The Covenant of Grace

Prop. 3. That, true sanctification of a sincere Christian is not discerned by him, nor is indeed discernible, until he first discern his justifying faith. A double ground of it, & so leave it to your christian disquisition and search; they are both taken from the necessity of faith, both to the acceptance of a mans person and work: there is a necessity of the activeness of faith in a mans sanctification; The Lord had respect to Abel, and to his offering, Gen. 4.4. A mans person must first be accepted, otherwise all his work will not go beyond the work of a legal Christian; and without faith it is impossible to please God; no acceptance therefore without faith. It is also necessary to the performance of all spiritual duties; for all sanctification is ⟨p. 76⟩from that faith which Christ doth convey into the soul: Now if the just man live by his faith, whether it be the life of sanctification, or consolation, then no Christian can discern his sanctification to be lively, but he must discern his faith living in it, he must see his faith deriving strength and grace and life from Christ, or else he cannot approve his sanctification to be the sanctification of the Gospel; for as there can be no true sanctification unless there be faith, whereby the person is accepted, and whereby life is received to act in all sanctification; so there can be no knowledge of sanctification, but there must be knowledge of faith, whereby a mans person is accepted, & whereby strength is conveyed to sanctification: for if a poor soul be doubtful of his acceptance with the Lord, he is where he was, notwithstanding his sanctification, and wanteth comfort, for this doubt remaineth, whether he be accepted or no, which (until the Lord do manifest a mans faith unto him by the revelation of the holy Ghost) he is still at a loss in it; for though true sanctification be an evidence of a mans ⟨p. 77⟩justification, yet it self must be first evident. Thus we see by this third exposition, that a further light is required to the light of sanctification.

Prop. 3. That, true sanctification of a sincere Christian is not discerned by him, nor is indeed discernable, untill he first discerne his justifying faith. A double ground of it, & so leave it to your christian disquisition and search; they are both taken from the necessity of faith, both to the acceptance of a mans person and worke: there is a necessity of the activenes of faith in a mans sanctification; The Lord had respect to Abel, and to his offering,