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 ' tâ—s suffultum est cor meum 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 sweeâ—ly 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 1 Sam. 23.16 and privately came to David 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 fâ—ars are down Divines use to compare the base fears of mâ—n 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 Roâ—k which this Anchor rests on according to the Proverb were it not for Hope heart would break and the Scripture tels us Faith is both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 substantia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 argumentum Heb. 11.1 Rom. 8.24 We are saved by hope but Hope receives all its subsistence strength 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 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exaâ—tatis 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 dirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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 bosome 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
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
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
doth upon right Principles 1 John 2.20 Omat bonum fit ex integraÌ„ Causa 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 Ephes 1.17 18. The Spirit of Wisdome and Revelation 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 2. Jesus Christ is little prized by civil men Note 2 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 M xims 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 merit 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 Heb. 12.2 and maintainer of his life the Alpha and Omega of his happinesse the man doth not live so much as Christ lives in him and every day Gal. 2.20 he seeth an indispensible need of Christ and what abundant cause he hath to bless God for Christ who is made to him wisdome righteousness sanctification and redemption 3. Usually some reigning lust keeps company Note 3 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 Matth. 19.22 Christ and 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 1 King 6.8 But the affairs of the inward 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 1. False grace is acted from forreign considerations Mark 1 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 force He may be forma assistens to him but not forma informans in him The Spirit of God may assist an hypocrite 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 Joh. 7.37.38 Rivers of living 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 2. False grace is shy of Gods sight and Mark 2 presence Hypocrites neither can Hypocrita cupit videri justus Hypocrita in verbis sanctus in corde vanus intus Nero foris Cato c. nor do appeal 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 the world to seem and not to be just he converseth more with men than with God Yet the godly can appeal to God for their sincerity though they tremble at their defects and impurity like Peter John 20.17 He appeals to Christs Omnisciency Lord thou knowest all things and thou knowest that I love thee So holy Job expostulates the case thus Let me be weighed in an even ballance that God may know mine integrity Job 31.6 He could appeal to God the un-erring Rule of Righteousness in this matter he knew his integrity would hold weight And at another time he hath this self-abasing expression Mine eye seeth thee therefore I abhor my self in dust and ashes Job 42.5.6 As he could hold fast his integrity so he could also loath and abhor himself in dust and ashes at the sight of Gods glorious Majesty and purity and in the sense of his own defects and failings Mark 3 3. False grace grows not better and better but rather worse and worse pretences wither rather than thrive an hypocrite goes backward rather than forward every day Jer. 7.24 The Lord by the Prophet complains thâ—re that his people hearkned not nor enclined their ear but walked in the counsels and in the imaginations of their evil hearts and went backward and not forward False grace like bad salt grows worse and worse til it be cast out into the Dunghil but true grace from a grain groweth unto a Tree from a morning glympse to a perfect Noon Prov. 4.18 The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect Day from smoaking flaxe it is blown up to fragrant flame Nicodemus that came to Christ at first by night for fear of the Jews afterwards openly declareth for him and bestowed much cost upon the dead body of our Lord. John 19.39 Grace gets
another new way to Heaven nor proclaim another Gospel for you nor for any Creatures breathing If Christ be not your sanctification as is held forth in this Treatise sin will be your condemnation you will perish and die eternally if there be a necessity of your salvation there is as absolute a necessity of your sanctification If the Lord hath reveâ—viled Christ to ye as the Lord your Righteousnesse he hath also revealed Christ to ye and iâ— in ye as the Principle and Prince of your Life as the High Priest your holinesse and ye must look up daily to Jesus Christ for both and receive of his fulnesse John 1.16 You see there is an indispensible need of Holinesse and whence and in whom all your springs and supplies are against the guilt punishment dominion and filth of sin viz. in your Mediatour Christ Jesus 2. Holinesse is most excellent Col. 1.19 most excellent in 1. It s Authour 2. It s Nature 3. It s End 1. T is excellent in its Authour it hath a divine Origination Isa 57.15 Ephes 2.10 The High and lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity his Name is Holy he that is the Creatour and former of all things is the former and Creatour of the new Birth 2. 'T is excellent in its Nature more precious than Rubies than the Topaz of Aeâ—â—opia than the Treasures of the Indies or any sublunary excellency whatsoever it hath the Image and Life of the Authour in it it hath the Name and Glory of God upon it 't is divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Therefore most excellent because divinely Excellent 3. 'T is excellent in its end salvation 1 Pet 1.9 Finis Coronat opus We use to say that is well which ends well for the end Crowns the work If Holiness be implanted in ye it will not only march about the world with ye in all conditions and estates of Life and be your Companion in labours but it will also follow ye yea go along out of the World with ye and be your Companion in Glory Revel 14.13 1 Sam. 16.13 as Samuel annointed Saul aforehand for the Kingdome so the Holy Oyl of Grace sets ye apart aforehand for the fruition of Glory it never leaves ye till it hath placed ye on Thrones arrayed ye with Robes put Palmes into your hands and incircled your heads with a Crown of Life and immortality The perfection of Grace is Glory 3. The Doctrine of Sanctification or Holiness is very Comfortable There are two Rivers of joy springing or having their Well-head in the precious side and heart of Christ 1. The Blood for Justification 2. The Water for Sanctification Both streaming from one Fountain equally cheering Psalm 46. refreshing and making glad the City of God and nourishing up the Believer to eternal life Amongst my Acquaintance I have observed two sorts of dejected souls as also two sorts of Causes of their dejection and two sorts of means or helps for their Cure and recovery 1. Some trembling hearts do much despond and droop for want of the sense of pardon their justification is dark unto them they know not whether God hath pardoned them The children of Light may sometime walk in darkness And then they would give millions of worlds did they possess them for God the fathers face to shine upon them Isa 50.10 and for the holy Spirit the Comforter to pronounce peace and proclaim pardon to them 2. Other deserted souls mourn sore like Doves for want of holinesse Comparing their hearts wih the perfect nature of God and their lives with the pure shining Law of God they are alwayes complaining for their defects and decays of Grace for the streâ—gth and prevalence of corruption and for the manifold spots and staines of their conversations Wherefore they are afraid their spot is not the spot of Gods Children Deuâ— 32.5 and that such deadness dulnesse vanity of thoughts and disorders of spirit and life cannot be consistent with saving grace And hereupon they wander in Meanders of perplexities and disquietments The Indies if they had them they would freely part with for the plentifull effusion and influence of Christs Unction and to see him clearly to be made of God sanctification to them But O yee Bruised reeds and smoaking flax the Captain of your Salvation will bring forth judgement unto Victory and perfect your Grace in Glory There is Balm in Gilead there is a Physitian there Christ is a Saviour and a Sanctifier to the uttermost Heb. 7.25 The Plaister is as bread as the soar the blood of Christ is both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the price of our Redemption and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Laver of Regeneration also 1. Let the first sort Trust in the Name of the Lord and stay themse ves upon their God Isa 50.10 See Dr. Goodwins Childe of Light Trust in the name of the Lord that is the infinite mercy of God through the merit of Christ God is rich in Mercy Pâ—eâ—â—ous in Redemption abundan â—â— goodnesse and Truth the mercy of God is the Name of God yea the very first letter of his Name Exod. 34.6 Mercy leads the chorum in that Catalogue of the Divine Attributes Exo. 34.6 2. Trust in the infinite Merit and Righteousnesse of Jesus Christ for this is his Name the Lord our Righteousnesse Jer. 23.6 Let Faith drive thee quite out of self and thy own righteousnesse and lay fast hold on Christs Righteousnesse Know that Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth Phil. 3.8 9 Consider him that hath satisfied Justice Rom. 10.4 fulfilled all righteousness in his own Person and brought in everlasting righteousnesse for thee who loved thee and gave himself for thee Dan. 9.24 And so let faith grow up unto Assurance Gal. 2.20 for this Righteousnesse is revealed from Faith to Faith called the Righteousnesse of God Rom. 1.17 because 't is the righteousnesse of God as well as man and which God appointeth and accepteth for thy justification This divine Righteousness thou must live upon as thy daily food and bread of life 2. Let the second sort of disconsolate souls consider these Particulars 1. That an enlightned soul that communes with his own heart seeth more vileness filthiness and contrariety in himself to the holy nature and Law of God than such as are in a state of gross darkness who are strangers to God and in this sense perfect strangers to their own hearts 2. Let such consider a Christian state in this world is militant there must be warring and wrastling Eph. 6.12 not only with flesh and blood but also with Principalities and Powers i. e. with the Devils of hell and the corruptions of the world every day Shall any say because I fight I am a Coward because I fâ—de a law in my members warring against the law of my minde a double interest flesh and spirit lusting in
all all in all in in Illumination all in all in Justification all in all in Reconciliation all in all in Adoption all in all in Sanctification 2 Tim 4.10 all in all in Redemption all in all in preservation to his heavenly Kingdome And though it be saâ—d of the Saints enjoyment of God in heaven that God i. e. God the Father is all in all 1 Cor. 15.28 yet certainly as God the Father is pleased to communicate himself in the riches of his grace through the Son to his Saints here so he will everlastingly communicate himself in the treasures of his glory through the Son to his Saints in heaven as Christ is the Medium of your spiritual union with God here so he will continue the eternal Medium of your glorious communion with God hereafter in his lâ—ght ye shall see light The Soul-ravishing Vision of Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant Heb. 12.24 Domine fecisti nos pro te cor irrequietum est denec venial ad te Aug. and the Beatifical Vision of ever-blessed and glorious Deity in and through the Mediator is no small part or portion of the Saints Coelestial happiness God indeed is the Essence of the Soul the Eternal Entity of our happiness the Father of Spirits is the only rest and centre of our immortal Spirits for 1 Pet. 3.18 Christ once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God our approximation or drawing nigh to God being the ultimate end as to us of Christs passion yet the seeing of Christ as he is when he shall appear in his Fathers glory when he shall come in power and great glory to see him as he is in his greatest glory and fullest Majesty sitting at the right hand of the Father and to see our humane nature in him as far exalted above so far more glorious than those glittering morning stars the Angels will be no small part or measure of our blessedness though not the quintessâ—nce compendium or complement thereof 1 Joh. 3.2 Beloved now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be But we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is But to return Our Lord Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Eminency called that one Pearl of great price Mat. 13.46 which the wise Merchant-man sold all that he had and bought This Pearl eminently and virtually contains all other Pearls in it is comprehensive of all excellent and Soveraign good which our souls stand in need of infinitely more precious and excellent than the rest and infinitely to be prized and preferred above the rest Christ not only hath but is wisdome to the simple rayment to the naked riches to the poor rest to the weary bread of life to the hungry water of life to the thirsty righteousness to the guilty sanctification to the filthy redemption to the captive peace and reconciliation to the enemy power to the faint a rock and refuge to the afflicted a shineing Sun to the disconsolate a saving shield to the assaulted in a word a full fons of living water of rich supply to those that labour under any distress or misery whether inward perplâ—xity or outward calamity Philosophers brag much of their Elixir Naturalists boast much of their Panacea and Catholicon and they would bear the world in hand as though these were Soveraign remedies against all maladies good against all diseases but these and all other whether natural artificial or moral excellencies are less than Cyphers to Jesus Christ compared with him they are less than nothing and vanity Isa 40.17 1. As Christ is God the worlds were made by him and for him by his power and for his glory Heb. 1.2 Col. 1.16 2. As Christ is Mediator God-man so he is Heir of all things Heb. 1.2 whom he that is the Father hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the worlds Now can he want light that lives in the midst of the Sun Can he want air that lives upon the top of the highest Mountain Can he want water that lives at the Well head No more can he want light life grace strength comfort or any good thing that lives in union and communion with Jesus Christ in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2.9 * Qui habet habentem omâ—ia habet omnia He that hath him that owneth and possesseth all things hath all things 'T is an old and true saying Si Christum noscis nihil est si caetera nescis Si Christum nescis nihil est si caetera noscis Hath the Father given us the Son the Son of his eternal love of his eternal bosome then we may safely make with the Apostle this sweet inference How shall he not with him freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 All things pertaining to life and godliness as the Apostle expresseth and explaineth it elsewhere 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. presents ye with a Christians Inventory and with a Christians tenure 1. A Christians Inventory All things A Christian hath a large dominion a great possession all things are yours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for all things are yours Descend from generals to particulars then all things must be referred to or subdivided by persons and things All persons are yours that is for your good and benefit whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas whether Ecclesiastical or secular persons whether godly or ungodly whether spiritual men or carnal men therefore v. 22. he adds the world the wicked World or rather the wicked of the world who ere long shall be judged by the Saints as Assessors with Jesus Christ the Supreme Judge 1 Cor. 6.2 shall be subservient to Gods glory and to the Saints good Those Slaves and Scullions that rub off the rust and scoure and cleanse the Vessels of Honor by temptations afflictions imprisonments persecutions c. though not intentionally as to them yet accidentally and eventually by the blessing of God shall really promote and carry on their spiritual and eternal interest 2. As all pâ—rsons so all things are theirs whether life or death or things present or things to come all are yours ver 22. What can a soul either have or wish for more for a man not only to enjoy the comforts of life but also to find sweetness in death to find meat in this Eatâ—r to find honey in this Lyon to live in the midst of death to lie down in peace in the arms or rather Jaws of the King of Terrors for this deadly Enemy by the death of Christ to be made one of our best friends Again For a man to be rich in possession and rich in reversion too for a man to have an interest in all things present and an interest in all things future also to have Territories as broad as the earth and a treasure as high as heaven and returns
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 2 Pet. 1.4 Conformity to the 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 Spi it 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. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Supereminens magnitudo Montan. called the exceeding 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 In die Copiarum So M. Ainsworth a begetting 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 Phil. 3.21 who is able to subdue all things to himself 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 and 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 hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live 4. 'T is a Resurrection Col. 3.1 If ye then be 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 l ve the life of heaven Now to regenerate to create to make all things new to revive a man dead to raise up a man out of the grave as Lazarus both dead and buried all these are the Acts of Omnipotency the works of a God and all those works are done in this one work by the invincible efficiency of the Spirit 6. The word and faith are the Ministring and 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 Head of Influence and having united the soul to 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 hearts by faith As Faith hath the Noblest Objects so Faith for its use and office here is the Noblest grace Faith indeed infused and created in us by the Spirit See Dr. Owens death of death p. 126. Simile is commonly called the 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 Christ hath given the hand of Faith doth put it forth make application of the Merits and mediation of Jesus Christ for his Purification and doth in truth draw in vertue by that application 1 Joh. 3.3 He that hath
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
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-lelss 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 1 Joh. 3.1 that we should be called the sons of God c. When Christ had converted the Paralytick he cals him Son Mat. 9 2. When Christ had converted the Menstruous woman which appears by her faith in touching him and drawing in vertue from him he cals her daughter Mark 5.34 daughter be 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 Fortuitum est nasâ—i a principibus I cannot 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 maâ— 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 sâ—ns 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 Eff ct of Sanctification Holinesse brings the soul to its right frame and Temper Psalm 23.3 He restoreth my soul c. Sanctification is 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 of the whole substance of animals vitals Corruptio totius substantiae 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 nor 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 Phil. 3.11 19. he glories in his 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 sanctified Membra sunt Arma is now made ready for every good work to which before sanctification it was altogether reprobate Beloved Friends are your souls thus well and healthy are they recovered to their right temper are ye sound in the faith are ye sincere at heart is the habitual frame of your hearts right with God and for God or not deal impartially with your own souls 'T is true a man that is generally lively and healthy may now and then by accident get colds and surfets have fits of weakness and for some time labour under some infirmities but a strong Constitution will rub along wear off and cast out the disease at last so an holy a spiritually healthy man through humane frailty and strong temptation may for a time decay in grace yea languish very much hee may get cold his love to God his zeal for God may chil and cool his faith may weaken his hope may almost fail his patience may tire c. And through the immoderate cares of this liâ—e and inordinate affection to the Creature he may get a
precious life to spill his precious blood for you Gal. 2.20 Christ by the merit of his blood the price of your Sanctification hath impetrated and obtained of the Father the holy Spirit with all the gifts and graces of the same for your sanctification and salvation see John 16.7 13. John 14.16 17. 3. Consider the infinite power and efficacy of the Spirit The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead called the Spirit of Holiness Rom. 1.4 quickens the Saints to a new life and dwelleth in them Rom. 8.11 This new life of holiness which is in Christ Jesus is by the Spirit of life imparted to you Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus Rom. 8. 2 hath made me free from the law of sin and death Holiness in us is the fruit of Christs Purchase the product of his merit the sprinkling of his Unction a parcel of his Fulness and a measure of his Spirit we have as great need of his Spirit to sanctifie us as of his blood to justifie us yea the Eternal Spirit was indispensibly needful to sanctifie and dignifie the blessed Sacrifice of Christs Humane Nature upon the Cross or else I must profess my Ignorance of that Text Heb. 9.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Supe eminens magnitudo virtutis ejus So Montanus 'T is not only the power but the exceeding greatness of the Spirits power to raise up a person morally dead to an estate of newness of life 't is a work proportionate to that power God wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the Heavenly places Eph. 1.19 20. Notwithstanding the Fathers Eâ—ection and the Sons Redemption yet without the Spirits Efficacy we had all at this day lain rotting â—ike stinking Carrion in the Grave of sin and death Gods Mercy Christs Merit and the â—pirits efficacy It is very observable that all the three Persons challenge an equal share in the working of holiness in the creature it being such a part of Gods Gâ—orie Mr. Burroughs Saints Treasury p. 16. must have their distinct glory The Father is said to sanctifie the Son to Sanctifie the Spirit to sanctifie but with their distinct Idioms or Characters our sanctification is from the Father in the Son and by the Spirit the Inchoation is from the Father he is the prime â—â—iâ—inal the Dispensation is by the Son he is the way of Communication the Application and Consummation is by the Spirit he receives of the Father and the Son and shows it unto us that is he works grace or holiness in us Thus all the persons work jointly and yet distinctly the love of the Father makes way for the Mediatorship of the Son and the Mediatorship of the Son for the Office of the Spirit The Sanctification of the Spir t is as necessary as the blood of Jesus you may see 1 Pet. 1.2 how all the persons have their distinct operations Communion with the Spirit is as sweet and choice a priviledge as the Grace of our Lord Jesus or the Love of God the Father 2 Cor. 13.14 Thus sanctifie the Name of God give Glory to the Father Son and Spirit to the Triuni Deo the three one God three in Persons one in Essence and Nature for your Sanctification Iâ— Jesus Christ be made of God Sanctification Use 2 to us the Procuring Meritorious and Moral cause of our Sanctification then primarily and principally let your thoughts ascend to God the Father as the supreme original of your Sanctification let not your thoughts stop or stay till they center in him 'T is the Father who of his own will hath begotten us by the Word of Truth Jam. 1.18 't is God the Father of our Lord Jesus who of his aboundant Mercy hath begotten us again c. 1 Pet. 1.3 Therefore we ought to bless and exalt his aboundant Mercy as the Apostle doth 'T is the Father the Heavenly Husbandman that purgeth the Branches John 15.1 2. that they might bring forth fruit As we ought to believe in Christ the Mediatour so in God as the first Fountain and Authour of Grace and as the ultimate end of our happiness 1. As the Fountain of all Grace John 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave c. Ephes 2.4 5. God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us when we were dead in sins Ephes 2.4 5. Rom. 4.24 hath quickened us together with Christ We must believe in him that raised our Lord Jesus from the dead He that believeth in me So Dr. M â—ton Expounds it in his Commentary on Jude believeth not in me but in him that sent me there not is not negative but corrective not only in me but his thoughts must ascend to the Father also who manifests himself in me for God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself c. 2 Cor. 5.19 2. You must believe in God as the ultimate end of your happiness Christ suffered for sins 1 Pet. 3.18 the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God When the Mediatour brings the Soul into peace with God by Justification and into the likeness and fellowship of God by Sanctification he hath attained the utmost end of his Mediatourship and the Soul hath attained its chiefest good and utmost happiness therefore is it said that the Saints by Christ do believe in God 1 Pet. 1.21 c. I would not wittingly or willingly speak a word for a world to detract any thing from the honour of my blessed Saviour or from the glory of the sacred Comforter but to rectifie your understandings and to heighten your apprehensions of the Fathers love because many Christians carry all things in the Name of Christ and of the Spirit being more apprehensive of the Sons love and of the Spirit 's grace than of the Fathers aboundant mercy Give me therefore leave to subjoin these four weighty Reasons Reas 1. Because all grace begins with the Father he is the first in order of Being and the first in order of Working the Fountain of the Trinity as we may conceive 't is the Father that floweth out to us in Christ by the Spirit he is the Father of lights Jam. 1.17 And the Text tells ye we are of God in Christ Jesus 't is true Christ as the second Person is coequal with the Father in power and glory but Christ as Mediatour must be considered as the Fathers Servant Isa 42.1 as his elect or chosen Instrument Reas 2. Glorifie the Father for whatsoever good Christ hath done for you or in you all is done with respect to the Fathers love and grant 2 Tim. 1.9 Joh. 17.2 God hath saved us according to his own Purpose and Grace given us in Christ Jesus God gave Christ power over all Flesh that he should give eternal life to those God had given him Righteousness Holiness Heaven
Now you that are righteous with this inherent Righteousness 1 Cor. 1.2 hold on 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 bands shall be stronger and stronger Job 17.9 The Lord strengthen your hearts See these Texts Isa 40. 2 last verses Phil. 1.6 Heb. 12.2 Ezek. 36.27 and quicken your 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 1. The prophane are hereby convicted and condemned 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 a 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui operam dat peccato So Beza and maketh 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 weltring 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 disobedient 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 All the Attributes of God as justice mercy c. do run in the channel of his Holiness Sinners do little 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 1 Pet. 2.9 else mercy can be never 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 Day Phil. 3.10 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 guilt of the prophane is written in Capital legible letters upon the frontispiece of his Conversation every eye may see it Vita est index animi index futuri index aterni See Mat. 12. from 34 to v. 37. Cor instar Promptuarit est bonorum malorum Pareus As a good tree brings forth good fruit so a bad tree brings forth bad fruit Men do not gather grapes of thorns nor figs of thistles As a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things so an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth evil things A good man speaks good words and doth good works and the Apostle tels us Rom. 2.6 God will reward every man according to his deeds Your hearts can never be good when your tongues and lives be bad Your Lord Christ speaks expresly out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh The doom of the prophane is dreadful to instance but in two particulars 1. The unclean shall not enter into or pass over the way of holiness Isa 35.8 And an high way shall be there and a way and it shall be called the way of holiness See the Dutch Annotat on the place the unclean shall not pass over it c. The meaning of that place is this The true Church shall be no barren Wildernesse or untrodden Desart but in it
talk of the things of God knowingly and affectionately yet All is but as tinkling with God if there be no saving Grace Nay Beloved 't is possible a man may have the Spirit of God in a sense and yet be an Hypocrite a Reprobate and fall short of Heaven Quer. May a man have the Spirit and yet not throughly sanctified Answ 1. A man like Saul or Balaam may have the Spirit transiently but not abidingly * He is in all per divinitatis praesentiam in the Saints only per inhabitationis gratiam P. Lumb 1 sect dist 17. for a time but not for ever A Formalist may have some glympses of the Spirit like the glancing of the Sun-beams for a short time upon a Glass-window but a Saint enjoyes his in-dwelling presence the Spirit is in all and so he may be in an hypocrite by his divine presence but not by in-habitation he is in all but he dwells in his Saints only 2. 'T is possible a man may have the Spirit only as a spirit of Bondage but a Saint only hath the Spirit as the spirit of Adoption Gal. 4.5 6. the legal operation of the Spirit working fear and horror was in Cain and Judas the Evangelical operation of the Spirit working faith in God love to God boldness before God c. this is in every sanctified soul that shall be saved For further satisfaction peruse Mr. Burgesses Refinings M. Roberts Believers Evidences Mr. Meads Almost Christian c. John 3.5 2 Cor. 3.18 3. And lastly To name no more for I judge in these three lies the Characteristical difference between the Saints having the Spirit and the unsanctified an hypocrite may have the Spirit in some inferiour operation but the Saint only in effectual Regeneration and spiritual Transformation A man may have the Spirit and not be born of the Spirit A man may have the Spirit as a spirit of sharp Conviction but not as the spirit of compleat Conversion The Spirit may be in a a man by way of common illumination and yet not by way of saving Sanctification renewing the whole man Grace is Conformitas cum Archetypa a conformity of the soul with God the Archetype or first pattern 2 Cor. 7.1 See Dr. Gorden's Childe of Light c. reforming the whole life Conforming and transforming both into the likeness of Jesus Christ This is the peculiar priviledge of the Saints no sinner shall share in this favour no stranger shall inter-meddle with this joy Finally my Brethren this Doctrine of Sanctification is not only essential to but is of the very essence of your happiness And the great and constant Duty you should be found in is to perfect holinesse in the fear of God Some truths belong ad bene esse to the well and comfortable being of a Christian as the doctrine of Assurance of Gods love peace of Conscience joy in the holy Ghost c. but sanctification belongs ad esse to the very being of Christianity 't is your life both spiritual and eternal If ye are not holy men my Brethren ye are dead men will be damned men no grace no glory no Heb. 12.13 nor the least comfortable vision of God or Heaven wherefore let all labour as the wise King adviseth to get wisdome Prov. 4.7 Wisdome Grace Holinesse is the principal thing therefore get wisdome and with all thy getting get understanding This is the one thing needful Luke 10. ult And let those that have received Grace exercise and encrease it Grace grows by its exercise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suppeditate sufficite suggerite Beza be daily adding to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge c. and that with all diligence as ye are exhorted 2 Pet. 1.5 6. be daily cleansing your selves from all â—â—thiness in the Fountain of Christs blood and in the Laver of the Promises and forgetting the things behind Phil. 3.14 be daily pressing on towards the mark for the prize of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus And daily keep your Garments clean and be alwayes ready for the coming of your Lord that ye may be found of him without spot and blameless enwrapped in his holiness For Conclusion that ye may all so be and do in the fear of God I commend ye to God Acts 20.32 and to the word of his Grace which is able to build ye up and to give ye an inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified Amen and Amen FINIS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OR JESUS CHRIST Given of God the Father FOR OUR Justification Explained Confirmed and Applyed very briefly in one Sermon to the Satisfaction of some judicious Hearers for whose sake chiefly and at whose earnest Request it is made Publick Jeremy 23.6 And this is His Name whereby he shall be called THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS 2 Cor. 5.21 For he that is God the Father hath made him that is Jesus Christ to be sin for us that is a sacrifice for sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him London Printed for Thomas Passenger at the Sign of the Bible on London-Bridge 1667. 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdome and Righteousnesse and Sanctification and Redemption And Righteousnesse AT the Request of some serious Friends I have Adventured to make this Discourse publick which otherwise for ought I know had never seen the light If any Illumination Satisfaction Confirmation Consolation or any spiritual Good any way shall accrew to them that read it I shall and will rejoice Blesse and praise the Father of Lights for it This Argument of Justification is as substantial necessary comfortable Ac primum quidem de justificatione peccatoris corum Deo qui locus in Theologiâ facile primarius nobisque maxime salutaris est quo obscurato adulterato vel everso fieri nequit ut puritas doctrinae in aliis locis retineatur aut vera Ecclesia Consistat Synop. Pur. Theol. P. 434. and sweet a Doctrine as any in the whole circuit of Divinity for whom he hath justified them he hath also glorified Rom. 8.30 that is they are as sure and certain of Heaven as though they were already in it Christus factus est nobis sapientia justitia sanctificatio Redemptio hoc est sapientes nos justos sanctos liberos effecit Theophylact Justification being the next step the next immediate link in that Golden Chain to Glorification Who of God is made unto us Righteousnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 righteousness in the Abstract that is saith Theophylact who hath made us righteous who is made unto us righteousnes c. He is made to us saith Pareus not by Creation but by Ordination for Christ is not created or made as to his divine Essence as Hereticks deprave this Scripture but he is ordained and bestowed upon us to confer these benefits he is therefore said to be made to us according