John 17:19

As the former reason, pressing this petition, is taken from their need of sanctification in respect of their calling: so this second is taken from the cause and purchase of their sanctification, by his sanctifying himself, that they may be sanctified; For clearing wherefore, Consider, 1. Christs sanctifying of himself, is not to be understood of any personal cleansing now in doing, or to be done by him, for he was without spot from his first conception, nor yet of that purity of his nature only, but with relation to some further sanctification; But as in the language of the Old Testament, things are said to be sanctified, when they are set apart, fitted and prepared for some special service and employment, and particularly, Priests are said to be sanctified to their office, and sacrifices to be offered up: so Christs sanctification imports, that as the Father did sanctifie, or consecrate and send him into the world, John 10.36. so he did consecrate himself unto the Lord on the Elects behalf, a Priest and sacrifice without spot; and did consecrate himself to the whole work of his Mediatory-office, and particularly, did offer himself a sacrifice for sin, that they might be sanctied. Consider, 2. The effect of his sanctifying of himself, is, that they may be sanctified through the truth, or, in truth, whereby may be understood, as formerly, v. 17. that the vertue of his death accompanying the Word of truth is that which sanctifieth, and further also it may import, that by his sanctifying of himself, they are sanctified in truth, or truly, and that not only in opposition to counterfeit sanctification, but in opposition also to legal purifications by the use of the ceremonies of the Law, which were but a shadow of true holinesse, whereas the vertue of Christs death being the truth of these shadows, doth truly and in truth sanctifie, Doct. 1. Christ, in going about the office of Mediatour, and offering up himself a sacrifice, did wholly consecrate and set himself apart for his peoples behoof, that he might be theirs, and seek their well and not his own; for, for their sakes he sanctified, or, consecrated, and set apart himself, to that work; which may engage them not to be their own, but wholly his. 2. As the Father did consecrate and sanctifie his Son to the office of Mediatour, John 10.36. so he also did consecrate himself, as having inherent worth, and not needing external consecrations, and as being a most willing Agent in this work; for, I sanctifie my self, saith he. 3. Albeit the elect be in themselves polluted, and have no worth to merit any purification from God; yet there is enough in Christ and his consecrating himself a sacrifice to the Father, to supply all their worthlesnesse; and obtain what they need; for, for their sake I sanctifie my self, that they may be sanctified. 4. True sanctification of the elect slows from Christs sanctifying and consecrating himself to the Father for them; not only doth the merit of his suffering, being imputed, make them appear without spot and wrinkle in him, but the vertue of his death and sacrifice must be applied, to sanctifie them inherently; for, I sanctifie my self, that they may be sanctified. 5. Christ did sanctifie and consecrate himself a sacrifice in the Father, not for these who die in their pollution, but for these only whom he in time sanctifies thereby; for, I sanctifie my self, that they may be sanctified, the one followeth upon the other, not in the Apostles only, but all the Elect. 6. Christ doth approve of no sanctification, but that which is truly such, and abhorres all counterfeits of it, and such as rest on outside sanctification, or shadows of true holinesse only; for, that is his aime, that they may be sanctified in truth. 7. Whatever effects good inclinations and education, moral principles or example, or Church-discipline and Ordinances, or afflictions on men, may produce; yet true sanctification slows only from the application of Christs sacrifice, and it is that which makes the Word of truth effectual for sanctifying of them truly; for, upon his sanctifying himself, it followeth that they are sanctified in truth, and, through the truth.