further confirme the hope and faith of the beleever to look to Christ hinging on the crosse and there vanquishing and evercomeing this 〈◊〉 as a publick person representing the elect who died in him and virtually and legally did in him overcome that Jailour and break his fetters and the soul now beleeving may yea should reckon it self in Christ dying as it were upon the crosse and there overcomeing all those spirituall enemies likewise sayeth the Apostle Rom. 6 11. Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin From hence even while fighting the beleever may account himself a conquerour yea more then a conquerour through Him that loved him Rom. 8 37. Now faith acting thus on Christ as a publick person dying and overcomeing death and sin the beleever may not only inferte the certainty of victory knowing that our old man is crucified with Christ Rom 6 6. but also from the crosse of Christ draw strength to stand fight against the struglings of this vanquished and killed enemy They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections lusts Gal. 5 24. But how even by the crosse of Christ for thereby is the world crucified unto me sayeth the Apostle Gal. 6 14. I unto the world your old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed Rom. 6 6. 13. The beleever being dead indeed unto sin through the crosse of Christ is to look upon himself as legally freed from that yock of bondage under sin death The law hath dominion over a man so long as he liveth Rom. 7 1. but by the body of Christ beleevers are become dead to the law vers â—… That law of sin death which hath dominion over a man that liveth still in nature and is not yet by faiâ—…h planted in the likenesse of Christs death noâ—… buryed with him by baptisme into death Rom. 6 4 5. hath not that dominion over beleevers it had once for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made them free from the law of sin death Rom. 8 2. So that now the beleever is free from that tyranny and that tyrant can exerce no lawfull jurisdiction or authority over him and therefore he may with the greater courage repell the insolencies of that tyrant that contrare to all right and equity seeketh to Lord it over him still They are no lawfull subjects to that cruell and rageing Prince or to that spirituall wickednesse 14. So that the beleever renunceing that jurisdiction under which he was formerly and being under a new husband and under a new law even the law of the Spirit of liâ—…e in Christ Iesus is to look upon all the motions of sin as illegall and as treasonable acts of a tyrant The old man being crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed the beleever is not any more to serve sin Rom. 6 6. And being now dead they are freed from sin vers 7. and are married to another even to Him who is raised from the dead so they should not serve sin but bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7 4. therefore look upon all motions of the flesh and all the inclinations and stirrings of the old law of sin as acts of treachery and rebellion against the right and jurisdiction of the beleevers new Lord Husband and are therefore obliged to lay hold on this old man this body of death and all the members of it as traitours to the rightfull King Husband and to take them prisoners to the King that He may give out sentence and execute the same against them as enemies to his kingdome and interest in the soul They being now no more servants of sin but of righteousnesse Rom. 6 18. they ought no more to yeeld their members servants to uncleannesse iniquity unâ—…o iniquity vers 19. and being debters no more to the flesh to live after the flesh Rom. 8 12. they are to mortifie the deeds of the body through the Spirit vers 13. and to crucify the flesh with the affections lusts Gal. 5 24. that is by bringing them to the crosse of Christ where first they were condemned and crucified in their full body and power that a new sentence as it were may goe out against them as parts of that condemned Tyrant and as belonging to that crucified body 15. So that the beleever that would carry faithfully in this matter and fight lawfully in this warfare and hope to obtaine the victory through Jesus Christ must bring these Traitours that appeare in their sinfull motions and lusts in the soul working rebellion against the lust authority and equitable lawes of the lawfull Prince Iesus before the tribunal of Him who hath now gote all power and authority in heaven and earth Mat. 28 18. and hath all judgment committed to Him Ioh. 5 22. And to this end both died and rose revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living Rom. 14 9. that He may execute justice upon the Tâ—…aitor head and members that He may trâ—…mple these devils under and bruise the head of these serpents within us The beleever then is by faith in prayer to carry these open enemies to Christ and declare and witnesse against them as Traitours by what mischief they have done in the soul by their hindering the righteous lawes of the king to be obeyed and constraining forceing what by arguments or allurements and what by forceable inclinations and pousings to disobedience and a counteracting of Christ and he should urge and plead upon the fundamentall lawes of the land viz the articles of agreement betwixt the Father and the Son and the faithfull promises of the Covenant of grace and upon Christs office as King and Governour and his undertaking as Mediator upon the merites of his death and sufferings upon his dying as a common person upon the constitution of the gospell whereby they are in law repute as dying in him and so free from the law of sin and death and upon their relation to Him as their new Lord Head Husband King Commander c. Upon these arguments I say to plead for justice against the rebell that is now brought to the barre and so by faith leave the prisoner in His hand that He may in his own time and way give a second blow unto the neck of this implacable and rageing enemy that he may noâ—… rise up to disturbe the peace of the soul as before or to trouble impede and molest the soul in paying the homage and obedience due to his lawfull Master and Soveraigne King Jesus Cautions Directions For furder clearing of the premises I would propose a few particulars for caution direction as 1. This work of laying the burthen of this businesse on Christ by faith would be gone about with much singlenesse of heart aimeing at the glory of God and the carying on of his work in the soul and not for
Christ the Way and the Truth and the Life OR A Short Discourse Pointing forth the way of making use of Christ for justification and especially and more particularly for Sanctification in all its parts from JOHAN XIV Vers. VI. Wherein several cases of conscience are briefly answered chiefly touching Sanctification By JOHN BROWN Preacher of the Gospel ROTTERDAM Printed by H. G. for Iohn Cairns book seller in Edinburgh and are to be sold there 1677. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY TO The Right Honourable and Religious Lady The Lady STRATHNAVER MADAM IEsus Christ himself being the cheife corner stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord as it ought to be the principal concearne of all who have not sitten down on this side of Iordan to satisfy their souls once created for and in their owne nature requireing in order to satifaction Spiritual immortal and incorruptible substance with husks prepared for beasts to be built in and upon this corner stone for an habitation of God through the Spirit So it ought to be the maine designe and work of such as would be approven of God as faithful labourers and co-workers with God to be following the example of him who determined not to know any thing among those he wrote unto save Iesus Christ and him crucified O! this noble heart-ravishing soul-satisfying mysterious theme Iesus Christ crucified the short compend of that uncontrovertibly great mysterie of godliness God manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles beleeved on in the world received up into glory wherein are things the Angels desire to look into or with vehement desire bend as it were their necks and bow down their heads to look and peep into as the word used 1 Pet. 1 12. importeth is a Subject for angelical heads to prie into for the most indefatigable industrious Spirits to be occupyed about The searching into and studying of this one Truth in reference to a closeing with it as our life is an infallible mark of a soul divinely enlightened and endued with spiritual and heavenly wisdom for though it be unto the jewes a stumbling block unto the Greeks foolishness yet unto them who are called it is Christ the power of God the wisdom of God because the foolishness of God is wiser then men the weakness of God is stronger then men O! what depths of the manifold wisdom of God are there in this mysterie The more it is preached known beleeved aright the more is it understood to be beyond understanding to be what it is a mysterie Did ever any Preacher or beleever get a broad look of this boundless ocean wherein infinite Wisdom Love that passeth all understanding Grace without all dimensions justice that is admirable and tremenduous and God in his glorious Properties Condescensions high and noble Designes and in all his Perfections and Vertues flow over all banks or were they ever admitted to a prospect hereof in the face of Iesus Christ were not made to cry out O the depth and height the breadth and length O the inconceivable and incomprehensible boundlesness of all infinitly transcendent perfections Did ever any with serious diligence as knowing their life lay in it study this mysterious Theme and were not in full conviction of soul made to say the more they promoved in this study and the more they descended in their diveings into this depth or soared upward in their mounting speculations in this height they found it the more an unsearchable mystery The study of other Themes which Alas many who think it below them to be happy are too much occupyed in when it hath wasted the spirits wearyed the minde worne the body and rarified the braine to the next degree unto a distraction what satisfaction can it give as to what is attained or encouragement as to future attainments And when as to both these something is had and the poor soul puft up with an aery and fancyful apprehension of having obtained some great thing but in truth a great Nothing or a Nothing pregnant with Vanity and vexation of Spirit foolish twines causing no gladness to the Father for he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow Eccles. 1 18. what peace can all yeeld to a soul reflecting on posting-away time now near the last point and looking forward to endless Eternity Oh! the thoughts of time wasted with and faire opportunities of good lost by the vehement pursueings and huntings after shadowes and vanities will torment the soul by assaulting it with pierceing convictions of madness and folly in forsaking All to overtake Nothing with dreadful and soul-terrifying discoveries of the saddest of disappointments and with the horrour of an everlastingly irrecoverable losse And what hath the laborious Spirit than reaped of all the travail of his soul when he hath lost it But on the other hand O with what calmness of minde serenity of soul and peace of conscience because of the peace of God which passeth all understanding will that poor soul look back when standing on the border of Eternity on the bygone dayes oâ—… houres it spent in sâ—…eking after praying â—…seing all appointed meanes for some saying acquantance with and interest in this only soul up making and soul satisfying Mystery and upon its yeelding up it self through the efficaâ—…ious operations of the Spirit of grace wholly without disputing unto the powerful workings of this mystery within and in becoming crucified with Christ and living throughâ—… crucified Christ's living in it by his Spirit and power and with what rejoyceing of heart and gloriou singing of soul will it look forward to Eternity and its everlasting abode in the prepared mansions remembering that there it s begun study will be everlastingly continued its capacity to understand that unsearchable mystery will be inconceivably greater and the spiritual heavenly and glorious joy which it will have in that practical reading its divinity without book of ordinances will be its life and felicity for ever And what peace joy in the holy Ghost what inward and inexpressible quiet and contentment of minde will the soul enjoy in dwelling on these thoughts when it shall have withall the inward and well grounded perswasion of its right through Jesus Christ to the full possession of that All which now it cannot conceive let be comprehend the foretastes whereof filleth it with joy unspeakable and full of glory and the hope of shortly landing there where it shall see and enjoy wonder praise and rest in this endless and restless felicitating work making it to sing while passing thorow the valley of the shadow of death O if this were beleeved O that we were not drunk to a distraction and madness with the adulterous love of vaine and aery speculations to the postponing if not utter neglecting of this maine and only upmaking work of getting real acquaintance with and a begun possession of this
him that hath not shall be taken away even that he hath which is so plain that to many of these pleaders for this new way and their prosâ—…lyts in the righteous judgement of God it happeneth according to the true proverb the dog is turned to his owne vomit againe and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire It cannot escape thy observation how busie Satan is this day upon the one hand to keep men under the call of the Gospel to give all diligence to make their calling and election sure idle all the day so that no perswasion can enduce them to engage seriously to fall about a working out their own salvation in feare and trembling and on the other equally diligent and industrious to divert men from trusting in the name of the Lord and staying upon their God seting them on work to go and gather fewel and kindle a fire and compasse themselves about with sparks that they may walk in the light of their own fire and in the sparks that they have kindled knowing well that they shall this way most certainly lose their toil and travel and have no other reward at his hand of all their labour but to ly down in everlasting sorrow while the stout hearted and far from righteousnesse and salvation shall get their soul for a prey and be made to rejoyce in his salvation and blesse him who hath made them meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light It is fit therefore in order to thy own establishment in the present truth and that thou mayest so work that thy labour be not in vaine but God may accept thy works often to think and seriously to consider in thy own soul what that Gospel holinesse is and what these men substitute in the place of it that thou may choice the perfect and pleasant way of Gospel holinesse and exercise thy self to that godlinesse which is profitable for all things haveing the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come I am neither the fit person for so great an undertaking nor do these limits within which I must bound my self permit me to expatiat in many notions about the nature of this excellent and precious thing true Gospel holinesse Oh if in the entry I could on my own behalfe and others sob out my Alas from the bottome of my soul because be what it will it is some other thing then men take it to be few habituat themselves to a thinking upon it in its high nature and soul enriching advantages till their hearts receive suteable impressions of it and their lives be the very transumpt of the law of God written in their heart the thing Alas is lost in a noise of words and heap of notions about it neither is it a wonder that men fal into mistakes about it since it is onely the heart possessed of it that is capable to understand perceive its true excellency But if it be asked what it is we say it may be shortly taken up as the elevation and raising up of a poor mortal unto a conformity with God As a participation of the divine nature or as the very image of God stamped on the soul impressed on the thoughts affections and expressed in the life and conversation so that the man in whom Christ is formed and in whom he dwells lives and walks hath while upon the earth a conversation in heaven not only in opposition to those many whose end is destruction whose God is their belly whose glory is in their shame who minde earthly things but also to these pretenders unto personaters of religion who have confidence in the flesh Worship God with their own Spirit which in the matters of God is flesh and not Spirit and have somewhat else to rejoyce in then in Christ Jesus and a being found in him not having their own righteousnesse True Gospel holinesse then consists in some similitude and likenesse to God and fellowship with him founded upon that likenesse there is such an impression of God his glorious attributes his infinit Power Majesty Mercy Justice Wisdom Holinesse and Grace c. As sets him up all alone in the soul without any competition and produceth those real apprehensions of him that he is alone excellent and matchlesse O how preferable doth he appeare when indeed seen to all things And how doth this light of his infinit gloriousnesse shineing into the soul darken abscure to an invisiblenesse all other excellencies even as the riseing of the sun makes all the lesser lights to disappear Alas how is God unknown in his glorious being and attribute When once the Lord enters the soul and shines into the heart it is like the riseing of the sun at midnight all these things which formerly pretended to some lovelinesse and did dazil with their lustre are eternally darkened now all natural perfections and moral vertues in their flowr and perfections are at best looked upon as aliquid nihil what things were formerly accounted gaine and godlinesse are now counted losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord and the soul cannot onely suffer the losse of them all without a sob but be satisfied to throw them away as dung that it may win him and be found in him Now the wonder of a Deity in his greatnesse power and grace swallowes up the soul in sweet admiration O how doth it love to lose it self in finding here what it cannot fathome And then it begins truely to see the greatnesse and evil of sin then it is looked upon without the covering of pleasure or profit and loathed as the leprosy of hell Now the man is truely like God in the knowledge of good and evil in the knowledge of that one infinit good God to the knowledge of that one almost infinit evil sin This is the first point of likenesse to him to be conformed to him in our understanding that as he knowes himself to be the onely self being and fountain good and all created things in their flour and perfection with all their real or fancied conveniencies being compared with him but as the drop of a bucket the small dust of the ballance or nothing yea lesse then nothing vanity which is nothing blown up by the force or forgery of a vainly working imagination to the consistence of an appearance so for a soul to know indeed and beleeve in the heart that there is nothing deserves the name of good besides God to have the same superlative and transcâ—…dent thoughts of that great and glorious self being God and the same diminishing and debaseing thought â—…o all things beings besides him And that as the Lord seeth no evil in the creation but sin and hates that with a perfect hatred as contrary to his holy will so for a soul to aggravat sin in its own sight to an infinitnesse of evil at least till it see it onely
in me a soul animating my body as the principle of all my vital and natural actions I have Jesus Christ animating my soul and by the impulse and communicat vertue and strength of an indwelling Christ I am made to run the wayes of his commandements wherein I take so great delight that I am found of no duty as of my enemy Secondly This gospel holinesse respects Jesus Christ as its patern It proposeth no lower patern for imitation then to be conforme to his image he that is begotten againe unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead girds up the loins of his minde wh◅ch are the affections of his soul lest by falling flat upon the earth he be hindered in runing the race set before him as looking to the foreruner his patern in this girdle of hope that he may be holy in all manner of conversation keeping his eye upon the precept and paterne that his practice may be conforme It is written saith he Be ye holy for I am holy the hope of seeing God and being ever with him imposeth a necessity upon him who hath it to look no lower then at him who is glorious in holinesse and therefore he is said to purify himself even as he is pure and knowing that this is the end of their being quickened together with Christ that they may walk even as he walked they in their working and walking aime at no lesse then to be like him and therefore never sit down upon any attained measure as if they were already perfect the spotlesse purity of God expressed in his laws is that whereto they study assimilation therefore they are still in motion towards this mark and are changed from one degree of glorious grace into another into the same image even as by the Spirit of the Lord who never gives over his putting them to cleanse from all filthinesse of the flesh and of the Spirit till that be true in the truest sense thou art all fair my love there is no spot in thee And knowing that perfect fruition of him cannot be without perfect conformity to him herein do they exercise themselves to grow in grace and to be still advanceing towards some more likenesse to his image forgetting all their attainments as things that are behind and by their reachings forth unto that which is before make it evident that they make every begun degree of grace and conformity to God a prevenient capacity for a new degree which yet they have not attained I know our maralists look upon themselves as matchlesse in talkeing of following his steps as he hath left us an example in this they make a flourish with flanting effrontry but for all their boasting of wisdom such a poor simple man as I am made to wonder at their folly who proposeing as they say the purity of Christ for their paterne are not even thence convinced that in order to a conformity thereto there is a simple absolute necessity of the mighty operations of that Spirit of God whereby this end can be reached but while they flout at the Spirits working as a melancholy fancy whereby the soul is garnished with the beauty of holinesse and made an habitation for God I doubt not to say of these great sayers that they understand neither what they say nor whereof they affirme nay doth not their talking of the one not only without seeing the necessity of the other but speaking against it say in the heart of every one who hath not the heart of a beast that they have never yet got a sight of the holinesse of that paterne nor of their own pollutions and impotency for if they had they would give themselves up to Jesus Christ to be washed by him without which they can have no part with him O there will be a ◅ast difference at the latter day betwixt them who have given their blake souls to Jesus Christ to bletch when he shall present them without spot not onely cloathed with wrought gold but all glorious within and these who have never dipped yea who have despised to dip their defiled souls in any other fountain save in the impure pudle of their own performances this will make them loathsome in his sight and cause his soul abhorre those whō have done this despite unto the Spirit of grace as to slight that bl◅ssed fountaine opened for sin for uncleannesse let them pretend as high as they will to look to him as a paterne while because the plague sore i◅ got up in their eye they look not to him as a price no◅ to the grace of Jesus Christ as that which can onely principle any acceptable performance of duety he will plunge them in the ditch and it Will cost them their souls for rejecting the counsel of God against themselves in not making use of him who came by water as well as by blood Thirdly This gospel holinesse respects Christ as the Altar It is in him and for him that his soul is well pleased with our performance this is the Altar upon which thou must lay thy gift leave it without which thy labour is lost and whatsoever thou dost is loathed as a corrupt thing As beleevers draw all their strength from him so they expect acceptation onely through him and for him they do not look for it but in the beloved they dare not draw near to God in duty but by him this is the new and liveing way which is consecrat for them and if such who offer to come to God do no enter in hereat in stead of being admitted to a familiar converse with God they shall finde him a consumeing fire when the saints have greatest liberty in prayer and so of all other performances when their hearts are most lifted up in the wayes of the Lord they abhorre at thinking their prayer can any otherwise be set forth before him as incense or the lifting up of their hands as the evening sacrifice but as presented by the great intercessor and perfumed by the merit of his oblation If they could weep out the marrow of their bones and the moisture of their body in mourning over sin yet they durst not think of having what comes from so impure a spring and runs thorow so polluted a channel presented to God but by Jesus Christ in order to acceptation for as they look to the exalted Saviour to get their repentance from him so when by the pourings out upon them the Spirit of grace and supplication he hath made them pour out their hearts before him and hath melted them into true tendernesse so that their mourning is a great mourning they carry backe these teares to be washen and bathed in his blood as knowing without this of how little worth and value with God their salt water is but when they are thus washed he puts them in his bottle and then pours them out again to them in the wine of strong consolation thus are they made
commanded duties are full measure heaped up shaken together and runing over And though he who hath much hath nothing over yet he 〈◊〉 hath little hath no inlâ—…ke for he abounds towards us in 〈◊〉 wisdome I say therefore againe unto thee take heart let not thine hands fall down essay nothing thou would have well done or easily done in thine own strength but yet how difficult so ever the duty be approach it as haveing no confidence in the flesh but with an eye to thy stocâ—… that rich store house of all furniture and it shall be with thee as it was with the priests before whom jordan recoiled so soon as their foot entered within the 〈◊〉 God shall make thy difficulties evanish and by the 〈◊〉 the Spirit of power and might from Jesus Christ depended upon shall so strengthen thee that thy duty is made easy to admiration and becomes the delight of thy souli 〈◊〉 I have exceeded the just limits of an Epistle pray for the continuance of the life of the Author who by his assiduous working for Christ hath been often neir unto death not reguarding his own life to supply the lake of other meus service 〈◊〉 the interest Church of God let him be comforted for this piece of travel undertaken for thy soul's mâ—…erest by hearing thou dost improve it to thy advantage for which it is so exactly calculat And withall I beg thy fervent earnest intercessions for grace more grace to him who is Thy poor yet souls well wisher and servant for Christ's sake R. Mc. W. The Author to the Reader Christian Reader AFter the foregoing adress I need not put thee to much more trouble only I shall say That he must needs be a great stranger in our Israel or sadly smitten with that epidemick plague of indifferency which hath infected many of this Generation to a benumming of them and rendering them insensible and unconcearned in the matters of God and of their own souls and sunck deep into the gulfe of dreadful inconsideration who seeth not or taketh no notice of nor is troubled at the manifest and terrible appearances of the unexpressibly great hazard our all as Christians in this life is this day into I meane the mystery of the Gospel of the grace of God wherein the exceeding riches of His grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus hath been shoune VVe have enjoyed for a considerable time a clear and powerful dispensation hereof in great purity and plenty but Alas is it not manifest to all that will not wilfully shut their eyes that this Mercy and Goodness of God hath been wickedly abused and the pure administration of His Grace Love perfidiously sinned away by this Apostate Generation Are our spots this day the spots of his children Are there fruits answerable to the Lord's paines and labour about us to be seen even among the greatest of Professours Is there that gospel holiness tenderness watchfulness growing in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ that growing up 〈◊〉 Christ in all things that heavenly mindedness that followshipe with the Father and with his Son Christ Iesus and that conversation in heaven that the dispensation of grace we have been favoured with beyond many and have been long living under did call for at our hands Alas our grapes are but wilde and stincking VVherefore and who can think it strange if it be so the Lord seemeth to be about to contend with us by covering our horizon with Egyptian darkness many who would not receive the love of the Truth that they might be saved being already given up to strong delusion that they should beleeve a lie and many moe in hazard to be drawn aside to crooked pathes by men of corrupt mindes who have been and are still busie to vent and spread abroad with no little petulancy and confidence damnable doctrines to the perverting of the doctrine of the Gospel of Iesus Christ and to the subverting and overturning of the very foundations of our Hope Assurance and that in such a way and by such meanes and stratagems as seem to have wrath written upon them in legible letters for the more plausible and taking a corrupt doctrine be it is the more dangerous judgment-like and moe are thereby in hazard to be deluded and drawn away Nay which is yet more terrible and dreadful it is to be feared that the jealous God in his holy and righteous judgment hath given a providential commission to speak so unto the seduceing Spirit to perswade and prevail for is not this the clear language of the present holy and righteous dispensations of God and of the stupenduously indifferent frame and disposition of the generality of men called Christians not only provoking God to spew them out of his mouth but disposeing them also unto a receiving of whatsoever men lying in waite to deceive shall propose and obtrude Alas the clouds are not now a gathering but our horizon is covered over with blakness and great drops are a falling that presage a terrible overflowing deluge of errour and Apostasie from the Truth and Profession of the Gospel of Iesus Christ to be at hand if the Lord wonderfully prevent it not And behold O wonderful the generality of Professours are sleeping in security apprehending no danger Satan is more cunning now than to drive men to Popery by rage and cruelty and yet what he may be permitted to do after this manner who can tell or by openly pleading in his emissaries for this abomination and yet even thus is he already prevailing with not a few or to send forth his agents for Arminianisme and Socinianisme though even this way too he is too much prevailing But his maine work now seemeth to be to bring in another Gospel and yet there is not another or rather an Antievangelick and Antichristian delusory dream overturning at once the whole Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ and for this end he inployeth the Quakers one the one hand Men of desperat and antievangelick principles the very sinke of all abominations old and late as I shall show if the Lord will continue health and strength in an examination of their doctrine and principles lately emitted by one Robert Barclay and on the other hand Men or Moralists if you will call them so pleading for and crying up an antievangelick holiness a meer shadow without substance or reality and that in place of Christ himself And in order to the carrying on of this desperat designe The old dragon is imploying men of seeming different principles and wayes whom though their faces seem to look to contrary aâ—…rths yet he holdeth notwithstanding fast tyed by their tails as Samson's foxes were that thereby if the Lord permit it he may by the fire of enmity to the pure Gospel of the grace of God burning in their tails cause a conflâ—…gration of that Truth wherein lyeth all our hope for this new model of Religion
themselves of their own weakness and convinced of the insufficiency of all things vvithin them in Godly fear hide themselves under the wings of the Almighty and get in into this Strong hold resolving there to abide and there to be secured from all their Adversaries vvithin or vvithout These humble fearers may expect a saife noble outgate vvhen more strong-like more confident adventurers shall being left to themselves because trusting in themselves shamefully fall and be triumphed over by the Enemie to the griefe of the Godly and for a snare to others The best vvay then to keep the faith of Christ vvhich many are novv seeking to shake and to loose us from is to be exerciseing the faith of Christ. The serious and upright practiseing of the Gospel is the only best mean to keep thee firme in the profession of the Gospel vvhen the Gospel vvith thee is not a fevv fine notions in the braine but is heavenly and necessary Truth sunck into the heart and living and acting there it vvill keep thee and thou will owne it more firmly and steadfastly in a day of tryal Thy walking in Christ and working and living by Him living in thee will so root thee in the Gospel truth that enemies will pull in vaine when seeking to overthrow thee The Gospel of the grace of God received and entertained in thy soul in love and constant sutable improvement will fortifie thee and secure it self in thee so that vehement blasts shall but contribute to its more fixed abode and more fruteful actings in thee Live up then to the Gospel and so be sure of it and be saife in it I mean let Christ live in thee as thy all and cast all thy care and cumber on Him lay all thy difficulties before Him lean all thy weight upon Him draw all thy necessities out of Him undertake all thy duties in Him be strong in Him and in the power of His might let Him by thy Counseler Conductor Leader Teacher Captain Commander Light Life Strengh and all so shall thou stand and have cause to glory even in thy infirmities for thou shalt finde the power of Christ resting upon thee and thou shalt have cause to say Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake for when I am weak then am I strong Remember that great word Phil. 4 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me It hath bin the usual and ordinary question of Beleevers How shall we make use of Christ for Sanctification To this great and important question I though the meanest and most unfit for such a work of all that God hath sent to feed his flock have adventured or endeavoured at least to give such as truely desire to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God some satisfation herein laying before them some plaine directions framed to their capacities and suited to some of their most ordinary and usual cases some whereof are more comprehensive others more particular may be looked upon as exemplary instances serving for other cases of the like nature for hardly could every particular circumstanâ—…iat case be particularly spoken to and some might judge that to be superfluous If thou in the light strength of Christ shalt really practise what is here pointed forth I may be confident to say thy labour shall not be in vaine in the Lord thou shalt attaine to another sort of holiness than that which Proud pretenders boast of shalt be far without the reach of that snare which unstable souls are too readily entangled with I meane the plausible pretension of more than ordinary sanctity which yet is but forced feigned constrained mostly external framed to cause some admiration in beholders whom they intend to make a prey of This shall be no temptation to thee who by experience findeth a more saife satisfying full free easy pleasant heartsome way of mortifying lusts growing in grace in the knowledg of Jesus Christ so perfecting holiness by runing immediatly to Christ by living in upon Him who is mad of God to us Wisdom Righteousnes Sanctification Redemption That the Lord may blesse the same to thee for this end shall â—…e and is the desire and prayer of Him who is thy servant in the work of the Gospel I. B. CHRIST The Way the Truth the Life Or A discovery of the right way of making use of Christ for Sanctification From IOHN XIV 6. Iesus sayeth unto them I am the Way the Truth the Life No man cometh unto the Father but by Me. CHAP. I. The introduction with some generall observations from the cohesion DOubtlesse it is alwayes usefull yea necessary for the children of God to know the right way of making use of Christ who is made all things to them which they need even Wisdome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1 30. But it is never more necessarie for beleevers to be cleare distinct in this matter than when Satan by all meanes is seeking to pervert the right wayes of the Lord and one way or other to lead souls away and draw them of Christ knowing that if he prevail here he hath gained his poynt and therefore he endeavoureth not only to darken it by error either more grosse or more subtile but also to darken it by mistakes and prejudices whence it cometh to passe that not only Strangers are made to wander out of the way but oftentimes many of his owne people are walking in the darknesse of ignorance and mistakes and remaine leane through want of the reall exercise of the Life of faith which would make them fat flourishing because it would make them strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and to grow up in Christ in all things The clearing up then of this truth cannot but be most seasonable now when Satan is prevailing with many whom he cannot get tempted to loosenesse and profanitie to sit downe upon some thing which is not Christ and to rest upon something within themselves distinct from him both in the matter of Iustification and Sanctification This subtile Adversary is now setting some a work to cry up by preaching speaking and printing a way to heaven which is not Christ a kinde of morality civility and outward holinesse whereupon the soul is to rest and this holinesse not wrought and effectuated through the strength of Iesus by faith sucking life and furniture from him but through our owne art and skill which in effect is nothing but an extract of refined Popery Socinianisme and Arminianisme devised and broached of purpose to draw the soul off Christ that he may stand upon his owne legs and walk by his owne power and thank himself at least in part for the crown at length Further through the great goodnesse of God the true way of a soul's justification
worth Nor need they object their long refuseing and resisting many calls for he will make such as are willing welcome at the Eleventh houre Him that cometh he will in no case put away Ioh. 6 37. Nor can they object their changeablenesse that they will not stand to the bargan but break and returne with the dog to the vomite for Christ hath engadged to bring all thorow that come to him He will raise them up at the last day Joh. 6 40. He will present them to himself holy and without spote or wrinckle or any such thing Ephes. 5. The covenant is fully provided with promises to stoppe the mouth of that objection Nor can they object the difficulty or impossibility of beleeving for that is Christ's work also He is the author and finisher of faith Heb. 12 1. Can they not with confidence cast themselvs upon him yet if they can hunger and thirst for him and look to him he will accept of that look to me sayes he and be saved Esa. 45 22. If they cannot look to him nor hunger thirst for him yet if they be willing all is well are they willing that Christ save them in his way and therefore willingly give themselves over to him and are willing and content that Christ by his spirit work more hunger in them and a more lively faith and work both to will and to do according to his owne good pleasure it is well But it will be said that the tearmes and conditions on which he offereth himself are hard Ans. I grant the tearmes are hard to flesh and blood and to proud unmortified nature but to such as are willing to be saved so as God way be most glorified the tearmes are easie most rationall and satisfying for 1. We are required to take Him only for our mediator and to joyne none with him and to mix nothing with him Corrupt nature is averse from this and would at least mix something of self with him and not rest on Christ only corrupt nature would not have the man wholly denying himself and following Christ only and hence many lose themselves and lose all because with the Gallatians they would mix the law and the gospel together do something themselvs for satisfaction of justice take Christ for the rest that remaines Now the Lord will have all the glory as good reason is will have none to share with him He will give of his glory to none And is not this rationall and easy What can be objected against this 2. We are required to take him Wholly that He may be a compleat Mediator to us as a Prophet to teach as a King to subdue our lâ—…sts to cause us walk in his wayes as well as a Priest to satisfie justice for us to die inâ—…ercede for us Is it not reason that we take him as God hath made him for us Is there any thing in him to be refused And is there any thing in Him which we have no need of Is there not all the reason then in the world for this that we take Him wholly and what stumbling block is here 3. We are required to take Him Freely without money and without price Esa. 55 1 for He will not bâ—… boughâ—… any mâ—…nner of way thâ—…t free grace may be free grace therefore he will give all freely True enough it is corruption would be at buying though it have nothing to lay out Pride will not stoup to a free gift But can any say the tearms are hard when all is offered freely 4. We are required to take him absolutely without any reversion or mentall reservation Some would willingly quite all but one or two lusts that they cannot think to twinne with and they would deny themselvs in many things but they would still most willingly keep a back door open to some beloved lust or other And who seeth not what double dealing is here And what reason can plead for this double dealing Corruption it is true will think this hard but no man can rationally say that this is a just ground of discouragment to any or a sufficient ground to warrand them to stay away from Christ seing they cannot be supposed sincerely to desire redemption from any sin who would not desire redemption from every sin He who loveth any known lust and would not willingly be delivered therefrom hath no reâ—…ll hatred at any lust as such nor desire to be saved for one such lust would be his death 5. It is required that we accept of Him really and cordially with our heart and soul and not by a meer externall verbal profession and is there not all the reason in the world for this He offereth Himself really to us and shall we not be reall in accepting of Him what I pray can justly be excepted against this or what reall discouragement can any gather from this 6. We are to take Him for all necessities that iâ—… with a resolution to make use of Him as our alsufficient Mediator And is not this most reasonable Ought we not to take Him for all the ends and purposes for which God hath appointed Him and set Him forth and offered Him to us What then can any suppose to lie here which should scarre a soul from laying hold upon Him Nay should not this be looked upon as a very great encouragement And should we not blesse the Lord that hath provided such a compleet and alsufficient Mediator 7. We are to take Him and all the crosses that may attend our taking or following of Him we must take up our crosse be it what it will be that He thinketh good to appoint for us and follow Him Matth. 16 24 Mark 8 34. for he that taketh not up his crosse and followeth not after Him is not worthy of Him Mat. 10 38. I know flesh and blood will take this for a hard saying but they that consider that Christ will beare the heavyest end of the crosse yea all of it and so support them by his Spirit while they are under it that they shall have no just cause to compleane and how He will suffer none to goe his errand upon their owne charges but will be with them when they goe through fire and watter Esai 43 2. so that they shall suffer no losse neither shall the watters over flow them nor the fire kindle upon them and that he who loseth his life for Christ's sake the gospels shall save it Mark 8 35. yea that they shall receive an hundered fold for all thâ—… losses Matth. 19 29. and that even with persecution Mark 10. 30. and in the world to come eternall life They I say who consider this will see no discouragement here nor ground of complaint nay they will account it their glory to suffer any losse for Christ's sake 8. Hence it followeth that we are to take Him so as to avouch Him and his cause and interest on all hizards stand to his truth and not be ashamed of
to wash in a fountaine opened to the house of David to the Inhabitants of Ierusalem for sin for uncleannesse Zâ—…ch 13 1. and this fountaine is his blood which cleanseth from all sin Heb. 9 14. 1. Iohn 1 7 Revel 1 5. 16. He is set before us as a copie patternâ—… that we should walk even as He walked 1. Ioh. 2 6. He left us an example that we should follow his stepps 1. Pet. 2 21. But we would beware to separate this consideration from the preceeding aâ—… Antichristian Socinians do who will have Christ only to be a copie 17. He hath overcome Satan our arch-enemie and hath destroyed his works 1. Iohn 3 8. He came to destroy the works of the devill And in particular his works of wickednesse in the soul Thus He is a conquerour the Captaâ—…e of our Salvation 18. As He hath purchased So hath He appointed ordinences for the laying of the foundation and carrying on of this work of sanctificationâ—… both Word 〈◊〉 are appointed for this end The Word to convert and to confirme Iohn 17 17. sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth said Christ. The word is given as the rule and also through the meanes thereof is life and strength conveyed to the soul to perfect holinesse in the fear of God 1. Pet. 2 2. And the Sacraments are given to strengthen confirme the soul in the wayes of God 19. As He hath laid downe strong encouragements to his followers to hold on in the way of holinesse many great precious promises by which they might be partakers of the divine nature 2. Pet. 1 4. and by which they are encouraged to cleanse themselves from all filthinesse of the flesh spirit 2. Cor. 7 1. and many motives to hold on continue So hath He rolled difficultyes out of the way whether they be within us or without us and thereby made the way easie and pleasant to such as walk in it so as they may now run in the way of his commandements walk not weary run not be faint Nay 20 we would remember for our encouragment and confidence that in carrying on of this work lyeth the satisfaction of soul the pleasure of the Lord that must prosper in His hand thus He seeth his seed hath of the travail of his soul and is satisfied These particulars rightly considered will discover unto us what a noble ground for sanctification is in Christ laid downe for beleevers which they may and must by faith grippe to that they may grow in grace and grow up in Christ and perfecte holinesse and what a wonderfull contriveance of grace this is wherein all things are made so sure for beleevers Christ becomeing all things to them and paveing a royall sure way for them sure for them and glorious to himself As to the second particular that is How beleevers are to carry in this matter or how they are to make use of Christ and of those grounds of sauctification in Christ which we have mentioned First There are some things which they would bewar of and guaird against as 1. They would bewar of an heartlesse despondency giving way to discouragements and hearkning to the language of unbeleefe or to the suggestions of Satan whereby he will labour to perswade them of the impossibility of getting the work of sanctification throughed or any progresse made therein to purpose Satan a deceitfull heart can soon muster up many difficultyes alledge that there are many Lyons many insuperable difficultyes in the way to discourage them from ventureing forward and if Satan prevail here he hath gained a great point Therefore the beleever would keep up his head in hope and beware of multiplying discouragements to himself or of concludeing the matter impossible for then shall he neither have heart nor hand for the work but sit downe wring his hands as overcome with discouragement despondency of Spirit 2. They would beware of wilfull rejecting their owne mercyes and forbearing to make use of the grounds of hope of strength and progresse in the matter of sanctification which Christ hath allowed them to make use of There is such an evill even amongst Gods children that they scarre at that which Christ out of great love hath provided for them and dar not with confidence make use of nor apply to themselves the great and comfortable promises to the end they might be encouraged they will not take their allowance as thinking themselves unworthy and that it should be presumption in them to challenge a right to such great things and they think it commendable humility in them to stand aback and so wilfully refuse the advantages and helps that make so much for their grouth in grace 3. They would beware of a carelesse neglect of the meanes appointed for advanceing in holinesse for though the meanes do not worke the effect yet it is by the meanes that God hath chosen to worke the work of sanctification Here that is to be seen that the hand of the diligent maketh rich and the field of the slothfull is soon grown over with thorns and nettles so that poverty cometh as one that travelleth and want as an armed man Prov. 24 30 31 34. It is a sinfull tempting of God to think to be sanctified another way than God hath in his deep wisdom condescended upon 4. Yet they would beware of laying too much weight on the meanes ordinances as if they could effectuat the businesse Though the Lord hath thought good to work in and by the meanes yet He himself must do the work Meanes are but meanes and not the principal cause nor can they work but as the principal agent is pleased to make use of them and to work by them when we leane to the meanes and to instruments we prejudge our selves by disobligeing God and provoking Him to leave us that we may wrestle with the ordinances alone and finde no advantage Therefore the soul would guaird against this 5. Albeit the meanes can do nothing unlesse He breath yet we would beware not only of neglecting them as we said afore but also of a slighting way of performing of them without that earnestnesse and diligence that is required Cursed is he who doth the work of the Lord negligently Ier. 48 10. Here then is the speciall art of Christianity apparent to be as diligent earnest and serious in the use of the means as if they could effectuate the matter we were seeking and yet to be as much abstracted from them in our hopes and exspectation and to be as much leaning on the Lord alone and depending on Him for the blessing as if we were useing no meanes at all 6. They would beware of slighting and neglecting the motions of the Spirit for thereby they may lose the best opportunity They should be alwayes on the wing ready to imbrace the least motion and they should stand alwayes ready waiting
for the breathings of his Spirit and open at his call least afterward they be put to call and seek and not attaine what they would be at as we see in the Spouse Cant. 5 2 3 4. 5 6. c. 7. They would also guaird against the quenching of the Spirit 1 Thes. 5 12. or greiving of the Spirit Ephes. 4 30. by their unchristian unsuteable carriage for this will much marre their sanctification It is by the Spirit that the work of sanctification is carryed on in the soul and when this Spirit is disturbed and put from his work how can the work go on When the motions of this indwelling Spirit are extinguished his work is marred and retarded and when He is grieved he is hindered in his work Therefore souls would guard against unbeleefe despondency unsuteable unchristian carriage c. 8. Especially they would beware of wasteing sinns Psal. 51 10. Sins against light and conscience such as David calleth presumptuous sinâ—… Psal. 19 13. They would beware also of favouring any known corruption or any thing of that kinde that may hinder the work of sanctification Secondly It were usefull and of great adâ—…antage for such as would grow in grace and advance in the way of holinesse to be living in the constant conviction 1. Of the necessity of holinesse without which no man shall see God Heb. 12 14. nothing entering in into the new Ierusalem that defileth Revel 21 27. 2. Of their owne inability to do any one act aright how they are not sufficient of themselvs to think any thing as of themselvs 2 Cor. 3 5. and that without Christ they can do nothing Iohn 15 5. 3. Of the insufficiency of any humane helpe or meanes or way which they may think good to choose to mortifie aright one corruption or to give strength for the right discharge of any one duty for our sufficiency is of God 2. Cor. 3 5. and it iâ—… through the Spirit that we must mortifie the deedâ—… of the body Rom. 8 13. 4. And of the treachery and deceitfulnesse of the heart which is bent to follow by wayes being not only deceitfull above all things but also desperatly wicked Ier. 17 9. That by this meanes the soul may be jealous of it self and despaire of doing any thing in its owne strength and so be fortified against that maine evill which is an enemy to all true sanctification viz confidence in the flesh Thirdly The soul would keep its eye fixed on those things 1. On Christ's alsufficiency to helpe in all cases that He is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7 v. 25. 2. On his compassionednesse to such as are out of the way and ready nesse to helpe poor sinners with his grace and strength and this will keep up the soul from fainting and dispaireing 3. On the commands to holinesse such as those cleanse your hands and purify your hearts Iam 4 8. and be ye holy for I am holy 1 Pet. 1 15 16. and the like That the authority of God and conscience to a command may set the soul a work 4. On the great recompense of reward that is appointed for such as wrestle on and endure to the end and on all the great promises of great things to such as are sanctified whereof the Scriptures are full that the soul may be encouraged to run thorow difficultyes to ride out stormes to endure hardnesse as a good souldier and to persevere in duty 5. On the other hand on the many sad threatnings and denunciations of wrath against such as transgresse his lawes and on all the sad things that such as shake off the fear of God and the study of holinesse have to look for of which the Scripture is full that by this meanes the soul may be keeped in awe and spurred forward unto duty and made the more willing to shake off Leazynesse 6. On the Rule the word of God by which alone we must regulate all our actions and this ought to be our meditation day and night and all our study as we see it was Davids and other holy men of God their dayly work See Psal. 1. and 119. Fourthly In all this study of holinesse and aimeing at an hiegher measure of grace the beleever would lavell at a right end and so would not designe holinesse for this end that he might be justified thereby or that he might thereby procure and purchase to himself heaven and God's favoure for the weight of all that must lie on Iesus Christ who is our Righteousnesse and our holinesse must not dethrone Him nor rob Him of his glory which He will not give to another But would study holinesse to the end he might glorifie God Father Son and holy Spirit and please Him who calleth to holinesse and thereby be made meet to be partaker of the Inheritance of the saints in light Col. 1 10 12. and be made a meet bride for such a holy bridegroome and a member to such an holy head that hereby others might be edified Mat. 5 16 1. Pet. 2 12. and 3 1 2. that the soul may look like a temple of the holy ghost and like a servant of Christ's bought with a price 1 Cor. 6 17 18 10. 20. And have a clear evidence of his regeneration and justification and also that he may expresse his thankfulnesse to God for all his favours and benefites Fiftly The soul would by faith lay hold on and grip fast to the ground of sanctification that is to say 1. To what Christ hath purchased for his people 2. To what as a publike person He hath done for them And so by faith 1. Challenge a right to and lay hold on the promises of grace strength victory and throw-bearing in their combating with corruption within and Satan and a wicked world without 2. Reckon themselves dead unto sin through the death of Christ and alive unto God through his resurrection Rom. 6 4 11. and that the old man is crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed vers 6. and that they are now not under the law but under grace vers 14. That by this meanes they may be encouraged to continue fighting against a vanquished enemy and not give over notwithstanding of disappointments discouragements prevailings of corruption c. and the beleever may know upon what ground he standoth and what is the ground of his hope and exspectation of victory in end and so he may run not as uncertanely and so fight not as one that beateth the aire 1 Cor. 9 26. Sixtly In this work of sanctification the beleever would be much in the lively exercise of faith fight by faith advance by faith grow up and bring forth fruit by faith and so 1. The beleever would be oft renewing his grips of Christ holding Him fast by faith and so abideing in Him that he may bring forth fruit Iohn 15 4 5. 2. Not only would he be keeping his union fast with Christ but he
would be also eyeing Christ by faith as his store house and generall Lord dispensator of all the purchased blessings of the Covenant which he standeth in need of and looking on Christ as standing engadged by office to compleate his work of salvation and to present him with the rest to himself holy without blemish yea and without spote or wrinkle or any such thing Ephes. 5 27. 3. He would by faith gripe to the promises both of the generall stock of grace the new heart heart of flesh and the Spirit to cause us walk in his statutes Ezech. 36 26 27. and of the severall particular acts of grace that he standeth in need of such as that Ier. 30 8. I will cleause them from all their iniquities c. so Ezech. 36 25 Ier. 31 19. as the Church doth Micah 7 9. He will subdue our iniquities c. And so having or gripping these promises we are to cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of flesh Spirit and perfect holinesse in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7 1. 4. As the beleever would by faith draw out of Christ through the conduite of the promises which are all yea amen in Him 2 Cor. 1. 20. grace strength knowledge courage or what ever his fight in this warfare calleth for to the end he may be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Ephes. 6 10. So he would by faith roll the weight of the whole work upon Christ and thus cast himself and his care and burden on Him who careth for him 1 Pat. 5 7. Psal. 37 5. 55 22. and so go on in duty without anxiety knowing who beareth the weight of all and who hath undertaken to work both to will and to do according to his good pleasure thus should the work be easie and saife when by faith we roll the burden on Him who is the chosen one fitted for that work and leave it on Him who is our strength patiently waiting for the outgate in hope Thus the beleever makes use of Christ as made of God Sanctification when in the use of meanes appointed eyeing the covenant of grace and the promises thereof and what Christ hath done to Sanctifie and cleanse his prople he rolleth the matter on Him and exspecteth help salvation victory through Him CAUTIONS But least some should be discouraged and think all this in vaine because they perceive no progresse nor grouth in grace for all this but rather corruption as strong and troublesome as ever I would say a few things to them 1. Let them search and try whether their short-coming and disappointment doth not much proceed from this that the matter is not so cleanly cast over on Christ as it should be Is it not too oft found that they goe forth to the battell in their own strength lippening to their owne stock of grace to their own knowledge or to their duties or the like How then can they prosper 2. Let them mourne as they get any discovery of this and guaird hereafter against that corrupt by as of the heart which is still inclining them to an engadgment without the Captane of their salvation and a fighting without the armour of God 3. Let them try and see if in studying holinesse they be not led by corrupt ends and do not more laboure after sanctification that they may be more worthy and the better accepted of God and that they may have quietnesse and peace as to their acceptance with God as if this were any cause matter or condition of their righteousnesse and justification before God then that they may shew their obedience to the command of God 1 Thes. 4 3. Ephes. 2 10. Ioh. 15 16. and expresse their thankfulnesse to Him and glorifie God Mal. 1 6. Mat. 5 16. Iohn 17 10. Ephes. 4 30. and if so they ought to acknowledge Gods goodness in that disappointment seing thereby they see more and more a necessity of laying aside their own righteousness and of betaking themselves to the righteousnesse of Christ and of resting on that alone for peace and acceptance with God 4. They would try and see if their negligence and carelesnesse in watching and in the discharge of duties do not occasion their disappointments shortcomeing God sometimes thinks fit to suffer a lion of corruption to set on them that they may look about them and stand more vigilantly upon their watch tour knowing that they have to do with a vigilant adversary the devil who as a roaring lion goeth about seeking whom he may devoure 1 Pet. 5 8. and that they fight not against flesh blood but against Principalities against powers against the Rulers of the darknesse of this world against spirituall wickednesse in high places Ephes. 6 12. It is not for nought that we are so often commanded to watch Mat. 24 42. 25 13. 26 41. 14 38. Luk. 21 36. Mark 13 33 34 35 37. 1 Cor. 16 13. 1 Thes. 5 6. 1 Pet. 4 7. Col. 4 2. through the want of this we know what â—…efell David and Peter 5. They would try and see whether there be not too much self confidence which occasioned Peter's foule fall God may in justice and mercy suffer corruption to break loose upon such at a time and tread them underfoot to learne them afterward to carry more soberly and to work out their salvation with fear trembling Phil. 2 12. remembering what a Jealous holy God He is with whom they have to do what an adversary they have against them and how weak their owne strength is 6. This would be remembered that one may be growing in grace and advancing in holinesse when to his apprehension he is not going forward from strength to strength but rather going backward It is one thing to have grace and another thing to see that we have grace so it is one thing to be growing in grace and nother thing to see that we are growing in grace Many may question their grouth in grace when their very questioning of it may evince the contrary for they may conclude no grouth but rather a back going because they perceive moe and more violent and strong corruptions and hidden works of darknesse and wickednesse within their souls than ever they did before while as that great discovery sheweth the Increase of their spirituall knowledge and an increase in this is an increase in grace So they may question and doubt of their grouth upon mistakes as thinking corruption alwayes strongest when it makes the greatest stirre noise Or their complaints may flow from a vehement desire they have to have much more sanctification which may cause them overlook many degrees they have advanced or some such thing may occasion their darknesse and complaints yea God may think it fittest for them to the end they may be keeped humble and diligent to be in the dark as to their progresse whereas if they saw what advancement progresse they had made in
christianity they might grow wanton secure and carelesse and so occasion some sad dispensation to humble them againe 7. It would be remembered that perfect victory is not be had here it is true in respect of justification through the imputation of the perfect righteousnesse of Christ and in respect of their sincerity and gospel simplicitie and in respect also of the parts of the new man beleevers are said to be perfect Such an one was Noah Gen. 6 9. and Iob. Cap. 1 1 8. see also Psal. 37 37 and 64 4. 1 Cor. 2 6. Heb 5 14. Iam. 3 2. And it is true we are to aime at perfection and to pray for it as Mat. 5 48. 2. Cor. 13 11. Col. 4 12. Heb. 13. 21. Iam. 1 4. 1. Pet. 5 10. Heb. 6 1. Yet as to the degrees of holinesse sanctification and in respect of the remnant of corruption within there is no full perfection here Iob. 9 20 21. Phil. 3 12. for even he who is washen and as to justification is cleane every whit yet needeth to wash his feet because contracting filth in his conversation Ioh. 13 10. So that if the Lord should mark iniquity no man should stand Psal. 130 3. 143 2. There will stil be in the best something more or lesse of that battell that Paul speaketh of Rom. 7 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23. So that they will stil have occasion to cry out with him vers 24. O! wretched man that I am who shall deliverâ—…e from the body of this death And the flesh will stil lust against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh so that they shall not be able to do what they would Gal. 5 17. The place of perfection is above where all tears are wiped away and the weary wreastler is at rest 8. Let them not mistake and think that every stirring of corruption in the soul argueth its dominion and prevailing power Corruption may stirre and make a great deal ado where it cannot get leave to reigne and be as a violent and cruell invader seeking the throne putting the whole kingdom in a combustion who is resisted with force of armes Corruption may be more quiet and still when indeed it hath the throne of the soul as a conquerour may be more quiet and still when he hath overcome and is in peacable possession of the kingdom than when he was but fighting for it when the strong man keeps the house and is Master than all is quiet and at rest till a stronger come to thrust him out and dispossesse him 9. Sanctification doth not alwayes consist in a mans freedom from some corruptions for there may be some corruptions that one hath no naturall inclination to but oâ—… the contrary a great aversation from as some worlds wretches may have no inclination to prodigality and ranting or such like vices which are contrary to their humor or to their constant education and Satan may â—…ever tempt some man to such evils knowing he wiâ—… get more advantage by plying his temper and genius and so carying him away to the other contrary evill and so though this man know not so much as what it is once to be tempted to those vices yet that will not say that he is a sanctified man farr lesse will it say that he hath more grace than another man whose predominant that evil is and against which he is dayly fighting and wreastling Whence it appeareth that wreastling and protesting against even an overcoming corruption may evidence more of grace than freedom from some evils to which some are not so much tempted and to which they are naturally lesse inclined 10. Nor should they think that corruption is alwayes master of the soul and possessing the throne as a full conquerour when it prevaileth and caryeth the soul head-long at a time for corruption may sometimes come in upon the soul as an inuâ—…dation with irrestible violence and for a time carry all before it so that the soul cannot make any sensible resistence as when a sudden violent and unexpected temptation setteth on so as the poor Man is overw helmed scarce knoweth where he is or what he is doing till he be laid on his back at that time it will be a great matter if the soul dar quietly enter a protest against and dissent from what is done and if there be an honest protestation against the violent tyrannicall invasion of corruption we cannot say that corruption is in peacable possession of the throne if the Spirit be lusting against the flesh leavying all the forces he can against the invader by prayer and supplication to God and calling-in all the supply of divine help he can get and when he can do no more is sighing and groaning under that unjust invasion resolving never to pay homage to the usurper noâ—… to obey his lawes nor so much as parley with him or make peace we can not say that the soul doth consent fully unto this usurpation Nay if the soul shall do this much at such a time when Satan sets on with all his force it will be a greater evidence of the strength of grace in the soul than if the soul should do the same or alittle more at a time when the temptation is not so strong 11. It is not good for them to say that grace is not growing in them because they advance not so far as some do and because they come not to the pitch of grace that they see some advanced to That is not a sure rule to measure their grouth in grace by Some may have a better naturall temper whereby they are lesse inclined to severall vices which these finde a strong propension to they may have the advantage of a better education and the like So that they should rather tâ—…y themselves this yeer by what they were the last yeer and that in reference to the lusts to which they have been most subject all their dayes 12. We must not think that every beleever will attaine to the same measure of grace there is a measure appointed for every member or joynt of this body and every joynt supplieth according to the effectuall working in the measure of every pâ—… Ephef 4 16. God hath more a doe with somâ—…â—…han with others there is more strength required 〈◊〉 an arme or legg than in a finger or toe And evâ—… one should be content with his measure so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ot to fret or repine against God and his dispenâ—…tions that makes them but a finger and not 〈◊〉 arme of the body and do their duty in their station fighting against sin according â—…o the measure of grace dispensed to them of the Lord and thâ—…â—…aithfully constantly and not quarrell with God â—…hat He maketh us not as free of temptations and corruptions as some others for the Captane must â—…ot be blamed for commanding some of his souldiers to this post where they never once see the enemy and others to that post
through the Spirit Rom. 8 13. Now if it be asked how shall a beleever make life of Christ to the end this old man may be goten crucified or how should a beleever mortifie thâ—… Old man and the lusts thereof through Christ or by the Spirit of Jesus We shall propose thosâ—… things which may helpe to cleare this 1. The beleever would have his eye on this old man as his arch enemy as a deadly cut-throat lying within his bosome It is an enemy ludging within him in his Soul Minde Heart and Affections so that there is no part free and therefore is acquant with all the motions of the soul and iâ—… alwayes opposeing and hindering every thing that is good It is an enemy that will never be reconciled to God and therefore will not be reconciled with the beleever as such for it is called enmiâ—…y it self and so it is actively alwayes seeking to promove the ruine of the soul what by prompting inclineing moving and forceably drawing or driveing sometimes with violence and rage to evil what by withstanding resisting opposeing counter working and contradicting what is good so that the beleever can not get that done which he would do and is made to do that which he would not Therefore this being such an enemie and so dangerous an enemie so constant and implacable an enemy so active and closse an enemie so deadly and destructive it is the beleevers part to guaird against this enemy to have a vigilant eye upon it to carry as an irreconcilable enemy thereunto and therefore never to come in tearms of capitulation or agreement therewith never oâ—…ce to parlie let be make peace And the beleever would not have his vigilant eye upon this or that Member of this body of death so much as upon the Body it self or the Principle of wickednesse and rebellion against God the Head Life Spirit or Law of this body of death for there lyeth its greatest wickednesse and activity and this is alwayes opposeing us though not in every joy at and member but sometime in one sometime in another 2. Though the beleever should have a maine eye upon the Body this innate strong and forcible law of sin and death yet should he have friendshipe and familiarity with no part member or lust of all this body all the deeds of the body should be mortified Rom. 8 13. the old man with his deeds should be mortified Col. 3 6. we should mortifie our members which are upon the earth vers 5. for all of them are against us the least of them countenanced intertained imbraced will worke ouâ—… ruine cut our souls throat therefore should the beleever look on each of them on all of them as his deadly enemies 3. He would consider that as it is a very unseemly thing for him to be a slave to that old tyrant and to yeeld his members as so many servants to iniquity so it is dangerous deadly his life lyeth at the stake either he must get it mortified killed subdued or it will kill him his life will goe for its life if this enemy escape he is a gone man The consideration of this would cause the beleeveâ—… act here in earnestnesse and seriousnesse with care and diligence and set about this work of mortification with labour and paines 4. Much more must it be against all reason and christianity for the beleever to be making provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Rom. 13 14. To be strengthening the hands of and laying provision to this enemy which is lâ—…t sworne against us can stand with no reason And here is much of the christians prudence spirituall wisdome required to discerne what may make for fostering of this or that corruption or member of the body of sin death and to withdraw that as we will labour to take away provision of any kinde from an enemy that is comeing against us Paul acted herein as a wise gamster combatant when he keept under his body brought it into subjection 1 Cor. 9 27. It were but to mock God to preach forth our own folly to be looking to Christ for help against such an enemy and in the mean time to be under-hand strengthening the hands of the enemie this would be double dealing and trearchery against our selves 5. To the end their opposition unto this enemy may be the stronger and more resolute they would consider that this body of sin is wholly set against God his interest in the soul being very enmity it self against God Rom. 8 7. and alwayes losting and fighting against the work of God in the soul Gal. 5 17. against every thing that is good so that it will not suffer so far as it can hinder the soul to do any thing that is good at least in a right manner and for a right end nay with its lustings it driveth constantly to that which is evill raiseth evil motions inclinations in the soul ere the beleever be aware sideth with any tentation that is offâ—…ed to the end it may destroy the soul like a traitour within as we see it did in David when he fell in adultery and with Asaph Ps. 73 2. yea it self opposeth and tempteth Iam. 1 14. by setting minde will affections on wrong courses and thus it driveth the soul to a course of rebellion against God or diverts it and drawes it back that it cannot get God served aright yea sometimes it sets a fire in the soul intangling all the facultyes filling the minde with darknesse or prejudice misleading or perverting the affectious and so miscarrying the will leading it captive Rom. 7 23. so that the thing is done which the regenerate soul would not do and the duty is left undone which the soul would fain have had done yea and that sometimes notwithstanding of the souls watching and striveing against this so strong is its force 6. The beleever would remember that this enemy is not for him to fight against alone and that his owne strength and skill will make but a slender opposition unto it It will laugh at the shaking of his spear it can easily insinuate it self on all occasions because it lyeth so neare close to the soul alwayes resideing there and is at the beleevers right hand whatever he be doing and is alwayes openly or closely opposeing and that with great facility for it easily besetteth Heb. 12 1. because it lyeth within the soul in all the faculties of it in the Heart Minde Will Conscience Affectiones so that upon this account the deceitfulnesse of the heart is great passeth the search of Man Ier. 17 9. Man cannot know all the windeings and turnings all the drifts and designes all the lurking and retireing places all the falshoods and double dealings all the dissimulations lies and subterfuges all the plauâ—…ible and deceitfull pretexts and insinuations of this heart acted and spirited by this law of sin
and death And beside this slight and cunning it hath strength and power to draw by lusts into destruction and perdition 1 Tim. 4 9. and to carry the soul headlong So that it makes the mans case miserable Rom. 7 24. All which would say that the beleever should call in other help than his owne and remember that through the Spirit he must mortifie the deeds of the body Rom. 8 13. 7. And therefore the beleever must lay aside all his carnall weapons in dealing with this adversary and look out for divine help assistance even for the promised Spirit through which alone he can be instructed inabled for this great work for of himself he can do nothing not so much as think a good thought as of himself 2 Cor. 3 5. faâ—… lesse will he be able to oppose such a mightie adversary that hath so great many advantages and therefore all his carnall meanes purposes vowes fightings in himself will but render himself weaker a readyer prey unto this adversary which gaineth ground while he is so opposed It is Christ alone and his Spirit that can destroy the works of the devil and kill or crucify this enmity 8. So that the beleever must have his recourse for help and succour here unto Iesus the Captaine of salvation and must follow Him and fight under his bâ—…nner make use of his weapons which are spirituâ—…ll fight according to his counsell and conduct taking Him as a leader commander lying open for his orders instructions waiting for the motions of his Spirit following them and thâ—…s oppose fight against this deadly enemie with an eye alwayes on Christ by â—…aith depending on Him for light to the minde resolution to the will and grace to the whole soul to stand in the battel and to withstand all assaults and never engadge in a disput with this enemie or any lust or member of this body without Christ the Principall that is the soul would dispaire in it self and be strong in Him and in the power of his might by faith gripping to Him as Head Captaine and Commander in chiefe resolving to fight in his strength and to oppose through the helpe of his Spirit 9. And for this cause the beleever would eye the covenant of Redemption the basis of all our hope and consolation wherein finall and full victory is promised to Christ as head of the elect viz that He shall bruise the serpents head and so that in Him all his followers and members of his mysticall body shall lift up the head and get full victory at length over both sin and death Now it is God thâ—…t giveth us the victory through our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 15 57. The bâ—…leever would also eye by faith the covenant of Grace where in particularly this same victory is promiâ—…ed to the beleever in and through Jesus Rom. 16 20 the God of peace shall brâ—…ise Satan under your feet shortly and Sin shall not have dominion over you for yee are not under the law but under grace Rom. 6 14. The beleever I say would look out by faith unto and lay hold on these and the like promises and thereby get strength conveyed to him self whereby he may strive lawfully and fight valiently and oppose with courage and resolution 10. Further the beleever would eye Christ as a fountaine of Furniture as a full and compleat magazine standing open ready for every one of his honest souldiers to run to for new supply of what they want so that whatever they finde wanting in their Christian armour they must run away to the open magazine Christs fulnesse that standeth ready for them and by faith take put on what they want stand in need of in their warfare If their girdle of truth be slacked loosed or weakened and they be meeting with temptations anent their hypocrisie and Satan objecting to them their double dealing of purpose to discourage them and to make them fainte give over the fight they must away to Him who is the Truth that He may binde on that girdle better and make their hearts more upright before God in all they do And if their breast plate of righteousnesse be weakened Satan there seem to get advantage by casting up to them their unrighteous dealings towards God or Men they must flee to Him who only can help here and beg pardon through his blood for 〈◊〉 failings and set to againe a fresh to the battel If their resolution which is understood by the preparation of the gospell of peace grow weak it must be renewed in Christs armory and the feet of new be shode therewith If their shield of faith beginne to fail theâ—… away must they get to Him who is the Author finisher of faith Heb 12 2. And if their helmet of hope beginne to fail them In this armory alone can that be supplied And if their sword be blunted in their hand or they unable to weild it aright the Spirit of Jesus can only teach their hands to fight and instruct them how to mannage that usefull weapon with advantage Thus must the beleever be strong in Him and in the power of his might Ephes. 6 10. He is their God that girdeth them with strength and maketh their way perfect He maketh their feet like hindes feet setteth them upon their high places He teacheth their hands to war so that a bow of steal is brocken by their armes He giveth them the shield of Salvation His right hand upholdeth them He girdeth with strength unto the battell c. Psal. 18 vers 32 33 34 35 39. c. 11. For the further strengthening of their Hope Faith Confidence beleevers would eye Christ as hanging on the crosse and overcomeing by death Death and him that had the power of death the Devill so as meritoriously purchaseing this redemtion from the slavery of sin and Satan and particulary from the slavery of that body of death and of the law of sin death for the Apostle tells us Rom. 8 2 that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Iesus doth make us free from the law of sin and death and that because as he sayeth further vers 3 4. what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his owne son in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh That the rigâ—… teousnesse of the law might be fulfilled in us So that the beleever may now look upon that enemy how fearfull so ever it appear as condemned and killed in the death of Christ. He having laid downe the price of Redemption hath bought this freedom from the chaines fetters with which he was held in captivity faith then on the death of Jesus satifying justice for the poor captive may should support and strengthen the hope confidence of the beleever that he shall obtaine victory at length 12. And it will
self ends and carnal by 〈◊〉 respects lest thereby we marre all 2. It would be carryed on without partiality against all and every one of the lusts and motions of the Old man for if there be a complyance with and a spareing of any one known lust the whole work may be marred they may meet with a disappointment as to the particular lust they aâ—… desireing victory over and the lust they are harbouring though it may seem little may open a door to many stronger and so occasion sad dayes to the man ere he be aware 3. As they would bring the particular lust or lusts unto Christ as chiefe Lord justice so they would alwayes lay the axe to the root of the tree and crave justice against the maine body that yet lieth within the soul and these particular corruptions and affections that are as members of that body of sin should put them in minde of the old man for they should crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof Gal. 5 24. the body and the members these lusts are the lusts of sin or of that Head-sin which hath a law or the force and impulse of a law in the soul and therefore their maine designe would be against this root where lyeth the strength and body of the enemy and which acteth in those members this is the capitall enmity and should be mainely opposed and the following of this course would prove more succesfull than that which many a time we take out nibling at or wreastling against this or that member of the body of death is but of little advantage so long as the maine body of sin the bitter root of wickednesse the carnall minde this innate enmity is miskent and not opposed but on the contrary strick at this we strick at all 4. This would be the beleevers constant work to be crucifying the flesh with the lusts thereof to be mortifying their members wherein the members of the old man quarter and lodge Colos. 3 5. to be spiritually minded and to minde the things of the spirit Rom 8 5 6. for this carnall minde is enmity against God Rom. 8 7. and so is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be It is not only an enemy which may be reconciled but enmity in the abstract which never can be reconciled and this enmity will never be idle for it câ—…nnot till it be fully and finally destroyed the flesh is alwayes lusting against the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. for they are contrary one to the other So that though to our sense it may sometimes appear as sleeping in regaird that it doth not by some particular lust so molest and perplexe the soul as formerly it did yet it is restlesse and may be more active in another lust and so by changeing weapons upon us deceive us Here then is much spirituall wisdome and vigilancy required when they think they have gotten one lust subdued they must not think the war is at an end but after all their particular victories watch and pray that they enter not into temptation 5. This way of laying the weight of the matter on Christ should and will keep them humble and teach them not to ascribe the glory of any good that is done unto themselves but to give Him all the glory who is jealous of his glory and will not give it to another that the crowne may alone floorish on his head who is the Captane of their salvation and who by his Spirit worketâ—… all their workes in them 6. Nor would this way of carrying the matter to Christ and putting it over on Him cause the beleever become negligent in commanded dutyes reading hearing prayer c. for it is there he must exspect to meet with Christ there must he seek Him and there must he waite for Him and his Spirit to do the work desired for though He hath not limited himself to these meanes so as He cannot or will not any other way helpe yet He hath bound us to them and it is our duty to waite there where He hath commanded us â—…o waite though He should sometime â—…hink good to come another way for the manifestation of the soveraignity of hiâ—… grace 7. Yet while we are about the meanes we would guaird against a leâ—…ning to them lest in stead of getting victory over corruption we be brought more in bondage thereunto another way we must not think that our Prayers or our Hearing or Reading c. will bring downe the body of death or subdue any one corruption for that were but an yeelding to corruption and opening a back door to the carnal minde and to another deadly lust and a beating corruption with a sword of straw This is not to mortifie the deeds of the body through the Spirit but through the flesh and a fleshly weapon will never draw blood of this spirituall wickednesse or old man or of any corrupt lust or affection thereof and yet how many times doth our deceitfull heart by as us thiâ—… way Our work would be as is said to use the ordinances aâ—… meancâ—… whereby we may get the businesse laid on Christ and help from Christ to do the bâ—…sinesse We must go to the meanes with our prisoner to finde Christ there at his court and aâ—…ifes that He may take course with the Traitor 8. In all this there would be a looking to and dependance on Christ for helpe and grace because of our selves as of our selves we can not do this much we cannot complean aright of corruptions nor take them away to Christ not ask for justice against them aâ—… constableâ—… and other officers must carry malefactores to the courts of justice uâ—…on publick charges so Christ will not have us doing or attempting this mâ—…ch on our own charges for He giveth noble allowance 9. In following of this course we would not think alwayes to come speed at the first Sometimes the Lord for the encourageing of his children may give them a speedy hearing and deliver them from the tyranny of some particular lust or other that hath troubled them that for some time at least it shâ—…ll not so trouble them as it did Yet He will not do so alwayes but may think it good to keep them waiting on Him and hanging on his courts for soâ—…e considerable time that He may thereby exercise their Faith Patience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Diligencâ—… So that it should not seem strange to us if we be not admitted aâ—… the first and get not our answer at the first cry 10. When the Lord thinketh good to delay the answer to our desires and the execution of justice on the Malefactor Traitour or to deliver us from his tyranny and trouble we would beware of thinking to capitulat with the enemy for our peace and quiet or to enter into a ceâ—…lation of armes with him that is our â—…mity against him should never abate nor should our desire after the mortification and crucifixion of this lust grow lesse
to rejoyce in this that the enemy is already conquered by the Captaine and that we share in his victory and that the very God of peace shall quickly bruise Satan under our feet Rom. 16 20. CHAP. VII How Christ is to be made use of in reference to Growing in grace I Come now to speak a little to the other part of Sanctification which concearneth the change of our nature and frame and is called Vivification or Quickening of the new man of grace which is called the New man as having all its severall members and parts as well as the old man and called New because posteriour to the other and after regeneration is upon the growing hand This duty of growing in grace as it is called 2. Pet. 3. uâ—…t is variously expressed and held forth to us in scripture for it is called an abideing and bringing forth fruit in Christ Iohn 15 5. adding to faith vertue and to vertue knowledge c. 2 Pet. 1 5 6 7. a going on to perfection Heb. 7 1. a growing up in Christ in all things Ephes. 4 15. a working out our salvation Phil. 2 12. a perfecting of holinesse 2. Cor. 7 1. a walkeing in newnesse of life Rom. 6 4. a yeelding of our selves unto God as alive from the dead and our members as instruments of righteousnesse unto God Rom. 6 13 18. a bringing forth of fruit unto God Rom. 7 4. a serving in newnesse of spirit Rom. 7 6. a being renewed in the spirit of our mindes and a putting on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Ephes. 4 23 24. Col. 3 10. and the like some whereof do more immediatly expresse the nature of this change as to the root and some as to the fruit and effects thereof and some the progresse and advancement that is made or to be made therein And all of them point out a speciall piece of work which lieth on all that would see the face of God viz. to be holy gracious and growing in grace This then being a speciall piece of the exercise and dayly work of a Christian and it being certane as some of the places now cited do also affirme that without Christ they cannot get this work either begun oâ—… carryed on the maine difficulty and question is how they are to make use of Christ for this end For answere whereunto though by what we have said in our former discourse it may be easie to gather what is to be said here yet I shall briefly put the Reader in minde of those things as usefull here 1. The Beleever would consider what an ornament this is to the soul to have on this new mâ—…n which is created after the image of God Ephes. 4 23. what an excellency lyeth here to recover thâ—… lost glory holinesse and the image of God and what advantage the soul reapeth hereby when it is made meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1 12. and walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God Col. 1 10. and strengthened with all might according to his glorious pover unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse vers 11. and when the abounding of the graces of the Spirit make them that they shall neither be barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ 2. Pet. 1 8 and to be a vessell unto honour sanctified and meet for the masters use and prepared unto every good work 2. Tim. 2 21 what glory and peace is here to be found obedient unto the many commands given to be holy What hazard is in the want of holinesse when without it we cannot see God Heb. 12 14. How unanswereable it is unto our profession who are members to such a holy Head to be un holy What profite joy and satisfaction there is iâ—… being temples of the holy ghost in walking after the spirit in bringing forth fruit unto the glory of the Father c. The consideration of these and other motives unto this study of sanctification would arme the soul with resolution and harden it against opposition 2. It would be remembered that this work though it be laid upon us as our duty and we be called thereunto of God yet it is beyond our hand and power it is true at conversion the seed of grace is cast into the soul new habites are infused a new principle of life is given the stonny heart is changed into an heart of flesh yet these principles and habits can not act in themselves or be brought into act by any thing that a beleever considered in himself and without divine helpe can do But this work of sanctification and grouâ—…h in grace must be caryed on by divine help by the Spirit of Jesus dwelling and working within and therefore it is called the sanctification of the spirit 2. Thes. 2 13. 1. Pet. 1 2. The God of peace must sanctifie us 1. Thes. 5 23. We are said to be sanctifiâ—… by God the Father Iud. 1. and by the holy ghost Rom. 15 16. See also 1. Cor. 6 11. We would remember that of our selves we can do nothing 2. Cor. 3 5. and that He must work in us both to will and to do of his owne good pleasure Phil. 2 13. Albeit no beleever will question the truth of this yet it may be it shall be found after tryal that one maine cause of their not growing in grace and making progresse in this work is their not acting as beleeving this but setting about the work as if it were a work which they themselves could master and do without speciall divine help Therefore the beleever would abide live and act in the faith of this truth 3. Therefore beleevers would not in going about this work either trust to their own strength to the habites of grace to their former experiences to their knowledge and pairts or the like nor yet would they trust to any externall meane which they are to go about because the wisdome strength and helpe which their case calleth for is not to be found in them yet they should not think of laying these meanes and dutyes aside for then should they sin against God they should prejudge themselvs of the helpe strength and supply which God useth to convey to the soul in by the use of the meanes and withall they should tempte the Lord by prescribing another way to Him than He hath thought good to take The beleever then would use the meanes and duties prescribed and that diligently seâ—…iously and constantly and yet would leane as little to them and exspect help reliefe as little from them as if he were not useing them at all as we said above And indeed this would be a right way yea the most advantagious and profitable way of going about dutyes to be diligent in the use of them because of Gods command and yet to place
hence we are said to be chosen in him before the fundation of the world that we should be holy c. Ephes. â—… 4. and aâ—… dying for themâ—… for He gave himself son the church that He might sanctiâ—…y cleanse it that He might present it to himself a glorious church that it should be holy Ephes. 5 25 26 27. He hath reconciled them in the body of his flesh through death to present them holy Col. 1 21 22. So that the noble 〈◊〉 of Redemption may found the 〈◊〉 hope and expectation of the beleever upon â—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 First upon the account of the Fathers faithfulnesse who promised a seed to Iesus Viz. such as should be his children and so be sanctified through Him and that the pleasure of the Lord which in pâ—…rt iâ—… thâ—… work of sanctification should prosper in his hand And next upon the account of Christs undertaking and engaging as is said to bâ—…ing his sonâ—… and daughters to glory which must be through sanctification for without holinesse no man shall see God And they must look like himself who is a holy Head a holy Husband a holy Captane and therefore they must be holy members a holy spouse holy souldiers So that He standeth engaged to sanctifie them by his Spirit and word and therefore is called the Sanctifier Heb. 2 11. for both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one Yea their union with Christ layeth the foundation of this for being joyned to the Lord they become one Spirit 1 Cor. 6 17. and are animated and quickened by one the same Spirit of life and grace and therefore must be sanctified by that Spirit 10. The beleever likewise would act faith upon the promises of the new Covenant of grace strength life c whereby they shall walk in his wayes have Gods lawes put into their mindes and write into their hearts Heb. 8 10. Ier. 31 33. and of the new heart and new spirit and the heart of flesh and the Spirit within them to cause them walk in his wayes or statutes and keep his judgments and do them Ezech. 36 26 27. and the like wherewith the scripture aboundeth Because these are all given over to the beleever by way of Testament and legacy Christ becoming the mediator of the new Testament that by meanes of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternall inheritance Heb. 9 15. Noâ—… Christ by his death hath confirmed this Testament for where a Testament is there must also of necessity be the death ' of the testatour for a Testament is of force after men are dead vers 16 17. Christ then dying to make the Testament of force hath made the legacy of the promises sure unto the beleever so that now all the promises are yea and amen in Christ 2 Cor. 1 20. He was made a minister of circumcision to confirme the promises made to the Fathers Rom. 15 8. That the eyeing of these promises by faith is a noble meane to sanctification is cleare by what the Apostle sayeth 2 Cor. 7 1. Having therefore these promises let us cleanse ourselves perfecting holinesse in the feare of God And it is by faith that those promises must be received Heb. 11 33. So that the beleever that would grow in grace would eye Christ the fundamentall promise the Testatour establishing the Testament and the excutor or dispensator of the covenant and exspect the good things through Him and from Him through the conduite and channell of the promises 11. Yet further beleevers would eye Christ iâ—… his Resurrection as a publick person and so look on themselves and reckon themselves as riseing virtually in and with Him and take the resurrection of Christ as a certane paune and pledge of their sanctification for so reasoneth the Apostle Rom. 6 4 5 11 13. we are buryed sayâ—…s He with him by baptisme into death that likeas Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 of life for we shall â—…e 〈◊〉 also in the likenesse of his resurrection and if we 〈◊〉 dead with Christ we beleeve that we shall also live with him therefore reckon ye also yourselves to be alive unto God through Iesus Christ our Lord and yeeld yourselves unto God as these that are alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousnesse unto God The right improving of this ground would be of noble advantage unto the student of holinesse for thence he might with strong confidence conclude that the work of sanctification should prosper in his hand for he may now look upon himself as quickened together with Christ Epes 2 5. Christ dying and riseing as a publick person and he by faith being now joyned with him and united to him 12. Moreover this Resurrection of Christ may yeeld us another ground of hope and confidence in this work for there is mention made of the power of his resurrection Phil. 3 10. So that by faith we may draw strength and vertue from Christ as an arisen and quickened Head whereby we also may live unto God and bring forth fruit unto him and serve no more in the oldnesse of the letter but in the newnesse of Spirit Rom. 7 4 6. He was quickened as an Head and when the head is quickened the members cannot but look for some communication of life therefrom and to live in the strength of the life of the head See Col. 3 1 2. 13. Faith may and should also look to Christ as an intercessor with the Father for this particular Iohn 17 17. Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth and this will adde to their confidence that the work shall go on for Christ was alwayes heard of the Father Iohn 11 41 42. and so will be in this prayer which was not put up for these few disciples alone The beleever then would eye Christ as engadging to the Father to begin and perfect this work aâ—… dying to purchase the good things promised and to confirme the same as quickened and riseing aâ—… head and a publick person to ensure this work and to bestow and actually conferre the graces requisite and as praying also for the Fathers concurrence and cast the burden of the work on Him by faith knowing that He standeth obliged by his place and relation to his people to beare all their burthens to work all their works in them to perfect his owne work that He hath begun in them to present them to himself at last a holy bride to give them the Spirit to dwel in them Rom 8 9 11 and â—…o quicken their mortall bodyes vers 11. and to lead them vers 14. till at length they be crowned and brought forward to glory This is to live by faith when Christ liveth acteth and worketh in us by his Spirit Gal. 2 20. Thus Christ dwelleth in the