CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

First, We are to know that Christ is the Cause of our Sanctification several ways, partly efficiently, for not only the Father and the Spirit, but Christ himself also is the cause of all the holiness we have,¹ and therefore he is called the life, because he gives all supernatural life unto his, and is compared to the vine, Joh. 15. because as the branch separated from the Vine can bring forth no fruit; so neither is a man able without Christ to do the least holy action; he is also called the Head, and John 1. Of his fullness we are all said to receive. Thus as God in the course of nature is the author of every natural gift, therefore it's said, In him we live, and move, and have our being, Act. 17.28. So in the way of grace, Christ is the author and finisher, as of our faith, so of every holy work in us The Author, Heb. 12.2. and therefore we cannot so much as begin or meet Christ, he must prevent us; and the finisher; for although we have begun, yet we have not the same manutenency and powerful preservation, what we have begun to build would immediately fall to the ground. Thus Christ is the Alpha and Omega of our spiritual life.

First, We are to know that Christ is the Cause of our Sanctification several wayes, partly efficiently, for not only the Father and the Spirit, but Christ himself also is the cause of all the holinesse we have,¹ and therefore he is called the life, because he gives all supernatural life unto his, and is compared to the vine, Joh. 15. because as the branch separated from the Vine can bring forth no fruit; so neither is a man able without Christ to do the least holy action; he is also called the Head, and John 1. Of his fulnesse we are all said to receive. Thus as God in the course of nature is the authour of every natural gift, therefore it's said, In him we live, and move, and have our being,