Serm.33 it SERMONS upoïé only make ufe of Chrift to feek Comfort, leek him out of Self-love; but thofe that feek Holinefs from the Redeemer, have a more fpiritual Affeftion to him. The Guilt of Sin is againft our Intereft, but the*Power of Sin is againf.. God's Glory : He came to fanftify us by his Holinefs, not only to free our Confciences from Bondage, but our Hearts, that we may ferveGod with more liberty and delight. This was the great aim of his Death. Tit. 2. 14. He gave himfelf for us, that he might redeem to from all Ini- quity, and purify to himfelf a peculiar People, zealous of good Works. Thus did Chrift, that the Plailler might be as broad as the Sore ; we loft in Adam the purity of our Na- turès, as well as the Favour of God, and therefore he is made Sanflifoation to us, as Well as Righteoufnefs, r Cor. r. 3o. 4. With what confidence we may ufe the Means of Grace,becaufe they are fprinkled with the Blood of Chrift. Chrift hath purchaled Grace, fuch a Treafure of Grace as cannot be wafted ; and this is difpenfed to us by the Word and Sacraments. The Apo- file doth not fay barely, he died to cleanfe us, but to cleanfe us by the waffling of Water through the Word ; and here, that we might be fanllified through the Truth. Chrift bath eftablifhed the Merits, but the Actual influence is from the Spirit : Titus 3. 5, 6. Ac- cording to his Mercy he faced as by the waffling of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft; which he flied on us abundantly through Jefas Chri. And the Means are the Word and Sacraments, whereby the Spirit difpenfeth the Grace in Chrift's Name, ordinarily the Gofpel, which is the Min ration of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3.8. If we come to the Fa- ther, we need his grant ; Rev. 19. 8. And to her it was granted, to be arrayed in fine Linen, clean and white : for the fine Linen is the Righteonfnefs of Saints. All cometh originally from his merciful Grant : but God would not look towards us, but for Chrift's fake. If we look to the Father, he fendeth us to the Sòn, whole Blood cleanfeth eo from all our Sins, t John r. 7. If we look to the Son, he referreth us to the Spirit; therefore we read of the fanflifscation of the Spirit, 2 Thef. . 2. 14. If we wait for the Spirit's Efficacy, he fendeth us to Mofes and the Prophets, where we (hall hear of him. Therefore we may with encouragement pray, read, hear, meditate, that all thefe Du- ties may be fanetified to us. 5. If Holinefs be the Fruit of Chrift's Death, it maketh his Love to be more gratui- tous and free. For all the worth that we.can conceive to be in our felves,to commend us to God, is in our Holinefs. Now this is meetly the Fruit of Grace, and the Merit of Quiff, and the Gift of his Spirit in us. We wallow in our own filthinefs, till he of his Grace, for Chrift's fake, doth fanlify us by his Spirit. Both the Love of God, and the Merit of Chrift, is antecedent to our Holinefs. He bath loved us, and waffled us from our fins in his own Blood, and made us Kings and 'Priefts to God, and to the Father, Rev. r. 5, 6. And the Spirit's Work is not leflened, as if it were no great Mat- ter. 2 Pet, t. 3. Iccording as his Divine Power bath given unto us all things that apper- tain unto Life. and Godlinefs, through the knowledg of him that bath called us to Glory and Vertue. 6. We learn hence the precioufnefs of Holinefs, it is a Thing dearly bought, and the great Bleffìng which Chrift intended for us. We do not value the Bleffings of the Co- venant fo much as we fhould. Chrift.was deviling what he fhould do for his Church to make it honourable and glorious, and this way he took, to make it Holy. 1. It is the Beauty of God ; for God himfelf is glorious in Holinefs, Exod. 15. a r. and we are created after his Image, in Righteoufoef and true Holinefs,, Ephef. 4.24. The Perfe &ion of the Divine Nature, lièth chiefly in his immaculate Holinefs and Purity. 2. It is that which maketh us amiable in the fight of God, for he delighteth not in us as juRified,. fo much as fanftified. Pfal. t r. 7. For the Righteous Lord loveth Righte- oufeef, his Countenance doth behold the upright. When upon the account of Chrift's Merits and Satisfaction, he bath created a clean Heart in us, and renewed a right Spi- rit, then he delighteth in us. It is his Image makes us amiable, and therefore we fhould make it our great deliire and care to be as Holy as may be. 3. Much of our Everlafling Bleffednefs lieth in it. Ephef 5. 27. That he might pre- fent it to himfelf a glorious Church, not having f of or wrinkle, or any lach thing, but that it fhould be Holy and without Blemifh. 4. It is a great part of our Salvation by Chrift. Mat. I. 21. Thou (halt call his Name Jefus, for he fhall fave his 'People from their Sins. Acts 3. 26. Veto you fill God having raifed up his Son Nis:, lint hint to blefi you, in turning away every eve of you from his Iniquities. 5. It
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