But none can come to know
Christ to be their sacrifice, that reject him as their sanctifier: the
end of his coming being to save his people from the nature and
defilement, as well as guilt of sin; and, therefore, those that resist
his light and Spirit, make his coming and offering of none effect to
them.
From hence sprang a second doctrine they were led to declare, as the mark
of the prize of the high calling to all true Christians, viz. Perfection
from sin, according to the scriptures of truth; which testify it to be
the end of Christ's coming, and the nature of his kingdom, and for which
his Spirit was and is given, viz. to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is
perfect, and holy, because God is holy. And this the apostles laboured
for, that the Christians should be sanctified throughout in body, soul,
and spirit; but they never held a perfection in wisdom and glory in this
life, or from natural infirmities, or death, as some have, with a weak or
ill mind, imagined and insinuated against them.
This they called a redeemed state, regeneration, or the new birth:
teaching everywhere, according to their foundation, that unless this work
was known, there was no inheriting of the kingdom of God.
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