Book II. CHRIST METAPHOR. VI. Other Fountains may be filled and {topped up, as the Well that .Abraham's Servams digged ; or however the Streams may be frayed. F 0 UN TA I N. D IS PAR 1 T Y. VI. Chrift cannot fail of his Fulnefs ; he can– not be ftopped up by the Skill of Men nor Devils ; nay, none can hinder the glorious Streams that flow from him from watering and refrefhing his People. N F E R E N C E ~ I. WE may infer from hence, That Sin is of an hainous and defiling Nature; it is c•lled here Uncleannefs, and fuch Uncleannefs that is not eafily wafhed ofE . I!. Behold the exceeding Greatnefs of God's Love, and of the Love of Chrift, to polluted Mankind, in providing fuch a Fountain to wafh their Souls, their defiled Souls in. Ill. Be fure, that God's People !hall never want fullicient Means for inward Clean– ling and Purification. IV. How inexcufable are thofe that die in their Filthinefs under the Gofpel ? If N aaman, after the Prophet dire<'l:ed him to wafh in Jordan, had returned without wafhing, who would have pitied him if he had died a Leper? Sinner, who will pity thee, if thou refufeft to wafh and be clean ? V. L et pollmed and unclean Sinners come to this Fountain, and for their further Encouragement, obferve thefe following Motives and Confiderations. I. There is Abundance of Filth in thy Heart and Life, which muft be purged and wafhed away, or thou muft perifh. ' 2. There is no Fountain can wafh away thy Sin but this; all Soul-cleanfing is by Chri!t's Blood. All the legal Purifications pointed to the fpiritual Purgation by Chrift's Blood: The like does baptifmal Wafhing; the outward Wafhing of the Body, figmfics the inward Wafhing by Faith in this Fountain, Heb. i. 3· John xvii. Rev. xv. 3· This Fountain can wafh and heal thee, whatever thy Uncleannefs and Sicknefs is; it cleanfes from the Guilt of Sin, and from the Filth of Sin alfo, !fa. Jiii. 4, 5· Rom. iii. 24. I Cor. i. 2. 4· This Fountain is opened; which Expreffion fignifies, (I.) The Willingnefs of Chrifl: to accept and embrace poor Sinners. (2.) It !hews the Clearnefs of Gofpel– Revelation, above the legal. Non dubito, &c. faith Calvin: I do not doubt but by this Word he !hews the Differences between Law and Gofpel: Chrifl: was a Fountain for Sin under the Law; but he was as it were a fealed Fountain, or hid and vailed under many Types, Shadows, and ceremonial Wafhings; the Stone is now removed, that lay upon the Mouth of the Well. (3.) It !hews the Readinefs and Eafinefs of Accefs, which is afforded to poor Sinners to come to Chrift. 5· Confider the Multitude of Sinners that have been cleanfed by Chrift. 6. Confider the Multitude of Sins in every one Sinner wafhed away. 7· Confider the happy State of all fuch as are made.clean. 8. Thou knoweft not how foon this Fountain may be fhut up as to thee. Caution. Take heed of fiighting and undervaluing of the Fountain ofChrift's Blood. What do they lefs than flight it, who think they can get cleanfing from Sin by the Light within? What do the Papifts lefs, who have other Purgations, who go to their Mafs, and call that a propitiatory Sacrifice; who go to the Merits of their own Works, thinking thereby to expiate Sin, and purchafe God's Favor? What do all fuch elfe, that rely upon the Mercy of God without having an eye and refpeCI: to Chrift's Blood? What do all thofe lefs, that never come, though very guilty and unclean, and often invited to this Fountain? Let the Opening of this Fountain move thee to open thy Heart. Exhort. To love him who hath wafhed thee, to be thankful, to believe, to be hum– ble, and deny thyfelf. When ever thou feeft a Fountain of Water, think upon Chrift, the fpiritual Fountain. Confolat. H ere is Comfort, a Fountain of Comfort for poor Saints: Thou hafl: a bitter Fountain in thee; here is a fweet one to cleanfe thee : Thou hafl: a filthy Foun– tain; · here is a clear and chryftal one, to bathe and wafh thee. Chrift is more able to cleanfe, than Sin is to defile. Dareft thou fay, that thy Filth is greater than this Foun– tain can wafh away ? 0 Soul, Chrift can wafh the Black-a-moor white. Remember, whatever Satan fays, this Fountain is open. 5 B CHRIST
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