Ver.19. the 17thChapter of St. J U H N. 297 3. Through the Truth, as we render it, and fitly, confrdering the r7th Verfe, Sanaify them through the Truth, thy Ward is Truth 5 through the Word, by which the virtue of Chrift's Death is applied to us. There are certain Means and Helps, by which Chrift bringeth about this Effe &. Ephef. S. 26. That he might fanflïfy and cleanfe it by the wafting of Water, through the Word : The Word offereth this Grace, the Sacraments feal and confirm it to us. So, John 15. 3. Te are clean, through the Word which I bave fpoken to you. The Word of Command preffeth it, ?fat. i a9. 9. Wherewithal Jhad a young Man cleanfe hia Way ? by taking heed thereto according to thy Word. The Word of Promife encourageth us, 2 Cor. 7. 1. Having therefore theft Proenif-is (dearly Beloved) let us cleanfe our felves from all the filthinefs of Flefls and Spirit; perfec7ing Holinefs in the fear of God. And the Do &rine of Chrift's Blood holds out the virtue wherebyit may be done; r John r. 7. The Blood of fefus Chrifi his Son, cleanfeth us from all Sin; And it exciteth Faith, by which the Heart is purified; Ads 15. 9. Purifying their Hearts by Faith. V fe 1. Information. It informeth us of divers important Truths. I. That in our felves we are polluted and unclean,or elfe what needed there fo much ado to get us fan&ified ? This is needful to be confidered by us : Job r5. What is Man that he fhould be clean ? and he that k born of a Woman, that he fhould be Righteous ? That is, Man by Nature is neither clean nor righteous, deftitute of Purity by Nature, and uprightnefs of Converfation. They are ill acquainted with Man, who think otherwife; for if we confider his earlinefs in finning, his eafinefs in finning, his conftancy in finning, and the univerfality of Sinners, we may loon fee what his Nature is : and the Fountain being fo corrupt, the Streams or Emanations from it are defiled allo. 2. That nothing can cleanfe us but the Blood of Chrift. Can Man cleanfe himfelf? Job 54. 4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? not one. Can that which is corrupt cleanfe it felf ? or that which is enmity to Holinefs, promote it ? Or can the Word do it without Chrift ? Good Ináru &ions may (hew a Man his Duty, but cannot change the bent of his Heart. Chrift needed not only to be fent as a Prophet, Ver.i8. but miff( fan&ify himfelf as a Prieft and Sacrifice, before this Benefit could be pro- cured for us, as in the Text. There was no pollible way to recover Holinefs, unlefs a Price, and no lefs a Price than the Blood of the Son of God, had been paid to pro- voked Juftice for us. He mull faultily himfelf, give himfelf, before we can be fan&i- fied and cleanfed. 3. That they do not aright improve the Death of Chrift, that leek Comfort by it, and not Holinefs : He died not only for our Juftification, but San&ification alit). There are two Reafons why the Death of Chrift hath fo little effe& upon us ; either he is a. forgotten Chrift, or a miftaken Chrift : a forgotten Chrift 5 Men do not confider the Ends for which he came; r John 3: g. Te know that he was manifeted, intake away our Sins. And,;Verf 8. To this purpofe was the'Son of God manifefled, to deflroy the Works of the Devil; to give his Spirit to finful miferable Man. Now Things that we mind not, do not work upon us. The Work of Redemption Chrift bath performed with- out our minding or asking ; he took our Nature, fulfilled the Law, fatisfied the Law- giver, merited Grace without our asking or thinking : but in applying this Grace, he requireth our Confederation. Heb. 3. s. Wherefore, Holy Brethren, partakers of the Hea- venlyCalling, confider the Apo/ile and High Prieff our.rofeon.. Our Faith; BelievejE thou that 1 am able do this for thee ? Our Acceptance ; John r. 12. To as many as re- ceived hira,to them gave he power to become the Sons of God. But the other Evil is greater, a miftaken Chrift, when we ufe him to increafe our carnal Security and Boldnefi in fin- ning; and are poffeffed with an ill thought, that God is more reconcilable to Sin, than he was before ; and by reafon of Chrift's coming, there were lefs evil and malignity in Sin, for then you make Chrift a Minifter and Encourager of Sin. Gal. 2. 17. For if we fiek to be jufiifèed by Chrrifi, we our felves alfo are found Sinners : la Chrifi therefore the Minifler of Sin ? God forbid ! You let up Chrift againft Chrift, his Merit againft his Do&rine and Spirit; yea; rather you fet up the- Devil againft Chrift, and. varnifh his Caufe with Chriffs Name, and fo it is but an Idol- Chrift you doat upon. The true Chrift came by Water and Blood, r John 5.6. Bore our Sins in his Body on the Tree, that we being dead unto Sin, fhouldlive unto Righteoufnefs, I Pet.2.24. And will you let his Death againft the Ends of his Death ? and ran from, and rebel again11 God, becaule Chrift came to redeem and recover you to God ? Certainly thole weak Chri(tians, that Oo00 2 only
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