3. Tlie third counterfeit of sanctification is hj^ocrisy ; Avhen men make a pretence of that holiness Avhich they haA'e not. A comet may shine like a star; such a lustre shines from their profession, as dazzleth the eyes of the beholders, 2 Tim. iii. 5., " HaA'- ing a form of godliness, but denying the poAver." These are lamps Avithout oil ; Avhited sepulchres, like the Egy^ptian tem- ples, Avhich had fair outsides, but within spiders and apes. The apostle speaks of true holiness, Eph. iv. 24., Implying that there is holiness which is spurious and feigned, Rev. iii. 1., " Thou hast a name that thou liA^est but art dead :" like pictures and statues AA'hich are destitute of a Adtal principle, Jude 12., " Clouds Avithout wa- ter." They pretend to be full of tlie Spi- rit, but are empty clouds. This shew of sanctification (Avhen it is nothing else) is self-delusion. He who takes copper instead of gold, AATongs himself; the most counter- feit saint deceiATS others AA^hile he Hacs, but deceiA'cs himself AA'hcn he dies. To pretend holiness, AA'hen there is none, is a vain thing. What AA'cre the foolish virgins better for their blazing lamps, Avhen they Avanted oil ? Wliat is the lamp of })rofes- sion Avithout the oil of saving grace ? Wliat comfort AV'ill a shew of holiness yiehl at last? Will painted gold enrich, — painted Avine refresh him that is thirsty ? Will painted holiness be a cordial at the hour of \ deatli ? A pretence of sanctification is not
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to he rested in. Many ships, that have had the name of the Hope, the Safop^uard, the Triumph, yet have been cast away upon the rocks; so, many wlio have liad the name of saintship, have been cast into hell.
4. The fourth counterfeit of sanctifica- tion is restraining grace. Wlien men for- bear ^nce, tliougli tliey do not liate it, tliis may be the sinner's motto, ' Fain I wouhl, but I dare not.' The dog hath a mind to the bone but is afraid of the cudgel ; men have a mind to lust, but conscience stands as the angel, witli a flaming sword, and af- frights ; they have a mind to revenge, but the fear of hell is a curb-bit to check tlicm. Here is no change of heart; sin is curbed, but not cured ; a lion may be in chains, but is a lion still.
5. The fifth counterfeit of sanctification, is common grace, which is a slight, transient work of the Spirit, but doth not amount to conversion. There is some light in the judgment, but it is not humbling, — some checks in the conscience but they are not awakening : this looks like sanctification, but is not. Men have convictions wrought in them, but they break loose from them again, like the deer, which, being shot, shakes out the arrow; after conviction, men go into the house of mirth, take the liarp to drive away the spirit of sadness, and so all dies and comes to nothing.
Quest. Wherein appears the necessity of sanctification ?
Ans. In six things, 1. God hath called us to it, 2 Pet. i. 3., " Wlio hath called us to glory and virtue ;" to virtue, as well as glory. " God hath not called us to un- cleanness, but unto holiness," 1 Thess. iv. 7. We have no call to sin, we may have a temptation, but no call ; no call to be proud, or unclean ; but we have a call to be holy.
2. The necessity appears in this : with- out sanctification there is no evidencing our justification: justification and sanctification go together, 1 Cor. vi. 11., " But ye are sanctified, but ye are justified ;" Mic. vii. 18., " Pardoneth iniquity," there is justi- fication; V. 19., " He will subdue our ini- quities," there is sanctification. Out of Christ's side came blood and water, 1 John
v. G. Blood, %nz. justification ; water viz. sanctification. Such as have not the water out of Cli list's side to cleanse them, shall never have the blood out of his side to save them,
3. Without sanctification we have no ti- tle to the new covenant. The covenant of grace is our charter for lieaven ; the tenui'e of tlie covenant, is, That (iod will be our God (the crowning blessing). But who are interested in the covenant, and mav plead the benefit of it.'' Only sanctified persons ; E/ek. xxxvi. 26., " A new heart also will I give you, and I will put my Spi- rit within you," and I will be your God. If a man make a will, and settles his estate upon such persons as he names in the will, none else but they can lay claim to the will : so God makes a will and testament, but it is restrained and limited to such as are sanctified ; and it is high presump- tion for ajiy else to lay claim to the will.