39ö SE R M 1rI S 00 Serm.3 3. Holinefs, Comfort and Glory in our Nature, and did fit himfelf to juftify and fan&ify us, and we never look after the Benefit, we make him to be a Chrift in vain. Il. We come now to theEnd, Effe &, and Fruit of it, that they might be fanï7ifred through the Truth. Fir f 5 The Benefit, or Bleffing intended, That they alp might be fanE7ifred. Where, 1. Obferve 5 it is Bonum morale, not that they might be Rich, Happy, Great, Glo- rious in the World, but that they might be Soniïified. When Christ was on the Cross, he neither wanted Wifdom to chute, nor Love to intend, nor Merit to purchafe the higheft Benefits, and thofe which were moft neceffary for us; but that which he had in his Eye, was our San&ification. Ephef. 5. 26. He loved the Church, and gave himfelf for it, that he might fanUify and cleanfe it. And, Heb. 13. 12. jefus, that he might fan- aify the People, suffered without the Gate. All his Aim was, to recover us to God, and dedicate us to God; for he came to repair the Ruins of the Fall, and Cave that which was loft : Luke 17. io. The Son of Man came to seek and to five that which was loft. And we were first loft to God, before we were loft to our felves 5 as appeareth Luke 15. by the Parable of the loft Sheep, which was loft to the Owner; and the loft Groat, which was loft to the Poffeffor ; and the loft Son, which was loft to the Father. Our Mifery is included; but the principal thing intended was, that God hath loft the Ho- nour of the Creation. 2. It is Bonnet congruum. I fanclify my fell, that they may he fanllifsed. The Scrip- ture delighteth in thefe Congruities. Heb. 5. 8, g. He learned Obedience by the things that he fufered. And being made perfel7, he became the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him. As there is a fuitablenefs between the Seal and the Impression, fo between Chrift and his People; in all things Christ mull ergs dvsv, he mull have the pre- heminence. We have the Bleffings of the Covenant, not only from him, but through him. Chrift was ele &ed ; Ifa. 42. 1. Behold my Servant whom I have chofen, my Elea in whom my Soul delighteth 5 fo are we : Chrift was juflified, I Tim. 3. 16. God manifelied in the Flefs, juflifsed in the Spirit ; fo are we : Chrift was fan&ified, and we, in confor- mity to him,are fan&ified alto, as in the Text : Chrift rofe again, afcended, and was glo- rified; fo do we : He as the Elder-Brother, and firsi Heir, and we in our Order. 3. It is bonum fpecificativum. It (hewed :the Parties, or that fort of Men to whom Chrift intended the Benefit 5 Heb. no. 14. For by one Of ring he hath perfeíled for ever them that are fant9ifréd, them and no other : the Godly themfelves, while unconverted, and lying in their Sins, have not the a&ual Benefit of Chrift's Redemption. But in what manner are we fan&ified ? Chrift confecrated and fan&ified himfelf as a Sin - Offering; but we are fan&ified and confecrated as a Thank - Offering: Chrift to do the Work of a Redeemer or Mediator ; we to do the Work of the Redeemed. We are fet apart for the Lord, to glorify him in all Holy Converfation and Godlinef. Secondly ; The means of applying and conveying this Benefit through the Truth, iv &i eda, it may be rendred through the Truth, in the Truth, or for the Truth; all which Readings admit of a commodious Explication. t. In the Truth,or truly,in oppofition to legal Purifications,which were but a (hadow of true Holinefs; Heb. 9. 13, 14. For if the Blood of Bulls and Goats, and the Albes of an Heifer fprinkling the Vnclean, fanclifseth to the purifying of the Flefh; How much more pall the Blood of Chrifi, who through the Eternal Spirit offred himfelf without spot to God, purge your Confcience from dead Works to ferve the Living God? Or in oppofition to counterfeit San&ification. Ephef. 4. 24. And that ye put on the New Man, which after God is created in Righteoufnefs and true Holinefs. Some only are Can &ified externally, as they are in vifible Covenant with God ; Heb. no. 29. And bath counted the Blood of the Covenant, wherewith he was fanclified, an unholy thing ; they live among his peculiar People : Others are really renewed and changed by his Spirit, and turned from a finful Life to God, making Confcience of every commanded Duty, and aiming at his Glory in all things. 2. For the Truth, that they may be confecrated, fet apart, and fitted for that Fun&ion of preaching the Gospel : This is agreeable to the Context, which limits this part of the Prayer to the Apoftles. 3. Through
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