7. It showeth us who are partakers of the benefits and fruits of Christ's death : Heb. ii. 11, ' For both he that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified, are all of one ; wherefore he is not ashamed to call them brethren ; ' Heb. x. 14, ' For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified ; ' perfected, but by degrees. The elect themselves, whilst they are unconverted and remain in their sins, have not the actual benefit of Christ's redemption. Oiir dying Lord had an actual intention in due time to sanctify, and accordingly doth regenerate, justify, sanctify all those who shall have benefit by his death. But who are the sanctified ? It is to be considered positively and rela- tively. Positively, it is to be renewed to God's image : Titus iii. 5, ' He saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost ; ' 2 Peter i. 4, ' That by these we might be made par- takers of the divine nature.' This is the great work of the sanctifying Spirit, to make us like God, and to work in us those graces whereby we may be qualified and inclined to live to him. Kelatively, to be sanctified is to be separated from a common to a holy relation and use. This is seen in three things — inclination, dedication, and use.
[1.] Inclination towards God. This is the immediate fruit of grace, called conversion, or turning to God ; the new nature tendeth and bendeth to him.
[2.] Dedication : 2 Cor. viii. 5, ' They first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God ; ' Kom. vi. 13, ' Yield your- selves unto God as those that are alive from the dead, and your mem- bers as instruments of righteousness unto God.' This is in entering into covenant with God.
[3.] Use is nothing but the exercise of this disposition and inclina- tion, called ' living to God,' or performance of this dedication : 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20, ' What ! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God , and ye are not your own, but ye are bought with a price? therefore glorify God in your bodies and souls, which are the Lord's ; ' Zech. xiv. 20, ' In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses. Holiness to the Lord.' By the latter there is a difference between us and others : 1 John V. 19, ' And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.' And between us and ourselves : 1 Cor. vi. 11, ' Such were some of you ; but ye are washed, but ye are justified, but ye are sanctified, in the name of our Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.' This must be more explicit every day.
VeR. 20.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 15
Use 2. Direction in the Lord's supper. Here we come to remember Christ's sacrifice, and to interest ourselves in the fruits of it.
1. To remember Christ's sacrifice. As the elements are set apart for a holy use, so was Christ sanctified. All sacraments represent Christ dead. Baptism : ' We are baptized into his death/ Eom. vi. 3. In the Lord's supper ' We show forth his death till he come,' 1 Cor. xi. 26 ; his body was broken, his blood shed. Christ would institute a representation of his humiliation rather than of his glory, to repre- sent his love to us ; it was for our sakes rather than his own honour ; to represent what concerned us.
2. To interest ourselves in the fruits of it. Look after the fruits of it.
[1.] Bewailing your unholiness, both in heart and life, that you were so long trained up in the knowledge of Christ's truth, and did so little love God, and live to him ; that God hath opened a fountain for sin and for uncleanness, and you are no more cleansed to this very day ; and have gotten so little of the sanctifying Spirit, as if you were strangers in Israel.
[2.] Hunger and thirst for this grace, his renewing, as well as recon- ciling grace : Mat. v. 6, ' Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.' Desire it earnestly.
[3.] Lift up your hearts with confidence and hope, when the sacrifice of Christ is represented to you, because God hath accepted this sacrifice, and is well pleased with it : Isa. liii. 4, 5, ' Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and affiicted. For he was wounded for our trans- gressions, he was bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was upon him ; and with his stripes are we healed.' We have no reason to despair of the cure, that Holy Spirit who sanctified our head, who had no sin, by preventing sin in his conception, and anointed him to his office, is able to enlighten, convert, sanctify us also.
[4.] Praise him for so much grace as you have received, that he hath inclined your hearts to his blessed self : 1 Peter i. 3, ' Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ; ' at least that he made you serious.