A Treatise of Faith, Part 2 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
What it is to liue by faith touching the promiſes of Sanctification, and how to ſtirre vp our ſelues thereunto.
Of the promiſes of ſanctification.THe next ſpirituall promiſes of things abſolutely neceſſarie to ſaluation are concerning Sanctification, or the killing of ſinne and quickening vsus to newneſſe of life, by the continued infuſion of holineſſe: and renouation of our hearts according to Gods Image, and to the enabling vsus to walke in new obedience according to couenant. And this is ſignified by the generall tearmes of ſubduing, ſauing, waſhing, cleanſi…g, and purging from ſinne and iniquitie.Mic 7.18, 19. Who is a God like vntounto thee, that pardoneth iniquitie, and paſſeth by the trangreſſion of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for euer, becauſe hee delighteth in mercy. He will turne againe, he will hauehave compaſſion vponupon vsus; hee will ſubdue our iniquities, and thou wilt caſt all their ſinnes into the depths of the Sea. Math. 1.21.He ſhall ſaue his p ople from their ſinne; which as it is true in the matter of our Iuſtification for the forgiueneſſe of our ſinne; ſo alſo in the point of Sanctification, for deliuering vsus from the power of ſinne. And ſo are the like generall ſpeeches to be vnderſtood,Iohn 1 29. 1 Iohn 2.2. 1 Iohn ….7. that Christ is the Lambe of God, which tak…th away the ſinnes of the world, that he was manifeſted to take away our ſinnes, that the bloud of Chriſt clenſeth vsus from all ſinne, Apoc. 1.5.that hee loued vsus and waſhed vsus from our ſinnes in his owne bloud. And this is that which the Lord of his free merciemercy promiſed to effect, for his Church and people,Eſay 4.3, 4. And it ſhall come to paſſe, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Ieruſalem, ſhall be called holy, euen eueryevery one that is written among the liuing in Ieruſalem. When the Lord ſhall hauehave waſhed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and ſhall hauehave purged the bloud of Ieruſalem from the midſt thereof, by the Spirit of Iudgement, and by the ſpirit of burning.
Now ſeeing we hauehave ſuch promiſes from God, it followeth neceſſarily, that a Chriſtian is allowed to belieue,A Chriſtian is allowed to beleeue theſe promiſes. that God of his free grace in Chriſt, will purge him from the filthy remainders of ſinne, and renew him more and more after his owne Image, in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe.
In the couenant of grace which God made with his people, hee promiſeth to take away their hearts of ſtone, Ezek. 11.19. Ier. 31.33. & 32.40. Ezek. 36.26, 27and to giuegive them hearts of fleſh; to put his law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; to put his feare in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from him: and to giuegive them a new heart, and to put his Spirit within them. But what God promiſeth, faith receiueth. It is no preſumption, but true obedience to aſſure our ſelues from God, of whatſoeuer hee hath paſt his promiſe and entred into band and couenant freely to giuegive.
The burdened are inuited to come vntounto Chriſt for eaſe, and the thirſtie for refreſhing. Is any man dried, withered, and burnt vp for lacke of the ſap and moiſture of grace, the fountaine is ſet open vntounto him, hee may come and drinke to the ſatisfying of his ſoule. If any man thirſt, Reuel. 22.17. Iohn 7.37. Verſe 38.let him come vntounto me, and drinke. He that belieueth on me, as the Scripture ſaith, out of his belly ſhall flow riuers of liuing water. Chriſt is the fountaine of grace and the well of life, euer-flowing and euer full,John 1.16. Col. 1.19. Epheſ. 1 23. Col. 3.10, 11. Col. 2.10. of whoſe fulnes eueryevery Belieuer doth receiue grace for grace, who filleth all in all, who is all in all, in whom wee are compleate, filled with all heauenly graces, which ſerue to remoue euill, or ſet vsus in ſtate of bleſſedneſſe. There is no grace but from Chriſt: no communion with Chriſt, but by faith. From Chriſt we receiue to belieue; and from him belieuing, we daily ſucke the life of grace. Chriſt is made vntounto vsus of God, Wiſdome and Sanctification, 1. Cor. 1.30.as well as Righteouſneſſe and Redemption: and as it is our dutie to belieue in Chriſt for pardon of ſinne, ſo to embrace him by faith for ſanctification, and to bee filled with his gifts of grace in our meaſure.
Chriſt by his bloud hath purchaſed for his people all ſpirituall bleſſings in heauenly things,Apoc. 1.5. Epheſ. 1.3. 2. Pet. 1.3. euen all th…ngs that pertaine to glory in the world to come, and to liue godly in this preſent world. But what Chriſt hath purchaſed, that we may aſſuredly belieue God will beſtow: He will not with-hold any thing, that he hath gratiouſly giuen to our Sauiour on our behalfe.
We are taught to aske of God in Ieſus Chriſt, increaſe and ſtrength of grace, that wee may be inabled to walke before him in new obedience.Col. 1.9, 10. We ceaſe not to pray for you, and to deſire that yee might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wiſdome and ſpirituall vnderſtanding: That yee might walke worthy of the Lord vntounto all pleaſing, being fruitfull in eueryevery good worke, and increaſing in the knowledge of God. 1. Theſ 5.23.And the very God of peace ſanctifie you wholly. But what wee are taught and commanded to begge in prayer, wee are allowed to belieue, that we ſhall obtaine it of free grace.
The faithfull hauehave relied vponupon God for grace and abilitie to walke in his wayes, and to finiſh the worke wherevn…o they were ordained.Ph. 1.20. 2. Tim. 4.18. Ph. 4.13. But all the faithfull, as faithfull be partners in the ſame promiſes and priuiledges, and liue by the ſame faith.
Wee are commanded to caſt off the old man, which is corrupt, Epheſ. 4.21, 22, 23, 24.with the affections and luſts, and to put on the New man, which after God is created in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe: But in the couenant of Grace, God giueth what he requireth: Mans dutie is his free gift of grace.
It is neceſſarie to belieue God will ſanctifie our nature, and enable to holineſſe.It is neceſſary a Chriſtian ſhould belieue, that God will ſanctifie his nature, and inable him to thoſe duties of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe that he requires.
For Iuſtification and Sanctification bee indiuiduall: whom God doth acquit from the guilt of ſinne, and accept as righteous vntounto life through Ieſus Chriſt,Rom. 8.1, 2. 1. Cor. 1.30. them he doth ſanctifie by his Spirit to walke before him in newneſſe of life. Chriſt himſelfe cannot be diuided, nor the participation of his benefits: If by communion in his death, we be deliuered from the curſe and malediction of the Law, by the power of his Reſurrection, we are raiſed vp to liue vntounto God.
If Chriſtians be not perſwaded that God will mortifie their corrupt affections, and build them forward in holineſſe, they ſhall very much ſtagger, coldly ſet vponupon the practice of Chriſtianitie, be off an on, vnſtayed, often fainting at the difficultie of the worke, diſmayed at their manifold ſlips, ſtrong corruptions, and little preuailings againſt them.
Our owne ſtrength is too weake for the worke of holineſſe; as to defeat the policies of Satan, to repreſſe and vanquiſh the luſts of our rebellious hearts & allurements of the world: much more to change and cleanſe our hearts, which are by nature and cuſtome in ſinne ſo deeply polluted. If wee hauehave not faith to belieue that God will aide, aſſiſt, and bleſſe vsus in our endeuours, yea, and doe the whole worke for vsus; what courage can we hauehave to goe about it? What ſucceſſe are we like to find in it? What ſhamefull foyles and repulſes ſhall we ſuſtaine?
But ſetledneſſe in this, that God will perfect his worke begun, cauſeth men to goe about the practice of mortification with much readineſſe, chearefulneſſe, eaſe, ſtayedneſſe, and happie ſpeed. Hee will fight ma…fully againſt his luſts, and continue in the combate againſt them, who is aſſured of victorie from God in the end. It is a great heartning to reſiſt euill, or to doe any good dutie, when we belieue God will bee with vsus, in the one and in the other, to giuegive vsus helpe againſt our enemies, and to inable vsus vntounto the worke: and that worke muſt needs proſper that God will forward, and ſucceed well, that hee will bring to perf…ction.
The promiſes of God concerning ſpirituall bleſſings are ſo l…nked together, that whoſoeuer belieueth not eueryevery one aright, hee cannot belieue any one ſtedfaſtly as hee ought. He ſhall many times be in doubt of the remiſſion of his ſinnes, and in feare of falling away, who hath not learned to reſt vponupon God for the grace of ſanctification, no leſſe then for the pardon of his offences: for the certaintie of both theſe is like, if it be well conſidered.
The acts of faith about the promiſes of ſanctification.The acts of Faith concerning theſe promiſes bee theſe and ſuch like.
Firſt, It acquaints a man with his emptineſſe of grace, the ſtrength of his inbred corruptions, how deepe they hauehave eaten, how faſt they ſticke, how vnable he is to crucifie his inordinate affections, or to repaire the decayed Image of God in him, and that be is in wofull caſe, vnleſſe the Lord put to his helping hand. Faith in this act doth not properly worke vponupon the promiſe, but prepares the heart thereunto. And ſure it is a worthy leſſon: for the ſerious thought of this matter is exceeding forcible to abaſe and humble him in his owne eyes, and ſo wholly to driue him out of himſelfe. For hee perceiueth, hee is as ſtrongly bound by the tyrannie of ſinne to perpetuall ſlauerie, as by the guilt of ſinne to the danger of condemnation. Could he get pardon for ſinne, what would this profit, ſo as hee lieth ſtill vnderunder the power and dominion of ſinne, from which hee hath no abilitie to deliuer his ſoule. If a man labour of ſome painfull, loathſome incurable diſeaſe, though in many things hee bee aduanced, this will pull downe conceits of greatneſſe: and when a Chriſtian comes to ſee, how many dangerous, noyſome, ſpirituall diſeaſes he laboureth vnderunder, he is not lightly affected with it: no, he abhorreth himſelfe, and crieth out,Rom 7 24. O miſerable wretch that I am, who ſhall deliuer me from this body of death, how ſhall I bee cured of theſe maladies. Hereby alſo he is drawne in all his purpoſes and r…ſolutions to denie himſelfe, and to relie vponupon the power of the Lord, who only remaynes victorious. Hee purpoſeth, but through the might of God: which cauſeth earneſt and heartie prayer to bee ſtrengthened vntounto, and eſtabliſhed in that which is good. I will keepe thy ſtatutes: Pſal 119.8.O forſake mee not vtterly. I hauehave ſtucke vntounto thy Teſtimonies: O Lord, put me not to ſhame. Pſal. 119.32, 33.I will runne the way of thy Commandements, when thou ſhalt enlarge my heart, Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy ſtatutes, and I ſhall keepe it vntounto the end. Verſe 34.GiueGive mee vnderſtanding and I ſhall keepe thy Law, yea, I will obſerue it with my whole heart. Make me to goe in the path of thy Commandements, for therein doe I delight. Incline my heart to thy teſtimonies, Verſe 35. Pſal. 17.5.and not to couetouſneſſe. Hold vp my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps ſlip not. Purpoſes thus grounded bring forth holy performances: but when they are taken vp without conſideration of our frailtie, and we relie not vponupon Chriſt for his grace and aſſiſtance, they quickly vaniſh and come to nothing. In the time of ſickneſſe, danger, diſgrace, we make faire promiſes to amend what is amiſſe, and reforme things out of order: but when the rod is remoued, ſhortly all is cleane forgotten. What may be the reaſon? We ſtand vponupon our owne feet, preſume to goe alone, of our ſelues, by our owne ſtrength, and then no maruell if we fall and catch many a knocke.
Secondly, It ſheweth where the ſtrength is to bee had which we want, and ſtirres vp to a conſcionable, diligent and conſtant vſe of the meanes of grace, that God hath ordained, but lookes vp to him for a bleſſing, and reſteth not in the meanes. Faith is euer hungry,Cant. 5.6, 7, 8. ſenſible of want and emptineſſe, and therefore attends vponupon the Lord in the vſe of all ſuch meanes, whereby he is pleaſed to conueigh Chriſt vntounto vsus for our ſpirituall filling. The labourious Bee is early abroad to gather, when there is an hony fall: and faith is early awake to waite vponupon the Lord in his ordinances, when hee ſhowres his bleſſings vponupon his people. But it knoweth to diſtinguiſh betwixt the ordinances in and by which grace is obtained, and the Author and Giuer of it. And thi… vrge…h the Belieuer earneſtly to beg the bleſſing of God vponupon his owne ordinances, without which they cannot auaile vsus.
Thirdly, It inciteth to an holy improuement of what graces he hath re…eiued alreadie, as the readie way to hauehave them encreaſed. God beſtoweth his gifts of grace in moſt plentifull meaſure, vponupon them that are moſt carefull to put them forth to aduantage.Luke 19.26. Math. 13.12. To him that hath, that is, that vſeth well what he hath receiued, ſhall be giuen, and hee ſhall hauehave in abundance. Grace is giuen freely, not deſerued by workes: but by the appointment of God, he that would increaſe therein, muſt religiouſly imploy what he poſſeſſeth. Men increaſe their ſubſtance by labour and paines, their learning by diligence: and hee that beſt improueth graces receiued, ſhall moſt abound therein.
Fourthly, It fighteth couragiouſly againſt ſin, & crieth inſtantly to the Lord for helpe. Faith wil not yeeld to corruption, be the combate neuer ſo hote and fierie, becauſe it apprehends victorie: neither will it giuegive the Lord reſt, becauſe it is ſenſible of want, and wearie of ſinne. Create in mee a cleane heart, Pſal. 51.10.O God, and renew a right ſpirit within me.
Fiftly, It ſubmitteth willingly to what courſe the Lord is pleaſed to take for the crucifying of ſinne, and healing of our nature. Looke as the patient yeeldeth himſelfe vntounto the Phyſician to be dieted, purged or lanced, for the curing of his maladies and recouery of health: ſo doth the ſoule reſigne it ſelfe by faith into the hands of God the ſpirituall Phyſician of the ſoule, who only is able to heale all diſeaſes, to be dieted, purged, exerciſed as ſeemeth beſt vntounto his heauenly wiſdome, only it deſires that ſpirituall maladies may be remoued and health recouered.
Sixtly, Faith is the band or ſinew whereby we are tied vntounto Chriſt the fountaine of grace, and the pipe whereby grace is conueyed from him into the ſoule.Acts 15.9. Looke what … full treaſure of all ſorts of graces Chriſt hath ſtored vp in him, faith draweth and driueth them out of his fulnes to the vſe of each ſeuerall Chriſtian, euen grace for grace.Iohn 1.16. Iohn 15.1, 5, 6. It fetcheth ſap from the root Chriſt, which maketh eueryevery tree bring forth fruit in it kind, eueryevery Chriſtian in his owne calling. As water brought by pipes from the fountaine to the cocke, doth come faſter or ſlower, as the pipes be wider or narrower, open or ſtopped: ſo grace doth flow from Chriſt into our hearts more or leſſe, as our faith is weaker or ſtronger in degree and meaſure. Faith openeth (as it were) the paſſages of grace, that it may diſtill more plentifully vponupon vsus. And thus by fetching ſupernaturall efficacie from the death and life of Chriſt, it changeth the heart, creates and infuſeth new principles of action, begetteth a plyable willingneſſe vntounto eueryevery thing that is good, and conueigheth both will and ability thereunto: as the medicine curing the vitious ſtomacke, and reſtoring it to health makes it long for wholſome meate, as before for coales and aſhes. By the precious promiſes which wee hauehave from God (when they are ours by faith)2. Pet. 1.4. we are made partakers of the diuine nature, or the graces of the Holy Ghoſt.
The p…epoſterous care and trauell of many wel-affected, is to bee pittied, who ſtudie the practice of this or that vertue,The true cauſe why men labour in vaine to practice ſome particular vertue. neglecting this cardinall and radicall vertue; as if men ſhould water all the branches of a Tree, and not the root. Faine would they abound and ſhine in patience, meekneſſe, zeale, yet eſtabliſh and root not themſelues in f…ith, that ſhould maintaine all the reſt. If water come not to the cocke wee vſe to open or amend the pipes or leades that conueigh it from the ſpring: Chriſt is the wel-ſpring of grace, if wee would hauehave our wants ſupplied we muſt labour ſtedfaſtly to belieue. All defects in ſanctification muſt admoniſh vsus to looke to our faith. Thirſt driues men to the Sp…ings of water: col… forceth them to the fire: weakneſſe or want of grace ſhould moue vsus to come vntounto Chriſt by a liuely faith.Eſay 55.1. Oh, eueryevery one that thirſteth come yee to the waters. To giuegive way to doubting becauſe the graces of Gods Spirit bee weake and feeble in vsus, is, as if a man ſhould refuſe to eate, becauſe he is faint for want of ſuſtenance.
Seuenthly, True faith ſtirreth vp to thankfulneſſe for the beginning of ſanctification.Rom. 7.25. I thank God through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. So then with the minde I my ſelfe ſerue the Law of God. The leaſt meaſure of ſanctifying grace is in it ſelfe an vnſpeakable benefit, conſidering the poyſon of our corrupt nature; and alſo a pledge of future fauours to be receiued, till the worke be perfected. God in great wiſdome powreth the graces of his Spirit vponupon vsus by degrees, and doth not perfectly ſanctifie vsus at once, leaſt we ſhould forget what great things hee doth for vsus in forgiuing our daily treſpaſſes, and curing the grieuous and loathſome diſeaſes of our polluted ſoules:1. Cor. 1.9. 1. Theſ. 5.24. Rom. 11.29. Phil. 1 6. but the beginning of ſanctification is an earneſt of further grace to be vouchſafed, till the worke bee finiſhed to the praiſe of his grace, which doth appeare the more, in that the gifts of grace, are communicated by degrees.
The meanes to ſtirre vp to belieue that God will ſanctifie, when we ſee nothing but diſcomfort.The way or meanes whereby a Chriſtian may ſtirre vp his faith to belieue that God will ſanctifie him, when hee ſeeth nothing but thraldome and ſinne preuailing, and feeleth nothing but deadneſſe of heart, is this.
Firſt, he muſt bewaile his ſpirituall nakedneſſe, thraldome and vaſſalage vnderunder ſinne acknowledging his inabilitie to free and deliuer him ſelfe. Into what miſerie and bondage hauehave I brought my ſelfe. Thou Lord madeſt me holy, pure and vpright: But by ſinne I ſold my ſelfe vntounto the ſeruice of ſinne, from which to this day, I cannot get deliuerance: EueryEvery facultie of ſoule is deeply infected with that contagious leproſie; the Mind is blinde, vaine, fooliſh; the will peruerſe and rebellious: all the affections out of order: there is nothing whole or ſound within me. Night and day I am peſtered with ſinfull motions. The deſires of my ſinfull heart bee ſo ſtrong and preuailing, that I am carried head-long to that which is euill. The bodie is wearie after labour, and requires reſt, but ſinne is euer ſtirring, neuer quiet, no not when occaſions be wanting. And that it might appeare out of meaſure ſinfull, it takes occaſion by the commandement, it reſideth the good motions of the Spirit, it diſin…bleth to eueryevery good worke, it diffuſeth it venome into eueryevery action, and leadeth captiue to the committing of ſinne againſt knowledge and conſcience. The curſed earth is not ſo apt to bee ouer-growne with weedes, bryars, thornes and thiſtles, as the ſoule with luſts, paſſions, diſtempers, worldly cares, and ſinfull delights. The law of the fleſh rebelleth againſt the law of the minde, and carrieth with violence to the workes of darkneſſe. The Gally-ſlaues condition is very hard and miſerable: but the ſpirituall bond-ſlaue is in farre worſe eſtate. No drudgerie ſo baſe as the ſeruice of ſinne, no Tyrant ſo cruell as ſinne, which allowes no reſpite, or time of refreſhing.Rom. 7.24. O miſerable man that I am, who ſhall deliuer me from this dominion of ſinne, this bodie of death. I hauehave deeply defiled my ſelfe by tranſgreſſion, but hauehave no power to cleanſe my heart: O Lord, I hauehave defaced thine Image, but cannot repaire it: I hauehave yeelded the powers of my ſoule to the obedience of ſin, and now I would caſt off that ſubiection and breake thoſe ſnares, I am altogether vnſufficient for it. When I would doe well, euill is preſent with me: Rom. 7.21.but I finde no meanes to perfect what I deſire. I cannot deſire good, my will is ſo in bondage: I am not able to crawle about the doing of that which is good, ſuch is my feebleneſſe: but I want no ſtrength to that which is euill, I am apt and readie to goe aſtray. I am inuironed and beſet with ſinne on eueryevery ſide; oh, when ſhall I be ſet at libertie, that I might doe the worke of God, and runne the race of his Commandements.
Secondly, He muſt looke to the grace, truth and power of God, who hath promiſed to ſanctifie; to the fulneſſe and ſufficiencie that is in Chriſt, the fountaine of grace. He who hath ſpoken this to mee, Hold me, and I will ſet thee free, I will circumciſe thy heart, waſh it, purge it, heale it of all ſickneſſes and infirmities: he that hath ſpoken it, is God Almightie, who giueth Being to all viſible creatures, and that inuiſible world of Spirits: who calleth the things that are not, as if they were: who if there were no print of theſe things in me, can worke and create them gloriouſly, as at firſt he drew this excellent frame of the world out of that confuſed lumpe, or Maſſe which hee made of nothing. And as he is great in power, ſo is he rich in merciemercy, aboundant in goodneſſe and truth; as ready and faithfull to keepe, as hee was free to make the promiſe. His grace is vnſearchable▪ his Word purer then ſiluer ſeuen times refined. In my ſelfe I am full of ſinne, barren and deſtitute of grace: but Chriſt is an ouer-flowing fountaine, who hath plentifully filled all that belieue. All the faithfull hauehave drawne of his fulneſſe, and yet his ſtore is no whit diminiſhed O my ſoule, truſt thou in the Lord, and thou ſhalt be purged from thy filthines, repleniſhed with his grace. Loe, he calleth the thirſtie, who bee deſtitute of all ſap and fruit of grace, to come vntounto him, that they may be refreſhed. The Saints, who hauehave beene moſt enriched with varietie of graces, were by nature as poore and deſtitute as thou art. What they had, they receiued by faith: Belieue as they did, and ſpeed with them. Why crieſt thou out diſtruſtfully by reaſon of thy barrenneſſe? Doth the ſtreaming fountaine denie water to the thirſtie traueller? No more doth Chriſt to the emptie parched ſoule, that comes vntounto him. Thou haſt no grace of thy ſelfe: cleaue vntounto him and thou ſhalt want none that may be for thy good. He filleth the emptie and ſatisfieth the poore, that he might be acknowledged the wel-ſpring of all grace and goodneſſe.
Thirdly, He muſt pray inſtantly vntounto the Lord for ſanctifying grace. Faith obtaineth as a poore petitioner, what the Lord promiſe…h in ſpeciall fauour: nor can it belieue longer, then it prayeth virtually or actually. O Lord, thou haſt promiſed to powre water vponupon the thirſty, Eſay 44.3. & 35.7. Ioel 2.28.and riuers vponupon the dry ground: I pray thee, waſh mee throughly from my filthineſſe, and water me bountifully with the dew of thy grace, which may coole and allay the ſcorching heate of ſinne.Zech 13.1. Thou haſt opened a fountaine to the houſe of Dauid, and to the inhabitants of Ieruſalem for ſinne and for vncleanneſſe: let the ſtreames thereof flow vponupon my drie and barren ſoule, that it may be fruitfull in the workes of holineſſe. O put thy good Spirit into me, which may be as a fountaine of liuing waters ſpringing vntounto eternall life.
Fourthly, It is good to moue and quicken the heart quietly to reſt in the promiſe, and reioyce in hope. Waite on the Lord, O my ſoule, and bee glad in him: for hee hath giuen Chriſt to be thy Sanctification. He is appointed to bee the beginner and finiſher of thy holineſſe: and ſurely he will not leaue that worke imperfect, whereunto he is ordained of the Father. Were the progreſſe of that building commited to thy care and ouer-ſight, there might bee cauſe of feare: but ſince it is laid vponupon him, thine onelyonly and all-ſufficient Redeemer, there is no place for doubting. Hold him faſt, and thou art ſafe. Lord increaſe my faith, and keepe me cloſe vntounto thee in belieuing for euermore.