5. It shows the preciousness of holiness ; it is a thing dearly bought,
486 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XXXI.
and the great blessing which Christ intended to us ; therefore it should be more prized and sought after by us. When Christ was devising what he should do for his church to make it honourable and glorious, he took this course to make it holy,
[1.] This is that which maketh us amiable in God's sight : Ps. xi. 7, ' The righteous God loveth righteousness ; his countenance doth behold the upright.'
[2.] It is indispensably required by God : 1 Thes. iv. 3, * This is the will of God, even your sanctification.'
[3.] It is a great part of our salvation by Christ: Titus iii. 5, ' According to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost'
[4.] It is a means to the rest, especially eternal life : Acts xxvi. 18, 'That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faitli that is in me ; ' Heb. xii. 14, ' Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.'
6. It shows who are partakers of the benefits and fruits of Christ's death. His kindred by incarnation is reckoned to them ; he is doubly akin to them, respectu incarnationis siice et regenerationis nosirce, both as he is born of a woman and as they are born of God : Heb. ii. 11, ' He that sanctifies and they that are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.' His sacrifice is reckoned to them : Heb. x. 14, ' By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.' Oiu- Lord regenerates, justifies, sanctifies all who shall have benefit by his death. But who are they ? There are two words used, ' sanctify' and ' cleanse.' To be sanctified argues a dedication to God ; so there is a difference between you and others. To be cleansed implies a change of the state of your hearts ; so there is a difference between you and yourselves. They are a people set apart to live and act for God : Ps. iv. 3, ' The Lord hath set apart him tiiat is godly for himself They are not what they were before : 1 Cor. vi. 11, 'Such were some of you, but ye are washed, sanctified,' &c. And this change should be more sensible and visible every day.
SERMON XXXII.
Tliat he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or lorinkle, or any such thing ; hut that it should he holy, and tvithout hlemish. — Eph. v. 27.
In this verse we have the last end of our redemption by Christ, the perfection and consummation of our sanctification in the life to come. In setting forth of which take notice —
1. Of our nearness to Christ, ' That he might present it to himself ;' that is, assume or take us home to live with him, and abide always ia his presence.
2. The effect of this union and nearness, which is —
YeR. 27.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 487
[1.] Generally expressed, 'A glorious church.' It is an allusion to the spouse of a king, or a royal marriage : Ps. xlv. 13, ' The king's daughter is all glorious within, her clothing is of wrought gold.' Her glory is now more internal than external and conspicuous, and also shall be eternal and without end.
[2.] Particularly explained, or wherein the glory of the church doth consist,
(1.) Negatively, ' Not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.' A spot is in the garments, a wrinkle is in the flesh ; and then follow the general words, ' Or any such thing.' Neither with filthy garments, nor with shrivelled flesh, nor blind, nor lame. Metaphors are tender things, and must not be strained. Some say no spot of sin, or wrinkle of misery, when the flesh is dried up with age or sorrow. It is safer to say in general. No defect or deformity shall remain ; no remnant or stain of Adam's sin left, whether it be sin or misery : Cant. iv. 7, ' Thou art fair, my love ; there is no spot in thee.'
(2.) Positively, ' But that it should be holy, and without blemish,' perfectly pure, and exempt from either blemish or blame, for the word signifieth both ; and the allusion is to a spouse that excelleth in beauty and comeliness.
Doct. That the final end of our redemption is that we may be pre- sented at the last day glorious in purity and holiness.
I shall present this note or point of doctrine, as it lieth in the text, by going over the several branches of it, which will fully make it out. Give me leave to take notice of these things —
First, Of the final end of our redemption ; and there —
1. Of his love, that Christ could not satisfy himself with doing us good here, but he would provide for our glorious estate hereafter. In the former verse he had spoken of what Christ would do for us in this life, whilst the ordinances of the word and baptism were in force, ' That he might sanctify and cleanse us by the washing of water through the word.' Now this did not content him, but he had a further end, and that is in the text, that he might bring us into a nearer familiarity and presence with himself, that we might not only be employed by God in some remote service, or at a distance from him, but minister before his throne. Here is a state consistent both with sin and misery ; the church is not without her spots and infirmities, and also her wrinkles and troubles ; but in the state of the life to come there is no such thing. Here we enjoy God upon earth, but there in heaven, a better paradise than that we lost by Adam. We have our blessedness in the heavenly places : Eph, i. 3, ' Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ ; ' where we converse with God, not as Adam in paradise among the beasts, but among the angels.