284 THE POSITIVE WORIL unto holiness.. All men, who profess themselves to be Christians, are agreed, in words at least, that holiness is absolutely necessary unto them that would be saved by Jesus Christ. To deny it, is all one as openly to renounce the gospel. But when they should cone to the practice of it, some take one false way; some ano- ther, and some actually despise and reject it. Now, all this ariseth from ignorance of the true nature of evan- gelical holiness on the one hand, and love of sin on the other. There is nothing wherein we are spiritually and eternally concerned, that is more frequently insisted on, than is the true nature of sanctification and holiness. Bat the thing itself; as bath beendeclared, is deep and mysterious, not to be understood without the aid of spiritual light in our minds. Hence, some would have moral virtue to be holiness, which, as they suppose, they can understand by their own reason, and practise in their own strength; and I heartily wish that we could see more of the fruits of it from them. But real moral virtue will hardly be abused into an opposition unto grace; the pretence of it will be so easily, and is so every day. Some on the other hand, place all holiness in superstitious devotions, in the strict observance of re- ligious duties, which men, and not God, have appoint- d. And there is no endof their multiplication of them, nor measure of the strictness of some in them. The reason why men give up themselves unto such soul-de- ceiving imaginations, is their ignorance and hatred of that only true real principle of evangelical holiness which we have discoursed: for what the world knoweth not in these things it always hateth. And they cannot dis- cern it clearly, or in its own proper light and evidence; for it must be spiritually discerned. This the natural man cannot do, 1 Cor. ii. 14. And, in that false light of-corrupted reason, wherein they discern and judge it, they esteem it foolishness or fancy. There is not a more foolish and fanatical thing in the world, with many, than that internal habitual holiness which we are in the con- sideration of. And hence are they led todespise and to hate it. But here the love of sin secretly takes place, and influenceth their minds. This universal change of the soul, in all its principles of operation into the image and likeness of God, tending to the extirpation of all sins and vicious habits, is that which men fear and ab- hor. This makes them take up with morality and su- perstitious devotion, any thing that will pacify a nato- Ott THE SPIRIT ral conscience, and please themselves or others with a reputation of religion. It is therefore highly incumbent on all that would not wilfully deceive their own souls unto their eternal ruin, to inquire diligently into the true nature of evangelical holiness, and, above all, to take care that they miss it not in the foundation, in the true root and principle of it, wherein a mistake Will he pernicious. Thirdly, It is.moreover evident from hence, that it is a greater matter to be truly and really holy than most persons are aware of. We may learn eminently, how great and excellent a work this of sanctification and ho- liness is, from the causes of it. Flow emphatically doh our apostle ascribe it unto God even the Father, 1 'l'hess. v. 23. Even the God of peace himself sanctify you. It is so great a work, as that it cannot be wrought by any but the God of peace himself: What is the im- mediate work of the Spirit therein, what the influence of the mediation and blood of Christ into it, hath been already in part declared, and we have yet much more to add in our account of it. And these things do suffi- ciently manifest, how great, how excellent, and glori- ous a work it is: for it cloth not become divine and in- finite wisdom, to engage the immediate power and effi- cacy of such glorious causes and means, for the pro- ducing of any ordinary or common effect. It must be somewhat as of great importance unto the gloryof God, so of an eminent nature in itself. And, that little en- trance which we have made into an inquiry after its na- ture, 'manifests howgreat and excellent it is. Let us not therefore deceive ourselves with the shadows and appearances of things in a few duties of piety or righte- ousness, no, nor yet with many of them; if we find not this great work at least begun in us. It is sad to see what trifling there is in these things amongst men. None indeed are contented tobe without a religion, and very few are willing to admit it in its power. Fourthly, Have we received this principle of holiness and of spiritual life, by the gracious operation of the Holy Ghost; there are, among many others, three du- ties incumbent on us, whereof we ought to be as care- ful as of our souls. And the first is, carefully and dili- gently, by all means, to cherish and preserve it in our hearts. This sacred depositum of the new creature, of the divine nature, is intrusted with us, to take care of, to cherish and improve. If we willingly, or through
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