268 THE FILTH (3.) Others proceed farther, and are so far fromtak- ing shame to themselves for what they are, or what theydo, as that they openly boast of and glory in the most shameful sins that human nature can contract the guilt of. They proclaim their sins, saith the prophet, like Sodom, whereall the people consented together in the perpetration of unnatural lusts. They are not at nll ashamed, but glory in the things, which, because they do not here, will hereafter fill themwith confusion of face, Jer. vi. 15. chap. viii. 12. And where once sin gets this confidence, wherein it completes a con- quest over the law, the inbred light of nature, the con- victions of the Spirit, and, in a word, God himself, then is it ripe for judgment. And yet is there a higher de- gree of shamelessness in sin: For, (4.) Some content not themselves with boasting in their own sins, but also they approveand delight in all those who give up themselves unto the like outrage in sinning with themselves. This the apostle expresseth as the highest degree of shameless sinning, Rom. i. 32. Who knowing thejudgment of God, that they which com- mit such things are worthyofdeath, not only do the same, but havepleasure in them that do them. When open profligate sinners do, as it were, make themselves up into societies, encouraging and approving one another in their abominable courses, so that no company pleas- eth them, but such as have obtained an impudence in sinning, then is the greatest defiancegiven unto the ho- liness and righteousness of God. Now, such as these will never seek after cleansing; for why should they do so, who are sensibleof no spiri- tual pollution, nor have the least touch of shame with respect thereunto? It is necessary therefore unto the duty of purifying our souls, that we be affected with shame for the spiritual defilements which our nature, under the loss of the image of God, is even rolled in. And where this is not, it will be but lost labour that is spent in the invitation of men to the cleansingfountain. Sect. 13. -3. Let persons, so affected, be fully satis- fied, that they can never cleanse or purify themselves by anyendeavours that are merely their own, or by any means of their own finding out. According untomen's convictions of the defilementsofsin, so haveand always will their endeavours be after purification, Hos. v. 13. And indeed it is the duty of believers to purify them- selvts more and more in the exercise of all purifying OF SIN PURGED graces, and the use of all means appointed of God- for that purpose, 2 Cor. vii. 1. And their neglect thereof is the highest disadvantage, I'sal. xxxviii. 5. But men in the state of nature, concerning whom we now treat, are no way able to cleanse their natures, or purge them- selves. Heonly who can restore, repair, and renew their natures unto the likenessof God, can cleansethem. But here manyfall into mistakes. For when, by reason of their conviction, they can no longer satisfy and please themselves in the pollution of sin, they go about, by vain attempts of their own, to purify their souls, Hos. v. 13. Jer. ii. 22. Job. ix. 30, 31. their own sorrow, and repentance, and tears of contrition, and that sorry amendment of life they can attain unto, shall do this work for them. And every especial defiling act, or every renewed sense of it, shall have an especial act of duty for its cleansing. But though these things aregood in themselves, yet there is required more wisdom to the right stating of them, as to their causes, respects, ends, and use, than they are furnished withal. Hence are they so frequently abused and turned into an effectual means, not only of keeping men off and at a distance- from Christ, but also from a due and acceptable per- formanceof the very duties themselves pretended unto. For legal sorrow or repentance, or mere legal convic- tions, being trusted unto, will infallibly keep the soul from coming up unto that evangelical repentance which aloneGod accepts. And mere reformation oflife, rested in, proves opposite to endeavours for the renovation of our natures. But let these duties beperformed, however, in what manner you please, they are utterly insufficient of themselves to cleanse our natural defilements. Nor will any seek duly for that which alone is effectual unto this purpose, until they are fullyconvinced hereof. Let therefore sinners hear and know, whether they will or will not believe it, that as by nature theyarewholly de- filed and polluted with those abominations of sin which render them loathsome in the sight of God, so they have no power, by any endeavours or duties oftheir own, to cleanse themselves; but by all they do to this end, they do but farther plunge themselves into the ditch, and increase their own defilements; yet are all those duties necessary in their proper place, and unto their proper end. 4. It is therefore their duty to acquaint themselves with that only remedy in this case, that only means of
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