The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification

Mr. Walter Marshall, (1628-1680) composer of these DIRECTIONS on attaining to that practice and manner of life, which we call holiness, righteousness or godliness, was educated in New College of Oxford, and was a fellow of the said college; and afterwards he was chosen a fellow of the college of Winchester. He was esteemed a Presbyterian; and was called to be pastor to a people at Gosport in Hampshire, where he shined, though he had not the public oil. The substance of these meditations was there spun out of his own experiences; he having , been much exercised with troubled thoughts, and that for many years, and had, by many mortifying methods, sought peace of conscience; but, notwithstanding all, his troubles still increased. Whereupon he consulted others, particularly Mr. Baxter, whose writings he had been much conversant with; who thereupon told Mr. Marshall, he took them too legally. He afterwards consulted an eminent divine, Dr. T. G., giving him an account of the state of his soul, and particularizing his sins, which lay heavy on his conscience; who, in his reply, told him, he had forgot to mention the greatest sin of all, the sin of unbelief, in not believing on the Lord Jesus for the remission of his sins, and sanctifying his nature. Hereupon he set himself to the studying and preaching Christ, and attained to eminent holiness, great peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Mr. Marshall’s dying words were these, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord;” having but just before said to those about him, “That he now died in the full persuasion of the truth, and, in the comfort of that doctrine which he had preached;”—the sum whereof is contained in the ensuing discourse.