THE FILTH OF fication of theSpirit andcleansing virtue of theblood of Christ, as a matter of unspeakable more profit, and se- cular advantage, unto those who have its management committed unto them; so itis as great an encouragement unto unholiness, and a continuance in sin, for those who believe it, and at the same time love the pleasures of sin, which are the generality of their church, as ever was or can be found out or made use of. For, to come with a plain down-right dissuasive from holiness, and encouragement unto sin, is a design that would abso- lutely defeat itself, nor is capable of making impressions SIN PURGED, %'C. 257 on them who retain the notion of a difference between good and evil. But this side-wind, thatat oncepretends to relieve men from the filth of sin, and keeps them from the only ways and means whereby it maybe clean- sed, insensibly leads them into a quiet pursuit of their lusts, under an expectation of relief when all is past and done. Wherefore, settingaside such vain imaginations, we may inquire into the true causes and ways of our purificationfrom the uncleannessof sindescribed, where- in the first part of our sanctification and the foundation of our holiness doth consist. THE FILTH OF SIN PURGED BY THE SPIRIT AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. CHAP. V. (1.) Purgation of thefilth ofsin, thefirstpart ofsanctacation, how it is e, fected. (2.) The worS oftheSpirit therein.(3.) The efficacy of the blood ofChrist to that purpose. (4.) The bloodof his sacrce intended. (5.) How that blood cleanseth sin. Application unto it, and application of it by the Spirit. (6.) Wherein that application consists. (7, 8, 9.) Faith the instrumental cause ofourpurgation, with theuse ofafflictions to the same purpose. Necessity ofa due consideration ofthe pollution ofsin. -(10.) Considerationsofthepol- lutionandpurffcationofsinpractically improved.(11.) Various directionsfor a due application unto the blood of Christfor cleansing. (f2.) Sundry degrees of shamelessness ist sinning. (13.) Directionsfor the cleansing ofsin continued. ( 14.) Thankfulnessfor the cleansingof sin.(15.) With other uses of the same considération. (16.) Union with Christ, how consistent with the remainders of sin. (17.) From all that, differences between evangelical holinessand the old nature asserted. THE purging of the souls of them that believe, from the defilements of sin, is, in the scripture, assigned unto several causes of different kinds. For the Holy Spirit, the blood of Christ, faith and afflictions, are all said to cleanseus from our sins, but in several ways, and with distinct kinds of efficacy. The Holy Spirit is said to do it, as the principal efficientcause; the blood of Christ as the meritorious procuring cause; faith and affliction, as the instrumental causes; the one direct and internal, the other external and occasional. Sect. 2. (1.) That weare purged and purified from sin by the Spirit of God communicated unto us, bath been before, in general, confirmedby many testimonies of the holy scriptures. And we may gather also, from what bath been spoken, wherein this work of his doth consist. For, whereas the spring and fountain of all the pollution of sin lies in thedepravation of the facul- ties of our natures which ensued on the loss of the image of God, he renews them again by his grace, Titus iii. 5. Our want of due answering unto the holiness of God, as represented in the law, and exemplified in our hearts originally, is a principal part and universal cause of our whole pollution and defilement by sin. For, when our eyes are opened to discern it, this is that which, in the first place, filleth us with shame and self - abhorrency, and that which makes us so unacceptable, yea, so loathsome to God. Who is there who consid- ereth aright the vanity, darkness, and ignorance of his mind, the perverseness and stubbornness of his will, with the disorder, irregularity, and distemper of his af=
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