Works of Thomas Manton, Vol. 11 of 22

Excerpt from The Complete Works of Thomas Manton, Vol. 11: With Memoir of the Author
(2.) The manner, 'In truth, ' or truly, in opposition to legal purifications by the use of the ceremonies of the law, which were but a shadow of true holiness: Heb. ix. 13, 14, 'For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works, to serve the living God?' And in opposition to counterfeit sanctification: Eph. iv. 24, 'And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness;' such as is sincere, true, and real.
(3.) The end, 'For the truth, ' that they may be consecrated, set apart, and fitted for that function of preaching the truth. The context seemeth to justify this. From the whole observe -
Doct. That Christ did set himself apart to be a sacrifice for us, that we might be sanctified by the means appointed thereunto.
I shall explain this point by opening the text.
First, I begin with the meritorious cause, 'And for their sakes I sanctify myself.' Where - (1.) The agent, I; (2.) The act, sanctify; (3.) The object, myself; (4.) The persons concerned, for their sakes.
First, The agent, 'I sanctify myself.' In other places it is ascribed to the Father and the Spirit. To the Father: John x. 36, Him hath the Father sanctified, and sent into the world. To the Spirit: Acts x. 38, 'How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.' He did not only frame the human nature of Christ out of the substance of the Virgin, but adorned it with gifts and graces fit for his office and work. And here Christ saith, 'I sanctify myself.' All the persons in the divine nature concur to this work. The Father sanctifieth and sets him apart by his decree and designation; the Son sanctifieth himself, to show his willingness and con descension; the Spirit sanctifieth him by his operation, furnishing him with meet graces and endowments that were necessary for that singular person who should redeem the world. Christs sanctifying himself falleth under our consideration, and doth show partly his original authority, as a person of the Godhead, coequal with the Father and the Spirit: 'Whatsoever the Father doeth, the Son doeth also, ' John v.19. Partly his voluntary submission; as the Father did con secrate the Son to the office of mediator, and the Spirit qualified him with all fulness of grace, so did Christ consecrate himself, as being a most willing agent in this work, and did really offer himself to become man, and to suffer all that misery, pain, and shame that was necessary for our expiation. The scripture often sets it forth to us: Eph. v. 2, 'Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given him self for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.' He did not do this work by constraint, but of a ready mind. When it was first propounded to him in God's decree, Heb. x. 9, 'Then he said, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God!'