The Excellency of Christ, Section 6
SECT. 6. Matter of ſhame for careleſſe and looſe Walkers.
2. THis may ſerve to ſhame many of us, who profeſſe our ſelves to be Chriſts eſpouſed members, and yet are ſo regardleſſe of our ſelves many times, and doe ſo disfigure, defile and ſtaine our ſelves with ſuch a numberles number of ſins and tranſgreſſions, which are the very excrements of abuſed and polluted ſoules, as that both at home and abroad we doe even diſgrace our holy profeſſion, and diſhonour that King of glory, Jeſus Chriſt, our deareſt Savior, who is moſt like unto a Roſe freſh and faire; and therefore requires a ſingular fairenes of carriage and converſation of all thoſe who call themſelves after his name, and will be reputed to be his myſticall Spouſe. If a poore maid ſhould be married to a Lord or knigh…, as faire as Abſalom, and as wiſe and rich as Solomon, able and willing to provide her the richeſt clothes, and bracelets, and jewels, as if ſhe were a Queene; and yet ſhe ſhould not carry her ſelfe ſomwhat accordingly, neatly and decently at leaſt, nor make ſome advantage unto her ſelfe of ſo great and good a husband, according to her degree; but ſhould come before him, like a beggar in filthy rags, and all beſmeared, and goe likewiſe abroad thus among the people, would not all that know her, cry ſhame on her, that having ſuch an excellent husband, ſhe ſhould diſgrace both him and her ſelf? well, if we doe indeed belong to Chriſt, and beleeve in Chriſt, then are we eſpouſed unto Chriſt, who is fairer then Abſalom, being the roſe of Sharon; and is alſo both able and ready to clothe us, even as Saul the Lords anointed did clothe the daughters of … in Sharle…; I meane the skarlet … of his owne righteouſneſſe, and to put on even ornaments of gold, (of grace) upon our apparell, 2 Sam. 1.24. that we may be all glorious within, Pſal. 45.13. and therefore how can I chuſe but cry ſhame upon all you that are looſe and careleſſe profeſſors; who take your ſelves to be thus richly and happily married, and yet are not aſhamed to come in the glorious preſence of that goodlieſt and faireſt bridegroome of all bridegroomes, Chriſt Jeſus, with hands and mouthes, and hearts all ſoiled, and beſlubbered with ſin, which is that abominable and hatefull thing, Eſa. 1.14. And ſo in like manner dare even to goe abroad among men of all ſorts, with ſuch foule mouths, and filthy hands, and polluted hearts, to the great diſhonour of ſo great a king, and the almoſt irreparable and irrecoverable dammage of your owne ſoules, whom hereby you expoſe to his fierce and flaming wrath, for the time preſent; and likewiſe, y Defraud and diſpoſſ…ſſe your ſelves.defraud and diſpoſſeſſe your ſelves of all thoſe rareſt and richeſt comforts, which doe ſo happily repleniſh, and revive the bleſſed hearts of other carefull and gracious Chriſtians, who doe alwayes induſtriouſly labour to be faire, even as he is faire, and glorious, even as he is glorious, and pure, as he is pure, 1 Iohn 3.3. be aſhamed therefore of your ſelves, all you that are ſo regardleſſe of your ſelves, that dare preſume to bring even into Gods owne houſe and preſence ſuch foule and filthy ſouls as are altogether ſtuffed and topfull with moſt horrible & execrable thoughts; that embolden your ſelves to lift up there ſuch contaminated and defiled hands, as have touched many unclean things but a little before; yea, and moreover, to open ſuch filthy mouths as have exhaled and uttered ſo many vaine, impure, and unſeemly ſpeeches, when you were even ready to enter the Congregation. Aſſure your ſelves, that if you ſhall not henceforth labour with all poſſible care to carry yourſelves more fairely then hitherto you have done; that this very performance, the word you heare, the prayer you make, will be a meanes even to increaſe and to aggravate thoſe ſtinging tortures, wherewith the moſt jealous, moſt juſt, and righteous God will vexe and plague thoſe foule and filthy ſoules of yours here in this preſent life, though he doe not caſt and throw them into hell hereafter, in caſe they belong unto him by the irrevocable degree of his eternall predeſtination.