The Gofpel of the Ceremonial UncleannejJes, &c. 287 The Rife of thefe Superftitions is, they are borrowed from thofe Things which were once Ordinances, but now are Superftitions, be- caufe the Stamp of God is taken from them. That Command is not now in force, but is abrogated by fending the Subftance Jefus Chrift, who is now come. And as you fee the Rife of them; fo alto the Abolifhment of them under the Gofpel. For if they were Types and Shadows of Spiritual Uncleannefs, and Spiritual Cleanfing by the Blood of Chrift ( as you fee the Apoftle here interprets them) they muff needs be ceafed, now that Chrift is come ; Therefore our Saviour faith, That which entreth in- to a Man, cannot defile a Man, Mat. 15. I T, 17, i8, 19, 2o. Whatfoe- ver entreth in at the .Mouth goeth into the Belly, and is cail out into the Draught; but thofe Things which proceed out ofthe Mouth, come forth from the Heart, and they defile the Man. How contrary are fuch Words, to the retaining of this Difference of Meats ? Every Creature of God is good, if it be received with.Thankf- giving ; for it is Sanaified by the Word of God and Prayer) I Tim.4. 4. Jr is good that the Heart be Fftabli¡hed with Grace, and not with Meats, which bavenot profited them that have been occupied therein, Heb. 13. 9. A Manmay eat arty thing that is Wholefom,if it be not upon the Account, that there is force Hurtfulnefs in it. But thefe Popifh Superftitions-are borrowed fromMofes, and in the Praaice of them, Men implicitly deny that Chrijl is come, and hath cleanfed our Confciences by his owta Works. Blood, from dead `cJfe a. See here the miferable Pollution of our Hearts by Nature. This was the thing intended and aimed at in all thefe legal Uncleanneffes.. If the Water of Separation fprinkling the unclean, fanl ify to thepurify- ing of the Flefh ; How much more Pall the Blood of Chrift purgeyour Con- fciences from dead Works. There is a Spiritual Defilement on the Hearts of Sinners by Nature, and this was exhibited and fhown by thefe .le gal Shadows. Take Notice then what unclean Creatures you are by Nature. There is a Three-fold degree of Spiritual Unleannefs upon us, . in an unregenerate Eftate. I. There is external Infection andDefilement from without: Every thing we touch defiles, and is defiled by us in our natural Condition ; they very ploughing of the Wicked is Sin, his Prayer is Abomination to the Lord.. If carnal Men_ touch any Ordinance, they defile it ; if they come into Hoare of God, theypollute his Sanauary. There is a fearful De- filement on OAS Snuls and Confciences of Men, in this Refpe&. Eve- ry thing that wicked Man hath to do withal, it defiles him, and he defiles it. 7ó the Pure, every Thing is Pure, ( faith the Apoftle) but to the;;
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