1( 230 SANCTIFICATION A PROGRESSIVE WORK. or do really. approve of, as being satisfied in, the good this is the principal cause and means of the gradual in- crease acceptable of holiness in us, or the carrying on of the work ofsanctification, Psal. cxxxviii. S. Sect. 8.--(2.) There are graces whose exercise is more occasional, and not always actually necessary, as unto the life of God; that is, it is not necessary that they he always in actual exercise, as faith and love are to be. With respect unto these, holiness is increased by the addition of one to another, until we are brought on several occasions to the practice and exerciseof them all. For the addition of the new exercise of any grace belongs unto the gradual carrying on of the work of sanctification. And hereunto all things that befall us in this world, all our circumstances are laid in a sub.. serviency by the wisdom of God. All our relations, all our afflictions, all our temptations, all our mercies, all ourenjoyments, all occurrences are suited to a continual adding of the exercise of onegrace to another, wherein holiness is increased. And if we make not use of them . to that purpose, we miss of all the benefit and advan- tage we might have of them, and disappoint, what lies in us, the design of divine love and wisdom in them. This is given us in charge, 2 Pet. i. 5, 6, 7. " Besides " all this, giving all diligence, add to yourfaith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temper- " once, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly-kindness, and " to brotherly- kindness charity." The end why this injunction is given us, is that we may escape the cor- ruption that is in the world through lust, ver. S. that is, have all our corruptions thoroughly subdued, and our souls thoroughly sanctified. To this end are the pro- mises given us, and a divine spiritual nature is bestow- ed upon us. But will that suffice? or is there nomore required of us unto thát end? Yes, saith the apostle, this great work will not be effected, unless you use your ut- most diligence and endeavour to add the exercise of all the graces of the Spirit one to another, as occasion shall require. There is a method in this concatenation of graces from first to last, and an especial reason for each , particular, or why the apostle requires that such a grace should be added unto such a one in the order laid down, which at present I shall not inquire into. But, in gen- eral, he intends that every grace is to be exercised ac- cording to its proper season, and especial occasion. Hereby also is the work of sanctification gradually car- and and perfect. will of God, Rom. xii. 2. And this is that which the apostle prayeth for in behalf of the Colossians, chap. ii. ver. 2. I.may say, that he who knoweth not how faith is encouraged and strength- ened by especial experiences of the reality, power, and spiritual efficacy on the soul of the things believed, ne- ver was made partaker of any of them. How often doth David encourage his own faith, and others, from his former experiences, which were pleaded also by nur Lord Jesus Christ to the same purpose, in his great distress? Psal. xxii. 9, 10. Secondly, That it is the Holy Ghost who giveth us all our spiritual experiences, needs no other consideration to evince but only this, that in them consists all our consolation. His work and office it is to administer consolation unto believers, as being the only Comforter of the church. Now, he administereth comfort no other way, but by giving un- to the minds and souls of believers, a spiritual sensible experienceof the reality and power of the things we do believe. He Both not comfort us by words, but by things. Other means of spiritual consolation I know none, and I am sure this never fails. Give unto a soul an experience, a taste of the love and grace of God in Christ Jesus, and be its condition what it will, it can- not refuse to be comforted. And hereby doth he shed abroad the love ofGod in our hearts, Rom. v. 5. where- by all graces are cherished and increased. Thirdly, He doth it by working immediately an ac- tual increase of these graces in us. 1 have shewed, that these are capableof improvement, and of an addition of degrees unto them. Now, they are originally the im- mediate work and product of the Spirit of God in us, as bath been abundantly evinced. And as he first works and creates them, so he increaseth them. Here- by they that are feeble become as David, Zech. xii. 8. That is, thosewhose graces were weak, whose faith was infirm, and whose love was languid, shall, by the sup- plies of the Spirit, and the increase given by him unto 'them, become strong and vigorous. To this purpose are promises multiplied in the scripture, which in our constant supplications we principally respect. This is that which the schoolmen, after Austin, call Gratiam corroborantem, that is, the working of the Holy Spirit in the increasing and strengthening of grace received. See Eph. iii. 16, 17. Col. i. 10, 11. Isa, xl. 29. And
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