IN THE SANCTIFICATION OF uLLtLVfittS, 291 we may thence learn what it is to have them: To this purpose we may consider, that there are three things or faculties in our souls, which are the subject of all power or impotency in spiritual things, namely, our understandings, wills, and affections. That our spiri- tual impotency ariseth from their depravation hath been proved before; and what power we have for holy spiritual obedience, it most consist in some especial a- bility communicated distinctly unto all these faculties. And our inquiry therefore is, what is this power in the'mind, what in the will, and what in the affec, tions? And, _. (1.) This power in the mind consists in a spiritual light and ability to discern spiritual things in a spirituai mánner, which menin the state of nature are utterly de- void of, t Cor. ii. 18, lb. The Holy Spirit, in the first communication of the principle of spiritual lifeand holiness, shines -into our hearts, to givens the Iitoreledge of the gloty of God in the face of ,Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. iv. 6. yea, this strengthening of the mind by saving il- lumination, is the most eminent act of our sanctification. Without this, there is'aveil, with fear and bondage uponus, that we cannot see into spiritual -things. But where the Spirit of-God is, where he comes with his sanctifying grace, there is liberty; and thereby we all, " with open face, beholding, as in a glass, the glory a, of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory," 2.Corinthians. iii. 18. See Ephesi ans i. 1.7, 18. Sect. 82.Wherefore, all sanctified believers have an ability and power in the renewed mind and under- standing, to see, -know, discern, and receive spiritual things, -the mysteries ofthe gospel, the mind of Christ, in a due and spiritual manner. -lt is true, they have not all of-them thjs power and ability in the same de- gree; but every one of them bath a sufficiency of it, so as to discern what concerns themselves and their duties necessarily. -Some of them seem, indeed, to be very low in - knowledge, and in comparison of others very ignorant. For thereare different degrees-in these things; Ephes. iv. 7. And some of them are-kept in that con- dition by their own negligence and sloth. They do not use as -they ought, nor improve -those means of growing in grace, and in-the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which God prescribesunto them, as 1-ich, vi. 14, 15, 16. But every one who is truly sanctified, and who thereby 29 not only a sell of tinter abiding in them, but it spring - eilt up into everlasting life, John iv. lc or enables us continually to such gracious actings as have a tendency thereunto. There is a sufficiency in the grace of God bestowedon them that believe, to enable them unto the obedience required of them. So God told our apostle, when he was ready to faint under his temptations, that disgrace oras sufficientfor hiez, 2 Cor. xii. 9. or there is a power in all that are sanctified, whereby they are able to yield all holy obedience unto God: they are alive un- to God, alive to righteousness and holiness: they have a principle ofspiritual life; and wherethere is life, there is power in its kind, and for its end. Whence there is 'not in our sanctification only a principle or inherent ha- bit of grace bestowed on us, whereby we really and ha- bitually, as to state and condition, differ from all unre- generate persons whatever, but there belongs moreover thereunto, an active power or an ability for and unto spiritual holy obedience, which none are partakers of but these who are so sanctified. And unto this power there is a respect in all the commands or precepts of obedience, that belong to the new covenant. The commands of each covenant respect the power given in and by it. Whatever God required, or dotta require, of any, by virtue of the old covenant, or -the precepts thereof it was on the account of, and proportionate unto the strength given under and by-that covenant. And that we have lest that strength by the entrance of sin, exempts us not from theauthority of the command; and thence it is that we are righteously obliged to do what we -have no power to perform. So also, the com- mand of God, under the new covenant, as to all that o- bedience which he requireth of us, respects -that power which is given and communicated unto us thereby. And this is that power which belongs unto the new creature, the habit and principle ofgrace and holiness, which, as we have proved, is wrought by the Holy Ghost in all believers. Sect. 81. We -may thereforeinquire into the nature of this spiritual power, what it is, and wherein it doth consist. Now, this cannot be clearly understood, with- out a due consideration ofthat impotency unto all spi- ritual good which is in as by nature, which it eures.and- takes away. This we have before at large declared, and thither -the reader is referred . When we know what if is tobe without power or strength in spiritual things, 4D
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