A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St.…A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St.…

Divers things may be noted here in the general.

Divers things may be noted here in the generall.

1. First that without sanctification we can never have comfort of our Election; by our obedience others may discover our Election, and by inward holiness we may discern it of ourselves.

1. First that without sanctification we can never have comfort of our Election; by our obedience others may discover our Election, and by inward holinesse we may discerne it of ourselves.

2. That our sanctification hath some dependence upon Gods election, and that, 1. as he hath ordained the rules of good works, we should walk in, Eph. 2.10. 2. as he hath bound himself by his decree to guide his people to the holiness, he doth require of them.

2. That our sanctification hath some dependance upon Gods election, and that, 1. as he hath ordained the rules of good workes, we should walke in, Eph. 2.10. 2. as he hath bound himselfe by his decree to guide his people to the holinesse, he doth require of them.

4. That there is flesh in the best of Gods Elect in this life, their spirits only are sanctified.

4. That there is flesh in the best of Gods Elect in this life, their spirits onely are sanctified.

Thus in general. More particularly concerning the sanctification of the spirit, I propound two things distinctly to be considered of: 1. What need our spirits have to be sanctified. 2. Wherein lieth the sanctification of the spirit of man.

Thus in generall. More particularly concerning the sanctification of the spirit, I propound two things distinctly to be considered of: 1. What need our spirits have to be sanctified. 2. Wherein lyeth the sanctification of the spirit of man.

Our spirits have great need to be sanctified: 1 By reason of the first sin,¹ they want original righteousness, and they are corrupt and infected with a general leprosy. 2. By reason of the stein and uncleanness all our actual sins have added to the former corruption. 3. By reason of the inhabitation of unclean spirits our spirits have in them trenches, cages, forts, and strong holds of Satan, 2 Cor. 10.4. and therefore had need to be cleansed after such soul spirits have been there. 4. The natural spirit of man frames nothing but evil, and that continually: this makes God so weary, Gen. 6.

Our spirits have great need to be sanctified: 1 By reason of the first sin,¹ they want originall righteousnesse, and they are corrupt and infected with a generall leprosie. 2. By reason of the steine and uncleanenesse all our actuall sins have added to the former corruption. 3. By reason of the inhabitation of uncleane spirits our spirits have in them trenches, cages, forts, and strong holds of Sathan, 2 Cor. 10.4. and therefore had neede to bee cleansed after such soule spirits have been there. 4. The naturall spirit of man frames nothing but evill, and that continually: this makes God so weary, Gen. 6.

1. 1What need our spirits have to be sanctified.

In particular all the faculties of the spirit of man need sanctification.

1. The mind is covered with a veil, wrapped in an ugly mantle of darkness, distracted with error, coupled with a thousand forms of evil thoughts.

1. The minde is covered with a vaile, wrapped in an ugly mantle of darknesse, distracted with errour, coupled with a thousand formes of evill thoughts.

2. The memory performs no service to God: it should be Gods Treasurer, and Register, but no body is in the office to keep record.

2. The memory performes no service to God: it should be Gods Treasurer, and Register, but no body is in the office to keep record.

3. The Will is grievously diseased, and with sickness so distempered, that it will not be ruled by any, not by God, not by men, not by reason, not by religion, nor doth it agree with it self. For man wills not always the same thing.

3. The Will is grievously diseased, and with sicknesse so distempered, that it will not be ruled by any, not by God, not by men, not by reason, not by religion, nor doth it agree with it selfe. For man wills not alwayes the same thing.

4. The affections out of the first poison of natural corruption, have such monstrous births of evil, that the spirit by them is set out of all order. They are compared to beasts, Isaiah 11. To fighting soldiers, 1 Pet. 2.12. To tyrants making cruel laws, and leading into bondage, Rom. 7.

4. The affections out of the first poyson of naturall corruption, have such monstrous births of evill, that the spirit by them is set out of all order. They are compared to beasts, Esay 11. To fighting soldiers, 1 Pet. 2.12. To tyrants making cruell lawes, and leading into bondage, Rom. 7.

5. The wretched Conscience (then which there was once no diviner thing on earth) is now in miserable case. For either it is sick of a Lethargy, and sleeps, or if it waken it is like a mad Dog▪ or Lion▪ or a Judge transported with rage: It is ignorant without light: it is soiled or •tein•d with a thousand sins: It is impure, and exceeding base, and without all properties of a divine Judge. For it is blind and will be corrupted, and will defer the Affise, &c. Instead of a throne of judgement it is thrust into a hole, and horrible dungeon of darkness, where the Sun of righteousness shineth not, and there for the most part, as if it were still night, it lieth obscure and sleepeth.

5. The wretched Conscience (then which there was once no diviner thing on earth) is now in miserable case. For either it is sick of a Lethargy, and sleepes, or if it waken it is like a mad Dog▪ or Lion▪ or a Iudge transported with rage: It is ignorant without light: it is soiled or •tein•d with a thousand sinnes: It is impure, and exceeding base, and without all properties of a divine Iudge. For it is blinde and will be corrupted, and will deferre the Affise, &c. Insteed of a throne of judgement it is thrust into a hole, and horrible dungeon of darknesse, where the Sunne of righteousnesse shineth not, and there for the most part, as if it were still night, it lieth obscure and sleepeth.

And thus of the need we have of sanctification in our spirits.¹

1. 1Wherein the sanctification of the spirit lieth.Wherein the sanctification of the spirit lyeth.

The sanctification of the spirit lieth in two things.

The sanctification of the spirit lyeth in two things.

1. In cleansing the spirit from sin. 2. In adorning the spirit with graces.

1. In cleansing the spirit from sinne. 2. In adorning the spirit with graces.