BELIEVERS THE ONLT OBJECT Or SANCTIFICATION, 4'C. 239 whereon the life of their obedience, and all their corn- exact holiness and obedience in all things as we were forts do depend. (I.) A presumption, or groundless persuasion, that they are already perfect. This some pretend unto, in a proud and foolish conceit, destructive of the whole nature and duty of evangelical holiness or obedience. For this, on our parts, consists in our willing compli- ance with the work of grace gradually carried on unto the measure appointed unto us. If this be already at- tained, there is an end of all evangelical obedience, and men return again to the law, unto their ruin, See Phil. iii. 12, IS, IS. It is an excel)ent description of the na- ture of our obedience which the apostle gives us in that place. All absolute perfection in this life is rejected as unattainable. The end proposed is blessedness and glo- ry, with the eternal enjoyment of God, and the way whereby we press towards it, which compriseth the whole of our obedience, is by continual uninterrupted following after, pressing, reaching out, a constant pro- gress in and by our utmost diligence. (2.) A foolish supposition, that being interested in a state ofgrace, we need not now be so solicitous about formerly, whilst our minds hung in suspense about our condition. But so much as any one bath this appre- hension or persuasion prevailing in him, or influencing of him, so much hath he cause deeply to question whe- ther he has yet any thing of grace or holiness or not. For this persuasion is not of him who hath called us. There is not a more effectual engine in the hand of Sa- tan, either to keep us off from holiness, or to stile it when it is attained, nor can any thoughts arise in the hearts of men more opposite to the nature of grace; for which cause the apostle rejects it with detestation, Rom. vi. 1, 2. (3.) Weariness and despondenciei arising from op- positions.. Some find so much difficulty in, and oppo- sition to the work 6f holiness and its progress, from the power of corruptions, temptations, and the occa- sions of life in this world, that they are ready to faint, and give over this diligence in duties, and contending against sin. But the scripture loth so abound with en- couragements unto this sort of persons, as that we need not to insist thereon. BELIEVERS THE ONLY OBJECT OF SANCTIFICATION, AND SUBJECT OF GOSPEL- HOLINESS. CHAP. III. (I.) Believers the only subject of the workofsanctfvation. (2.) Hawmen tome tobelieve, if believers alone re- ceive the Spirit ofsanctification. (3.) Theprincipal endsfor which the Spirit ispromised, with their orderin their accomplishment.(4.) links to be observed inprayingfor the Spirit of God, and his operations therein. (5.) That believers only are sanctified or holy, proved and confirmed.(6.) Mistakes about holiness, both notional andpractical, discovered. (7.) Theproper subject of holiness inbelievers. THATwhich we are next to inquire into, is the per- sonal subject of this work of sanctification; or who, and of what sort, those persons are that are made holy. Now, these are all and only believers. All who un- feignedly believe in God through Jesus Christare sanc- tified, and no other. Unto them is evangelical holi- ness confined. It is for them, and them only, that our Saviour prays for this mercy, grace, or privilege, John 3 O xvii. 17. Sanct fj them by thy truth. And concerning them, he affirms, for their sakes I sanctify myse f that they also ntay be sanctfed through the truth, ver. 19. And whereas, inthe verses foregoing, he had immediate espect unto his apostles and present disciples, that we may know that neither his prayer nor this grace are con- fined or limited unto them, he adds, Neither pray ¡for these alone, that is in this manner, and for these ends,
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