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
and filthinesse taken away that we may be holy As to the first For the purging away of the filth of our dayly failings and transgressions Christ hath done those things 1. He hath died that He might procure this benefite and advantage to us and thus he hath washed us meritoriously in his blood which he shed upon the crosse Thus he loved us and washed us from our sins in his owne blood Revel 1 5. and this is from all sins as well such as are committed after as such as are committed before conversion Thus He by himself purged our sins Heb. 1 3. viz by offering up of himself as an expiatory sacrifice to make an atonement and so procure this liberty So also it is said Ephes. 5 25 26 27. that Christ gave himself for his Church that He might sanctify and cleanse it that He might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy without blemish So Tit. 2 14. He gave himself for us that he might purify to himself a peculiar people Zealous of good works Here then is the foundation and ground of all our cleanseing and purification Christ's death procuring it 2. As He hath procured so he sendeth the Spirit to effectuate this and to worke this washing and sanctification in us Hence it is said 1 Cor. 6 11. that we are sanctified and washed in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God We are said to be saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy ghost which he shed upon us abundantly through Iesus Christ our Saviour Tit. 3 5 6. The sending then or shedding of the holy and sanctifying Spirit upon us whereby we are sanctified and consequently purified and purged from our filth is a fruit of Christ's death and mediation being purchased thereby and is an effect of his resurrection and glorification and intercession in glory 3. He hath made a fountaine of his blood for this end that we may go to it daylie and wash and be cleane thus his blood cleanseth from all sin 1 Ioh. 1 7 9. This is the fountaine opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Ierusalem for sin and for uncleannesse Zech. 13 1. 4. He hath purchased and provided the externall meanes whereby this cleansing and sanctification is brought about viz the preaching of the gospell which He himself preached and thereby sanctified Iohn 15 3. Now are yee clean through the word that I have spoken unto you Ephes. 5 26. the Church is sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the word 5. So hath He procured and worketh in the soul those graces that promove and cary on this work of sanctification and purifying such as faith which purifyeth the heart Act. 15 9. whereof he is the author and finisher Heb. 12. and hope which whosoever hath purifyeth himself even as He is pure 1 Iohn 3 3. 6. He hath confirmed and ratified all the promises of the covenant which are ample and large touching this cleansing and washing Ier. 35 8. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me Ezech. 36 25. Then will I sprinkle cleane water upon you and yee shall be cleane from all your filthinesse So Ezech. 37 23. and I will cleanse them And all the other promises of the covenant apprehended by faith have no small influence on our cleanseing 2 Cor. 7 1. having there oâ—…e these promises let us cleanse our selves c. all which promises are yea and amen in Christ 2 Cor. 1 20. Thus Christ hath made all sure for the cleanseing and washing of his people conforme to that article of the covenant of Redemption So shall he sprinckle many nations Esai 52 15. Secondly As to the way of our usemaking of Christ for the purging away of our filth and daylie pollutions Beleevers would take this course 1. They would remember and live in the conviction of the exceeding abominablnesse and filthinesse of sin which is compared to the vomite of a dog and to the mire wherein the sow walloweth 2 Pet. 2 22. to filthy rags Esai 64 6. to a menstruous cloath Esai 30 22 and the like that this may move them to seek with greater care and diligence to have that filth washen away 2. They would remember also how abominable sin maketh them in the eyes of an holy God who cannot behold iniquity being a God of purer eyes than to behold it Habak 1 13. nor can He look on it And how therefore no unclean thing can enter in into the new Jerusalem nor any thing that defileth And this will make them so much the more to abhore it and to seek to be washen from it 3. They would look by faith upon the blood of Christ that is shed for this end to wash filthy souls into and run to it as a fountaine opened for this end that they might come to it and wash be cleane 4. For their encouragement they would grip by faith to the promises of the new covenant which are large and full 5. And remember the end of Christ's death viz to purchase to himself a holy people Zealous of good works to present them to Himself holy and without spot and wrinkle or any such thing and this will be a further encouragement 6. They would put the work by faith in his hand who hath best skill to wash a foule soul and to purge away all their spots and by faith pray for and exspect the Spirit to sanctifie and cleanse them from all their filthinesse that is they would make known and spread forth their abominations before the Lord and eyeing Christ as the only great Highpriest whose blood is a fountaine to wash in would lay the work on Him and by faith put Him to wash away that filth and to purifie their souls by his Spirit pardoning their bygone iniquities renewing them in the spirit of their mindes by grace that they may walk before him in fear Thus they would roll the work on Him and leave it there Cautions Directions 1. The beleever would in all this work be keeped in the exercise of those graces following 1. Of Humility seeing what a vile filthy wreatch he is that stands in need of washing and purging dayly because of his daylie pollutions and transgressions 2. Of Love considering with what a loving God he hath to do that hath provided so liberally 〈◊〉 things for him and particularly hath provided a fountaine and such a fountaine whereto he noâ—… only may but is commanded to resort dayly 3. Of Thankfulnesse remembering how great this mercy is how unworthy he is on whom it is bestowed and who He is that doth grant it 4. Of Fear least God's goodnesse be abused and He provoked who is so gracious to us 5. Of Sincerity and godly ingenuity avoiding all hypocrisie and formality knowing that we have to do with Him who
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