BY THE SPIRIT AND own souls know, that more or less we are defiled in all that we do. The best of our works and duties, brought into the presence of the holiness of God, are but as filthy rags. And man, even every man of him- self; drinketh in iniquity like water. Our own clothes are ready to defile us every day. Who can express the motionsof lust that are in the flesh, the irregular act- ings of affections, in their inordinate risings up to their objects, the folly of the imaginations of our hearts and minds, which, as far as they are not principledby grace,, are only evil, and that continually; with the vanity of our words, yea, with a mixture of much corrupt com- munications, all which are defiling, and have defile- ments attending of them? I confess, I know not that my heart and soul abhors any erruption of the diabolical pride of man, like that whereby they reproach and scoff at the deepest humiliations and self-abasements which poor sinners can attain unto in their prayers, confes- sions, and supplications. Alas! that ournature should be capable of such a contempt of the holiness of God, such an ignorance of the infinite distance that is between him and us, and be so senseless of our own vileness, and ofthe abominablefilth and pollution that is in every sin, as not to tremble at the despising of the lowest a- basements of poor sinners before the holy God. Behold his soul, which is lifted up, is not upright in him, but thejust shall live by hisfaith. (3.) How we ought continually to endeavour after the wasting of sin in the root and principle ofit. There isa root of sin in us which springsup and defiles us. E- very man is tempted (that is chiefly and principally) of his own lust, and seduced, and then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin. It is the flesh that lust- eth against the Spirit, and which bringeth forth cor- rupted and corrupting, polluted and polluting fruits. This principle of sin, of aversation from God, of in- clination unto things sensual and present, however wounded, weakened, dethroned, impaired, yet still a- bides in all believers; and it is the foundation, the spring, the root, the next cause of all sin in us, which tempts, entieeth, draws aside, conceives, and brings forth. And this bath in us all, more or less de- grees of strength, power, and activity, according as it is more or less mortified by grace, and the application of the virtue of the death of Christ unto our souls; and, according to its strength and power, so it abounds in BLOOD OF CHRIST. 27F bringing froth the defiled aets of sin. Whilst this re- tains any considerable power in us, it is to no purpose to set ourselves merely to watch against the eruptions of actual sins in the framesof our hearts, in the thoughts of our minds, or outward actions. If we would preserve ourselves from multiplying our defilements, if wewould continually beperfecting the work of holiness in the fear of the Lord, it is this we must set ourselves against. The tree must be made good, if we expect good fruit; and the evil root must be Jigged up, or evil fruit will be brought forth; that is, our main design should be, to crucify and destroy the body of the sins of the flesh that is in us, the remainders of the flesh or indwelling sin, by the ways and means which shall afterwards be declared. (h) Hence also is manifest the necessity we have of continual applications to Jesus Christ for cleansing "vir- tue from his Spirit, and the sprinkling of his blood on our consciences, in theefficacy of it, to purge them from dead works. We defile ourselves every day, and if we go not every day to the fountain that is openfor sinand for uncleanness, we shall quickly be all over leprous. Our consciences will be filled with dead works, so that we shall no way be able to serve the living God, unless they are daily purged out. How this is done bath been at large before declared. When a soul, filled with self- abasement, under a sense of its own defilements, applies itself unto Christ, by faith, for cleansing, and that con- stantly and continually, with a fervency answering its sense and convictions, it is in its way and proper course. I am persuaded no true believer in the world is a stran- ger unto this duty. And the more any one abounds therein, the more genuine is his faith evidenced to be, and the more humble is his walk before the Lord. Sect. 16.But it may justly be inquired, upon all that we have discoursed upon this subject, concerning; the defilement of sin, how, if it be so, believers can be united unto Jesus Christ, or be members of that mysti- cal body whereof he is the head, or obtain fellowship with him? for, whereas he is absolutely pure, holy, and perfect, how can he have union or communion with them whoare in any thing, defiled? There is no fellow- ship between righteousness and unrighteousness, no communionof light and darkness, and what can there be between Christ and those that are defiled with sin? And, because he is holy, harmless, andundefled, he is said to be separatefromsinners.
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