Chap. V.] a cabinet of jewels. 497
was, he was by grace. ' By the grace of God I am what I am,' 1 Cor. XV. 10. He Hved, ' yet not he, but Christ lived in him,' Gal. ii. 20. He ' laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not he, but the grace of God which was with him,' 1 Cor. xv. 10. He was able to do all thin^-s, but still 'through Christ that strengthened him,' Philip, iv. 13. Oh that these three last things might work you to be more in love with free grace than ever, and to be more in love with the righteousness of Christ than ever, and to be more in love with the covenant of grace than ever. But,
[14.] The /oit?'^^e7i//t proposition is this, The more grace, the more Jioliness, the more any man has of the Spirit of sanctification, the more clear, the tnore fair, the more full, the more sweet vAll his evidences be for heaven, for salvation; and the more comfort, and the more assurance, and. the more settlement, and the more of the luittiess of the spint of adoption, such a person will certainly attain unto. That Spirit which is the earnest of our inheritance, and which seals us up to an holy assurance, is an holy Spirit, Eph. i. 13, 14 ; he is fre- quently called the Holy Spirit. ' Cast me not away from thy presence ; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me,' Ps. li. J 1. ' But they rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit,' Isa. Ixiii. 1 0. ' And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption,' Eph. iv. 30. ' He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit,' 1 Thes. iv. 8. To make a man holy, is more than to create a world ; it is a work too high and too hard for angels or men ; it becomes none, and it can be done by none but by the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is the Spirit's personal operation ; it is the great work of the Spirit to shape, form, and fashion the new-creature holiness in all the vessels of glory, 2 Thes. ii. 13, 1 Peter i. 2. The Spirit is the root of all holiness, and therefore the several parts of holi- ness are called the fruits of the Spirit. Holiness is the very picture of God ; and certainly no hand can carve that excellent picture but the Spirit of God. Holiness is the divine nature, and none can imjaart that to man but the Spirit ; the Spirit is the great principle of holiness. Now, the more grace, the more hoHness any man hath, the more he is the delight of the Spirit ; and the more the Spirit will delight to witness his sonship, his saintship, and his heirship unto him. Scripture and experience will tell you, that commonly men of greatest holiness have been men of greatest assurance. This is certain, the more holiness the more assurance ; for so the precious promises runs, Isa. xxxii. 17. ' The work of righteousness shall be peace,' to wit, peace of conscience, Rom. V, 1 ; ' and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever.' Inherent righteousness, for of that he speaks, as is evident by the 15th and IGth verses of the same chapter, is the highway to assurance and peace. So Ps. 1. 23, ' To him that ordereth his conversation aright, will I shew the salvation of God ; ' that is, declare myself to be his Saviour, say some ; say others, I will give him a prospect of heaven here, and a full fruition of heaven hereafter ; say others, I will cause him to see and know that he shall be saved. So John xiv. 21, ' He that hath my com- mandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me ; and he that loveth me sliall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and manifest myself unto him.' Ver. 23, ' If any man love me, he will keep my words : VOL. III. I i
4-98 A CABINET OF JEWELS. [ChAP. V.