232 SANCTIFICATION APROGRESSIVE WORK, bath so confirmed it by constant uninterrupted exercise, plainly, clearly, distinctly revealed in thescripture, and as that he can preserve it one moment, or act it in any one instance or duty, without the continual supplies of new actual grace and help from him, who worleetic in us to will andtodo. For, saith our Lord Christ unto his apostles, and in them to all believers, the best and strongest of them, without me ye can do nothing, John xv. 5. And they whoof themselves can do nothing that is in a way of living unto God, cannot of themselves preserve grace, act it, and increase it, which are the greatest things we do, or are wrought in us in this world. 'Wherefore God bath, in infinite wisdom, so ordered the dispensation of his love and grace unto be- lievers, that all of them living upon the continual sup- plies of his Spirit, none may have cause, on the one hand, to faint or despond, nor occasion, on the other, unto self -confidence or elation of mind, that so noflesh mayglory in itself, but he that glorieth mayglory in the Lord. And therefore, as he greatly encourageth the weak, the fearful, the faint, the disconsolate, and deject- ed, and that by the engagement of all the holy proper- ties of his nature in and unto their assistance, Ise. xxxv. 3, 4, 5, 6. chap. xl. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. So he warns them who suppose themselves strong, steadfast, and im- moveable, not to be high -minded, butfear, Rom. xi. 20. because the whole issue of things depends on his sove- reign supplies of grace. And seeing he bath promised, in the covenant, to continue faithfully these supplies unto us, there is ground of faith given unto all, and occasion of presumption administered to none. Sect. 7. But it will be said, that if not only the be- ginning of grace, sanctification, and holiness be from God, but the carrying ofit on, and the increase of it also, be from him, and not only so in general, but that all the actings ofgrace, and every act of it, be an immediate effect of the Holy Spirit, then what need is there that we should take any pains in this thing our- selves, or use our own endeavours to grow in grace or holiness, as we are commanded? If God worketh all himselfin us, and without his effectual operation in us, wecan do nothing there is no place left for ourdiligence, duty, or obedience. Anew. 1. This objection we most expect to meet withal at every turn. Men will not believe there is a consistency between God's effectual grace, and our di- ligent obedience; that is, they will not believe what is which is suited unto the experience of all that truly be- lieve, because they cannot, it may be, comprehend it within the compass of carnal reason. 2. Let the apos- tle answer this objection for this once, 2 Peter i. 3, " His divine power path given unto us all things that " pertain to life and to godliness, through the know- . " ledge of him that bath called us to glory and virtue; " whereby are given unto us exceeding great and pre- " cious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption " that is in the worldrthrough lust" Ifall things that pertain unto lifeand godliness, among which doubtless is the preservation and increase of grace, be given unto us by the power of God; if from him we receive that divine nature, by virtue whereof our corruptions are subdued, then, I pray, what need is there of any en- deavours of our own? The whole work of sanctification is wrought in us, it seems, and that by the power of God: we -therefore may let italone, and leave it unto him whose it is, whilst weare - negligent, secure, and at ease. Nay, saith the apostle, this is not the use which the grace of God is to be put unto. The consideration of it is, or ought to be, the principal motive and encour- agement unto all diligence for the increase of holiness in us. For so he adds immediately, ver. 5. x' Imes Tare as, but alsofor this cause, or because of the gracious operations of the divine power in us; giving all dill- gencr, add toyour faith virtue, as before. These ob- jectors and this apostle were very diversely minded in these matters; what they make an insuperable discour- agement unto diligence in obedience, that he makes the greatest motive and encouragement thereunto. 3. I say, from this consideration, it will unavoidably follow, that we ought continually to wait and depend on God for supplies of his Spirit and grace, without which we can do nothing. That God is more the author by his graoe of the good we do, than we are ourselves (not I, but the grace ofGod that was with me) that we ought to be careful, that, by our negligences and sins; we provoke not the Holy Spirit to withold his aids and as- sistances, and so to leave us to ourselves, in which con- dition we can do nothing that is spiritually good; these things, I say, will unavoidably follow on the doctrine before declared; and if any one be offended at them, it is not in our power to tender them relief.
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