The Usefulness and 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 knight, 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 Israell in Skarlet; I meane the skarlet robe 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; defraud and dispossesse your selves of all those rarest and richest y. Defraud and disposs…sse your selves.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 your selves 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.