And the first which is also very remarkable is,1 That our Sanctification is to grow efficienter, by way of inviting, exhorting, and bringing home others to it; For thus we are more sanctified when we are enlarged to sanctify others instrumentally; This some take to be the meaning, Joh. 15.8. where Christ tells his Disciples, that herein his Father is glorified if they bring forth much fruit; And vers. 16. I have ordained you that you should go and bring forth much fruit, which is in respect of their ministerial employment; So then if thou askest how may I be more and more sanctified? The Answer is ready, Be sanctifying others actively and instrumentally: Think it the greatest honour in the world if thou art a means to make others holy, for though God would use no means or Instruments in the Creation of the world, yet he will in the Creation of the New Creature: Now Ministers they are by Office appointed to sanctify others: The word or Truth which is the Instrument of Sanctification is published by them; Therefore a sanctified Minister doth desire nothing more then to have a sanctified people, he desireth that it may be a Vineyard, a Garden, not a Wilderness that he is to till and look to, he crieth out with Rachel in a spiritual sense, Give me Children, else I die; All his Study and Sermons tend to this, that his Hearers may be sanctified, and certainly if Christ himself endured all that reproach and shame for Souls, he desireth to have the same mind that was in Christ; That as Christ is promised to see his Seed after the Travel of his Soul, So doth he pray, that after all his pains and endeavours he may see an holy Seed; So that your Sanctification is that for which we pray and preach, yea, private Christians in their way are to increase in their Sanctification by promoting it in others, Psalm 51. when David had recovered out of his sin, then would he teach transgressors their ways, When one Disciple was converted, presently he goeth and calleth his Brother: Oh the admirable Zeal that Paul showed to his Kinsmen after the Flesh, that he could wish to be an Anathema for them! You that are Parents ⟨p. 464⟩grow in this active Sanctification, Let not God alone by Prayer until your Children be sanctified: What a Comfort would it be unto you to be both the Natural and the Spiritual Fathers of your Children:
And the first which is also very remarkable is,1 That our Sanctification is to grow efficienter, by way of inviting, exhorting, and bringing home others to it; For thus we are more sanctified when we are enlarged to sanctifie others instrumentally; This some take to be the meaning, Joh. 15.8. where Christ tels his Disciples, that herein his Father is glorified if they bring forth much fruit; And vers. 16. I have ordained you that you should go and bring forth much fruit, which is in respect of their ministerial emploiment; So then if thou askest how may I be more and more sanctified? The Answer is ready, Be sanctifying others actively and instrumentally: Think it the greatest honour in the world if thou art a means to make others holy, for though God would use no means or Instruments in the Creation of the world, yet he will in the Creation of the New Creature: Now Ministers they are by Office appointed to sanctifie others: The word or Truth which is the Instrument of Sanctification is published by them; Therefore a sanctified Minister doth desire nothing more then to have a sanctified people, he desireth that it may be a Vineyard, a Garden, not a Wildernesse that he is to till and look to, he crieth out with Rachel in a spirituall sence, Give me Children, else I die; All his Study and Sermons tend to this, that his Hearers may be sanctified, and certainly if Christ himself endured all that reproach and shame for Souls, he desireth to have the same minde that was in Christ; That as Christ is promised to see his Seed after the Travell of his Soul, So doth he pray, that after all his pains and endeavours he may see an holy Seed; So that your Sanctification is that for which we pray and preach, yea, private Christians in their way are to encrease in their Sanctification by promoting it in others, Psalm 51. when David had recovered out of his sinne, then would he teach transgressors their waies, When one Disciple was converted, presently he goeth and calleth his Brother: Oh the admirable Zeal that Paul shewed to his Kinsmen after the Flesh, that he could wish to be an Anathema for them! You that are Parents ⟨p. 464⟩grow in this active Sanctification, Let not God alone by Praier untill your Children be sanctified: What a Comfort would it be unto you to be both the Natural and the Spirituall Fathers of your Children:
- 15. Efficienter.
