much the more as ye see the day approaching." (Heb. x. 24, 25.)
6. The Spirit renders the ordinances of God, the word, sacra- ments, and prayer, effectual means of promoting the sanctifi- cation of his people, and of securing their ultimate salvation. These, however, must be more fully considered in the sequel.
The Kingly Office of Christ.
7. In this connection, we are not to overlook or undervalue the constant exercise of the kingly office of Christ. He not only reigns over his people, but He subdues them to Himself, rules and defends them, and restrains and conquers all his and their enemies. These enemies are both inward and outward, both seen and unseen ; they are the world, the flesh, and the devil. The strength of the believer in contending with these enemies, is not his own. He is strong only in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Eph. vi. 10.) The weapons, both offensive and defensive, are supplied by Him, and the disposition and the skill to use them are his gifts to be sought by praying without ceasing. He is an ever present helper. Whenever the Christian feels his weakness either in resisting temptation or in the discharge of duty, he looks to Christ, and seeks aid from Him. And all who seek find. When we fail, it is either from self-confidence, or from neglecting to call upon our ever present and almighty King, who is always ready to protect and deliver those who put their trust in Him. But there are dangers which we do not apprehend, enemies whom we do not see, and to which we would become an easy prey, were it not for the watchful care of Him who came into the world to destroy the works of the devil, and to bruise Satan under our feet. The Christian runs his race " looking unto Jesus ; " the life he lives, he lives by faith in the Son of God ; it is by the constant worship of Christ ; by the constant exercise of love toward Him ; by constant endeavours to do his will ; and by constantly looking to Him for the supply of grace and for pro- tection and aid, that he overcomes sin and finally attains the prize of the high-calling of God.
§ 4. The Fruits of Sanctification, or (JFood Works.
Their Nature.
The fruits of sanctification are good works. Our Lord says, I A good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit ; neither doth a
232 PART HI. Ch. XVm -SANCTIFICATION.
corrupt tree bring forth good fruit, For every tree is^ known by bis own fruit : for of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bram- ble bush gather they grapes." (Luke vi. 43, 44.) By good works, in this connection, are meant not only the inward exercises of the religious life, but also outward acts, such as can be seen and appreciated by others.
There are three senses in which works may be called good, —
1. When as to the matter of them they are what the law pre- scribes. In this sense even the heathen perform good works ; as the Apostle says, Romans ii. 14, " The Gentiles ... do by na- ture the things contained in the law." That is, they perform acts of justice and mercy. No man on earth is so wicked as never, in this sense of the term, to be the author of some good works. This is what the theologians call civil goodness, whose sphere is the social relations of men.
2. In the second place, by good works are meant works which both in the matter of them, and in the design and motives of the agent, are what the law requires. In other words, a work is good, when there is nothing either in the agent or in the act which the law condemns. In this sense not even the works of the holiest of God's people are good. No man is ever, since the fall, in this life, in such an inward state that he can stand before God and be accepted on the ground of what he is or of what he does. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. (Is. lxiv. 6.) Paul found to the last a law of sin in his members. He groaned under a body of death. In one of his latest epistles he says he had not attained, or was not already perfect, and all Christians are re- quired to pray daily for the forgiveness of sin. What the Scrip- tures teach of the imperfection of the best works of the believer, is confirmed by the irrepressible testimony of consciousness. It matters not what the lips may say, every man's conscience tells him that he is always a sinner, that he never is free from moral defilement in the sight of an infinitely holy God. On this sub- ject the Form of Concord * says, " Lex Dei credentibus bona opera ad eum modum prsescribit, ut siniul, tanquam in speculo, nobis commonstret, ea omnia in nobis in hac vita adhuc imperfecta et impiira esse ; " and ■ " Credentes in hac vita non perfecte, com- pletive vel consummative (ut veteres locuti sunt) renovantur. Et quamvis ipsorum peccata Christi obedientia absolutissima con- tecta sint, ut credentibus non ad damnationem imputentur, et
1 vi. 21 ; Hase, Libri Symbolici, 3d edit. Leipzig, 1846, p. 723. a vi. 7 ; Ibid. p. 719.