particular about which they are oftentimes much exercised and perplexed.

That we may therefore, in some weak measure, through the help of this
light and grace, propose some things to clear up this great and
necessary truth, we shall first speak a little to it in the general, and
then come to clear up the matter more particularly.

Before we speak of the matter in general, it would be remembered, 1.
That the person who only is in case to make use of Christ for
sanctification, is one that hath made use of him already for
righteousness and justification. For one who is a stranger to Christ,
and is living in nature, hath no access to Christ for sanctification. He
must be a believer, and within the covenant, ere he can make use of the
grounds of sanctification laid down in the covenant. One must first be
united to Christ, and justified by faith in him, before he can draw any
virtue from him for perfecting holiness. He must first be in him, before
he can grow up in him, or bring forth fruit in him. And therefore the
first thing that souls would go about, should be to get an union made up
with Christ, and be clothed with his righteousness by faith; and then
they have a right to all his benefits. _First_, they should labour to
get their state changed from enmity to peace and reconciliation with
God, through faith in Jesus.

Yet, _next_, it would be observed, that when it is said, that one must
be a believer before he can go to Christ, and make use of him for
holiness and sanctification, it is not so understood and said, that one
must know, that indeed he is justified by faith, before he can make any
use of Christ for sanctification. One may be justified, and a believer,
yea, and growing in grace through Jesus Christ, and so actually
improving the grounds of sanctification, and making use of Christ for