The Difference Between the Spots of the Godly and of the Wicked, Sermon 1
The Firſt SERMON. July the 6th, 1645.
Deut. 32. 5.
Their ſpot is not the ſpot of his Children.
THE words read, is a part of Moſes Song, that he ſung a little before he was to die; (like the Swan that ſings ſweeteſt when Death approaches) The Scope and End of this Song of Moſes, it was to leave a Teſtimony behind him after he ſhould be gone, of the goodneſs, and mercy, and faithfulneſs of God towards this people; and of their ſinfulneſs, and perverſneſs toward; him again; to the end, that if great evils ſhould befal them after he was gone, they ſhould have no cauſe to ſpeak ill of God, or of his Servant Moſes. You have brought us to a fair Land, you gave us many fair Promiſes, that God would be our God, and be gracious to us, and that he would never leave us; yet ſee what befalls us. Moſes now leaves this on purpoſe behind him, for ever to ſtop their mouths; as if Moſes ſhould ſay, It's true, the Lord hath made me an Inſtrument of bringing you out of Egypt, and by me hath made many Promiſes to you, to encourage you; and hath choſen you to be a peculiar people, and led you along all this while: But, if evils do befal you, if you be brought into a ſad, and diſtreſſed Condition after I am dead and gone; Remember what I leave behind me, and know, that God is to be juſtified in All, and his Words is to be juſtified; but you have ſinned and rebelled againſt God, and have brought upon your ſelves all the evil that is come upon you. This is the Scope of thi… Song of Moſes.
He leaves this by way of a Song; for … was this 32d of Deut. in the Heb: a Song like one of David's Pſalms; and he leaves … by way of a Song, that they might the bette… remember it, and teach their Children the v… ry words of it. And he begins in a very elegant way; Give ear, oh ye Heavens, and will ſpeak; and hear O Earth, the words of my mouth. Why Moſes, there was a time thou ſaidſt, thou was't not eloquent? but that was becauſe he would excuſe himſelf from work: But here it appears that he was very eloquent; Give ear, O Heavens, and hearken, O Earth, as if Moſes ſhould ſay, That, that I am ſpeaking of this people (that are a wretched and ſtouthearted people) will not be regarded; but Heaven and Earth ſhall be witneſs againſt them; the Heavens and the Earth ſhall hear. Though what's ſpoken out of the Word by way of reprehenſion of a ſinful people, may be neglected and paſt by; yet know, that there is an Impreſſion upon the Heavens and Earth; and rather then the Lord will want witneſſes, Heaven and Earth ſhall come to witneſs againſt that people.
After his Preface, which is in the two firſt verſes, He begins with lifting up of the Name of God; Becauſe I will publiſh the Name of the Lord, Aſcribe the Greatneſs unto our God. He is the Rock, his Work is perfect; for all his waies are Judgment: a God of Truth, and without Iniquity, Juſt and Right is he: As if he ſhould ſay, Whatſoever becomes of you, yet the Name of God is Great and Glorious.—And it's a good way to convince and humble ſinners, by lifting up their hearts to ſee the Glory of the Great God, with whom they have to do, againſt whom they have ſinned—And it was an excellent Argument of Moſes's Faith when he was to die; yet he could bleſs himſelf, as it were, in God—as if he ſhould ſay, Well, the Lord hath carried me through many Changes and Troubles, and many Afflictions, varieties of Conditions; and what yet God will do with his people, I know not; but this I am ſure, he is a Great God, and Bleſſed; and he is a Rock, and his work is Perfect, and all his waies are Judgment, a God of Truth, without Iniquity, Juſt and Right is he: I am ſure, whatſoever becomes of me, whatſoever bec…mes of the people; yet God is to be acknowledged, Holy, Righteous, Juſt, Perfect, Great and Good in all his Waies. O! 'tis good to have our heats ſo confirmed alwaies in God, to keep good thoughts of God, to have God high in our thoughts and hearts, whatſoever changes o… ſtate we meet withal in this world.
But then he comes upon them, having lifted up God, and juſtified God, That they have corrupted themſelves; they have forſaken this Bleſſed and Glorious God that hath bee ſo true to them in all his waies.
Corrupted themſelves! you will ſay, who is not corrupted? who is not without ſin? O but were it but onelyonly ſome human frailty, were not ſo much; but they have ſo corrupte… themſelves, that Their ſpot is not the ſpot of my Children; It is beyond that could have been expected; for thoſe that had ſo near a Relation to God as this people had! they are beſpotted and defiled with their ſin, and ſo, as this ſpot of theirs is not the ſpot of his Children. Thus you have the ſcope of the words, and how they came in.
Their ſpot. The word tranſlated here ſpot, ſignifies a blemiſh, a fault; 'tis the ſame word that you have in the 17th of this Book, i. e. Thou ſhalt not ſacrifice unto the Lord thy God, any Bullock or Sheep wherein is blemiſh, or any ill-favouredneſs. But we know what the Engliſh word is; Their ſpot; the ſpot of their ſin; that ſin of theirs; that blemiſh is not the ſpot of his Children: What though the Children of God have ſpots, while they live in this world? they have many ſins that are defiling: But, the ſpots of theſe men is of another nature, it is not the ſpot of his Children.
There are Three Doctrinal points in theſe words; the firſt two implyed, the third expreſſed: The two that are implyed, are theſe:
1. Doct. Firſt, That … is a ſpot.
2. Doct. Secondly, That even the Children of God while they live in this world, have their ſpots.
3. Doct. Thirdly, (Which is the main and ſcope of the words) That there's a great deal of difference between the ſins and ſpots of wicked and ungodly men, and the ſpots of Gods Children.
That's that, that I aim at in the choice of theſe words, To ſhew the difference between the ſins of wicked men, and the ſins of the Saints; And I have ch…ſen this Scripture to handle this point for theſe two end:
Firſt, To take away that great plea that moſt carnal hearts have, whereby they put off the power of the Word from their hearts, and are ſecure in their ſinful waies. Why, ſay they, can we be without ſin? are the beſt without ſin upon them? now becauſe none are without ſin, therefore they think to put it off, and grow ſecure; and upon this very thought, put off abundance of truths that they heard preached out of the word, that doth them no good at all, and meerly upon this Reaſon. Now were it that this plea were but taken from them, the word might prevail a great deal more upon them.
Now therefore, I hope before we have done this Scripture, I ſhall weaken, if not wholly take away that plea that ſecure-ſinners have for themſelves, becauſe all have their ſins: I ſhall ſhew thee, that there is a great deal of difference, perhaps, between thy ſin, and the ſins of a Child of God.
And then the ſecond End why I choſe this Scripture, is, for the comfort of Gods Children. On the one ſide, one man is ſecure and …ardened, becauſe though he hath ſins, why, all men have ſins: On the other ſide, thoſe that are Gods Children, becauſe they feel ſo much ſin in them as they do, they are afraid that they are not Gods Children; they are afraid that their ſins that are in them, doth argue them not to be Gods Children. Now they will have help likewiſe in the opening of this point, when they ſhall have laid before them that are the ſins of Gods Children, and the ſins of the wicked, and the differences of them.
I ſhall, for the making way to this great …oint, firſt ſpeak a little of the two former …hat are implyed, and no farther than to make …ay unto the third, which is the great point … the Text.
1 Doct. Firſt then, That ſin it is a ſpot; A …, in Jam. 1. 27. Pure Religion, and unde…d before God, and the Father, is this, To viſit … Fatherleſs and Widows in their affliction, …nd to keep himſelf unſpotted from the world: …at is, to keep from the ſins of the world; the … of the world, are the world-ſpot. Sin it is,
Firſt, A deſiling ſpot; a ſpot that doth defile, a blemiſh that doth defile the ſoul of man in the preſence of the Holy God: It's contrary to the pure Nature of God, it is the mixture of the ſoul with that that's worſe than its ſelf; it's a defiling thing. The mingling of Gold with Silver, doth not defile the Silver; but mingling of Lead with Silver, doth defile the Silver, becauſe the Lead is worſe than Silver: So the Communion that the ſoul hath with God, and as it were, the mingling of the heart in God, and with Divine things, doth not defile it, but make it better; but the mingling of the heart with the world, it doth defile the ſoul, becauſe the ſoul is mingled with that that's worſe than it ſelf; It is a defiling-ſpot: You know what it is to have the Body beſmear'd with dirt, and have Clothes beſpotted with filth and dirt; look how it is with your Bodies beſmear'd with dirt, or your Clothes, ſo it is with the Face of your Soul in the Preſence of God, when ſin is upon you; It's a defiling-ſpot.
Secondly, Sin it's a ſpreading-ſpot, it's like the ſpot of the Leproſie, that ſpreads more and more; and let a ſinner live never ſo long, this ſpot will beſpread him more and more. If you had a ſpot upon your Fleſh, that were but little at the firſt, it may be you would neglect it; but if you ſaw it ſpread more and more then you would think there were ſomething in it: It is ſo with thy ſin, when you are young, the ſpot it but ſmall in compariſon; but as you grow, the ſpot ſpreads more and more until you are all over blains and ſpots: So are old ſinners; ſin is a ſpreading-ſpot, it ſpreads in a ſoul, in a family, in any ſociety where ſinners live.
Thirdly, It is an infecting-ſpot, a ſpot that of itſelf infects; a Plague ſpot, that doth infect the ſoul, and infects every thing you meddle with, and doth infect the company you converſe with; that's the nature of this ſpot.
And then Fourthly, It's a ſtaining-ſpot, It doth pain the ſoul, ſo as all the created power in Heaven and Earth is not able to waſh it away; thou mayeſt think little of the ſin that thou committeſt, thou committeſt it, and haſt pleaſure and delight in ſuch a ſinful way, for a quarter of an hour; it may be thy pleaſure laſts no longer; well, but when this pleaſure is done, there's a ſtain left upon thy ſoul that doth mark thee out to Eternal Death; ſuch a ſtain left, that will abide to all Eternity upon the Soul, if onelyonly, that one means be not applied, the Blood of Jeſus Chriſt. Let all the Angels in Heaven, and Men in the World, put to their wiſdom and ſtrength, to get out the ſtain that is in thy Soul, and it is too little; onelyonly the Blood of the Son of God, can cleanſe and take out that ſtain that is in thy ſoul; ſuch a ſpot is ſin! a ſtaining ſpot! In Jer. 2. 22 Though thou waſh thee with Nitre, and take thee much Sope; yet thine Iniquity is marked before me, ſaith the Lord: Ye may uſe many means to get away your ſin, perhaps you may cover it over, or there may be ſome kind of ſlight ſorrow; But it's not all the ſorrow in the World, if thou wert able to ſhed as many tears as there are Drops of Water in the Sea, to waſh away thy ſin, if their were nothing elſe to do it, all thy tears will not do it; It muſt be onelyonly the blood of the Son of God. Many people think to waſh away their ſin swith their ſorrow; But they muſt know, there is ſomething beyond ſorrow, it is onelyonly the blood of Jeſus Chriſt, can cleanſe and take away this ſtain.
Uſe. Now, If ſin be ſuch a ſtain, ſuch a ſpot; hence then, let us learn to look into Gods Glaſs, to ſee out own ſpots, how we are beſpotted by our ſin; if it is ſuch a Foul, ſuch a Spreading, ſuch a Staining ſpot, How is it that Men and Women ſee it not? they ſee not their own faces; Oh! they never were acquainted with Gods Glaſs; What's that, you will ſay? why, James 1. 23. will ſhew you what the Glaſs of God is, in which you may ſee your Faces, in which you may ſee your ſpots; If any man be a hearer of the word, and not a deer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural Face in a Glaſs; for he beboldeth himſelf, and goeth his way, and ſtraightway for…etteth what manner a man he was. But who … looketh into the perfect Law of liberty, and continueth therein, &c. And the Law of God is …e Glaſs that God would have thee to look …to, to ſee thy face in; thou canſt not know …y heart, but by holding the Law of God before thee. Paul thought himſelf beautiful e…ough, until the Law came. That Scripture … notable for it, in Rom. 7. 9. For I was …ive without the Law once; But when the Comandment came, Sin revived, and I died: … was alive, I was jollie, and thought my …lf well enough; but when the Command…ent came, when God did but take the Glaſs … the Law, and hold it before my face, I … my ſelf a moſt ugly Monſter: I remem…er I have read of an old ſtrumpet that had …ed a falſe Glaſs continually to look in, and … preſented her beautiful unto her ſelf, and … would never look upon any other: But …ce there being a Glaſs by, ſhe chanc'd to …ok into it, wherein ſhe beheld her face, …d being told her that it was a true Glaſs, …e ran mad upon the ſight of her ugly face: …ertainly the generality of men have no other Glaſſes to look into, and to behold the face of their ſouls, but their own carnal conceits, and the wayes of other men, and the like: But if God ſhould but hold the Glaſs of his Law to ſome of your faces, to behold how loathſom you are in the Eyes of God) for ſo they are in Gods eye as this Glaſs preſents them if they are not waſhed in the blood of Chriſt:) and it would be a dreadful ſight to many a ſoul: But yet better that you ſaw it now while there are wayes to cleanſe your ſouls of their ſpots, than when you ſhould die; for if when you ſhould be at the point of Death, and be ready to go to the great God to Receive the ſentence of your Eternal Doom; If conſcience ſhould hold the Glaſs of Gods Law before you, and there make you ſee the ugly face of your ſoul, ſpotted by ſin, Oh! it would be a ſoul ſinking ſight unto you. Learn you to look now into the Glaſs of the Law, and examine your ſoul by the holy Law of God, that you may ſee your ſpots there; many of you ſpend a great deal of time every morning in looking into the Glaſs, to ſee if all things be well in your face; Oh that you would but ſpend as much time in looking into the Law of God, and examining of your hearts by the word: There ſtands a Glaſs in the window, and there lies a Book on the ſhelf; Why may not the Law of God be as well taken, to look into your hearts, as the Glaſs taken to ſee your face in? People are little acquainted with this Glaſs; and therefore know not their own ſouls.
Secondly, If ſin be ſuch a ſpot, O learn we to be humbled for our ſpots, if we have ſeen them, and to be aſhured of them: if we have ſeen our faces beſmea…'d, it doth deject us, eſpecially if we be in Company that are our Superiors: Know that you are alwayes before the Infinite God, and his bleſſed Angels, and they behold your ſpots; O therefore be humbled and be aſhamed for your ſpots. An Ingenuous diſpoſition of heart, is aſhamed if either fleſh or garments beſpotted; but now, one of a ſo did diſpoſition, that is all the week raking in Kennels, or Duſt-heaps, though they be beſp…ted, they care not, becauſe many times the very temper of their ſpirits, is like to their employment; but now one that is of an Ingenuous diſpoſition, if he be defiled, he is aſhamed and troubled for it: O labour to purge your ſpots and ſtains; know, that this is the work that you have to do, To get vour ſouls cleanſed and purged; The Lord hath ſet open a Fountain for ſin, and for uncleanneſs, for Judah, and for Jeruſalem to waſh in, O waſh your hearts, O Jeruſalem. So I may ſay to every ſoul, waſh thy heart from thy ſpots; thou wilt waſh thy face and hands dayly, O that dayly there might be waſhing of thy heart! If thou haſt committed ſin, let it not lie and ſoak in; if there ſhould any ſpots happen upon your cloeths, you preſently lay ſalt upon it, to keep it from ſtaining; ſo, ſo ſoon as thou haſt committed ſin, lay the ſalt tears of thy Repentance, though that be not all, the blood of Chriſt is the main thing, to keep thy ſoul clean from this ſtaining-ſpot; and to do it preſently will be a great …eal more eaſe than to ſtay long: as a ſport of Ink, as ſoon as it falls, if youſeek to get it away, it will be done with a little t…ble; but if you let it ſoak in, you cannot get it out after wards. And ſo it is with ſin that lies long upon the ſoul: O! many of your ſins are old ſtains that have been many years upon you; and as it is in your cloeths that have old ſlains, waſhing will not ſerve, all the Soap you can uſe will not get them out, but you muſt lay them a froſting in a winter night; O! ſo your old ſins; you muſt not think that thoſe old ſpots and ſtains upon your ſoul, that you ſhall get them off ſo eaſily, you muſt be willing to lie a ſoaking, and froſting, to indure what hardſhip God calls you to, ſo be it that you may be cleanſed from them: It's an expreſſion that I remember Auſtin hath: ſaith he, You would have all things good and clean in your houſe; all the furniture in your houſe; yea your ſhooes if they be beſpotted. you will have them clean: And haſt thou more care of thy very ſhooes, then of thy ſoul that's ſpotted and defiled: O! there's little care for the cleanſing of that: But now my Brethren, theſe things eſpecially ſhould be applyed, when we are to go more immediately and ſolemnly into the preſence of God. We muſt look into the Glaſs of the Law every day, be humbled, be aſhamed; and labour to purge the ſpots of our ſouls, and that continnually; But I ſay, when we are to go into Gods preſence in a more immediate manner, as when we are to go to prefer a petition to God, and that, ſuch a petition as concerns our ſouls and Eternal eſtates, when we are to go to hear his word, and worſhip him: When we are to go to his Table, at the Lords Supper, we had need then prepare by looking into that Glaſs, and by being humbled for our ſins, and labouring to cleanſe: Though you care act ſo much for ſpots upon your face and clothes when you are at home, yet when you are to go before your Betters, then what looking is there in the Glaſs to be trim, and to have clothes that are clean waſht. Remember now, that every time thou art to go to worſhip God, thou art to ſet thy ſelf as in his immediate preſence, to have to deal with that infinite holy God whoſe pure eyes cannot indure to beholde leaſt iniquity; that God that is ſo Holy that the very Angels cover their faces as not being able to behold him, thou art to go before this God, and wilt thou go beſpotted and be… ſmeared, and never look into the glaſs o… the Law to ſee how thou art there, that tho… mayeſt labour to cleanſe thy ſoul? wilt tho… come into Gods preſence in thy filth? O… bold ſinner that know'ſt not what it is to dea… with the Infinite Holy God: Thoſe that kno… what God is, what his Infinite Holineſs means, when they come into Gods preſence they make it the great part of their work i… preparing their hearts before they come; and indeed the ſpiritual part of Godlineſs doth a… much conſiſt in this one thing, as in any, i… the preparation of the heart for the preſence of God in Holy dutyes; and that man or woman that is careful and conſcionable in this thing, may have good comfort to them ſelves that they are acquainted with the ſpiritual part of Godlineſs; that wherein the power of i… conſiſts: But for ſuch that can go into Gods preſence, and no ſuch ſear and reverence o… God is in their hearts, certainly theſe neither know God, nor have any thing of the power of Godlineſs in their hearts—Now no matter my Brethren, what we endure in this World… ſo be it we may get our ſouls cleanſed from the filth and the ſpots that are upon them that when there ſhall be a farther Preſence of God, which we ſhall have, than that we have now in Holy Duties; that then we may ſtand before him without ſpot; ſo ſaith the Apoſtle in 2 Pet. 3. 14. Wherefore (Beloved) ſeeing ye look for ſuch things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace without ſpot and blameleſs—You look for new Heavens and new Earth; when all the world ſhall be on fire about your ears, and the Elements melting with ſervent heat; and the Heavens departing like a Screwl, and the like: do you look for ſuch things? do you look for the appearing of the Holy God? and dare you ſtand in the Preſence of that Holy God, when he comes to paſs the Sentence of your Eternal Eſtate upon your …ouls? dare you ſtand before him with ſuch defiled, ſtained ſouls, as you have? Oh no! Saith the Apoſtle, Wherefore, Beloved, ſeeing ye look for ſuch things, be diligent, that you may be found of him in peace, without ſpot, and blameneſs—If thoſe ſpots that are upon many of your Spirits ſhall abide upon you at that ſay, Wo be to you that ever you were born; you cannot be found in peace before God, except you be found without ſpot, and blameneſs—
Yet, let me ſay farther, Wo to that ſoul …hat ſhall have one ſpot upon it at that day.
If this ſhould be means of the Great Day of Judgment, as many Divines take it; though there may be ſome doubt about ſome other time: But ſuppoſe that it be meant of that day, as it is ordinarily taken; Then, wo to that man or woman that ever they have been, that ſhall have but one ſpot upon them: For, then we muſt be delivered from every ſpot, or otherwiſe our ſouls will periſh for ever: But ye may be without ſpot, and blameleſs before him—Thus much for that point.
2. Doct. The Second Point is. That God… Children have their ſpots; the beſt of all, have their ſpots.
The Church is compared to the Moon; Chriſt he is the Sun of Righteouſneſs but he Church, in Rev. 12, is compared to the Moon, and the Moon hath her ſpots, the Sun none. No godly man or woman, in regard o… their ſouls, is like Abſalom, as he was in regard of his body; his body was without any ble… mith, from the crown of the head, to the ſol… of the foot; but it can be ſaid of no bodie's ſou… ſo; you re clean, but not all: The beſt Garde… hath its worms; and the beſt Soul hath i… ſpots; for while we live here, there is that Corruption remaining, that will breed defilement of it ſelf: But conſidering that we liv… in a wicked world here, and converſe with wicked men, it is as impoſſible to live in the world, and to converſe with men, without an… ſpots, as for a company of people to ride together in ſoul way, in the midſt of Winter, and to keep their Garments ſo, that none ſhould have a ſpot. The Condition of this world is ſuch, as indeed, it is not fit to have a Saint in it without ſp…ts. God hath reſerved the time of full-…nſing of his people, to another world. Chriſt could cleanſe his people preſently from all their ſpots; I, but becauſe they are to live … this world, Chriſt ſees it is not ſo ſuitable for this vile world.
This world is not worthy of the Saints, take them with all their infirmities; but it is not for the world to have the Saints live without ſpot; and if the world be offended at it, let them be offended; let them be ſtumbling-blocks unto them; and I make no queſtion, but it is ſo to many ſouls: The world they rejoice when they behold the ſins that are in the Saints; but thou haſt little cauſe to rejoice in the ſins of others, if thou kneweſt all; for it may be intended for thy ruin: I know no greater ſtumbling-block to wicked men, than the ſins of thoſe that do profeſs Godlineſs; …ut wo to thoſe by whom offences come: The Lord by continuing of ſpots in his own people, doth exerciſe Faith, and Humility, and …atience, and other Graces, in ſuch a way, as …e takes pleaſure and delight to ſee the exerciſe of them.
But this is not the Point that I do intend. Yet, O thou godly heart, thou knoweſt this to be a truth, That there are ſpots in thee; yea, ſometimes thoſe that are Godly, think there's nothing elſe but ſpots in them; but be of good comfort in this, though thy Condition be ſad in this world, ſo long as thou art ſpotted, yet be of good comfort here, Jeſus Chriſt is without any ſpots, Chriſt thy Saviour hath no ſpots. Heb. 9. 14. How much more ſhall the Blood of Chriſt, who through the Eternal Spirit, offered himſelf without ſpot to God, cleanſe your Conſcience from dead works, to ſerve the Living God? Chriſt offered himſelf without ſpot; and this is the comfort of the Saints while they have their many ſpots in this world—And ſo in 1 Pet. 1. 19 there's the ſame expreſſion: We are redeemed with the precious Blood of Chriſt, as of a Lamb, without blemiſh, and without ſpot You will ſay, What comfort is it to me in the midſt of my ſpots, that Jeſus Chriſt my Saviour hath no ſpots?—What? This is comfort, Becauſe God looks upon thee not as thou art in thy ſelf, but in his Son; and reckons thee as a member of his Son, and deal with thee according to the Relation thou ha… to him—And the Righteouſneſs of h… Son is made over to thee. Chriſt is a Covenent-Head, the Head of the Covenant; and in that regard, being without ſpot, it is of unſpeak able comfort unto a gracious heart, when it ſees it ſelf defil'd and beſpotted by ſin.
And then yet further, know, That through the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, thou art lookt upon thy ſelf, in the point of Juſtification, without ſpot too. The Saints have their ſpots that is, they have their weakneſſes, and ſome ſins, their Sanctification is imperfect; I, but in regard of Juſtification, ſo, they are altogether without ſpot: So you have it in Cant. 4. 7. Where Chriſt ſpeaks of his Spouſe, Thou art all fair, my Love, there is no ſpot in thee—You will ſay, This ſeems to be againſt this text: No, not at all; for we may be without any ſpot, in regard of our Juſtification, and yet we may be ſpotted and defiled, and God may ſee that we are defiled with ſpots in our ſanctification. It's true, the Lord will not charge theſe ſpors upon thy ſoul that art in Chriſt; yet he doth expect that thou ſhouldſt be humbled for them.
And ſo in Epheſ. 5. 27. there we have both together, there's a Scripture that ſhews that thou ſhalt one day be without any ſpot in regard of thy ſanctification too; though thou be'ſt ſpotted now, yet the time is coming when thou ſhalt be delivered from all theſe ſpots in regard of thy ſanctification; ſaith the Apoſtle there, Chriſt loved his Church, and gave himſelf for it, that he might ſanctifie and cleanſe it with the waſhing of water by the word: That be might preſent it to himſelf a glorious Church, not having ſpot or wrinckle, or any ſuch thing; But that it ſhould be holy, and without b…m…. Mark, what …eaps of words here are; here's ſanctifying, cle nſing waſhing, preſenting a glorious Church, not having ſpor, not having wrinckle, or any ſuch thing; …ut that it ſhould be holy and with us blemiſh: All theſe …preſſions are to ſhew the ſtate the Saints ſhould be brought unto, and to uphold thy ſpirit in the ſight of all thy ſpots:—Let me ſpeak to thee who art ſenſible of the many ſpots that are in thy …ul: What is it that doth uph…ld thy heart? O…e would wonder that any ſoul that knows what it is to deal with ſuch an infinite holy God as the Lord is, one would wonder what ſhould uph…ld the ſoul, ſeeing it's ſo defiled, and nothing but ſpots in every thing! What can uphold it here from ſinking? It may be that that upholds you, is this, We have all our ſins, and we are all ſinners. If there were nothing elſe to uphold a gracious heart but that, it could no… but ſink even in diſpair, notwithſtanding that… But now theſe three things uphold a gracious heart: I have my ſpots indeed, and am defil'd, wo to me, for the defilements of m… ſoul, my life: This is indeed the burden that I have in this World, the great affliction that is upon me, that my ſoul is ſo defil'd: O! but bleſſed be God, I have to deal with God through Jeſus Chriſt, who hath offered up himſelf to the Father without any ſpot; I have to deal with God through the Lamb that was ſacrificed, that had no ſpot; and it was for me that he was ſlain, and God looks upon me through him, and he is made of God ſanctification—I am indeed imperfect, and have many ſpots; yet, bleſſed be God he hath reveal'd, that juſtification is perfect in this life: That the Lord through the righteouſneſs of his Son, looks upon me as without ſpot; that is, will not lay any of theſe ſpots to my charge—Yea, and further, This is the comfort of my ſoul, that though I have many ſpots now, yet there is a way reveal'd to cleanſe my ſoul from all ſpots, through the blood of Chriſt; and through the word of God, to cleanſe and waſh me: Yea, I find in the word, that Jeſus Chriſt had ſuch a deſire to cleanſe my ſoul from ſpots, as he gave himſelf to that very end: And there is a time when all theſe ſpots muſt be waſhed away, and when this defiled, polluted ſoul of mine ſhall be before the Lord and his Chriſt, and live for ever with them, without any ſpot o… wrinckle, or any defilement whatſoever; but ſhall be made fully perfect in my ſanctification, as now I am in my juſtification: And it's this that upholds my ſoul—That's ſomewhat indeed; that in this life of thine, wherein there is ſo much corruption, if thy ſoul be upheld from ſinking with ſuch conſiderations as theſe are, ſurely thou art gone beyond a carnal heart, and I may even fay, That thy ſpot is the ſpot of Gods Children, from this, and not the ſpot of the wicked and ungodly: Remember that one expreſſion in Epheſ. 5. which is very remarkable, and of great uſe; Chriſt …ved us, and gave himſelf, that he might ſanctifie and waſh us, and the like: Mark, it is made the great fruit of the love of Jeſus Chriſt, to ſanctifie a ſoul, therefore it's matter of great conſequence; for Chriſt ſhews his love in a ſpecial manner in ſanctifying and cleanſing the ſoul—This is from the peculiar and electing love of God—And it ſhews, when Chriſt comes to cleanſe the ſoul from ſpots and defilements, that he had loved from all eternity, that foul. But on the contrary, if the Lord do let thee lye in the filth of thy ſin, it is an Argument that he never ſet his heart upon thee. As for inſtance, ſuppoſe a man were riding on the high way, and ſees a Child there lie all in the filth, ready to be choak't with the dirt and mire, and to periſh there; well, as he is riding by, he looks upon the Child, and ſees it ready to periſh; and when he hath look't upon it, away he goes and leaves it there; would not every one ſay, Certainly this is not the Father of the Child that rides ſo away. But now if the Father or Mother ſhould come by, and ſee the Child, the Mother would ſcreek out, O my Child! and ſnatches it up, and carries it away, and gets water and waſhes it, and ſo cleanſes the Child. And herein doth the Mother or Father ſhew their love they have to the Child. Thus it is (for all the World) in the love of Chriſt; Chriſt, he ſees all your filthineſs and pollution; he ſees Men and Women wallowing up and down in the dirt; Chriſt looks upon them, and goes by, leaves them ſtill, and lets them wallow in their corruptions more and more, and paſſes by; ſurely the heart of Chriſt is not much towards them, there's little relation that Chriſt or God hath to ſuch as theſe are: But now, when as there is one that belongs to Jeſus Chriſt, and that Chriſt hath ſet his love upon from eternity, Chriſt ſees ſuch a one wallowing in the filth of ſin; O! the very bowels of Chriſt do earn, O! Chriſt takes them, and with his own blood cleanſeth them: and will never leave waſhing and cleanſing of the ſoul, till he hath cleanſed it from all its ſpots, and preſented it before the Father.
And mark, in the ſecond place; Chriſt loved us; and this is a fruit of Chriſts love, to cleanſe us from our ſpots—And then he gave himſelf, that he might cleanſe us, perhaps you think it's of little moment to be cleanſed from the filth of your ſin; but Chriſt accounted it ſuch a matter, that he would give his life for it: I account the cleanſing of theſe ſouls from the filth of their ſins, worth my life; I will give my life for it; ſo that it coſt more then Ten Thouſand Worlds to cleanſe a ſoul from the filth of its ſin, as well as from the guilt: I beſeech you conſider of this, that the cleanſing of a ſoul from the ſilth of ſin, did coſt Chriſt that which was more worth than Ten thouſand World; but, O! how many is there that can wallow in ſin, and take delight in it? But I ſay, it is of ſo great conſequence to be cleanſed from ſin, as Chriſt is content to give his very life to cleanſe his Church from ſin—Now if thy heart be thus, that thou account the love of Chriſt to conſiſt in this, and that thou canſt priſe Chriſt upon This, That he gave himſelf, to the end that he might cleanſe thy ſoul from the ſin; ſurely thou doſt priſe cleanſing from ſin indeed; and if thou doſt priſe it at ſo high a rate, this is a good Argument that thou art one of Gods Children: Therefore daily exerciſe thy Faith upon this Chriſt, by the applying of the blood of Jeſus Chriſt to thy ſoul, and the renewing of the work of thy repentance, ſeeing, as long as thou liveſt, their will be ſpots.