(2.) Purged by degrees, and made free from sin; this is to be sanctified, to be purged from the corruption of sin and the world. We are not only accounted holy, but we are made holy, and that can- not be till we are purged, because we come into the world polluted with the stain of sin : 1 Cor. vi. 11, ' Such were some of you ; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.' There is a stain and an uncleanness sticketh to our natures and defileth all our actions ; we need to be purged.
(3.) Endowed with God's imnge and likeness ; not only cleansed from sin, but adorned with grace ; as the priests under the law were not only washed, but adorned with gorgeous apparel. To be sanctified is more than to be purified, because it notetli not only the expulsion of sin, but the infusion of grace: 2 Tim. ii. 12, ' If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.' Besides purging, sanctification addeth somewhat more ; they are not oidy purged from the filthiness of sin, but prepared by the infusion of grace foi' every good work, made holy as God is holy.
[2.] Why we should chiefly mind it in prayer ?
(1.) Because of the excellency of it. It is God's glory, angels' glory, saints' glory. God's glory : Exod. xv. 11, ' God is glorious in holiness.' Angels' gloiy, who are called. Mat. xxv. 31, ' Holy angels.^ And the saints' glory : Eph, v. 26, 27, ' That he might sanctify them with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing ; but that it might be holy, and without blemish.' The church's honour lietli not in pomp and outward ornament, but in holiness.
(2.) Because God aimeth at it in all his dispensations. Election : Eph. i. 4, ' According as he hath chosen us in him before the ibunda- tion of the world, that we should be holj-, and without blame before him in love;' 2 Thes. ii. 14, 'God hath from the beginning chosen you, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of thetrutii.' God
VeK. 17.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 413
chooseth us tliat we may be of a choice spirit. As \yhen Esther was chosen out among the virgins, then she was decked with ornaments, so when we are chosen by God we are beautified with holiness. Kedemp- tion : Eph. v. 26, ' Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water, by the word.' His promises : 2 Peter i. 4, ' Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be par- takers of the divine nature, having escaped tlie corruption that is in the world through lust.' His providences : Heb. xii. 10, ' They verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure, but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Earthly parents correct their children out of mere passion, but he to renew our affec- tions, to sanctify us for himself, that the husk may fly off. He be- stows blessings to encourage us in holiness : 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18, ' Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy ; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate ; ' that your riches may be instruments of piety, not occasions to the flesh. It is our corruption to turn all things to a carnal use. His ordinances : ' That he might sanctify them by the washing of water, through the word.' Eph. v. 26. This is God's aim, and it should be ours.
Use. Is to teach us what to seek for ourselves and others ; not temporal felicity so much as sanctification ; not deliverance from afflictions, nor outward blessings, so much as the sanctified use of them. This is to pray for one another out of the communion of the Spirit, nd for ourselves out of a principle of the divine nature. Temporal blessings are only to be desired in order to spiritual ends. Nature is allowed to speak, but grace must be heard first : Mat. vi, 33, ' Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, and all these things shall be added unto you.' These are for overplus.
2. Observe from the matter, he had prayed for conservation from evil, now for sanctification. It is not enough to keep from evil, but we nmst be holy, and do good : Ps. xxxiv. 14, ' Depart from evil, and do good ; ' Isa. i. 16, 17, ' Cease to do evil, learn to do well.' Godhateth evil and delighteth in good ; as we must hate what God hateth, so we must love what God loveth. Eadem velle et nolle. I durst not sin, God hateth it ; I durst not omit this duty, God loveth it. Our obed- ience must carry a pro2)ortion with the divine mercy ; not only be positive but privative. Divine mercy spareth and savetli : ' God is a sun and a shield,' Ps. Ixxxiv. 11. Therefore we must not ' walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful ; ' but our delight must be ' in the law of the Lord, and in his law must we meditate day and night,' Ps. i. 1, 2. We must have communion with Christ in all his acts, in his death and resurrection. He mortifieth sin and quickeneth the heart : Kom. vi. 11, ' Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but ahve unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.' The same divine power that killeth the old man quickeneth the new. In the word, which is the rule, there are precepts and restraints ; therefore we are not only to escape from sin, but there must be a delight in communion