AND MOTIVE UNTO HOLINESS. 351 tion, tothepraise of the glory of his grace, Eph. i. 5, is from hence, that it is fixed by God's eternal decree. 6, 11. How, then, is be said to choose us, that we should be holy? In what sense is our holiness proposed as the designof God in election? It is as the indispen- sable means for the attaining ofthe end of salvation and glory I do, saith God, choose these poor lost sinners to be mine in an especial manner, to save them by my Son, and bring them, through his mediation, unto eter- nal glory; but, in order hereunto, I do purpose and decree, that they shall be holy and unblameable in the obedience of love, without which, as a means, none shall ever attain that end. Wherefore, the expectation and hope of any man, for life, and immortality, and glory, without previous holiness, can be built on no o- ther foundation but this, that God will rescind hiseter- nal decrees, and change his purposes, that is, cease to be God, merely to comply with them in their sins. Andwho knows what will be the end of such a cursed hope and expectation? The contrary is seconded by that of the apostle, Rom. viii. 36. Whom he did pre- destinate, them he also called. Wherever predestination unto glorygoes before, concerning any person, there effectual vocation unto faith and holiness infallibly en- sues: and where these never were, the other never was. So, 2 Thess. ii. 13. God bath chosenyoufrom thebegin- ; ninguntosalvation, throughthesanctjcationoftheSpirit. Chosen we are unto salvation by the free sovereign grace of God; but how may this salvation be actually obtained? how may we be brought into the actual pos- session of it? Through the sanctification of the Spirit, and no otherwise. Whom God doth not sanctify and make holy by his Spirit, he never chose unto salvation from the beginning. The councils of God, therefore, concerning us, do not depend on our holiness, but up- on our holiness our future happiness depends in the councils of God. Sect. 4.Hence we may see, wherein lies the force of the argument for the necessityof holiness, from God's decree of election; and it consists in these two things: (t.) That such is the nature of the unalterable de- cree of God in this matter, that no person living, can ever attain the end of glory and happiness, without the means of grace and holiness. The same eternal purpose respecteth both. I shall afterwards shew, how the in- fallible and indissolvable connexion of these thing is established by the law of God. Our present argument 4 T He bath ordained none to salvation, but he bath or- dained them antecedently to be holy. Not the least in- fant that goes out of this world shall come to eternal rest, unless it be sanctified, and so made habitually and radi- cally holy. He chooseth none to salvation but through the sanctification of the Spirit. As therefore whatever else we have, or may seem to have, it is contrary to the nature of God, that we should come to the enjoyment of him, ifwe are not holy; so it is contrary to his eter- nal and unchangeable decree also. Sect. 5 (2.) It ariseth from hence, that we can have no evidence of our interest in God's decree of election, . whereby weare designed unto life and glory, without holiness effectuallywrought in us. Wherefore, as our life depends upon it, so do all our comforts. To this purpose speaks our apostle, 2Tim. ii. 19. Thefoundation ofGod standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knote- eth them that are his. It is the decree ofelection which he intends, and he proposeth it as that alone which will give security against apostacy in a time of-great tempta- tions and trials; as our Saviour doth likewise, Matth. xxiv. 24. Every thing else will fail, but what is an es- pecial fruit and effect of this decree. What therefore is incumbent on us with respect thereunto, that we may knowwe have an interest in this single security against final apostacy? saith the apostle, And let every one that nameth the name ofChrist depart from iniquity. There is no other way to comeunto an evidence thereof, but by a departure from all iniquity, by universal holiness. So the apostle Peter directs us, to give all diligence to make our electionsure, 2 Peter i. 10. Sure it is is itself from all eternity. Thefoundationof Godstandeth sure. But our duty it is to make it sure and certain untoour- selves; and this is a thing of the highest importance and concernment unto us, whence we are required to give all diligence unto that end. How thenmay this be done or effected? This he declares in the foregoing verses, and it is only by finding in ourselves, and duly exercising that train of gospel graces and duties which he there enu- merates, ver. 5, 6, 7, S, 9. Sect. 6. It is evident therefore and necessary, (ions God's decree of election, that if we intend either eter- nal glory hereafter, or any consolation or assurance here, that we must endeavour to be holy, and unblame- able before him in love: for whomsoever God purposeth. 52
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