Col 3· rr~. 1. Jobri·<f.• lfa. r. J""'· Jam -i• Spiritual PerfeElion. ~·. The matter of the Addrefs: The cleanfing us from all pollution of Flefh and Spmt, and the changmg us tnto the unfpotted Image of God's Holinefs. Thefe are the comprehenfive fum of renewing Grace, and are infeparable. The Holy sp· . works both together in the Saints ; as the Sun, by the fame emanation of Lig~tt difpels the darknefs of the Air, and irradiates it. But they are not merely diff;: rent nottons, ~u t . different ~arts of San Cbficau~n. Fo.r the corruption of Nature is not a mere pnvatton of Holtnefs, as darkncfs JS of Ltght, but a contrary inherent quality, the Pri nciple of all finful Evi ls. We. are commanded to put off t~< old man, and to put on the new : To ceafe to do evz! , . And to learn to do weD. We muft purifie our felves from the pollutions of F lefh and Spirit. The Soul and Bodf, in the flate _of deprav~d Nature, are like two Malefafrors faftened with one Cham, and by their ftna unron mfc:a one another. The pollution is intimate TI~ ~~~~~:\ji~~:~;:~~0t~~h f~~r~~e P~:C~t~y~f~i~h 5~~~ ;i11 ~~m~e~~cli~~~e ~~~~; renewing. We are commanded to perfeCt Holinefs; to afpire and endeavo~r afrer our original Holinefs, and to be always advancing, till we arrive at the final coafum. mare ftate of Holinefs in Heaven. In the f<ar of God. . That Grace has an eminent caufality and influence in this ~anfrificatton of Chriflians. It is a po,yerful reftraint from Sins in thoughts and afrs, m fo!tcude and foctety, to confider Gods pure and flammg Eye, that fees Sin where· ever it is, in ordel ro Judgment. Holy Fear excites us to exercife every Grace ~:d.perform every Duty, in that manner, that we may be approv'd and accepted of l· The Motive arifes from the excellency of the Promifes, and the qualifications requifite for the obtaining them. 'Tis promifed, that God will dwdl in w, and walk in m; whofe gracious prefence is Heaven upon Earth. Strange Condefcenlion! that the God of glory fhould dwell in Tabernacles of Clay; far greater than if a King fhould dwell m a Cottage wtth one of hts poor SubJeCts. He will adopt us into the line of Heaven: I will' be }qur Father, And ye {btJ/1 bt m1 Sons and Daughters. The qualifications are, the purifying our felves from all defilements, and ftriving eo . be entirely holy. By the order of God , every Leper was to be excluded from the Camp of Jfrael; and will he have Communion with the Souls of Men, over-fpread with the Leproue, and covered With the Uleers of Sin? There is a fpecial emphafis in the words, Saith th< Lord Almighty. Without the cleanung and renewing of Sin· ners, Omnipotence cannot receive [hem into his Favour and Family. There are fa tal bars lix'd, wh,ich the unholy cannot break through. The PropoGtion that arifes from the words is this : T/" promifrs of tk Gofpd /•7 the moft pow<rfr•l oblig.rions on Chrijlia»s, to jlri"Ve for the attainmmt of P"" and p<r· fdl Holimfs. In the management of this Subjea, I will firft confider the Duty as aaed upon our felves. 2. The parts of it : The cleanung from Sin, and perfefring Holinels. l· The force of the Motives; the precious and unvaluablc Promifes of the Gofpel: And make Application of them. 1. We are commanded to cleanfe our !elves , w hich is our Duty, and implies an ability deriv'd from Chrift to perform it. It may feem ftrange t hat Men, in their depraved !lace, fhould be excited to renew themfelves : Who "" bring a clean thing or1t of 1111 rmcle4.n? not one: yet this Duty is frequendy inculcate~ upon us. WAjb 7e, mAfe 7e clean ; p~~t 4tU_4J the evil of J OllY doi»f!.S from before mm~ e7es. 0 'J<ru/alun, wafo thy h<art from w~ek<dne/s ; how long foa/1 -vain thoughts lodg< wtthtn thu? Cleanfe 7our he11rts 7e Jinners ; pr1rijie JOur hearts ye doub!e -·t1m1ded. A clear anf\ver may be given to this. ( •·) There is no produaive Principle of Holinefs in Man's corrupt Nature, but ftrong averlions from it, and inclinations to what is contrary to ir. There is a m~. ferable impotency to all fpiritual Good, better exprefs'd with rears than Words•. 'TtS natural and hereditary, more difficultly cur"d than what IS. acctdental. God ts the foie efficient in the regeneration of the Soul , and the fir(! mfufio~. of Grace, and ~~.!:\~ci~:l !~ :~: ~~onw;~r~~dd~~r~~e~b~~~;tl~:· w~~:u~:~~ ?e~rett i~o~~;f:l ~~~~f his operatio~s ; but we feel them in all our Faculties, congruouily to their fo~~~[,~:
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