WE have heard what is the last and ultimate step in Church-Saintship, without which all the former, though they be in themselves great mercies, yet because we take them in vain, do become in some respect in the number of those, whom God will not hold guiltless. They are (I say) 1in themselves great mercies. For when we are thus called by God, unto the external means of holiness, there is some hope, and a possible way for salvation, whereas without this, there is necessary destruction. It is here, as in blind Bartimeus his case, Mark 10. 49. for when Christ commanded him to be called to him, presently some said to the blind man, Be of good comfort, he calleth thee; that was a good encouragement, Christ called him: so whereas there are many thousands in the world that are left alone in their state of darkness, but he vouchsafeth the means of grace to thee. We may say, Be of good comfort, there is some hopes, Christ calleth thee; yet because many are called, and of those many called, few are chosen, therefore this external holiness and Saintship is not enough, unless there be the inward renovation of the whole man. Unless thou art holy inwardly, as well as outwardly, this will make to thy greater condemnation. That therefore which is the essential form, and gives a constitutive being to Church-Saintship, is Regeneration, or the work of grace upon a mans heart. Indeed to an external state, and visible condition of Church-holiness, a profession of faith, with submission unto Christs ways is enough; but that which maketh us indeed members of the body of Christ, and invests us with right to all saving benefits, that is only this inward real Saintship. And to clear this more, you must take notice;
VVE have heard what is the last and ultimate step in Church-Saintship, without which all the former, though they be in themselves great mercies, yet because we take them in vain, do become in some respect in the number of those, whom God will not hold guiltless. They are (I say) 1in themselves great mercies. For when we are thus called by God, unto the external means of holiness, there is some hope, and a possible way for salvation, whereas without this, there is necessary destruction. It is here, as in blind Bartimeus his case, Mark 10. 49. for when Christ commanded him to be called to him, presently some said to the blind man, Be of good comfort, he calleth thee; that was a good encouragement, Christ called him: so whereas there are many thousands in the world that are left alone in their state of darkness, but he vouchsafeth the means of grace to thee. We may say, Be of good comfort, there is some hopes, Christ calleth thee; yet because many are called, and of those many called, few are chosen, therefore this external holiness and Saintship is not enough, unless there be the inward renovation of the whole man. Unless thou art holy inwardly, as well as outwardly, this will make to thy greater condemnation. That therefore which is the essential form, and gives a constrtutive being to Church-Saintship, is Regeneration, or the work of grace upon a mans heart. Indeed to an external state, and visible condition of Church-holiness, a profession of faith, with submission unto Christs wayes is enough; but that which maketh us indeed members of the body of Christ, and invests us with right to all saving benefits, that is only this inward real Saintship. And to clear this more, you must take notice;
- 1External holiness & Saintship is not enough to bring us to Heaven, without the inward renovation of the whole man.
