But it will be said, "That if not only the beginning of grace, sancti-
^'fication, and holiness be from God, but the carrying of it on and
the increase of it also be from him, and not only so in general, but
/ if all the actings of grace, and every act of it, be an immediate
j effect of the Holy Spirit, then what need is there that we should
/ take any pains in this thing ourselves, or use our own endeavours to
I grow in grace or holiness, as we are commanded? If God work
\ all himself in us, and if Avithout his effectual operation in us we can
\ do nothing, there is no place left for our diligence, duty, or ohedi-
\ ence."
Ans. 1. This objection we must expect to meet withal at every turn. Men will not believe there is a consistency between God's effectual grace and our diligent obedience; that is, they will not be- lieve what is plainly, clearly, distinctly revealed in the Scripture, and
/!
CHAP. II.] SANCTIFICATION A PROGRESSIVE WORK. 895
wliich is suited unto the experience of all that truly believe, because they cannot, it may be, comprehend it within the compass of car- nal reason. 2. Let the ajoostle answer this objection for this once: 2 Pet. i. 3, " His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding- great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaj)ed the corruption that is in the world through lust." If all things that pertain unto life and godliness, — among which, doubtless, is the preservation and increase of grace, — be given unto us by the power of God, if from him we receive that divine nature by virtue whereof our corruptions are subdued, then, I pray, what need is there of any endeavours of our own? The whole work of sanctification is wrought in us, it seems, and that by the power of God ; we, therefore, may let it alone, and leave it unto him whose it is, whilst we are negligent, secure, and at ease. '' Nay," saitli the apostle; " this is not the use which the grace of God is to be put unto. The consideration of it is, or ought to be, the princi- pal motive and encouragement unto all diligence for the increase of holiness in us." For so he adds immediately, verse 5, Ka/ auro roDro hs, — " But also for this cause," or, because of the gracious operations of the divine power in us, " giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue," as before. These objectors and this apostle were very di- versely minded in these matters; v/hat they make an insuperable discouragement unto diligence in obedience, that he makes the greatest motive and encouragement thereunto, 3. I say, from this consideration it will unavoidably follow that we ought continually to wait and dep>end on God for supplies of his Spirit and grace, without which we can do nothing. That God is more the author, by his grace, of the good we do than we ourselves (*' Not I, but the grace of God which was with me") ; that we ought to be careful that by our negligences and sins we provoke not the Holy Spirit to withhold his aids and assistances, and so to leave us to ourselves, in which condition we can do nothing that is spiritually good; — these things, I say, will unavoidably follow on the doctrine before declared ; and if any one be offended at them, it is not in our power to render them relief.
I shall close the discourse on this subject with some considerations of that similitude by which the Scripture so frequently represents the gradual improvement of grace and holiness; and this is the growth of trees and plants: Hos. xiv. 5, 6, " I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon." Isa. xliv. 3, 4, " I will pour water on him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground : I will
396 SANCTIFICATION A PROGRESSIVE WORK. [BOOK lY.
pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon tliine offspring: and they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water-courses." And so in other places very many. And we may know that tliis similitude is singularly instructive, or it would not have been so frequently made use of to this purpose. Some few instances tending to administer light in this matter I shall briefly reflect upon : —
y 1. These trees and plants have the principle of their growth in themselves. They do not grow immediately from external adven- titious aid and furtherance ; they grow from their own seminal virtue and radical moisture. It is no otherwise in the progress of sanctifi- cation and holiness. It hath a o'oot, a seed, a principle of growth and increase, in the soul of him that is sanctified. All grace is im- mortal seed, and contains in it a living, growing principle. That which hath not in itself a life and power of growth is not grace ; and therefore what duties soever any men do perform, whereunto they are either guided by natural light, or which they are urged unto by convictions from the word, if they proceed not from a prin- ciple of spiritual life in the heart, they are no fruits of holiness nor do belong thereunto. The water of grace which is from Christ is a " well of water springing uj^ into everlasting life,"" in them on Vv^hom it is bestowed, John iv. 14. It is, therefore, the nature of holiness to thrive and grow, as it is of trees or plants, that have their seminal virtue in themselves after their kind.