_Secondly_, From hence also, the Antinomians and formal hypocrites may be confuted, who talk of CHRIST without, but know nothing, experimentally, of a work of sanctification wrought within them. Whatever they may pretend to, since CHRIST is not in them, the LORD is not their righteousness, and they have no well-grounded hope of glory: for though sanctification is not the cause, yet it is the effect of our acceptance with GOD; “Who of GOD is made unto us righteousness and sanctification.” He therefore, that is really in CHRIST, is a new creature; it is not going back to a covenant of works, to look into our hearts, and, seeing that they are changed and renewed, from thence form a comfortable and well-grounded assurance of the safety of our states: no, but this is what we are directed to in scripture; by our bringing forth the fruits, we are to judge whether or no we ever did truly partake of the Spirit of GOD. “We know, (says _John_) that we are passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” And however we may talk of CHRIST’s righteousness, and exclaim against legal preachers; yet, if we are not holy in heart and life, if we are not sanctified and renewed by the Spirit in our minds, we are self-deceivers, we are only formal hypocrites: for we must not put asunder what GOD has joined together; we must keep the medium between the two extremes; not insist so much on the one hand upon CHRIST without, as to exclude CHRIST within, as an evidence of our being his, and as a preparation for future happiness; nor, on the other hand, so depend on inherent righteousness or holiness wrought in us, as to exclude the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST without us. But
4. _Fourthly_, Let us now go on, and take a view of the other link, or rather the end, of the believer’s golden chain of privileges, _redemption_. But we must look very high; for the top of it, like _Jacob_’s ladder, reaches heaven, where all believers will ascend, and be placed at the right-hand of GOD. “Who of GOD is made unto us, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and _redemption_.”
This is a golden chain indeed! and, what is best of all, not one link can ever be broken asunder from another. Was there no other text in the book of GOD, this single one sufficiently proves the final perseverance of true believers: for never did GOD yet justify a man, whom he did not sanctify; nor sanctify one, whom he did not compleatly redeem and glorify; no; as for GOD, his way, his work, is perfect; he always carried on and finished the work he begun; thus it was in the first, so it is in the new creation; when GOD says, “Let there be light,” there is light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day, when believers enter into their eternal rest, as GOD entered into his. Those whom GOD has justified, he has in effect glorified: for as a man’s worthiness was not the cause of GOD’s giving him CHRIST’s righteousness, so neither shall his unworthiness be a cause of his taking it away; GOD’s gifts and callings are without repentance; and I cannot think, they are clear in the notion of CHRIST’s righteousness, who deny the final perseverance of the saints; I fear, they understand justification in that low sense, which I understood it in a few years ago, as implying no more than remission of sins: but it not only signifies remission of sins past, but also a _fœderal right_ to all good things to come. If GOD has given us his only Son, how shall he not with him freely give us all things? Therefore, the apostle, after he says, “Who of GOD is made unto us righteousness,” does not say, perhaps he may be made to us sanctification and redemption; but, “he is made:” for there is an eternal, indissoluble connection between these blessed privileges. As the obedience of CHRIST is imputed to believers, so his perseverance in that obedience is to be imputed to them also: and it argues great ignorance of the covenant of grace and redemption, to object against it.