Ans. I could dwell long on this inquiry concerning the especial subject of the Holy Spuit, seeing the right understanding of many
408 BELIEVERS THE OBJECT OF SANCTIFICATION, [BOOK IV.
places of Scripkire doth depend thereon; but because I have much work yet before me, I will reduce what I have to offer on this head into as narrow a compass as possibly I may. In answer, therefore, to this objection, I say, —
1, That the Holy Spirit is said to be promised and received with respect unto the ends which he is promised for, and the effects which he worketh when he is received ; for although he be himself but one, " the one and the self-same Spirit," and he himself is promised, given forth, and received, as we have declared, yet he hath many and diverse operations. And as his operations are divers, or [of] several sorts and kinds, so our receiving of him, as to the manner of it, is divers also, and suited unto the ends of his communications unto us. Thus, in some sense he is promised unto and received by believers; in another he is promised and received to make men so, or to make them believe. In the first way there may be some activity of faith in a way of duty, whereas in the latter we are passive, and receive him only in a way of grace.
2. The chief and principal ends for which the Holy Spirit is pro- mised and received may be reduced to these four heads: — (1.) Re- generation; (2.) Sanctification ; (3.) Consolation; (4.) Edification. There are, indeed, very many distinct operations and distributions of the Spirit, as I have in part already discovered, and shall yet farther go over them in particular instances; but they may be reduced unto these general heads, or at least they will suffice to exemplify the different manner and ends of the receiving of the Spirit. And this is the plain order and method of these things, as the Scripture both plainly and plentifully testifies: — (1.) He is promised and re- ceived as to the work of regeneration unto the elect; (2.) As to the work of sanctification unto the regenerate; (3.) As to the work of consolation unto the sanctified ; and, (4.) As unto gifts for edification unto professors, according to his sovereign will and pleasure.
(] .) He is promised unto the elect, and received by them as to his /"Ivork of regeneration. That this is his work in us wholly and en- tirely I have proved before at large. Hereunto the qualifications of faith and obedience are no way required as previously necessary in us. In order of nature, our receiving of the Spirit is antecedent to the very seed and prmciple of faith in us, as the cause is to the effect, seeing it is wrought in us by him alone; and the promises concerning the communication of the Spirit unto this end have been before explained and vindicated. Hereby doth the Holy Ghost pre- pare a habitation for himself, and make way for all the following Avork which he hath to do in us and towards us, unto the glory of God, and the perfecting of our salvation, or the making of us "meet for the inheritance of the saints in light," Col. i. 12.
CHAP. III.] AND SUBJECT OF GOSPEL HOLINESS. 409
(2.) He is promised and received as a Spirit of sanctification unto and by them that are regenerate, — that is, unto behevers, — and only unto them. This will be fully confirmed immediately. And this puts an issue to the principal difficulty of the foregoing objection. It is no way inconsistent that faith should be required previously unto the receiving of the Spirit as a Spirit of sanctification, though it be not so as he is the author of regeneration. The same Spirit first worketh faith in us, and then preserveth it when it is wrought. Only, to clear the manner of it, we may observe, — First, That sanc- tification may be considered two ways: — First, As to the origi- nal and essential work of it, which consists in the preservation of the principle of spiritual life and holiness communicated unto us in our regeneration. Secondly, As to those renewed actual operations whereby it is carried on, and is gradually progressive, as hath been declared. Secondly, Faith also, or believing, may be considered in this matter two ways : — First, As to its original communication, infusion, or creation in the soul ; for it is the gift or work of God. In this re- spect,— that is, as to the seed, principle, and habit of it, — it is wrought in us, as all other grace is, in regeneration. Secondly, As to its act- ings in us, or as unto actual believing, or the exercise of faith and the fruits of it, in a constant profession and holy obedience. Sanc- tification in the first sense respects faith also in the first; that is, the preservation of the seed, principle, grace, habit of faith in us, belongs unto the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit; and so be- lievers only are sanctified. And in the latter sense' it respects faith in the latter also ; that is, the progress of the work of sanctification in us is accompanied Avith the actings and exercise of faith. But both ways faith is a necessary qualification in and unto them that are sanc- tified. Believers, therefore, are the adequate subject of the work of sanctification ; which is all that at present is under our consideration,