Body of Divinity, Book 7 · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. The Sanctification of the whole Man Soul and Body.
VVE should live more to the soul then body, Psal. 119. 175. & 141. 8. & 142. 7. & 143. 11.
1. The soul is distinct from the body, as the operations of it shew.
2. It lives when the body dies, Eccles. 12. 7. Mat. 10. 28.
3. It is far better then the body.
4. The concernments of the soul are higher then those of the body, 1 Pet. 3. beginning.
5. The sicknesse and death of the soul is worse then that of the body, 1 King. 8. 38. Ioh. 8. 21, 23.
6. We never live to any purpose but when the soul lives.
1. Of the faculties of the soul. Grace spreads it self through all the faculties.
A faculty is an ability of producing some effect or operation agreeable to our nature and for our good, implanted in man by nature.
There are three reasonable faculties proper to men alone:
1. The Understanding, by which we know truth.
2. The Will, by which we desire good.
3. Conscience, a power of ordering our selves to and with God.
I. Of the Understanding.
It is that power which God hath given a man to acquaint himself with the Being, Properties and Differences of all things by discourse.
Or, it is that faculty by which we are able to inform our selves of the general natures of things. Sense alone perceives particulars, the understanding abstracts things and forms in it self the general natures of things. I see this or that man, but understand the nature of man.
The Object of it is omne intelligibile.See M. Pembl. Vindiciae grat. 200, 201, 202.
Truth in general in the utmost latitude and universality of it is the object of the Understanding, good in the general in the universality of its nature is the object of the Will, therefore till it come to enjoy God, which doth eminently contain all good in him, it can never come to have full satisfaction.
Light was the first thing in the Creation, and so in the new Creature, Eph. 4. 23. heSicut olim Deus in…hoa…it opus creationis à lumine corpor…o & sensibili, ita etiam opera regenerationis & glorificationis nostrae à lumine spirituali orditur: cum enim Deus …ssi…iter electos vocat ad salutem per Spiritum Sanctum; Primò, corum intellectum illuminat lumine fidei & collustrat. Secundò, voluntatem emollit & sanctificat. Similiter in opere glorificationis ordine naturae praecedit illuminatio intellectus nostri, per lumen gloriae, ad Dei essentiam clarè & perspicuè videndam; deinde sequitur voluntatis inflammatio & in…ensio per ardorem charitatis. Ratio hujus ordinis est, quia cognitio praecedit amorem, atque adeo clara cognitio seu visio praecedere debet ardentem & perfectum a…orem. Baron. Philos. Theol. ancil. exercit. 3. Art. 6. hath a new judgement speculative and practical.
1. Speculative, he apprehends and discerns those Reasons and Arguments against sin and for grace, more then ever he did, he is amazed to consider what darknesse and folly he lived in before, 1 Cor. 2. 15.
2. Practical, He applies the things he knows for his humiliation and exercise, he so knoweth truths that he loves them and delights in them, he knows them experimentally.
Conversion of a man is a Divine teaching of him, Isa. 54. 13. Ierem. 31. 44. Iohn 6. 45.
The Properties of this teaching:
1. It is necessary, without this all other teaching is in vain; David often prayes that God would teach him his statutes, open his eyes; the Ministers teach the ear, God the heart.
2. Efficacious, Iob 36. 22.
3. Clear and distinct, hence Gods Word is called a Light, and it is called the riches of the assurance of understanding.
4. Practical, it is an acknowledgement after godlinesse, Verba Scripturae non sunt verba legenda, sed vivenda, said Luther.
5. Abundant under the Gospel, All shall know me from the greatest to the least. Knowledge shall cover the earth as the waters do the Sea.
A great part of Conversion lieth in the renewing of the minde, Rom. 12. 2. Ephes. 1. 17, 18. Phil. 1. 4.There is a difference between common illumination which may carry men far, Heb. 6. and special illumination, Heb. 10. 32. To be rightly illuminated or spiritually minded, Rom. 8. 6. is 1. To minde the things of heaven rather then the things of earth, … Cor. 15. 48. 1 John 2. 15. 2. To be more mindful of the good of the soul then of the body, Mat. 16. lat. end. 3. To regard the things of eternity beyond things of time, 2 Cor. 4. ult. 4. To judge of things as the Scripture judgeth them, what that commends we commend and judge worthy of commendation; what that condemns we condemn and judge it worthy of condemnation; we will then judge of things by the end. Such will minde spiritual Ordinances, so as to prepare for and profit by them; Spiritual gifts and graces so as to choose and use them; Spiritual priviledges, so as to make sure of them, and glory in them; Spiritual persons, so as to pray for and sympathize with them.
This renewing consists
First, In Knowledge, and that 1. Doctrinally, of the truths to be beleeved, this is the very foundation, and that which is called historical faith, that is, a knowledge with an Assent to those truths which are recorded in Scripture; many may have this and more which yet are not converted; but yet where Conversion is, this must necessarily precede, 1 Cor. 2. 2. Whom God converts he enlightens, Iohn 6. 45. 1 Cor. 8. 2. mans whole Conversion is called a teaching.
2. Practically, partly of our own filthinesse, Iohn 3. it was necessary for Nicodemus to know his natural filthinesse, partly of Christ, sinne will overwhelm the soul without this, Rom. 7. 24, 25. Ephes. 1. 19, 20. one must know his own poverty and Christs riches, his own guilt and his satisfaction.
3. It makes the heart beleeve and assent to these truths, the understanding doth not only need converting grace to turn, but to assent and firmly to adhere to the truths revealed, to the promises manifested, for the heart doth not turn to God by knowing the promises, but by firm relying on them, and this is that which is called trusting so much in the Psalms.
4. The judgement is induced to approve of Gods Word, his precepts and promises a… the best. He accounts those things best and worst which the Word doth. The converted man esteems of Gods favour and freedom from corruption more then all the glory and riches of the world.
5. The minde is in part sanctified in regard of the thoughts, they were roving, distracted, impertinent and very frothy; now the minde is renewed about them, so that it hath more holy thoughts, more composed, more profitable and united in all duties and performances, more low thoughts of our selves, and high thoughts of Christ.
6. It looketh then only to Gods Word, My sheep hear my voice; To the Law and the Testimony.
7. Their minde is renewed in respect of consultations. Paul consulted not with flesh and bloud, he subjects all to the glory of God and this Word.
8. He invents holy purposes, means and wayes to propagate Gods glory.
9. He discerns things that differ, Rom. 12. 7.