A Little Cabinet, Section 17
Of Juſtification and Sanctification, how they differ, and wherein they agree.
GOD in Juſtification imputeth the righteouſneſs of Chriſt to us; in Sanctification his Spirit infuſeth grace in us. In Juſtification we read ſin pardoned, in Sanctification we read ſin ſubdued; the one doth free all Believers from the warth of God that they never fall into a ſtate of condemnation; the other neither equal in all, nor in this life perfect in any, but going on and growing up to perfection.
Again, Juſtification and Sanctification differ thus; to wit, Juſtification is the imputing of anothers juſtice to us, to wit Chriſt.
Sanctification is the impreſſion of Juſtice, that it may be in us.
In Juſtification, there is ſatisfaction of Chriſt.
In Sanctification, there is the obedience of a Chriſtian.
Juſtification is a perfect and abſolute undivided act at once; Sanctification is a work begun, not equal in all, but carried on in all by degrees.
Juſtification is firſt; Sanctification afterwards: conſiſting in ſeparation from ſin, filthineſs, and common pollution.
Juſtification and Sanctification are two inſeparable companions, where one doth dwell, the other will lodge; and as Election is the proper work of the Father, as Eph. 1. 3, 4. Redemption of the Son, 1 John 2. 1, 2. So Sanctification is the proper work of the Holy-Ghoſt, 1 Cor. 6. 11.
Now there are four things conſiderable to ſhew us wherein we are to keep our Juſtification and Sanctification diſtinct the one from the other.
1. We are to keep Juſtification and Sanctification diſtinct, in reſpect of the ſubject and matter of this, which is not any thing in us, or done by us: but the perſonal and ſpotleſs righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt made over to us, 1 Cor. 1. 30.
2. It is our duty to keep up our Iuſtification diſtinct, although it be not accompanied with Sanctification, although there be failings in us; the Prodigal in Luke 15. came and confeſſed his ſin as a ſon, and ſaid, Father I am not worthy to be called thy ſon.
3. We ſhould keep our Iuſtification diſtinct, and not go to reaſon out our Iuſtification from our Sanctification, but we ſhould look to Jeſus Chriſt, the Rock upon which a Chriſtian ſhould build his ſoul.
4. We ſhould alwaies keep up, and keep diſtinct our Juſtification, as the ſpring and way to Sanctification; for the fruit of Juſtification, is peace, joy, boldneſs and ſtrength to do the will of God; all this doth come in from Jeſus Chriſt in a way of believing, and not from Sanctification; for as we are not to conclude our Juſtification from any effects of Sanctification, ſo we are not to conclude that apprehenſion of Juſtification to be from God, which takes us off the means, waies and rules of Sanctification: therefore although they be diſtinct in theſe four forementioned heads, yet they agree, and go hand in hand in theſe enſuing things.
1. They go together in theſe; he that is juſtified, doth as earneſtly deſire Sanctification and holineſs, as he doth heaven and happineſs.
2. He doth as well deſire, that is juſtified by Chriſts righteouſneſs, to chuſe Chriſt as a King to rule over him, as a Saviour to ſave him.
3. They go together in this reſpect alſo; a ſoul is not content with the apprehenſion of his Juſtification, unleſs he finds ſome meaſure of, and growing up in Sanctification.
4. They go together, as doth appear by this; the man that is truly juſtified, he doth make as much care and conſcience to practiſe holineſs, as ever he did to get Chriſts righteouſneſs.
5. They go together in this reſpect alſo: every diſcovery of Chriſt and his righteouſneſs to the ſoul for Juſtification, doth fit and heighten the ſouls reſolution for Sanctification and holineſs.
6. A man may be ſaid to keep his Juſtification and Sanctification together, when he doth truſt his ſoul in the hands of Chriſt for ſalvation, and makes it his work to die to the world, and to honour Chriſt in the world.
7. When a ſoul hath found out Chriſt, for his Juſtification, he doth make it his great buſineſs to be conformable to him in his converſation, Phil. 3. 10. being made conformable to his death.
Now if any ask,
1. Why a ſoul ſhould keep his Juſtification and Sanctification diſtinct in ſome things.
2. Why in other things we ſhould keep them together.
3. How a ſoul ſhould come to keep his Juſtification and Sanctification diſtinct, and yet to keep them together.
Then I anſwer,
1. Why a ſoul ſhould keep them diſtinct: to which I anſwer.
1. Becauſe the Spirit of God is diſtinct in laying down theſe things in the Scrptures, viz. in exhorting us to come without money, and without price; and if we walk in darkneſs, and ſee no light, yet to truſt and ſtay our ſelves upon him, becauſe he doth love us freely, and pardon us graciouſly, and is found of them that ſought him not.
2. Becauſe otherwiſe our ſouls can never be truly eſtabliſhed, rooted and built up in him, Iſaiah 7. 9. Eph. 3. 17. Col. 2. 7. he that doth mix Juſtification and Sanctification together, can never be eſtabliſhed.
3. We ſhould keep them diſtinct, that ſo we might give God the whole glory of our Juſtification and ſalvation.
Queſt. 2. Is, why we ſhould in other things keep them together?
Anſw. 1. That we might glorifie God before the world; its true, a ſoul doth moſt glorifie God by believing, but he doth more glorifie God before the world by his holy converſation, Matth. 5. 16. John 15. 8.
2. Becauſe holineſs and ſanctification is the way in which the Lords people ſhall be ſaved. I do not ſay that this is the way by which, but the way in which ſalvation is manifeſted, 2 Pet. 1. 10, 11.
3. The next reaſon why we ſhould keep them together, is, becauſe thereby we ſhall ſtop the mouths of wicked men, 1 Peter 2. 15. For ſo is the will of God, that with well doing you may put to ſilence the ignorance of fooliſh men.
4. We are to keep them together, becauſe this is the will of God, that all that do profeſs his name, and lay hold on his Mercy, ſhould live holily, 1 Theſ. 4. 3, 4. For this is the will of God, even your ſanctification, that every one of you ſhould know how to poſſeſs his veſſel in ſanctification and holineſs.
5. We are to keep up Sanctification as well as Juſtification, becauſe thereby the Lord will ſtop the mouths of wicked men at the laſt day, ſaying, Come ye bleſſed of my Father, you have done thus and thus for me and mine, Matth. 25. 34, 35.
Queſt. 3. Is, how ſhould a ſoul come to keep his Juſtification and Sanctification diſtinct, and yet keep them together?
Anſw. 1. Meditate much on the free love of God, when we were in our blood, he was in his love; freely to love us, and graciouſly to juſtifie us: and then in the ſecond place the ſoul will ſay within it ſelf, ſhall I ſin againſt him that hath freely juſtified me? No, no, how can I do this great wickedneſs and ſin againſt God?
2. Dwell much upon thoſe engagements that God hath put upon us in the many great things that he hath done for us, Titus 3. 3, 4, 5. For we our ſelves were ſometimes fooliſh, diſobedient, deceived, ſerving divers luſts and pleaſures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another; but after that the kindneſs and love of God our Saviour appeared, not by works of righteouſneſs which we have done, &c. Ver. 8. Theſe things I will that thou affirm conſtantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.
3. Think much upon the littleneſs of our work or ſervices we can do to him, and the unſpeakable things that he hath done and promiſed to do for us▪ what a diſproportion there is between his mercy to us, and our obedience to him; the one is like the Ocean Sea, the other as a grain of muſtard-ſeed; the one infinite, the other finite; the one as a great mountain that fills the whole earth, the other as a Peppercorn.
4. Dwell much upon the great difference there will be between thoſe that make it their work to keep up their Faith and obedience, and thoſe that do not; at the coming of Chriſt, the one he will bleſs, and make them ſit down to meat, and will ſerve them, ſee that bleſſed place, Luke 12. 37.
The other hath neither Juſtification nor Sanctification, the Lord will cut them aſunder, and will appoint them their portion with unbelievers, Luke 12. 46.
O what remains then, but that we labour to diſtinguiſh between our Juſtification, and our perſonal Sanctification. The firſt is quite out of our ſelves, conſiſting in the imputation of Chriſts righteouſneſs inherent in him, who ſits at the right hand of God, far above the reach and ſphear of ſins activity, and is therefore perfect and compleat, yea the foundation of all bleſſedneſs; the latter is in our ſelves, and therefore weak and uncertain; he that underſtands not the true nature and doctrine of Juſtification, cannot enjoy true, ſtable and conſtant peace; but remains unſtable, apt to be led away with every wind of Doctrine; in the right underſtanding of this point, is treaſured up a fountain of ſoul-reviving conſolation.
Surely, by what hath been ſaid, it doth moſt plainly appear, that a Chriſtians happineſs depends not upon his own doings, but on Chriſt, who is of God, made unto us Righteouſneſs, Sanctification, &c. who hath ſaved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpoſe and grace. See 1 Cor. 1. 30. 2 Tim. 1. 9. Heb. 13. 8. Sanctification admits of degrees, Juſtification neither of Rules nor degrees; when we cannot apprehend God in a way of Sanctification, yet we are then comprehended of God, though our actual righteouſneſs be but as menſtruous rags, and often fail us, yet then, even then, we have the righteouſneſs of Chriſt preſented to us, Iſa. 45. 24. Surely ſhall one ſay, in the Lord have I righteouſneſs and ſtrength: their righteouſneſs is of me ſaith the Lord, Iſa. 54. 17.
And this Righteouſneſs, as it is ours by imputation, ſo it is perfect and endureth for ever, and is the foundation of all bleſſedneſs, therefore let us reſt ſatisfied with Chriſts righteouſneſs, and add nothing to it, let our hearts ſay with David, Pſalm 71. 15, 16, 19, 24. I will make mention of thy righteouſneſs, even of thine only, and wait upon him in Faith, prayer and patience, who hath promiſed that he will be as a dew to Iſrael, and that he ſhall grow as a Lilly, and caſt forth his fruit as Lebanon, Hoſea 14. 6, 7.