The Use and Practice of Faith, Question 7 · Part 2 · Branch 1

The Use and Practice of Faith · Question 7 · Part 2 · Branch 1

p. 114Branch. 1. Renovation.And firſt, for the Life of Faith in Sanctification it ſelf, or the Renovation of the Soul.

For the better proſecution of this Point, it will not be amiſs to give you in brief the Reſolution of theſe Queſtions:

Queſt. 1. Whether there be any ſuch Life of Sanctification in a Chriſtian, beſides the Sanctification that is in Chriſt himſelf?

Queſt. 2. If there be ſo; then what it is, and wherein it doth conſiſt?

Queſt. 3. How, and by what means it is wrought in the Soul?

Queſt. 4. What's the reaſon, that ſuch a Life is neceſſary in all juſtified perſons?

Queſt. 1. Whether there be a life of Sanctification in believers.1. For the firſt, it may ſeem a Queſtion out of queſtion, but that the vanity and petulancy of mens fancies and opinions begins to call all into queſtion in theſe dayes, and ſo this.

That which ſtarts the Queſtion, is the wreſting of certain Scriptures, which they pervert, (as they do many others) as

1 Corinth. 1.30. He is made to us (amongſt other things) Sanctification. Therefore, ſay they, there's no other.

Heb. 10.14. He hath by one offering for ever perfected thoſe that are ſanctified. Therefore, ſay they, Chriſt is our Sanctification, and it can be no other, becauſe it is perfect.

Before we Anſwer theſe Scriptures, we ſhall ſhew the contrary by the full evidence of other Scriptures, which will give us the clearer light in anſwering thoſe former alleged places.

p. 115Solut. There is therefore a Life of Sanctification inherent in every true Chriſtian, beſides that which is inherent in the perſon of Chriſt himſelf. Which is proved by theſe Arguments:

1. Becauſe there is a Sanctification of the whole perſon in parts and faculties by the Spirit of Grace: 1 Theſſ. 5.23. And I pray God your whole ſpirit and ſoul, and body, be preſerved blameleſs, &c. Every believer is thus ſanctified, as Water is warmed, or the Air enlightened, all at once.

2. There is a Sanctification of the Converſation, 1 Theſſ. 4.3. For this is the will of God, your Sanctification: 1 Pet 1.15. As he which hath called you is holy: ſo be ye holy in all manner of converſation.

3. This is part of the New Covenant, Ezek. 36.25, 26, 27. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon them, and they ſhall be clean, &c.

4. Argument is drawn from an abſurdity: If there were no Sanctification in a Chriſtian, beſides that in Chriſt, then there ſhould be a confuſion of theſe two great Benefits of Juſtification and Sanctification; but the Apoſtle doth every where diſtinguiſh theſe, as in the forementioned place, 1 Cor 1.30. Righteouſneſs, Sanctification, &c. So 1 Cor. 6.11.—But ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, but ye are juſtifi…d. And indeed, there is a great deal of difference: for

1. Juſtification is imputed; Sanctification is imparted: John. 16. Of his fulneſs have all we received, and grace for grace.

2. Juſtification is without a man; Sanctification is within him.

3. Juſtification abſolves a man from all his ſins; Sanctification does not ſo. Who can ſay, I am clean from my iniquity?

4. Juſtification is perfect, and compleat: Acts 13.39. p. 116Being juſtified from all things. Sanctification is imperfect: ſo ſaith the Apoſtle, Phil. 3.12. Not as though I were already perfect. Chriſt hath laid hold upon me, that I may lay hold upon him, to draw ſtill further vertue from him; therefore it is not perfect at the firſt.

But what then ſhall we ſay to that place of Scripture, Heb. 10.14 He hath by one offering, &c.

Anſ. 1. The words import no more but this, (as appears by the context) That what is wanting in our own works and duties, (and ſo in our Sanctification) Chriſt hath perfected by the benefit of our Juſtification: or

2. By that offering of his, he hath ſanctified and ſet us apart to be his own peculiar people. For ſometimes to ſanctifie, ſignifies no more, than to ſet apart from a common uſe, to ſome ſpecial ſervice:

So

Times

Things

Perſons

are ſaid to be ſanctified.

Then whereas it is ſaid, 1 Cor. 1.30 He is made to us ſanctification, &c. The meaning is no more but this, That he is the Author and Finiſher of our Holineſs, as well as of our Faith, as we ſhall ſee in the reſolution of the third Queſtion. In the mean time, let us come to the ſecond Queſtion.

Queſt. 2. What Sanctification is. Sol.2. What this Sanctification is, and wherein it doth conſiſt? And it may be thus deſcribed: It is an inward and powerful change of a perſon juſtified, whereby the image of God is renewed in him, by the work of the spirit.

It is a change, and a powerful change, to diſtinguiſh it from that work that may be in a civil man, whereby his corrupt nature is ſuppreſſed, and reſtrained, though his corruption be not mortified.

2. An inward change, to diſtinguiſh it from outward reformation, ſuch as was in Herod, who heard John gladly, and reformed many things; and yet his heart was not p. 117changed: but true grace doth ever begin at the fountain, it purifies that in the firſt place, and then the ſtreams which flow from thence, Mat. 23.25. Pſal. 51.10.

3. It is the change of a juſtified perſon, to ſhew, that however Juſtification be not Sanctification, nor Sanctification Juſtification; yet Sanctification is a neceſſary fruit, and an inſeparable companion of Juſtification. That perſon that is once juſtified, is alſo ſanctified, as in the place before-named, 1 Cor. 6.10.

4. The form of Sanctification, conſiſts in the Renewing of Gods Image; in which Image Man was created at the firſt, having not onelyonly a ſpiritual ſubſtance, a Soul, and ſpiritual faculties of that Soul, Reaſon and Will; but ſpiritual and divine Properties of thoſe Faculties, Light in his Reaſon, to know the Truth; a ſweet flexibility in his Will to obey the Truth, according to the Will of God. Now after the Fall, though man have the ſame Soul, and the ſame Faculties, yet he hath not the ſame divine Properties of thoſe Faculties: for as he fell by the Devils temptation, ſo he fell into the Devils ſin and condemnation. The Devil fell by Pride he would needs be above God, or as God, & ſo he tempted our firſt Parents to fall by the ſame kinde of Pride; and ever ſince, man in the ſtate of corruption, would be ſome-body in thoſe two main Faculties of his Soul, Reaſon and Will: (and therefore we are all naturally Papiſts and Arminians in this Point) his Reaſon he would lift up above the Word of God (as they do their Traditions) and his VVill above the VVill of God; whereby it come to paſs, that his Pride makes him very wilful in ſinning againſt God, Jer. 44.16. or elſe preſuming upon a falſe ſuppoſed liberty of converting himſelf to God at his own pleaſure: whereas the Apoſtle ſaith flatly, It is not in him that willeth, &c.Rom. 9.Rom 9

But this is the condition of Man in the ſtate of corruption; the Image of God is thus fearfully defaced. Now when grace comes in the work of Sanctification, there is p. 118preſently a change wrought, not in the very ſubſtance and faculties of the Soul, but onelyonly in the properties of them: preſently the lofty looks of man are humbled, and the haughtineſs of men is bowed down, and the Lord alone exalted in that day, Iſa. 2.11. There's no more, My Reaſon, but, Thy Word, Lord, ſhall be my guide; then, no more My Will: but, Thy Will be done: Let it be done in earth, as it is done in heaven; then, no more, I will do this or that by my own ſtrength; I will repent when I am old; I can convert my ſelf to God when I liſt— No: but as poor Ephraim cries out, Turn thou me, and I ſhall be turned; convert thou me, and I ſhall be converted: for thou art the Lord my God, Jer. 31.8. Thus truth of Grace ſanctifies Reaſon, and it ſanctifies the Will, and ſo it ſanctifies the Affections to love God, and by conſequence, to love that which God loves, and to hate the contrary; it ſanctifies the Conſcience to accuſe, and excuſe upon juſt grounds; it ſanctifies the Memory, to retain good things; it ſanctifies the Tongue, to ſpeak good things, or at leaſt it is pain and grief to keep ſilence (Pſal. 39.) it ſanctifies the ear to hear good things, and ſhut the door againſt the contrary; it ſanctifies the hand to do good things; it ſanctifies the feet, the feet of the Soul, to walk in good wayes. In a word, it ſanctifies the whole man to the ſervice of that God, who hath redeemed him from death. And thus the form of Sanctification, conſiſts in the renewing of the Image of God in righteouſneſs and holineſs, Eph. 4.24. which implies alſo the defacing of the Image of old Adam, and of Satan; the pulling down of the old ſtructure of ſin, before there can be a rearing up of the new ſtructure of Grace; a putting off the old man, before there can be a putting on the new.

Thus you ſee the ſecond Queſtion reſolved, What this Sanctification is, which by the way ſhould teach us to examine, whether we live this Life or no.

p. 119Ʋſe. Examine, whether we are ſanctified.

Motive. The juſt lives by Faith in the Trial of his Sanctification, as well as Juſtification, Pſal. 139.23. Search me, O God, and know my heart, &c. Maſter, is it I? 2 Cor. 11.2. I am jealous over you, &c. Is there any more in us then Civility or Morality can produce? Is there an inward, powerful, univerſal change?

Queſt. VVhat difference is there between Morality and Sanctification?

A…ſ. This is a profitable queſtion, becauſe many are deceived in this particular, as the young man, Mark 10.20. ſo many at this day reſt in Civility, &c.

Obj. Is there any hurt in Civility and Morality? why do you Preachers ſpeak ſo much againſt it?

Anſ. VVe ſpeak not againſt the things themſelves,Of Civility. but mens truſting to them, and reſting in them: they are good in themſelves, and lovely diſpoſitions; as Chriſt looked upon the young man, and loved him: But when men reſt in them, and cry them up for true Sanctification, there's the danger. Though Silver and Gold are the beſt Metals, yet Braſs, Copper, and Tin, are good in their kinde: but if a man will ſet the Stamp of good Coyn upon Copper, Braſs, &c. and gild it over, that he may put it off for Gold, &c. he deſerves to ſuffer for it: So if a man will ſet the Stamp of true Grace upon Civility or Morality— Jer. 6.28 30

Queſt. VVhat difference?

Anſ. A meer Moral mans Obedience is not general:

As,

1. For Extent: Difference betwixt Morality and Sanctification.The Civil or Moral man his obedience is not general. Herod muſt have his Minion, Mark 6.17. Therefore Jam. 2.10. He that offends in one point, is guilty of all: but a gracious man doth all (in purpoſe of heart:) Acts 13.22. foreign: è contra, Saul, 1 Sam. 15. will pick and chooſe.

2. For Object: The Moral mans obedience is more to p. 120the Law than the Goſpel, becauſe the Law is revealed by nature, Rom. 2.14. but the Goſpel not ſo, it is a myſtery, 1 Cor. 2.7 8. therefore he ſlights Chriſt: Publicans and Harlots ſhall go into the Kingdom of God ſooner than they. On the other ſide, Rom. 1.16. the Goſpel is powerful to ſalvation.

3. More in duties of the Second Table than the Firſt, (becauſe theſe are more known by nature than the firſt.) Hence profane ones take Gods Name and Sabbath in vain, either in Oaths, or ordinary talk; as, O God! O Lord! though (Deut 28.58.) It is a glorious and fearful Name; but Pſal. 119.228. I eſteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right, ſayes a Saint.

4. For Quality: Moral men are onelyonly for the form, not the power of godlineſs; they hate that: as Ʋlpian the great Lawyer, Galen the great Phyſician, and Porphiry the great Philoſopher, great enemies to godlineſs. Difficult duties, exact walking, loving enemies, Matth. 5.43. theſe things they love not to hear of; but eſpecially that hard leſſon of Self-denial, Luke 14.33. as that young man, Mark 10.22.

5. His obedience is outward, not inward, ſo long as he abſtains from actual Murther, and Adultery, Matth. 5.21. But Chriſt ſhews there the ſpiritualneſs of the Law: 2 Cor. 10.5. Caſting down imaginations—bringing into captivity ever thought, &c. Rom. 6 17. Ye (true believers) have obeyed from the heart.

6. He makes no bones of ſmall ſins, as the Scribes and Phariſees, Mat 5.19, 20.

7. He hates ſuch as are powerfully godly, Acts 7▪ 54. as they were out to the heart, and gnaſhed on Steven with their teeth: è contra, 1 Joh. 3.14. We know that we have paſſed from death to life, becauſe we love the brethren.

8. A meer Moral man doth commonly and willingly fail in the Principle, End, and Manner of Duty.

p. 1211. Principle: He doth all in his own ſtrength, but the other in the ſtrength of Chriſt: Phil. 4.13. I can do all things through Chriſt that ſtrengthneth me.

2. End: His own glory; Jehu, 2 King. 10.16. Come ſee my zeal, &c. So he; See my gift in prayer: Mat. 23.5. to be ſeen— Contrà, Pſal. 115.1. Not to us, O Lord, not to us, &c.

3. Manner: as well as matter of actions, either he reſts in the notion; Rom. 2.18. And knoweſt his will, approving the things more excellent, &c. or if he be drawn down to actions, yet affection is wanting: Heb 9.14. dead works;

Chearfully,

Diligently,

Zealouſly,

Rom. 12.11.

9. They love not to be touched in their Free-hold; they love not diſcriminating differencing Doctrines; according to Jer. 15.19. Separating the precious from the vile, &c. Luke 4.29. When they heard theſe things, they were filled with wrath, and thruſt him out of the City. But one that hath any grace, loves to be tried, and that God would ſend a meſſenger to ſearch my heart to the bottom, Pſal. 139. Luke 7.23. Bleſſed is he that is not offended; i.e. offended with it, or the meſſenger of it, which Chriſt ſpake in the ſame caſe: The poor receive the Gospel; men of eminent parts for Civility and Morality are paſſed by, and thoſe men that renounce all theſe in point of Juſtification, and are poor in ſpirit, theſe are bleſſed.

Thus Faith tries Sanctification, 1 Pet. 1.21. And if upon examination we be found guilty, take the counſel, Rev. 3.17, 18. Becauſe thou ſaiſt, I am rich, &c. — I counſel thee to buy of me gold, &c. If upon examination we finde we be truly ſanctified, prize Chriſt. Phil. 3.6, 7.8 What things were gain to us, we count loſs for Chriſt. Be thankful, 1 Tim. 1.13, 17.—who was before a blaſphemer, &c. but I obtained mercy: ſo, &c.

p. 122Queſt. 3 Queſt. How ſhall we do to live this Life of Sanctification?

Anſ. The anſwer to the third Queſtion will reſolve this; viz.

By what means Sanctification is wrought.How, and by what means this Sanctification is wrought in the Soul.

Anſ. 1 The truth is, the main Original Cauſe is God; He is the Author, as of the firſt, ſo of the ſecond Creation: Eph. 2.10. For we are his workmanſhip, created in Chriſt Jeſus, unto good works.

God the Father as the Efficient Cauſe: Jude, ver. 1. To them that are ſanctified by God the Father.

God the Son as the Meritorious Cauſe: Heb. 2.11. For both he that ſanctifieth, and they who are ſanctified, are all one.

God the Holy Ghoſt, working this: 1 Cor. 6.11. —But ye are ſanctified in the Name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and by the Spirit of our God.

It ſprings not from our ſelves, nor from our parents: no, though they be holy, it ſprings not from them.

Sow the pureſt Wheat you can get, yet it ſprings up with chaff again, when it brings forth another Crop: So the beſt parents bring forth children, with the chaff of natural corruption cleaving to them. Grace comes not from Nature, but from God; Joh. 1.13. Which were born, (not of blood) nor of the will of the fleſh, nor of the will of man, but of God. God therefore is the Original and principal Cauſe.

Ʋſe. Go to God for Sanctification for our ſelves or others: 1 Theſſ. 5.23. And the very God of peace ſanctifie you wholly, &c. Mat. 8.2. And behold, a leper came, and worſhipped him, ſaying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canſt make me clean. Pſal. 51.7, 10. Create in me a clean heart, &c.

Anſ. 2 But now Faith is the Intrumental Cauſe of the Life of Sanctification, in the order of working; and ſo the p. 123juſt lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification. Acts 15.9. Faith purifies the heart; and ch. 26.18. it purifies the life of the whole man, that they may receive inheritance among them that are ſanctified, by faith that is in me.

Queſt. And how doth Faith purifie? or how doth the juſt live by Faith the Life of Sanctification?

Anſ. 1.Acts of faith in ſanctifying. 1. Applying Chriſt, either 1. In general. As laying hold on Chriſt the principal object of Faith, eſpecially on the blood of Chriſt, the meritorious Cauſe of cleanſing.

I ſay, in general, laying hold upon Chriſt, the principal object of Faith; not as if Faith had this life, or this power to give life in it ſelf, no more can it give the life of Sanctification, than of Juſtification: but as by it we are united to Chriſt our Head, and Fountain of Life. Faith comes from Chriſt, and returns to Chriſt again; like the Flower call'd The Wonder of the World, it grows out from the ſtem or ſtalk, and turns round to it again: So Faith comes from Chriſt and turns round to him again, to draw ſtill more vertue from him. As our Communion with Chriſt in grace, flows from our Ʋnion with him: ſo alſo all ſpiritual Operations, or living acts of ſpiritual life. Look as in the natural body, the life of all the Members is from the Head, and that Life conveyed by certain nerves and ſinews to every part: ſo the Life of Sanctification in all the Members, is derived from Chriſt the Head, and that by the ſinews and nerves of Faith, conveyed to all the elect in due time, by which they live, and more and more encreaſe from day to day. Vide Epheſ. 4.15, 16. Coloſſ. 2.19.

Queſt. But how ſhall I know, that my ſpiritual actions and operations (ſuppoſe Prayer, Preaching the Word, practiſing of that we hear in any particular) do ſpring from my Union with Chriſt?

Anſ. This is a profitable and neceſſary Queſtion,When ſpiritual actions ſpring from faith in Chriſt. becauſe a man may do many good things, and yet theſe actions not flow from our Union with Jeſus Chriſt. A man p. 124may have excellent common graces; nay, and he may counterfeit ſaving graces too, and yet theſe not ſpring from Union with Chriſt. Nay, a man may be ſtrengthened by Chriſt to do work and ſervice for Chriſt, and yet that ſtrength and thoſe ſervices not flow from Union.

Iſa 45.1, &c. Concerning Cyrus his doing friendly offices for the Church, and this prophecied of him about 200 years before he was born.

Iſa. 1O.3. O Aſſyrian, the rod of mine anger, &c. correcting and afflicting the Church, and they had their ſtrength from God,—a ſtaff in his hand, and yet they did not know this, nor acknowledge it themſelves; v. 7. Howbeit, he meaneth not ſo, &c.

A man may have excellent common graces, as Judas had, and thoſe, Matth. 7.22. Lord, have we not prophecied in thy Name, and in [thy Name, i e. in thy power] caſt out devils? &c.

A man may counterfeit ſaving graces even to the life, that he may deceive others: Rev. 3.1. Thou haſt a name that thou liveſt, and art dead—(Though God is not mocked.)

Queſt. The Queſtion then is, How ſhall I know, whether my holy actions, motions, and operations, do ſpring from Union with Chriſt, or no?

Anſ. 1. (To follow the Metaphor of Head and Members) If thy holy actions proceed from inward principles, (1 Cor. 6.17. Being made one spirit) and not outward principles onelyonly.

As a living hand or foot, is moved from inviſible nerves and ſinews within; but a wooden hand or foot, is moved onelyonly by outward ligatures, by which it is bound to the body: So a man may pray and preach, and be onelyonly moved by outward ligatures—of profit, credit, envy, &c. Philip. 1.15. Some preach Chriſt of envy and ſtrife, and ſome of good will. So Mat. 6.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. They gave alms, and prayed in the ſtreets to be ſeen of men: but he that p. 125doth it by vertue of Union, is moved by an inward principle of the Spirit of Chriſt.

Obj. But may there not be a common gift of the Spirit to move a wicked man; as 2 Chron. Ezra 1.1. The Lord ſtirred up the ſpirit of Cyrus King of Perſia? &c.

Anſ. Yes: but then it proceeds not from the inhabiting Spirit of God, whereof the Elect are the Temple, 1 Cor. 6.19. but onelyonly from a preſent, common, and tranſient work of the Spirit, as in Baalam: ſo ſometimes good and evil ſpirits have had power to enter into bodies, and carry them up and down; but yet not to inform them, as the Soul informs the Body, nor to dwell there, &c.— So the Spirit of God, &c.

Queſt. How ſhall I know my Spiritual actions proceed from the inhabiting Spirit?

Anſ. By ſavouring and minding the things of the Spirit, Rom. 8 5. They that are of the fleſh, do minde the things of the fleſh; but they that are after the spirit, the things of the ſpirit.

Though Gods Spirit ſpake in and by Baalam, yet he had no through reliſh of what he ſpake; for he ſtill loved the wages of unrighteouſneſs.

2. We may know it by the End of ſpiritual actions, if it be the glory and honour of Chriſt, and a care to preſerve the things of Chriſt; as the Members of the Body have a principal care of adorning and preſerving the Head: The Arm receives a blow to defend the Head; ſo a living Member of Chriſt, truly united to him, as he goes to Chriſt for ſtrength, Phil. 4.13. ſo he refers all to the honour of Chriſt in concluſion, another adventures himſelf far for the truth and cauſe of Chriſt; as Paul, Acts 20. Neither is my life dear unto me, ſo I may fulfil the Miniſtery of Chriſt, &c. So in general Faith lives on Chriſt.

2. In particular, Or, 2. In particularhe lives by Faith in the Application,

p. 126Means 1. His Death.1. Of the Death of Chriſt; for though we have benefit by the Birth of Chriſt (Luke 2.10, 11.) (as we ſhewed this day fortnight) yet not ſo much as by his death; and joy in birth, onelyonly in relation to his death: He is born a Saviour, i.e. one that ſhall die for your ſins, Rom. 5.10. Heb. 2.14. Through death he deſtroyed him that had power of death, that is, the devil.

Yet there is joy in his Birth, as in the approach of a friend that comes to looſe as out of Priſon, if we be in for Debt or Murther: We then rejoyce, when he comes to the door, but onelyonly in reference to paying of the Debt; for if he ſhould then turn back, it would ſad us the more: So in this caſe.

Muſt Aarons ear, and hand, and foot be ſanctified? it muſt be done by the application of the Blood of the Covenant, Exod 29.20. Thus our hearing, thus our words, thus our works, thus our walking, is ſanctified in the application of the Blood of Chriſt. Heb. 9 14. —the Blood of Chriſt purge your conſciences. 'Tis all the price of Blood. 2 Cor. 5. ult. He hath made him to be ſin for us, &c.

Faith ſanctifies, as by laying hold of the Blood and Death of Chriſt; ſo of the Reſurrection and Life of Chriſt.

Means 2. His Reſurrection.As the Reſurrection of Chriſt is a Birth, (ſo, he is called, The firſt-born from the dead) ſo, the aſſurance of his Reſurrection (proved by the powerful government of the Church, and of the whole World, for the Churches ſake, in his Seſſion at the Right-hand of his Father) this begets a lively hope, and ſo a ſpiritual new birth in us: 1 Pet. 1.3. We are begotten again to a lively hope, by the reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt from the dead. Faith or Hope makes uſe of Chriſts Reſurrection, and this New birth of faith begets a New life of Sanctification. Coloſſ. 3.1. If ye then be riſen with Chriſt, &c. The love of Chriſt dying for us, and riſing for us, and reigning for us, (acting all our affairs at p. 127the Right-hand of God his Father; yea, the love of Chriſt begetting of us to this lively hope, by his Death and Reſurrection: all theſe conſtrain us to a holy life, 2 Cor. 5.

Ver.

14. For the love of Chriſt conſtraineth us, becauſe we thus judge, that if one dyed for all, then were all dead: and that

15. He dyed for all, that they which live, ſhould not live henceforth unto themſelves, but unto him which dyed for them, and roſe again: Therefore

16. We live no more after the fleſh; i.e. with carnal and ſinful affections. And

17. If any man be in Chriſt, he is a new creature; a new man, a regenerate perſon, and hath a renewed converſation.

Therefore? Wherefore? becauſe he, ſeeing the love of Chriſt, by the eye of Faith, in dying for him, and riſing again; this raiſeth up his heart to newneſs of life: As if he heard Chriſt perſwading of him, like as a tender-hearted mother perſwades her childe, per viſcera, by her own bowels, If thou art my childe, if thou doſt own me for thy Mother, then obey my commandments, and follow my advice: ſo ſaith the Apoſtle,Col. 3.Col 3 If ye be riſen again with Chriſt, if ye be partakers of a New Birth, through the pangs of his Death, and the power of his Reſurrection, if ye be his children, if ye acknowledge God for your Father, ſet your affections ow things which are above, Phil. 3.20.Phil 3:20and let your converſation be in heaven. And ſo the juſt lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification, in the application of the Death and Reſurrection of Chriſt.

3. He lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification,Means 3. His Appearing and Judgment. in the application of the Appearing of Chriſt, and the Judgement of Chriſt: 2 Tim. 4.1. I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his kingdom, Preach the word, be inſtant, &c. Look as the warning of an Aſſize p. 128or Seſſions makes one careful to provide themſelves, that their cauſe may be found good, that they may be able to ſtand in Judgement: ſo in this caſe. The ſame argument, ſee Tit 2.13. —Live ſoberly, righteouſly, &c. looking for the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. And 1 Cor. 15. laſt, The…efo…e my beloved brethren, be ye ſtedfaſt, &c. Wherefore? for as much as ye know, &c. i.e knowing by faith or believing, your labour (one day) ſhall not be in vain in the Lord. A cauſe of all ſins is made, not believing the Judgement: 2 Pet. 3.3, 4. Where is the Promiſe of his coming, &c? and a cauſe of holy walking, the believing of it; ver. 11, 12. What manner of perſons ought ye to be in all h…ly converſation and godlineſs, looking for, and haſting to the coming, &c. Therefore it is obſervable in Scripture, where-ever almoſt there is mention of the laſt Judgement, it ſpeaks of Chriſts judging men by the fruits of Faith, rather then by Faith it ſelf; that the believing of the laſt Judgement, may ſtir us up to a holy life. Mat. 25.35, &c. 2 Cor. 5.10. & Rev. 20.12. there the Books are opened (the Book of Gods Decree) and yet men judged according to their works. Think of this, you that have to do in Judgement this day *: other Books muſt one day be opened. It may make a Felix tremble; it may move all to be holy and righteous in all their actions.

Means 4. His Word.4. He lives by, Faith the Life of Sanctification, in the application of the Word of Chriſt. Without Faith, the Word profits not, neither this, nor any other way; but being mixed with Faith, Heb. 4.2.Heb 4:2it is quick, and powerful, and mighty in operation, 2 Cor. 10 4.2 Cor 10:4to the pulling down of ſtrong holds; i.e. proud thoughts, earthly thoughts, unclean thoughts. Joh. 15.3. Now are you clean through the word that I have ſpoken to you: Pſal. 19.Ps 19The word of the Lord is clean, and endures for ever. And as it is clean in it ſelf, ſo it is a cleanſing word in the effect: Joh. 17.17. Sanctifie them through thy truth, thy word is truth. Not as if the Word had power to p. 129ſanctifie without the Spirit, but the Spirit doth it by the Word: the Word is an inſtrument of cleanſing in the hand of the Spirit. 1 Pet. 1.22. Ye have purified your ſouls on obeying (i. e. in believing) the truth through the spirit.

As the Spirit makes uſe of the Word of Precept and Threatning (Pſal. 17.4. By the word of thy lips have I kept me from the paths of the deſtroyer) ſo of the word of Promiſe alſo, 2 Cor. 7.1. Having therefore theſe Promiſes, let us cleanſe our ſelves. What? hath God promiſed to be a Father to me, (as it is in the words before) and that I ſhould be a ſon or a daughter to him, this Lord God Almighty, upon condition that I will ſeparate my ſelf, and touch no unclean thing; and ſhall not I be willing ſo to do? Nay, hath God promiſed to perform the condition for me, namely, to ſprinkle clean water upon me, that I might be clean, Ezek. 36.25. and to ſubdue my iniquities, and ſanctifie me throughout, in Soul, Body, and Spirit, and ſhall not I make uſe of theſe his Promiſes? Hath God ſhewed ſo much love to me in making the Promiſe, and ſhall not I ſhew love to him in obeying his Precept? And thus by laying hold upon the Word, both of Promiſe and Precept, the juſt lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification: therefore Faith is called, Moſt holy Faith, Jude, n. 20. namely from the effect, becauſe it works holineſs in him that hath it. Moſt holy Faith: it is not ſaid, Moſt holy Love, Joy, or Peace, but moſt holy Faith, not

Subjective,

ſed

Effectivê:

All lean on this building as the Foundation; Chriſt is the foundation of Merit; Faith, of Order: Chriſt is the Foundation which Faith findes, and tries as the Workman, &c.

Faith is like a ſtrong purge, that never leaves working▪ ſo long as there's any corruption in the body: So Faith p. 130never leaves working, ſo long as there is any corruption in the Soul, and that is as long as we live: OnelyOnly, as Faith grows ſtronger, corruption grows weaker from day to day; but, it is not wholly purged out, till our daying day, and therefore there is uſe of Faith as long as we live: but becauſe when we die, our corruption ſhall die with us alſo, there ſhall be no uſe of Faith any longer.

Means 5. Sacraments.5. He lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification, in the application of the Sacramental Signs. Theſe are means of our Sanctification: Eph. 5.26. Chriſt is ſaid to give himſelf for his Church, that he might ſanctifie and cleanſe it with the waſhing of water by the word. And Tit. 3.5. He ſaved us, by the waſhing of Regeneration. But this waſhing is by Faith. Philip ſaid to the Eunuch, Act. 8.37. If thou believeſt with all thine heart, thou maaiſt be baptized.

Obj. Then Infants are not to be baptized, becauſe they cannot believe.

Anſ. God looks at Infants in their Parents faith. Gen. 17. I will be thy God, and the God of thy ſeed. So far as want of faith might hinder circumciſion, ſo far it may hinder Baptiſm. For 1. The Covenant is the ſame, Rom 14.11. and the Seals are the ſame for ſubſtance, 1 Cor. 10 1, 2. 2. The Grace of God is the ſame; yea; more abundant, Tit. 2. ver. 12. The grace of God foreign, hath ſhined forth: Oppoſed to the ſhadows of the Old Teſtament. And did God ſhine upon Infants in thoſe times, and ſhall we put them under a cloud now? VVant of faith did not hinder them then, and why now? It hindred heathens then, and ſo now. No Proſelytes were admitted, but ſuch as made profeſſion of the Faith of Abraham: So, &c.

Means 6. Afflictions.6. He lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification, in the right uſe and application of Afflictions. Afflictions ſanctified, are a means of ſanctifying us: That may be one reaſon why they are called a Baptiſm; Mat. 20.23. Chriſt ſaid to the two Diſciples, Ye ſhall indeed be baptiz'd with p. 131the baptiſm that I am baptized with: Meaning, a portion of his Afflictions. If Chriſt learn obedience by the things which he ſuffered; much more may we.Heb. 5.8.Heb 5:8 Afflictions ſanctified, work the quiet fruit of righteouſneſs, Heb. 12.11. Afflictions are like the Red-ſea; they drown ſome, but they ſave and purge others. And what is the reaſon of the difference? Some have faith to paſs through them, but ſome have none: They drown thoſe that have no faith, but they purge and preſerve thoſe that have Faith: Heb. 11.29. By faith they paſſed through the Red-ſea, which the Egyptians aſſaying to do, were drowned: And this was not onelyonly a Baptiſm of Affliction, but of Purgation and Sanctification; 1 Cor. 10.2. And were all baptized unto Moſes in the cloud, and in the ſea. Thus the juſt lives by Faith in time of Adverſity, not onelyonly as preſerved therein, (which was handled before) but as waſhed and ſanctified thereby. Revel. 7.14. Theſe are they which came out of great Tribulation, and have waſhed their Robes, &c.

Laſtly, The Prayer of Faith is a mean to ſanctifie:Means 7. Prayer. and the juſt lives by Faith in the exerciſe of Prayer, carrying the Soul to the Fountain of Life, Joh. 4.10.

Therefore if God be the Author and Effector of this Life of Sanctification, go to God for it. Doſt thou feel the want of Sanctification of Spiritual Life? Doſt thou feel thou art dead in ſins and treſpaſſes? It argues the beginnings of Life; but go to God for more Life; pray him to ſprinkle and apply the Blood of Chriſt;Pſal. 51.7.Ps 51:7 pray him to apply the Word, to ſpeak to thy heart in that voice behinde thee; pray him that is Jehovah, Iſa. 30.21.Isa 30:21to give a being to his Promiſe; pray him to make Sacraments effectual, and to Baptize thee with the Holy Ghoſt, and with fire; Ma…. 3.pray him to open thine ear to hear Diſcipline, and ſeal thy Inſtruction, that when thou art corrected, Job 33.16.Job 33:16thou maiſt be ſure to be inſtructed. In a word, pray him who is the Author of Sanctification, to cauſe thee to live by Faith (through p. 132all means) the Life of Sanctification. Go to God by Prayer; by the prayer of faith. For the juſt ſhall live by Faith in this reſpect.Jam. 1.5.Jas 1:5 What S. James ſayes of one ſaving grace, Wiſdom, we may ſay of all, If any man lack— any grace, or all grace, let him ask of God, &c. But let him ask in faith. Faith lives the Life of Sanctification, in drawing holineſs from the Fountain in the Conduit-pipe of Prayer:Iſa. 12.3.Isa 12:3 With joy draw ye the waters out of the wells of Salvation: Lye at the breaſt of the Promiſe, if thou haſt any life at all, and draw out, of the ſincere milk of the word, that thou maiſt grow thereby, 1 Pet. 2.2. which muſt needs be meant of the Life of Sanctification; for the Life of Juſtification is perfect at the firſt, though it be a continued act. Therefore do not onelyonly hear the Word, but Pray. Hearing the Word, is the laying the mouth to the breaſt; but Prayer is the drawing of the breaſt. Therefore draw hard.

New-years-day.O thou that createdſt the firſt Heaven, and the firſt Earth of nothing! O thou that createſt the New Heaven, and the New Earth, (wherein dwells Righteouſneſs) when ſin had made the creature worſe then nothing! O thou that createſt the New Jeruſalem, coming down from Heaven as a Bride! O thou that createſt the New Creature, the New man, fit to be an inhabitant of the New World, of the New Jeruſalem! O thou that haſt ſaid, Behold, I make all things New: Create thou in me, even in me,Pſal, 51. a clean heart; renew a right Spirit in me. Plead with God, and ſay, Lord, thou haſt commanded me, whilſt it is called, Heb. 1.Heb 1To day, to hear thy voice, and not to harden my heart: I beſeech thee therefore whilſt it is called, To day, hear my voice, and harden not thy heart againſt me: For if thy heart be hardned againſt my Prayer, my heart muſt needs be hardned at thy Word. Say, Father, let others give what gifts they pleaſe to their friends, if thou pleaſe but to give me grace, Eph. 4.Eph 4grace to put off the Old man with the Old year, as the circled Snake caſts her skin; and to p. 133put on the New man, Pſal. 103.Ps 103as the Eagle renews her bill and her age both together: I ſhall eſteem it the beſt New-years-gift that ever was given: And ſay, Father, I have faſt hold on thee, and I will not let thee go, Gen. 32.Gen 32except thou bleſs me; except thou giv'ſt me this bleſſing, this New-years-gift of a new heart. Lord, I lay hold of thee in thine own promiſe; Thine everlaſting Truth is a cord ſtrong enough, ſtrong enough to hold Thee: and Lord, I muſt needs make bold to binde thee to thy VVord. Haſt thou not ſaid, Lord, A new heart will I give you? Lord, for whom is this new heart laid up in thy Promiſe: for them that have it, or for them that want it? &c. Therefore I beſeech thee, of thy faithfulneſs to anſwer me, and in thy righteouſneſs, ſay unto me, Though thy faith be weak, Be it unto thee even as thou wilt: Let there be light, Mat. 8.Matt 8let there be heat, let there be a new heart: Be thou holy, as I am holy, that thou maiſt be happy for ever, as I am happy.

Thus much for the third Queſtion, How, and by what means this Sanctification is wrought in the Soul.

4. Queſtions follow;Queſt. 4. What Reaſon of the neceſſity of Sanctification. What is the reaſon that ſuch a life is neceſſary in all juſtified perſons?

Reaſ. 1 1. Reaſon. Becauſe this is one of the great Ends of our freedom by the Death of Chriſt: He died not onelyonly to redeem us from Hell, and from Satan, and all our Enemies, but from our vain converſation alſo, 1 Pet. 1.18. Tit. 2 14. He gave himſelf for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purifie to himſelf a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Yea, he delivered us from the hands of all our enemies, that we might ſerve him in holineſs, Luke 1.74.

Reaſ. 2 2. Becauſe it was one of Gods great deſigns in the work of our Redemption, to make us conformable to the Image p. 134of his Son, as in ſuffering, Rom. 8.29. ſo in ſanctity; that as we have born the Image of the Earthly: ſo we might bear the Image of the Heavenly. 1 Cor. 15.1 Cor 15VVe look upon Chriſt by the eye of Faith, (as they look'd upon the brazen Serpent) not onelyonly to ſave us, but to transform us and heal us. The viſion of Chriſt, begets transformation; and transformation, ſatisfaction: this is partly in this life, but perfectly in the life to come. Pſal. 17. ult I ſhall behold thy face in righteouſneſs: when I awake, I ſhall be ſatisfied with thy likeneſs. In the mean time, there are degrees of transformation and ſatisfaction to the Soul, ſo far as it is able to look upon Chriſt by the eye of faith, in the glaſs of the Ordinances: 2 Cor. 3. ult. But we all, as with open face, beholding, as in a glaſs, the glory of the Lord, are changed, &c. To be changed into the Image of Chriſt, is a great part of a Chriſtians happineſs, a great part of this happineſs, is his holineſs: without which, even heaven it ſelf, and the glorified Preſence of God, would be a hell to him: for ſo long as men are unregenerate, and wicked they ſay unto God, Depart from us, we will not have the knowledge of thy wayes, Job 21.14. Therefore that they may be made like Chriſt, and take comfort in the fellowſhip of Chriſt, it's neceſſary they ſhould live by Faith the life of Sanctification.

Reaſ. 3 3. Becauſe, from the firſt Adam we ſtand guilty of a twofold ſinfulneſs:

1. Imparted: Rom. 5.19. As by one mans diſobedience many were made ſinners: ſo, &c.

2. Imparted: Job 14.4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?

Reaſ. 4 4. This is for the honour of Chriſt: Philip 1.27. OnelyOnly let your converſation be as becomes the Gospel, &c.

2 Sam. 10.4. Hanun's abuſing Davids Servants, was to cut off half their garments.

p. 135Reaſ. 5 5. Becauſe Gods free love in the Life of Juſtification, cannot but ſtir us up to love God again (1 John 4.19▪) And love is active, and full of inventions to do ſervice for the beloved: And ſo he muſt neceſſarily live the Life of Sanctification; and ſo Sanctification is an evidence of Juſtification. How doth Chriſt prove many ſins were forgiven to Mary? (Luke 7.47.) Becauſe ſhe loved much. And how doth ſhe prove her love? by the fruits, her coſt, and care, and pains, ver. 37, &c. If ye love me, keep my Commandments, ſayes Chriſt, Joh. 14.15. Faith works by love, Gal. 5.6. As Faith applies Promiſes for Comfort, ſo commands for Performance of Duty, Pſal. 119 66.

And ſo much for the firſt Branch in Sanctification; viz. Renovation.