240 BELIEVERS THE ONLY 0 rECT OF SANCTIFICATION, butfor them also which shall believe on me through their~ word, ver. 20. It was therefore the prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all believers should be sanctifi- ed; and so also was it his promise, John vii. 38. 39. " He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, ont of his belly shall flow rivers of living water; but " this he spoke of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive." And it is with respect prin- cipally unto this work of sanctification that he is com- pared unto flowing and living water, as bath been de- clared before: it is for believers, the church, that was in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ, that is by faith, 1 'rheas. i. I. that our apostle prays, that the Godofpeace would sanct/j them throughout, chap. v. 23. Sect. 2. But, before we proceed to a further con- firmation of this assertion, an objection of some impor- tance is to be removed out of our way. For, on this supposition, that the spirit of sanctification is given only unto believers, it maybe inquired, how men come so to he? For if we have not the Spirit until after we do be- lieve, then is faith itselfof ourselves. And this is that which some plead for, namely, that thegift of the Holy Ghost, unto all ends and purposes for which he is pro- mised, is consequential unto faith, with the profession and obedience thereof, being, as it were, its reward. See Crell. de Sp. S. cap. 5. To this purpose it is plead- ed, that the apostle Peter encourageth men unto faith, and repentance, with the promise, that thereon they should receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, Actsii. 38. And so is that also of our Saviour, John xiv. 17. that the world, that is unbelievers, cannot receive the Spirit of truth; so that our faith and obedience is required as a necessary qualification unto the receiving of the Holy Ghost; and if they are so absolutely, then are they of ourselves, and not wrought in us by the grace of God, which is'express Pelagianism. Ans. I could dwell long on this inquiry, concerning the especial subject of the Holy Spirit, seeing the right understanding of many places of scripture doth depend thereon. But, because I have much work yet before =me, I will reducewhat I have to oflbr on this head into as narrow a compass as possibly 'I may. In answer therefore to this objection, I say: 1. That the Holy Spirit is said to be promised and received with respect unto the ends which be is promis- ed for, and the effects which he worketh, when he is received. For although he be himself but one, the one and self -sante Spirit, and he himself is promised, given forth, and received, as we have declared, yet he bath many and divers operations. And, as hisoperations are livers, or of several sorts and kinds, so our receiving of hint, as to the manner of it, is divers also, and suited unto the ends of his communications unto us. Thus, in some sense, he is promised unto, and received by believers; in another, he is promised, and received, to make men so, or to make then believe. In the first way, there may be some activity of faith in a way of duty, whereas, in the latter, we are passive, and receive hirn only in a way of grace. Sect. 3. -2. The chief and principal ends for which the Holy Spirit is promised and received, may be reduc- ed to these four heads: (1.) Regeneration. (2.) Sanc- tification. (3.) Consolation. (4.) Edification. There are indeed very many distinct operations and distribu- tions of the Spirit, as I have in part already discovered, and shall yet further go over thons in particular instances. But they may be reduced into these general heads, or at least they will suffice to-exemplify the different man- ner and ends of the receivingof the Spirit. And this is the plain order and method of these things, as the scripture both plainly and plentifully testifies: (1.) He is promised, and received, as-to the work of regenera- tion unto the elect. (2.) As to the work of sanctifica- tion unto the regenerate. (3.) As to the work of con- solation unto the sanctified. And, (4.) As unto gifts for edification unto professors, according to his sove- reign will and pleasure. (I.) He is promised unto the elect, and received by them as to his work of regeneration. That this is his work in us wholly and entirely, I have proved before at large. Hereunto the qualifications of faith ousel obedi- ence are no way required, as previously necessary in us. In order of nature, our receiving of the Spirit is antecedent to the very seed and principle of faith in us, as the cause is to the effect, seeing it is wrought in us by him alone; and the promises concerning the com- munications of the Spirit unto this end have been be- fore explained and vindicated. Hereby doth the Holy Ghost prepare an habitation for himself, and make way for all the following work which he hath to do in us, and towards us, unto the glory of God, and theperfect- ing of our salvation, or the making of usmeet for the inheritance ofthe saints in light, Col. i. 12.
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