Spiritual PerfeClion. 1. We are commanded to deanfe our felves, which is our Duty, and implies an ability deriv'd from Chrift to perform it. It may feem firange t.hat Men, in their depraved ftate, ibould be excited to renew themfelves : Who can bring a Job '4· 4• clean thing out of an unclean ? not one : yet this Duty is frequently inculcated upon us. Wafb ye, make 1e clean; put away Ifa. ' · the evil of your doings from before mine eyes. 0 J-erufolem , wajb thy heart from Jer. 2. wickednefs' ; how long fha/1 vain thoughts lodge within thee ? C!eanfe your hearts ye Jam. 4 • l_nners ; psri{ieyour hearts~e double-mjnded. A dear anfwer may be g1ven to th1s. (1.) There is no produaive Principle of Holinefs in Man's corrupt Nature ~ but 1 ftrong averlions from it, and incli· nations to what is contrary to it. There is a miferable impotency to all fpiritual Good, better exprefs'd with tears than words. 'Tis natural and. hereditary, more difficultly cur'd than what is acci.. dental. God is the fole efficient in the regeneration of the Soul, and the firft infufion of qra.ce, and the principal in the growth and improvement of it. The lloly Spirit does not work Grace in us,. as the Sun forms Gold in the Earth , withol.lt any fenfe in .our felves of his. ~Qperations ~ but we feel · ~hem in all our :a 4 Fa·
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