still cleaving to the heart of some detestable thing or other. But
gracious souls, as they have respect to all the commands of God, so they
have not that design of being justified before God by their works; nor
do they study mortification, and sanctification for any such end; nay,
they no sooner discover any bias of their false deceitful hearts unto
any such end, but as soon they disown it, and abhor it. So that hence
believers may get some discovery of the reality of their faith and
interest in Christ, and of their warrant, yea, and duty to make use of
Christ for sanctification.

This premised, we come to speak something, in the general, of believer's
use-making of Christ, as made of God to us sanctification. And for this
end, we shall only speak a little to two things. _First_, We shall show
upon what account it is that Christ is called our sanctification, or,
"made of God to us sanctification," as the apostle's phrase is, 1 Cor.
i. 30; or, what Christ hath done as Mediator, to begin, and carry on to
perfection the work of sanctification in the soul. And, _secondly,_ How
the soul is to demean itself in this matter, or how the soul is to make
use of, and improve what Christ hath done, for this end, that it may
grow in grace, and perfect holiness in the fear of God.

As to the _first,_ we would know, that though the work of sanctification
be formally ours, yet it is wrought by another hand, as the principal
efficient cause, even by the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The Father is
said to purge the branches, that they may bring forth more fruit, John
xv. 1. Hence we are said to be sanctified by God the Father, Jude 1. The
Son is also called the Sanctifier, Heb. ii. 21. He sanctifieth and
cleanseth the Church with the washing of water by the word, Eph. v. 26.
The Spirit is also said to sanctify, 2 Thes. ii. 13. 1 Pet. i. 2. Rom.
xv. 16. Hence we are said to be washed and sanctified by the Spirit of