AND GOSPEL- ISOLTNESS 1ttPLAINED, 217 Mgword's, the apostle expresseth as the end and design of his prayer for them, and the effect of the work of grace which he prayed for: For, (I.) The subject of this sanctification he makes to be our whole natures, which he distributes unto our entire spirits, souls and bodies. And, (2,) The end of the whole is, the pre- servation of us, blameless in the peace of God unto the coming of Christ; which will both of them be immedi- ately more fully spoken unto. Wherefore, Sect. 5.Sanctification, as here described, rr is the a immediate workof God by his Spirit, upon our whole o natures, proceeding from the peace made for us by " Jesus Christ, whereby being changed into his likeness, ar we are kept entirely in peace with God, and are pre- " served unblameable, or in a state of gracious accep- t talion with him, according to the terms of the cove- " pant, unto the end." Sect. 6. The nature of this work, and its effect, which is our holiness, with the necessity of them both, we must, on many accounts with our utmost diligence, inquire and search into. This both the importance of the truth itself, and the opposition that is made unto it, render necessary. Besides, whereas we are in the de- claration of the especial operations of the Holy Ghost, although he be not so denominated originally from this peculiar work, as though he should be called HOLY, "merely, because he is the author of holiness in all that are made partakers of it, which wehave before disprov- ed; yet, there is a general consent, in words at least, among all who arecalled Christians, that this is his im- mediate andproper work, or that he is the only sancti- fier of all them that do believe. And this I shall take as yet for granted, although some among us, who not only pretend high to the preaching of holiness, (what- ever be their practice) but reproach others as weaken- ing the necessity of it, do talk at such a rate, as if in the holiness which they pleaded for, be had nothing to do in a peculiar manner, For it is no news to meet with quint and gilded discourses about holiness, in- termixed with scoffing reflections on the work of the Holy Ghost therein. This work thereforeof his we are in an especial manner to attend unto, unless we would be found among the number of such as those who own themselves, and teach their children, that the Holy Ghost sanctjfies all the elect of God, and yet not only despise the work of holiness in themselves, but deride those who plead an interest therein, as an effect of the sanctification of the Spirit. For with such fruits of secret atheism doth the world abound withal. But our principal duty in this world, is to know aright what it is to be holy, and so to be indeed, Sect, 7.-' -One thing we must premise, to clear oar ensuing discourse from ambiguity. And this is, that there is mention in the scripture of a twofold-sanctifica- tion, and consequently of a twofold holiness. The first is common unto persons and things, consisting in the. peculiar dedication, consecration, or separationof them unto the service of God, by his own appointment,' whereby they become holy, Thus the Priests and Le, vites of old, the ark, the altar, the tabernacle, and the temple, were sanctified, and made holy. And, indeed, in all holiness whatever there is a peculiar dedication and separation unto God, But, in the sense mention- ed, this was solitary, and alone; no more belonged unto it but this sacred separation, nor was there any other effect of this sanctification. But, 2dly, There is another kind of sanctification and holiness, wherein this separation to God is not the first thing done or intend- ed, but a consequent and effect thereof. This is real and internal, by the communicating of a principle of holiness unto our natures, attended with its exercise in acts and duties of holy obedience unto God. This is that, which, in the first place, we inquire after; and how far believers are therein, and thereby, peculiarly separated and dedicated unto God, shall be afterwards declared. And unto what we have to deliver concern- ing it we shall make way, by the ensuing observations. Sect, 8. -1. This whole matter of sanctification and holiness is peculiarly joined with, and limited unto the doctrine, truth, and graceof the gospel; for holiness is nothing but the implanting, writing, and realizing of the gospel in our souls. Hence it is termed doorm rns &rv.9rras, Fph, iv, --24. The holiness of truth, which the truth of the gospel ingenerates, and which consists in a conformity thereunto; and the gospel itself is zr,s.9 o ñ 9wpex., Titus i. I. The truth which is according unto godliness. which declares that godliness and holi- ness which God requireth. The prayer also of our Saviour for our sanctification is conformed thereunto, John xvii. 17. Sanee fy them in (or by) thy troth; thy word is truth. And he sanctified himself for us, to be a sacrifice, that we might be sanctified in the truth. This
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