The Gofpel of theSea.andLavers in the Temple. 385 thisCryftal Sea : It is true, they have a Sea, fuch as it is: But it is not a Cryftal Sea, filled with this pure and precious and Soul-cleanfing Blood ofJefus Chrift : But theirs is a Sea of dead Blood. They ufe to bragand boaft much of the See of Rome. Take it for the Seat of their Bifhop, Romana Sedes. It is but the Throne of the Beaft, the Seat of Antichrift. But the Text fpeaks of a Sea in another Senfe. Aid theirs is but a Mare mortuum;. no Eifh can live in that Sea, noSoul la that Church, in that Religion. But the Proteftant Churches, they have Pure and firm footing upon, this Sea ofGlafs,, as cap. i 5. z. and I law as it were aSea ofGlafs min- gled with Fire, and them that had gotten the Villory over Beaft, and over bis Image, and over bis Mark, and over the Number of his Name, Rand on the Sea of Glafs, baying the Harps of God. It is mingled with Fire, the Fire of the Spirit of God burning and working effeaually in then. And there is indeed a Fire of Contention alfo, and Divißons, and Differences amongft Proteftants ; but yet here we Rand fafe, even upon the Righteoufnefs of Jefus Chrift for Juftification, as applied to us in his own Ordinances and Inftitutions. Here we ftand with Harps ofGod, triumphing and rejoycing in Chrift Jefus. Vfe 3. Here is Direeion to unclean Souls and defiled Confciences what courfe to take, and whither to go for cleanfing: Efpecially when you are to come before the Throne, to approach into thePrefence ofGod in folemn Duties ; hand upon this Cryfbal Sea, avafh in this Fountain, make ufe of Chrift in'this,Refpe&. You that complain, O this un- clean Heart of mine ! How Ihall I appear in the Prefence of fuch an Holy God ? Here is a Sea to wash in. For your help therein take theft four Rules. t. See thy own Uncleannefs and need of cleanfing, Ifa. 6. 5. Wo is me, for I am undone, becaufe I am a Man ofunclean Lips, and I dwell in the midfb ofa People ofunclean Lips. (There's not only perfonal De- filements, but Defilements by contagion from others) for mine Eyes have feen the King the Lord of Hoffs. Before that great and holy God I ftand with fuch an unclean, unholy Heart. Therefore wafh or elfe you die, Exod. 30. 20, 21. Aaron and his Sons (hall walls their Hands and their Feet, that they die not. The reafon why fo many Profeflbrs prove Hypocrites, and fo die and perien at last, is becaufe they refit in a Moral way of Profeffion, they do not live upon Chrift for Righteouf- nefs and Life. They avoid force Sins it may be, and perform force Duties, but refit there. There is a neglea of Chrift andof daily waffl- ing in the Sea of his Blood, and fo they die before the Lord. Dd d 1 Kowa
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