The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 3 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. Of Sanctification, and the cauſes thereof.
§. Sect. 1 ANd ſo much for the anſwering of ſuch temptations of Sathan as concerne our iuſtification.That God is the principall efficient of our ſanctification. Now wee are to ſpeake of our ſanctification, which is the next effect of Gods election, and inſeparably ioyned with our iuſtification: wherein I will obſerue my former order, firſt ſetting downe the doctrine of ſanctification, and then anſwering thoſe temptations of Sathan which doe moſt impugne it.
Sanctification, what is it.For the firſt, Sanctification is an action of the whole Trinitie, whereby the beleeuer already iustified, is by little and little renued according to Gods image in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, by the mortification of the fleſh, with the corruptions thereof, and the quickening of the ſpirit.
And this is our ſanctification, which is expreſſed in the Scriptures by diuers names and phraſes; for it is called regeneration, the new birth, renouation, the putting off or mortifying of the old man, and the putting on or quickening of the new man and ſuch like.
The efficient cauſe of our ſanctification is God himſelfe, who as he alone iuſtifieth vsus and freeth vsus from the guilt and puniſhment of ſinne, ſo he onelyonly ſanctifieth vsus and deliuereth vsus from the tyrannie of ſinne, ſo that it ſhall no longer raigne in our mortall bodies, freeing vsus in ſuch meaſure as pleaſeth him from our naturall corruptions,Leuit. 20.8. which heretofore wholy ouerſwayed vsus. And this appeareth by plaine teſtimonies of holy Scriptures.Iohn 1.13. Iohn 1.13. It is ſaid that the faithfull are borne, not of blood, nor of the will of the fleſh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Epheſ 2.10.So Epheſ. 2.10. we are ſaid to be Gods workemanſhip, created in Christ Ieſus vntounto good workes: which phraſe the Apoſtle vſeth to note vntounto vsus, that as God onelyonly did create vsus, ſo he onelyonly doth renue and regenerate vsus. The Lord likewiſe doth appropriate this worke vntounto himſelfe as belonging to another. Ezech. 36.26.Ezech. 36.26. and 34.28. A new heart will I giuegive you, and a new ſpirit will I put into you, and I will take away the ſtony heart out of your body, and I will giuegive you an heart of fleſh. And hence it is that the Apoſtle deſiring the ſanctification of the Theſſalonians beggeth it at Gods hand, 1. Theſ. 5.23. The very God of peace ſanctifie you throughout. 1. Theſ. 5.23. Pſalm. 51.13.And Dauid finding the want hereof in himſelfe, hath his recourſe vntounto God. Pſalm. 51.10. Create in me a cleane heart O God, and renue a right ſpirit within me. So that as God doth begin in vsus this worke of ſanctification, ſo likewiſe he doth accompliſh and finiſh it. And therefore as we are wholy to aſcribe vntounto God our election, vocation and iuſtification, ſo alſo our ſanctification, that he may be all in all in the worke of our ſaluation. For as he onelyonly formed vsus, ſo he onelyonly can reforme vsus, as he is the author of our naturall generation,Gen. 1.28. for by his bleſſing we hauehave our being, ſo alſo of our ſpirituall regeneration, for by his ſpirit onelyonly wee are renued. Neither muſt we imagine that it is in mans power to renew himſelfe, no more than to beget himſelfe: for as well may the Blackmoore change his skinne, or the Leopard his ſpots, as wee doe good who are accuſtomed to doe euill,Ierem. 13.23. Ierem. 13.23. yea, as eaſily may the dead man raiſe himſelfe, as wee may raiſe our ſelues from the death of ſinne to newneſſe of life,Eph. 2.1. Eph. 2.1. It is onelyonly the water of Gods ſpirit that can waſh away our Ethiopian blackneſſe, and turne our ſpotted vncleanneſſe into ſnowie whiteneſſe; it is onelyonly the God of life that can make vsus riſe from the death of ſinne to newneſſe of life.
But here it may be demaunded, that if ſanctification bee wholie the worke of God, and not in our owne power, why doe the Scriptures exhort vsus to ſanctifie our ſelues, to mortifie our ſinnes, and to walke in newneſſe of life? I anſwere, that though ſanctification bee wholy from God, yet theſe exhortations are neceſſarie; for hee worketh this worke in vsus, not as in ſtocks and ſtones, but as in reaſonable creatures, of whom he requireth conſent of will, deſire and endeuour in the vſe of the meanes ordained of God, for the beginning and perfecting of this worke of ſanctification in vsus. And although this will, deſire, and endeuour, be his work likewiſe, yet theſe exhortations to godlineſſe are to good purpoſe; for with the exhortation God ioyneth the operation of his ſpirit, and whileſt he commandeth vsus, he giueth power alſo to performe that which he commandeth; whileſt he exhorteth vsus to ſanctification, hee himſelfe ſanctifieth vsus with his ſpirit.
§. Sect. 2 Now further wee are to know,That the work of ſanctification is common to the three perſons in Trinitie. Tit 3.5. Eph. 2.4.5. Heb. 9.14. that as all other workes of God which he exerciſeth towards his creatures, ſo this work of ſanctification likewiſe is common vntounto the three perſons in the Trinitie: for firſt God the Father ſanctifieth vsus by giuing vsus his ſonne and ſending his ſpirit, and therefore this work is aſcribed vntounto him, Tit. 3.5. Eph. 2.4.5. God the ſonne ſanctifieth vsus, by mortifying our ſins by vertue of his bloud, purging our conſciences from dead workes, that wee may ſerue the liuing God, and by vertue of his reſurrection raiſing vsus alſo from the death of ſinne to newneſſe of life: and laſtly, by his death hath merited for vsus Gods ſpirit, and riſing againe hath ſent him vntounto vsus, whereby wee are regenerate: and therefore hee alſo is ſaid to hauehave ſanctified vsus, and God is ſaid to hauehave ſanctified vsus in him,Eph. 5.26. 1. Cor. 2.11. Eph. 5.26. 1. Cor. 2.11. God the holy Ghoſt alſo ſanctifieth vsus, by applying the vertue of Chriſts death and reſurrection vntounto vsus, and ſo immediatly beginneth, continueth,Ioh. 3.5, 6. Act. 11.16. Tit. 3.5. and perfecteth this worke in vsus, and therefore moſt vſually in the Scriptures this worke is aſcribed vntounto him, Ioh. 3.5, 6. Act. 11.16. Tit. 3.5.
And thus it appeareth that God himſelfe is the principall and onelyonly efficient cauſe of our ſanctification; vponupon which point I hauehave the longer inſiſted, to the end that wee ſhould not in this worke reſt vponupon our owne ſtrength, for then wee ſhall be ſubiect to many diſcouragements, and lie open to innumerable temptations, grounded vponupon our ſmall meaſure and ſlow progreſſe in our ſanctification, as alſo vponupon the great difficulties and manifolde diſcouragements, which both ſtay vsus in the birth, and hinder our full growth in true godlineſſe; all which in reſpect of our owne power prooue this worke not onelyonly hard, but euen impoſſible for vsus to be perfected and accompliſhed. But rather that wee relie our ſelues vponupon the Lords infinite power and gracious promiſes, whereby wee are aſſured, notwithſtanding our owne exceeding weakneſſe, that he will not onelyonly begin, but alſo finiſh and perfect this good worke in vsus.
§. Sect. 3 And thus much concerning the principall efficient cauſe of our ſanctification:The motiue cauſe Gods ſole merciemercy. the motiue cauſe which mooued the Lord to ſanctifie vsus, was his owne merciemercy and Chriſts merits. The firſt is expreſſed by the Apoſtle 1. Pet. 1.3. whereas it is ſaid,1. Pet. 1.3. that God according to his abundant merciemercy hath begotten vsus again, &c. The other is implied by Paul Eph. 2.5. where hee ſaith, that God hath quickened vsus in Chriſt;Epheſ. 2.5. who by his death merited not onelyonly the remiſſion of ſinne for vsus, but alſo Gods ſpirit, whereby wee are ſanctified. So that it was not any good inclination vntounto holineſſe in vsus, or any thing els wherein we excelled others, which moued God to ſanctifie vsus,Eph. 2.1.3. for wee were all alike the children of wrath and dead in our ſinnes, but onelyonly his owne boundleſſe merciemercy and the alſufficient merits of Chriſt our Sauiour, were the onelyonly cauſes which moued the Lord to giuegive vsus his ſpirit, whereby we are regenerate and raiſed from the death of ſinne to holineſſe and newneſſe of life. And therefore let vsus not arrogate the praiſe of our ſanctification in whole or in part vntounto our ſelues, but aſcribe all the glorie to God who is the ſole author and finiſher of it.
§. Sect. 4 The inſtrumentall cauſes of our ſanctification,Of the inſtrumentall cauſes of our ſanctification. Ioh. 15.3. and 17.17. Iam. 1.18. 1. Pet. 1.23. are either externall or internall; the external are firſt the word of God, of which our Sauiour ſpeaketh Ioh. 15.3. Now are you cleane through the word which I hauehave ſpoken vntounto you. And cap. 17.17. Sanctifie thē with thy truth: thy word is truth. So the Apoſtle Iames chap. 1.18. Of his owne will begat he vsus with the word of truth, &c. And the Apoſtle Peter affirmeth, that we are borne anew not of mortall ſeede, but of immortall by the word of God, &c. The word of God therefore is an inſtrumentall cauſe of our ſanctification. In which reſpect alſo the Miniſters, by whoſe miniſterie wee are conuerted and regenerate, are ſaid to be our ſpirituall fathers who hauehave begotten vsus vntounto God:1. Cor. 4.15. Philem. v. 10. as appeareth 1. Cor. 4.15. and Philem. verſ. 10. in both which places Paul chalengeth this title vntounto himſelfe. Another externall cauſe of our ſanctification are the Sacraments, eſpecially the Sacrament of Baptiſme; whereof it is that Ananias ſaith vntounto Paul Act. 22.16. Ariſe and be baptized & waſh away thy ſins. Act. 22.16. Eph. 5.26.So Eph. 5.26. it is ſaid that Chriſt gaue himſelf for his Church, that he might ſanctifie it and cleanſe it by the waſhing of water through the word. The which places as they are to be vnderſtood principally of the waſhing of iuſtification, wherby we are purged from the guilt and puniſhment of ſinne; ſo alſo of the waſhing of ſanctification, whereby we are cleanſed from the ſinnes and corruptions themſelues.
The internall inſtrument of our ſanctification is a liuely faith, without which the other outward inſtruments are vneffectuall, in thoſe who are of yeeres; neither muſt we think that the bare action of hearing, or the outward waſhing, take away our ſins and corruptions, vnleſſe the word and things ſignified in the Sacraments bee applied vntounto vsus by a true faith. For the word which we heare profiteth not, vnleſſe it be mixed with faith in thoſe that heare it,Heb. 4.2. Heb. 4.2. And vnleſſe thoſe that are capable of faith beleeue with all their heart,Act. 8.37. it is to no purpoſe to be baptized, Act. 8.37: and therefore vntounto the other we muſt ioyne this inſtrument of a liuely faith, if wee would attaine vntounto true ſanctification. For faith purifieth the heart, and is fruitfull in the workes of louelove,Act. 15.9. Gal. 5.6. as the Scripture ſpeaketh.
§. Sect. 5 And thus hauehave I ſet downe the efficient cauſes of our ſanctification;Of the manner how our ſanctification is wrought. in the next place let vsus conſider of the manner how this worke is wrought in vsus. For the vnderſtanding whereof we are to know, that wee being vnited vntounto Chriſt, principally by Gods ſpirit, and inſtrumentally by a liuely faith, and ſo made members of his myſticall bodie, doe participate the vertue of his death, buriall, and reſurrection, whereby not onelyonly our iuſtification but alſo our ſanctification is deriued vntounto vsus. For firſt, by vertue of his death our ſinnes are mortified, and our corruptions crucified together with him: as appeareth Rom. 6.6. Knowing this, Rom. 6.6.that our old man is crucified with him, that the bodie of ſinne might be deſtroyed, that hencefoorth we ſhould not ſerue ſinne. Secondly, by vertue of his buriall, this death of ſinne is as it were further continued, and thereby our ſinnes and corruptions are more and more ſubdued and kept vnderunder, that they cannot riſe and rebel againſt the ſpirit. And of this the Apoſtle ſpeaketh Rom. 6.3. where he ſaith,Rom. 6.3. that we are buried with Chriſt into his death. Thirdly, by vertue of his reſurrection there is a quickening power deriued into vsus, whereby wee are reuiued and raiſed vp from the death of ſinne to holineſſe and newneſſe of life. And of this mention is made Coloſſ. 2.12.13. where it is ſaid, that as we are buried with Chriſt, Col. 2.12.13. Rom. 6.4.ſo likewiſe wee are raiſed vp and quickened together with him: and Rom. 6.4. the Apoſtle ſaith, that we are buried with him by baptiſme into his death, that like as Chriſt was raiſed vp from the dead by the glorie of the father, ſo wee alſo ſhould walke in newneſſe of life.
§. Sect. 6 And this is the manner according to which God worketh ſanctification in vsus;Of the ends of our ſanctification. now wee are briefly to ſpeake of the other cauſes, as they lie in order. The materiall and formall cauſes of our ſanctification may beſt be conſidered in the parts thereof. The finall cauſe is two-fold: Gods glorie, which is the chiefe and principall cauſe of our ſanctification; and the eternal ſaluation of thoſe who are ſanctified, which is ſubordinate to the other. For the firſt, that Gods glorie is the end of all our good actions and holy conuerſation,Matth. 5.16. it appeareth Mat. 5.16. Let your light ſo ſhine before men that they may ſee your good works, and glorifie your father which is in heauen. 1. Pet. 2.12.So 1. Pet. 2.12. HaueHave your conuerſation honeſt among the Gentiles, that they which ſpeake euill of you as of euill doers, may by your good workes which they ſhall ſee glorifie God in the day of viſitation. And the Apoſtle Paul willeth vsus, that we doe all things whatſoeuer to the glorie of God, 1. Cor. 10.31.1. Cor. 10.31.
For the other, we are therefore ſanctified that wee may be ſaued, and alſo be aſſured of our ſaluation: and this we may gather out of the Apoſtles words Tit. 3.5.7. where hee ſaith, that God hath ſaued vsus by the waſhing of the new birth, and renuing of the holy Ghoſt, Tit. 3.5.7.that we ſhould be made heires of eternall life. Neither can we euer inioy euerlaſting happineſſe, vnleſſe we be regenerate,Ioh. 3.3. according to that Ioh. 3.3. Except a man be borne againe, he cannot ſee the kingdome of God. So the Apoſtle ſaith,1. Cor. 15.50. that fleſh and bloud cannot inherit the kingdome of God, neither doth corruption inherit vncorruption, 1. Cor. 15.50. And Apoc. 21.27. it is ſaid,Apoc. 21.27. that no vncleane thing ſhall enter into Gods kingdome: and therefore the Apoſtle Heb. 12.14. vſeth this as an effectuall argument to mooue vsus to embrace ſanctification, becauſe without this holineſſe no man ſhall ſee the Lord. Heb. 12.14.On the other ſide, if wee bee regenerate and ſhew the fruites thereof in a holy conuerſation, by dying to ſinne and riſing againe to newneſſe of life, then may wee bee certainly aſſured of our ſaluation: and therefore the Apoſtle willeth vsus by theſe workes of holineſſe to make our calling and election ſure, 2. Pet. 1.10.affirming that if wee doe theſe things wee ſhall neuer fall. 2. Pet. 1.10.