256 THE DEFILEMENT OF SIN, WHEREIN IT CONSISTS, and the worship of God. But, of themselves, they could go no further, Heb. x. 2. only they did typify and signify that whereby sin was really cleansed. But the real stain is too deep to be taken away by any out- ward ordinances or institutions. And therefore God, as it were, rejecting them all, promiseth to open ano- ther fountain to that purpose, Zech. xiii. 1. Where- fore, (5.) There is-a great emptiness and vanity in all those aids and reliefs which the Papal Church hath invented in this case. Sensible they are of the spot and stain that accompanies sin, of its pollution and defilement, which none can avoid the consciousness of, who are not utterly hardened and blinded. But they are ignorant of the true and only means and remedy. thereof. And therefore, as in the work ofjustification, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and going about to esta- blish their own righteousness, they submit not them- selves to the righteousness ofGod, as the apostle spake of their predecessors; so, in the work of sanctification, being ignorant of the ways of the working.of.the Spirit of grace and efficacy of the blood of Christ, they go a- bout to set up their own imaginations, and submit not themselves unto a compliance with the grace of God. Thus, in the first place, they would, tt least the most of them would, have the whole uncleanness of our na- tures to be washed away by baptism, virtut operis ope- rati. The ordinance being administered, without any more to do, or any previous qualificationsof theperson internal or external, the filth of original sin is washed away, though it fell not out so with Simon Magus, who, notwithstanding he was baptized by Philip the evange- list, and that upon his visible profession and confession yet continued in the gall ofbitterness, and bond of ini- quity, and was therefore certainly not cleansed from his sins. But there is a cleansing in profession and signifi- cation, and there is a cleansing in the reality of sancti- fication. The former doth accompany baptism, when it is rightly administered. With respect hereunto are men said to bepurged from their old sins, that is, to have made a profession, and have had a fair representa- tion thereof, in being made partakers of theoutwardsign of it, 2 Peter i. 9. as also to escape the pollutions of the world, and the lusts of the flesh, chap. ii. 18, 20. But all this may be, and yet sin not be really purged: for not only the outward washing of regeneration in the pledge of it, but the internal 'renovation of the Holy Ghost is required thereunto, Titus iii. 5. But having thus shifted themselves of the filth of original sin, as easily as a man may put off his clothes when they are foul, they have found out many ways whereby the en- suing defilements that attend actual sins may be purg- ed or done away. There is the sprinkling of holywa- ter, confession to a priest, penances, in fasting and some other abstinences that are supposed to be of wonderful virtue to this end and purpose. And I doacknowledge, that the one art of confession is really the greatest in- vention to accommodate the inclinations of all flesh, that ever this world was acquainted withal. For, as nothing is so suited unto all the carnal interests of the priests, be they what they will, nor so secures them a veneration in the midst of their looseness and worthless conversa- tion; so, for the people, who, for the most part, have other business to do, than long to trouble themselves about their sins, or find it uneasy to be conversant a- bout their guilt, and the consequences of it in their minds, it is such an expedite course of absolute exone- ration, that they may be free for other sins or busines- ses, to deposite themwholly and 'safely with a priest, that nothing equal unto it could ever have been invent- ed. For the real way of dealing with God by Jesus Christ, in these things, with endeavours of a participa- tion in the sanctifying cleansing work of the Holy Ghost is long, and very irksome to flesh and blood, be- sides that it is intricate and foolish unto natural dark- ness and unbelief. But yet it so falls out, that, after all these inventions, they can come to no perfect rest or satisfaction in their own minds. They cannot but find, by experience, that their sores sometimes break forth through all these sorry coverings unto their annoyance; and their defilements yet fill themwith shame, as well as the guilt of sin doth with fear. Wherefore they be- take themselves to their sheet-anchor in this storm, in the relief which they have provided in another world; when, let men find themselves ever so much mistaken, they cannot complain of their disappointments. This is in their purgatory, whereunto they must trust at last for the cancelling of all their odd scores, and purging away that filth of sin which they have been unwilling to part withal in this world. But, as this whole busi- ness of purgatory is a groundless fable, an invention set up in competition with, and opposition unto the sancti- e
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