VI. — The Manner of Conversion Explained in the Instance of Augustine. — Tlic outward means and manner of conversion to God, or regeneration, with the degrees of spiritual operations on the minds of men and their effects, exemplified in the conversion of Augustine, as the account is given tliereof by himself, ........ 337
CONTENTS. VII
Ciur. Pagb
BOOK IV.
I.— The Nature ov Sanctificatiox akd Uospel Holt\t:ss Explained. — Re- generation the way whereby the Spirit forms living meniljers for the mystical body of Christ— Carried on by sanctification— 1 Thess. v. 23 opened — God the only author of our sanctification and holiness, and that as the God of peace— Sanctification described — A diligent inquirj' into the nature whereof, with that of holiness, proved necessary — t-anctifica- tion twofold: 1. Ky external dedication; 2. By internal purification — Holiness peculiar to the gospel and its truth— Not discernible to the eye of carnal reason— Hardly understood by believers themselves —It passeth over into eternity — Hath in it a present glory— Is all that God reqniretli of us, and in what sense —Promised unto us — How we are to improve the command for holiness, ....... 366
II. — Sanctification a Pkogrf-SSive Work. — Sanctification described, with the nature of the work of the Holy Spirit therein; which is progressive— The way and means whei'eby holiness is increased in believers, especially by faith and love, whose exercise is required in all duties of obedience; as also those graces whose exercise is occasional— The growth of holiness expressed in an allusion unto that of plants, with an insensible progress — Renders grace therein to be greatly admired; and is discerned in the answerableness of the work of the Spirit in sanctification and supplica- tion—Objections against the progressive nature of holiness removed, SS5
III. — Believers the only Object of Sanctification, and Subject of Gospel Holiness. — Believers the only subject of the work of sanctification — How men come to believe, if believers alone receive the Spii'it of sancti- fication— The principal ends for which the Spirit is promised, with their order in their accomplishment — Rules to be obseived in praying for the Spirit of God, and his operations therein — That believers only are sanc- tified or holy proved and confirmed — Mistakes about holiness, both notional and practical, discovered — The proper subject of holiness in be- lievers, ......... 4or>
IV. — The Defilement of Sin, wherein it Consists, with its Purification. — Purification the first proper notion of sanctification — Institution of bap- tism confirming the same apprehension— A spiritual defilement and pol- lution in sin — The nature of that defilement, or wherein it doth consist —Depravation of nature and acts with respect unto God's holiness, how and why called "filth" and "pollution" — Twofold pravity and defile- ment of sin — Its aggravations — We cannot purge it of ourselves, nor could it be done by the law, nor by any ways invented by men for that end, 422 V. — The Filth of Sin purged bt the Spirit and Blood of Christ. — Purifi- cation of the filth of sin the first pai't of sanctification— How it is efl'ect- ed — The work of the Spirit therein — Eificacy of the blood of Christ to that pui^pose — The blood of his sacrifice intended — How that blood cleans- eth from sin — Application unto it, and application of it by the Spirit — Wherein that application consists — Faith the instramental cause of our purification, with the use of afflictions to the same purpose — Necessity of a due consideration of the pollution of sin — Considerations of the pol- lution and purification of sin practically improved — Various directions for a due application unto the blood of Christ for cleansing — Sundry de- grees of sbamelessness in sinning — Directions for the cleansing of sin continued — Thankfulness for the cleansing of sin, with other uses of the same consideration — Union with Christ, how consistent with the re- mainders of sin — From all that, differences between evangelical holiness and the old nature asserted, ...... 4.^6
VI. — The Positive Work of the Spirit in tee Sanctification of Believers. — Differences in the acts of sanctification as to order — The manner of the communication of holiness by the Spirit — The rule and measure whereof is the revealed will of God, as the rule of its acceptance is the covenant of grace — The nature of holiness as inward — Righteousness habitual and actual — False notions of holiness removed — The nature of a spiritual habit— Applied unto holiness, with its rules and limitations — Proved and confirmed — Illustrated and practically improved — The pro- perties of holiness as a spiritual habit declared— 1. Spiritual dispositions unto suitable acts _; how expressed in the Scripture; with their effects — Contrary dispositions unto sin and holiness how consistent — 2. Power; the nature thereof; or what poi^er is required in believers unto holy obedience; with its properties and effects in readiness and facility — Objectii<ns thereunto answered, and an inquiry on these principles after true holiness in ourselves directed — Gospel grace distinct from morality, and all othev hal.its r.f tie mind; proved by many argumenta, especially
VIII CONTENTS.
Chap. Page
its relation unto the mediation of Clirigt — The principal difference be^ ' twecn evangelical holiness and all other habits of the mind, proved by the manner and way of its communication from the person of Christ as the hoid of the church, and the peculiar efficiency of the Spirit therein — Morai honesty not gospel holiness, ..... 468 VII. — Of THE Acts and Duties of Holiness. — Actual inherent righteousness in duties of holiness and obedience explained — The work of tlic Holy Spirit ■with I'espect thereunto — Distribution of the positive duties of holiness — Internal duties of holiness — External duties and their difference — EiFcctual operation of the Holy Spirit necessary unto every act of holi- ness—Dependence on providence with respect unto things natural, and on grace with respect unto things supernatural, compared — Arguments to prove the necessity of actual grace unto eveiy duty of holiness — Contrary designs and expressions of the Scriptvu'e and some men about duties of holiness, ........ 527