THe fifth Question is whether wee ought to content our selves with this, that wee have some beginnings of sanctification?

1. Answ. No, there are two duties to be performed yet by us, in either of which if wee be negligent all our labour is lost.

2. The 1. Is a care to keepe that holinesse we have, 1 Tim. 1. 19. The reason is because that many have escapt in some degree the pollutions of the world, and yet have beene intangled therein and overcome, and so the latter end hath beene worse with them then their beginning, 2 Pet. 21. 22.

3. Now wee shall hold fast our holinesse, 1. If wee be mindefull of the Covenant which wee made with God, Iob. 31. 1. And of our redemption, 1 Cor. 6. 19. 20. 2 If we take diligent heed, that we never repent of any repentance, Ier. 34. 11. That is if we be carefull that we never fall in love with that sin which we have hated, or slight any duty which our Consciences have approved, no not in those things, which the world counts small and as nothing.

4. The 2. duty is a study, and care to increase in holinesse, with the increase of God, Col. 2. 19. 2. Peter 1. 5. Phil. 1. 9. 1 Tim. 4. 15.

5. The reason is, 1. Because such is the nature of grace that it alwayes stirs up them in whom it is to an earnest desire of a larger fruition of it, 1 Pet. 2. 2. 3. So that although that thirst which is a thirst of totall indigence or want be excluded by grace, Iohn 4. 14. Yet that which is for a more plentifull fruition is no taken away but increast, 2. Because as the vitall heat of our bodies doth never continue in one state, but is either increasing, or decreasing alwaies, so in this life of grace, unlesse we do give all dilligence that we may be on the growing hand, it cannot be avoided but there will be a consumption through that opposition which the spirit meets with from the flesh.

6. Now we shall make a progresse in Sanctification, 1. If we exercise our selves dayly to a more perfect denying of sinne, and of the world, and of our selves, and to a more earnest and serious seeking of God and his Kingdome, 2. If we have our end alwayes in our eyes, Pro. 4. 23. 3 If we keep our hearts with all dilligence, Pro. 4. 23▪ 4 If we watch to [gap]e holy use of all those meanes which make to sanctification, and joine earnest prayer with them.