Doct. 4. That this sanctification which is required of us proceedeth originally from Christ.
He is 6 wyidt,a)v, he that sanctifieth, and therefore said to be made unto us sanctification, 1 Cor. i. 30 ; that is, a fountain of holiness. Now Christ sanctifieth us —
1. Partly by his merit. Flee to the blood of Christ as the meri- torious and procuring cause. When God's image was lost, there was no way to recover it but by paying a price to provoked justice ; and no less price would serve the turn than the blood of Christ. Therefore it is said, Eph. v. 26, ' He gave himself for the church, that he might cleanse and sanctify it ; ' meritoriously. And this he hath done sufficiently on the cross : Heb. x. 14, ' By one offering he hath perfected (or ever them that are sanctified ; ' that is, done enough for the perfect reconciling of all that are sanctified.
2. By his Spirit : 1 Cor. vi. 11, ' But ye are sanctified, ye are cleansed, in the name of our Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.' What-
442 SERMON UPON HEBREWS II. 11.
ever the Spirit of God doth, he doth as Christ's Spirit, as being pur- chased by him ; as dwelUng first in him who is the head, and then iu the members ; and for his glory, and as we are his members, and belong to him : Eom. viii. 9, ' If ye have not the Spirit of Christ, ye are none of his.'
3. He blesseth his word and sacraments to this end and purpose : John xvii. 19, ' For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanc- tified through the truth.' We hear of Christ by the Spirit, and of the Spirit in the ordinances and duties of religion : Eph. v. 26, ' By the washing of water through the word.' Two are here mentioned — the word, and washing of water. The one containeth our charter, or giant of Christ and all his benefits to every one that believes in him : John iii. 16, ' For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have ever- lasting life.' The other is the seal of it, to assure us, and be a pledge to us, that Christ will be as good as his word : Eom. iv. 11, 'He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of faith.'
[1.] The word is a powerful instrument : John xvii. 19, ' I sanctify myself that they also might be sanctified through the truth ; ' John XV. 3, ' Ye are clean through the word.' That warneth us of our duty, showeth our danger, encourageth us by promises to run to Christ for this benefit, holds forth his blood as the meritorious cause.
[2.] Sacraments assure us God will be as good as his word. The doubting soul saith, How shall I know ? 2 Kings xx. 8, ' What shall be the sign ? ' by these visible things God assures us of the truth of his covenant.
Use 1. It showeth us how and where we should look for this benefit of sanctification ; from Christ, by the Spirit, in the ordinances. Look not to these singly, but all together. Holy things do not sanctify us, but we pollute them when we look to them singly : Hag. ii. 13, 14, ' If one that is unclean touch any of these, shall it be unclean ? the priests answered, It shall be unclean. So is this people ; that which they ofi'er is unclean.' Foul bodies, the more you nourish them, the more you hurt them.
2. Go not to the Spirit alone, without having accepted Christ and received him into your hearts. So upward. Christ sendeth to the Spirit, the Spirit to ordinances. Christ undertaketh to be a sanctifier, that you may have recourse to him.
SERMON UPON HEBREWS XIll. 5.
For he hath said, I ivill never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Heb. xiii. 5.
In the former part of the verse the apostle dissuadeth from covetous- ness, and persuadeth to contentment. The motive to enforce the one and the other is God's promise. Many of our distempers would have no more place if we did oftener study the promises. 'He saith,' that is, God ; that He whose voice should only be heard in the church. The Pythagoreans would use to say in their school, avro<i ecfyrj. He hath said. It should much more be reason enough with christians, dvro'i 'yap eiprjKe, ' For he said.'
But where doth the force of the inference lie ? Apply it to the first part, ' Let your conversation be without covetousness ; for he hath said.'
I answer — Covetousness is rooted in a diffidence and fear of want. Now that fear is irrational, if we regard what he hath said. God will maintain us as long as he hath work for us to do. He that is per- suaded that God will not leave him will not be much troubled.
Apply it now to the second branch, ' Be content with such things as ye have ; for he hath said, I will never leave thee.' And how is that inferred ?