s I N COMPAR ED TO G R E Y-H A I R s. Book IV. qu:ty like TVater! Job xv. 16. The ·word :1;vm notes that which is mofl: abhorring to the Nature of Man; that which is not only fo naufeous that the Stomach cannot digefl: it, but fo bafe, that the M>nd is burdened to think upon it; yea, the Words im ports that which is rejetl:cd by all the Sen!es, that which the Eye cannot endure to look upon; thot which the E•r cannot endure to hear of, that which i1 a Stink in the Nofhils, and which the Hand will not touch; fuch a Thing is Man in God's Sight, by reafon of Sin. Filthy, n?~J, the Word is derived from a Root that lignifies, corrupt, rotten, putrified, the Scum of a Pot, the Rufl: of Metals, the Dung or Excrement of Man and l>ea!l:s. There are no Words, !a.ith CarJl, filthy enough to cxprefs the Filthinefs of M,m. The Word is fou nd, faith he, bm three Times in Scripture; in this Confl:ruc– non, and in all of them, it is apphed to /hew the abominable \ 11/ickcdnefs of Man: The firfl: is this, Job xv. t 6. Pfal. xiv . 3· and liii. 3· as if this were a Word picked mu on purpnle, as a Gla(<, to 01ew Man h·is F ace and naturJl Complection in, &c. 11. 0 what is M1n, that God fhould be mindful of him! What Beauty is there in him, that the Almighty fhould fet his Heart upon him ! J ob vii. '7· 11J. What litrle Reafon have wicked Men to be proud? And how fad ly are they miflaken, who think to adorn themfel.ves with Sin? How do Sinners pride themfelves in their filthy Garments, and Cloak of Unrighteoufnefs? He is no Gallant now a-days, unlefs he can fwe<tr <!nd curfe, and cry, Damn-him; and, Sink-him. L ord, what an Age·is this! They 01ew their Sin, as Sodom, and hide it not ; they glory in their Shame. lV. Let us learn from hence to ue fully fenfible of om Birth-Polllltion, I mean, Ori– ginal Sin, .{hat which we broughc into the \World with us: Can he be clean that is born of a JVoman? Who can bring a dean 'Thing ·out of an unclean? Not one, Job xxv. 5· and xiv. + Can the Stream be clean, when the Fountain is fo unclean ? All that are born by natural Generation, are unclean. Adam's particu lar Act or Breach of the L aw of God was ours, we being in him; he flood as the common R oot of.all his Pofl:erity ; it is alfo by the Almighty imputed to us: The .natrn-al Pravity or Corruption which i/fueth from thence, paffcth from Generation to Generarion. V. Vie may infer from hence, that every Man and Woman hath need of Wa!hing; fay not therefore with Peter, Thou !halt •never wafh my Feet, when every Part is de– filed, &c. VI. Go, polluted Soul, go to the Fountain, It is the Blood of Chrift, that cleanjetb us from all Sin, I John i. 7. VII. Blefs God, there is aFountain to wafh in, a Fountain opened for Sin and Un– dean nefs. See Fountain. VIII. You that are ·clean, praife the Almighty: Ye were as filthy as others~ Such w ere Jome of )'OU, &c. Saints may be (aid to be clean four manner of Ways: ( 1.) Clean meritoriouOy, by the Blood of the Lord Jefus. (z.) EfficaciouOy, by the Spirit uniting them to Chrilt, and fanctifying their Hearts. (3.) Clean inthumentally, by the Word: Now are )'OU clean, througb tbe Word which I havejpoken unto )'Oil. (4.) Clean impul– ftvely, and attractively by .Faith :-Purifying their Hearts b)' Faith. S J _N COMPARED TO G R E y - H A I R s. Yea, Grey-Ilairs are here and there upo11 him, and .be.knoweth it 11oJ, Hof. vii. 9· H E lrnoweth it not, that is, Ifrael, or Ephraim, viz. the ten Tribes. Ephraim may be confidered as a Kmgdom, I am again.ft the jinful Kingdom, Hof. i. 4· Amos tx. 8_ or as a Church: They were a People in Covenant with God, or in a national Church– State, and once youthful and beautiful, but now they are become old and grey-headed, i.e. they had Symptoms of Decay and Ruin upon them. Grey-Hairs: Some by Gre)'-Hairs underfl:and heavy Judgments; others, fome pre– vailing EvJ!s or Sms,mhich were Signs ofDeflruCl:ion, &c. There may be Truth m both. Note, Symptoms of Rui11 oft-times appear·upon a .People, before their Ruin comes. F A R A L L E L & I. QREY-Hairs .ar.e a Sign tha t a Man's bell: Days, his youthful Days, are gone: · So fome Sins and Judgments upon a .People, are a Si an t,hat their beft Days are j>ail ~way, that their Youth and Glory is departing. 0 11. Grey-
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