The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 1 · Chapter 5 · Section 6
SECT. VI.
6. A Sixth property of this Covenant, is this, it is a holy Covenant, Luke It is a holy Covenant.1. 72. To performe the mercy promiſed to our fathers, and to remember his holy Covenant. Dan. 11. 28. His heart ſhall be against the holy Covenant. Pſal. 105. 42. He remembred his holy promiſe, &c. The Covenant is ſtiled holy in ſundry reſpects.
1. In reſpect of the parties intereſted in the Covenant; viz. God and his In reſpect of the parties intereſted in it.people, both of them are holy; God is holy, he is an holy God, Joſh. 24. 19. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. Rom. 4. 8. His people are holy; that thou mayſt be an holy people to the Lord thy God. Deut. 26. 19. The people of thy holineſse. Eſay 63. 18. The holy people. Dan. 12. 7. To them that are ſanctified in Chriſt Jeſus. 1. Cor. 1. 2. A holy Nation, a peculiar people, 1 Pet. 2. 9. The Temple of God is holy, which Temple ye are. 1 Cor. 3. 17. Although before we are brought into the Covenant, we are a wicked and unholy, defiled and polluted people; yet when we are brought into the Covenant, then we are made holy, we are changed and waſhed, and ſanctified, and are made partakers of his holineſſe.
2. In reſpect of the condition of the Covenant; faith (as you ſhall hear ſhortly) In reſpect of the condition of the Covenant.is the condition of this Covenant, and true faith is a holy faith; building up your ſelves in your moſt holy faith, Jude ver. 20. Purifying their hearts by faith, Acts 15. 9. Which are ſanctified by faith, Acts 26. 18. Faith unites us to the holy Chriſt, and to the holy God, and draws holineſſe from Chriſt, and ſets up that holy Chriſt in our hearts.
3. In reſpect of the matter promiſed in the Covenant; holineſſe is one principal In reſpect of the matter promiſed.thing promiſed in it. God doth promiſe to give his holy Spirit, Luke 11. 13. and to cleanſe us from all iniquity, Jer. 33. 8. and from all unrighteouſneſſe, 1 John 1. 9. and to refine us with refining fire, Mal. 3. 2. Hieruſalem ſhall be holy, Joel. 3. 17. and to ſanctifie us and purifie us; I am the Lord who ſanctifies you, Lev. 20. 8. The God of peace ſanctifie you wholly, 1 Theſ. 5. 23. I ſanctifie my ſelf, that they alſo might be ſanctified through the truth, John 17. 19. By the which will we are ſanctified, Heb. 10. 10. The change of a ſinful heart, the giving of a new heart, and a new ſpirit; the taking away the heart of ſtone, and the giving of an heart of fleſh; the work of regeneration, and of renovation, theſe are expreſly the matter in the Covenant.
4. The Author of this Covenant doth expreſly command holineſs; Be ye holy, The Author of this Covenant commands holineſſe.for I am holy, 1 Pet. 1. 16. Speak unto all the Congregation of the children of Iſrael, and ſay unto them, ye ſhall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy, Lev. 19. 2. Whatſoever things are pious, whatſoever things are lovely, &c. think on theſe things, Phil. 4. 8. This is the will of God, even your ſanctification, 1 Theſ. 4. 3. Having therefore theſe promiſes, let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſs of fleſh and spirit, perfecting holineſſe in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7. 1.
5. This Covenant doth exceedingly encourage holineſſe; Bleſſed are the pure The Covenant doth encourage holineſſe.in heart, for they ſhall ſee God, Matth. 5. 8. Bleſsed are the undefiled in the way, Pſal. 119. 1. Being now become the ſervants of God, ye have your fruit unto holineſſe, and the end everlaſting life, Rom. 6. 22. God is glorious in holineſſe, Exod. 15. 11. The Saints are the excellent on the earth, Pſal. 16. 3. Gather my Saints together unto me, thoſe that have made a Covenant with me by ſacrifice, Pſal. 50. 5. This honour have all his Saints, Pſal. 149. 9. He will keep the feet of his Saints, 1 Sam. 2. 9. The Lord forſaketh not his Saints, Pſal, 37. 28. He preſerveth the ſouls of his Saints, Pſal. 97. 10. He delivereth them out of the hands of the wicked, ibid. The Saints ſhall judge the world, 1 Cor. 6. 8. When he ſhall come to be glorified in his Saints, 2 Theſ. 1. 10.
6. All about the Covenant respects holineſſe, and makes for holineſſe; all that work of renovation promiſed in the Covenant, all that deliverance promiſed All about the Covenant reſpects holineſs.in the Covenant, is, that now we ſhould ſerve the Lord in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe; all the mercies promiſed lead to holineſſe, to the love of God, to the fear of God, to repentance; all the glory and happineſſe there promiſed, take in holineſſe as a way thereunto; the Chriſt there is made unto us ſanctification as well as redemption; the Spirit of Chriſt is there to ſanctifie, and there to comfort and ſeal us; the two broad ſeals of the Covenant have holineſſe written in them; baptiſme is a Laver of regeneration, and the Lords Supper ſeals a further communion with Chriſt in his graces, in his life, and in his death, in his death, and in his reſurrection; what ſhall I ſay? every Covenant Ordinance is inſtituted either for the begetting, or for the increaſing and perfecting of holineſſe. Nay, let me adde one thing more, every dealing of God with his people in Covenant, it is to further holineſſe; his dealing in the way of promiſes, is that by them that we might be made partakers of the divine nature. 2 Pet. 1. 4. His dealing with them in his calling of them to Chriſt, is that they might be new creatures, 2 Cor. 5. 17. His dealing with them by his Spirit, is that they might be born again, John 3. 3. His dealing with them by afflictions, is that their ſinnes might be purged away, Iſa. 27. 9. and that they may be partakers of his holineſſe, Heb. 12. 10.
7. The Covenant is very ſtrict againſt all unholineſſe, againſt external unholineſſe It is very ſtrict againſt all unholineſſe.in Converſation, and againſt internal unholineſſe in affection or heart; 2 Cor. 6. 17. Be ye ſeparate and touch no unclean thing. Jude ver. 23. Hating even the garment ſpotted by the fleſh. 1 Theſ. 5. 22. Abſtain from all appearance of evil. Rom. 8. 9. Abhorre that which is evil. Pſal. 97. 10. Ye that love the Lord, hate evil. Titus 3. 11. The grace of God that bringeth ſalvation hath appeared to all men; ver. 12. Teaching us that denying ungodlineſſe and worldly luſts; we ſhould live ſoberly, righteouſly and godly in this preſent world. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Having theſe promiſes, let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſſe of fleſh and ſpirit. Gal. 5. 24. They that are Chriſts, have crucified the fleſh with the affections and luſts.
Queſt. Now if you ſhould demand why God makes a Covenant which is thus Why it muſt be a holy Covenant. Becauſe it muſt be ſutable to his nature.holy?
Sol. I anſwer: firſt, becauſe his Covenant muſt be ſutable to his own nature, the which it were not, if it were not holy. His nature is holineſſe it ſelf, and he will never ſet up a Covenant to make us unlike himſelf.
2. He ſets up a Covenant to ſhew and communicate his love unto us, and Elſe he could not communicate his love to us.therefore it muſt be a holy Covenant, to purge away our ſinfulneſſe, which he is of purer eyes than to behold, and which his ſoul hates.
3. He makes a Covenant with us, that he and we might have a communion Elſe we cannot have communion with him.together; that we might have fellowſhip with the Father, and the Sonne; but what communion can there be 'twixt light and darkneſſe?
4. He makes this Covenant, to reſtore us again, and to repaire his own The Covenant is to repaire Gods image in us.image in us, and to conforme us unto himſelf; but our conforming unto him, is by the transforming of our mindes, by changing us into his own image, from glory to glory, by making us holy as he is holy.
5. It would be infinite diſhonour to God if his Covenant were not a holy Covenant, Elſe it would be unworthy of him.it would not be worthy of him. God intended in making this Covenant to magnifie himſelf in praiſe and glory; but he ſhould loſe all praiſe and glory, if he had made a Covenant which were not holy, ot which would diſpenſe with holineſſe; unholineſſe being the only diſhonour to God, and the pulling down of his glory; God in this Covenant promiſeth riches of mercy and grace, and glory to his people; but how abſurd and diſhonourable were it thus to do, if his people ſhould continue a vile and profane, and ſinful, and ſenſual people? if there were no difference 'twixt the precious and the vile.
6. He makes a Covenant and brings people into it, that ſo they may be Elſe not meet to be partakers of glory.made meet to be partakers of the glory that is prepared and ſhall be revealed; unleſſe the Covenant were holy, and did work holineſſe, we could never be fitted and prepared, nor made meet for a glorious enjoyment of God, and communion with him; ſeeing that every one who hath that hope purifieth himſelf as he is pure, 1 John 3. 3. And without holineſs no man ſhall ſee the Lord, Heb. 12. 14. And except a man he born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdome of God, John 3. 3.
Ʋſe. 1 If the Covenant be a holy Covenant, then no unholy perſon hath as yet an intereſt in the Covenant. You are pleaſed in the having of all that mercy, and of Then no unholy perſon hath as yet an intereſt in …he Covenant.all that goodneſſe, and of all that graciouſneſſe, of all that happineſſe in this Covenant: O but you have no portion in God, nor in any of theſe, if you be unholy perſons; for all unholy perſons are out of this holy Covenant: I do not ſay that an unholy perſon is ſimply excluded from hopes of being brought into the Covenant; but this I ſay, if a perſon ſtill remain unholy, he is ſtill out of the Covenant, becauſe all actually in Covenant with God are made holy, they have a new heart given unto them: There are two things ſhew perſons are not in Covenant.
1. Privative unholineſſe.
2. Counterfeit holineſſe.
1. Viſible unholineſſe ſhuts men out of this Covenant.
Now there are ſeven things which do ſhew that a man is (as yet) abſolutely He is abſolutely unholy.unholy.
1. When his heart doth ſecretly loath the Majeſty and preſence of holineſs; he Whoſe heart doth ſecretly loath the preſence of holineſſe. Who loaths the generation of the Saints. Who can reproach the beauties of holineſſe. Who will venture the loſſe of Gods favour, rather than forſake his luſts. Who oppoſeth the Ordinances, becauſe they preſſe holineſſe. Who counts it a diſgrace to be holy. Who lives in open profaneſs.looks on holineſſe as his enemy, that would rent off his heart from ſinful luſts, which he doth infinitely prize and favour.
2. When he loaths the generation of the Saints; utterly declines their fellowſhip, and can by no means agree with perſons of holineſſe, even upon this account only, becauſe they are ſo, but oppoſeth, diſgraceth, reproacheth them, and is glad if he can make them odious.
3. Who can reproach the beauties of holineſſe, and offer deſpite to the Spirit of grace, making holineſſe the peculiar object of his ſcoffs and mocks, and deriſion, theſe are the Saints, the holy ones, &c.
4. Who will rather venture the loſs of Gods favour and mercy, and the promiſes of ſalvation, than that he will forſake his ſinful luſ…s and unholy wayes; hates to be inſtructed and reproved, and reformed.
5. Who therefore oppoſeth and would ſubvert and ſupplant all the Ordinances of Chriſt, becauſe they preſs and urge holineſſe, and becauſe they diſcover and reprove unholineſſe, and will not ſuffer him to go on quietly and deſperately in pathes of profaneſſe and ungodlineſſe; reſiſts the Holy Spirit in his motions.
6. Who counts it a diſgrace for him to be holy, or to be eſteemed ſo.
7. Who lives in open profaneſſe, Sabbath-breaking, drunkenneſſe, perjury, lying, &c.
2. Nay, not only viſible and open profaneſſe diſcovers men to be out of the holy Covenant, but alſo formal and pretended, and counterfeit holineſſe; for the Formal and counterfeit holineſſe.Covenant is really holy, and all perſons in the Covenant are really holy, and the Covenant promiſeth and worketh in them not a ſeeming, not a counterfeit, but a real and ſolid holineſſe.
Now there are ſix ſigns of a man who hath not real holineſſe, but only a counterfeit holineſſe.Signs of counterfeit holineſs. Though he may do ſome holy duties, yet he is not humbled for former unholy doings. Though in outward profeſſion he ſeems to be holy, yet there is no renewing work of grace upon his heart.
1. Though he be taken up with the performance of ſome holy duties, yet his heart was never throughly humbled for his former unholy …doings: His unholineſſe either in the long want of holineſſe, or in the long oppoſition of holineſſe, or in the long practices of unholineſſe, never was a burden to his ſoul, nor lay heavy, never wrought trouble nor ſhame in him.
2. Though in his outward profeſſion he ſeem to be holy, yet there is no renewing work of grace upon his heart, his heart is not renewed nor changed, but hath the ſame old luſts ſtill, and the ſame old love unto them, and delight in them. There is no difference 'twixt himſelf and himſelf, no warre at all, but all is at peace within him, which ſhews that he never had holineſſe in truth; true holineſſe will diſplace the affections, and change your ſouls, and make a ſeparation and an oppoſition, &c.
3. Though the man ſeems to be holy, yet he will not be more holy; he hath got into his circle from whence you ſhall not ſtirre him; he hath put on his forme of holineſs Though he ſeems to be holy, yet he will not be more holy.which his wiſe fore-fathers left him, and who ſo is ſhort of that, he counts him naught; and who ſo exceeds that, he counts him preciſe and vain-glorious; that man was never holy, who ſtrives not to be more holy.
4. Though the man ſeems to be holy, yet he doth not cordially delight in holy Though he ſeems to be holy, yet he doth not cordially delight in holy perſons. He allows himſelf in ſome way of wickedneſſe.perſons; his companions if they be not profane, yet they are vain and empty, fruitleſſe and helpleſſe to his ſoul: If a perſon be godly and holy indeed, then to except againſt this, and finde fault with that in him, ſhews his ungodlineſſe is unpleaſing to him, and he is as weary of him, as the Iſraelites were of Manna.
5. Though he ſeems to be holy, yet he allows himſelf in ſome way of wickedneſſe, inpride or covetouſneſſe, or in uncleanneſſe, or ſome other ſinful way, he holds it faſt, and will not forſake it.
6. Who cannot ſit quietly under a ſoul-ſearching Miniſtry which ſtrikes at ſuperſtition and formality, and hypocriſie; but would raiſe his heart to higher He cannot bear a ſoul-ſearching Miniſtry,principles, and better affections, and a more ſpiritual way of ſerving God, than a meer opus operatum.
O now this perſons ſoul is ſtung; and have I not all this while known how to ſerve God? and muſt I now learn a new way to heaven?
Well, think of theſe things both ſorts of you, for neither the one nor the other are intereſted in this Covenant of grace, which is an holy Covenant, but you are yet an unholy people.
Ʋſe 2 Is the Covenant a holy Covenant? then behold the parting way, behold the reaſon why ſo few men are perſwaded to hearken, and to enter into Covenant See the reaſon why ſo few enter into Covenant with God.with God; we ſtand wondring what the reaſon is or may be, that a company of ſinners hearing of that infinite happineſſe to be enjoyed in the Covenant of grace, and hearing of the manifold bleſſings comprized in it, of the joy unſpeakable therein, of the peace that paſſeth all underſtanding, of the full forgiveneſſe of ſinnes, and of the ſweet manifeſtations of the love of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the Spirit, and of the aſſurings of eternal ſalvation unto all the perſons who enter into this Covenant; I ſay, we wonder that after all this, there are ſo few who enquire the way, or embrace the way of entring into ſuch a Covenant where God makes over himſelf in ſuch a gracious and glorious manner to his people; but here lies the ſtick, here lies the barre, here lies the great exception againſt the Covenant; viz. it is an holy Covenant.
Demand of perſons, and if it were fit of every perſon here this day.
Would you not be the people of Gods love? would you have God to love your ſouls? yes, we would; and would you not be the people of Gods mercies? would you not have God mercifully to pardon all your ſinnes, and all your tranſgreſſions? O by all means; and would you not be the people of Gods bleſſings? would you not have God to give you his love freely, and his mercy freely, and his Chriſt freely, and ſalvation freely? that we would:
What is that which hinders then? why, verily nothing but this holineſſe; O but God will give this holineſſe as freely as he gives his mercy, but we care not for it; O but God will give you riches of mercy with it, but we care not for it; O but it is the means to bring you to glory, but we care not for it; O but God himſelf is a holy God, and his people muſt be holy as he is holy, yet we care not for it; O but you ſhall never have God to be your God, nor mercy to be your mercy, nor Chriſt to be your Saviour, nor heaven to be your inheritance, unleſſe you are willing to be holy but we will not be holy.
Queſt. It is a very conſiderable queſtion, why of all the termes that God stands for, (in reſpect of the Covenant) this of holineſſe is diſliked? and of all the Why is the holineſſe of the Covenant ſo much diſliked.good things which God doth promiſe in his Covenant, this of holineſſe only is excepted against; and of all the Attributes wherein God manifeſts himſelf to men, though they ſeem content and willing to imitate God in many of them, (as in love and mercy, and goodneſſe, &c. yet they are ſo averſe to the holineſſe of God, which (if it be lawful to make compariſon) is one of the higheſt glories of God.
Sol. Surely there are choice reaſons to be given for this peculiar oppoſition and exception againſt holineſſe.
1. One reaſon may be this, the nature of the ſinner; he loves ſinne, his Becauſe of the nature of the ſinner.heart is ſet upon it, he ſerves it, he is married unto it, he delights in it; now ſuch a nature is an enmity againſt holineſſe, it ſtands in a peculiar oppoſition and contrariety unto it; it is not ſubject to the Law of God, nor can be ſubject, ſaith the Apoſtle, Rom. 8. 7. ſo ſay I, it is enmity againſt the holineſſe of God, it is not ſubject unto it, nor indeed can be.
2. Another reaſon may be this, The nature of holineſſe; holineſſe is that work The nature of holineſſe.of God which utterly ſubverts the ſtate of ſinne, breaks down all the powers of it, crucifies the body of it, ſeparates 'twixt the heart and ſinne, changes the heart of the ſinner, turns the love of ſinne into the hatred of ſinne, and the delights in ſinne, into ſorrow for ſinne; makes us new creatures, will not ſuffer the ſinner to enjoy his old luſts, and his old wayes, brings a new frame of Spirit, and a new courſe of life; it is abſolutely contrary, and it is utterly deſtructive of the ſinful condition, and ſtraitly binds the whole man to the whole will of God; and all theſe things are grievous unto a natural man.
3. A third reaſon of it may be this, The obloquie and ſcorns, and reproaches, The reproaches and perſecutions of the world againſt holineſſe.and perſecutions of the world againſt holineſſe; the men of the world draw their arrows, and ſpit all their venome againſt holineſſe, they hate it, and deride it, and opoſe it, and diſcounterance and defame it, and load it with all ſorts of defamation; and car…al men love the world, and fear the world; they love the praiſe of the world, and the peace of the world, and the eaſe of the world, and the favour and opinion of the world; men muſt ſuffer reproaches and perſecutions, and troubles, if they will be holy; but they cannot ſuffer in their names, nor in their delights, nor in their profits, nor in their friendſhip, and therefore they will not be holy: I ſay no more to you but this, if you will not be holy, then you profeſſe you will not be the people of God, and that you will not have God to be God, and he will not be your God, nor ſhall you be his people, and hence it follows that he will never ſhew mercy to you, nor peace to you, nor his ſalvation to you; get thee a portion wherein thou canſt, but in him, but in his mercy, but in his Chriſt, but in his glory, thou ſhalt never have part nor portion.
Ʋſe 3 Is the Covenant of God an holy Covenant? here then is lively comfort for all holy perſons; let men judge of you as they pleaſe, and deal with you as they liſt, Comfort for all holy perſons.and oppoſe you as they do, yet this is your comfort, God is your God, and you are his people.
Beloved! never diſpute it, nor fear it, if you be an holy people, God is your God in Covenant; for, 1. Holineſſe is in none but ſuch as are in Covenant; 2. All in Covenant have holineſſe wrought in them; holineſſe is a Covenant gift, it drops only out of the Covenant of grace, and every one in Covenant reſembles that God with whom he is in Covenant; he is holy, as his heavenly Father is holy; And let me tell you, if you have a ſhare in the holineſs of the Covenant, you ſhall have a ſhare alſo in the happineſſe of the Covenant; if the holy God be your God, then the merciful God is your God, and the loving God is your God, and the bleſſing God is your God, and the bleſſed God is your God, and the everlaſting God is your everlaſting God: Nay, let me ſettle this comfort yet cloſer upon your hearts, though as yet you want much in the degrees and meaſure of ho…ineſſe, yet if there be holineſſe in truth wrought in you, be it never ſo little, yet if it be true holineſſe, it is a true character that God is your God, and that you are his people in Covenant.
Queſt. That is the thing which we ſo much fear, how may it be known! when there is yet ſo much rubbiſh of ſinful corruption dwelling in us?
Sol. For anſwer to this, remember that there are ſix things which do ſhew that your holineſſe is true holineſſe, though it may be but weak and How may true holineſſe be known. It takes off the heart from all ſin.little.
1. True holineſſe (though never ſo weak) it fetches off the heart from all ſin, and ſets the heart againſt all ſin, it works in compliance with all ſin; it takes off the heart from the love of every ſin, and raiſes in the heart an oppoſition and conflict with every ſin, though as yet it cannot expel all ſin, yet it will oppoſe all ſin; though as yet it cannot conquer all ſin, yet it will conflict with all ſin; the leaſt degree of light oppoſeth all degrees of darkneſſe; as the leaſt ſpark of fire is contrary to a Sea of water.
2. True holineſse, though it can do but little, yet it is an univerſal conformity to all the Will of God. There is an anſwerableneſſe 'twixt the whole Will of God, It is an univerſal conformi…y to all the Will of God.and the leaſt and weakeſt true holineſſe; it approves all the holy and good Will of God, it ſets up all the Will of God, it delights in all the Will of God, it ſtrives to come up in all well-pleaſing in all things to all the Will of God.
3. True holineſse is perfecting holineſſe; though it be not perfect holineſſe, It is perfecting holineſſe.yet it is perfecting holineſſe; it prayes, and heares, and looks up to the holy God to ſanctifie us wholly, to pour out his holy Spirit, to make all grace to abound; it ſets up the holineſſe of God as a pattern, and ſtrives for a fulneſſe of holineſſe; to be holy as he is holy, 1 Pet. 1. 15, 16. To purifie our ſelves as he is pure, 1 Joh. 3. 3.
4. True holineſse makes us to prize and love holineſſe whereſoever we find it.; It makes to prize and love holineſs where we find it.and the more holy, the more love; to love an holy God, an holy Chriſt, the holy Ghoſt, the holy Scriptures, the holy Sabbath, and all holy duties, all holy perſons, be they rich, or be they poor; be they uſeful to us, or be they ſtrangers to us; holineſſe loves all holineſſe.
5. True holineſſe is another nature, a divine nature; and makes the greateſt It is another nature.change, and alteration in the ſoule, that it is capable of; It changes a mans heart, and life, ſervice, will, affections, and all. The man is a new creature, and is changed into the Image of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 3. 18.
6. True holineſſe is exceeding powerful: there is a mighty power in it; A It is exceeding powerful.man never is able to come up to the Will of God, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? to deny himſelf, to hate every ſinne, to love all good, to delight in the Lord, to walk with God, till he finde working in him the power of holineſſe.
Ʋſe 4 Is the Covenant of grace an holy Covenant? then ſtrive to be holy perſons; bewaile your former unholineſſe, and want of holineſſe, and oppoſitions, and Strive to be holy perſons.contempts, and reproaches of holineſſe; and as you deſire to en…oy G…d for your God, and the mercies, and comforts, and hopes, and happineſſe of the Covenant, ſo deſire to be holy. If holineſſe be one of the great ingredients, if it be the lively teſtimony of the people in Covenant with God, if it be the expreſſe Will and Command of God for all in Covenant with him, if it be the excellency of your natures, if it be the neceſſary and certaine way of happineſſe; then be not aſhamed, be not averſe to holineſſe any more, &c.
Queſt. And what is to be done, that we may be holy?What is to be done that we may be holy. Beg of God to make you holy.
Sol. I will tell you what is to be done.
1. Beſeech the holy God to make you holy; holineſſe is attributed to God. 1. Eſſentially; he is holineſſe it ſelf. 2. Infinitely; there are no bounds of his holineſſe. And 3. Cauſally; and therefore Chriſt prayed for his Diſciples to his Father, John 17. 17. Sanctifie them, &c. And the Apoſtle for the Theſsalon… ans, 1 Theſ. 5. 23. The God of peace ſanctifie you. And God hath promiſed to give his holy Spirit to them that ask him, Luke 11. 13. And he hath ſanctified thoſe that were very unholy. 1 Cor. 6. 11, 12. Such were ſome of you, but you are waſhed, but you are ſanctified. And beſides all this, this prayer is well-pleaſing to God, Lord, make me holy, I would not grieve and diſhonour thee any more, I would not be vile.
2. Attend the holy Word, and wait upon God therein to work holineſſe in Attend to the holy Word.you. John 15. 3. Ye are clean through the Word which I spake unto you John 17. 17. Sanctifie them through thy Word, thy Word is truth. The Word is compared to cleanſing water; to Fullers ſope which whitens; to refining fire which ſeparates the droſſe, and purifies the mettal; the hearts of ſinners are changed by it; ſo was Pauls; and ſo thoſe Jewes in Acts 2. & 3. & 4.
3. Get Faith to unite you to Chriſt, who is made Sanctification to us, 1 Cor. 1. 30. He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit, 1 Cor. 6. 17.Get faith to unite us to Chriſt. Make uſe of the promiſes.
4. Make uſe of the promiſes, as 2 Cor. 7. 1.