To obviate the pride and wantonness of this filthy spirit, I have, in the summary representation of the work itself now given, confirmed the several instances of it with the experience of the great and holy man so often named; for whereas some of those by whom this doc- trine and work are despised are puffed up with a conceit of their ex- cellency in the theatrical, sceptical faculty of these days, unto a contempt of all by whom they are contradicted in the most impor- tune of their dictates, yet if they should swell themselves until they break, like the frog in the fable, they would never prevail with their fondest admirers to admit them into a competition with the immortal wit, grace, and learning of that eminent champion of the truth and light of the age wherein he lived.
BOOK IV. CHAPTER I.
THE NATUEE OF SANCTIFICATION AND GOSPEL HOLINESS EXPLAINED.
Regeneration the way whereby the Spirit forms living members 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 inquiry into the natiu'e whereof, with that of holiness, proved necessary — Sanctification twofold: 1. By ex- ternal dedication ; 2. By internal purification — Holiness peculiar to the gos- pel 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 requireth of us, and in what sente — Pro- mised unto us — How we are to impi-ove the command for holiness.
In the regeneration or conversion of God's elect, the nature and manner whereof we have before described, consists the second part
CHAP. I.] AND GOSPEL HOLINESS EXPLAINED. S67
of the work of the Holy Spirit, in order unto the completing and perfecting of the new creation. As in the former he prepared a na- tural body for the Son of God, wherein he was to obey and suffer according to his will, so by this latter he prepares him a mystical body, or members spiritually living, by uniting them unto him who is their head and their life. Col, iii. 4. " For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ," 1 Cor. xii. 12. Nor doth he leave this work in that beginning of it whereof we have treated, but unto him also it belongs to continue it, to preserve it, and to carry it on to perfection ; and this he doth in our sanctification, whose na- ture and effects we are in the next place to inquire into.
Our apostle, in his First Epistle to the Thessalonians, chap, v., hav- ing closely compiled a great number of weighty, particular, evangelical duties, and annexed sundry motives and enforcements unto them, closeth all his holy prescriptions with a fervent prayer for them: Verse 23, " And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and let your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;" — or, as I had rather read the words, " And God himself, even the God of peace, sanctify you throughout, that your whole spirit and soul and body may be pre- served blameless." The reason hereof is, because all the graces and duties which he had enjoined them did belong unto their sanctifica- tion, which, though their own duty, was not absolutely in their own power, blit was a work of God in them and upon them. Therefore, that they might be able thereunto, and might actually comply with his commands, he prays that God would thus sanctify them through- out. That this shall be accomplislied in them and for them, he gives them assurance from the faithfulness (and consequently power and unchangeableness, which are included therein) of him who had undertaken to effect it: Verse 24, " Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." Now, whereas this assurance did not arise nor was taken from any thing that was peculiar unto them, but merely from the consideration of the faithfulness of God hiiuself, it is equal with respect unto all that are effectually called. They shall all in- fallibly be sanctified throughout, and preserved blameless to the coming of Jesus Christ. This, therefore, being the great privilege of believers, and their eternal safety absolutely depending thereon, it requires our utmost diligence to search into the nature and neces- sity of it ; which may be done from this and the like places of Scrip- ture.
And in this place, — 1 The author of our sanctification, who only is so, is asserted to be " God." He is the eternal spring and only fountain of all holiness; there is nothing of it in any creature but
o6S THE NATURE OF SANCTIFICATION [BOOK IV.
what is directly and immediately from him ; there was not in our first creation. He made iis in his own image. And to suppose that we can now sanctify or make ourselves holy is proudly to renounce and cast off our principal dependence upon him. We may as wisely and rationally contend that we have not our being and our lives from God, as that we have not our holiness from him, when we have any. Hereunto are the proud opinions of educing a holiness out of the principles of nature to be reduced. I know all men will pretend that holiness is from God; it was never denied by Pelagius himself: but many, with him, would have it to be from God in a way of nature, and not in a way of especial grace. It is this latter way which we plead for; — and what is from ourselves, or educed by any means out of our natural abilities, is not of God in that way ; for God, as the author of grace, and the best of corrupted nature are opposed, as we shall see farther afterward. 2. And, therefore, is he that is the author of our sanctification so emphatically here expressed: Ahrlg hi 6 Qshg, " Even God himself" If he doth it not, none other can do it; it is no otherwise to be wrought nor effected. There is no other way wdiereby it may be brought about, nor doth it fall under the power or efficacy of any means absolutely whatever, but it must be wrought by God himself. He doth it of himself, from his own grace ; by himself, or his own power; for himself, or his own glory. 3. And that, under this especial consideration, as he is the " God of peace.""