1 COR. 6. 11.
IN what sense a godly man is sanctified, hath already been declared. Now let us consider the symptomes or properties of sanctification, which will be as so many testimonies or evidences, whereby we may come to be assured that we are sanctified.
It is true, such is the self-love, and self-flattery in every man, that he is quickly perswaded that he is one to whom this priviledge doth belong. When therefore it shall be discussed, Who are they that are thus qualified; It will appear so difficult and rare a thing, that every one may be astonished and cry out, Who then can1 be saved? We were indeed in our Baptisme Dedicated, and Consecrated to God, and so had a kind of sanctification. There is also an external sanctification, vouchsafed to all those who are under the outward Administration of the Ordinances, in which sense Believers and their children are called Holy, 1 Cor. 7. in opposition to Heathens, and unbelievers: but this is not the sanctification in the Text, nor that to which the promise of glory doth belong.
Let us therefore consider the signs by which we come to know who are truely sanctified.
And first, They who are so, have the spirit of God effectually, and powerfully2 dwelling in them. That as wicked men have the Divel filling their hearts, and he reigneth in them, whereby they are carried out to all wickednesse, with delight and boldnesse: Thus those that are sanctified are full of the Holy Ghost, being partakers of his operations, and so are thereby fitted for all holinesse. Hence it is called the spirit of sanctification, and the holy spirit, because where the spirit of God dwelleth, there it sanctifieth, and makes holy. Alas the greatest part of Christians are destitute of Gods Spirit; yea, they have scarce heard whether there be an holy Spirit or not: And thereupon they have nothing but customarinesse, formality, and education, which do act them in all religious duties. But as in working of Miracles, no humane strength or power could enable them thereunto; they were onely done by power from the Holy Ghost; So neither to love God, to believe in him, to mortifie sin, can be done by the sole strength of free-will: but it must be the Spirit of God changing and new-moulding the heart. Oh then consider this, all you who go in a round, pray and hear, and hear and pray, in a generall customary way: The spirit of God is not in these; which yet is like the soul to the body: like fire to the sacrifice: like windes to the ship; Our duties and hearts are but Cisterns, that is the Fountain. There is never a Duty accepted, if the spirit of God be not working therein, Rom. 8. The spirit helpeth our infirmities, and God heareth the voyce of his own spirit. Till therefore thou art made partaker of Gods spirit, all thy external righteousnesse and holinesse is but a shadow and no substance. It is an image or picture, no real life at all. Oh then, How far are prophane, dissolute men from this Grace of sanctification? Doth the holy spirit of God dwell in thee? Doth not the unclean spirit rather live in thee, whose heart and life is made like a very hell? Is it the holy Spirit of God that inciteth thee to curse, to swear, to lusts? Oh blasphemy to think, or say so. Let then all ungodly, and foul wretches be ashamed and confounded within themselves. It was the Divel that desired to enter into swine: The Spirit of God appeared in an innocent and harmlesse Dove: Some men are so far from having the Spirit of sanctification, that they mock and deride at it, yea maliciously oppose it; but these are reserved to a dreadful judgement.
Secondly, Those that are sanctified, have a ready and willing obedience to the truth and commands of God: Therefore it is called Sanctification of the Spirit to Obedience, 1 Pet. 1. 2. It is impossible to have Sanctification, and not to have a chearfull and willing obedience to all those duties that are required of us. Doth God say to the proud, Be humbled, if sanctified, he obeyeth imediately? Doth God say to the prophane, Be sober and heavenly; when sanctified he yeilds immediately; insomuch that all those hearers who live in visible disobedience to the word of God preached, they have no evidence of their sanctification: Obedience is better then sacrifice. God looks to that more then praying, hearing, or coming to the Ordinances: Dost thou say as Christ? Lo, I come to do thy will, O God, thy Law is written within my heart. Thus David being sanctified, professeth his ready and willing obedience unto God: And Paul also, Lord, What wilt thou have me to do? Act. 9. 6. He gives his heart up to God like a blank, let God set down what he pleaseth: As fire doth melt the toughest Iron, and makes it in any frame you would have it, Thus the spirit of sanctification doth melt and affect the soul, that it becomes cheerfully obedient in duties of the greatest self-denial, and contrariety to flesh and blood. Oh then think not within thy self, I hear thus much, I come to Church thus often; but what obedience is there in thy life? That crowneth all thy duties; that is the glory of all religion. The Israelites that profered thousands of Lambs, yea the children of their body were not so acceptable, as if they had done justly, and walked humbly with God: Obedience is a necessary fruit of sanctification.