QUEST. LXXV. _What is sanctification?_ ANSW. Sanctification is a work of God’s grace, whereby they whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit, applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, renewed in their whole man, after the image of God, having the seeds of repentance unto life, and of all other saving graces put into their hearts; and those graces so stirred up, increased and strengthened, as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life. 1. We shall shew what we are to understand by the word _sanctify_. This is sometimes considered as what has God for its object: thus he is said to _sanctify himself_, when he appears in the glory of his holiness, and gives occasion to the world to adore that perfection, which he is sometimes represented as doing, when he punishes sin in a visible and exemplary manner. Thus when God threatens to call for _a sword_, and _plead against_ a rebellious people, _with pestilence and with blood_, he is said, by this means, to _magnify and sanctify himself_, so as to be _known_, to wit, as an holy God, _in the eyes of many nations_. And when he fulfils his promises, and thereby advances his holiness, as when he brought his people out of captivity, and gathered them out of the countries, wherein they had been scattered, he is said to be _sanctified in them_, Ezek. xxxviii. 21-23. And he is sanctified by his people, when they give him the glory that is due to his perfection, as thus displayed and magnified by him: thus God’s people are said to _sanctify the Lord of hosts_, when they make him the object of their _fear and of their dread_, Isa. viii. 13. However, this is not the sense in which we are here to understand it, but as applied to men; in which respect it is taken in various senses, namely, for their consecration, or separation unto God; thus our Saviour says, when devoting and applying himself to the work, for which he came into the world; _for their sakes I sanctify myself_, John xvii. 19. But this is not the sense in which it is to be understood in this answer.