First, Some have made the witness of §1the Spirit to be the only mark or evidence of our interest in Christ,1 and deny all signs from the fruit of the Spirit; but this is to deny the fruit growing upon the Tree to be a sign that the Tree is alive, whereas our Saviour expressly tells us, That the Tree is known by his fruit, Mat. 12.33. Certainly 'tis one thing to judge by our graces, and another thing to rest on our graces, or to put our trust in our graces, or to make a Saviour of our graces; there is a great deal of difference between declaring and deserving. Doubtless Christians may look to their graces as evidences of their interest in Christ, ⟨p. 2⟩justification and salvation, though not as causes of their interest in Christ, justification and salvation. O Sirs, we must always carefully distinguish 'twixt the root and ground of our comfort, and between the testimonies or evidences of our interest in the root of our comfort. Now it must be readily granted that Jesus Christ is the only root and ground of a Christians comfort and triumph; and therefore saith Paul, 2God forbid that I should rejoice in any thing, but in the Cross of Christ. And so in that, 2 Cor. 2.14. New thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ. So that, if at any time we behold this or that saving grace, or this or that part of holiness shining in our hearts or lives, we take comfort in it, not as the cause, or root, or ground of our comfort or triumph, but as in a testimony or evidence, because it doth manifest our interest in him, who is our comfort,3 our peace, our joy, our salvation, our all in all. Look as the Rain-bow is not a cause, why God will not drown the world, but a sign that God will not drown the world; and as it is a sign that God will not drown the world, we may and ought to rejoice in it, and to take comfort from it. So here, &c. 'Tis agreed on all hands, that sanctification is a precious benefit of the Covenant of grace,4 as well as justification; and what crime can it then be, to evidence one benefit of the Covenant of grace, by another benefit of the same Covenant. That he that is justified, is also sanctified, and that he that is sanctified is also justified, is so clear, so bright, so sparkling, and so full a truth contained in the Covenant of grace, that no man or devil can deny.
FIrst, Some have made the witness of §1the Spirit to be the only mark or evidence of our interest in Christ,1 and deny all signs from the fruit of the Spirit; but this is to deny the fruit growing upon the Tree to be a sign that the Tree is alive, whereas our Saviour expresly tells us, That the Tree is known by his fruit, Mat. 12.33. Certainly 'tis one thing to judge by our graces, and another thing to rest on our graces, or to put our trust in our graces, or to make a Saviour of our graces; there is a great deal of difference between declaring and deserving. Doubtless Christians may look to their graces as evidences of their interest in Christ, ⟨p. 2⟩justification and salvation, though not as causes of their interest in Christ, justification and salvation. O Sirs, we must alwayes carefully distinguish 'twixt the root and ground of our comfort, and between the testimonies or evidences of our interest in the root of our comfort. Now it must be readily granted that Jesus Christ is the only root and ground of a Christians comfort and triumph; and therefore saith Paul, 2God forbid that I should rejoyce in any thing, but in the Cross of Christ. And so in that, 2 Cor. 2.14. New thanks be unto God, which alwayes causes us to triumph in Christ. So that, if at any time we behold this or that saving grace, or this or that part of holiness shining in our hearts or lives, we take comfort in it, not as the cause, or root, or ground of our comfort or triumph, but as in a testimony or evidence, because it doth manifest our interest in him, who is our comfort,3 our peace, our joy, our salvation, our all in all. Look as the Rain-bow is not a cause, why God will not drown the world, but a sign that God will not drown the world; and as it is a sign that God will not drown the world, we may and ought to rejoyce in it, and to take comfort from it. So here, &c. 'Tis agreed on all hands, that sanctification is a precious benefit of the Covenant of grace,4 as well as justification; and what crime can it then be, to evidence one benefit of the Covenant of grace, by another benefit of the same Covenant. That he that is justified, is also sanctified, and that he that is sanctified is also justified, is so clear, so bright, so sparkling, and so full a truth contained in the Covenant of grace, that no man or devil can deny.
- 1But this opinion being well laid asleep in these days, I shall not put my self to the trouble of awakening of it afresh, but leave it to sleep with the Authors, who are now in their graves.But this opinion being well laid asleep in these dayes, I shall not put my self to the trouble of awakening of it afresh, but leave it to sleep with the Authors, who are now in their graves.
- 2Gal. 6 14.
- 3Luke 2 25. Col. 3 11. Gen. 9 13, 14, 16. v.
- 4Jer. 33.8, 9. Ezek. 36.25, 26. Heb. 8.10, 12. &c.
