A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 130 (Question 35)
SERMON CXXX.
QUESTION XXXV.
… THAT is Sanctification?
ANSWER.
SANCTIFICATION is the Work of GOD's Free Grace, whereby we are re…d in the whole man after the Image of GOD, and are enable more and more it … unto Sin, and live unto Righteouſneſs.
…E Benefits which God's called ones do, … upon Believing derive from Chriſt, are … and great; of theſe, ſome are commu…ed to them in this life, others are re… for them till afterwards; in all which … is a wonderful Change paſſeth upon … Subject that is made to participate in …. Theſe are of two ſorts, either ſuch … …duce a relative, or a real Change, either … the ſtare, or alſo the nature of thoſe of … they are beſtowed; the former … are called Acts, the latter Works. … …biſm diſtributes them according to … wherein they are actually conferred; … this Life, ſome at Death, and others … …ſurrection, but they are all reduci… … two foremantioned Heads. To the … Change in this Life, belong Juſtification Adoption, of which we have al… …en an account: To the real Change … Sanctification and Glorification, which … to be conſidered. We are now led …pans… into the nature of Sanctification, … the third Benefit mentioned, and of … …o all God's called ones are made … in this Life, and it is ever inſe… from the two former. All thoſe … God juſtifies and adopts, he alſo ſanc… In the deſcription here given of it, as … former, we may obſerve, the general … …on, and the ſpecial nature of it.
… general or common nature of it is, … Work of God's Free Grace.
…here,
…ERE is ſomething wherein it agrees … other ſpiritual Benefits whatſoever, … a fruit of God's Free Grace. For … …ave no claim, or challenge of any … …ing from God, who have forfeited …, much leſs of any diſtinguiſhing … in which we have a Preference to … well deſerving as we. And here … …inted,
1. TO the Author of this Benefit, who is God. It is his Prerogative as to juſtify and adopt, ſo to ſanctify. It is not in a man's own power to ſanctify himſelf, as will be very manifeſt when we come to conſider what there is in it, and what the man is, before it is wrought in him; nay, this Sanctification is a work of Almighty Power, and is on that account reſembled to the Creation, 2 Cor 4.6. and to the Reſurrection, Eph. 2.1. So that it muſt needs tranſcend the Power of Angels of Men to produce it.
2. TO the Fountain from whence it proceeds, which is his Free Grace. And here obſerve,
(1) SANCTIFICATION is a very great Priviledge; it is an inexpreſſible Benefit that they enjoy, on whom it is conferred; it is a paſſing from Dearth to Life; it is a reparation of the nature which was undone by Sin: It is the fitting the man to ſerve to the end he was made for, all power whereto he had loſt by the Fall, and by that loſs, laboured under undoing vainity: By it we are capacitated for the Glory of God, of which we are come ſhort by Sin; and by it alſo we are made capable of true Happineſs, which our very Nature, whiles under the power of Original Concupiſcence, cannot be advanced unto.
(2.) GOD beſtows it upon us freely, and that is rich Grace. That he is the Author of it we have obſerved; and therefore Paul goes this ther for it, 1 Theſ. 5.23. And the very God of peace ſanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole ſpirit and ſoul and body be preſerved blameleſs, unto the coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And aſcribes it to the Spirit. 2 Theſ. 2.13. As we can do nothing towards it of ourſelves, and ſo are not able to prepare our ſelves for it, ſo God owes it not to us; nay, if all the reſiſtance, of a Nature wholly corrupt, which is a meer lump of Enmity, (as we are told, Rom. 8.7.) could poſſibly hinder the Operation of it in us, we ſhould never be made owners of it; and the contempt, which its reſolute refuſing to accept it, is a high provocation to him to with hold it from us; ſo that it muſt be an unparalled'd kindneſs, which appears herein.
2. THERE is ſomething wherein it differs ſpecifically from Juſtification and Adoption, but holds in common with Glorification, and is ſo far of its general nature, and that is, it is a Work: Whereas the two former are called Acts: Of the difference between an Act and a Work, we have already taken actice and it would …opeillocus, here to call it … again. And, that …un…ti …eation is not a …cer relation, … ſomething infuſed into, or wrought in the …, will appear, wher we conſider is in its ſp…e…t Nature. Her this notion of a Work is not appropriated to it but … to Glorification: for it both of … is a … Change of the Su…k…; and … of them there are degrce, … and not begun and perfected at once … tha… there is a further difference to be ſough… … theſe two; which will be ſeen in …he… ſpecial nature. The ſum of it is, in the one God bellows Grace upon us, in the other Glory. So that the Saying commoly received, that Grace …s Glory begun, and Glory is Grace …er…ected, is warily to be entertained, left we confound there two Peivileges, which are formally diverſe, as will be evident in the ſequel. Before we pals over to the conſideration of the ſpecial Nature of this Benefit. It will not be amiſs to conſider ſomething about the uſage of the word, and the true ſenſe i… which we are in this place to underha…d … The word S…n…ſication, is di…erſely ſed … Scripture. In the Old Teſlan… … frequently uſed to ſignify the Separation of a Perſon or Thing from common uſe, and conſecration of it, to that which is ſacred; by vertue whereof there is a relative H…i…neſs bellowed. Thus the Sanctuary and all the Utenſils of it were ſanctified, thus Aaron and His Sons, thus the Levites; thus the Elements in the Sacraments, and thus the Sabbath Day are by vertue of Inſtitution, and Separation ſanctified. In this reſpect alſo, are a People viſibly in Covenant with God, and ſo ſeparated from others that are ſtrangers from the Covenant, ſanct fied, on which account they are ſaid to be an holy People, and called Saints. But theſe are not the Sanctification which we are now inquiring after; for all that is but external, and makes no inward difference in the quality of the things, as this doth. God indeed, in Sanctifying his People, doth ſeparate them for himſelf, and his ſpecial Service, but it is not a meer ſeparation by appointment, but He by it, fits them for this Service to which in this ſeparation he Conſecrates them, and that is, by infuſing of the Principles of true Holineſs into them, as will appear; whereas men may be partakers in a relative Sanctification without it. I ſhall not here critically enquire, whether there be any difference between Effectual Vocation, Converſion, Regeneration, and Sanctification, and what is that difference. Only in general we may obſerve, that all of theſe do point to one and the ſame real Change which is wrought in the Subject; and in that regard they are frequently uſed for one and the ſame thing. But if we look upon them more ſtrictly, there is a manifeſt difference to be obſerved in them. Effectual Calling reſpects either God as the Author of it, and ſo it points us to the efficient Cauſe, or the … as the Subject, and there it peculiarly … pects the diſpoſing of him, and act… drawing of him from other Objects to Cheſt, whom we embrace and receive as the a… Object of our truſt; and ſo is reſtrained, the producing of the habit and act of F… Converſion is alſo conſidered as paſ…, … which there is a Change imprinted … our powers, by vertue whereof we are … ſed to Repentance; or active when we … this Principle, and turn from Sin to Godly true Repentance. Regeneration impli… creation and infuſion of the new Pri… into us, by the Operation of the Spi… … God; and may be conſidered, either … Operation itſelf, and ſo it is the C… in the thing wrought by it, and ſo it is … Effect; and in this laſt regard it is the … with Sanctification. Sanctification the… … …ers from the other, as the Effect from the Cauſe; and hence in order of Nature is … ri…r to them. And as ſuch, we are now … ing upon. It. As to the difference which ſome make between paſſive and active Sanctification, I ſhall not inquire into the …d of it; it is only the pa…ve, that … to take the account of. That which … call active, I take it to be no other, … … pentance, which we are afterwands p… to the diſtinct conſideration of. We … come to the conſideration of,
II. THE ſpecial Nature of Sanctification, which is deſeribed in the remainde… … Anſwer. And here there are two thir… be taken notice of in it, viz. 1. The … itſelf that is wrought in us by it, … acwed in the whole man after the Image … 2. The things wherein the efficacy … Work is to be diſcovered: we are … more &c. We may take up theſe i… … order diſtinctly.
1. THE Work itſelf that is wrought … by it; we are renewed &c. And … three things obſervable,
(1.) THE thing itſelf …et is pro… … that wherein the Eſſence of this San… conſists, i. e. The Image of God. Wh… … culiarly to be underſtood by the … God, in Scripture language, we have … ly had occaſion to inquite, in the con… tion of the ſtare, in which man was … created, which needs not to be here … again inſiſted upon. The ſum of … Sanctification of his Nature, by tho… … of Righteouſneſs and Holineſs, which … concreated with it, and by which … furniſhed with an innate power of p… true Conformity to the will of God, … ed in the Command. And whatſoe… … putes there are in the World about, … is a certain rule, that it was ſomething … might be loſt, conſiſtent with man … ing all that is eſſential to humanity … remaining a reaſonable Creature, and … by Counſel. How elſe is it ſaid to be … ed, and that alſo by a new Creation; … are aſſured it is, Eph. 4.22, 24. So that, though we are not to ſay, with the Papiſts, th… is was Superatural, yet it is more proper to ſay it was Connatural, then Natural; is as much as the Nature of man, as man, … notwithſtanding the Amiſſion of it; although, it we conſider man as he was made for the ſerving and actually glorifying of God by his rational nature, ſo it was due to his nature, as appointed to ſuch an end, being a moral perfection without which he could not obtain it; and therefore having by Sin loſt it, he is ſo fallen ſhort of the Glory of God. Rom. 3.23. This Sanctification then conſiſts in the body of Graces, which is put into the man, which tender him like to God, in his moral perfections, which are therefore called Grace, becauſe they are infuſed Habits put into us by the Spirit of God. But we ſhall have occaſion anon to … more particular account of them.
(2.) THE way in which this thing is produc…d, i.e. .by Renova…ion: we are renewed in this Image. When we are ſaid to be renewed due the Image of God, the meaning is, that our Re…ation is wi…h reſpect to that Image, or …, that the Spirit in this work follows the … of the Image that was firſt put upon us, and when it is called a renewing, it inti…es to us,
1. THAT once we bad this Image in us. A thing may be made that never before was, but nothing is renewed, but that which ſometimes hath been. It therefore puts us in mind of that primitive ſtate of perfection, which …kind enjoyced, according to, Eccl. 7.29. for not only the perſon of Adam had it, but the nature of man enjoyed it in him, and if he had retained it, he ſhould have …nicated it to his Poſterity in the chanand of natural Generation.
2. THAT when the Spirit of God comes to ſ…y the man, be finds him altogether void of his Image. It is utterly loſt and gone, there is nothing of it remaining. Man is, by the Ap…y, become altogether Fleſh. The l… of God was good, but Paul tells us, Row. ….18. For I know, that in me (that is in my ſho… …elleth no good thing. There is another Image contracted, and that is called his own, in oppoſition to that of God, Gen. 3.1. In the day that God created man, in the … God made be him. They therefore who talk of the relicts or remainders of the … of God in man, muſt needs mean ſomething elſe than that which we are ſpeaking of for man is become altogether unprofitable, Rom. 3.12.
3. THAT hence this Image is wholly new…ds in Sanctification. It is not like a Fabrick, which is gone to rack and ruine, but yet … with Coſt be repaired, by ſupplying … and there, where it is defective; but … building that is quite fallen, and th… is nothing left of it, but muſt be all … the very Foundation. Hence we …, 2 Cor. 5.17. Therefore if any man be in Chriſt, he is a new creature; old things are paſt away, behold, all things are become new. Sanctification is not only a rouſing & reviving of the drowſy and almoſt dead diſpoſitions in man, but it is a transformation, Rom. 12.2. And for this reaſon, the effect produced in this work, is called the new man, Eph 4.24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteouſneſs & true holineſs.
4. AND it is only the Image of God that is renewed in us, in this Work. We are indeed ſaid to be new Creatures by vertue of it, 2 C…r. 5.17. And to be born again. Joh 3.3. But this is not intended with reſpect to the natural powers and faculties in us, as to their being; for it is that only that is renewed, which was loſt: whereas man unſanct fied, is yet a man as to theſe; he hath a B…dy and a Soul, tho' both are defiled by Sin: He hath an humane Underſtanding, Will, Affections, Conſcience, Memory, &c. And they are all of them the ſame in their eſſence afterwards, that they were before, but are renewed according to the gracious qualities & principles which are put into them; but becauſe there is ſuch a moral Change by it, made in the whole man, and all that is in him, that makes him look, and account, and live like another man. Therefore the Scripture ſometimes ſo expreſſeth; tho' ſtill it tells us that it is with reſpect to theſe principles. Col. 3.10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him. Eph. 4.24.
3. THE Subject of this Sanctification with reſpect to its Univerſality, or Exterſiveneſs; it is in the whole man. It is an entire Work, the whole Soul, Spirit and Body are made partakers in it. It is therefore compared to a whole man, in reſpect of the integrality of it, Eph. 4.24. Now this integrality may come under a double Confideration, viz. either with reſpect to Degrees or Parts.
1. WITH reſpect to Decrees. It is not uſually begun and perfected at once, but is ſmall at firſt, and carried on ſucceſſively under the means which God uſeth and bleſſeth for that end. So that on this account we are at preſent Sanctified but in part; there is Grace, but there is Corruption too; and at firſt but a little Grace. Hence compared to a Seed that is ſown. Yet the work of Converſion, in which Sanctification is wrought, is compared to a Birth, and Believers at firſt to newborn Babes, and ſuch as muſt have nouriſhment in order to growth, 1 Pet. 2.2. Paul tells us of his being firſt a Child, and after that a Man, 1 Cor. 13.11 When I was a child, I ſpake as a child, I underſtood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childiſh things. Growing in Grace is alſo enjoyned on us, as a Duty, 2 Pet 3.18. Grow in Grace. And the reaſon is becauſe we are not yet come to perfection. Phil. 3.13, 14. Brethren, I count not my ſelf to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting thoſe things which are behind, and reaching forth unto thoſe things which are before, I preſs toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus. Only let it be remarked, that this imperfection is not ever to abide. Grace is put into us for growth, and that growth is in order to perfection; and God will at length bring us into it, under and by the means he uſeth, Eph. 4.11, 12, 13. There will a time come, tho' nor in this life, when all Sin ſhall be done away, and holineſs ſhall arrive at its fulneſs.
2. BUT with reſpect to Parts, it is entire at the first inſtant of its infuſion. It is the Image that is reſtored, and in it are contained all ſpiritual and ſaving Graces; and theſe extend to the whole man: And it muſt be ſo.
For,
(1.) THE whole man was made for the ſervice of God by obedience to his Preceptive Will. The man owes himſelf i…tirely to God, and is to make it his whole buſineſs to Glorify God in the whole. As, in 1 Cor. 6.20. F…r ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify G…d in your body, and in your ſpirit, which are God's. Hence David ſo excites himſelf, Pſal. 103.1. Bleſs the Lord, O my ſoul: and all that is within me, bleſs his body Name. He is not to be part for God, and part for other objects, but all for God and no other.
(2.) THE Whole Men had the impreſſion of the Image of God on it at firſt. It was man that was made after it, Gen. 1.27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him. Man was made upright, Eccl. 7. 29. All in him was right, he comes in all his powers inclined & furniſhed for his end. There was no jarring Principle in any one of his faculties or members, but a rectitude in all.
(3.) THE Whole Man loſt this Image in the Apoſtacy. The Depravation of Nature ſeized every part & power in him: nor was there ſo much as one member in him that eſcaped this Pravity. We have a full account of it given in the whole and in every part, Rom. 3.10, &c.
(4.) HENCE, to render the man ſit for his end and ſervice, the whole muſt be renemed. Man is an Inſtrument, put out of tune by the fall, and the end of his Renovation is, that he may ſound out the declaritive Glory of God, Iſai. 43.21. This people have I formed for my ſelf, they ſhall ſhew forth my praiſe. And if ſo much as one ſtring in this Inſtrument be out of tune, it's harmony and melody will be ſpoiled. Now the whole man is made up of two eſſential conſtituent parts, viz. Soul and Body; and both of them go in to denominate him one of theſe ſpecies; and tho' there is a vaſt difference between theſe, and the Body be but the Souls organ, in and by which it performs its imperate actions, and is capable of being and acting, in a ſtate of ſeperation, yet the man is not entire without both. And becauſe the Soul is to be the leader in this ſervice, that muſt needs be Sanctified, elſe it will be a blind & perverſe leader, and carry both to ruine: So alſo becauſe the Body is to be improved by it in this ſervice, it is requiſite that it be Soul … too, otherwiſe it will no way ſit for … ſpiritual Employment, which it is to be … i…. This Sanctincation therefore is … each, according to the nature, and ſer… bleneſs of them to this great end. Now as, in the Soul, we conſider its ſeveral fac… ſo, in the Body, its divers ſenſes, whether internal or external, and all the members … and the Sanctification of each, is to be … ſ…ered according to the diverſe nature and uſe of it, it being nothing elſe but a … and empowering of us to perform body and acceptable Obedience to God with …. And would we know what this is, we … but to look back, and call to mind, wh… the depravation which befell them by the Fail: Of which we had the account, wh… …e conſidered of the Sinfulneſs of the … into which man ſell. Since Sanctification conſiſts in the reſtoring of that Grace … in every part, which we loſt by our Apoſ…; It may therefore ſuffice, here only … ſome brief hints. Here then,
1. IN the Soul we obſerve the Underſ… Will, & Affections; the Sanctification when of is ſured to their nature. Hence,
(1.) THE Underſtanding is renewed, … … ing it a ſpiritual Diſcerning. A natural and rational power of Diſcerning it hath …, elſe it were not an Underſtanding, but it is blind to ſpiritual things, and … potent as to ſuch a perception. 1 C…. 2.…. But the natural man receiveth not the … the Spirit of God, f…r they are ſcob… … him: neither can he know them, … are ſpiritually diſcerned. Hence be … Pſal. 119.18. Open thou mine eyes, that … behold wondrous things out of thy …. ſaid of natural men, Rom. 3.17. And … of peoce they have not known. And Eph. … This I ſay therefore, and teſtify in the … ye henceforth walk not as other Gen… … in the vanity of their mind, Having … ſtanding darkned, being alienated from … of God, through the ignorance that is …, becauſe of the blindneſs of their be…. … there we are told of this Image, Col. … And have put on the new man, which … in knowledge, after the image of him … him. To which knowledge belongs … a literal apprehenſion of the notion …, but a diſcovery of the truth and … of the thing ſo apprehended, with … approbation of it.
(2.) THE Will is renewed, by the … a power to it of chuſing the Good, and … the Evil. And this not in reſpect of things natural, for without that it were … but of things ſpiritual. Man was to … God for his laſt end and happineſs, … will for his rule to guide him to it. … natural man can do, Joſh. 24.19. … ſaid unto the people, Ye cannot ſerve the … for he is an holy God: he is a jealous God, … will not forgive your tranſgreſſions … Joh. 5.40. This power is reſtored in … Pail. 2.13. For it is God which …rk… in you, b…th to will & to do of his good pleaſure. He can now forſake all for God, and give himſelf up to him for ever.
(3.) THE affections are renewed, by putting … & ſpiritual by as into them by which they are ſet … things above. God. 3.2. Theſe Affections are o… divers ſorts, and were all perverted by the Apoſtaſy, but now they are ſet right again: And as …e…ore they carried the man from God, after lying vanities; now they carry him away from them all after God again. They are the feet of the Soul, and be can ſay, as Pſal. 63.8. My ſoul followeth h…d after thee.
2. In the Body we take …otice of all the Senſes of Members of it. And the renewing of theſe is, the ſitting of them for the employ … of the ſanctified Underſtanding and Wi…, in the glorifying of God. There is a new inclination put into the Imagination, Cogitation and Memory, a new bye, and Ear and Hand given. Theſe had all been the Servants of Unrighteouſneſs, and ſenſually …ied forth after ſenſi…le objects; whereas now they are made the Servants of Righteouſneſs, and preſt for the gracious Employments which they were made for, Rom 6.19. For as ye have yielded your members ſervants to …neſs, and to iniquity unto iniquity, even ſo … yield your members ſervants to righteouſneſs, unto holineſs. So that the very body which before he could not reſent, but took all Service of God as irkſome, is now made …s, and intenſe in it, with delectation.
USE. LEARN we hence, that men do in vain p…d to a title to Juſtification & Adoption who … ſtrongers to Sanctification. It is true, God Juſtifies and Adops us freely, but when he … ſo, he alſo Sanctifies us freely, and tho' this, in order of nature follows the other, yet is produced at the ſame inſtant with them, and is never ſeperated from them. Let all thoſe the…, who know nothing of the Sanctifying Grace of God in their Hearts bew… n…w they boaſt of their intereſt in Pardon and Sonſhip, under a pretence of a Faith is Chriſt, that is not accompanyed with Holineſs; but rather is uſed as an encouragement to live in Sin. Know who hath ſaid, …. 12.14. Follow — holineſs, without which … …s ſhall ſee the Lord. And if … are without it, your Faith will be … preſ…ption.
[MARCH 14. 1699.]