keep your evidence fair and clear without blots and blurs Unless ye are begotten again unto a lively hope what have ye to do with that inheritance gilded with so many glorious Epithets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Math. 5.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 1.2 3. How can they see God that have not a pure heart nor a pure eye indeed the pure heart is the pure eye The Degree of Vision will be according to the degree of sanctification the more gracious we are in this the more glorious wee shall be in the other world The Apostle tels us Col. 1.12 we must be made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light What should a carnal heart do with Heaven that knows no other heaven but to eat drink and wallow in sensual delights as the Glutton at a feast cryed There 's no heaven like to this We must not look for a Turkish Paradise in Heaven but for a pure sin-less state not to bathe our souls in carnal pleasures but to be Consorts of the immaculate Lamb and Competitioners with the Angels Perfection of Grace As one saith Consortes Agni Angellorum Candidati and fulness of joy in the presence of Gods Glory is the Saints heaven Swine know not what to do with Pearls nor carnal creatures with the life and joyes above Suppose that which is not to be supposed were it possible an unsanctified person should go to heaven that holy place and holy Company would be an hell to him Coelum est altera Gehenna damnatorum he would be as weary of heaven as ever water was of running according to the Proverb If the faint Image of God in his Saints if the glympse of Gods presence in his Ordinances be so irksome and unpleasant to an unholy soul here Oh how terrible and contrary to his spirit would the most glorious Presence of God in heaven be where the Seraphims cry continually Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabaoth c. where God displayes his holiness in the greatest splendor and glory God is perfect light Isa 6.3 Revel 4 8. 1 Joh. 1.5 the man is darkness they could never agree together An unsanctified person indeed may desire Heaven as a disproportionate good as a place better to be tolerated than the torments of hell he may desire heaven as a privation of
suffering and misery but not as a privation of all sin nor as the perfection of Grace and holiness nor as it is the nearest union of the soul with God and the highest fruition of the chiefe good Thus for him to desire or long for Heaven is against the very grain and hair of his spirit altogether inconsistent with and contrary to his old unrenewed nature Now on the contrary the Saints whose eyes are enlighted with the eye-salve and by the prospective of Faith Rev. 3.18 have had a view of this King and Kingdome Isa 33.17 these make a right Scheam or draught of Heaven 2 Cor. 5.17 If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature Gloria quam habebunt conformem Christi corpori incomprehensibilis est Calv. in Phil. 3.21 and their believing hopes of interest in this Kingdome and of communion with this Company that is above do engage them to purification 1 John 3.2 3. He that hopes and longs to see Christ as he is and to be like him both for constitution of soul and temper of body he must ever labour to be holy and he will be trying and practising here on earth to conform to Christ before-hand He that expects that his vile body shall be made like Christs Glorious body 1 in spirituality purity clarity strength splendor and Glory he will possess his Vessel in sanctification and honour hee dares not use his body meerly as a streiner for meats and drinks nor as an unclean channel for lusts to pass through but he will honour it as a Temple of the holy Ghost hâ—s mind that shall see God he will not fiâ—l with chaffe and vanity with worldly cares or unclean â—houghts his affections that should cleave to God intensively and inseparably he will not prostitute to every base object he will labour to keep his garments clean to walk without spot and blamelesse till the coming of the Lord. Thus with respect to the fruition of our hopes and the attainment of our happiness we are engaged and not engaged only but enclined and sweetly constrained also to habitual and actual holiness or as the Apostle excellently phraseth it to cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7 1. and perfect holiliness in the fear of the Lord. Use 7. In the seventh place This point informs us of the excellency of Sanctification or Holiness ye have heard already much of its absolute necessity now something of its transcendent Excellency Holiness is the Name of God the Will of God the Work of God the Seed of God the Nature of God the Image of God the life of God the Glory of God the lustre and splendor of the soul the health and vigour of the soul the soul of man is the Physical Image of God but the holiness of the soul is the Ethical or qualitative image of God 'T is the seed of Glory the beginning of Heaven the first fruits and fore-runners of eternal Life 'T is a known Maxim That which partakes of the nature of the whole Quicquid participat de naturâ totius est pars totius is a part of the whole the filings of Gold are Gold ramenta auri sunt preciosa Grace is very precious true sanctifying saving grace is Glory The holy people are the most precious honourable people in the world Isa 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee c. Prov. 12.26 The righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour See how many honourable Titles God doth honour his Saints in Scripture with 1. They are his portion Deut. 32.9 2. They are his pleasant portion Jer. 12.10 3. They are his inheritance Isa 19.25 others are the works of his hands but the Saints are his inheritance 4. They are the dearly beloved of his soul Jer. 12.7 5. They are his Treasure his peculiar treasure Exod. 19.5 and his peculiar people 1 Pet. Segallah et 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are the same 2.9 Titus 2.14 6. They are the Apple of his Eye Zech. 2.8 whoso toucheth you toucheth the Apple of mine Eye 7. They are his Glory Isa 46.13 8. They are the house of Gods Glory Isa 60.7 9. They are a Crown of Glory Isa 62.3 10. They are the Throne of God Exod. 17.16 the words may be read thus because the hand upon the Throne of the Lord and so by many they are translated 11. The Throne of Glory Jer. 4.21 12. The Ornament of God Exek 7.20 13. The Beauty of his Ornament Exek 7.20 14. The Beauty of his Ornament set in Majesty Ezek. 7.20 15. A Crown of Glory Isa 62.3 16. A Royal Diadem Isa 62.3 17. Lastly The excellent in the Earth Psalm 16.3 the Saints that are in the earth are the excellent in the earth the Jewels of the world you may enlarge in your own Thoughts This then serves to inform the mistaken and blind world that Grace is no disgrace that holiness is no dis-enobling but a most generous princely and glorious thing Brave spirits as the world accounts them think preciseness an inglorious and the power of Godliness a base thing that taketh off from their Grandure and Generosity * Coguntur esse mali nè viles habeantur Salvian Salvian complains that in his time the Great Ones were deter'd from serious holiness because it was Contemptible It was Gentleman-like to be wicked but Peasant or Vassal-like to be Godly whereas the service of God is the noblest and sweetest liberty but the service of sin the vilest slavery Though your jolly spirits think they are the freest men on earth The Apostle nips their Courage 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 God is created in righteousness and true holiness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in sanctitate veritatis vulg 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 Jam. 1.17 Christ himself is the first Best Gift of God A Gift of Gifts and sanctification in or by Christ Jesus Joh. 1.10 I take to be the next Best