CHAP. II.] SANCTIFICATION A PEOGEESSIVE WORK. S91
that in them consists all our consolation. His work and office it is to administer consolation imto believers, as being the only Comforter of the church. Now, he administereth comfort no other way but by giving unto the minds and souls of believers a spiritual, sensible ex- perience of the reality and power of the things we do believe. He doth not comfort us by words, but by things. Other means of spiri- tual coDSolation I know none; and I am sure this never fails. Give unto a soul an experience, a taste, of the love and grace of God in Christ Jesus, and be its condition what it Avill, it cannot refuse to be comforted. And hereby doth he " shed abroad the love of God in our hearts," Rom. v. 5, whereby all graces are cherished and in- creased.
Thirdly, He doth it by working immediately an actual increase , of these graces in us. I have showed that these are capable of im- provement, and of an addition of degrees unto them. Now, they are originally the immediate work and product of the Sjnrit of God in us, as hath been abundantly evinced. And as he first works and creates them, so he increaseth them. Hereby they that are " feeble become as David," Zech. xii. 8 ; that is, those whose graces were weak, whose faith was infirm, and whose love was languid, shall, by the supplies of the Spirit, and the increase given by him unto them, become strong and vigorous. To this purj)ose are promises multi- plied in the Scripture; which in our constant supplications we prin- cipally respect. This is that which the schoolmen, after Austin, call " Gratiam corroborantem;" that is, the working of the Holy Spirit in the increasing and strengthening of grace received. See Eph. iii. 16, 17; Col. i. 10, 11; Isa. xl. 29. And this is the principal cause and means of the gradual increase of holiness in us, or the carrying on of the work of sanctification, Ps. cxxxviii. 8.
Secondly, There are graces whose exercise is more occasional, and not always actually necessary as imto the life of God; that is, it is not necessary that tliey be always in actual exercise, as faith and love are to be. With respect unto these, holiness is increased by the ad- dition of one to another, until we are brought on several occasions to the practice and exercise of them all ; for the addition of the new exercise of any grace belongs unto the gradual carrying on of the work of sanctification. And hereunto all things that befall us in this world, all our circumstances, are laid in a subserviency by the Avisdom of God. All our relations, all our afflictions, all our tempta- tions, all our mercies, all our enjoyments, all occurrences, are suited to a continual adding of the exercise of one grace to another, wherein holiness is increased. And if we make not use of them to that pur- pose, we miss of all the benefit and advantage we might have of them, and disappoint, what lies in us, the design of divine love and
392 . SANCTIFICATION A PROGEESSIVE WORK. [BOOK IV.
wisdom in them. This is given us in charge, 2 Pet. i. 5-7 : " Be- sides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to vir- tue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness Lrotherly-kind- ness; and to brotherly-kindness charity." The end why this injunc- tion is given us is, that we may " escape the corruption that is in the world through lust," verse 4; that is, have all our corruptions thoroughly subdued, and our souls thoroughly sanctified. To this end are the promises given us, and a divine, spiritual nature is be- stowed upon us. But will that suffice, or is there no more required of us unto that end? "Yes," saith the apostle; "this great work will not be effected unless you use your utmost diligence, and en- deavour to add the exercise of all the graces of the Spirit one to an- other, as occasion shall require." There is a method in this conca- tenation of graces from first to last, and an especial reason for each particular, or why the apostle requires that such a grace should be added unto such an one in the order laid down; which at present I shall not inquire into. But, in general, he intends that every grace is to be exercised according to its proper season and especial occa- sion. Hereby, also, is the work of sanctification gradually carried on, and holiness increased. And this addition of one grace unto an- other, with the progress of holiness thereby, is also from the Holy Ghost. And three ways there are whereby he accomplisheth his work herein : — 1 . By ordering things so towards us, and bringing of us into such conditions as wherein the exercise of these crraces shall be required and necessary. All the afilictions and trials which he bringetli the churcli into have no other end or design. So the apostle James expresseth it, chap. i. 2-4 : " My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the try- ing of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." These temptations are trials upon afflictions, troubles, persecutions, and the like ; but take them in any other sense, it is the same unto our pur- pose. These are all guided unto us by Christ and his Spirit; for it is he who rebukes and chastens us. But Avhat is his end therein? It is that faith may be exercised and patience employed, and one grace added unto another, that they may carry us on towards perfec- tion. So he bringeth us into that condition as Avherein we shall assuredly miscarry if we add not the exercise of one grace unto an- other. 2. In this state of things he effectually minds us of our duty, and what graces ought to be put upon their exercise. We may dis- jDute whether it be better to act faith, or to despond; to add jDatience under the continuance of our trials, or to trust unto ourselves, and irregularly to seek after deliverance or divert unto other satisfactions.