1. Concerning true Christians whose property it is to love Jesus Christ whom they have never seen, whom having not seen ye love, ye love, that is, ye who are true Christians, who are so in reality as well as profession; and of these true Christians that do love Christ, the Apostle doth give a description in the 2d. ver. where he calls them, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, th•ough Sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. True Christians are Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, they are such whom God according to the Counsel of his own will, according to his own purpose and grace, did choose from all Eternity to be a holy and peculiar people to himself, to glorify him here on Earth, and that they might be glorified by him hereafter in heaven. And this election doth evidence it ⟨p. 9⟩self in the Sanctification of the Spirit, true Christians are sanctified being separated and set apart from the rest of the world, for Gods use and service: God hath sealed them for himself, and hereby distinguished them from all others, the Motto of which seal is this, Holiness unto the Lord. See a description of them in this respect, 2 Tim. 2. 21. If any man purge• himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto Honour, sanctified and meet for the Masters use, and prepared unto every good work: they are purged from the defilement of sin, which doth pollute and dishonour them, they are vessels unto honour, like those of Silver and Gold in a great house, which are adorned with Pearls and precious stones; they are adorned with all sanctifying graces, which are of more worth than the richest Jewels; and hereby they are both beautiful in Gods eye, and they are made meet for Gods use, being hereby prepared and enabled unto every good work. This the Apostle prays for in the behalf of the Thessalonians, 1 Thess. 5. 23. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole Spirit, and Soul, and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. True Christians are sanctified wholly, in their whole man, ⟨p. 10⟩though they be not sanctified thoroughly: they are sanctified in every part, though they are not sanctified in the highest degree.
1. Concerning true Christians whose property it is to love Jesus Christ whom they have never seen, whom having not seen yee love, ye love, that is, ye who are true Christians, who are so in reality as well as profession; and of these true Christians that do love Christ, the Apostle doth give a description in the 2d. ver. where he calls them, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, th•ough Sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ. True Christians are Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, they are such whom God according to the Councel of his own will, according to his own purpose and grace, did choose from all Eternity to be a holy and peculiar people to himself, to glorifie him here on Earth, and that they might be glorifyed by him hereafter in heaven. And this election doth evidence it ⟨p. 9⟩self in the Sanctification of the Spirit, true Christians are sanctified being separated and set apart from the rest of the world, for Gods use and service: God hath sealed them for himself, and hereby distinguished them from all others, the Motto of which seal is this, Holiness unto the Lord. See a description of them in this respect, 2 Tim. 2. 21. If any man purge• himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto Honour, sanctifyed and meet for the Masters use, and prepared unto every good work: they are purged from the defilement of sin, which doth pollute and dishonor them, they are vessels unto honour, like those of Silver and Gold in a great house, which are adorned with Pearls and precious stones; they are adorned with all sanctifying graces, which are of more worth than the richest Jewels; and hereby they are both beautiful in Gods eye, and they are made meet for Gods use, being hereby prepared and enabled unto every good work. This the Apostle prays for in the behalf of the Thessalonians, 1 Thess. 5. 23. And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly, and I pray God your whole Spirit, and Soul, and Body be preserved blamelesse unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ. True Christians are sanctifyed wholly, in their whole man, ⟨p. 10⟩though they be not sanctified thorowly: they are sanctified in every part, though they are not sanctified in the highest degree.
