A. I have already hinted the meaning of the Word, and shall not need to make many Discourses upon the thing, or enter a treatise about the quality and kind of Sanctity. There is none on this side the Grave is so holy, but to have in him some defilement, none so clean but there may be some spots and blemishes found in him, Eccles. 7.20. There is not a just Man upon Earth that doth good and sinneth not: But a Saint in a Gospel sense may be described to be One who being powerfully wrought upon in effectual vocation, and therein converted throughly unto God, hath the Grace of Sanctification wrought in him, and the Spirit of Holiness given to him, to dwell in him, and to purge his Heart and Conscience. There are Saints in Heaven, and they are just Men made perfect; and there are Saints on the Earth too, Psal. 16.3. To the Saints that are in the Earth: and these though not at present perfected, are yet perfecting. They are such ⟨p. 5⟩whom the Grace of God hath taught in part, and is daily further teaching those Lessons, Tit. 2.11, 12. To deny ungodliness and worldly Lusts, and to live Soberly, Righteously, and Godly in this present world. They do not lie wallowing in the mire of Sin, nor delighting themselves in such courses as are provoking to God; but are in heart, soul and spirit devoted unto him and his service, seeking his honour, studying his glory, contriving how they may best serve their Generation to his praise. In a word, every one that by the power of Gods Spirit is taken out of the World, and made a true Believer, is also a Saint in an Evangelical account: Conversion and Sanctification go together inseparably: Effectual vocation both designs and produceth Sanctification, 1 Cor. 1.2. Called to be Saints, and such as these are, are therefore called the Saints of God.
A. I have already hinted the meaning of the Word, and shall not need to make many Discourses upon the thing, or enter a treatise about the quality and kind of Sanctity. There is none on this side the Grave is so holy, but to have in him some defilement, none so clean but there may be some spots and blemishes found in him, Eccles. 7.20. There is not a just Man upon Earth that doth good and sinneth not: But a Saint in a Gospel sence may be described to be One who being powerfully wrought upon in effectual vocation, and therein converted throughly unto God, hath the Grace of Sanctification wrought in him, and the Spirit of Holiness given to him, to dwell in him, and to purge his Heart and Conscience. There are Saints in Heaven, and they are just Men made perfect; and there are Saints on the Earth too, Psal. 16.3. To the Saints that are in the Earth: and these though not at present perfected, are yet perfecting. They are such ⟨p. 5⟩whom the Grace of God hath taught in part, and is daily further teaching those Lessons, Tit. 2.11, 12. To deny ungodliness and worldly Lusts, and to live Soberly, Righteously, and Godly in this present world. They do not ly wallowing in the mire of Sin, nor delighting themselves in such courses as are provoking to God; but are in heart, soul and spirit devoted unto him and his service, seeking his honour, studying his glory, contriving how they may best serve their Generation to his praise. In a word, every one that by the power of Gods Spirit is taken out of the World, and made a true Believer, is also a Saint in an Evangelical account: Conversion and Sanctification go together inseparably: Effectual vocation both designs and produceth Sanctification, 1 Cor. 1.2. Called to be Saints, and such as these are, are therefore called the Saints of God.
