Christ Inviting Sinners to Come to Him for Rest, Treatise · Chapter 37
CHAP. XXXVII.
Sheweth that Sanctification is only IN Chriſt.
SEcondly, That this ſanctification it is in Chriſt, al the ſanctification of a Chriſtian it is in Chriſt, there are ſome common gifts that God gives unto other men, there are gifts of nature, & there are gifts of common grace, gifts of the ſpirit of God that are beyond the gifts of nature, & yet they are ſuch as are given in a common way to thoſe that are ſtrangers to Chriſt. The heathen had many cōmon gifts, and ſo others now may have many common gifts, but ſanctification is the proper gift of Chriſt, it is only to be had in Chriſt. Al the ſtrength of nature, natural abilities, education, morality, natural parts, can never raiſe the heart to the leaſt degree of ſanctification, I mean, of the ſanctification that is ſaving. In a large ſenſe it may be called a ſanctification, as the ſcripture ſometime doth, a ſetting ſome kind of men apart for ſuch ends: but ſanctification that is true holineſs, that is the image of God, and the beginning of glory, that is only in Chriſt, and al the ſtreng…h of nature, and parts, can never raiſe the ſoul unto the leaſt degree of it.
And that it is only in Chriſt, I ſhal give you ſome ſcriptures to ſhew it, and it wil further appeare, when we come to the third thing, in ſhewing you how it comes from Chriſt, which is the principle. That text is very ful for it, which we have in 1. Cor. 1.30. if there were no other; But of him are ye in Jeſus Chriſt, who of God is made unto us wiſdome, and righteouſneſs, and Sanctification and Redemption. Chriſt is made unto us of God; wiſdome, to enlighten our blindneſs; and righteouſneſs, for our juſtification, and ſanctification, and redemption; that is, to deliver us from al kind of evil, to deliver us from the power of ſin, and to renew the image of God in us, that is ſanctification, and redemption, that is to deliver us from al kind of evil, and to bring us to the redemption of the ſons of God, to the perfect liberty that is appointed to ſons. Chriſt is made to us ſanctification; ſanctification, that is, not only that Chriſt hath merited our ſanctification, but in a further degree, efficiently, ſo as our ſanctification is from him, and it is he that workes it in us, and upholds it in us, the beginning and the progreſs of our ſanctification, it is from him, as wel as merrited, by him. For we are to know, that Chriſt hath laid down his life to merit of God the father, as wel ſanctification, as juſtification, or glorification. Chriſt hath not only laid down his life for to merrit the pardon of our ſins, to purchaſe that from God, to ſave us from hell, but it was a ſpecial end of Chriſts laying down his life, to merit our being ſet at liberty from the bondage of our ſins, our deliverance from corruption the renewing of the image of God in our ſoules for the preſent, which is that indeed may cauſe us to prize holineſs ſomewhat more then we have done. We muſt not look upon holineſs as a duty, that we muſt be holy, and as a neceſſary meanes to heaven, but we muſt look at holines as the purchaſe of the blood of Chriſt, he hath purchaſed holineſs for al thoſe that he hath layed down his life for. And therefore (as we ſhal ſee afterwards) it is impoſſible for any to be holy, but thoſe that have part in Chriſt, ſo that Chriſt is made ſanctification by his merit, and by the efficiency that is in him; it is he likewiſe that works it in our hearts, we have it not immediatly from God the father but from God the father through Chriſt, through his ſon we come to have ſanctification, and therefore we ſhal ſee it afterwards, how different our ſanctification is from the image of God that there was in Adam at firſt, and the holineſs that there was in Adam, Adam, he had his holineſs immediately from God as Creator, but thoſe that are now made holy, and ſanctified now, they have not their holineſs and ſanctification immediately, or as from God their Creator, but they have it from Chriſt, Chriſt, that is, the ſecond perſon in trinity, he it is that is made to us ſanctification.
And then, that it is in Chriſt appeares further, in that notable place in Rom. 7. that was quoted in the former point about the load of corruption, Where ſaint Paul cries out in the 24. verſe, O wretched man that I am, who ſhal deliver me from this body of death, that is the remaining corruption that was in his heart. Marke the very next words that follow. I thank God through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. As if he ſhould ſay, the deliverance that I muſt have from this body of death, it is from God, but how? through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, The Apoſtle doth not only thank God for it, and ſay, al grace muſt come from God, but he thanks God through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Thus we muſt underſtand how grace comes unto us, indeed, God is the fountain of al, but it muſt come from God through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, as al mercies that we have for the pardon of our ſins. Now it is not from God immediately, as the firſt perſon, or as Creator of heaven and earth, but it is from God through Jeſus Chriſt. So al the holineſs that we have now, it is from God through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.
And then take one ſcripture more, and then we ſhal come to the third particular, which is the cheif we aimed at, and that is in the 26. of the Acts. the latter end of 18. verſe. That they may receive remiſſion of Sins, and inheritance amongſt them which are Sanctified by faith that is in Chriſt. It is a ſpeech of Chriſt unto Paul, when he ſent him to preach, and tels him to what end it ſhould he, To open their eyes and turne them from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveneſs of ſins, and inheritance among them which are ſanctified by faith in Chriſt. Multitudes of ſcriptures there are for this purpoſe.