forth the grace of God, and the love of Christ, which constrains to purity: "Having these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness." (3.) The water of the Spirit's saving influences; this water washes efficiently. It is only through the Spirit, that we mortify the deeds of the body. O sirs, employ the Holy Ghost to wash, to cleanse, to purify, regenerate, and sanctify you: we are said to be washed, justified and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. It is the work of the Spirit to cleanse and purify; it is his function, it is his office, and he loves to be employed. (4.) There is the crimson water of the Redeemer's blood; and this water washes meritoriously: this is the fountain opened to the house of David, and inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness, Zech. xiii. 1. The blood of the Lamb is a fountain; it is not a rivulet, but a fountain, gushing out with freedom; it is not a fountain sealed, but a fountain open; every man, every woman is welcome to wash and purify themselves at it; welcome to bathe in it, till they be whiter than the snow: It is open, not only to the house of David, the royal family: but to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; to the poorest and meanest of the visible church. This is the river that makes glad, because it makes clean the city of God. O sirs, run to this blood of the Lamb; wash there every day. There is an original washing in the day of conversion: this is an initial washing that many hearing me stand in need of: O but you stand in need to be plunged well then, in a day of power, that the filthy nature may be washed and changed. There is also a progressive daily-washing, from the daily-pollutions that are contracted; and this washing the godly themselves daily need: though they need not to be regenerated again, or a new regeneration of their nature; yet they need always a new conversion and washing of their heart and way; hence Christ saith to Peter, John xiii. 10. "He that is washed, needeth not save to wash his feet." Sins contracted, by daily unwatchfulness, put the people of God under a necessity of daily-washing, though not a washing of the whole person; for that is done in 1 regeneration, wherein the state is changed; "He that is washed, needeth not save to wash his feet;" the feet of his affections, the feet of his conversation, the steps of his daily walk. But there are multitudes that were never washed at all; they must wash head, and heart, and all; their nature and state need washing, as well as their heart and life. In a word, employ the Lord Jesus to do all the work, who said in that context, " If I wash thee not, thou hast no part in me." Know you cannot wash yourselves by any of these means, unless he put to his hand, and do the whole work: put your polluted souls into his hand, saying, "Lord, wash me; apply thy cleansing blood by "the power of the eternal Spirit." SERMON IX. PROV. XXX. 12. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. [The Second Sermon on this Text.] IT contributes much to set forth the excellency of the scripture as being indeed the word of the infinitely wise God, that it points out the lively picture of people, in all times, and ages, and generations: insomuch that the scriptural account of people is never out of date. It were well if the world were mended, since the spirit of God dictated this sentence, so many thousand years ago: nay, but I think it is as applicable to the present generation, as if it had never concerned any other. Try it when you will, sirs, either with respect to yourselves. or the generality of people round about you, and you will find it to be the very image and picture of the day. As face answering face in a glass; so, in the lookingglass of this text, you may see your own face, man, woman; and the face of a multitude in our day. Was there ever more filthiness and impurity of thought, word, and action of heart, speech, and behaviour; and yet in what a proud, self-conceited, self-justifying delusion and dream are many into; as if they were pure, good, civil, sober, honest, and righteous enough. Well may it be said, There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes; and yet is not washed from their filthiness." Having, in the preceding discourse, opened up and applied the first doctrinal observation we laid down from the words, we shall now proceed to the second doctrine. OBSER. II. That purity is an excellent thing, and of absolute necessity to denominate a true saint, a true Christian. In the handling of this proposition, we propose, through divine aid, to observe the following method and order, I. Touch a little at the nature of this purity. II. Mention some of the qualities of it. I. We shall return to the First of these, viz. To touch a little at the nature of this purity. And what we intend to offer upon this head, may be comprised in these two things. 1 The removal of the filthiness. 2. The conferring of cleanness. 1st, This purity lies in the removal of the filthiness that the text speaks of. The man that is pure is washed from his filthiness in the blood of Christ. And there is a threefold filthiness that is washed away. 1. The filthiness of our nature. We are naturally unclean and defiled; for, That which is born of the flesh is flesh, John iii. 6. And, who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Now it is the purifying grace of God in Christ, that only can remove this defilement of our nature; "Such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God," 1 Cor. vi. 11. He saveth by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, Tit. iii. 3, 4, 5. Now, how far original pollution is removed, in those whom the Lord purifies, we need not dispute: it is certain, the soul is made fair and beautiful in the sight of God; though the sin that doth defile, remains, yet its habitual defilement is taken away, when the person is purified. 2. The filthiness of our person, in actual transgression, is taken away in this work of sanctification and purification. There is a defilement attending every actual sin: Now, it is the blood of Christ that cleanseth from all sin. Besides the defilement of the nature, which he purges, Tit. i. 15 he takes away the defilement of our persons, by actual follies; for," By one offering he perfected for ever them that are sanctified," Heb. x. 14. 3. The filthiness and defilement of our duties is also taken away, in this work of purification. There is a defilement arises from our duties; unbelief and formality drop in into our best duties; we may be ashamed of our choicest performances. God hath promised, concerning the good works of the saints, that their works shall follow them, Rev. xiv. 13. Truly, if they were to be measured by the rule, as they come from us, it might be well for the saints, that they might be buried, for ever but the Lord Jesus Christ, as their High-priest, bears the iniquities, the guilt, and provocation which, in strict and severe justice, doth attend them, Exod. xxviii, 38. He bears the iniquities of our holy things; and not only so, but washes away all filth and defilement; and adds sweet incense, that they may be accepted. Whatever is of the Spirit, of himself, of grace, that remains: but whatever is of flesh, self, and unbelief, that is hay and stubble, and that he consumes and takes away; insomuch, that the good works of the believer shall meet him one day with such changed countenance, that he shall not know them; that which seemed black, deformed, and defiled, shall appear beautiful and glorious; they shall not be afraid of them, but rejoice to see them follow them. This cleansing of the man's nature, person, and duties, from all defilement, is owing to the death of Christ meritoriously, to the power of the Holy Ghost efficiently: he is that pure water wherewith we are sprinkled from all our sins: that Spirit of judgment and burning, that takes away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purges the blood of Jerusalem from the midst of her, Isa. vi. 4. But then, 2dly, This purity lies not only in the removal of this filthiness and defilement; but in the conferring of cleanAnd this is also in a threefold gradation. 1. When God purifies a person, he gives the Spirit of purity and holiness to dwell in the man; our renewing is of the Holy Ghost, who is shed on us abundantly through Christ, Tit. iii. 6. The principal thing in sanctification and purification, is the indwelling of the purifying Spirit; and our following after the guidance thereof. The Spirit is the well within, the fountain of purity: "I will put my Spirit within you; and cause you to walk in my statutes," Ezek. xxxvi. 26. No pure and holy step, till once this pure and holy Spirit be put within men. 2. He gives habitual grace; the principle of grace opposite to the principle of sin that is in our nature; this is that incorruptible seed that dwells in the man whom the Lord purifies. This grace, according to the distinct faculties of the soul where it is, or the distinct object about which it is exercised, receives various names and appellations, though all be but one new principle of life in the understanding it is light; in the will, it is obedience: in the affections, it is love; and in all it is faith: but still one and the same habit of grace. 3. He gives actual influences, for the performance of every spiritual duty; for, though a man be purified in both the former respects, by having the spirit dwelling in him, and a principle and habit of grace infused; yet, even to such as have both these, Christ saith, that without him they can do nothing; that is, without new influences of grace, new supplies, and motions, and operations of the Spirit. They cannot live and spend upon the old stock; for every new act they must have a new influence; and the spirit that dwells in the man, must work in him. And as he hath implanted grace, so he must draw forth grace into exercise; and work in us both to will and to do, Phil. ii. 13.-Thus you have |