7.  For this cause believers would lie open to the influences of Christ, and guard against the putting of obstructions in the way, through grieving of the Spirit, by which he conveyeth and communicateth those influences unto the soul; and through questioning and misbelieving Christ’s faithfulness and unchangeable willingness, which as a violent humour stoppeth the passage.  So then believers would lie open by looking and waiting, drawing, seeking from him what they need, and by guarding against every thing that may provoke the Lord to anger, whether in omission or commission.  Here is requisite, an holy, humble, sober, and watchful walk; an earnest, serious, and hungry looking out to him, and a patient waiting for supply and furniture from him.  This is to open the mouth wide that he may fill it; to lie before the Sun of Righteousness, that the beams thereof may beat upon them, and warm and revive them; and to wait as a beggar at this King’s gate, till he give the alms.

8.  For the strengthening their hope and faith in this, they would lay hold upon Christ dying, and by his death purchasing all those influences of life and strength which are requisite for carrying on the work of grace and sanctification in the soul.  For we must be “blessed in Christ with all spiritual blessings,” Eph. i. 3.  The believer, then, would look upon these influences, as purchased at a dear rate, by the blood of Jesus Christ; so that the divine power giveth unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue, 2 Peter i. 3.  And this will encourage the soul to wait on, and expect the flowing down of influences, and spiritual blessings and showers of grace, to cause the soul to flourish and become fruitful, and to urge and press more earnestly by faith the bestowing of the purchased benefits.

9.  Moreover, the believer would look on Jesus as standing engaged and obliged to carry on this work, both receiving them as for this end, from the Father.  Hence we are said “to be chosen in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy,” &c.  Eph. i. 4; and as dying for them.  For he gave himself for the church, that he might sanctify and cleanse it, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, that it should be holy, Eph. v. 25-27.  He hath reconciled them, in the body of his flesh, through death, to present them holy, Col. i. 2, 22.  So that the noble covenant of redemption may found the certain hope and expectation of the believer, upon a double account:  (1.) Upon the account of the Father’s faithfulness, who promised a seed to Jesus, viz. such as should be his children, and so be sanctified through him, and that the pleasure of the Lord, which in part is the work of sanctification, should prosper in his hand.  And, (2.) Upon the account of Christ’s undertaking and engaging, as is said, to bring his sons and daughters to glory, which must be thought sanctification; for without