Milton

¶1Dictum est de REGENERATIONE EJUSQUE EFFECTIS, resipiscentia nimirum et fide: sequitur INSITIO IN CHRISTUM, qua Deus Pater fideles Christo inserit, id est, Christi compotes reddit, porroque idoneos qui in unum corpus tandem cum Christo coalescant. Matt. xv. 13. omnis planta quam non plantavit Pater meus cœlestis, eradicabitur. Joan. xv. 1, 2. ego sum vitis illa vera, et Pater meus est agricola; omnem palmitem in me non ferentem fructum tollit. 1 Cor. i. 30. ex ipso vos estis in Christo Jesu, qui factus est nobis sapientia a Deo, justitiaque et sanctificatio et redemptio. et iii. 22, 23. omnia vestra sunt; vos autem Christi, Christus vero Dei est. Eph. i. 3. qui benedixit nobis omni benedictione spirituali in cœlis in Christo. Heb. iii. 14. Christi participes facti sumus.

¶2Regenerationis simul et insitionis hujus effecta communia sunt VITA NOVA et AUCTIO. Quod enim in lapsu hominis erat mors spiritualis ejusque progressus, ut de pœna peccati supra ostendimus, id nunc in restitutione hominis est vita nova spiritualis ejusque auctio.

¶3VITA NOVA est qua dicimur Deo vivere. 2 Cor. iv. 10. ut vita illa Jesu in corpore nostro manifesta fiat. Rom. vi. 11. ita etiam vos colligite vos tum mortuos esse peccato, tum vero vivere Deo per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum. et v. 4. ita et nos nova vita ambulemus. et cap. viii. 13. si spiritu actiones corporis mortificetis, vivetis. Gal. ii. 19. p. 260ut vivam Deo. et v. 20. vixit in me Christus. Col. iii. 3. vita vestra abscondita est cum Christo in Deo. 1 Pet. iv. 6. ut viverent secundum Deum; id est, spiritu.

¶4Vocatur et abnegatio sui. Luc. ix. 23. si quis vult me sequi, abdicet seipsum, et attollat crucem suam quotidie, et sequatur me.

¶5Vitæ novæ prima munia sunt intelligentia rerum spiritualium, et charitas sive sanctitas vitæ. Quæ duo munia quemadmodum in morte spirituali labefactata et quasi extincta sunt, ita nunc in vita nova spirituali intellectus magna ex parte luci suæ, suæ voluntas libertati in Christo restituitur.

¶6INTELLIGENTIA RERUM SPIRITUALIUM est INGENITUS A DEO HABITUS QUO FIDELES CHRISTOQUE INSITI DISCUSSIS NATIVÆ IGNORANTIÆ TENEBRIS ET ILLUMINATO AD CŒLESTIA PERCIPIENDA INTELLECTU OMNIA AD SALUTEM ÆTERNAM VITAMQUE VERE BEATAM NECESSARIA, EDOCTI A DEO, SCIUNT.

¶7A DEO. Jer. xxxi. 33, 34. indam legem meam menti eorum, et cordi eorum inscribam eam: non autem docebunt amplius quisque amicum suum, et quisque fratrem suum dicendo, cognoscite Jehovam; nam quotquot erunt cognoscent me a minimo eorum usque ad maximum eorum, dictum Jehovæ, me condonare iniquitatem ipsorum, et peccati ipsorum non recordari amplius. Isa. liv. 13. et omnes filii tui edocti erunt a Deo; a Patre nimirum; sic enim interpretatur Christus Joan. vi. 45. scriptum est in prophetis, et erunt omnes docti a Deo; quisquis ergo audivit a Patre et didicit, venit ad me. Matt. xvi. 17. caro et sanguis hæc non retexit tibi sed Pater meus. Sic 1 Thess. iv. 9. de fraterno amore non necesse habemus scribere vobis; ipsi namque divinitus docti estis ut diligatis alii alios.

¶8Per Filium. Matt. xi. 27. omnia mihi tradita sunt a Patre meo; et nemo novit Filium nisi Pater, neque Patrem quisquam novit nisi p. 261Filius, et cuicunque voluerit Filius eum retegere. Col. iii. 16. sermo Christi inhabitet in vobis copiose cum omni sapientia.

¶9Et per Spiritum Sanctum. Joan. xvi. 13. Spiritus ille veritatis dux viæ vobis erit in omnem veritatem, non enim loquetur a semetipso—. 1 Cor. ii. 10, &c. nobis Deus ea revelavit per Spiritum suum—: animalis homo non est capax eorum quæ sunt Spiritus Dei: sunt enim ei stultitia, nec potest ea cognoscere, quia spiritualiter dijudicantur: at spiritualis dijudicat quidem omnia, ipse vero a nemine dijudicatur. 1 Joan. ii. 20, 27. vos unctionem habetis a Sancto illo profectam, et nostis omnia; unctio quam vos accepistis ab eo, manet in vobis, nec necesse habetis a quoquam doceri vos: verum sicut eadem unctio docet vos de omnibus, quæ et verax est et non mendax; et sicut docuit vos, manebitis in eo.

¶10NECESSARIA AD SALUTEM—. 1 Cor. ii. 12. ut sciamus quæ Deus est nobis gratificatus. Tit. i. 1, 2. et agnitionem veritatis quæ est secundum pietatem; ad spem vitæ æternæ—.

¶11Perfecta tamen in hac vita non est. 1 Cor. xiii. 9. ex parte enim cognoscimus.

¶12Alterum effectum est CHARITAS EX SENSU DIVINI AMORIS IN CORDA REGENITORUM PER SPIRITUM EFFUSI, QUA AFFECTI QUI IN CHRISTUM INSERUNTUR, PECCATO MORTUI, DEO REDIVIVI, SUA SPONTE AC LIBERE BONA OPERA PARTURIUNT. Eademque SANCTITAS dicitur. Eph. i. 4. ut simus sancti et inculpati in conspectu ejus cum charitate.

¶13Nam de charitate fraterna hic non agimus; cum hæc potius dilectio Dei sit, neque ea solum qua nos Deum diligimus, sed ex ejus dilectionis, qua is nos diligit, instinctu atque sensu, illa virtus quæ theologica nominatur post fidem et spem tertia: 1 Cor. xiii. 13. nunc vero manet fides, spes, charitas, tria hæc; maxima autem harum p. 262charitas: et fidei quasi filia est, bonorumque operum quasi mater; Gal. v. 6. fides per charitatem efficax. Hæc describitur, 1 Cor. xiii. et 1 Joan. iv. 16. nos cognovimus et credidimus charitatem quam habet Deus erga nos: Deus charitas est, et qui manet in charitate in Deo manet, et Deus in eo.

¶14PER SPIRITUM EFFUSI. Ezech. xxxvi. 27. Spiritum meum ponam in medio vestri, quo faciam ut in statutis meis ambuletis—. Rom. v. 5. spes non pudefacit eo quod charitas Dei effusa est in cordibus nostris per Spiritum Sanctum qui datus est nobis. Gal. v. 22. fructus Spiritus est charitas.

¶15QUI IN CHRISTUM INSERUNTUR. Joan. xv. 4, 5. manete in me, et ego in vobis manebo: sicut palmes non potest ferre fructum a semetipso, nisi manserit in vite; ita nec vos, nisi in me manseritis: ego sum vitis, vos palmites: is qui manet in me, et in quo ego maneo, hic fert fructum multum: nam seorsim a me nihil potestis facere. Eph. iii. 17, &c. inhabitet Christus per fidem in cordibus vestris: ut in charitate radicati ac fundati &c.

¶16PECCATO MORTUI. Rom. vi. 22. nunc vero liberati a peccato, servi autem facti Deo, habetis fructum vestrum ad sanctimoniam. 1 Pet. ii. 24. ut peccato mortui, justitiæ viveremus.

¶17DEO REDIVIVI. Rom. vi. 12, 13. sistite vos Deo, ut ex mortuis vivos.

¶18SUA SPONTE AC LIBERE: nostra enim opera passim requiritur. Ezech. xviii. 31. facite vobis cor novum et spiritum novum: nam quare moreremini o domus Israelis? Rom. vi. 12, 13. ne regnato peccatum in mortali corpore vestro, ut auscultetis ei in cupiditatibus corporis; neque sistite membra vestra arma injustitiæ peccato. et xii. 2. ne vos configurate sæculo isti; sed transformate vos per renovationem mentis vestræ ad hoc ut probetis quæ sit voluntas Dei, bona illa, placens ac perfecta. 2 Cor. vii. 1. has igitur promissiones quum habeamus dilecti, purificemus p. 263nos ab omni inquinamento carnis ac spiritus, perficientes sanctitatem in timore Dei. Gal. v. 16. Spiritu ambulate, et quod concupiscit caro ne perficite. Eph. iv. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. si modo ipsum audivistis, et de eo edocti estis (sicut est veritas in Jesu) deponere quod ad pristinam conversationem attinet veterem illum hominem qui seductricibus cupiditatibus sese corrumpit; renovari vero spiritu mentis vestræ, et induere novum illum hominem, qui secundum Deum conditus est ad justitiam et sanctimoniam veram. 2 Cor. vi. 1. ne frustra gratiam Dei receperitis. Col. iii. 5, 9, 10. mortificate membra vestra terrestria, scortationem—: ne mentimini alius adversus alium, quum exuti sitis illo veteri homine cum factis ipsius, et induti sitis novo illo qui renovatur in agnitionem congruentem imagini ejus qui ipsum condidit. 2 Tim. ii. 21. si quis sese ab his expurgarit, erit vas ad decus sanctificatum et accommodum usibus Domini, et ad omne opus bonum comparatum. 1 Joan. ii. 3. per hoc scimus nos Deum scire, si præcepta ejus observemus. et iii. 3. quisquis habet hanc spem in eo sitam, purum se conservat—.

¶19Ex hac charitate seu sanctitate omnes fideles SANCTI nominantur. Philipp. iv. 21, 22. salutate omnes sanctos in Christo Jesu—: et passim.

¶20Sanctorum autem in hac vita sanctitas imperfecta utcunque est. Psal. cxliii. 2. at ne congrediaris judicio cum servo tuo, nam non esset justus coram te ullus vivens. et cxxx. 3. si iniquitates observaveris, Jah, Domine, quis possit consistere? Prov. xx. 9. quis dicere possit, purificavi animum meum, mundus sum a peccato meo? et xxiv. 16. septies cadit justus; exsurgit tamen. Rom. vii. 18, &c. novi non habitare in me (id est in carne mea) bonum; nam velle adest mihi, sed ut quod bonum est perficiam, non assequor—. Gal. v. 17. caro concupiscit adversus Spiritum; Spiritus autem adversus carnem: hæc autem inter se opposita sunt, ut non quæcunque volueritis eadem faciatis. Jacob. iii. 2. in multis impingimus omnes: si quis in sermone non impingit, hic perfectus est vir. 1 Joan. i. 8. si dixerimus nos peccatum non habere, nos ipsos fallimus, et veritas in nobis non est.

¶21Hactenus de vita nova ejusque effectis. Dicendum nunc est de regenerati hominis AUCTIONE.

¶22Estque ea vel absoluta sive interna, vel relata sive externa. Absoluta est A DEO PATRE eorum donorum auctio quæ per regenerationem et insitionem in Christum accepimus. 2 Cor. x. 15. augescente fide vestra.

¶23A DEO PATRE. Joan. xv. 2. et omnem palmitem qui fert fructum purgat, ut plus fructus adferat. Philipp. i. 3, 6. gratias ago Deo meo—, ut qui incepit in vobis opus bonum, perficiat illud usque ad diem Jesu Christi. 2 Thess. i. 3. gratias agere debemus Deo semper de vobis, ut par est, quod vehementer augescat fides vestra, et abundet mutua uniuscujusque omnium vestrum charitas. Heb. xiii. 20, 21. Deus vero pacis— compingat vos in omni opere bono, ad præstandam ipsius voluntatem—.

¶24Per Filium. Heb. xiii. 21. efficiens in vobis quod gratum sit in conspectu suo, per Jesum Christum. et cap. xii. 7. intuentes in fidei ducem ac consummatorem Jesum. hinc Luc. xvii. 5. dixerunt discipuli Domino, adauge nobis fidem.

¶25Spiritualis auctio, contra atque fit in auctione physica, aliqua ex parte penes ipsos regeneratos esse videtur. 2 Cor. iv. 16. propterea non segnescimus, sed etiamsi externus homo noster corrumpitur, internus tamen renovatur indies. Eph. iv. 15. sincere nos gerentes cum charitate, prorsus augescamus in eum qui est caput, Christus. Philipp. iii. 12. non quod jam metam apprehenderim, aut jam sim consummatus; sed persequor experiens an ipse quoque apprehendam—. Heb. v. 13, 14. cui cum lacte res est, is rudis est sermonis justitiæ (infans enim est) sed adultorum est solidus cibus, eorum videlicet, qui propter habitum sensus habent exercitatos ad discretionem boni et mali. 1 Pet. ii. 2. ut modo geniti infantes, lac illud sermonis sincerum expetite, ut per illud augescatis. et 2 Pet. iii. 18. crescite in gratia et notitia Domini nostri, et servatoris Jesu Christi.

¶26Et auctio quidem hactenus. Perfectio autem in hac vita quamquam speranda non est, ad perfectionem tamen veluti ad finem ultimum eniti et contendere debemus. Matt. v. 48. estote vos perfecti, ut Pater vester qui est in cœlis perfectus est. 2 Cor. xiii. 11. idem. Col. i. 28. ut sistamus omnem hominem perfectum in Christo Jesu. et iv. 12. ut stetis perfecti et completi in omni voluntate Dei. Jacob. i. 4. ut sitis integri et toti, in nullo deficientes.

¶27Unde illa lucta carnis et Spiritus in homine regenerato. Gal. v. 16. Spiritu ambulate, et quod concupiscit caro ne perficite. 1 Tim. vi. 12. decerta præclarum illud certamen fidei. et 2 Tim. iv. 7. certavi. et contra mundum et Satanam. Joan. vii. 7. mundus me odit, quoniam ego testor de eo, opera ejus mala esse. et xv. 18, 19. si mundus vos odit, scitis me priusquam vos illis odio habitum. et xvii. 14. idem. Rom. xii. 2. ne configurate vos sæculo isti—. Gal. vi. 14. per quem mundus mihi crucifixus est, et ego mundo. Jacob. iv. 4. adulteri et adulteræ nescitis amicitiam mundi inimicitiam esse adversus Deum? quicunque ergo voluerit amicus esse mundi inimicus Dei constituitur. 1 Joan. iii. 13. ne miramini, fratres mei, si odit vos mundus.

¶28Et victoria. Apoc. ii. 7. victori dabo edere—. et v. 26. auctoritatem inter gentes. et cap. iii. 5. amicietur vestibus albis. v. 12. qui vicerit faciam ut is sit columna in templo Dei mei. et v. 21. qui vicerit tribuam ei ut sedeat mecum in throno meo, ut et ego vici, et sedeo cum Patre meo in throno ejus. et cap. xxi. 7. victor hæreditario jure obtinebit omnia: et ero ei Deus, et ipse erit mihi filius. Mundi. 1 Joan. ii. 15. et v. 4. quicquid natum est ex Deo vincit mundum: et hæc est victoria quæ vicit mundum, nempe fides nostra. Mortis. Prov. xii. 28. in itinere justitiæ est vita, et via semitæ ejus immortalis est. et xiv. 32. recipit se in morte sua justus. Joan. viii. 51. si quis sermonem meum observaverit, mortem non conspiciet in æternum. Apoc. ii. 11. qui vicerit, nequaquam lædetur a morte secunda. et xiv. 13. beati ab hoc tempore mortui ii, qui Domini causa moriuntur—. Satanæ. Eph. vi. 10, &c. corroboramini in Domino— ut possitis stare adversus artes diaboli—: contra quem πανοπλίᾳ induimur ibidem. Jacob. p. 266iv. 7. obsistite diabolo, et fugiet a vobis. 1 Joan. ii. 14. improbum illum vicistis. Apoc. xii. 11. sed ipsi vicerunt eum per sanguinem agni, et per sermonem testimonii sui.

¶29Qua ratione qui in ista lucta strenue agunt, et ad perfectionem in Christo consequendam serio atque assidue nituntur, imperfecti revera ut sint, imputatione tamen et misericordia Dei perfecti sæpe in scripturis, et inculpati, et non peccare dicuntur; quia peccatum in iis ut hæreat non regnat tamen. Gen. vi. 9. Noach, vir justus, integer erat in ætatibus suis. et xvii. 1. indesinenter ambula coram me, et esto integer. 1 Reg. xv. 14. excelsa quidem non amota sunt; sed animus Asæ fuit integer erga Jehovam omnibus diebus ejus. 2 Chron. xv. 17. idem. Phil. iii. 15. quot itaque perfecti sumus, hoc sentiamus. Heb. x. 14. unica enim oblatione consummavit in perpetuum eos qui sanctificantur. 1 Joan. iii. 6. quisquis in eo manet, non peccat. et v. 18. idem. Col. ii. 2. ut consolationem accipiant eorum corda, instructi in charitate, et in omnes divitias plenitudinis intellectus, in agnitionem mysterii Dei ac Patris et Christi. Eph. iii. 18, 19. ut in charitate radicati ac fundati, valeatis comprehendere cum omnibus sanctis quæ sit illa latitudo et longitudo et profunditas et sublimitas; et nosse charitatem illam Christi, omni notitia supereminentiorem; ut impleamini ad omnem usque plenitudinem illam Dei.

¶1REGENERATION AND ITS EFFECTS, repentance and faith, have been considered. Next follows PLANTING IN CHRIST.

¶1 cont.Believers are said TO BE PLANTED IN CHRIST, when they are graffed in Christ by God the Father, that is, are made partakers of Christ, and meet for becoming one with him. Matt. xv. 13. every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. John xv. 1, 2. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman: every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away. 1 Cor. i. 30. of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. iii. 22, 23. all are your's, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's. Eph. i. 3. who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Heb. iii. 14. we are made partakers of Christ.

¶2Of this implanting, combined with regeneration, the effects are NEWNESS OF LIFE and INCREASE. For the new spiritual life and its increase bear the same relation to the restoration of man, which spiritual death and its progress (as described above, on the punishment of sin) bear to his fall.

¶3NEWNESS OF LIFE is that by which we are said to live unto God. 2 Cor. iv. 10. that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. Rom. vi. 11. likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. v. 4. even so we also should walk in newness of life. viii. 13. if ye through the Spirit p. 361do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Gal. ii. 19. that I might live unto God. v. 20. Christ liveth in me. Col. iii. 3. your life is hid with Christ in God. 1 Pet. iv. 6. that they might live according to God, that is, in the Spirit.

¶4This is also called self-denial. Luke ix. 23. if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

¶5The primary functions of the new life are comprehension of spiritual things, and love or holiness. And as the power of exercising these functions was weakened and in a manner destroyed by the spiritual death, so is the understanding restored in great part to its primitive clearness, and the will to its primitive liberty, by the new spiritual life in Christ.

¶6THE COMPREHENSION OF SPIRITUAL THINGS is A HABIT OR CONDITION OF MIND PRODUCED BY GOD, WHEREBY THE NATURAL IGNORANCE OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND ARE PLANTED IN CHRIST IS REMOVED, AND THEIR UNDERSTANDINGS ENLIGHTENED FOR THE PERCEPTION OF HEAVENLY THINGS, SO THAT, BY THE TEACHING OF GOD, THEY KNOW ALL THAT IS NECESSARY FOR ETERNAL SALVATION AND THE TRUE HAPPINESS OF LIFE.

¶7BY THE TEACHING OF GOD. Jer. xxxi. 33, 34. I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people: and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Jehovah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Isai. liv. 13. all thy children shall be taught of God, namely, of God the Father, for so Christ explains it, John vi. 45. it is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God: every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Matt. xvi. 17. flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father p. 362which is in heaven. 1 Thess. iv. 9. as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you; for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

¶8By the Son. Matt. xi. 27. all things are delivered unto me of my Father; and no man knoweth the Son but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Col. iii. 16. let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.

¶9And by the Holy Spirit. John xvi. 13. when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth, for he shall not speak of himself. 1 Cor. ii. 10, &c. God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit .... the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned: but he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 1 John ii. 20, 27. ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things .... the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

¶10NECESSARY TO SALVATION. 1 Cor. ii. 12. that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Tit. i. 1, 2. the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness, in hope of eternal life.

¶11In the present life, however, we can only attain to an imperfect comprehension of spiritual things. 1 Cor. xiii. 9. we know in part.

¶12The other effect is LOVE OR CHARITY, ARISING FROM A SENSE OF THE DIVINE LOVE SHED ABROAD IN THE HEARTS OF THE REGENERATE BY THE SPIRIT, WHEREBY THOSE WHO ARE PLANTED IN CHRIST BEING INFLUENCED, BECOME DEAD TO SIN, AND ALIVE AGAIN UNTO GOD, AND BRING FORTH GOOD WORKS SPONTANEOUSLY AND p. 363FREELY. This is also called HOLINESS. Eph. i. 4. that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.

¶13The love here intended is not brotherly love, which belongs to another place; nor even the ordinary affection which we bear to God, but one resulting from a consciousness and lively sense of the love wherewith he has loved us, and which in theology is reckoned the third after faith and hope. 1 Cor. xiii. 13. now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. This is the offspring, as it were, of faith, and the parent of good works. Gal. v. 6. faith which worketh by love. It is described 1 Cor. xiii. and 1 John iv. 16. we have known and believed the love that God hath to us: God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

¶14SHED BY THE SPIRIT. Ezek. xxxvi. 27. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. Rom. v. 5. hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Gal. v. 22. the fruit of the Spirit is love.

¶15WHO ARE PLANTED IN CHRIST. John xv. 4, 5. abide in me, and I in you: as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me: I am the vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. Eph. iii. 17, &c. that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye being rooted and grounded in love, &c.

¶16DEAD UNTO SIN. Rom. vi. 22. but now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness. 1 Pet. ii. 24. that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness.

¶17ALIVE AGAIN UNTO GOD. Rom. vi. 12, 13. yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead.

¶18SPONTANEOUSLY AND FREELY; for our own cooperation is uniformly required. Ezek. xviii. 31. make you a new heart, and a new spirit; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Rom. vi. 12, 13. let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof, neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin. xii. 2. be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 2 Cor. vii. 1. having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Gal. v. 16. walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Eph. iv. 20—24. if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 2 Cor. vi. 1. receive not the grace of God in vain. Col. iii. 5, 9, 10. mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, &c.—lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. 2 Tim. ii. 21. if a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 1 John ii. 3. hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. iii. 3. every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

¶19In consequence of this love or sanctity all believers are called SAINTS. Philipp. iv. 21, 22. salute every saint in Christ Jesus; and to the same effect in other passages.

¶20The holiness of the saints is nevertheless imperfect in this life. Psal. cxliii. 2. enter not into judgement with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. cxxx. 3. if thou, Jah, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? Prov. xx. 9. who can say, I have made my p. 365heart clean, I am pure from my sin? xxiv. 16. a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again. Rom. vii. 18, &c. I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing; for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I know not. Gal. v. 17. the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. James iii. 2. in many things we offend all: if any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. 1 John i. 8. if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

¶21–22Thus far of newness of life and its effects. It remains to speak of THE INCREASE operated in the regenerate. This increase is either absolute, which is internal, or relative, which is external.

¶22 cont.Absolute increase is an increase DERIVED FROM GOD THE FATHER of those gifts which we have received by regeneration and implantation in Christ. 2 Cor. x. 15. when your faith is increased.

¶23DERIVED FROM GOD THE FATHER. John xv. 2. every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Philipp. i. 3, 6. I thank my God ..... that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. 2 Thess. i. 3. we are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth. Heb. xiii. 20, 21. the God of peace ..... make you perfect in every good work, to do his will.

¶24Through the Son. Heb. xiii. 21. working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ. xii. 2. looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. So also Luke xvii. 5. the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

¶25Spiritual increase, unlike physical growth, appears to be to a certain degree in the power of the regenerate themselves. 2 Cor. iv. 16. p. 366for which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. Eph. iv. 15. speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Philipp. iii. 12. not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Heb. v. 13, 14. every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe: but strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 1 Pet. ii. 2. as new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. 2 Pet. iii. 18. grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

¶26Thus much of increase. With regard to perfection, although this latter is not to be expected in the present life, it is our duty to strive after it with earnestness, as the ultimate object of our existence. Matt. v. 48. be ye therefore perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. See also 2 Cor. xiii. 11. Col. i. 28. that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. iv. 12. that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. James i. 4. that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

¶27Hence the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit in the regenerate. Gal. v. 16. walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 1 Tim. vi. 12. fight the good fight of faith. 2 Tim. iv. 7. I have fought a good fight. A similar struggle is maintained against the world and Satan. John vii. 7. the world hateth me, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. xv. 18, 19. if the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. See also xvii. 14. Rom. xii. 2. be not conformed to this world. Gal. vi. 14. by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. James iv. 4. ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 1 John iii. 13. marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

¶28There is also a victory to be gained. Rev. ii. 7. to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life. v. 26. he that overcometh ..... to him will I give power over the nations. iii. 5. he that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment. v. 12. him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God. v. 21. to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne. xxi. 7. he that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Over the world; 1 John ii. 15. and v. 4. whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Over death; Prov. xii. 28. in the way of righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof there is no death. xiv. 32. the righteous hath hope in his death. John viii. 51. if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Rev. ii. 11. he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. xiv. 13. blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Over Satan; Eph. vi. 10, &c. be strong in the Lord .... that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil: being clothed with the whole armour of God to oppose him. James iv. 7. resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 1 John ii. 14. ye have overcome the wicked one. Rev. xii. 11. they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.

¶29Hence such as are strenuous in this conflict, and earnestly and unceasingly labour to attain perfection in Christ, though they be really imperfect, are yet, by imputation and through the divine mercy, frequently called in Scripture perfect, and blameless, and without sin; inasmuch as sin, though still dwelling in them, does not reign over them. Gen. vi. 9. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations. xvii. 1. walk before me, and be thou perfect. 1 Kings xv. 14. the high places were not removed; nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with Jehovah all his days. See also 2 Chron. xv. 17. Philipp. iii. 15. let us therefore as many as be perfect, be thus minded. Heb. x. 14. by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 1 John iii. 6. whosoever abideth in him sinneth not. See also v. 18. Coloss. ii. 2. that their hearts p. 368might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God and of the Father, and of Christ. Eph. iii. 18, 19. that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.