Salvation from Sin by Jesus Christ, Preface
HOlineſſe being the very Image of God upon the ſoule, and the bleſſed perfection in which we were Created, to the reparation whereof we are Redeemed by Chriſt, renewed by the holy Ghoſt, conducted by the Word, and furthered by all Gods Ordinances, and in which ſo much of our everlaſting Bleſſedneſſe will conſiſt; It is no wonder if it have many Adverſaries in the world; and if Satan, and all ungodly men, do imploy their wit and power to extinguiſh it; ſubtill Hereticks ſecretly undermine it, and bring in Doctrines, which if practically entertained, would deſtroy it: The Libertines more plainly ſlight and contemne it, and the profane do openly deride and perſecute it. No man but the Son hath ſeen God at any time, but in the glaſſe of his Word and Works muſt we here behold him: One of theſe Glaſſes is the Church, and its ſanctified Members: here do the wicked ſee the holineſſe of God and hate it; here do the juſt behold the holineſſe of God and love it: It is as neglecters, and deſpiſers of Chriſt in his holy ones, that the wicked are condemned, & as lovers of Chriſt in his holy ones, that the righteous are rewarded in the judgement that is before us, Mat. 25. All Doctrines and Practiſes therefore that derogate from Sanctification, do tend to Damnation, and are enmity againſt God. The uſuall wayes by which the Deceiver and his Inſtruments attempt this work, are theſe foure: 1. By denying the neceſſity and true ends and uſes of holineſſe, and perſwading men that it is neceſſary, no otherwiſe than as an evidence of ſome better thing, or as a point of gratitude onelyonly for ſalvation received: when as it is part of our ſalvation it ſelf, and a neceſſary meanes to the reſt, which yet remaineth. 2. By ſetting Juſtification and Sanctification in oppoſition, as meanes of pleaſing God, and ſaying, It is not This, but That, when it is, indeed, both This and That, and both are links of the ſame Golden chaine, inſeparably conjunct. 3. By pretending an humble abaſing of man, as if we muſt diſeſteem Sanctification, becauſe it is in our ſelves, and the works of it done by our ſelves: But indeed it is our ſelves that Chriſt meaneth to cure; in our ſelves he dwelleth by faith; our ſelves are the habitation and temples of his Spirit, and it is our ſelves whom he will perfect in Glory for ever, and our ſelves by whom he will be prayſed and honoured. Is grace the leſſe grace, becauſe it is in, or upon our ſelves? If God had thought that all the goodneſſe that is in any beſides himſelf, or all the good that is done by any other, had been derogatory to his glory, he would never have made any creature, nor made uſe of any; or elſe he would not have made them good. Is the goodneſſe of a Watch a diſhonour to the Watchmaker? or the beauty of a Houſe diſhonourable to the Builder? Will God bring men to Heaven, and to perfection of Holineſſe, at ſo deare a rate, that we may then diſhonour him, by being perſonally perfect? They that digeſt this unhappy doctrine, are unlikely to give God the glory of his works, and particularly of this excellent part of his grace. 4. Another engine to deſtroy Sanctification, concurrent with the former, is the pretended advancing of Chriſt and Free-grace; as if Chriſt, within us, were no Chriſt, and Sanctfication were no part of Free-grace: Or as if to deny Chriſt our love and obedience were to advance and honour him? Or to Love and Prayſe and obey him, were to diſhonour him. The vanity of theſe deluſory conceits, is by Reverend and deare Brother, plainly, judieiouſly and ſolidly diſcovered in this following Treatiſe, neither clouding the free Remiſſion of ſins, by extolling mortification, and holy living, as the Papiſts; nor laying our recovery wholly in relative changes, and all our righteouſneſſe in meer reputation, as the Libertines doe, ſeeing it is by the right apprehenſions and conſiderations of the Underſtanding, that the Will muſt be rectified, and the Affections elevated; and ſound Doctrine is the meanes to ſound Apprehenſions: I may groundedly perſwade thee, Reader, that by a diligent and faithfull peruſall of this Treatiſe, thou art likely to receive an addition to thy Sanctification, while thou ſhalt read and conſider of its Excellency and Neceſſity; and to be more freed from ſin, while thou conſidereſt the Deſirableneſſe, and the way of that Freedome. Read, therefore, and conſider, and the Lord give his bleſſing. So prayes
London, Decemb. 21. 1654. An unworthy Servant of Christ, for the promoting of the Faith and Holineſſe of his Choſen, Rich: Baxter.