The Purifying of Unclean Hearts and Hands, Title page – To the House of Commons
THE PVRIFYING OF VNCLEAN HEARTS and Hands: OPENED In a SERMON Preached before the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS, at their ſolemne Faſt, January 28. 1645. in Margarets Weſtminſter. By RICHARD VINES, one of the Aſſembly of Divines.
PSAL. 24. 3, 4.
Who ſhall aſcend into the hill of the Lord? and who ſhall ſtand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands and a pure heart.
Publiſhed by Order of the Houſe of COMMONS.
LONDON, Printed by G. M. for Abel Roper, at the ſigne of the Sun againſt St Dunſtans Church in Fleetſtreet. 1646.
Die Mercurij 28o. January, 1645.
ORdered by the Commons aſſembled in PARLIAMENT, that M. Long and M. Holland do from this Houſe give thanks to M. Vines for the great pains he took in the Sermons he preached this day, at the intreaty of this Houſe, at St Margarets Weſtminſter, (it being the day of Publike Humiliation) and to deſire him to Print his Sermon. And it is Ordered, that none ſhall Print his Sermon, but who ſhall be licenſed under his hand-writing.
H. Elſynge, Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I Appoint Abel Roper to print this Sermon.
Richard Vines.
TO THE HONOVRABLE HOVSE OF COMMONS Aſſembled in Parliament.
SVch Auditours who will ſuffer the word of exhortation, Heb. 13. 22.as they encourage the Miniſter to doe his, ſo they ſhall be ſure to know their duty; which is not ordinarily the happines of great perſonages. This Sermon was preache upon one of the dayes of your ſolemn approach and drawing nigh to God. It was no ſeaſon to preſent you with fancies dreſsed in cobweb lawn, or thin notions cloathed with ayr. The Popiſh faſts did but change ſolid meat into ſweet meats. The ſubject of the ſermon is cleanſing and purifying; which as it was neceſſary by the law, before the unclean perſon might draw nigh to God, ſo it is required of you, If thou prepare thine heart, and ſtretch out thy hands towards him; If iniquity be in thy hand, put it farre away: for then ſhalt thou lift up thy face without ſpot, Iob 11, 13, 14, 15. It is a liberty which Miniſters claim by vertue of their commiſsion, to ſpeak, exhort, and rebuke with all authority, Tit. 2. 15. You that are the tutelar patrons and aſſertours of juſt liberties, doe like your ſelves, in countenancing and encouraging this alſo: ſo ſhall you have the miniſtery of the Word alwaies ready to help you, to beat your corruptions black and blew, which to doe, is both the duty, and beauty of your ſackcloth-dayes.1 Cor 9 17. foreign. The Lord who hath ſaid, That the pure in heart ſhall ſee God, Math. 5. 8. And that be that hath clean hands, ſhall be ſtronger and ſtronger, Iob 17. 9. ſo draw nigh to you in the light of his countenance, and ſtrength of his arm, that you who have defended Religion from being trampled upon, may preſerve it from being torn in pieces, and ſee the good of Jeruſalem all the dayes of your lives. So prayes,
Your ſervant in Chriſt leſus, Richard Vines.