56 SANCTIFICATION A PROGRESSIVE WORIC sliding, barrenness, decays in faith and love? And the And any particular lust indulged unto, vitiates the whole spiritual health, and weakens the soul in all du- ties of obedience. (2.) There are some things required of us to this end, that holiness may thrive, and be carried on in us. Such are the constant use of all ordinances and means ap- pointed unto that end, a due observance of com- manded duties in their season, with a readiness Gr the exercise of every especial grace in its proper circum- stances, Now, if we neglect these things, if we walk at all peradventures with God, attending neither to means nor duties, nor the exercise of grace as we should, we are nOt to wonder if we find ourselves de- caying, yea ready to die. Doth any man wonder to see a person formerly of a sound constitution grown weak and sickly, if he openly neglect all means of health, and contract all sorts of diseases by his intemperance? Is it strange that a nation should be sick and faint at heart, that grey-hairs should be sprinkled upon it, that it should be poor and decaying, whilst consuming lusts, with a strange neglect of all invigorating means, do pre- vail in it? No more is it, that a professing people should decay in holy obedience; whilst they abide in the ne- glects expressed. Having vindicated this assertion, I shall yet add a little further improvement of it. And, 1. If the work of holiness be such a' progressive thriv- ing workin its own nature, if the design of the Holy Ghost, in the use of means, be to carry it on in us, and increase it more and more unto a perfect measure, then is our diligence still to be continued to the same end and purpose. For hereon depends our growth and thriving. It is required of us, that wegive all diligence unto the increase of grace, 2 Peter i. G. and that we a- bound therein, 2 Cor. viii. 7. abounding in all diligence; and not only so, but that we spew the same diligence. . unto the end, Heb. vi. 11. Whatever diligence you have used in the attaining orimproving of holiness, a- bide in it unto the end, or we cast ourselves under decays, and endanger our souls. If we slack, or give over as to our duty, the work of sanctification will not be carried on in a way of grace. And this is re- quired of us, this is expected from us, that our whole lives be spent in a course of diligent compliance with the progressivework of grace in us. There are three , grounds on which mendo, or may neglect this duty, experience of the days wherein we live sufficiently con- firm the truth of it. Are there not open and visible decays in many, as to the whole spirit, all the duties and fruits of holiness? Cannot the best among us con- tribute somewhat to the evidence hereof from our own experience? What shall we say then, is there no sin- cere holiness where such decaysare found? God forbid: But we must inquire the reasons whence this comes to pass, seeing this is contrary to the gradual progress of holiness in them that are sanctified, which we have as- serted. And I answer two things unto it: t. Thatthese decays are occasional and preternatural, as to the true nature and constitution of the new crea- ture, and a disturbance of the ordinary work of grace. They are diseases in our spiritual state, which it is not to be measured by. Are you dead and cold in duties, backward in good works, careless of your hearts and thoughts, addicted to the world? These things belong not to the state ofsanctification, but are enemies unto it, sicknesses and diseases in thespiritual constitution of the persons in whom they are. 2. Although our sanctification and growth in holiness be a work of the Holy Spirit, as the efficient cause thereof, yet is it our own work also in a way of duty. He bath prescribed unto us what shall be our part, what he expects from us, and requireth of us, that the work may be regularly carried on unto perfection, as was before declared. And there are two sorts of things, which, if eve attend not unto in a due manner; the order- 1y progress of it will be obstructed and retarded. For, (1.) The power and growth of any lust or corruption, and a compliance from them with temptations, which is inseparable from the prevalency ofany sin in us, lies di- rectly against this progress. If we allow or approve of any such thing in us, if we indulge unto any actings of sin, especially when known and grown frequent in any one kind, when we neglect the use of the best means for the constant mortification of sin, which every en- lightened soul understands to be necessary thereunto, there is and will be increased an universal decay in ho- liness, and not only in that particular corruption which is so spared and indulged. A disease in any one of the vitals or principal parts of the body, weakens het only the part wherein it is, but the whole body itself, and vitiates the whole constitution by a sympathy of parts. w_
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