386 The Gofpel of the Sea and Lavers in the Temple. 2. Know and be convinced, that no other means trill do it : For though thou rra(h thee with Nitre, and take thee much foap ; yet thine Iniquity is marked before me, faith the Lord, Jer. 2.22. you may as foon wafh a Black-moor WN bite, as cleanfe a defiled Confcience by Duties and Or- dinances, and moral Endeavours without Chrift ; yea they will but make thee worfe for the Lord will not biefs them, when carnally united to, and refled inwithout Chrift. As fuppofe a Man were bap. tized or waffled in a Puddle, in fome dirty muddy Pond, he cornes out fouler then he went in ; fo Men by their own Endeavours and Duties become worfe. 3. The Fountain isfet open : The Blood of Chrift is offered, the Lord gives thee Liberty to wafh thy felf in this Sea. In that Day there (hall he a Fountain opened to the Houfe of David, and to the Inhabitants of Jeru- falem for Sin and for Vncleannef Zech. 13. r. It is not a Fountain fealed, but fet open in regard of the general offer of the Gofpel un- to all. 4. Hence all thou haft to do for thy Spiritual Cleaning is only to applyand receive this Blood, this Soul- cleanlïng Blood of Jefus Chrift, which the Lord fo freely offers to thee. Waffling in this Spiritual Sea, is no- thing elfe but believing and exercifing Faith in the Blood of Chrift. Do not objea and fay, Alan ! 1am defiled and unclean. 1 anfwer. Thou haft the more need of Waffling ; the greater thy Defilements be, thou haft the more need of Jefus Chriff, and of his Blood to cleanfe thee, and wafh thee from thySins. Oft 4. Comfort to Believers, that wafh here for Sin and for Unclean nefs, fee Ifa. 4.4. Wh n the Lord (hall have wafhed away the Filth of the. Daughters of Sion, and ¡hall have purged the Blood of Jerufalem from the midfi thereof Here is a four-fold ground of Comfort in this Cry- flal Sea. I. .Mere is enough of it, here is a Sea to wafh in, there is Water e nough in the Sea for any Man to wafh in though never fo much defi- led : So there is Vertue enough, Cleanfing enough in the Blood of Je- fus Chrift. Thou haft many Sins, many Spots, many Defilements up- on thee; but here is a Sea to wash in : This Type of a Sea (peaks the Plenty of it Here are not a few Drops of Soul- cleanfing,'uflifying Blood; but here is an Ocean of it. z. It will take out the deepefi Stains, the fouleft Spots; thoughyour Sins be 06Scarlet, they ¡hall be as white to Snow; though they be red like Crim- Ion, they¡hall be as Wool', Ifa.1. 18. The Apoftle inftanceth in Come of the fouleft and blackeft Spots, Adulterers, Thieves, Drunkards, &c. s Car. f. io, Li, and ¡ach were feint ofyou ; but yeare wafhed, batye are fa ith-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=