1 Pet. iii. 4. Sometimes it is compared to a root, which lies under ground, is not seen, and is the cause of fruit being brought forth upwards. It is called, truth in the inward parts, Psal. 1. 6. 10. It is signified by oil in the vessel of the heart, had with the lamp of an external profession, Matt. xxxv. 4. 11. To consider sanctification in its holy actings. 1. With respect to God. 1. In a holy reverence of him, on account of his nature, perfections, works, and blessings of goodness. 2. In love to God, and delight in him. Job says of the hypocrite, Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God? 3. It appears in submission to the will of God in all things, even in the most adverse dispensations of provi dence; as the instances of Aaron, Eli, David, and others shew. That holy man Bishop Usher, said of it, "Sanctification is nothing less than for a man to be brought to an entire resignation of his will to the will of God, and to live in the offering up of his soul continually in the flames of love, and as a whole burnt offering to Christ." 4. It is to be seen in religious exercises, and in acts of devotion to God. 5. The holy actings of sanctification may be discerned in the earnest pantings, and eager desires of the soul after communion with God, both in private and in public. 6. A soul that is sanctified by the Spirit of God, seeks the glory of God in all it does, whether in things civil or religious. 2. Sanctification discovers itself with respect to Christ. 1. In applying to him for cleansing; it goes to him as the leper did, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean! 2. In subjection to him, as King of saints; esteeming his precepts, concerning all things, to be right. 3. In setting him always before them, as an example to copy after: being desirous of walking even as he walked. 4. In a desire of a greater degree of conformity to the image of Christ, sanctified souls desire to be with Christ, that they might be perfectly like him, as well as see him as he is. 3. Sanctification is discovered in its actings, with respect to the Holy Spirit. 1. In minding, savouring, and relishing the things of the Spirit of God. They that are after the Spirit,

mind the things of the Spirit, Rom. viii. 5. 2. Sanctified persons are described as such who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, Rom. viii. 1. 3. In a desire and carefulness not to grieve the holy Spirit of God, by whom they have their present grace and experience, by any disagreeable behaviour to him, to one another, and in the world, Eph. iv. 30. 4. In a desire to live and walk in the Spirit; to live in a spiritual manner, and to wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 4. The actings of sanctification are apparent, with respect to sin. 1. In delighting in the law of God, which forbids it, and condemns for it; How I love thy law! says David; he delights in it, after the inward man. 2. In a dislike of sin, as it is in its own nature exceeding sinful. 3. In a loathing sin, and in abhorrence of it. 4. In an hatred of sin, not only sinful actions, but vain thoughts also, Psal. cxix. 113. 5. In an opposition to sin; a sanctified man acts the part of an antagonist to it, striving against sin. 6. In an abstinence from it, even from every appearance of it, and avoiding every avenue that leads to it. 7. Sanctification appears in lamenting sin; sanctified persons are like doves of the valley, every one mourning for his own iniquities. 8. In earnest desires to be wholly freed from sin; weary of a body of sin and death, they groan under the burden of it, and cry, O wretched men that we are! who shall deliver us from it?

II. The subjects of sanctification are next to be enquired into; who they are that are sanctified, and what of them. 1. Who are sanctified; not all men. They are the elect of God; the redeemed ones: of the same persons it is said, They shall call them the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord, Isai. lxii. 12. 11. What of those persons are sanctified; The whole of them; The God of peace sanctify you wholly; that is, as next explained, in soul, body, and spirit, 1 Thess. v. 23. 1. The soul, or spirit, is the principal seat, or subject of sanc tification. 2. The body also is influenced by sanctifying grace: its sensual appetite and carnal lusts are checked and restrained, Rom. vi. 12, 13.

III. The causes of sanctification, by whom it is affected, from whence it springs, and by what means it is carried on, and at last finished. 1. The efficient cause is God, Father, Son, and Spirit: sometimes it is ascribed to the Father, 1 Pet. i. 16. Christ is not only our sanctification, but our sanctifier, Heb. ii. 11. Though this work of sanctification is more commonly attributed to the holy Spirit, who is therefore called, the Spirit of holiness. 2. The moving cause is the grace and good will of God; This is the will of God, even your sanctification, 1 Thess. iv. 3. 3. The instrumental cause, or means, is the word of God; Faith comes by hearing. Various providences of God, even afflictive ones, are designed of God, and are means, in his hand, of making his people more and more partakers of his holiness, Heb. xii. 10. of this ase afflictions were to holy David, Psal. cxix. 67. 71.

IV. The adjuncts or properties of sanctification. 1. It is imperfect in the present state, though it will, most certainly, be made perfect: this appears, 1. From the continual wants of the saints; from their disclaiming perfection in themselves; from indwelling sin, and from the several parts of sanctification, and the several graces of which it consists, being imperfect. Faith is imperfect; Lord increase our faith, or add to it, Luke xvii. 5. Hope sometimes is low, the mouth is put in the dust with an if so be there may be hope, Lam. iii. 18. II. Though sanctification is imperfect, it is progressive, it is going on gradually till it comes to perfection; this is clear from the character of the saints; from the similes by which the work of grace is illustrated; as that in general by seed sown in the earth, which springs up first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the year. Yet, 111. Though it is imperfect, it will certainly be perfected: grace in the soul is a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life. IV. Sanctification is absolutely necessary to salvation. It is necessary to the saints, as an evidence of their election. It is necessary to church-fellowship, 2 Cor. vi. 14-16. It is necessary as a meetness for heaven, and for the beatific vision

...of God in a future state; Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. To say no more, it it necessary for the work of heaven: how can unholy persons join with the saints in such a work and service as this? yea, it would be irksome and disagree able to themselves, could they be admitted to it, and were ca pable of it; neither of which can be allowed.

OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS.

THIS truth may be confirmed.

I. From various passages of scripture, it is written as with a sun beam in the sacred writings; to give the whole compass of the proof of it, would be to transcribe great part of the Bible. I shall only select some passages, Job. chap. xvii. 9. The righteous also shall hold on his way; and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger! Psal. xciv. 14. • For the Lord will not cast off his people, &c. This doctrine be concluded from Psal. cxxv. 1, 2. the persons ed are such who trust in the Lord, these are like mount Zion, that cannot be removed. This truth will receive further proof from Jer. xxxii. 40. And I will make an everlasting cou enant with them, &c. This may be concluded from the perpetuity of the covenant made with them, and from the profrom mise made in the covenant, that God will not turn away

may

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them to do them good! This is further strengthened by what follows; I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Another passage of scripture, which clearly expresses this truth, is in John x. 28. I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand! The words of Christ in his prayer to his Father, are another proof of the preservation of his people by him; and of their final persever ance through that, John xvii. 12. Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, &c. When the apostle says of God, 1 Cor. i. 8, 9. Who shall confirm you to the end, &c.-faithful is God, &c. to do it;

with other passages of the same kind, these are so many proofs of the saints' final perseverance. He which establish. eth us with you in Christ-is God, 2 Cor. i. 21. vin. It is said of those who are elect, and are begotten again, that they are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation, 1 Pet. i. 5. Many other passages of scripture might be produced in proof of this doctrine; but these are sufficient. I pass on,

II. To observe those arguments in proof of the saints' final perseverance, taken from various sacred and divine things. 1. From the perfections of God. 1. The immutability of God. God is unchangeable; this is asserted by himself, I am the Lord; Lchange not: and he himself drew this inference from it, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 2. The wis dom of God appears in this doctrine; where would be his wisdom to appoint men to salvation, and not save them at last? 3. The power of God is greatly concerned in this affair. Such who are elect, according to the foreknowledge of God, and are regenerated by his grace, are kept by his power to sal sation. 4. The goodness, grace, and mercy of God, confirm this truth. The mercy of God is from everlasting to everlast. ing, &c. His compassions fail not, Psal. cxxxviii. 8. 5. The justice of God makes the perseverance of the saints necessary. Where could be his justice, to punish those for whose sins Christ has made satisfaction, and God himself has discharged apon it. 6. The faithfulness of God secures the final perse. verance of the saints; God is faithful to his counsels, and will confirm them to the end. 11. The final perseverance of the saints, may be concluded from the purposes and decrees of God: which are infrustrable, and are always accomplished; The Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it, Isai. xiv. 24. Whom he did predestinate them he also glorified, Rom. ix. 12, 13. 111. The argument in favour of the saints' final perseverance receives great strength from the promises of God, which are sure, and are all yea and amen in Christ, and are always fulfilled. 1v. This truth may be farther con