THE NATURE OF SANCTIFTCATTON, BBC. BOOK. IV. THE NATURE OF SANCTIFICATION AND GOSPEL- HOLINESS EXPLAINED, CHAP. I. 215 (I.) Regeneration, the way wherebythe Spiritforms living membersfor the mystical body ofChrist. (2.) Carried on by sanctification, 2 Thess. v. 23. opened. (3.) God the only author of our sanctification and holiness. (4.) Andthat as the God ofpeace. (5.) Sanctification described. (6.) A diligent inquiry into thenature whereof with that ofholiness, proved necessary.(7.) Sanctification twofold: I. By external dedication. 2. By inter- nal uri*ation.(8.) Holiness peculiar to the gospel and its truth.(9.) Not discernable to the eye of car- sialredson.(10.) Hardly understood by believers themselves. (I1.) It passeth over into eternity.(12.) Math in it a present glory(13.) Is all that God requireth of us, and in what sense. (14.) Promised unto us. (15.) How we are to improve the command for holiness. IN the regeneration or conversion of God's elect, the nature and manner whereof we have before described, consists the secondpart of the work of the Holy Spirit, in order unto the completing and perfecting of the new creation. As in the former he prepared a natural body or the Son of God, wherein he was to obey and suffer according to his will; so, by this latter, he prepares him a mystical body, or members spiritually living, by uniting them unto him who is their head and ìheirlife, Col. iii. 4. a For as the body is one, and bath many . w members, and all the members ofthat one body, be. " legmany, are one body; so also is Christ," 1 Cor. xii. 12. Nor loth he leave this work in that begin- ning of it whereof we have treated, but unto him also it belongs to continue it, to preserve it, and to carry iton to perfection. And this he doth in our sanctification, whose nature and effects we are in the next place to in- quire into, Sect. 2.--Our apostle, in his first epistle to the Thes- salonians,' chap. v. having closely compiled a great num- ber ofweighty particular evangelical duties, and annex- edsundrymotives and enforcements unto them, closeth all his holy prescriptions with a fervent prayerfor them, ver. 23. " And the very God of peace sanctify you 3H wholly, and let your whole spirit, and soul, and bo- dy, be preserved blamelessto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Or, as I had rather read the words, And God himself, even the God of peace, sanctify you throughout, that your whole spirit, and soul, and body, may be preserved blameless." The reason here- 'of is, because all the graces and duties which he had enjoined them did belong unto their sanctification, which, though their own duty, was not absolutely in their own power, but was a work of God in them, and upon them. 'Therefore, that they might be able there- unto, and might actually comply with his commands, he prays that Godwould thussanctify them throughout. That this shall be accomplished in them, and -for- them, he gives them assurance from the faithfulness, and con- sequently power and unchangeabieness which are in- cluded therein, of him who had undertaken to effect it, ver. 24. Faithful is he that callethyou, who will also do it. Now, whereas this assurance did not arise, nor was taken from any thing that was peculiar unto them, but merely from the consideration of the faithfulness God himself, it is equal with respect unto all that are effectually called. They shall all infallibly be sanctified throughout, andpreserved blameless to the coming of Je- 2,5
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