Angellorum Candidati of Gods Glory is the Saints heaven Swine know not what to do with Pearls nor carnal creatures with the life and joyes above Suppose that which is not to be supposed were it possible an unsanctified person should go to heaven that holy place and holy Company would be an hell to him he would be as Coelum est altera Gehenna damnatorum weary of heaven as ever water was of running according to the Proverb If the faint Image of God in his Saints if the glympse of Gods presence in his Ordinances be so irksome and unpleasant to an unholy soul here Oh how terrible and contrary to his spirit would the most glorious Presence of God in heaven be where the Seraphims cry continually Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabaoth c where God displayes his holiness in the greatest splendor and glory God is perfect light Isa 6. 3. Revel 4. 8. 1 Joh. 1. 5. the man is darkness they could never agree together An unsanctified person indeed may desire Heaven as a disproportionate good as a place better to be tolerated than the torments of hell he may desire heaven as a privation of suffering and misery but not as a privation of all sin nor as the perfection of Grace and holiness nor as it is the nearest union of the soul with God and the highest fruition of the chiefe good Thus for him to desire or long for Heaven is against the very grain and hair of his spirit altogether inconsistent with and contrary to his old untenewed nature Now on the contrary the Saints whose eyes are enlighted with the eye-salve and by the prospective of Faith have Rev. 3. 18. had a view of this King and Kingdome these Isa 33. 17. make a right Scheam or draught of Heaven and their believing hopes of interest in this 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature Gloria quam habebunt conformem Christi corpori corpori incomprehensibilis est Calv. in Phil. 3. 21. Kingdome and of communion with this Company that is above do engage them to purification 1 John 3. 2 3. He that hopes and longs to see Christ as he is and to be like him both for constitution of soul and temper of body he must ever labour to be holy and he will be trying and practising here on earth to conform to Christ before-hand He that expects that his vile body shall be made like Christs Glorious body 1 in spirituality purity clarity strength splendor and Glory he will possess his Vessel in sanctification and honour hee dares not use his body meerly as a streiner for meats and drinks nor as an unclean channel for lusts to pass through but he will honour it as a Temple of the holy Ghost his mind that shall see God he will not fill with chaffe and vanity with worldly cares or unclean thoughts his affections that should cleave to God intensively and inseparably he will not prostitute to every base object he will labour to keep his garments clean to walk without spot and blamelesse till the coming of the Lord. Thus with respect to the fruition of our hopes and the attainment of our happiness we are engaged and not engaged only but enclined and sweetly constrained also to habitual and actual holiness or as the Apostle excellently phraseth it to cleanse our selves from all fil hiness of flesh and spirit and perfect holiliness 2 Cor. 7. 1. in the fear of the Lord. Use 7. In the seventh place This point informs us of the excellency of Sanctification or Holiness ye have heard already much of its absolute necessity now something of its transcendent Excellency Holiness is the Name of God the Will of God the Work of God the Seed of God the Nature of God the Image of God the life of God the Glory of God the lustre and splendor of the soul the health and vigour of the soul the soul of man is the Physical Image of God but the holiness of the soul is the Ethical or qualitative image of God 'T is the seed of Glory the beginning of Heaven the first fruits and fore-runners of eternal Life 'T is a known Maxim That which partakes of the nature of the whole is Quicquid participat de naturâ totius est pars totius a part of the whole the filings of Gold are Gold ramenta auri sunt preciosa Grace is very precious true sanctifying saving grace is Glory The holy people are the most precious honourable people in the world Since thou wast precious Isa 43. 4. in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee c. The righteous is more excellent Prov. 12. 26. than his Neighbour See how many honourable Titles God doth honour his Saints in Scripture with 1. They are his portion Deut. 32. 9. 2. They are his pleasant portion Jer. 12. 10. 3. They are his inheritance Isa 19. 25. others are the works of his hands but the Saints are his inheritance 4. They are the dearly beloved of his soul Jer. 12. 7. 5. They are his Treasure his peculiar treasure Exod. 19. 5. and his peculiar people 1 Pet. Segallah et 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are the same 2. 9. Titus 2. 14. 6. They are the Apple of his Eye Zech. 2. 8. whoso toucheth you toucheth the Apple of mine Eye 7. They are his Glory Isa 46. 13. 8. They are the house of Gods Glory Isa 60. 7. 9. They are a Crown of Glory Isa 62. 3. 10. They are the Throne of God Exod. 17. 16. the words may be read thus because the hand upon the Throne of the Lord and so by many they are translated 11. The Throne of Glory Jer. 4. 21. 12. The Ornament of God Exek 7. 20. 13. The Beauty of his Ornament Exek 7. 20. 14. The Beauty of his Ornament set in Majesty Ezek. 7. 20. 15. A Crown of Glory Isa 62. 3. 16. A Royal Diadem Isa 62. 3. 17. Lastly The excellent in the Earth Psalm 16. 3. the Saints that are in the earth are the excellent in the earth the Jewels of the world you may enlarge in your own Thoughts This then serves to inform the mistaken and blind world that Grace is no disgrace that holiness is no dis-enobling but a most generous princely and glorious thing Brave spirits as the world accounts them think preciseness an inglorious and the power of Godliness a base thing that taketh off from their Grandure and Generosity * Coguntur esse mali ne viles habeantur Salvian Salvian complains that in his time the Great Ones were deter'd from serious holiness because it was Contemptible It was Gentleman-like to be wicked but Peasant or Vassal-like to be Godly whereas the service of God is the noblest and sweetest liberty but the service of sin the vilest slavery Though your jolly spirits think they are the freest men on earth The Apostle nips their Courage
riches of his grace through the Son to his Saints here so he will everlastingly communicate himself in the treasures of his glory through the Son to his Saints in heaven as Christ is the Medium of your spiritual union with God here so he will continue the eternal Medium of your glorious communion with God hereafter in his light ye shall see light The Soul-ravishing Vision of Jesus the Mediator Heb. 12. 24. â—omine fecistinos pro te cor irrequicâ—um est donec veniat ad te Aug. of the New Covenant and the Beatifical Vision of ever-blessed and glorious Deity in and through the Mediator is no small part or portion of the Saints Coelestial happiness God indeed is the Essence of the Soul the Eternal Entity of our happiness the Father of Spirits is the only rest and centre of our immortal Spirits for 1 Pet. 3. 18. Christ once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God our approximation or drawing nigh to God being the ultimate end as to us of Christs passion yet the seeing of Christ as he is when he shall appear in his Fathers glory when he shall come in power and great glory to see him as he is in his greatest glory and fullest Majesty sitting at the right hand of the Father and to see our humane nature in him as far exalted above so far more glorious than those glittering morning stars the Angels will be no small part or measure of our blessedness though not the quintessence compendium or complement thereof 1 Joh. 3. 2. Beloved now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be But we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is But to return Our Lord Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Eminency called that one Pearl of great price Mat. 13. 46. which the wise Merchant-man sold all that he had and bought This Pearl eminently and virtually contains all other Pearls in it is comprehensive of all excellent and Soveraign good which our souls stand in need of infinitely more precious and excellent than the rest and infinitely to be prized and preferred above the rest Christ not only hath but is wisdome to the simple rayment to the naked riches to the poor rest to the weary bread of life to the hungry water of life to the thirsty righteousness to the guilty sanctification to the filthy redemption to the captive peace and reconciliation to the enemy power to the faint a rock and refuge to the afflicted a shineing Sun to the disconsolate a saving shield to the assaulted in a word a full fons of living water of rich supply to those that labour under any distress or misery whether inward perplexity or outward calamity Philosophers brag much of their Elixir Naturalists boast much of their Panaecea and Catholicon and they would bear the world in hand as though these were Soveraign remedies against all maladies good against all diseases but these and all other whether natural artificial or moral excellencies are less than Cyphers to Jesus Christ compared with him they are less than nothing and vanity Isa 40. 17. 1. As Christ is God the worlds were made by him and for him by his power and for his glory Heb. 1. 2. Col. 1. 16. 2. As Christ is Mediator God-man so he is Heir of all things Heb. 1. 2. whom he that is the Father hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the worlds Now can he want light that lives in the midst of the Sun Can he want air that lives upon the top of the highest Mountain Can he want water that lives at the Well head No more can he want light life grace strength comfort or any good thing that lives in union and communion with Jesus Christ in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2. 9. * Qui habet habentem omnia habet oâ—nia He that hath him that owneth and possesseth all things hath all things 'T is an old and true saying Si Christum noscis nihil est si caetera nescis Si Christum nescis nihil est si caetera noscis Hath the Father given us the Son the Son of his eternal love of his eternal bosome then we may safely make with the Apostle this sweet inference How shall he not with him freely give us all things Rom. 8. 32. All things pertaining to life and godliness as the Apostle expresseth and explaineth it elsewhere 1 Cor. 3. 21 22 23. presents ye with a Christians Inventory and with a Christians tenure 1. A Christians Inventory All things A Christian hath a large dominion a great possession all things are yours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for all things are yours Descend from generals to particulars then all things must be referred to or subdivided by persons and things All persons are yours that is for your good and benefit whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas whether Ecclesiastical or secular persons whether godly or ungodly whether spiritual men or carnal men therefore v. 22. he adds the world the wicked world or rather the wicked of the world who ere long shall be judged by the Saints as Assessors with Jesus Christ the Supreme Judge 1 Cor. 6. 2. shall be subservient to Gods glory and to the Saints good Those Slaves and Scullions that rub off the rust and scoure and cleanse the Vessels of Honor by temptations afflictions imprisonments persecutions c. though not intentionally as to them yet accidentally and eventually by the blessing of God shall really promote and carry on their spiritual and eternal interest 2. As all persons so all things are theirs whether life or death or things present or things to come all are yours ver 22. What can a soul either have or wish for more for a man not only to enjoy the comforts of life but also to find sweetness in death to find meat in this Eater to find honey in this Lyon to live in the midst of death to lie down in peace in the arms or rather Jaws of the King of Terrors for this deadly Enemy by the death of Christ to be made one of our best friends Again For a man to be rich in possession and rich in reversion too for a man to have an interest in all things present and an interest in all things future also to have Territories as broad as the earth and a treasure as high as heaven and returns of glory coming in unto him and upon him to all eternity this is an incomparable rich person and an incomparable blessed estate indeed 2. Note the Tenure Ye hold all in Caepite in and by union with him who is Gods Heir and your Head Ephes 1. last and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods v. 23. Ye are the Bride Christ is the Bridegroom ye are the Body Christ is the Head as the Head
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
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
4. 10. He is that gift of God he the Peerless Pearl and personal Gift came down from the Father of Lights and brought all other good and perfect gifts real spiritual divine immortal excellencies from heaven along with him Jam. 1. 17. Joh. 1. 16 17 18. Christ doth not give 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 giftless gifts as commonly the men of the world give but gifts of the highest nature and of the greatest moment As the Father gives the Son so the Son gives himself Tit. 2. 16. He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works And with himself he gives us the most suitable the most profitable the most permanent the most magnificent and noble gifts in a word all spiritual blessings in heavenly things and places Ephes 1. 3. Thus have ye the Analysis of the Text the Propositions most obvious from the Text are these 1. That Christians are of a Divine Origination they are of God in Christ Jesus 2. That Christ Jesus is given of God the Father in all his fulness to true Christians 3. That Christ Jesus is given of God the Father for our wisdome for our illumination 4. That Christ Jesus is given of God the Father for our justification or righteousness 5. That Christ Jesus is given of God the Father for our sanctification or holiness 6. That Christ Jesus is given of God the Father for our redemption or for our deliverance from all our enemies and miseries To all these Propositions I have in some measure so far as I have received spoken But the Argument I intend God assisting at this time and in this Tract to dilate upon is contained in the fifth Proposition That Christ Jesus is made i. e. is ordained is given of God the Father for our sanctification Reserving the rest for another Treatise if these poor labours shall find acceptance with the Saints Who of God is made unto us Sanctification Doct. Christ Jesus is given of God the Father for our sanctification In the prosecution of this precious point I shall observe this method 1. I shall prove the point 2. Endeavour to shew how or in what sense Jesus Christ is our sanctification 3. Shew what sanctification is 4. The difference between justification and sanctification 5. The transcendent excellencies of sanctification 6. The blessed fruits of sanctification 7ly and lastly Make application of the whole 1. For the proof of the point this Text is plain and clear enough Christ is made of God unto us sanctification I need call in but two or three more Scriptures for farther confirmation That out of the mouth of two or three witnesses every word might be established The Testimonies I shall alledge are these Tit. 2. 14. Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works concerning which Text we may say as one hath Hen inâ— Com. in loc done before us Singula verba singularem emphasin habent every word hath a special emphasis The particulars herein may be reduced to these four Principals 1. The Donum or Donativum 2. The Donans 3. The Donati 4. Finis Donationis 1. The Donum or Donativum the gift here said to be given is the great God and that is here even our Saviour Jesus Christ The Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here is not to be construed disjunctively but exegetically 2. The Donans the giver or restorer of that gift is also Christ himself who gave himself 3. The Donati the persons on whom this gift is bestowed i. e. us who gave himself for us 4. Finis Donationis the end wherefore this gift was given is here expressed to be twofold For Redemption For Purification 1. For Redemption That he might redeem us from all iniquity 2. For our Purification And purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Where Christ is a Redeemer he is also a Purifier whom he justifies by his Merit and Blood from the guilt and punishment of sin those he sanctifies by his Spirit and Word from the contagion and filth of sin And this he doth two wayes Sacramentally Really 1. Sacramentally By instituting divers kinds of offerings and washings and other ceremonial observances in the daies of old of these the Apostle tells us that they sanctified to the purifying of the flesh Heb. 9. 13. making such as used them externally and Ecclesiastically In foro Ecclesiae pure and holy And thus Christians may be said to be purified in and by the Ordinances of Baptisme under the Gospel now 2. Really By inward real and spiritual washing and purifying of the inner man which consisteth in two things In washing away the Guilt and Filth of sin The one is done away in Justification the other in Sanctification 1. In Justification The blood of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cleanseth us from all sin 1 Joh. 1. â— So Heb. 1. 3. Christ by himself purged our sins 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having made a purgation or purification that is by making satisfaction to Divine Justice by the sacrifice of himself 2. In Sanctification Christ takes away the filth of sin sin is called but never out of its own name pollution uncleanness superfluity of naughtiness the scum of filthiness and in order to our purification from it the Blood and Spirit Word and Ordinances of our Lord Jesus are called and compared to water to cleanse us from all filthiness of flesh and spirit and as God hath given us many promises to act faith upon through Christ for our purification as Ezek. 36. 25. Fâ—om all your filthiness and from all your Idols will I cleanse you and in v. 29. I will save you from all your uncleanness So Jesus Christ hath undertaken by Gods appointment to see these purifying promises performed in his Saints in whom they are all Yea and Amen and to bless and sanctifie his Word and Ordinances for his peoples purification according to the Commandment he hath received from his Father Again Ephes 5. 25 26 27. Who loved his Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing that it should be holy and without blemish Christ gave himself that is to death by the will of God as 't is expressed Gal. 1. 4. that he might sanctifie it that is say the Dutch Annotations that he might separate her from all worldly men and appropriate her to himself and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word that is by his Blood and Spirit whereof the washing of water in Baptisme is a sign and seal and withall the means whereby the Spirit of Christ doth more and more strengthen this cleansing The sum whereof is this Christ by the will of God and
above they have heavenly affections and heavenly conversations and shall have heavenly Mansions The Saints of Joh. 14 2. God among other Titles are called an holy Nation a Royal Priesthood and a Peculiar People 1 Pet. 2. 9. The Priests of old were men consecrated to Minister in Gods presence Now 1. This Consecration infers an holy preciseness and peculiar singularity in the Saints to keep themselves unspotted from the world Jam. 1. 28. 2. As God doth consecrate the Saints so they themselves having received grace from above do willingly dedicate and consecrate themselves to God They present their bodies i. e. their persons the body being put Synechdochically for the whole man as an holy and living sacrifice Rom. 12. 1. And for this dedication the Lord calls when he saith My Son give me thine heart c. he is pleased to call it by the name of a gift when 't is his due debt and because our free consent is a necessary fruit of his free grace every gracious soul doth voluntarily surrender or give up it self to God as the Macedonians did 2 Cor. 8. 5. Thus in the first place to sanctifie is to set apart and dedicate to an holy use 2. To sanctifie is to cleanse together with its positive act to renew endow or adorn with grace The privative part is cleansing the positive part is adorning First I shall consider the privative part of Sanctification as it is a cleansing work As the word Sanctifie signifies to separate so there is a difference between the Saints and others but as it signifies to cleanse so there is a difference between the Saints and themselves 1. They differ from others because they are a people set apart to live and act for God whether they eat or drink buy or sell they do all for God that is with respect to his glory 1 Cor. 10. 31. and so they are distinct from the men of the world who are meerly by assed by their own principles swayed by their own interests and act for Carnal Self in all they do 2. Sanctification makes a difference between them and themselves inter them unregenerate and themselves regenerate they were filthy before but washen now impure before but holy now Lyons before Lambs now Swine before but Doves now May not we say to and of the best of Saints that are extant as the Apostle speaks of the converted Corinthians 1 Cor. 6. 11. Such were some of you i. e. some of you had been Idolaters Adulterers Drunkards Covetous c. but now ye are washed justified and sanctified in the Name and by the Spirit of our Lord Jesus that is ye are not the same men and women that ye were before the grace of God having changed both their relations and their qualities As a man lately converted answered his old Companions when sollicited to excess of Riot Now I am not I As sin Ego non sam Ego Eras makes a wonderful cursed change in and upon the soul from good to bad yea to stark naught so grace makes a wonderful blessed change in and upon the soul from the worst to the best relation and condition that the rational creature can attain unto The deep and ingrained pollution of our nature is purged and done away 1. Inchoatively and generally at our grand bathing in Regeneration or first conversion Tit. 3. 5. when the soul doth begin at first to wash it self in the Fountain of Christs blood that Fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness Zech 13. 1. that is the first cleansing then the Leprosie begins to be abated and the soul to be made white in the blood of the Lamb then sin hath its mortal blow 2. Gradually and progressively by degrees the Image of Christ is drawn brighter and brighter goes on from glory to glory in the soul of man by the Pourtraicture of the spirit 2 Cor. 3. 18. and as the righteousness of Justification so the righteousness of Sanctification also is revealed and carried on from faith to faith The path of the just is a shining light Pro. 4. 18. that shineth more and more unto the perfect day As Naaman by the Prophets order went 2 Kin. 5. 10. 14. down and washt himself seven times in the streams of Jordan so the sinful soul of man must go down believingly and wash it self in the blood of Christ and in the water of the spirit in the stream of this Jordan if ever it will be clean Christ washt his Disciples feet Joh. 13. 11 12. alluding to the custome of the Jews who wearing Sandals and dirtying their feet daily were wont to wash their feet daily So every day while we converse in and with the world we contract dirt and filth daily we must be therefore washing off the dirt by the renewed acts of faith and repentance daily we ought to make recourse daily to the blood spirit word and promises of Christ for our Justification and thereby cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7. 1. 3. Totally or wholly that is at our dissolution when we shall be glorified when the body of flesh shall lie in the dust of death then the body of sin shall lie down with it then the souls of the Saints shall be presented glorious without spot or wrinkle be pure from sin and perfect in holiness Now through grace the Saints are freed from the guilt and dominion of sin but at death they are perfectly free from the being of it As a worthy man well observes That as sin brought death into the world D. Manton in M. Loves Funeral Sermon with it so death by way of revenge carries out sin 'T is probable the time will be in the very moment of expiring saith the same Author As the soul in the moment of its conjunction with the body became sinful so the soul in the moment of its disjunction from the body becomes perfectly sanctified and is presented perfect by Christ to God for no unclean thing shall enter into the New Jerusalem Rev. 21. 27. Thus much for the privative part of Sanctification as it is a cleansing work 2. Something very briefly of the positive work of Sanctification as it is a decking or adorning the soul with grace under the Law as there was an Altar for Oblation so there was a Laver for Ablution and the Priests were commanded to wash in the great Laver before they came to minister at the Altar Exod. 30. 18 19 20. As the Oblation or Offering did note Justification so the ablution or washing did note our Sanctification And moreover the legal Priests were to be adorned with gorgeous attire with glorious garments when they appeared before the Lord which garments of glory and beauty without controversie did Exod. 28. figure out the glorious graces of Christ and all true Christians for as Christ is their King and Priest so they through the riches of grace have Communion with him in his Offices and therefore
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