become operative to several ends and Objects Hence those Acts which immediately spring from other graces as their proper stock are attributed to faith that being the principle of their heavenly working in this respect as the success of an Army redounds to the Generals Honor so the victory which is effected by other Christian qualities is here ascribed to Faith which animates them and leads them forth as their chief Captain 6. Faith Amplifies dilates enlargeth the heart to run the wayes of Gods Commandments 1 John 5. 1. and 3. verses compared together whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God c. vers 1. For this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments c. verse 3. Faith is the ground of Love and Love the Author of Obedience holy obedience is the daughter of a lively Faith when and where Christ dwels in the heart by faith that soul being rooted and grounded in love comprehends with all Saints secundum quid what is the breadth and length and depth and heighth of the love of Christ Ephes 3. 17 18 19. Which love like a fire in his bones like a flame in his bowels enflames his soul with love to God and Christ opens and enlargeth his heart to duties of obedience to serve the Lord with a most free and Princely spirit The soul of an affectionate Believer runs swiftly chearfully nobly in the wayes of God like the Chariots of Aminnadib Cant. 6. 12. Faith thus argues Amminadib i. e. my voluntary free bounteous or noble people Ainsworth in Cant. 6. 12. Psal 103. 3 4. Ephe. 1. 3. Hath God loved me in his Son from everlasting and will hee love me to everlasting Hath God in Christ forgiven such a wretch as I all mine iniquities redeemed my life from destruction and crowned me even me with loving-kindness and tender mercies yea with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Then what shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits Nothing I can do nothing I can suffer too much for him I am and will be his for ever at his Command and for his service Thus the faith of a sanctified Person reasons 7. Faith Corroborates it strengthens the weak it revives the faint it supports the desponding and sinking spirit The Psalmist in great tryals and troubles had great experience of the supports of faith Psalm 27. 13. I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the Living Love keeps you from dissembling Hope keeps you from desponding Patience keeps you from tyring but 't is Faith that keeps you from fainting When a * 2 Chron. 2. 20. Psal 57. 7. My heart is fixed in some translations 't is suffultum est cormeum my heart is underpropt great multitude from beyond the Sea on this side Syria came up against Judah and the people were in sore distress Jehosaphat their good King encouraged the people saying believe in the Lord your God so shall ye be established believe his Prophets so shall ye prosper 2 Chron. 20. 20. Faith in God is the souls establishment wherefore a Believer shall not be affraid of evil tydings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord his heart is established he shall not be affraid until he see his desire upon his enemies Thus the Psalmist sweetly sings Psalm 112. 7 8. The fixation of the soul by faith on God on Christ on his Attributes on his Promises yields the surest strength the speediest and sweetest relief and succour in the Crisis of any Exigence When David for fear of Saul was got into a Wood Jonathan leaves his Father and privately came to David 1 Sam. 23. 16. into the Wood and strengthened his hand in God So when a Believer is in a wood of fears and dangers he strengthens his hand the hand of his faith in God and the more his faith is up the more his fears are down Divines use to compare the base fears of men and the embondaging fears of Death to the Lead that weighs the Net under water and faith to the Cork that keeps up the Net from sinking Hope the eldest daughter of Faith is an Anchor sure and stedfast Heb. 6. 19. but Faith is the Rock which this Anchor rests on according to the Proverb were it not for Hope heart would break and the Scripture tels us Rom. 8. 24. We are saved by hope but Hope receives all its subsistence strength Faith is both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 substantia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 argumentum Heb. 11. 1. from Faith Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. 8. Faith exhilarates comforts cheers the soul fils it with joy and peace in believing Rom. 15. 13. The God of hope fils the soul with joy and peace in believing Faith is as a twinkling star in a dark Night as a shining Sun in a cloudy Day as Rivers of water in a dry place as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land The Apostle Peter elegantly expresseth the soul-exulting operation of saving faith 1 Pet. 1. 8. Whom that is Christ having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory Faith opens a crevis of light and springs a Mine of * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exultatis gaudio ineffabili gloriosa Beza exulting joy in the most insulting danger When once a Believer is justified by faith and hath peace with God hee then rejoiceth in the most glorious Hope viz. in the hope of the glory of God and not only so but he glories also in tribulations hee glories in them and he glories over them because the love of God is shed abroad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 effusa est is poured forth into his heart by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5. 1 2 and 5. verses by faith in Christ and by communion with Christ in his Conquests hee knows he shal be more than a Conqueror over all his Enemies Rom. 8. 37. * Neque enim simpliciter dixit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 idest ut vertit Cyprianus Epist 26. supervincimus Amplius quam victores sumus Beza 't is not only said Conquerours but more than Conquerors as Cyprian and Beza on the place Thus I have endeavoured to present you with some of the precious properties and vital operations of precious Faith which every one that is born of God or sanctified doth enjoy to his inestimable benefit Faith is an inseparable Concomitant with and an infallible evidence of our Sanctification for whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God 1 John 5. 1. This is the third Adjunct and evidence of our Regeneration 4th Effect and evidence of our sanctification is love to God and to the Brethren As Christ dwels in the heart by faith Ephes 3. 17. so the soul
whence and in whom all your springs and supplies are against the guilt punishment dominion and filth of sin viz. in your Mediatour Christ Jesus 2. Holinesse is most excellent most excellent in Col. 1. 19. 1. It s Authour 2. It s Nature 3. It s End 1. T is excellent in its Authour it hath a divine Origination The High and lofty One that Isa 57. 15. Ephes 2. 10. inhabiteth Eternity his Name is Holy he that is the Creatour and former of all things is the former and Creatour of the new Birth 2. 'T is excellent in its Nature more precious than Rubies than the Topaz of Aethiopia than the Treasures of the Indies or any sublunary excellency whatsoever it hath the Image and Life of the Authour in it it hath the Name and Glory of God upon it 't is divine Nature Therefore 2 Pet. 1. 4. most excellent because divinely Excellent 3. 'T is excellent in its end salvation We use 1 Pet. 1. 9. Finis Coronat opus to say that is well which ends well for the end Crowns the work If Holiness be implanted in ye it will not only march about the world with ye in all conditions and estates of Life and be your Companion in labours but it will also follow ye yea go along out of the World with ye and be your Companion in Glory as Samuel Revel 14. 13. 1 Sam. 16. 13. annointed Saul aforehand for the Kingdome so the Holy Oyl of Grace sets ye apart aforehand for the fruition of Glory it never leaves ye till it hath placed ye on Thrones arrayed ye with Robes put Palmes into your hands and incircled your heads with a Crown of Life and immortality The perfection of Grace is Glory 3. The Doctrine of Sanctification or Holiness is very Comfortable There are two Rivers of joy springing or having their Well-head in the precious side and heart of Christ 1. The Blood for Justification 2. The Water for Sanctification Both streaming from one Fountain equally cheering refreshing and making glad the City of Psalm 46. God and nourishing up the Believer to eternal life Amongst my Acquaintance I have observed two sorts of dejected souls as also two sorts of Causes of their dejection and two sorts of means or helps for their Cure and recovery 1. Some trembling hearts do much despond and droop for want of the sense of pardon their justification is dark unto them they know not whether God hath pardoned them The children of Light may sometime walk in darkness And then they would give millions of worlds did they Isa 50. 10. possess them for God the fathers face to shine upon them and for the holy Spirit the Comforter to pronounce peace and proclaim pardon to them 2. Other deserted souls mourn sore like Doves for want of holinesse Comparing their hearts with the perfect nature of God and their lives with the pure shining Law of God they are alwayes complaining for their defects and decays of Grace for the strength and prevalence of corruption and for the manifold spots and staines of their conversations Wherefore they are afraid their spot is not the spot of Gods Children Deut 32. 5. and that such deadness dulnesse vanity of thought and disorders of spirit and life cannot be consistent with saving grace And hereupon they wander in Meanders of perplexities and disquietments The Indies if they had them they would freely part with for the plentifull effusion and influence of Christs Unction and to see him clearly to be made of God sanctification to them But O yee Bruised reeds and smoaking flax the Captain of your Salvation will bring forth judgement unto Victory and perfect your Grace in Glory There is Balm in Gilead there is a Physitian there Christ is a Saviour and a Sanctifier to the uttermost The Plaister is as Heb. 7. 25. broad as the soar the blood of Christ is both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the price of our Redemption and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Laver of Regeneration also 1. Let the first sort Trust in the Name of Isa 50. 10. See Dr. Goodwins Childe of Light the Lord and stay themselves upon their God Trust in the name of the Lord that is the infinite mercy of God through the merit of Christ God is rich in Mercy Plenteous in Redemption abundant in goodnesse and Truth the mercy of God is the Name of God yea the very first letter of his Name Mercy leads the Exod. 34. 6 chorum in that Catalogue of the Divine Attributes Exo. 34. 6. 2. Trust in the infinite Merit and Righteousnesse of Jesus Christ for this is his Name the Lord our Righteousnesse Let Faith drive Jer. 23. 6. thee quite out of self and thy own righteousnesse and lay fast hold on Christs Righteousnesse Know that Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse Phil. 3. 8 9 to every one that believeth Consider him that hath satisfied Justice fulfilled all righteousness Rom. 10. 4. in his own Person and brought in everlasting righteousnesse for thee who loved thee Dan. 9. 24. and gave himself for thee And so let faith grow up unto Assurance for this Righteousnesse is Gal. 2. 20. revealed from Faith to Faith called the Righteousnesse of God because 't is the righteousnesse Rom. 1. 17. of God as well as man and which God appointeth and accepteth for thy justification This divine Righteousness thou must live upon as thy daily food and bread of life 2. Let the second sort of disconsolate souls consider these Particulars 1. That an enlightned soul that communes with his own heart seeth more vileness filthiness and contrariety in himself to the holy nature and Law of God than such as are in a state of gross darkness who are strangers to God and in this sense perfect strangers to their own hearts 2. Let such consider a Christian state in this world is militant there must be warring and wrastling not only with flesh and blood but also with Eph. 6. 12. Principalities and Powers i. e. with the Devils of hell and the corruptions of the world every day Shall any say because I fight I am a Coward because I finde a law in my members warring against the law of my minde a double interest flesh and spirit lusting in the same soul yea in the Luke 11 21 self-same faculty therefore I am no Christian this very warring evinceth the clean contrary for when the strong man armed keeps the house all things are in peace thy very sensibility of sin and Gal. 5. 17. groaning under the burden and bondage of it thy strugling with it and sincere endeavours to subdue it are evident signs of sanctification begun in thee 3. Consider Grace begun destroyes not sin utterly nor carries away a compleat Victory presently thou must be trained and exercised a long time in Christs School and endure hardness like a good Souldier of Christ
called a Royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2. 9. To be sanctified is more than to be purified for besides the expulsion of sin in Sanctification there is an infusion of grace a new disposition and frame of soul called a new heart and a new spirit Ezek. 36. 25 26 27. i. e. a new mind new apprehensions a new will new desires new affections from whence there follows newness of life and conversation 1. There is a new heart that is conformity to Gods Nature when the heart of man is like the heart of God as David is said to be a man after Gods own heart Conformity to the 2 Pet. 1. 4. Divine Nature is this new heart The Nature of God is the pattern of that Sanctification which is wrought in the heart of man 2. There is a new life that is our conformity to Gods Law or revealed Will whose will is our Sanctification 1 Thes 4. 3. An holy heart breathes and breaks out into an heavenly conversation Phil. 3. 20. Our conversation is in heaven The first is our habitual holiness the second is our actual The sum is this our habitual conformity to the Nature or Image of God and our actual conformity to the Will of God thereon depending is formally our Sanctification Thus I have shewed what it is to sanctifie and have opened the more eminent acceptations of it We come now to the fifth thing propounded 5. The Spirit of Christ is the efficient cause of our Sanctification The work of Creation is commonly ascribed to God the Father the work of Redemption to God the Son and the work of Sanctification to God the Holy Spirit yet Sanctification being a work ad extra is common to all the persons 1. It is ascribed to God the Father Jude 1. to them which are called and sanctified of God the Father 1 Pet. 1. 3. Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope c. 2. Christ is said to sanctifie us He is made of God to us Sanctification 1 Cor. 1. 2. To the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus Heb. 13. 12. Wherefore Jesus that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the gate 3. The Spirit is said to sanctifie Hence these phrases the sanctification of the Spirit 1 Pet. 1. 2. 2 Thes 2. 13 14. and the spirit of holiness Rom. 1. 4. The Sanctification of the Spirit is as necessary as the mercy of the Father or the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ by the redundancy of his Merit hath impetrated and obtained the Spirit of the Father to sanctifie those whom he means to save to purifie and make them meet for glory whom he died for and justified by his blood The Inchoation is from the Father the Dispensation is by the Son the Consummation by the Spirit 'T is from the love of the Father and by vertue of the Merit of the Son that we are sanctified but 't is properly the Office and the distinct personal operation of the spirit of holiness to sanctifie and it must be the mighty power of the eternal spirit that converts or sanctifies because 't is such a power as is commensurate and proportionate to the raising of the dead Ephes 1. 19 20. called the exceeding 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Supereminens magnitudo Montan. greatness of his power c. We are not sanctified or converted as the Papists and Arminians say by a moral suasion or by the bare improvement of our own free will nor by the accession of some additional help to Nature but by the most strong and yet most sweet efficacy of the Almighty Spirit Psa 110. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power or as some render it in the day of thy Armies 't is therefore called a Regeneration a begetting In die Copiarum So M. Ainsworth a soul again 't is a new Creation 't is a Vivification or quickning a man before dead in sins and trespasses not languishing and declining but in a moral sense stark dead nay 't is a Resurrection a rising out of the grave of sin and death All these works of wonder or rather this one mysterious work of Sanctification illustrated by these Metaphors bespeaks no less than the Almighty power of a God who is able to subdue all things to himself Phil. 3. 2â— 1. 'T is a Regeneration or a begetting again 1 Pet. 1. 3. Jam. 1. 18. 2. 'T is a Creation Ephes 2. 10. We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good works 2 Cor. 5. 17. He that is in Christ is a new creature Behold saith Christ I make all things new 3. 'T is a vivification or quickning Eph. 2. 1. You hath he quickned who were dead in sins and trespasses A natural man is both legally an morally dead till the Spirit of Life breaths upon him and quickens him Joh. 5. 25. That promise is still in fulfilling now that the dead shall heaâ— the voice of the Son of God and they that heaâ— shall live 4. 'T is a Resurrection Col. 3. 1. If ye then â—â— risen with Christ seek the things that are above yea 't is more a kind of con-session or sitting together with Christ Eph. 2. 6. And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus If we live to God we live the life of heaven Now to regenerate to create to make all things new to revive a mâ—â— dead to raise up a man out of the grave â— Lazarus both dead and buried all these arâ— the Acts of Omnipotency the works of â— God and all those works are done in this oâ—â— work by the invincible efficiency of the Spirit 6. The word and faith are the Ministring are Instrumental causes of our Sanctification The Spirit is called the Spirit of Faith Aristotle calls the hand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the instrument of instruments Faith being the gift of God and wrought by the operation of the Spirit unites the soul to Christ the Fountain of Holiness and Heaâ— of Influence and having united the soul â—â— him continually receives supplies from him 'T is the hand of the soul that useful instrument whereby we apprehend Christ and whereby we draw down vertue from Christ Hence as an Organ or Instrument it is said to purifie Acts 15. 9. Having purified their heart by faith As Faith hath the Noblest Objects so Faith for its use and â—ffice here is the Noblest grace Faith indeed infused and created in us by the Spirit is commonly called the See Dr. Owens death of death p. 126. Simile Mother grace and is it self formally a great part of our sanctification As the woman sick of the Bloody Issue put forth her hand and touching the Hem of Christs garment drew vertue from him and was healed So that soul to whom
and glorious Attainment as any of the Benefits that accrue to the Heb. 12. 14. Saints by the death of Christ for in short there is no seeing the Face of God without it without holinesse â—o man shall see the Lord. 11. The excellency of Sanctification consists in this in that it is a principle of union and communion with God None but the sanctified 1 Joh. 1. 3. in Christ Jesus can have fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ Whilst a person is prophane unsanctified what communion can be between Light and Darkness between Christ and Belial between an holy God anâ— It was an old saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an impure sinner God is Light in the abstract 1 Joh. 1. 5. and an impure sinner is darkness in the abstract Ephes 5. Holinesse is thâ— principle of Union and Communion between God and man Ephes 2. 13. when we are converted sanctified the soul is made nigh to God 1 Cor 6. 17 He that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit who before was afar off and is now joineâ— to the Lord in the Spirit As a man cannot have communion with the Beasts because they live not the same life noâ— the Beasts with the Plants because they live a contrary life no more can a natural man have communion with God because he lives not the sâ—me life but the Saints through sanctification of the Spirit live a spiritual life the life of God and are therefore fitted for Communion with him and for the communications of his goodnesse to them 12. Sanctification turns moral Vertues into Graces Some persons are naturally meek patient sober temperate c. Some natural As 't was said of Augustus Caesar He turned brick into Marble persons are morally just and righteous in their dealing and Conversation in the World honest Dealers good Pay-masters make their word their deed All this a man may be and do yet perish for ever but when once Wisdom enters into thy heart whence once Sanctification in the power of it comes into thy soul there is a great change wrought The new soul acts and works in natural and motal Actions from inward renewed principles The principle of Grace the true Elixir turns moral Vertues into Graces and dignifies a mans natural Endowments and moral actions with a tincture of holinesse which makes a sweet perfume in Gods Nostrils hee now acts from God and for God in all he doth whether he eats or drinks or buys or sels all 1 Cor. 10. 31. is for the glory of God As carnal hearts are alwayes carnal in spiritual performances for the streams never run higher than the Head so on the contrary gracious hearts are spiritual in natural and moral actions The reason is the new man hath a new principle to act from and a new End to act for and aim at but before he was sanctified he had neither 13. Another excellency of Sanctification is this That the righteousnesse of Sanctification next to the righteousnesse of Christ for justification will be of the greatest worth and value support and comfort at death and judgment At Death and Judgment the rich mans Riches the wise mans wisdome the ambitious mans honours the voluptuous mans pleasures the hypocrites formality the civil mans civility and the moral mans morality These Lying Idols and rotten sticks which unholy persons have made their hope their stay and the Rock of their Confidence shall then all fail them and sink quite under them but then shall the pure in heart see God Mat. 5. 8. then shall the Righteous lift up their heads like Mat. 13. 43. Princes and shine as the Sun in the presence of their Father a dram of saving Grace will be then more valuable and more comfortable than mountains of Gold than millions of Worlds This was a River of comfort flowing in upon Ezekiahs heart as he lay upon his sick-bed for ought he then knew upon his death-bed viz. the review of his sanctified heart life Remember O Lord how I have walked Isa 38. 3. before thee in truth and with a perfect heart c. Beloved There will be a great Cry at midnight the Bridegroom comes go forth to meet him Matth. 25. 6. The coming of Christ to Judgment will be very sudden and very terrible to secure sinners if you with the foolish Virgins have only oyl in your Lamps a blaze of profession without and not with the wise oyl in your Vessels the true stock and treasure of grace in your hearts you will cry Mat. 25. 12. Mat. 7. 22. 23. Read those words and Tremble most dolefully and shrick most dreadfully at that day but Christ will not hear you hee will take no notice of you The King of glory will enter his Presence-chamber with all his Saints and shut the door against you ver 10. And the door was shut then knock never so hard cry never so loud the door is shut there 's no hope of entrance the Lord will Answer I Grace is the Bridegrooms favour by which they are admitted into his Chamber of Glory know you not vers 12. Then your sop will be sorrow weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth for madnesse and anguish will be your portion no grace no glory Wherefore Sirs for the Lords sake and for your own souls-sake look about you the coming of the Lord draweth nigh If ever ye hope in earnest to be saved be sure you are truly and throughly sanctified for there is no hope of salvation without sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth 2 Thes 2. 13 14. 14. And lastly To name no more Sanctification is the early dawning of Salvation the very beginning of Heaven In that golden Chain Rom. 8. 30. there is mention made of Calling Justification and of Glorification but nothing of Sanctification to note that sanctification is Heaven begun already it is not only the way to Heaven but 't is Heaven it self the more holy thou art the more thou dost live the life of God and the more thou dost anticipate the life of Heaven that Glorious life which the Angels of God and the blessed spirits of just men made perfect live there Heb. 11. 22. 23. Thus through the assistance of God wee have hinted something of the transcendent excellency of Sanctification which we have in by and from our Lord Jesus who is made of God or given of the Father to be our Sanctification Holinesse is the Name of God the Seed of God the Will and Word of God it is the Work of God 't is the very Image of God it is the Life of God 't is the Nature of God 't is the Glory of God Again Sanctification renders one man far more excellentthan another 't is one grand Attainment of the death of Christ 't is the principal of Union and Communion with God Sanctification turns moral Vertues into Graces 'T is the second best Cordial of
5. 20. Phil. 1. 9 10. are excellent he hath now a new spiritual clear affectionate knowledge of and a more distinct piercing knowledge in the Mysteries of the Gospel than ever he had befâ—râ— An enlightned head and a sanctified heart go both together This is the second effect or rather sweet Concomitant of Sanctification viz. Illumination 3. The third Effect or rather Concomitant or Adjunct of our Sanctification is Faith hee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est eandem fidem ex ejusdem spiritus afflatu dono Beza that hath the spirit of Holiness hath also the spirit of Faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. wee having the same spirit of Faith the spirit of Sanctification is also the Author of Faith for Faith is formally a special part of Sanctification 1 Joh. 5. 1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God that is our faith in Christ is a certain sign and evidence of our Regeneration He that believeth that Jesus is the Christ i. e. the promised Messiah is born of God The learned Blasphemia pessima Haeresis erat apud Judaeos Consiteri Iesum Mariae filium esse Christum upon the place observe that there was a great Controversie in the Apostle Johns days whether Jesus the Son of Mary was the Christ the promised Messiah or not And the blasphemous and blinded Jewes counted it the worst of Heresies to confess Jesus the Son of Mary to be Christ The Jews were many wayes offended in him offended in the vileness of his Appearance in the humility of his Conversation in the ignobleness of his Parentage in the sharpness and Authority of his Doctrine in the knowledge of his Countrey as I might demonstrate easily when Christ shall come say they we know not whence hee is but we know whence this man is i. e. of what Parentage and of what Countrey John 7. 27. The Scriptures had fore-told that the promised Messiah when he came should redeem Israel restore all things pardon sins seek and save that which was lost proclaim liberty to the Captives Comfort those that mourn bind up the broken-hearted bring in everlasting Righteousness and save his people with an everlasting salvation But the obstinate and heretical Jewes would not grant all this to the son of Mary They denyed Christ to be the true Messiah They Traduced the Son of God and blasphemously in thought and word reputed him an Impostor Therefore 't is said 1 John 11. 12 13. verses He came to his own and his own received him not Hee came to his own creature man and generally the generation of mankind did not receive him but refuse him so some expound it but others as Calvin give a better sense Thus he came to his own i. e. to his own Country men the Jewes of whom according to the flesh he came who is over all God blessed for ever but they received him not i. e. * Rom. 9. 5. Sed rectius sentiunt qui referunt ad solos Judaeos Calvin 1 Joh. 11. as their King and Saviour but to as many as received him to them gave he power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only power but also dignity priviledge to bâ—come the sons of God even to as many as believed his Name and who are these that thus believe in Christ and receive him into the hearts Why such as are not born of blood of an high and noble Parentage which the Jews gloried in being descended from Abrâ—ham nor of the flesh nor of the will of man nâ—â— by any principle of corrupted nature not bâ— the meer power of our own will but by the will and grace or gracious will of God we Jam. 1. 18. Ephes 2. 4. are born again or sanctified Now who are they that born of the will of God Why they that believe in Christ and receive him by Faith into their hearts as God hath promised and propounded him in the Gospel as Prephet Priest and King in all his Offices or aâ— the Text hath it as wisdome righteousness saâ—ctification and redemption Through Faith the soul doth receive in and Secundum diversos respectus fides regenerationis nostrae pars est ex regeneratione tanquam ex fonte manat fides Calv. conceive with the incorruptible seed of the Word of God whereby Christ is formed the new creature is produced the soul is regenerate or born again into a new and divine life wherefore if you are born again or sanctifieâ— which is the same you have faith in Chriâ—â— crucified at Jerusalem 1. You do believe that Jesus is the Christ 2. You do believe on Jesus Christ 1. You do believe that Jesus is the Christ that Jesus is the Saviour that there is no saâ—vation by any other Acts 4. 12. That he was â—nointed by the Father as Prophet Priest and Kiâ—â— Isa 61 1. for the perfecting of your salvation 〈◊〉 the obtaining of eternal Redemption for you Heb. 9. 12. Luther hath a notable speech upon Psal Ego saepe libenter hoc inculco ut extra Christum oculos aures claudatis dicatis nullum vos scrire Deum nisi qui fuit in Gremio Mariae suxit ubera ejus Luther Credere quod sit Christus est ab eo sperare quaecunque de Messia promissa sunt Calv. Comment in 1 John 5. 1. 130. Often and willingly saith he do I inculcate this that you should shut your eyes and your ears and say you know no God out of Christ none but he that was in the lap of Mary and sucked her breasts He means none out of him Iâ— is not a mystical Christ within you but the man Christ Jesus without you who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary crucified at Jerusalem rose again and ascended up into Glory that you must believe in for the remission of all your sins for the justification of your persons and for your eternal life Wee finde it recorded in Scripture and in History that this was the Grand Test of a Believer in the Primitive times Dost thou believe that Jesus is the Christ or that Jesus Christ is the son of God because in those dayes it was little less than Death among the Jews thus to own and confesse Christ 2. If you are born again or sanctified you do believe on Jesus you believe on the Name of the Son of God This is Gods great Commandment and our great Duty 1 John 3. 23. As God doth offer and propound him in the Gospel so accordingly ye do receive him into your hearts with all his Offices with all his Graces with all his inconveniencies You look upon Gods Terms as holy equitable and most advantagious to you Ye trust to Christ and rely on him alone for wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption God tenders his Son in the Gospel as the desire of all Nations aâ— the chiefest Hag. 2. 7. Cant. 5 10. Isa 63. 1. Heb 7. 25. Heb. 2. 17.
Heb. 5. 2. or Standard-bearer among Ten thousand as the most mighty merciful and every way glorious and compleat Saviour God hath made him your All in All He is of God made unto us wisdome righteousnesse c. Now God requires you should honour the Son as he hath honoured him for in honouring the Son you honour the Father and that in the highest manner God expects you should receive him as he hath offered him Oh then give glory to him by receiving him * Justifying faith is defined in short to bee a Cordial accepting of Christ as Lord Saviour in all his Offices c. So Dr. Preston Mr. Wil. Strong Mr. Baxter c. by accepting of him for your Lord and Saviour Embrace your blessed Saviour in the armes of Faith vail your souls to him close with him cling and cleave to him glory and rejoice in him draw down vertue daily from him lay all your wants upon him the oftner you come to him the more welcome and the fuller and richer you shal go from him As God hath made him your All in All so believe Joh. 1. 16. in him and make use of him as your All iâ— All. Now is this precious faith this faith unfeigned this faith of Gods Elect wrought in your souls yea or not Know assuredly if you are sanctified in Christ Jâ—sus if you are Godâ— workmanship created in Christ Jesus c. Ephes 2. 10. This precious grace is wrought in yoâ— called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the work of God * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 6 29. This is the work of God that you believe in him whom he hath sent Where this precious Faith is 't is alwayes found with these precious principal properties or vital operations 1. It Animates 2. It Purifies 3. It Fructifies 4. It Pacifies 5. It Operates 6. Amplifies 7. It Corroborates 8. It Exhilarates 1. Faith Animates enlivens and quickens the soul of man it is such a principle of spititual Life that a Believer doth not so much live as Christ by faith lives in him The spirit of Faith I am certain if not faith it self which of all graces leads the Chorum is the forma informans whereby a man before both legally and morally dead is now enlivened and lives to God Gal. 2. 20. Hab. 2. 4. Rom. 1. 17. Heb. 10. 38. Our whole life here is a life of Faith our life hereafter is a life of Vision or Sight here we walk by faith and not by sight 2 Cor. 5. 7. How sweet and heavenly is that Life which is derived from and maintained by the life of Christ himself 2. Faith purifies where there is life there is motion where faith is there is purification A Believer having a vital principle like a living Fountain labours to work out the mud of sin to cleanse and purge it self from inward filthinesse so as not to approve it allow it or mingle with it Acts 15. 9. having purified their hearts by faith as sicknesse is poyson to the blood and spirits so is sin to the soul now as all the spirits in their natural motions tend to self-preservation so the spirit of faith or the spirit by faith musters together and stirs up all the powers of the Inner-man for self-purification without purification there can be no preservation and Faith is the principal grace that purifies 3. Faith fructifies a living faith is a working a fructifying or a fruit-bearing faith as the Apostle James demonstrates James 2. 14 to the end They that are purified by faith in the blood of Christ are zealous of good works Tit. 2. 14. How many Believers at large are there that look green and fair and make a brave flourish afar off but come near them and well observe them view their hearts and their lives or their hearts by their lives and works and you shall finde them like the barren Fig-tree which Jesus saw full of leaves but without fruit to relieve him in his hunger the Curse of barrenness will strike to the hearts of such Professors as it did to the heart of that Fig-tree By Faith we have Union with Psal 36. 9. Jer. 2. 13. Joh. 15. 1. Rev. 22. 2. Christ the fountain of Life the fountain of living waters the True Vine and Tree of Life that grows in the midst of the Paradise of God All these Metaphors bespeak abundant fruitfulness and that of the choicest fruit The grapes of Canaan the graces of the Spirit the works of Righteousness and Acts of charity and mercy to the praise and glory of God by Jesus Christ In a word have you faith in Christ Jesus and hope in Heaven why then yee bring forth fruit as they do all the world over that have recieved the grace of God in truth Consider well 1 Col. 4. 5 6. 4. Faith pacifies as well as fructifies as it fructifies a barren Desart and makes the wilderness and solitary place to blossom as the Rose as Lebanon Sharon and Carmel so it pacifies Isa 35. 1 2 a troubled Conscience it stils the rage and surges of this Sea As once Christ said to the Winds and Waves so faith in the name and power of Christ speaks to the perplexed soul peace and bee still and there is a great calm Christians would live more the life of peace if they lived more the life of Faith the more of faith the less of servile fear being justified by faith we have peace with God c. Rom. 5. 1. Phil. 4. 7. And this peace of God passeth all understanding When the Clouds of Temptation Dr. Tho. Goodwin in his Vanity of Thoughts and the winds and waves of passion are up a few thoughts of Faith will quiet all as * a worthy Man observes There is no peace saith my God to the wicked Isa 57. 21. but a true Believer hath peace with God through Jesus Christ the Prince of peace he hath peace in Heaven and peace on Earth peace with God and peace with his own conscience for the Kingdome of God is righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. 5. Faith operates it acts and works by love Gal. 5. 6. for in Jesus Christ neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but Magnes amoris amor faith which worketh by love Faith worketh love wee love God when by faith wee apprehend that God loveth us first 1 John 4. 19. we love him because hee first loved us and as faith works love so it works by love Faith is the great Wheel the principal Grace that animates actuates moves influences love patience zeal and every other grace that sets all other wheels a going that quickens and strengthens all other graces in their proper respective motions and operations In the 11 Chapter to the Hebrews Faith is represented as the principle of Obedience The words of Dr. Bates in his Sermon upon Heb. 11. 6. conveying vigor and strength to other graces whereby they
not 't is wrought in us by the power of the Holy Ghost 2. Sanctification is not a common work the making of man at first was not a Common but a special work let us make man after Gen. 1. 26 our own likenesse the making of other creatures was by the word of power but the making of man was an act of counsel And sure I am the forming of Christ in the soul the new workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good Ephes 2. 10 works is one of the greatest and most glorious works of God farre surpassing the Creation of Heaven and Earth Wherein God shews himself an Artist to the uttermost Sanctification is the decking of the soul with Christs Image a representation of God in his highest Excellency and this is not a common but a special Priviledge a divine Ornament which God bestows on none but upon his choice Favourites a special and peculiar people 1 Pet. 2. 9. Use 4 Let all such that are in some measure sanctified or that truely desire to be sanctified wait on God till the work be accomplished Though your wills be perverse and obstinate God can bend and bow them God never made a Creature too strong for himself he that hath begun the good-work in you will Phil. 1. 6. perfect it he is able to do this thing in us and for us and he is faithful in the performance of his Promises to us 1. He is able Who hath resisted his will His Rom. 9. 19 Isa 59. 1 Phil. 3. 21 1 Thes 5. 24. Heb. 10. 23 hand is not shortned He by the mighty power of his Spirit can subdne us and all things to himself 2. He is faithful Faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it Believe O ye doubting desponding Souls in the veracity fidelity and immutability of the great and good God Hear what God and not what the Tempter speaks God hath promised to work in you to will and to do Phil. 2. 13. That Assertion carries along with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Et velle perficere These words are a Meiosis it the nature of a Promise Hath not the living and true God Promised in the New Covenant to sprinkle you with clean water to circumcise your hearts to put his Law into our mindes to write his Law in our hearts to take away the heart of stone to give us the ministration of his Spirit not to quench the smoaking Flax that is to kindle it not to break the bruised Reed that is to strengthen it and to send forth Judgement unto Victory that is to carry on the work of Sanctification in the Soul in spight of all opposition till it be compleat in Glory Oh then What remains but that we should all act Faith upon Gods power and faithfulness in making good his Promises or else wee shall discomfort our selves needlesly and dishonour God exceedingly And withal remember 't is very expedient to turn these Promises into Prayers and act Faith on them in Prayer The Promises are as so many Bills under Gods own hand which in the name of Christ we ought to present to the Father and to put them in suit at the throne of Grace Thus come in Faith and ye shall go away with Comfort Use 5 As a consequent of the former let such as are distressed through the sense of Sin and for want of holiness look up to Christ Jesus for Sanctification he of God is made unto us Sanctification believe in the Joh. 6. Joh. 14. 1 Mediatour in him whom God hath sent honour the Son as ye honour the Father God hath so appointed it Look up to him all ye the ends of the Earth and be saved so look Isa 45. 22 up to him and ye shall be also sanctified be daily looking up to Jesus the Author and Finisher of your Faith the Alpha and Omega of your holiness Heb. 12. 2. Look up to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aspicientes in illum Isa 61. 1. 1 Joh. 1. 7 Christ for the Spirit of Sanctification from Christ if ever ye would partake of his Unction The Christal stream wherein we are washed and made clean flows out of Christs own heart The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin Faith makes Application of this blood and so it purifies you may be poring long enough on your own filthiness and be filthy and dejected still unless you look up to this Fountain and see Christ given of God for your Sanctification you must apprehend him as the Lord your Righteousness and also as the High-Priest of your holiness else your Consciences will never be pure nor peaceable Naaman by the Prophets order was to go down and dip himself seven times in Jordan if he would be cured 2 Kings 5. 10. So by Gods order and appointment you must go down daily by the renewed Acts of believing to this Fountain and bathe and wash thy unclean Soul in the streams of this Jordan I mean Christs blood if ever thou wouldest be healed of thy sinful Leprosie Use 6 My sixth Use shall be to press us all to a serious sense of our absolute need of holiness Sanctification is not a thing indifferent which a man may have or not have and yet be happy no such matter You must be holy if ye will be happy 't is the unum necessarium the one thing needful Luk. 10 42 Prov. 4. 7 Sanctification is the principal thing Sanctification is the Wedding-Garment which renders ye amiable in the eyes of the King of Heaven without this the King will say Binde him hand and foot and cast him into outer darkness Mat 22. 12 13. Certainly this Wedding-garment is woven of the glorious beams of the Sun of Righteousness 't is both the Righteousness of Christ imputed and imparted Christs Righteousness say others with Faith and Holiness So Calvin and other Modern Writers The Graces of the Spirit are as Parliament Robes The Peers say some by rule of Peereage are not to sit in Parliament without their Robes The Graces of the spirit are the Jewels of the Covenant and Robes of Heaven No living or reigning there no sitting in Heaven as Peers of State as Kings and Priests without these Robes of Glory the Righteousness of Christ for Justification and the Graces of Christ for Sâ—nctification without all this white Linnen the Righteousness of the Saints Sanctification is the Seal or Mark of Heaven There is a Necesse est put upon Sanctification 1. For the honour of God of each Person in the Trinity â— For our own happiness 1. For the honour of the Father that his choice be not disparaged 2. For the honour of the Son that his Members be not deformed nor polluted 3. For the honour of the Holy Spirit that his charge may not miscarry or fall short of Glory 1. For the Honour of the Father whose choice we are we are chosen in Christ to be holy Ephes 1. 4. and
with that Cooling-Card 2 Pet. 2. 19. While they promise them liberty they themselves are the servants of Corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought in bondage They are the slaves of Satan in the bonds of lust I wish that all Prodigals and presumptuous sinners would seriously mind that Text But my Brethren I trust that ye have otherwise learned Christ If so be ye have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus then ye do put off concerning the former conversation the old man c. ye do put on the new man which after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in sanctitate veritatis vulg God is created in righteousness and true holiness or holiness of Truth Ephes 4. 22. 23 24. I trust the Lord hath given ye an understanding to know things that are excellent and to approve them that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ as the Apostles prays for the Phillippians Phil. 1. 9 10. Many excellent Gifts the Father of Lights bestows upon his Children indeed every good and perfect gift comes from him Christ himself is the Jam. 1. 17. first Best Gift of God A Gift of Gifts and sanctification in or by Christ Jesus I take to Joh. 1. 10. be the next Best Now you that are righteous with this inherent Righteousness hold on 1 Cor. 1. 2. your way and prosper the Lord be with ye The Angel of his presence save ye The Spirit of Jesus guide ye to the Hill of holiness and help you to perfect holiness in the fear of God You are under the vertue of sure and sweet promises for your great encouragement in Heavens way The Righteous shall hold on his way and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger Job 17. 9. The Lord strengthen your hearts and quicken your See these Texts Isa 40. 2 last verses Phil. 1. 6. Heb. 12. 2. Ezek. 36. 27. speed by these powerful and precious Promises and give ye a prosperous arrival at the fair Havens of rest and peace Amen We come now to close the whole with these two uses 1. By way of Conviction 2. By way of Caution Though I know the Rules of Method and the exigence of the Subject Command me yet I shall not proceed directly by way of Examination because that hath been already done from that Text Rom. 1. 7. To all that be at Rome beloved of God called to be Saints from whence the doctrine of calling hath been discussed the nature of Saintship and the signs and tryals of Sanctification have been largely shewn We shall therefore God willing proceed to the next in order viz. the Use of Conviction Use 8. This Doctrine of Sanctification we have so long insisted on serveth for Conviction If those that are Gods and Christs are sanctified in Christ Jesus if God the Father hath given them Christ his Son for their sanctification to make them holy Then this Point brings doleful news sad tidings in the mouth of it to three sorts of Persons To the Prophane To the Persecutors To the Scorners 1. The profane who mock at sin and slight holiness are hereby convicted and condemned 1. The prophane God hath no Birthright for such profane Esaus The people who are the Lords portion are an holy Nation washed from their filthinesse If ye are converted ye are washed and sanctified in the name and by the spirit of the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 6. 11. but prophane ones have â— spot upon them which is not the spot of Gods Children Deut. 32. 5. see what St. John speaketh of such kinde of persons as wallow in their filthiness 1 John 3. 8. He that committeth sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning he that tradeth in sin and maketh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui operam dat peccato So Beza sin his constant businesse work or practise as a workman doth his calling and followeth the same daily and deliberately A godly man may slip into sin through humane frailty and in the hurry of temptation may be overtaken with a fault But it is the profane man that is a trader in sin and a constant worker of iniquity Though such men may presume that they belong to God yet our Saviour expresly speaks they are the Devils Children John 8. 44. Ye are of your father the Devil for his works ye do c. These men have not the least pretence of a claim to Heaven they come exceeding short of Hypocrites who pretend to holiness and seem to be so but the prophane are neither civil nor moral Such gross sinners are called Dogs and Swine They are welâ—â—ing in the gall of bitterness and bound fast with the bond of iniquity as Peter told Simon Magus Acts 8. 23. All that such kinde of sinners have to say for the most part for themselves is this 1. That God is merciful 2. That their hearts are better than their lives To the first I answer that God is holy and just as well as mercifull and gracious The Lamb will turn a Lion the Saviour of the world will come as a terrible Judge in flaming fire to render vengeance to the ignorant and disobediext 2 Thes 1. 8. And if the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the wicked and ungodly appear 1 Pet. 4. 18. They shall appear indeed but like as chaffe before the Whirl-wind and as stubble before the flames Sinners do little All the Attributes of God aâ— justice mercy c. do run in the channel of his Holiness think that Gods mercy is an holy mercy which in a saving manner he will dispence to none out of Christ Sinners do err exceedingly to think that God is prodigal either of his own mercy or of his Sons Blood 't is only the sanctified in Christ Jesus exclusively who shall be the objects of his saving mercy the mercy of God and the merit of Christ are most sacred and precious things 1 Pet. 1. 18. The former is bestowed on none the latter is spilt for none but an holy and a peculiar people Justice must be satisfied else mercy can be never 1 Pet. 2. 9. dispensed if the merit of Christ be thine then the mercy of the Father is thine otherwise though the Ocean of Gods pardoning mercy be boundless and bottomless thou shalt not taste one drop of it Well then wouldst thou know that God will be mercifull to thy soul at the last day it highly concerns thee to know Christ in the power of his Resurrection and in the fellowship of his sufferings in this thy Phil. 3. 10. Day 2. To the other Plea That their hearts are better than their lives I answer This is to appeal to a witness that cannot be found to a witness that is as to us invisible 't is as if a man should lay claim to another mans Land and pretend he hath lost the evidences the
the world to seem and not to be just he converseth more with men than with God Yet the godly can appeal to God for their sincerity though they tremble at their defects and impurity like Peter John 20. 17. He appeals to Christs Omnisciency Lord thou knowest all things and thou knowest that I love thee So holy Job expostulates the case thus Let me be weighed in an even ballance that God may know mine integrity Job 31. 6. He could appeal to God the un-erring Rule of Righteousness in this matter he knew his integrity would hold weight And at another time he hath this self-abasing expression Mine eye seeth thee therefore I abhor my self in dust and ashes Job 42. 5. 6. As he could hold fast his integâ—ity so he could also loath and abhor himself in dust and ashes at the sight of Gods glorious Majesty and purity and in the sense of his own defects and failings Mark 3 3. False grace grows not better and better but rather worse and worse pretences wither rather than thrive an hypocrite goes backward rather than forward every day Jer. 7. 24. The Lord by the Prophet complains there that his people hearkned not nor enclined their ear but walked in the counsels and in the imaginations of their evil hearts and went backward and not forward False grace like bad salt grows worse and worse til it be cast out into the Dunghil but true grace from a grain groweth unto a Tree from a morning glympse to a perfect Noon Prov. 4. 18. The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect Day from smoaking flaxe it is blown up to fragrant flame Nicodemnus that came to Christ at first by night for fear of the Jews afterwards openly declareth for him and bestowed much cost upon the dead body of our Lord. Grace gets John 19. 39. ground upon the flesh and by degrees advanceth to a Victory Now examine your hearts whether ye encrease or decrease whether ye go forward or backward whether your faith love zeal patience heavenly-mindedness Rev. 2. 4. c. thrive or not If ye have left your first Love if ye have lost your care of Duty sense of sin and hungring and thirsting appetite after Christ and his Righteousness 't is a sad sign Remember therefore from whence ye are fallen and repent and do your first works be also watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to dye 'T is Christs Blessed Counsel Revel 2. 5. Revel 3. 2. Mark 4 4. False grace is not humble Formalists are commonly proud and self-conceited persons with true Grace there goeth alwayes Notare verò operae pretium est neminem spiritu esse pauperem nisi qui in nihilum apud se redactus in Dei misericordiam recumbit Calv. in Matth. 5. 3. a spiritual poverty or a sense of spiritual wants the poor in spirit are first in order of the Beatitudes Matth. 5. 3. The more knowledge the Saints have the more they discern their ignorance the more faith the more they bewail their unbelief Lord I believe help thou mine unbelief Mark 9. 24. The more they love him the more they blame their hearts for loving hâ—m no more they call upon their souls to love him most intensively Grace grows most and thrives best in a low and humble soyl the lowest Valleys are far more fruitful than the highest Mountains 't is a good sign when the soul is kept hungry and humble in the sense of its wants amidst the height of its enjoyments 3. The next is Restraining Grace which What restraining Grace is is nothing else but an awe put by God upon the Conscience constraining a man to forbear sin though he doth not hate it You may discern it by these signs Sign 1 1. Love is of little use and force with such spirits They are under a spirit of bondage chained up by their own fears not moved by the great Gospel Motive viz. Mercy 'T is our Rom. 12. 1. Duty to serve God with Reverence and filial fear but not with a servile and distrustful fear a servile fear hath little of Grace in it Heb. 12. 28. much of Torment We ought to fear God much but to love him more Love is the very life and soul of all Gospel-obedience Sign 2 2. Restraining Grace doth not destroy sin but only prohibit the acts of it Abimelechs lust was not mortified when God with-held him from Sarah Gen. 20. 6. 't was only suspended not subdued the heart was not renewed though the action was curbed as Israel had an adulterous heart towards other Lovers when their way was hedged up with Hos 2. 6. thorns But when the Spirit of holinesse in power comes he comes as a Spirit of Liberty 2 Cor. 3. 17. He frees the soul from the servitude of base lusts and mortifies them and both strongly and sweetly turns and enclines the heart to hate every false way and to run the wayes of Gods Commandments with an enlarged Psal 119. 32. heart 4. The fourth thing that looks like Sanctification and yet is not is common or temporary grace This is a distinct thing from all the rest 't is higher than all the former it differs from Civility because 't is more Christian and Evangelical it differs from Formality because that is in shew only but this is a real work on the soul 'T is better than restraining grace because that avoids sin and performs Duties out of slavish fear but this seemeth to have some affection for Christ his Word and Kingdom 't is good in it self but not the best not throughly sanctifying and saving this a man may have and yet fall away and depart from God so it was with the stony and thorny ground Matth. 13. This is the nearest to true Grace of all the former of this the Apostle speaks Heb. 6. 4 5. which is called an enlightning a taste of Christ and of the powers of the world to come and a partaking of the Holy Ghost i. e. of the common gifts of the Spirit abilities for holy duties great parts c. from whence I shall briefly note these three things 1. That the Light here spoken of is not Quam perniciosum sit inflari notitiâ— sine charitate in sacris legitur Prov. 26. 12. P. M. humbling 2. The taste is not ravishing 3. Their gifts are not renewing 1. Their light is not humbling Knowledge puffeth up love edifieth 1 Cor. 8. 1. Foundations sink that are not laid deep enough you can never magnifie Christ enough nor abase self enough Christ is most magnified when self is most abased This Dagon Isa 2. 19. must fall down before the Ark sound humiliation brings sure and solid Consolation we must not rashly close with Christ in the pride of our hearts as they did but be sure we have depth of earth broken and contrite spirits 2. Their tast was not ravishing nor
sweetly reposeth it self in the â—osome of God by love 1 John 4 7 8. Beloved let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is Love You see love to God and to the Brethren is both a sure sign and a genuine effect of Regeneration which is synomminous with Sanctification This grace of Love is the very soul of all Religion the very life of the new Creature the closure of the soul with God in the sweetest manner he that hath most of this grace hath most of all graces This is one of the precious things promised in the new Covenant Deut. 30. 6. viz. An heart to love the Lord the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul This is made a special effect and evidence of thy spiritual Circumcision or Sanctification In Sanctification as the understanding is enlightned to know God so the will and affections are renewed changed rightly ordered and enclined to love God as his chiefest good and as his utmost End Corn and Wine and Oyl and all the world is then counted nothing to the light of Gods countenance All other Beloveds are no body to Jesus Psalm 4. 6 7. Cant. 5. 10. Christ the chiefest of ten thousands A sanctified soul exactly viewing and well weighing the glittering pomp and splendor of this world all natural and moral excellencies on the one hand and Jesus Christ on the other cryes out with the Martyr Lambert None Foxes Acts and Monuments 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 propter eminentiam cognitionis Christi Iesu Moâ—â— but Christ none but Christ Counts all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dogs-meat garbage to the excellency of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ Phil. 3. 8. A Christian loves himself his Relations and worldly comforts with a common love but God and Jesus Christ with a special love He loves his temporal Enjoiments secondarily and subordinately but he loves God and Christ primarily intensively and superlatively yea so highly intensive is his love to God his Father to Christ his Saviour to the holy Spirit his souls Comforter to Heaven and heavenly things his only Treasure that his love to other things comparatively may be called an Hatred i. e. a much inferiour a far more remiss love See Luke 14. 26. more distinctly First A sanctified heart loves God with a Amore desideriâ— love of desire The strength of the heart goeth out in love this is called the breathing thirsting and panting of the heart after God Psalm 42. 1 2. The soul that loves God above all things desires God above all things both intensivè with the greatest vigor and Adequatè as its Adequate and compleat Object Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee 2. A sanctified heart loves God with a love of Union as the heart of Shechem Amore unionis clave to Dinah Gen. 34. 3. So an holy soul cleaves unto God in Christ Barnabas exhorted the Disciples that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord Acts 11. 23. As the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David 1 Sam. 1. 18. So this Love is as it were a knitting of the soul with God Faith makes a mystical union of Persons Love makes a moral union of affections This is the very essence of Gospel-love God bestows himself Aâ—or â—oâ— est nisi dâ—num amantis in amatum on us and we freely surrender our selves to God Thirdly A sanctified heart loves God with a love of good will or Benevolence we wish and will give and ascribe all honour and 〈◊〉 Benevolentia praise all glory and dominion unto him This is the genuine product of his love in Christ to us as Revel 1. 5 6. Vnto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Lord saith an holy soul let all thine be mine and let all mine be thine and let thine be for thy glory let every person Cant â— 16 and creature and thing in Heaven above and in earth beneath be a shril Trumpet a loud Cymbal to sound forth thy praises Fourthly A sanctified heart loves God with Amore complacentiae acquiescentiae a love of Complacence and Rest Where we love the eye of the soul the mind is fixed with a delightful stay ubi amor ibi oculus the Object dwels in the 〈◊〉 we are still looking where we love When I awake saith the Psalmist Anima plus est ubi amat quà m ubi animat I am still with thee in my contemplations and affections My meditation of him shall be sweet I will be glad in the Lord Psalm 104. 34. Love goeth forth upon the feet of Desire and rests in the bosome of Delight There is an holy acquiescence of the heart in God God saith of his Saints This is my Rest for ever Psal 132. 14. Psal 116. 7. Psal 91. 9. Ephes 3. ult here will I dwell the Saint saith of God Return to thy rest O my soul A Saintt makes God the most High his Habitation and a Saints heart is the Habitation of God through the Spirit Here lyes the sweetness of holiness the marrow and fatness of Religion This World would be a Dungeon and Heaven it self a melancholly shade without the love of God 't is this that makes Heaven and Earth sweet unto the sanctified Heaven would be no Heaven God could not be the joy if he were not the love of Saints but there both love and Psal 16. ult joy shall be full But whilst the Saints are solacing themselves with Heaven and delighting themselves in God other men are following after other Lovers The covetous man makes Mammon his God the voluptuous man makes Pleasure his God the Ambitious man makes Honour his God the Formalist and Hypocrite makes Common grace self-righteousness a bare profession or the meer externals of Devotion his God and Saviour because every one of these make some of these their only Treasure and Happiness They dote upon them addict themselves to them trust to them and in them and love them more than God But a Saint that knows God makes Jehovah his God he hath but one the living and true God to honour love and serve who is the fountain of his life and blessedness Psal 36. 9. Psal 87. 7. Col. 3. 3. in whom all his springs are in whom with Jesus Christ all his Comforts live and from whom by Jesus Christ all his felicity is conveyed to make him happy in both worlds The new creature hath a new heart according to that full and free Promise Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart will