Ver, l7. the 17th Chapter of St. JOHN. 221 (I.) Set apart by God, and by themfelves. By God, both in time, and before time : Before time they are fet apart byGod's Decree, to be an holy Seed' to himfelf in and by Chrift ; feparated from the perithing World, to be V,effèls. of Honour, as the Reprobate are called Veffels of Wrath and Dilhonour.5. fet apart by God's Ele &ion, chofen to be holy , Eph. t.4. Iccording as he bath chofen as in him before the Foundation of the World, that we ¡!mold be holy, and without blame before him in Love. But then in time they are regenerated, and fo a &wally fet apart. San&ification is an anual Ele&ion. By Elenion they are dillinguithed from others in God himfelf, fo by Regeneration and San&ification they are dillinguifhed from others in themfelves, feparated and fet apart from the perilhing World, to as for God, to Peek the things that may make for his Glory. James 1. 18. Of. his own'WiI1begat he us with the Word of Truth, that we Amid be a kind of Firfe fruits of his Creatures. The Firft-fruits were the Lord's Portion. Or elfe by the confent of their own Vows; Rom. I a. I. I befeech you, that you prefent your felves a living, Sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, that it your reafonable Service. They have dedicated and devoted themfelves to God. God called' for it, when he faith, My Son, give me thy Heart. God will have'his'own Right ePablilhed by the Creatures Confent, it is a neccffary Fruit of Grace. (2.) Purged by degrees, and made free from Sin, this is to be fan&ified, to be pur- ged from the Corruption of Sin and the World. We are not only accounted holy, but we are made holy,. and that cannot be till we are purged, becaufe we come into the World, polluted with the Stain of Sin. 1 Cor. 6. It. Such were force of you bat ye are wafhed, bat ye are fantlifted, but ye are jufliféd in the Name of the Lord fetus, and by the Spirit of oar God. There is a Stain and an Uncleannefs flicketh to oúr. Natures, and defileth all our A &ions ; we need to be purged. (3.) Endowed with God's Image and Likenefs,not only cleanfed from Sin,but adorned with Grace; as the Priefts under the Law were not only wafhed, but adorned with gorgeous Apparel. To be fan&ified, is more than to be purified, becaufe it noteth not only the Expulfion of Sin, but the Infufion of Grace. z Tim. 2. 12. If a Man there- fore purge himfelf from there, he fond be a Veil unto Honour, fand ifeed, and meet for the Maf1er's aft, and prepared unto every good Work. Betides purging, San&ification addeth fomewhat more : they are not only purged from the Filthinefs of .Sin, but prepared by the Infufion of Grace for every good Work, made holy as God is holy. 2. Why we fhould chiefly mind it in Prayer? (I.),Becaufe of the Excellency of it. It is God's Glory, Angels Glory, Saints Glory. God's Glory 5 Exod. t 5. i I. God k glorious in Holinefs : Angels Glory, who are called, Mat. 25. 31. Holy Angels : And the Saints Glory ; Eph. 5. 26, 27, That he might fanelify them with the wafliing of Water by the Word, that he might prefent it to him- felf a gloriose Church, not having fpot or wrinkle,. or any firth thing; but that it might be holy, and without blemifls. The Church's Honour lieth not in Pomp and, outward Orna- ment, but in Holinefs. (a.) Becaufe God aimeth at it in all his Difpenfations. Èlehion; Eph.t.4. According as he bath chofen us in him before the foundation of the World, that we flsould be holy, 'and without blame before him in Love. 2 Theff 2. 14. God hath from the beginning chofen you, through Sanhlifcation of the Spirit, and belief of the Truth. God chufeth us, that we may be of a choice Spirit. As when Efeher was chofen out among the Virgins, then the was decked with Ornaments: fo when we are chofen by God, we are beautified with Holinefs. Redemption; Eph. 5. 26. Chrifti'loved the Church, and gave himfelf for it, that he might fan/h fy and cleanfe it with the wajhing of Water, by the Word. His Pro - mifes ; 2 Pet. 1.4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promifes, that by theft ye might be Partakers of the Divine kature, having efcaped the Corruption that is in the World through Luft. His Providences ; Heb. r 2. to. They verily for a few days chafeened us after their own Pleafure, but he for our Profit, that we might be Partakers of his Holinefs. Earthly Parents corre& their Children out of meer Paffion 5 but he to re- new'our. Affe &ions, to fanttify us for himfelf, that the Husk may fie off. He beftows Bleftings, to encourage us in Holinefs. I Tim. 6. 57, t8. Charge them that are rich in this World, that they be not high minded, nor trufe in uncertain Riches, but in the Living God, who giveth us richly all Things to enjoy : That they do good, that they be rich in good Works, ready to diferibute, willing to commuai ate. That your Riches may be Inftruments of Piety, not Occafions to the Fleth. It is or Corruption to turn all things to a carnal Ufe. His Ordinances; That he might fanilify them by the majbing of Water, through the Word. Ephef. 5.26. This is God's Aim, and it thould be ours. F ff f 2 7Jf,
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