4. There is no going to heaven without sanctification, Ileb. xii. 14., " Without ho liness no man shall see the Lord." God is an holy G<)d, and he will suffer no un- holy creature to come near him; a king will not suffer a man with plague-sores to approach into his ])resence. Heaven is not like Noali's ark, M'herc the clean beasts and the unclean entered, no unclean beasts come into the heavenly ark ; though God suffer the wicked to live a while on the earth, he will never suffer heaven to be pestered with such vermin. Are they fit to see God, who wallow in wickedness ? Will God ever lay such vipers in his bo- som ? " Without holiness no man sIimU see the Lord." It must be a clear eye that sees a bright object ; only an holy heart can sec God in his glory. Sinners may see God as an enemy, but not as a friend; may have an affrighting vision of (i(»d, but not a beatifical vision : they may see the flaming sword, hut not the mercy-seat. O then what need is there of sanctifica- tion ?
5. Without sanctification all our holy things are defiled. Tit. i. 15., " Unto them that are defiled, is nothing pure." Under the law, if a man who was unclean by a dead body, had carried a ])iece of holy flesh in his skirt, the holy flesh had not cleansed
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OF SANCTIFICATION.
him, but he liad polhitcd tliat, Hag. i. 12, 13. An emblem of a sinner's polluting bis holy offering. A foul stomach turns tlie best food into ill liumoui's; an unsanctified heart pollutes jirayers, alms, sacraments. This evinceth tlie necessity of sanctifica- tion : sanctilication makes our holy tilings accepted ; an holy lieart is the altar which sanctifies the offering; his duties, though they are not to satisfaction, yet to accepta- tion,
6. Without sanctification we can shew no sign of our election, 2 Thess. ii. 13. Elec- tion is the cause of our salvation, sanctifi- cation is our evidence ; sanctification is the ear-mark of Christ's elect sheep.
Quest. JF/tat are the signs of sanctijica- f.on ?
Ans. 1. Such as are sanctified, can re- member a time wlien they were unsancti- fied. Tit. iii. 3. We were in our blood, and then God washed us with water, and anoint- ed us with oil, Ezek, xvi. 9. Those trees of righteousness that blossom and bear al- monds can remember when they were like Aaron's dry rod, not one blossom of holiness growing ; a sanctified soul can remember wlicn he was estranged from God through ig- norance and vanity, and when free grace planted this flower of holiness in him.
Second sign of sanctification is the in- dwelling of the Spirit, 2 Tim. i. 14., " The Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us." As the unclean spirit dwells in the wicked and car- ries them to pride, lust, revenge ; the devil hath entered into these swine. Acts v. 3. ; so the Spirit of God dwells in the elect, as their guide and comforter. The Spirit pos- sesseth the saints. God's Spirit sanctifies the fancy, causing it to mint holy thoughts ; it sanctifies the will, putting a new bias upon it, whereby it is inclined to good. He who is sanctified, hath the influence of the Spirit, though not the essence.
Third sign of sanctification is an antipa- thy against sin, Ps. cxix. 104., an hypocrite may leave sin, yet love it, as a serpent casts its coat, but keeps its sting : hut a sanctified person can say, he not only leaves sin, but loathes it. As there are antipathies in na- ture, between the vine and laurel, so in a sanctified soul there is an holy antij)atliy against sin ; and antipathies can never be
reconciled. Because he hatli an antipathy against sin, he cannot but oppose it, and seek the destruction of it.
Fourth sign of sanctification is, the spi- ritual performance of duties, viz. with the heart, and from a principle of love. The sanctified soul prays out of a love to prayer, he " calls the sabbath a delight," Isa. Is iii.
1 13, A man may have gifts to admiration, he may speak as an angel dropped out of heaven, yet may be carnal in spiritual things ; his services do not come from a renewed principle, nor is he carried upon the wings of delight in duty. A sanctified soul worships God in the spirit, 1 Pet. ii. 5. God doth not judge of our duties by the length, but by the love.