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
God, 1 Cor. vi. 11.

But more particularly, we are said to be sanctified in Christ, 1 Cor. i.
2; and "he is made of God to us sanctification," 1 Cor. i. 30. Let us
then see in what sense this may be true. And,

1. He hath by his death and blood procured that this work of
sanctification shall be wrought and carried on. For "he suffered without
the gate, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood," Heb.
xiii. 12. "We are saved by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of
the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our
Saviour," Titus iii. 5, 6. "He gave himself for us, that he might redeem
us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous
of good works," Tit. ii. 14. Thus our sanctification is the fruit of his
death, and purchased by his blood. "He gave himself for his church, that
he might sanctify it," Eph. v. 25, 26.

2. He dying as a cautioner and public person, believers are accounted in
law to be dead to sin in him. Hence the apostle tells us, Rom. vi. 3-6,
that as many of us as are baptised into Jesus Christ, were baptized into
his death; and that therefore we are buried with him by baptism into
death; and are planted together in the likeness of his death; yea, and
that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Whence believers are
warranted and commanded, verse 11, to reckon themselves "to be dead
indeed unto sin;" and therefore sin should "not reign in their mortal
bodies to fulfil the lusts thereof," verse 12. This is a sure ground of
hope and comfort for believers, that Christ died thus as a public
person; and that by virtue thereof, being now united to Christ by faith,
they are dead to sin by law; and sin cannot challenge a d