SANCTIFICATION
By Thomas Watson
'For
this is the will of God, even your sanctification.' I Thess iv 3.
The word sanctification signifies to
consecrate and set apart to a holy use: thus they are sanctified persons who
are separated from the world, and set apart for God's service. Sanctification
has a privative and a positive part.
I. A privative part, which lies in the
purging out of sin. Sin is compared to leaven, which sours; and to leprosy,
which defiles. Sanctification purges out 'the old leaven.' I Cor v 7. Though it
takes not away the life, yet it takes away the love of sin.
II. A positive part, which is the spiritual
refining of the soul; which in Scripture is called a 'renewing of our mind,'
Rom xii 2, and a 'partaking of the divine nature.' 2 Pet i 4. The priests in
the law were not only washed in the great laver, but adorned with glorious
apparel. Exod xxviii 2; so sanctification not only washes from sin, but adorns
with purity.
What is sanctification?
It is a principle of grace savingly wrought,
whereby the heart becomes holy, and is made after God's own heart. A sanctified
person bears not only God's name, but his image. In opening the nature of
sanctification, I shall lay down these seven positions:-
(1.) Sanctification is a supernatural thing;
it is divinely infused. We are naturally polluted, and to cleanse, God takes to
be his prerogative. 'I am the Lord which sanctify you.' Lev xxi 8. Weeds grow
of themselves. Flowers are planted. Sanctification is a flower of the Spirit's
planting. therefore it is called, 'The sanctification of the Spirit.' I Pet i
2.
(2.) Sanctification is an intrinsic thing;
it lies chiefly in the heart. It is called 'the adorning the hidden man of the
heart.' I Pet iii 4. The dew wets the leaf, the sap is hid in the root; so the
religion of some consists only in externals, but sanctification is deeply
rooted in the soul. 'In the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.'
Psalm li 6.
(3.) Sanctification is an extensive thing:
it spreads into the whole man. 'The God of peace sanctify you wholly.' I Thess
v 23. As original corruption has depraved all the faculties - 'the whole head
is sick, the whole heart faint,' no part sound, as if the whole mass of blood
were corrupted -so sanctification goes over the whole soul. After the fall,
there was ignorance in the mind; but in sanctification, we are 'light in the Lord'
Eph v 8. After the fall, the will was depraved; there was not only impotence to
good, but obstinacy. In sanctification, there is a blessed pliableness in the
will; it symbolizes and comports with the will of God. After the fall, the
affections were misplaced on wrong objects; in sanctification, they are turned
into a sweet order and harmony, the grief placed on sin, the love on God, the
joy on heaven. Thus sanctification spreads itself as far as original
corruption; it goes over the whole soul: 'the God of peace sanctify you
wholly.' He is not a sanctified person who is good only in some part, but who
is all over sanctified; therefore, in Scripture, grace is called a 'new man,'
not a new eye or a new tongue, but a 'new man. Col iii 10. A good Christian, though
be he sanctified but in part, yet in every part.
(4.) Sanctification is an intense and ardent
thing. Qualitates suint in subjecto intensive [Its properties burn within the
believer]. 'Fervent in spirit.' Rom xii 11. Sanctification is not a dead form,
but it is inflamed into zeal. We call water hot, when it is so in the third or
fourth degree; so he is holy whose religion is heated to some degree, and his
heart boils over in love to God.
(5.) Sanctification is a beautiful thing. It
makes God and angels fall in love with us. 'The beauties of holiness.' Psa cx
3. As the sun is to the world, so is sanctification to the soul, beautifying
and bespangling it in God's eyes. That which makes God glorious must needs make
us so. Holiness is the most sparkling jewel in the Godhead. 'Glorious in
holiness.' Exod xv 11. Sanctification is the first fruit of the Spirit; it is
heaven begun in the soul. Sanctification and glory differ only in degree:
sanctification is glory in the seed, and glory is sanctification in the flower.
Holiness is the quintessence of happiness.
(6.)Sanctification is an abiding thing. 'His
seed remaineth in him.' I John iii 9. He who is truly sanctified, cannot fall
from that state. Indeed, seeming holiness may be lost, colours may wash off; sanctification
may suffer an eclipse. 'Thou hast left thy first love.' Rev ii 4. True
sanctification is a blossom of eternity. 'The anointing which ye have received
abideth in you.' I John ii 27. He who is truly sanctified can no more fall away
than the angels which are fixed in their heavenly orbs.
(7.) Sanctification is a progressive thing.
It is growing; it is compared to seed which grows: first the blade springs up,
then the ear, then the ripe corn in the ear; such as are already sanctified may
be more sanctified. 2 Cor vii 1. Justification does not admit of degrees; a
believer cannot be more elected or justified than he is, but he may be more
sanctified than he is. Sanctification is still increasing, like the morning
sun, which grows brighter to the full meridian. Knowledge is said to increase,
and faith to increase. Col i 10; 2 Cor x 15. A Christian is continually adding
a cubit to his spiritual stature. It is not with us as it was with Christ, who
received the Spirit without measure; for Christ could not be more holy than he
was. We have the Spirit only in measure, and may be still augmenting our grace;
as Apelles, when he had drawn a picture, would be still mending it with his
pencil. The image of God is drawn but imperfectly in us, therefore we must be
still mending it, and drawing it in more lively colours. Sanctification is
progressive; if it does not grow, it is because it does not live. Thus you see
the nature of sanctification.
What are the counterfeits of sanctification?
There are things which look like
sanctification, but are not.
(1.) The first counterfeit of sanctification
is moral virtue. To be just, be temperate, to be of a fair deportment, not to
have one's escutcheon blotted with ignominious scandal is good, but not enough;
it is not sanctification. A field-flower differs from a garden-flower. Heathens
have attained to morality; as Cato, Socrates, and Aristides. Civility is but
nature refined; there is nothing of Christ there, and the heart may be foul and
impure. Under these fair leaves of civility the worm of unbelief may be hid. A
moral person has a secret antipathy against grace; he hates vice, and he hates
grace as much as vice. The snake has a fine colour, but a sting. A person
adorned and cultivated with moral virtue, has a secret spleen against sanctity.
The Stoics who were the chief of the moralized heathens, were the bitterest
enemies Paul had. Acts xvii 18.
(2.) The second counterfeit of
sanctification is superstitious devotion. This abounds in Popery; adorations,
images. altars, vestments, and holy water, which I look upon as a religious
frenzy, and is far from sanctification. It does not put any intrinsic goodness
into a man, it does not make a man better. If the legal purifications and
washings, which were of God's own appointing, did not make those who used them
more holy; and the priests, who wore holy garments, and had holy oil poured on
them, were not more holy without the anointing of the Spirit; then surely those
superstitious innovations in religion, which God never appointed, cannot
contribute any holiness to men. A superstitious holiness costs no great labour;
there is nothing of the heart in it. If to tell over a few beads, or bow to an
image, or sprinkle themselves with holy water were sanctification, and all that
is required of them that should be saved, then hell would be empty, none would
come there.
(3.) The third counterfeit of sanctification
is hypocrisy; when men make a pretence of that holiness which they have not. As
a comet may shine like a star, a lustre may shine from their profession that
dazzles the eyes of the beholders. 'Having a form of godliness, but denying the
power.' 2 Tim iii 5. These are lamps without oil; whited sepulchres, like the
Egyptian temples, which had fair outsides, but within spiders and apes. The
apostle speaks of true holiness. Eph iv 24, implying that there is holiness
which is spurious and feigned. 'Thou hast a name to live, but art dead;' Rev
iii 1; like pictures and Statues which are destitute of a vital principle.
'Clouds without water.' Jude 12. They pretend to be full of the Spirit, but are
empty clouds. This show of sanctification is a self-delusion. He who takes
copper instead of gold, wrongs himself; the most counterfeit saint deceives
others while he lives, but deceives himself when he dies. To pretend to
holiness when there is none is a vain thing. What were the foolish virgins
better for their blazing lamps, when they wanted oil? What is the lamp of
profession without the oil of saving grace? What comfort will a show of
holiness yield at last? Will painted gold enrich? painted wine refresh him that
is thirsty? or painted holiness be a cordial at the hour of death? A pretence
of sanctification is not to be rested in. Many ships, that have had the name of
the Hope, the Safeguard, the Triumph, have been east away upon rocks; so, many
who have had the name of saints, have been east into hell.
(4.) The fourth counterfeit of
sanctification is restraining grace, when men forbear vice, though they do not
hate it. This may be the sinner's motto, Fain I would, but I dare not.' The dog
has a mind to the bone, but is afraid of the cudgel; so men have a mind to
lust, but conscience stands as the angel, with a flaming sword, and affrights:
they have a mind to revenge, but the fear of hell is a curb-bit to check them.
There is no change of heart; sin is curbed, but not cured. A lion may be in
chains, but is a lion still.
(5.) The fifth counterfeit of sanctification
is common grace, which is a slight, transient work of the Spirit, but does not
amount to conversion. There is some light in the judgment, but it is not
humbling; some cheeks in the conscience, but they are not awakening. This looks
like sanctification, but is not. Men have convictions wrought in them, but they
break loose from them again, like the deer, which, being shot, shakes out the
arrow. After conviction, men go into the house of mirth, take the harp to drive
away the spirit of sadness, and so all dies and comes to nothing.
Wherein appears the necessity of
sanctification?
In six things: (1.) God has called us to it.
'Who hath called us to glory and virtue; 2 Pet i 3; to virtue, as well as
glory. 'God hath not called us to uncleanness, but unto holiness.' I Thess iv
7. We have no call to sin, we may have a temptation, but no call; no call to be
proud, or unclean; but we have a call to be holy.
(2.) Without sanctification there is no
evidencing our justification. Justification and sanctification go together.
'But ye are sanctified, but ye are justified.' I Cor vi 11. 'Pardoning
iniquity,' Mic vii 18; there is justification. 'He will subdue our iniquities,
v 19; there is sanctification. 'Out of Christ's side came blood and water,'
John xix 34; blood for justification; water for sanctification. Such as have
not the water out of Christ's side to cleanse them, shall never have the blood
out of his side to save them.
(3.) Without sanctification we have no title
to the new covenant. The covenant of grace is our charter for heaven. The
tenure of the covenant is, That God will be our God. But who are interested in
the covenant, and may plead the benefit of it? Sanctified persons only. 'A new
heart will I give you, and I will put my Spirit within you, and I will be your
God.'
Ezek xxxvi 26. If a man makes a will, none
but such persons as are named in the will can lay claim to the will; so God
makes a will and testament, but it is restrained and limited to such as are
sanctified; and it is high presumption for any one else to lay claim to the
will.
(4.) There is no going to heaven without
sanctification. 'Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.' Heb xii 14. God
is a holy God, and he will suffer no unholy creature to come near him. A king
will not suffer a man with plague-sores to approach into his presence. Heaven
is not like Noah's ark, where the clean beasts and the unclean entered. No
unclean beasts come into the heavenly ark; for though God suffer the wicked to
live awhile on the earth, he will never suffer heaven to be pestered with such
vermin. Are they fit to see God who wallow in wickedness? Will God ever lay
such vipers in his bosom? 'Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.' It must
be a clear eye that sees a bright object: only a holy heart can see God in his
glory. Sinners may see God as an enemy, but not as a friend; may have an
affrighting vision of him, but not a beatific vision; they may see the flaming
sword, but not the mercy-seat. Oh then, what need is there of sanctification!
(5.) Without sanctification all our holy
things are defiled. 'Unto them that are defiled is nothing pure.' Tit i 15.
Under the law, if a man who was unclean by a dead body carried a piece of holy
flesh in his skirt, the holy flesh would not cleanse him, but it would be
polluted by him. Hag ii 12, 13. This is an emblem of a sinner's polluting his
holy offering. A foul stomach turns the best food into ill humours; so an
unsanctified heart pollutes prayers, alms, sacraments. This evinces the
necessity of sanctification. Sanctification makes our holy things accepted. A
holy heart is the altar which sanctifies the offering; if not to satisfaction,
to acceptation.
(6.) Without sanctification we can show no
sign of our election. 2 Thess ii 13. Election is the cause of our salvation,
sanctification is our evidence. Sanctification is the earmark of Christ's elect
sheep.
What are the signs of sanctification?
First, such as are sanctified can remember a
time when they were unsanctified. Tit iii 3. We were in our blood, and then God
washed us with water, and anointed us with oil. Ezek xvi 9. Those trees of
righteousness that blossom and bear almonds, can remember when they were like
Aaron's dry rod, not one blossom of holiness growing. A sanctified soul can
remember when it was estranged from God through ignorance and vanity, and when
free grace planted this flower of holiness in it.
A second sign of sanctification is the
indwelling of the Spirit. 'The Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.' 2 Tim i 14. As
the unclean spirit dwells in the wicked and carries them to pride, lust,
revenge the devil enters into these swine, Acts v 3 - so the Spirit of God
dwells in the elect, as their guide and comforter. The Spirit possesses the
saints. God's Spirit sanctifies the fancy, causing it to mint holy thoughts;
and sanctifies the will by putting a new bias upon it, whereby it is inclined
to good. He who is sanctified has the influence of the Spirit, though not the
essence.
A third sign of sanctification is an
antipathy against sin. Psa cxix 104. A hypocrite may leave sin, yet love it; as
a serpent casts its coat, but keeps its sting; but a sanctified person can say
he not only leaves sin, hut loathes it. As there are antipathies in nature
between the vine and laurel, so in a sanctified soul there is a holy antipathy
against sin; and antipathies can never be reconciled. Because a man has an
antipathy against sin, he cannot but oppose it, and seek the destruction of it.
A fourth sign of sanctification is the
spiritual performance of duties, with the heart, and from a principle of love.
The sanctified soul prays out of a love to prayer, and 'calls the Sabbath a
delight.' Isa lviii 13. A man may have gifts to admiration; he may speak as an
angel dropped out of heaven, yet he may be carnal in spiritual things; his
services may not come from a renewed principle, nor be carried upon the wings
of delight in duty. A sanctified soul worships God in the Spirit. I Pet ii 5.
God judges not of our duties by their length, but by the love from which they
spring.
A fifth sign is a well-ordered life. 'Be ye
holy in all manner of conversation.' I Pet i is. Where the heart is sanctified
the life will be so too. The temple had gold without as well as within. As in a
piece of coin there is not only the king's image within the ring. but his
superscription without; so where there is sanctification, there is not only
God's image in the heart, but a superscription of holiness written in the life.
Some say they have good hearts, but their lives are vicious. 'There is a
generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their
filthiness.' Prov XXX 12. If the water be foul in the bucket, it cannot be
clean in the well. 'The king's daughter is all glorious within.' Psa xlv 13,
There is holiness of heart. 'Her clothing is of wrought gold.' There is
holiness of life. Grace is most beautiful when its light so shines that others
may see it; this adorns religion, and makes proselytes to the faith
A sixth sign is steadfast resolution. He is
resolved never to part with his holiness. Let others reproach it, he loves it
the more. Let water be sprinkled on the fire, it burns the more. He says, as David,
when Michal reproached him for dancing before the ark, 'If this be to be vile,
I will yet be more vile.' 2 Sam vi 22. Let others persecute him for his
holiness, he says as Paul, ‘None of these things move me.' Acts XX 24. He
prefers sanctity before safety, and had rather keep his conscience pure than
his skin whole. He says as Job, 'My integrity I will hold fast, and not let it
go,' xxvii 6. He will rather part with his life than his conscience.
Use one: The main thing a Christian should
look after is sanctification. This is the unuin necessarium, 'the one thing
needful.' Sanctification is our purest complexion, it makes us as the heaven,
bespangled with stars; it is our nobility, by it we are born of God, and
partake of the divine nature; it is our riches, therefore compared to rows of
jewels, and chains of gold. Cant i 10. It is our best certificate for heaven.
What evidence have we else to show? Have we knowledge? So has the devil. Do we
profess religion? Satan often appears in Samuel's mantle, and transforms
himself into an angel of light. But our certificate for heaven is
sanctification. Sanctification is the firstfruits of the Spirit; the only coin
that will pass current in the other world. Sanctification is the evidence of
God's love. We cannot know God's love by giving us health, riches, success; but
by drawing his image of sanctification on us by the pencil of the Holy Ghost it
is known.
Oh the misery of such as are destitute of a
principle of sanctification They are spiritually dead. Eph ii 1. Though they
breathe, yet they do not live. The greatest part of the world remains
unsanctified. 'The world lies in wickedness.' I John v 19. That is, the major
part of the world. Many call themselves Christians, but blot out the word
saints. You may as well call him a man who wants reason, as him a Christian who
wants grace. Nay, which is worse, some are buoyed up to such a height of
wickedness, that they hate and deride sanctification. They hate it. It is bad
to want it, it is worse to hate it. They embrace the form of religion, but hate
the power. The vulture hates sweet smells, so do they the perfumes of holiness.
They say in derision, These are your holy ones! To deride sanctification argues
a high degree of atheism, and is a black brand of reprobation. Scoffing Ishmael
was cast out of Abraham's family, Gen xxi 9; and such as scoff at holiness
shall be cast out of heaven.
Use two: Above all things pursue after
sanctification. Seek grace more than gold. 'Keep her, for she is thy life.'
Prov iv 13.
What are the chief inducements to
sanctification?
(1.) It is the will of God that we should be
holy, as saith the text, 'This is the will of God, your sanctification.' As
God's word must be the rule, so his will, the reason of our actions. This is
the will of God, our sanctification. Perhaps it is not the will of God we
should be rich, but it is his will that we should be holy. God's will is our
warrant.
(2.) Jesus Christ has died for our
sanctification. Christ shed his blood to wash off our impurity. The cross was
both an altar and a laver. 'Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all
iniquity.' Tit ii 14. If we could be saved without holiness, Christ needed not
have died. Christ died, not only to save us from wrath, but from sin.
(3.) Sanctification makes us resemble God.
It was Adam's sin that he aspired to be like God in omniscience, but we must
endeavour to he like him in sanctity. It is a clear glass in which we can see a
face; it is a holy heart in which something of God can be seen. Nothing of God
can be seen in an unsanctified man, but you may see Satan's picture in him.
Envy is the devil's eye, hypocrisy his cloven foot; but nothing of God's Image
can be seen in him.
(4.) Sanctification is that which God bears
a great love to. Not any outward ornaments, high blood, or worldly grandeur,
draws God's love, but a heart embellished with holiness does. Christ never
admired anything but the beauty of holiness: he slighted the glorious buildings
of the temple, but admired the woman's faith, and said, 'O woman, great is thy
faith.' Amor fundatur similitudine. As a king delights to see his image upon a
piece of coin, so where God sees his likeness he gives his love. The Lord has
two heavens to dwell in, and the holy heart is one of them.
(5.) Sanctification is the only thing that
makes us differ from the wicked. God's people have his seal upon them. 'The
foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that
are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from
iniquity.' 2 Tim ii 19. The godly are sealed with a double seal, a seal of
election, 'The Lord knoweth who are his,' and a seal of sanctification, 'Let
every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.' This is the
name by which God's people are known, 'The people of thy holiness.' Isa lxii
18. As chastity distinguishes a virtuous woman from a harlot, so sanctification
distinguishes God's people from others. 'Ye have received an unction from the
Holy One.' I John ii 20.
(6.) It is as great a shame to have the name
of a Christian, yet want sanctity, as to have the name of a steward and want
fidelity; or the name of a virgin, and want chastity. It exposes religion to
reproach, to be baptized into the name of Christ while unholy, and to have eyes
full of tears on a sabbath, and on a week-day eyes full of adultery: 2 Pet ii
14; to be so devout at the Lord's table, as if men were stepping into heaven,
and so profane the week after, as if they came out of hell; to have the name of
Christians while unholy is a scandal to religion, and makes the ways of God
evil spoken of.
(7.) Sanctification fits for heaven: 'Who
hath called us to glory and virtue.' 2 Pet i 3. Glory is the throne, and
sanctification is the step by which we ascend to it. As you first cleanse the
vessel, and then pour in the wine; so God first cleanses us by sanctification,
and then pours in the wine of glory. Solomon was first anointed with oil, and
then was a king. I Kings i 39. First God anoints us with the holy oil of his
Spirit, and then sets the crown of happiness Upon our head. Pureness of heart
and seeing God are linked together. Matt v 8.
How may sanctification be attained?
(1.) Be conversant in the word of God.
'Sanctify them through thy truth.' John xvii 17. The word is both a glass to
show us the spots of our soul, and a laver to wash them away. The word has a
transforming virtue in it; it irradiates the mind, and consecrates the heart.
(2.) Get faith in Christ's blood. 'Having
purified their hearts by faith.' Acts xv 9. She in the gospel who touched the
hem of Christ's garment was healed. A touch of faith purifies. Nothing can have
a greater force upon the heart, to sanctify it, than faith. If I believe Christ
and his merits are mine, how can I sin against him? Justifying faith does that
in a spiritual sense which miraculous faith does, it removes mountains, the
mountains of pride, lust, envy. Faith and the love of sin are inconsistent.
(3.) Breathe after the Spirit. It is called
'the sanctification of the Spirit.' 2 Thess ii 13. The Spirit sanctifies the
heart, as lightning purifies the air, and as fire refines metals. Omne agens
generat sibi simile [The Spirit at work generates its own likeness everywhere.]
The Spirit stamps the impression of its own sanctity upon the heart, as the
seal prints its likeness upon the wax. The Spirit of God in a man perfumes him
with holiness, and makes his heart a map of heaven.
(4.) Associate with sanctified persons. They
may, by their counsel, prayers, and holy example, be a means to make you holy.
As the communion of saints is in our creed, so it should be in our company. 'He
that walketh with the wise shall be wise.' Prov xiii 20. Association begets
assimilation.
(5.) Pray for sanctification. Job propounds
a question. 'Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?' Job xiv 4. God can
do it. Out of an unholy heart he can produce grace. Oh! make David's prayer
your own', Create in me a clean heart, O God.' Psa li 10. Lay thy heart before
the Lord, and say, Lord, my unsanctified heart pollutes all it touches. I am
not fit to live with such a heart, for I cannot honour thee; nor die with such
a heart, for I cannot see thee. Oh create in me a new heart! Lord, consecrate
my heart, and make it thy temple, and thy praises shall be sung there for ever.
Use three: Has God brought a clean thing out
of an unclean? has he sanctified you? Wear this jewel of sanctification with
thankfulness. 'Giving thanks to the Father, who bath made us meet for the
inheritance,' &c Col i 12. Christian, thou couldst defile thyself, but not
sanctify thyself; but God has done it, he has not only chained up sin, but
changed thy nature, and made thee as a king's daughter, all glorious within. He
has put upon thee the breastplate of holiness, which, though it may be shot at,
can never be shot through. Are there any here that are sanctified? God has done
more for you than millions, who may be illumined, but are not sanctified. He
has done more for you than if he had made you the sons of princes, and caused you
to ride upon the high places of the earth. Are you sanctified? Heaven is begun
in you; for happiness is nothing but the quintessence of holiness. Oh, how
thankful should you be to God! Do as that blind man in the gospel did after he
had received his sight, who 'followed Christ, glorifying God.' Luke xviii 43.
Make heaven ring with God's praises.