3<//y, Sanctifieation makes us resem- ble God. It was Adam's sin that he aspir- ed to be like God in omnisciency, but we must endeavour to be like him in sanctity. It is only a clear glass in which we can see a face; it is only an holy heart in which something of God can be seen ; there's no- thiiifi of God to be seen in an unsanctified man ; you may see Satan's ])icture in him ; envy is the devil's eye, hypocrisy his cloven foot, but nothing of God's image can be seen in him. You can see no more of God in him than you can see a man's face in a glass that is dusty and foul.
4//i/y, Sanctifieation is that which God bears a great love to. Not any outward ornaments, high blood, or worldly gran- deur, draws (iod's love, but an heart em- bellished with holiness. Christ never ad- mired any thing but the beauty of holine.'?s; he slighted the glorious buildings of the temple, but admired the woman's I'aith, " O woman, great is thy faith," Amur finuhilur siniilitu(line. A king delights to see his i- mage ujjon a piece of coin : wliere God sees his likeness, there he gives his love. The Lord hath two heavens he dwells in, and the holy lieart is one of them
bthhj, Sanctifieation is the only thing doth <litference us from the wicked: God's
pursue after sanctifieation ; seek grace more \ people have his seal upon them, 2 Tim. ii.
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OF SANCTIFICATION.
19., " The foundation of God standeth sure, liaving tliis seal, tlie Lord knovveth them tliat are liis : and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from ini- quity." Tlie godly are sealed with a dou- ble seal : 1. A seal of election, " The Lord knoweth who are his :" 2. A seal of sancti- fication, " Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." This is the name by which God's people are known, Isa. Ixiii. 18., " The people of thy holiness." As chastity distinguisheth a vii-tuous woman from a harlot, so sanctifi- cation distinguisheth God's people from o- thers, 1 John ii. 20., " Ye have an unction from the Holy One."
Qthly, It is as great a shame to have the name of a Christian, yet want sanctity, as to have the name of steward and yet want fidelity; the name of a virgin, yet want chastity. It exposeth religion to reproach, to be baptized into the name of Christ, yet unholy; to have eyes full of tears on a sabbath, and on a week-day eyes full of a- dultery, 2 Pet. ii. 15. To be so devout at the Lord's table as if men were stepping into heaven, and so profane the week after as if they came out of hell. To have the name of Christians, yet unholy, is a scan- dal to religion, and makes the ways of God evil spoken of.
'^Ihly, Sanctification fits for heaven, 2 Pet. i. 8., " Who hath called us to glory and virtue ;" glory is the throne, and sanc- tification is the step by which we ascend to It. First, you cleanse the vessel, and then you pour in the wine ; first God cleanseth us by sanctification, and then pours in the wine of glory. Solomon was first anointed with oil, and then he was a king, 1 Kings i. 39. First God anoints us with the holy oil of his Spirit, and then he sets the crown of happi- ness upon our head. Purencss of heart and seeing God are linked togetlier. Mat. v. 8.
Quest. How may sanclijication be attain- ed to ?
Ans. \. Be conversant in the word of God, John xvii. 17,, " Sanctifvthem tliroup-h thy truth." The word is botii a glass to shew us the spots of our soul, and a laver to wash them away ; the word hath a trans- forming virtue in it, it irradiates the mind, and consecrates the heart.
A. 2. Get faith in Christ's blood, Acts XV. 9., " Purifying their hearts by faith." She in the gospel that touched the hem of Christ's garment was healed : a touch of faith purifies. Nothing can have a greater force upon the heart, to sanctify it, than faith ; if I believe Christ and his merits are mine, how can I sin against him ? Justi- fying faith doth that in a spiritual sense, which miraculous faith doth, it removes mountains, the mountains of pride, lust, envy. Faith and the love of sin are incon- sistent.
A. 3. Breathe after the Spirit; it is called " the sanctification of the Spirit," 2 Thess. ii. 13. The Spirit sanctifies the heart, as lightning purifies the air, as fire refines metals. Oinne agens general shbi si- mile. The Spirit stamps the impression of its own sanctity upon the heart, as the seal prints its efiigies and likeness upon the wax. The Spirit of God in a man perfumes him with holiness, and makes his heart a map of heaven.
A. 4. Associate with sanctified persons. They may, by their counsel, prayers, holy example, be a means to make you holy : as the communion of saints is in our creed, so it should be in our company, Prov. xiii. 20., " He that walketh with wise men, shall be wise." Association begets assimi- lation.