Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist, Part 2 · Chapter 73
CHAP. LXXIII. Sanctification concurs as well as Justification to make Saints.
THough Sanctification, say aHoney combe ca. 1. p. 339.340 341.Antinomians, make men Saints declaratively to men-ward, Sanctification makes Saints, as well as justification.yet the true cause that makes them Saints in the sight of God is justification.
To this wee say, 1. Take Sanctification, as bHoney combe ca. 1….340. Saltmarsh borrowing Eatons words hath the same free grace, pa. 62.63. Dennes ser. of the Man of sinne, pag. 9.11.Eaton, and Saltmarsh, and Denne say, Protestant Divines, whom they are pleased to call Legalists, doe, for such holinesse as they say, is in Anchorits, Eremits, and Monks for externall works done without faith, it makes men neither Saints before God, nor men, but meere faireded hypocrites; such a sanctification wee disclaime. But take Sanctification for holy walking in the strength of the grace of justification, and grace inherent in us; so we say, Justification and Sanctification ought not to bee separated, but both concurre to make us Saints; the one as the cause, the other as the unseparable effect. And most false it is that Eaton cHoney combe 339.saith, That Sanctification is so farre from being the cause of making us Saints to God-ward, that properly it doth but declare, that we are Saints to man-ward; for so Antinomians make Sanctification nothing but a poore shaddow, like an Yvie bush, that is no cause of wine, but a meere signe to declare and shew in this, there is wine. Now sure, by Sanctification we are partakers of the Divine nature, and the Spouses beauty, not onelyonly in regard of imputed righteousnesse, but also a holy and sincere walking and blamelesse profession of the truth, in a dC…nt. 4.9.chaine of the Spouses necke; and in her personall acts of praying, and praysing, and the sweet ministery of the eCant 7.…, 2, …, 3, 4, ….Gospel, in regard of which, Her lips drop as a honey combe, butter and milke are under her tongue, and the smell of her garments, like the smell of Lybanon, her feet beautifull with shooes, her two breasts like two Young Roes, that are twins, &c. Sanctification must render the Spouse a societie of Saints even in the eyes of God, and not only meerely and declaratively to men-ward: as the Yvie-bush is a signe of wine. Let Antinomians say, Are not the Saints partakers of the Divine nature, in the sight of God, as well as declaratively in the sight of men?
2. If the charity of the Philippians fPhil 4.8.bee an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God? And gHeb. 13.16.If to doe good, and to communicate, be such sacrifices, where with God is well pleased; though their charity and good works doe not justifie them, yet these good works must smell sweetlie, to God, and bee well-pleasing in his sight, and by them, God must repute them sanctified (though the sanctification be unperfect, and not in its measure, every way conformable to the spirituall and perfect Law,) and they are not then meerely declaratively and to men-ward onelyonly, Saints by their works of Sanctification.
3. The contrary works in the Saints, the shutting up their bowels against their indigent brethren, their byting and devouring, their acts of Adultery, and Murther, and lying, are ill smelling and displeasing in the eyes of God, not onelyonly declaratively before men, but really and in truth in the sight of God; in regard that the Lord, 1. is displeased with these sins. 2. Forbiddeth them in his Law. 3. Rebuketh them. 4. Punisheth them. 5. Setteth the conscience on against the beleever that doth them, that they are grieved for them, and mourne. 6. Hideth his countenance from hPsal. 51.10.them, commands us to iIam. ….16. 1 Ioh 1.9.confesse, and kMath. 6.11.crave pardon for them; then the Lord must take notice of the contrary acts and command, commend, and reward them, be well-pleased, with them and they must be more then naked declarations and signes of Saintship to men-ward. The Lord himselfe pronounceth the Saints blessed, not onelyonly for Christs imputed righteousnesse, which is indeed the first cause, fountaine, and ground thereof, but also for our works of Sanctification; as lPsal. 119.1.Blessed are the undefiled in their way, mPsal. 12.1that feare the Lord and delight in his Commandements, that nPsal. 106.3keepe judgement, and that doe righteousnesse at all times, that oI…h 13 77.doe what Christ commands, that pRev. 22.14.doe his Commandements. Then God must judge them more then declarations to men-ward,qMat. 14.23.…4. because this is the blessing of eternall life in Christ Jesus.