SANCTIFICATION OR GROWTH IN GRACE
SANCTIFICATION OR GROWTH IN GRACE.
In regeneration, spiritual life is communicated ; but
this incipient principle is in its infancy, when first im-
planted. The vigour of spiritual life seems to be
analogous to natural life, very dilferent in different
subjects. But in all it is imperfect, and needs to be
assiduously cherished and nurtured, that it may daily
gain strength, and gradually rise to maturity. There _
are various means of divine appointment conducive
to this end, in the use of which growth is as certain
as in the body when supplied with nutriment. In
the former as well as in the latter, there may be sea-
sons of decay, arising from various untoward causes;
but, it may be assumed as a fact, that where the
principle of piety is really radicated in the soul, there
will be growth ; the steady tendency will be to a
state of maturity. And, although perfection is never
attained in this life, yet there is in all true Christians
a sincere desire after it, and there may be a constant
approximation toward it, as long as they live. And
such a state of piety may be attained, as, comipara-
tively, may be termed a state of perfection, and is so
termed in Scripture. From what has been said, it
will be tipparent, that sanctification does not difler
specifically from regeneration ; the one is the com-
mencement, the other the continuance and increase
of the same principle.
Two things are commonly intended by the word
sanctification. The first is, the mortification of sin ,
the last, the increase of the vigour and constancy of
the exercises of piety. But, although these may be
distinguished, yet there is no need to treat of them
separately, because the advancement of the one can-
not but be accompanied with progress in the other.
Like the two scales of a balance, when one is de-
pressed the other rises. Just so in the divine life in
the soul, if pride is humbled, humility is of necessity
increased ; if the undue love of the creature is morti-
fied, the love of God will be strengthened; and so of
every other grace. Indeed, when we examine the
subject accurately, we shall find, that all real mortifi-
cation of sin is by the exercise of faith, and those
holy affections which flow from it. By legal striv-
ing, however earnest, or by ascetic discipline, how-
ever rigid, very little headway is made against the
stream of inherent corruption. It is right, indeed, to
keep the body under, lest its blind appetites and im-
pulses should hinder the exercises of religion ; and
occasional fasting, when free from superstition, does
greatly aid the spiritual progress of the true Chris-
tian ; and this is especially the fact, when he is in
conflict with some fleshly lust, or easily besetting sin.
A pampered body will ever be an enemy to growth
in grace.
It must not be forgotten, that we are as dependent
on the Holy Spirit for every holy act and exercise, as
for the ability to put forth the first act of faith, when
regenerated. We have no strength in ourselves, in
consequence of our justification and conversion. Christ
has said, "Without me ye can do nothing." He is
the vine, and believers are the branches. " As the
branch cannot bear fruit except it abide in the vine.
neither can ye except ye abide in me." Yet this
does not take away or diminish our motives for exer-
tion ; so far from it, that it affords the only encour-
agement which we have for diligence in the use of
means. For though the power is of God, that power
is exerted through the means of divine appointment.
Therefore, in Scripture, divine aid and human agency
are constantly united. When Christians are exhorted
" tc work out their salvation," the reason assigned is,
" for it is God that worketh in you both to will and
to do, of his own good pleasure."
Where two opposite principles exist in the same
person, there must be a conflict. When the whole
current of the affections runs toward the world, there
being no opposing principle, no conflict is experi-
enced, except that which arises from the remon-
strances of conscience ; or from the discordant crav-
ing of conflicting desires of a sinful kind. But, in
the true believer, " the flesh lusteth against the spirit,
and the spirit against the flesh; so that he cannot
do the things that he would." And often the spirit-
ual man is made to groan in agony, and to cry out,
" 0, wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me
from the body of this death ?" Although, in this
warfare, the principle of grace is generally victorious,
for it is written, " sin shall not have dominion over
you;" yet, sometimes, by the power of temptation,
and negligence in watchfulness, the man of God is
cast down and degraded, and unless raised up by the
hand of the Captain of his salvation, he would rise
no more. But, as the work of grace was begun
without any merit or co-operation of the believer,
the same love which at first eff'ectually called him
away fr )m his sins and from the world, still pursues
him, and will not suff'er the enemy ultimately to tri-
umph over him. Satan shall never have the oppor
tunity of boasting that he has accomplished the ruin
of one whom God purposed to save, and to save
whom Christ died, and who has been effectually
called by the Holy Spirit. He may fall, but he shall
rise again, for God hath said, "My grace is sufficient
for thee," and, " I will never leave thee nor forsake
thee." And not unfrequently, the very falls of the
children of God are overruled for their more rapid
progress in future. Nothing more tends to humble
the soul, and destroy self-confidence, than being over-
taken by such faults.
The means of sanctification may be comprehended
under two general heads, the word of God and prayer.
The first is the food which is provided for the nour-
ishment of the soul, and by which it lives. Christ
himself is indeed the bread of life — the manna that
came down from heaven ; but it is only in the word,
that we can find Christ : there he is revealed — there
his dignity and glory are manifested — there we be-
hold his holy life, his miracles, his sufferings, his death,
his resurrection, ascension, and intercession. The
whole object of faith, and love, and hope, is found in
the word of God. Therefore, it is by the assiduous
study of the word, and meditation on its truths, that
we are to expect an increase of faith, and a real
growth in grace.
The other principal means of growth is prayer;
especially, prayer for the influences of the Holy
Spirit. Without the Spirit, as we have seen, there
can be no progress ; but this sum of blessings is gra-
ciously promised in answer to prayer. And these
two means are harmonious ; for the word is the
'* sword of the Spirit." The Spirit operates only by
the word. Therefore, though we read that sanctifi
cation is of the Spirit, we also read that effectual
prayer of Jesus Christ, " Sanctify them through thy
truth ; thy word is truth."
Although all the means of sanctification may be
comprehended under the word of God and prayer,
yet there are many subordinate means, which have a
powerful efficacy in giving application and force to
these. In this light may be considered the ministry,
the reading of good books, attendance on the sacra-
ments, and fasting. There is one means of grace of
this class which we are not required to resort to, but
which is often employed by our heavenly Father
with great effect, in promoting the sanctification of
his children ; I mean the chastisements of his rod.
The benefit of affliction io often celebrated in Scrip-
ture ; and almost every child of God can, after a few
years' experience, adopt the language of the royal
Psalmist, and say, " It was good for me that I was
afflicted." And Paul testifies, that though "no
chastisement for the present is joyous but grievous,
yet afterwards it worketh the peaceable fruits of
righteousness in them who are exercised thereby."
Afflictions are often used as the means of recovering
the children of God from a state of backsliding ; as
says David, " Before I was afflicted, I went astray,
but now I keep thy testimonies."
Though Christians do not arrive at sinless perfec-
tion in this life, yet it is a state to which every hum-
ble child of God shall attain at death. Christ will
present his whole body before his Father's throne,
"without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." "We
shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."
In regeneration, spiritual life is communicated ; but
this incipient principle is in its infancy, when first im-
planted. The vigour of spiritual life seems to be
analogous to natural life, very dilferent in different
subjects. But in all it is imperfect, and needs to be
assiduously cherished and nurtured, that it may daily
gain strength, and gradually rise to maturity. There _
are various means of divine appointment conducive
to this end, in the use of which growth is as certain
as in the body when supplied with nutriment. In
the former as well as in the latter, there may be sea-
sons of decay, arising from various untoward causes;
but, it may be assumed as a fact, that where the
principle of piety is really radicated in the soul, there
will be growth ; the steady tendency will be to a
state of maturity. And, although perfection is never
attained in this life, yet there is in all true Christians
a sincere desire after it, and there may be a constant
approximation toward it, as long as they live. And
such a state of piety may be attained, as, comipara-
tively, may be termed a state of perfection, and is so
termed in Scripture. From what has been said, it
will be tipparent, that sanctification does not difler
specifically from regeneration ; the one is the com-
mencement, the other the continuance and increase
of the same principle.
Two things are commonly intended by the word
sanctification. The first is, the mortification of sin ,
the last, the increase of the vigour and constancy of
the exercises of piety. But, although these may be
distinguished, yet there is no need to treat of them
separately, because the advancement of the one can-
not but be accompanied with progress in the other.
Like the two scales of a balance, when one is de-
pressed the other rises. Just so in the divine life in
the soul, if pride is humbled, humility is of necessity
increased ; if the undue love of the creature is morti-
fied, the love of God will be strengthened; and so of
every other grace. Indeed, when we examine the
subject accurately, we shall find, that all real mortifi-
cation of sin is by the exercise of faith, and those
holy affections which flow from it. By legal striv-
ing, however earnest, or by ascetic discipline, how-
ever rigid, very little headway is made against the
stream of inherent corruption. It is right, indeed, to
keep the body under, lest its blind appetites and im-
pulses should hinder the exercises of religion ; and
occasional fasting, when free from superstition, does
greatly aid the spiritual progress of the true Chris-
tian ; and this is especially the fact, when he is in
conflict with some fleshly lust, or easily besetting sin.
A pampered body will ever be an enemy to growth
in grace.
It must not be forgotten, that we are as dependent
on the Holy Spirit for every holy act and exercise, as
for the ability to put forth the first act of faith, when
regenerated. We have no strength in ourselves, in
consequence of our justification and conversion. Christ
has said, "Without me ye can do nothing." He is
the vine, and believers are the branches. " As the
branch cannot bear fruit except it abide in the vine.
neither can ye except ye abide in me." Yet this
does not take away or diminish our motives for exer-
tion ; so far from it, that it affords the only encour-
agement which we have for diligence in the use of
means. For though the power is of God, that power
is exerted through the means of divine appointment.
Therefore, in Scripture, divine aid and human agency
are constantly united. When Christians are exhorted
" tc work out their salvation," the reason assigned is,
" for it is God that worketh in you both to will and
to do, of his own good pleasure."
Where two opposite principles exist in the same
person, there must be a conflict. When the whole
current of the affections runs toward the world, there
being no opposing principle, no conflict is experi-
enced, except that which arises from the remon-
strances of conscience ; or from the discordant crav-
ing of conflicting desires of a sinful kind. But, in
the true believer, " the flesh lusteth against the spirit,
and the spirit against the flesh; so that he cannot
do the things that he would." And often the spirit-
ual man is made to groan in agony, and to cry out,
" 0, wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me
from the body of this death ?" Although, in this
warfare, the principle of grace is generally victorious,
for it is written, " sin shall not have dominion over
you;" yet, sometimes, by the power of temptation,
and negligence in watchfulness, the man of God is
cast down and degraded, and unless raised up by the
hand of the Captain of his salvation, he would rise
no more. But, as the work of grace was begun
without any merit or co-operation of the believer,
the same love which at first eff'ectually called him
away fr )m his sins and from the world, still pursues
him, and will not suff'er the enemy ultimately to tri-
umph over him. Satan shall never have the oppor
tunity of boasting that he has accomplished the ruin
of one whom God purposed to save, and to save
whom Christ died, and who has been effectually
called by the Holy Spirit. He may fall, but he shall
rise again, for God hath said, "My grace is sufficient
for thee," and, " I will never leave thee nor forsake
thee." And not unfrequently, the very falls of the
children of God are overruled for their more rapid
progress in future. Nothing more tends to humble
the soul, and destroy self-confidence, than being over-
taken by such faults.
The means of sanctification may be comprehended
under two general heads, the word of God and prayer.
The first is the food which is provided for the nour-
ishment of the soul, and by which it lives. Christ
himself is indeed the bread of life — the manna that
came down from heaven ; but it is only in the word,
that we can find Christ : there he is revealed — there
his dignity and glory are manifested — there we be-
hold his holy life, his miracles, his sufferings, his death,
his resurrection, ascension, and intercession. The
whole object of faith, and love, and hope, is found in
the word of God. Therefore, it is by the assiduous
study of the word, and meditation on its truths, that
we are to expect an increase of faith, and a real
growth in grace.
The other principal means of growth is prayer;
especially, prayer for the influences of the Holy
Spirit. Without the Spirit, as we have seen, there
can be no progress ; but this sum of blessings is gra-
ciously promised in answer to prayer. And these
two means are harmonious ; for the word is the
'* sword of the Spirit." The Spirit operates only by
the word. Therefore, though we read that sanctifi
cation is of the Spirit, we also read that effectual
prayer of Jesus Christ, " Sanctify them through thy
truth ; thy word is truth."
Although all the means of sanctification may be
comprehended under the word of God and prayer,
yet there are many subordinate means, which have a
powerful efficacy in giving application and force to
these. In this light may be considered the ministry,
the reading of good books, attendance on the sacra-
ments, and fasting. There is one means of grace of
this class which we are not required to resort to, but
which is often employed by our heavenly Father
with great effect, in promoting the sanctification of
his children ; I mean the chastisements of his rod.
The benefit of affliction io often celebrated in Scrip-
ture ; and almost every child of God can, after a few
years' experience, adopt the language of the royal
Psalmist, and say, " It was good for me that I was
afflicted." And Paul testifies, that though "no
chastisement for the present is joyous but grievous,
yet afterwards it worketh the peaceable fruits of
righteousness in them who are exercised thereby."
Afflictions are often used as the means of recovering
the children of God from a state of backsliding ; as
says David, " Before I was afflicted, I went astray,
but now I keep thy testimonies."
Though Christians do not arrive at sinless perfec-
tion in this life, yet it is a state to which every hum-
ble child of God shall attain at death. Christ will
present his whole body before his Father's throne,
"without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." "We
shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."
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