Davids Repentance, Sermon · Commentary 8
VERSE. 7. 7. Purge mee with hiſſope, and I ſhall be cleane: waſh me, and I ſhall be whiter then ſnow.
Dauid renewes his former requeſt. v. 2.DAuid hauing made his requeſt vntounto GOD for mercy, for the pardon of his ſins: and vſed a reaſon from the free confeſſion and acknowledgement of them to moue the Lord to pitty him; doth heere againe renue his ſuit and humble requeſt vntounto God: and hee praieth here vntounto God for two great benefites: Firſt, Iuſtification in the free pardon of his ſinnes, and imputation of CHRISTS righteouſneſſe verſe 7. And ſecondly, for Sanctification and Reformation of the whole man, verſe 10.
And firſt, verſe 7. he intreates the Lord for the free pardon of his ſins, that GOD would cleanſe and waſh him from them in the bloud of Chriſt the Lambe of GOD: and ſecondly, hee prayeth for the bleſſed fruite of Iuſtification, namely peace of conſcience, and ioy in the ſpirite, verſe 8. for till the conſcience hauehave a Certificate from GOD, and a bleſſed pardon ſealed and applied by faith, it cannot be at quiet.
Firſt, ſeeing Dauid had prayed before vnro God for mercy and pardon of his ſinnes: and heere doth againe renue the ſame Petition, and in other words puts vp his requeſt vntounto God for the ſame: Hence we learne that the pardon of our ſinnes is a ſingular fauour and mercy of GOD beſtowed vponupon vsus for CHRISTS ſake: which appeares in that Dauid ſo often in a Pſalme prayes for it,Pardon of ſinne the greateſt mercy. therefore it is a great and ineſtimable merciemercy, and hardly come by: not ſo eaſily as moſt men thinke. Dauid ſheweth how great a bleſſing it is, in that hee preferred it before a Kingdome, and though hee was a King, yet he pronounceth him bleſſed, not that is a King, as in the 32. Pſalme 1, 2. verſes, But whoſe ſinne is pardoned. God hath ſent his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt to bleſſe you, in turning eueryevery one of you from your euill wayes, a bleſſing of all bleſſings.
Vſe. 1 Seeing remiſſion of ſinnes is ſo great a bleſſing, and hardly come by: Firſt, we learne that wee eſteeme of this aboue all other things in the world: if the queſtion were asked what wee deſire in the whole world, we ſhould anſwere with feeling the pardon of our ſinnes:Mat. 16.26. and therefore we ſhould deſire and ſeeke this bleſſing aboue all other: if thou bee as poore as Iob, and haſt this, thou art a rich and a happy man.
Vſe 2 Seeing Dauid vſeth ſo many praiers vntounto GOD, and vſeth ſuch reaſons to moue the Lord to pitty him, and to pardon his ſinnes: Hence we ſee that thoſe are much deceiued, who thinke it is the eaſieſt matter in the world to get the pardon of their ſinnes: and if they can but ſay, Lord hauehave mercy on mee, all is well: no, no, Lord hauehave merciemercy on mee, will not ſerue the turne: good things are hardly come by without great trauell, labour, and ſtudy, how much more is it hard to get the pardon of our ſins, the ſaluation of our ſoules, and life eternall: And therefore let vsus know, that to get the pardon of our ſins, we muſt take great paines, labour, and diligence, wee muſt ſhed many a teare in bewailing them, they will coſt vsus many a ſobbe, and many a ſigh, many a prayer and requeſt vntounto God vponupon our knees: and then if wee get it, oh it is a wonderfull fauour and merciemercy of GOD, it will make vsus happy and bleſſed for euermore.
Partes of the verſe.Dauid makes two requeſts vntounto God: and withall ſhewes a twofold fruit and effect of his requeſts. Firſt, hee intreates the Lord to Purge him with hiſſope, and then it will come to paſſe, He ſhalbe cleane. Secondly, he deſireth the Lord to waſh him, and then it will follow, That hee ſhall be whiter then ſnow.
For the firſt Petition, Purge mee with hiſſope: In theſe wordes he alludeth to the Legall Ceremonies and maner of purging, vſed in the time of the Law, in the purifying of the Leaper, and of any perſon polluted; they were to dippe the bunch of hiſſope in blood or in water, and ſo ſprinckle it on the perſon to be purified,Leu. 14.6, 7 Num, 19.18 which ceremony was a Type and figure of the blood of IESVS CHRIST, who is that alone ſacrifice and Lambe of God, which taketh away the ſinnes of the world.
Now then, ſeeing that by this ſprinkling with hyſſope in the bloud of beaſtes is meant the ſprinckling with the blood of Ieſus Chriſt, when he ſaith, O Lord purge me with hyſſope, &c. it is all one as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid: O Lord, I am exceedingly polluted and ſtained with ſinne and vncleaneneſſe, and no Leaper was euer more vile and loathſome then I am now in thy ſight, neyther is there any water to waſh and purge me, but I beſeech thee of thy mercy to waſh me, and to beſprinkle my ſoule with the blood of IESVS CHRIST, that can alone take away my ſins, and ſo I ſhall be made cleane and pure againe.
Doctr. 1 Hence marke the miſerable and curſed fruit of ſinne:Sinne is a leprouſie. no leproſie did euer ſo defile the body of a man in the time of the Iews, as ſinne doth ſtaine, and defile both ſoule and body, no dunghill nor ſtincking carrion is ſo loathſome in the eies of man, as an vncleane ſinner is in the ſight of God till hee be waſhed and purged in the bloud of Chriſt.
This is the reaſon which the Lord vſed, Ioſhua 7.12. why Iſrael fell before their enemies, and he went not foorth with their Armies when they fell before the men of Ai, Therfore the children of Iſrael can not ſtand before their enemies; but hauehave turned their backes before their enemies, becauſe they are execrable: we ſee then the nature of ſinne, how it maketh a man abhominable and deteſtable in the ſight of God.
Ʋſe. 1 Seeing this is the curſed nature and fruit of ſinne, that it defileth and ſtaineth both bodie and ſoule, and maketh them more loathſome and vile then any toad or ſerpent, how ſhould wee abhorre ſinne and eueryevery wicked way: wee will bee loath to touch poyſon or ratteſ-bane, or any thing elſe wherein is danger: oh! ſin is ſuch ratteſ-bane as infecteth and poyſoneth both ſoule and body, and therefore let vsus ſhun ſinne and touch it not.
Vſe 2 When as wee bee defiled with ſin and ſo made filthy and vncleane in the ſight of God, and more vile then any Leaper, or dunghill, carrion, toade, or ſerpent: Oh let vsus pray with Dauid to be waſhed and purged from our filthineſſe, let vsus repent of all our ſinnes, bewaile our vncleanneſſe: let vsus by faith as a bunch of hyſſope beſprinckle our ſoules with the blood of Ieſus Chriſt.
Doctr. 2 The ceremonies vnderunder the Law were but to lead vsus vntounto Chriſt.Seeing Dauid deſireth to be purged with hyſſope: We learne hence that the Lord would not that men ſhould deſpiſe ſuch ceremonies and types of Chriſt, as he himſelfe commanded in the time of the Law: and though it might ſeeme a vaine and needleſſe thing to beſprinckle them with a bunch of hyſſope, dipped in the blood of a beaſt, yet ſeeing it was the… commandement of God, they did not deſpiſe this ceremony, being a type of the blood of Chriſt, when they could not ſee with bodily eyes the blood of Chriſt, it pleaſed god by ſuch ceremonies and types to helpe their faith, by ſprinckling the blood of a beaſt, to ſhew to them that they muſt be ſo ſprinckled in their ſoules with the bloud of Ieſus Chriſt.
Vſe. Obediēce required to GODS ordināces.Hence wee learne by the example of Dauid, and all the holy Fathers & Seruants of God in the time of the Lawe, to vſe all ſuch ſacraments and ceremonies as God commands in his word for the helping of our faith, we cannot ſee the bloud of Chriſt, nor touch it with our outward ſenſes; yet the Lord hath appoynted the Sacrament of Baptiſme; and the Supper of the Lord, that in them wee might ſee, feele, touch, and taſte as it were the body and bloud of IEVS CHRIST: And therefore all thoſe which deſpiſe theſe Sacraments making little or no accompt of them, ſhew that they deſpiſe the ordinance of God, and ſo make light of that which is ordained for the good of their ſoules.
Doctr. 3 Marke further,Chriſts bloud alone doth purge our ſinnes. Hebr. 9.9. 1. Ioh. 1.7. Rev. 1.5. Iohn 1.29. 1. Pet. 1.2. when that Dauid prayeth the Lord to purge him with hyſſope, the word ſignifies to purge by ſacrifice; euen the ſacrifice of the Sonne of GOD, and by his death and bloud-ſheding to purge his ſins away, ſo as he confeſſeth there is nothing in heauen or earth, that is of force to purge him from his ſinnes and vncleaneneſſe, but the blood of Chriſt alone. It is not the bloud of bullockes, lambs, and goats that can waſh away the leaſt ſpot of ſinne, but onelyonly the bloud of the immaculate Lambe Chriſt Ieſus, and to him all the Sacrifices had relation and ſhadowed out Ieſus Chriſt the true Paſcall Lamb vntounto vsus.The vſe of the ceremonies vnderunder the Law.
And this was the reaſon why Dauid maketh mention of hyſſope that God would purge him with hiſſope, becauſe God in the time of the Law ordained this ceremony for a confirmation of their faith and to help the people of the Iewes to the better ſight and knowledge of the promiſed Meſſiah; for ſeeing CHRIST was not yet come into the world, and they could not ſee the worke of redemption as yet performed: the Lord would leade them by theſe ceremonies vntounto Ieſus Chriſt the promiſed Meſſiah, that they might ſee him as it were before their eyes: for when they ſaw a beaſt ſlaine, and the blood ſpilt,Note. then they tooke a bunch of hyſſope, dipt it in the blood of the beaſt, and beſprinckled them that offered the ſame with the bloud: they were thereby taught, that euen ſo muſt Ieſus Chriſt the Sonne of GOD and promiſed Meſſiah be ſlaine and put to death, his bloud ſhed for their ſinnes, and they muſt by faith as a bunch of hyſſope beſprinckle their ſoules with the blood of Chriſt for the pardon of their ſinnes.
It is true indeede, that the Lord hath eaſed vsus in the time of the Goſpel of all thoſe old and ancient ceremonies; neyther is it the …ill of God that we ſhould be clogged with the dead and needleſſe,Galat. 4. and beggarly rudiments and ceremonies of men which become not the ſimplicitie of the Goſpel. But yet hee hath in merciemercy appoynted certaine helpes and meanes to leade vsus vntounto Chriſt Ieſus, as the two Sacraments to help our faith, for wee being as yet carnall (alas) wee can not beholde no more then wee ſee: And therefore the Lord hath appoynted them as helpes to leade vsus to Chriſt, to ſet him before our eyes in the Water in Baptiſme, and Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper, that ſo our faith ſhould bee confirmed thereby, and wee might euen ſee Chriſt Ieſus before our eyes: And therefore as Dauid did carefully vſe ſuch helpes and ceremonies as GOD commanded, for the ſtrengthening of their Faith: ſo let vsus bee as carefull, to vſe the helps that God hath left vsus vnderunder the Goſpel, for the ſtrengthening of our weake faith.
[Purge me with hyſſope]
The meaning of the word….THe meaning is this, accept of that moſt perfect and euerlaſting ſacrifice of Ieſus Chriſt for the puniſhment due to my ſins: As if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, O Lord, I confeſſe I hauehave ſinned exceedingly, I hauehave bin borne in ſin, and hauehave by murder and adultery deſerued to be condemned eternally, and to hauehave the curſe and puniſhment due to my ſin to be caſt vponupon me: but I beſeech thee in mercy to accept of the death and bloudſhedding of thy Sonne my Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt for the ſatisfaction due to my ſinnes.
And whereas the Iuſtification of a ſinner in the ſight of God ſtands on two parts: firſt, remiſſion and pardon of ſin: ſecondly, the imputation of Chriſts righteouſnes, me thinks, the Prophet requires & begs both theſe at the hands of God; firſt to be purged, or as the word ſignifies, to purge (not by waſhing) but by ſacrificing, to appeaſe the wrath and anger of God by the bloud of Chriſt: ſecondly, when he prayeth to be waſhed, he deſireth to be made pure and righteous, not in his owne righteouſneſſe, but only in the righteouſneſſe and obedience of IESVS CHRIST imputed to him, and laide hold vponupon by faith.
Doctr. 4 Seeing Dauid intreates the Lord that hee would Purge him: Saluation is to bee ſought for onelyonly in Chriſt.that is, accept of the moſt perfect Sacrifice of Ieſus Chriſt, for the puniſhment due to his ſins: we learne that there is no Name giuen vnderunder Heauen, whereby a man ſhall be ſaued, but onelyonly in the name of Ieſus Chriſt;1. Iohn 1.7 1. Pet. 1.18 Reu. 1.5 it is not the bloud of Bullocks, Lambs, and Goates, that can waſh away the leaſt ſpot of ſin, but onelyonly the blood of the immaculate Lambe Chriſt IeIeſus; but of this before.
Vſe 1 Hence we ſee the endleſſe and vnſpeakeable mercy of God to miſerable men: who when no other means could bee found, no water or hearb could heale the ſoule of a ſinner, and waſh him from ſinne and the puniſhment of it, but onelyonly the precious bloud of the Sonne of GOD; was content to giuegive his owne Sonne to death for vsus:Iohn. 3.16. Rom. 8.32. which made Saint Iohn to admire it: And if God hath not failed vsus in this, but could rather be content to ſee his only Sonne put to death and hang on the Croſſe, then we ſhould periſh, how ſhould be deny any ſmaller and lighter matter… vntounto vsus?
Ʋſe 2 Beholde heere the greatneſſe and heynouſneſſe of mans ſinne, which could bee purged by no creature in heauen or earth, but onelie by the bloud of Ieſus Chriſt alone: if all Men and Angells ſhould hauehave died and beene caſt for euer into hell fire, they could not ſatisfie the infinite wrath of God for one ſinne, but the heart bloud of Ieſus Chriſt muſt bee ſhed, elſe we can hauehave no pardon.
Vſe. 3 This condemnes that wicked and erronious Doctrine of the Papiſts, who teach, indeed CHRIST by his death hath ſatisfied Gods iuſtice for the fault and eternal puniſhment due to our ſinnes: but men muſt eyther in this lif… by workes, or elſe in Purgatorie ſatisfie Gods iuſtice for temporall puniſhments: now then what is this but to make the ſacrifice and death of Chriſt imperfect, when as it muſt bee patched and peeced with mens meri…es: but wee beleeue and hold that Chriſts death is a ſufficient ſacrifice for all our ſinnes.
Vſe 4 Would you then hauehave the pardon of your ſinnes,Rom. 6. Gal. 3. eueryevery ſinne deſerues death and the curſe of GOD: Now there is no way but this, to beleeue in Ieſus Chriſt, to imbrace him by faith, that ſo God the Father may for his ſake pardon our ſinnes, accept of his death and paſſion for the puniſhment of them all.
And that we may be purged from our ſins, both the fault and puniſhment, by the bloud and ſacrifice of Chriſt, we muſt firſt repent of them, with Dauid be grieued for them, bewaile them, amend our liues, and become new creatures in Chriſt Ieſus, wee muſt beg for pardon of them at the hands of God.
Secondly, beſides wee muſt bee ſprinckled with hyſſope, that is, as in the time of the Law, they dipped the hyſſope into the bloud of the beaſt, and ſo beſprinckled the perſon to be cleanſed, euen ſo muſt we by faith as it were with a bunch of hyſſop apply the bloud of Chriſt, and by ſaith beſprinckle our defiled conſciences, it will purge vsus from ſinne, and appeaſe the anger of GOD for the puniſhment.
But if men either doe not repent of them and leaue their ſinnes, or doe not come with Faith, to applie the blood of CHRIST, they can not hauehave pardon: As if there were a ſoueraine plaiſter to cure any ſore; if a man doe not apply it to his wound, but let it lie in a box, it will doe him no good: ſo vnleſſe wee apply the blood of Chriſt to our wounds and ſores by faith (alas) it cannot help vsus: And as the woman with the bloodie iſſue touched Chriſts garment, and was healed; ſo if wee can by faith touch the blood of Chriſt, and apply it to our ſelues, it will heale all the bleeding wounds of ſinne.
The ſecond requeſt is that GOD would waſh him & make him pure, not imputing his ſinnes vntounto him: but couering them in the death and obedience of his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt. And therefore in the ſecond part of this verſe he prayeth for the imputation of Chriſts righteouſnes: namely, that God would not onelyonly remit the puniſhment due to his ſinne, but looke vponupon him as he is in CHRIST, couered with his rightouſneſſe, and that God would accompt him iuſt for Chriſts obedience, holineſſe, ſatisfaction and righteouſneſſe: for when God beholds a poore ſinner couered with the righteouſneſſe, holineſſe and obedience of his Son Chriſt,Pſ. 32.1.2. then he accompts him as no ſinner, but iuſt and righteous: Euen as a man beholding any thing through a red glaſſe it appeares red or of the ſame colour: ſo if the Lord looke on vsus in Chriſt we appeare holy and righteous before him.
Doctr. 1 Whereas the Prophet Dauid intreates the Lord to waſh him, hee ſhewes that hee was defiled with ſin and ſtained with vncleaneſſe: and ſo ſtood in great neede of Gods mercy to cleanſe his filthy ſoule and defiled conſcience now polluted with moſt vile Adultery, and filthy vncleaneneſſe:Sinne defiles a mā. that his ſoule was now beſprinkled with the innocent bloud of that faithfull ſeruant and loyall Subiect Vrias the Hittite: And as it was with Dauid, ſinne infected him, made him vile and loathſome, filthy and abhominable in the ſight of God: Euen ſo it doth begrime the faces of the beſt of Gods children, it ſtaines and pollutes them both in ſoule and body: yea, no carrion is more loathſome and odious then a ſinner defiled and polluted with ſinne is in the ſight of God.
The leproſie was a loathſome diſeaſe, it infected the body, & the very garments, yea the ſtones and timber: But this ſpirituall leproſy ſinne infects the whole man, body and ſoule: yea it infects heauen and earth, and all other creatures in the world, and there is nothing that can take away the ſpots and blemiſhes of ſinne but onelyonly the precious bloud of Ieſus Chriſt, laid hold on by true faith.
Ʋſe 1 Well, ſeeing all of vsus are thus defiled with ſinne as Dauid was, in ſoule and body, let vsus deſire to bee waſhed: let vsus bewaile them, loath and hate them, intreate the Lord that he would not impute our ſinnes vntounto vsus, but couer them vnderunder the robe of Chriſts righteouſneſſe: And that we ſhould abhor eueryevery ſinne f… this cauſe, becauſe it defiles vsus, it pollutes vsus, and makes vnworthy to appeare in Gods preſence.
Ʋſe 2 Seing Dauid, though an holy Prophet of God, a man after Gods own heart; yet deſires the Lord to w…ſh him from his ſinnes and to couer them in the obedience of CHRIST IESVS appplied by faith: wee ſee that no man is able to ſtand before the face of God in his owne righteouſneſſe, in his owne workes, or wothineſſe: for if any might, who might better hauehave done it then Dauid▪ a man truly ſanctified, a holy Prophet, a man after Gods owne heart, yea the Prophet Eſay ſaith, that all our righteouſneſſe is no better then a ſtayned clout full of bloud and all pollution:Eſay. 64 6. And Paul deſires that hee may not bee found in his owne righteouſneſſe, and worthineſſe,Phil. 3.9. 1. Cor. 1 30 at the day of Iudgement but in the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt laid hold on by faith. And therefore let vsus renounce all our owne goodneſſe, or worthineſſe, and accompt all but dung in reſpect of CHRIST and his righteouſneſſe: And as for the Church of Rome wee may ſee their intollerable pride, that they do ſo much reſt and relye vponupon their owne goodneſſe, and worthineſſe, merites, and righteouſneſſe, to ſtand vponupon it & appeare in it for remiſſion of ſins, and life eternall: But (alas) if Paul, Dauid and all the Saints of God abhorre themſelues in duſt and aſhes; deſire to be purged and waſhed and couered in the obedience and righteouſneſſe of Ieſus Chriſt, yea count all their owne righteouſneſſe but as dung, and dare not appeare in it before the ſeate of Gods Iudgement, but in the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt. ſhall any Papiſt of them dare to ſtand before Gods Iudgement in his owne righteouſneſſe, and worthineſſe: no, no; hee ſhall tremble, and quake, and not abide ſo great and glorious a preſence.
[I ſhall bee cleane: I ſhall bee whiter then ſnow.]
IN theſe words the Prophet ſhewes the euent and iſſue of this, when a man doth truely repent, is reconciled to God in Ieſus Chriſt, and is waſhed from his ſinnes by faith in Chriſts bloud; then hee is made of a moſt vile and loathſome ſinner a moſt bleſſed and holy child of God: of a filthy vncleane lim of the deuill, a bleſſed member of Ieſus Chriſt: beautifull and glorious in the eyes of God being couered in Chriſts righteouſneſſe.
Doctr. 1 Seeing Dauid ſaith,The woful eſtate of al naturall men. when God ſhal pardon him his ſinnes on his true repentance, and bee reconciled vntounto him couering his ſinnes in the merites and obedience of Chriſt, Then hee ſhall bee cleane: Then before a man repent, be reconciled to God by Ieſus Chriſt, and bee purged from his ſinnes: hee is moſt vncleane and filthy, vile, loathſome and abhominable in the ſight of God: and indeede ſo he is; no carrion worſe, no Toad ſo vgly, nor Serpent ſo full of poyſon as a filthy ſinner polluted with ſinne till hee repent, get pardon of them and be reconciled to God by Chriſt: I pray you take knowledge of this Doctrine, whatſoeuer thou art, high, low, rich, poore, yong, old, Prince, or Noble: till thou repent, till thou turne to God, till thou get the pardon of thy ſinnes and bee waſhed by faith in the bloud of IESVS CHRIST, thou art moſt vile and miſerable, thou art moſt vncleane & filthy, thou art more vgly then the venomous Toad, more loathſome then the Serpent, more filthy and ſtinking …hen the Carrion: yea no creature is ſo loathſome before God as a filthy ſinner that liues in ſin without repentance, that is not waſhed and purged from them in the bloud of Chriſt.
Ʋſe. 1 Well, ſeeing this is the wofull and miſerable eſtate of all impenitent ſinners, how ſhould this moue eueryevery one, with ſpeed, to tepent, to turne to God, to ſeeke to bee reconciled to God by Ieſus Chriſt, to deſire pardon of his ſinnes, to bee waſhed and cleanſed from them all, in and by the bloud and merites of Chriſt; for this know, I ſay, till thou art reconciled to God, doſt repent, art waſhed and cleanſed, thy caſe is fearefull, thou wert better bee a Toad then a man without this: thou mayſt go in Silke and Veluet, in gay and golden apparell, thou maiſt hauehave a faire body, perfume thee with ſweete ſmels, &c. but till thou repent, thou art filthy and loathſome in GODS ſight.
Oh! how ſhould this ſerue to plucke down the pride of many impenitent ſinners? Men and women thinke highly of themſelues, ruffle it out in ſilke and veluet, ſtarching and waſhing; but all this while they know not that their poore ſoules are loathſome in Gods ſight, that God hates them, and cannot abide them. Oh then be waſhed, bee cleanſed in the bloud of Chriſt, which alone can waſh away ſinne.
O that men would remember that ſaying of Chriſt: Thou art poore, blinde, miſerable, and naked. Then they would ſay with Iob: Eſay 1.16. Reu. 3.14. Iob. 42.6.I abhorre my ſelfe and repent in duſt and aſhes: Then they would neuer giuegive any reſt to their ſoules till they hauehave repented, got pardon, bee reconciled, and waſhed from their filthy ſinnes.
Doctr. 2 Seeing Dauid acknowledgeth, that when he ſhall repent, get pardon of his ſinnes, be reconciled to God, bee waſhed from the filthineſſe of ſinne: then he ſhall be cleane and white, yea moſt white, euen as ſnow,
Hence we learne, that as a filthy ſinner, that liues and goes on ſtill in ſinne without repentance, there is no creature more vile, blacke, and vncleane: So the child of God that doth repent, that is waſhed in the bloud of Chriſt, reconciled to God, hee is a bleſſed and glorious creature, moſt beautifull and faire in the ſight of God: not by any goodneſſe, or worthines of his owne, but by the mercy of GOD ſo accounting vsus;Cant. 1.7. & 4.1. Ezek. 16.9 10.11.12, &c. Reu. 3.18 1. Cor. 6.10.11. and by the merites and worthines of Ieſus Chriſt, in whoſe righteouſnes wee be righteous, and by whoſe merites and worthines we are couered. The Saints of GOD goe in long white roabes, which are made white in the bloud of the Lambe.
Ʋſe. 1 Seeing this is the bleſſed and glorious eſtate of thoſe that do truly repent, be reconciled to God, imbrace and beleeue in Ieſus Chriſt, are waſhed and cleanſed from their ſinnes in his bloud, and couered in his righteouſnes, O how ſhould it moue eueryevery man and woman to turne to God! to forſake their euill wayes and their filthy ſinnes! to put on the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, to beleeue, to become the ſonnes and daughters of God. It is a goodly thing, to be ſon to an earthly King, to be cloathed in cloth of gold, &c. But if wee compare this with the bleſſed and glorious eſtate of Gods children, it is but dung and beggery, it is but like rotten ragges, and beggars clouts, taken off the dunghill: Hee that is wiſe ſhall ſhine as the firmament, Dan. 12.and hee that conuerts many to righteouſneſſe ſhall ſhine as the Sun in the firmament: oh! then againe, and againe, let vsus repent, let vsus bee reconciled to God, get this wedding garment, which will make vsus beautifull before God.
Ʋſe 2 Another vſe is this, ſeeing that the ſtate of Gods children euen in this world is ſo bleſſed and glorious, ſo beautifull and excellent, being reconciled to God, waſhed in the bloud of CHRIST, and cloathed with the moſt pure robe of Chriſts righteouſneſſe: Here is matter of comfort to all the poore children of GOD whom the would is not worthy of, alas they are eſteemed as beggars, they bee eſteemed as vile, and baſe, miſerable, and caſt-awaies, by vngodly men, they are made as the dung in the ſtreets, and the off-ſcouring of the worlds, & men euen tread and trample them vnderunder their feete: now what is that which may comfort the hearts of Gods children? ſurely this, that though they ſeeme vile, baſe, and miſerable in the blind eyes of ſinnefull men: yet they bee moſt white, beautifull, and glorious, in the eyes of GOD our heauenly Father: though the world hate vsus, contemne vsus, be a weary of vsus, loath and abhorre vsus: let vsus remember the Lord loues vsus, takes delight in vsus, we are moſt faire and beautifull in his ſight. They do not ſee what wee be,1. Ioh. 3.2. they cannot know that wee are little Princes, ſonnes, and great heires of the kingdome of heauen, the ſonnes and daughters of the great God: and therefore this may teach vsus patience, ſeeing we know that God loues vsus, and that we are deere vntounto him, though the world hate vsus, ſo it was with many Prophets of God, and true beleeuers,Heb. 11. whom the world … not worthy of.
Vſe. 3 Laſtly, heere is matter of great comfort to great and grieuous ſinners, that hauehave committed many and grieuous ſinnes, that if they will vnfainedly repent and turne to GOD, imbrace, and lay hold on CHRIST, God will make them of the curſed fire-brands of Hell, heires of the kingdome of Heauen: of the limbe of the Diuell, the members of Ieſus Chriſt: of adulterers and filthy ſinners, ſuch as Dauid was, chaſte and pure, and the holy ſeruants of God: And this the Lord promiſes men, that if they will repent, turne to God, and forſake their ſinnefull wayes,Eſay. 1.18.19. Then though your ſinnes were as redde as ſearlet. I will make them as white as ſnow: Though they were as crimſon, yet I will make them cleane as wooll: That is, though men bee guiltie of bloudie finnes, notorious euills, as Dauid of murder, vncleannes, whooredome, adultery, couetouſneſſe, ſwearing, contempt of the word of God, &c. Yet if thou haſt the grace to repent, certainely the Lord will moſt thorowly purge and waſh away all thy ſinnes, hee will ſeale thee a generall pardon of them all, if thou wilt onelyonly repent and lay holde vponupon Chriſt.
Oh! then let me ſpeake vntounto you in the name of God: haſt thou been a vile blaſphemer? haſt thou beene a contemner of the Word? a perſecuter of Gods children? haſt thou been a cruell murderer, oppreſſor, vſurer? haſt thou beene an adulterer, a filthie liuer? Well, if thou wilt now repent, turne to God, bewaile thy ſins, beg pardon of thē, if thou wilt renounce, leaue and forſake them, become a new creature in Chriſt Ieſus, and amend thy ſi…full life: loe, God doth this day offer mercy vntounto thee, he wil embrace thee as he did the Prodigall child: he will waſh thee in the bloud of his owne Sonne:Luke 15. hee will couer thee in his righteouſnes: hee will pardon all thy ſinnes, and neuer lay them to thy charge: he will make of thee that art a vile and miſerable ſinner, a very fire-brand of hel, a bleſſed member of Ieſus Chriſt. And therefore let not the number or greatneſſe of thy ſinnes hinder thee; for if thou canſt repent, God wi… pardon them all, and receiue thee to mercy: Oh then, if thou wilt not for all this repent and turne to God, leaue and forſake thy ſins and impieties, become a new creature in Chriſt Ieſus, but lie in thy ſinnes, and wallow in the filth of them ſtill, and harden thy heart againſt all the ſweete and gracious offers of mercy: How art thou worthy to periſh,2. Cor. 5.18. if thou ſhalt deſpiſe ſo great ſaluation?