There is a fourth Question, which is as a further branch of the fourth Use; of which I would not speak, but that I might through the good hand of God the better clear things, that we may not stumble in our expressions, nor in any Office of brotherly love, in conference about the Covenant of Grace and Works.
Question 4: For as much as you hear of a Sanctification under a Covenant of Works, it doth imply, that there is a Sanctification that is but transitory, and not everlasting, nor immortal; Whether then may a man evidence his union with Christ from his Sanctification?
Answer: I answer in four Propositions, that I might not leave any occasion of scruple or difference about what is held forth in our Congregation; as being that which doth yield as much agitation as any other Doctrine that is taught among us. Let me therefore shortly and plainly discover it; and let it be so far received, as we see the life, and presence, and truth of the Spirit of God revealed in the Doctrine of Free Grace, from the Scriptures of Truth.
Proposition 1: That Sanctification according to the Law, (that is to say, such a Sanctification as may be found in a Covenant of Works) is no evidence, or witness of our union with Christ. And I suppose there is no difference there. But though there be no difference in men’s Judgements in this; yet it is an easy thing for Christians to mistake their evidence upon this very ground, and as much upon this ground as any: For when Christians come to be really wrought upon, and find themselves discouraged from sin, and so reform their lives, and give up themselves to obey the Word, and find comfort therein, (and great consolation many times) in such a case as this Christians do much differ upon the point; and yet I do not know any of all the Teachers in this Country that withdraw their consents from this doctrine, that such Sanctification as is wrought in hypocrites, though that it may reach to great improvements, yet it is no evidence of Justification at all. It hath been handled in another Congregation, (and I think not without weight of truth) that to distinguish in men between that Sanctification which floweth from the Law, and that which is of the Gospel, is a matter so narrow, that the Angels in Heaven have much ado to discern who differ: a work fitter for Angels to cut the scantling in it, then for the Ministers of the Gospel, though indeed there be great difference of the one from the other. Now though this do not tend to heal any difference in Judgement; yet it is useful to heal a misprision of Sanctification, that may be found in all hypocrites. Three things are to be attended unto in all Sanctification:
1. From what Root it springeth.
2. By what Rule it is guided.
3. At what End it aimeth.
And commonly under some one or other of these three, are put all the differences between the one Sanctification and the other: I speak it that it may be searched, and (God is my witness) not to unsettle the well-grounded comfort of any soul: but if any man hath built upon any unsafe Foundation, or hath built hay, or stubble; better it is to know it at first, whilst there is hope in Israel, then when it is too late. In those three things formerly mentioned, are all the differences between the Sanctification of Hypocrites, and of the children of God; and they go so close together, that you will say, it is not an easy matter to discern Justification by Sanctification.
1. For the Root of it: The soul having fellowship with Christ, by the Holy Ghost coming into the soul, and working Faith in Jesus Christ. This is the Root of all Christian Sanctification, Ezekiel 36:27, I will put my Spirit within you, Gc. And, he that is joined to the Lord, is one Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:17, and for Faith, it is Faith that purifieth the heart, Acts 15:9, and, without Faith it is impossible to please God, Hebrews 11:6. So that Faith must concur unto the rootedness of our Sanctification in Christ. But the Apostle doth attribute both these roots unto those Christians that shall afterwards fall away to sin the sin against the Holy Ghost, Hebrews 6. They have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost: that Heavenly Gift was Faith, which the Apostle reckoneth chiefly among the Principles of our Christian Religion, verse 1. A taste they had of it; yet from both these they fall away: you know what was said of Saul, 1 Samuel 10:10. The Spirit of God came upon him: And so did it likewise upon Judas and Demas, acting them mightily in their administration; and as they were thus carried along by the Spirit; So likewise the Spirit of Bondage will marvellously prevail with the sons of men, to draw them on to strong works of Reformation, from whence they reap no small consolation; but think and say, (as Abijah did) that the Lord is with them, whilst they are with him: And as sometimes David said of himself, I believed, therefore I spake: So the Israelites also, Psalm 106:12) believed, and sang the praises of God, upon the Red-sea-shore, and yet were they but an hypocritical
Generation. And if hypocrites may work Miracles in the Name of Christ (as they did, and expostulate with Christ about it, Matthew 7:22, Have we not Prophesied in thy Name, and in thy Name cast out Devils and in thy Name done many wonderful works?) then may a temporary Faith work ordinary works in Christianity also: and therefore you shall read, Matthew 13:22, that there is no fault found in the thorny soil for their want of root, or for their want of depth of earth; for the want of both which, the stony soil was taxed: but look as it is with the branches of a Vine, what depth of earth the root hath, they have it, being grafted into the Vine, though they be but mp??k??p??, branches of the wild Olive, and will bring forth but wild fruit: for though the branch of the wild Olive be grafted into the fat Olive, and may flourish there; yet will it bring forth its own fruit; but in the root you will not find a difference: yet there is a difference, but it is very hard to be discerned.
Objection: Yes, (will you say) there is a plain difference; for an Hypocrite is ever full of himself, but a true Christian doth all in Faith: he seeketh God daily, and waiteth upon God daily; and these are not the ways of Hypocrites.
Answer: Consider I pray you what the Word of the Lord holdeth forth as the Root of this Sanctification, and I will go no further then express Scriptures: Isaiah 58:2, They seek me daily, and this is spoken of Hypocritical Israelites: and for waiting, we often hear it spoken of the five foolish Virgins, they all went out to meet the Bridegroom, Matthew 25:1, though whilst he tarried long, they all fell asleep; and so did the Wise Virgins also. And for more particular application of God unto themselves, we find that also, Hosea 8:2, Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee; and yet (in the same Scripture) this Israel had transgressed the Covenant, and cast off the thing that is good: And for a further act of Faith, which is a staying man’s self upon God; what saith the Text? Isaiah 48:2, They stay themselves upon the God of Israel (and yet these are obstinate; their neck as an iron sinew, and their brow as brass) but it was not in truth and uprightness; True, it was not: But how shall we know the difference? Truly it is hard to perceive when men differ, and therefore it is not an easy matter to make such use of Sanctification, as by it to bear witness unto Justification; and it will be a very hard case, yea much more difficult, when men cannot feel the presence of spiritual gifts, but want of spiritual light: and when they do find Faith in themselves, they will find it in Hypocrites also, even Faith to seek the Lord, and Faith to wait upon him, and Faith to apply him, saying, My God; and Faith to stay upon the God of Israel: and yet these men do vanish away in hypocrisy.
This Hypocrites may do: seeing therefore what easiness of error may befall Christians whether this or that Grace may be of the right stamp, or no, it will behove Christians to be wary; for even Eagle-eyed Christians will have much ado so to discern of Sanctification in themselves, before they see their Justification, as to cut of all Hypocrites from having the like in them. For the sanctified frame of life in God’s children, and that which seemeth to be like it in Hypocrites; both of them spring from the Holy Ghost, and both from Faith: but now the Spirit of God hath this farther work in his own people, beyond what he worketh upon others; though he melteth both, yet Hypocrites are melted as iron, which will return again to his hardness; but his own People are melted into flesh, which will never return to his hardness more; neither can they rest in any measure of softness, unto which they have attained, but still are carried towards Jesus Christ. So that the one is a temporary Faith, and the other Persevereth; though both work in the Name of Jesus Christ, yet this difference will be found between them; not only when Hypocrites come to be blasted, but even in the midst of their profession. As for the Faith of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is not president of his own power, but his strength lieth out of himself in Jesus Christ, whereas Hypocrites and legal Christians are confident of their Faith, that they can make use of it unto such and such ends: they think they need no more but look up to Jesus Christ, and their work is at an end;
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and such strength they find in themselves, that they do not fear but that they shall carry an end all their work in a safe course to God’s glory, and their own: whereas the strongest Faith, even of the Thessalonians (whose Faith was such, as that none of all the Churches went before them) if it be not supplied, and strengthened, they know, and the Apostle Paul knoweth that it will warp; this may we see by comparing 1 Thessalonians 1:3 with chapter 3:2,10, and the faithful people of God, Isaiah 26:12, acknowledge him to work all their works for them: and therefore as there is a real difference in the presence of the Spirit: so also in the work of Faith in Hypocrites, and the children of God; for the one putteth confidence in himself, and the other in Jehovah. This is the first difference of Sanctification.
