meaning is let him be cast out of the Church no more to be communed with than a profest Pagan or the worst of Men unless he Repents which act of Excommunication past upon incurable Offenders you may read at large in the Corinthian-Church 1 Cor. 5. 4 5 Verses And as an Addition to this severe Corinthian Excommunication which was executed upon the Incestuous Person you may read what a strict Charge the Apostle gives to the Members of this Church that if a Brother be known amongst them to be a Fornicator or Covetous or a Railer or an Idolater or a Drunkard or an Extortioner not to keep Company with such a Man Thus you see the Point proved by the Word of God And so we come to the Reason of it The first Reason is drawn from the Will of God God will have it to be so So that a Neglect in the doing of this Work by the Churches it will be grosly inexcusable on their Part The Will of God in this Matter hath been sufficiently revealed to you already both in the Tipe of the Levitical House under the Old Testament and by our Saviour's Words under the New Matt. 18. 15 16 17 18. with 1 Cor. 5. 4 5 Verses And it will be esteemed as our Righteousness I mean a Righteousness of Sincerity if we fulfil the Will of God Matt. 3. 15. Second Reason why the Churches of Christ should cast out incurable leprous Persons from amongst them is Because as by their Sin they have forsaken their God they thereby have given God cause to forsake them therefore ought the Churches to forsake the Company of such too The ground of the Churches Union one with another is that visible Union which they all prosessedly hold to Jesus Christ but when in outward Appearance the Bond of that sacred Relation which any prosess they hold to Christ ceaseth then is their visible Union to Christ dissolved by it Because it was founded and built upon visible Holiness and when visible Holiness ceaseth the Union ceaseth also Therefore whoever they are that oppose the Father and Son as to their Laws and Government ought to be opposed by all the Lord's People Psal 139. 21 22. Do not I hate them that hate thee am not I grieved at them that rise up against thee Yea I hate them with a perfect Hatred I count them my Enemies Third Reason It 's so because God hath promised his peculiar Presence amongst his Churches Matt. 18 20. But he will not be in any such Sence with any Church but upon Terms of their Purity and that they keep themselves clean Houses to him and for his Company Psal 93. 5. Holiness becometh thine House O Lord. Men that return after a religious Profession made to their old sinful Course again are compared to the Sow that was once Washed to Wallow in their old Mire again and as a Dog that licks in his old Vomit And be sure of this that God will not make his abode with dirty Swine and filthy Dogs Therefore if the Churches do not proceed to the Casting out of such Swine and Dogs from amongst them they may expect that God will not continue long amongst them Fourth Reason why Churches ought to Cast out their irrecoverable infected Members is Because otherwise they may be infected with the same Infection themselves according to the old Proverb One scabbed Sheep may spoil a whole Flock And doth not the Apostle say as much 1 Cor. 5. 6. Know ye not that a little Leaven leaveneth the whole Lump Psal 106. 35. They were mingled â—â—nong the Heathen and learnt their Works As one rotten Apple may corrupt a whole Heap so may one rotten Member corrupt a whole Church nothing more daâ—gerous than to be Familiar with Men of corrupt Lives and corrupt Principles for their Words will Eat as doth a Canker saith Paul of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus 2 Tim. 2. 17. If Corab be of a terbulent Spirit himself and over-run with Pride and Envy he quickly draweth no less than two hundred and fifty Princes of the Congregation into his Conspiracy to their utter Ruine Numb 16. 1 2. with the 35 Verse Fifthly and Lastly The Reason why the Churches are to cast out their polluted Members is That those of them who belong to the Election of Grace may thereby be recovered again and made the fitter for the Bulding at last It is a common Saying That a Bone once broken if well set again is stronger in that part than ever it was before This is that merciful End which God aims at towards some who are habitually living Stones in and by their Excommunication To this Purpose it will not be amiss to read the Institution 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. In the Name of our Jesus Christ when ye are gathered together and my Spirit with the Power of our Lord Jesus Christ to deliver such a one unto Satan for the Destruction of the Flesh that the Spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus Mark the word That the Spirit might be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus that is at the great and last Day when he shall come in flaming Fire to Judge both Quick and Dead So that you see that God cuts off some of his here in this Life that they may not be out off from the Life which is to come he will cast some out of the Church milirant that they may not be cast off from the Church triumphant God delivers the Soul by this Ordinance into the hands of Satan for a time that thereby he might deliver him from the Power of Satan for ever though the Means applied be sharp yet it being blest of God to that end the Effect you see will be good gracious and profitable Oh the depths both of the Riches of the Grace Wisdom and Counsel of God which appears in this thing How unsearchable are his Judgments and his Ways post finding out Thus having given you the Reasons of the Point we next come to Apply it Vse Let what hath been said upon this Head lead us to a Use of Lamentation How may we take up the Apostle's Complaint of old and apply it to our selves Phil. 2. 21. For all seek their own and not the things of Jesus Christ. So how few are there which do truly value the Honour of Jesus Christ in this Matter namely in labouring to keep the spiritual Houses of our Lord clean and pure How have we lost that ancient primitive Spirit in casting out the incestuous Person Where is that scâ—aping of the Walls and Pulling out the infected Stones of God's Houses which have their Leprosies visibly upon them How are our faithful Jeremiah's ceased that would put a difference between the Precious and the Vile Jer. 15. 19. Where â—â—e our reforming Nehemiah's who so stoutly refused the Sanballars and Tobiah's Men of unsound Principles to build the House of God with them Neh. 2. 19 20. Where are our zealous Pauls who are
dipping of the Hyssop-brush into it this would all as little have wrought the Cure because this would have been a Contradiction to God s Institut on but both of the Means must be used together the Bloud of the Bird with the Hyssop-brush bound fast to the Cedar-wood these three things together would be Healing to the Leper because it was the Means of God's Appointment The Mystery of which when opened shews us thus much That the Bloud of Christ handed out to us by the Word of God and applied to our Souls by Faith it being the Institution of God for our Soul-cure this and only this will Cleanse our Souls of the foulest Leprofie that ever hapned to a Sinner in this Life for we find that it was this which David desired might be applied to him in a time of Soul-defilement and Pollution Psal 51. 7. Purge me with Hyssop and I shall be Clean Wash one and I shall be whiter than the Snow Shall we think that David in this Cleansing-work did look no farther than the bare Hyssop and the typocal Sprinkling there-with for the cleansing of his Soul from the guilt and filth of Sin â—o no doubtless it was the spiritual Hyssop of Faith dipt in the Bloud of Christ which was the chief thing in his Request and the principal thing which his Eye was fixt upon So Soul this is thy great Duty also to pour out thy Soul in Prayer to God as David did for this Grace of Believing Oh! spread thy Leprosie before him open the Plague-sore of thy Heart in his sight take off thy gouty Clouts and lay open thy Wounds and Unclers in his sight and beg him to cast his merciful Eyes towards thee who is the only Physician of Value that can heal thee of thy soul Disease which neither Men nor Angels can Cure besides himself Oh! wrestle with him as Jacob did Gen. 32. 24 25 26. Cease not give him no rest until he hath sent down the Hyssop-brush of Believing into thy Heart that by it thy Heart may be purified from thy Soul-pollution according to Acts 15. 9. A sight of Misery does sometimes in a tender-hearted Physician stir up Bowels of Mercy to a ready Helping of the Distressed but much more in God the greatest Healer and Helper that is in Heaven or Earth and for thy Encouragement to make to him for Healing read often that Text Jam. 1. 5. If any Man lack Wisdom let him ask of God that giveth liberally to all Men and upbraideth not and it shall be given him 2. Lay thyself in the Ways and Walks of God even in those Places where he â—seth to dispense this precious Grace of Faith the Ways and Walks of God are in his Ordinances and amongst his golden Candlesticks Rev. 1. 13. which golden Candlesticks are his Gospel-churches the Places where his Worship and Ordinances are as Prayer preaching of the Word with the Sacraments and Seals of the New-covenant in these things he meets with the Souls of Men Isa 64. 5. He meeteth him which works Righteousness and those that remember him in his Ways Here it is that God maketh the Sorrowful to rejoyce and maketh glad the Hearts of the Righteous here it is in these things that he giveth out the Sense of his Love Grace and Favour in Christ Jesus here it is that he poureth forth the rich Anointings even the Graces of his holy Spirit and amongst them this Grace of Faith Rom. 10. 17. Faith cometh by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God Oh! then be admonished to be a constant and diligent Waiter upon these Ordinances of the Gospel neglect no Opportunity of doing thy Soul good this way for thou dost not know how soon God may meet thee with healing and cleansing Grace in these Ways and Walks of his PART V. Thus having finished the Work about the Sprinkling-brush which was made up of Scarlet Cedar-wood and Hyssop we next come to speak of some other things which were used in the Cleansing of the Leper THe Particulars you may read at your leisure as they are noted in Lev. 14. 13 14 15 16 17 and 18 Verses where first of all the Priest was to kill the Lamb in the holy Place then was he to take some of the Bloud of the Lamb and put it upon the right Ear the Thumb of the right Hand and the great Toe of the right Foot of him that was to be cleansed then was the Priest to take some of a Log of Oil and pour it into the Palm of his own left Hand then was he to sprinkle the Oil with his Finger seven times before the Lord. This Work was done by a Synecdochy tipping some parts of the Body for the whole which vertually comprehends the several Parts of the Whole Man which Mistery shadows out these two things to us namely Our Justification and Sanctification by Jesus Christ First The Lamb that was to be killed was a Type of Christ dying for Sinners as the Bird was before the Bloud of both being of one and the same Signification typing out the Bloud of Christ as the meritorious Cause of our being washed and cleansed from the Guilt of all our Sins 1 John 1. 7. 2. The Oyl used in this Cleansing-work typed forth to us the Graces of the Spirit of God in our Sanctification of which the Apostle speaks in 1 John 2. 27. But the Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you all things and is Truth New we need not question but that John the Divine hath referrence to the Anointing-oyl which was poured forth upon the Head of the levitical High-Priest who was a Type of Jesus Christ Lev. 8. 30. of which David speaks more at large in Psalm 133. Ver. 2. which the Apostle applies to Christ Heb. 1. 9. Thus hast loved Rightousness and hated Iniquity therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of Gladness above thy Fellows And one reason that 's given of Christ's being anointed you have in John John 1. 16. That of his Fulness we might all receive and Grace for Grace For as Oyl is beautifying to the Countenance mollifying to the Flesh and cheering to the Heart so is the Oyl of Grace and Sanctification it s beautifying to the Soul Ezek. 16. 14. Thou art Perfect through my Comeliness put upon thee saith the Lord. 2dly It 's softning to the Heart Job 23. 16. For God maketh my Heart soft 3dly And it is comforting and cheering to the Whole Man Psal 4. 7. Thou hast put Gladness into my Heart more than in the time that their Corn and Wine increased One thing more to be observed in the Cleansing the Jewish Leper is this namely That the Priest was to make an Application both of the Bloud and Oil to the Leper not the Bloud without the Oil nor the Oil without the Bloud but both of them together
his Justification yet he deeply complains of his readiness and proneness Rom. 7. 21. I find a Law in my Members that when I would do Good Evil is present with me There is this difference bewixt a Justified and an Unjustified Man's Inclination to Sin a Justified Man always Sins with Reluctancy but the other with Allowance the Justified Man is ever renewing his State by Repentance Psal 51. 1 2 3 4. And the other is adding of Sin to Sin without Repentance Jer. 8. 6. I hearkened and heard but they spake not aright no Man repented him of his Wickedness saying What have I done Every one turned to his Course as the Horse rusheth into the Battle Sin is squeezed forth from a Justified Man but it comes freely without let or hindrance from the other Now look into thy Heart though thy sinful Nature works in thee yet is it with Regret Is it with due Repentance Doth it not come freely from thee Is it the Evil thou wouldst not do as Paul speaks and doth it oftentimes make thee to cry out as he did in Rom. 7. 24. O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death Then doubt not because thou hast no more reason to question thy Justification than David Heman Paul or Peter had The third Ground of a Christian's doubting about his Justified Condition ariseth from his want of Skill to distinguish betwixt the old Reckoning as it stands upon the Book of God's Accounts and as it stands upon the Book of God's Accounts and as it stands upon the Book of his own Conscience It is just with such Christians as it is with some ignorant Servant who is sent to a Shop-keeper to buy such and such Commodities the Shop-keeper sets it all down in his Shop-book the next Week the Servant comes and dischargeth the Debt the Week following the same Servant comes again for new Commodities the Shop-keeper books down all again as before but as the Shop-keeper is writing down of the new Debt the Servant looking over his shoulder espies the Items of the old Reckoning upon the Book which was discharged before this sends the Servant away with a Heart loaded with Grief and Trouble fearing that the Debt which he had discharged will be demanded again It 's true he saw some strokes crost over the Particulars upon the Book but being wholly ignorant that the crossing of the Book was a full Discharge of the Debt in Law this keeps the poor Servant under his Fear and Trouble still Thus stands the Matter with many a doubting Christian about their Justification though the Book of Accounts in Heaven be discharged and crost above with the red strokes of the Bloud of Christ the Vertue of which dischargeth the whole in Law 1 John 1. 7. The Bloud of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all Sin Yet the Soul being unaquainted with this Mystery he beholding the Items standing yet upon his own Conscience thinks that the whole Debt is still to be exacted from him as if there had never been any Satisfaction made for his Debt at all But O doubting Soul if thou wouldst have Peace in thy Soul thy Work must be to acquaint thy self with the nature of a Believer's Discharge as to his Debt in the Court of Heaven above Labour by an Eye of Faith to see the red Strokes of Christ's Bloud with which the grand Book above is crost for thee for ever and then whatever the Items are which stands upon the Book of thy Conscience yet they can do thee no hurt because now they signifie nothing against thee in Law Rom. 8. 33 34. Who shall condemn It is God that Justifies Who shall lay any thing to the Charge of God's Elect It is Christ that Died. So that you plainly see that God justifieth a Believer upon the account of Christ's Death the Bloud of whose Death dischargeth his Debt and gives such a Satisfaction to the Law of God that nothing can condemn the Soul for ever thus you see what these Doubts are which do darken a Christian's Interest in his Justification and also the Grounds and Reasons from whence these Doubts and Fears do arise But here lieth thy Comfort Christ thy High-Priest hath compleated this Work for thee though thou canst not apprehend thy Interest in it by a clear sight of Faith yet he by one Offering hath perfected this Work for thee and that for ever if thou be truly Sanctified Heb. 10. 14. 2dly This affords â—â—mfort to Believers against their Doubts arising from the littleness of their Sanctification Oh saith a doubting Soul who is sensible of the weakness and littleness of his Grace Oh! if I have any Grace at all yet it is so little I fear it will never last long and so I shall never be able to hold out Oh! my Faith in God my Love to God my Zeal for God my Sincerity before God my Patience under Trials my Self-denial and Holiness is so little that I fear all my Religion will end in meer Formality and my Profession conclude in Hypocrisie when all is done Ans Oh! Soul against all these Fears thy Duty is to look up to Jesus Christ who is thy mystical Head and in him thou shalt see thy Soul compleatly Sanctified as well as compleatly Justified I do not say that Christ hath compleated the Work of Sanctification in a Believer's own Person while in this Life No no while a Believer is in the Body the Flesh will be lusting against the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. and Believers again through the Spirit do mortifie the Deeds of the Body Rom. 8. 13. which is one special part of Sanctification And further I do not say that the Spirit in his working of Mortification doth so kill and subdue Sin in Believers as that it shall never trouble grieve or defile them more No that Freedom belongs to the perfect State in Heaven but though Christ hath not perfected this Work in a Believer yet Christ hath perfected Sanctification in himself for the Believer Doth not the Apostle say 1 Cor. 1. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption First It must be acknowledged that by Nature thou art in thy self a Fool Luke 24. 25. O Fools and slow of heart to believe Secondly It is as true that thou hast no Righteousness of thy own Isa 64. 6. We are all as an unclean Thing our Righteousness is as filthy Rags Thirdly Thou art by Nature a perfect Slave and Vassel to Sin and the Devil therefore is Christ said to proclaim Liberty to the Captives even to such as thou art Isa 61. 1. Fourthly And it is as true that thou art as void of Sanctification Ezek. 16. 6. When I passed by thee I saw thee polluted in thy own Bloud But now thou seest that Christ is made over to thee by God the Father to be Wisdom for thy Foolishness Righteousness for thy
if through the Spirit ye mortifie the Deeds of the Body ye shall Live Ephes 4. 22. That ye put off concerning the former Conversation the Old Man which is Corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts Col. 3. 5. Mortifie therefore your Members which are upon the Earth Fornication Vncleanness inordinate Affection evil Concupiscence and Covetousness which is Idolatry Tit. 2. 11 12. The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men teaching them to deny Vngodliness and wordly Lusts to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World 1st Reason The Reason of the Point lieth here because this was one special Purpose of Christ in satisfying the Law for us and thereby in reconciling of his Father to us it was that Sin might be destroyed in us Rom. 5. 10. with Rom 6. 6. For when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son Knowing that our Old Man is Crucified with him that the Body of Sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve Sin 2d Reason It must be so because our Lord Jesus Christ designed and intended that every one of his Redeemed and Cleansed Lepers should hold a holy Communion with himself both in the Life that now is and in the Life which is to come John 14. 20 21. At that Day ye shall know that I am in the Father and you in me and I in you and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and I will manifest my self to him Tit. 2. 14. Who gave himself for us that he might Redeem us from all Iniquity and Purifie to himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works Christ is the Prince of Purity his Eyes are Eyes of Purity that cannot look upon Iniquity his Nature is a Nature of Purity he is called the Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts whose Glory filleth the whole Earth Isa 6. 3. therefore he cannot live in an impure Heart nor have communion with impure Souls that are no way washed from their Iniquities Surely then this makes it highly the Duty of every Christian to be Cleansing of himself from all filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit and to be perfecting of Holinâ—ss in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. Thus having given you the Reasons of the Point we next come to the Application of what hath been said upon it Vse If this be so let it serve then for Matter of Examination to every Christian whether we are of the number of Christ's Cleansed and Healed Lepers Oh! what a blessed thing would it be if upon trial and search we might appear to be such not in shew but in substance not in appearance only but in reality also an Israelite in deed and in truth as Nathanael was in whom was no Guile There be not a few but would fain perswade themselves that they are the Men in whom the Leprosie is cured they hope that the Bloud of the Lamb Christ hath been applied to the Ear Thumb and Toe of their Souls but let me ask such Men whether the Priâ—st's Razor have yet been upon them Oh! bethink your selves and remember that those which were healed Lepers were shaved Lepers the Hair of their Heads Beards and Eye-brows is all shaved off which were the parts and places in which the Scurf and Filth of the Disease lay and hid it self before The same is spiritually true of thee if thou art a healed Leper indeed the Scurf of thy Corruption which hath lain hid in thy Heart as to the Dominion of it is shaved off and â—emoved out of thy Soul Rom. 6. 14. Sin shall not have Dominion over you Christ will have clean Work made in the Heart wherein he begins to Work Rev. 21. 5. Behold I make all things new saith Christ and so saith Paul 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any Man he in Christ he is a new Creature all old things are dâ—ne away and all things become new So that there is a univeâ—sal Change made in the whole Man of every one that are the cleansed Leâ—ers of Jesus Christ the Judgment Will and Affections are all new and renewed by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. â— 5. Now Soul what Shaving-work hath there been upon thy Heart and Life Reflect upon thy former Conversation Hast thou not been a loose Liver a Swearer a Blasphemer an unclean Person a Sabbath-breaker a Harer of Godliness a wicked Scoffer and cruel Persecutor of those which have truly feared God But is this shaved off from thee Is this filthy Scurf gone and removed from thy Heart within and thy Life without Thou knowest that thou hast been a common Drunkard an unjust Dealer a known Lyer a wretched Worldling a greedy covetous Oppressor thy whole Life hath been a prayerless Life an irreligious Life casting the Word Worship and Ordinances of God behind thy Back spending of thy precious Time which should have been spent in the Service of thy God Oh! this precious Time which thou canst never recal more hast thou laid out in the satisfying of thy Lusts and sensual Appetite Oh! but hath the Razor oâ— thy High-Priest shaved all this away and canst thou now say in the Words of Paul to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 6. 11. Such were some of you but ye are Washed but ye are Sanctified but ye are Justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Be not deceived there was never a healed Leper came out of Christ's Hands but he was a shaved mortified and sanctified Leper the Bloud the Oil and the shaving Razor always went together the Bloud to justice the Oil to sanctifie and the Razor to mortifie the Affections and Lusts Redemption from the Guilt of Sin is only proved by our Mortification to the love and power of Sin in our Natures Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Mark There is therefore no Condemnation there is Guilt removed who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit there is the Truth of it proved the shaving of the Head Beard and Eye-brows were evident Signs what the Man had been and with whom he had been they were Signs that the Man had been a Leper and secondly That he had been with the Priest for a Cure and is now come off healed and cleansed of his Distemper So likewise if thou hast been with Jesus Christ indeed he hath fixed these visible Signs upon thy Soul 2 Cor. 5. 17. Thou art come of a new Creature all old things are done away and all things are become new in thee but if the Signs of thy Cleansing be not upon thee thou hast still cause with the Leper Lev. 13. 45. to rent thy Clothes and to go with thy Head bare and to put a Covering upon thy Upper-lip crying out to every one which thou meetest Vnclean unclean PART VIII
THE Leper and the Leper's House CLEANSED BEING AN EXPOSITION Upon some part of the XIVth Chapter of LEVITICUS The Mystery of which is Explained and Applied to the State and Condition of a Sinner's becoming a Saint WITH Profitable USES and APPLICATIONS AS ALSO What the Chapter may be applied to as to the Cleansing or Destroying of any particular Church of CHRIST in and under the Time of the Gospel Divided into Ten PARTS Written for the Information of those which seldom concern themselves about the Types and Shadows of the Old Testament Very useful for all People By THOMAS WORDEN Author of The Types Vnvailed LONDON Printed for William Marshal and sold at the Bible in Newgate-street and at the Bible in Gracious-street Where you may be supplied with most of Dr. Owen's Mr. Caryl'â— and Mr. Beverly's Works with all sorts of Stationary Wasâ— and Paper-hangings of the newest India and Japan Figureâ— either by Yard or Sheet c. Likewise Bibles Testameâ—â—â— Psalters and all sorts of School-books At the Bible in Nâ—â—gate-street you may have Matthews's Pill rightly prepâ—â—â—â— and sold at a reasonable Rate AN Epistle to the Reader AS the least of the Works of God are adorable because they are the Works of him who is infinitely Wise Powerful Iust and Good much more are the greater Works of God adorable and admirable There are three great Works of God presented to our Sense and Vnderstanding which invites us all with David to cry aloud Many are thy Works O Lord and in Wisdom hast thou made them all And these are 1st His Works of Creation in making the World 2dly His Works of Providence in providing for the World in sustaining governing and preserving of it 3dly In redeeming and eternally saving of his Elect in the World In his Creating-work there is much of his Wisdom and Power manifested in his Providential-work there is much of his Bounty and Goodness declared and in this Work of Redemption how much of his Love Grace Mercy and Bowels of Pity is there in this to be magnified And unto all this has God added his written Book of Scripture by the Inspiration of his own Spirit in the holy Prophets and Apostles wherein he hath plainly opened to our dark Vnderstandings both the Matter Method and the Means to obtain the End of it which is Everlasting Life and Blessedness And though this be plainly incerted in the Word of God that sanctified Babes do 〈…〉 to the Knowledge of it yet it is a Book sealed up from the 〈…〉 sanctified Wise and Learned in the World that they underst 〈…〉 nothing of the saving Mystery and Meaning of it those whi 〈…〉 have not the Key of Grace to unlock it shall never dis 〈…〉 the Riddles of it as to be able to say by experience 〈…〉 this Eater comes Meat and out of this strong One comes 〈…〉 ness but though there is nothing obscure in the Scrip 〈…〉 what the meanest Child of God may understand as n 〈…〉 his Salvation yet there are many things in it which 〈…〉 〈◊〉 still ignorant of as a hindrance to their growth in Knowledge to the furtherance of their Consolation and these difficult things not easily to be understood consists much if not mostly of the dark Types of the Old Testament The difficulty of them makes many a Christian to throw by the reading of the two Books viz. Exodus and Leviticus as wholly useless in their Esteem which was one considerable Reason which put me upon that Task of bringing forth my Book call'd The Types Unvailed above Thirty Years agon it was to encline the ignoranter sort of Christians to a greater Freedom to make themselves more familiar with these Old Testament-Mysteries in which as so many Pearls hid in a heap of Earth the Substance of the whole Gospel is included and the same Design I have in being willing to let go this Exposition to publick View the Piece having lain by me in secret for some Years not knowing that ever it might be of any farther Vse than to benefit my own Children but God which orders all Events by his Providence it seems was resolved that this Work of mine though but a Mite prepared for his Treasury yet it should not be buried in Oblivion but did order it to be so though unknown to me did cast a Servant of his into a Family unto which I had lent the Manuseript to read for their private Instruction it pleased God to order it so that the People of the House should give their Friend a sight of the Copy and when he had read part of it it begat a thorow Resolution in his Mind not to rest until he had been at the Press with it and though it be void of Letters of Attestation yet it hath past under several good Ministers Approbation So commending the whole Work to the Blessing of God with thy Soul in the reading of it which if it prove a Means of the increase of thy Faith in God thy Knowledge of God and Love to God give the whole Honour to him from whom I received this Light as indeed they must who are mostly acquainted with the Original of my Education and give me thy Prayers not thy Praises that God would make my Preaching-labours as well as my Writing-labours very profitable to the Souls of those I labour in the Ministry amongst And so crave leave to write my self the meanest of Ministers and yet Christ's and the Churches Servant T. W. THE Leper and the Leper's House CLEANSED EXPOSITION I. AN Exposition upon some part of the Fourteenth Chapter of Leviticus entituled The Leper Cleansed The Mystery of which is explained and applied to the State and Condition of a Sinner's becoming a Saint which is seconded with some profitable Vses and Application As also what the Chapter may be applied to the Cleansing or Destroying of any particular Church of Christ in and under the time of the Gospel Written for the Information of those which seldom concern themselves about the Types and Shadows of the Old Testament IN which Chapter you have these two Generals insisted upon First The Subject 1st What is spoken of the Subject First You have the Subject itself and that is twofold First The Man Secondly His House Secondly You have what is spoken of the Subject namely The Man and his House and that is twofold First The Disease which hapend to either Secondly The Remedy prescribed to both I shall first speak of the Man beginning with him and in the second place speak of his House which is the other part of the Subject to be treated of And here First with respect to the Man we may observe these two things First His Disease and that was a Leprosie Ver. 2. This shall be the Law of the Leper in the Day of his Cleansing The Mystery of which is to lead us into the Knowledge of that spiritual Leprosie which by original Sin is begotten in our whole Man a Disease derived
or have to boast of yet you may read under all his highest Attainments what a humbling Consideration this was to him that he still had the remainders of his Leprosie upon him Isai 6. 5. Then said I Wo is me for I am undone because I am a Man of unclean Lips and I dwell in the midst of a People of unclean Lips And as this was Matter of Humiliation to that Prophet so should it be to every one else for if a corporal Leprosie be so debasing a thing much more must a spiritual Leprosie be so because the more spiritual an Evil is the more vile and debasing Oh! how Humble should the Thoughts of this make us under our greatest Enjoyments and Attainments in this Life PART II. Thus having spoken to the Disease we next come to speak of the Remedy against it ABout which we may note these three things First There was something to be done by the Leper himself in order to his Cleansing Secondly You have the Person noted by whom the Cure was to be wrought Thirdly You have the Means noted also which was to be used in order to the Cure of the Leper First of all we are to consider what was to be done by the Leper himself in order to his Cure which hath two things in it First He was to go or be brought to the Priest that his Disease might be discovered and lookt into Secondly And if it proved to be the Leprosie then was he to go out of the Camp and be separated from the People First of all He was to go or be brought to the Priest that his Disease might be discovered and lookt into in order to his Recovery Levit. 13. 2. When a Man which shall have in the Skin of his Flesh a Swelling or a Scab or a white Spot in the Skin of his Flesh if it be like the Plague of Leprosie then shall he be brought to the Priest Now the Levitical Priest who was to be the Instrument of this corporal Cure was a Type of Jesus Christ our Gospel High-Priest who alone can heal the spiritual Leprosie of our polluted and defiled Natures and indeed one great part of the Apostle's Work in his Epistle to the Hebrews is to shew the Levitical Priesthood typical of the Priest-hood of Christ not only in the Work of offering Gifts and Sacrifices for the People but also in that compassionating Care that Christ should exercise over his Members in healing and helping them under their Infirmities Heb. 5. 1 2. From whence we shall raise this Observation Doct. That if any have a desire to be healed of their 〈◊〉 Leprosies and Soul-pollutions they must come on be brought to Jesus Christ. Where could the Isâ—â—â—lites go or unto whom could they repair for healing Help against their corporall Leprosies but unto their Levitical Priests Had they â—ayelled through the whole Would for a Cure they could not imagin to obtain it from the Hands of any whom God had not appointed to administer it but God never appointed any but their Priests to be the Instruments in this Work and none but them therefore to neglect the Use of them was to abide still under the power of their Leprosies So in the case of our spiritual Leprosies it is only Jesus Christ which God hath appointed to administer Health and Healing against it it is he alone that is the anointed High-Priest to deal with our Soul-pollution in order to the removing of it Heb. 2. 17 18. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest in things pertaining to God to make Reconciliation for the Sins of the People For in that himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to Succoâ—â— them that are tempted Acts 4. 12. Neither is there Salvation in any other for there is no other Name under Heaven given amongst Men whereby we must be saÌ„ved So that if we seek to this High-Priest for a Cure of our Soul-pollution we need not doubt of healing Grace to our effectual Recovery because he is able to save them to the uttermost which come unto God by him Heb. 7. 25. Thus as Jesus Christ is our only High-Priest appointed and anoâ—â—ed of God for Soul-cure so it is our coming to him which gives us the Benefit in order to our Recovery the reason is because our coming to him is made the Condition of it Matt. 11. 28. Come unto me all ye that Labour and are heavy Laden and I will give you Rest. Isai 55. 1. Ho every one that thirsteth let him come to the Waters He that is a Thrist let him come and he that will let him come and take of the Waters of Life freely Rev. 22. 17. Thus you see though Christ our High-Priest be every way qualified and appointed by his Father for our Healing who hath said of Christ I have laid help upon one that is Mighty yet still it is our coming to Christ for help which effects the Cure in us Mark the leprous Person was to be brought to the Priest Leo. 13. 45. and thou must be brought to Christ or thou must endure thy Leprosie for ever and so I come to make some Application upon this particular Point Vse This informs then whence it is and why it is that we have so many spiritual Lepers amongst us so many Men and Women who live in their Sins walk after the Flesh taking pleasure in Iniquity fulfilling the Desire of their fleshly Minds and are still wandring after the Course of this World yielding up of themselves to the Government of the Prince of the power of the Air the Spirit that works in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience The reason lieth here they come not to the Priest for a Cure they make no use of Jesus Christ for healing Grace there is a deep Fountain opened to the House of David and to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem for Sin and Vncleanness Zech. 13. 1. but they will make no use of it which Fountain being the free Grace of God running forth through the Merit of Christ's Blood publishing itself to our Souls by the preaching of the Word and Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ this Grace and freely profered Mercy they neglect slight and contemn which is the only ordinary Means of their Cleansing and Healing now of these Christ-slighting and Graceundervaluing Souls there are two sorts First Those who wilfully resufe and slight the Means of their Cleansing which is the Ministry of the Word of such we read in John 5. 40. They would not come to Christ that they might have Life that is as you read in John 6. 66. They went back from Christ that is they turned their Backs upon the Ministry of Christ for 't is said they walked no more with him and Solomon tells you That such as refuse Instruction despise their own Souls Prov. 15. 32. Thus through the pride and haughtiness of their Hearts they ssight
the Means that should cleanse them many of them are so Self-conceited that they think they know already as much as the ablest Minister of Christ can tell them and are as ready to say What can the best of them all say any more to them than they have heard long ago Neither for the future do they expect that their longer waiting upon their Preaching can be any addition to that measure of Knowledge which by their Ministry they have attained unto already Thus by their despising of Instruction they despise their own Souls and discern it not Might not the poor Cripple who lay at the Pool of Bethesda thirty eight Years have slighted his waiting upon that Means long within that time upon the same account For had he come off from the Pool and in his coming off should have met with any one which might have exhorted him to a return again and to have waited a while longer upon that healing Pool might not he have replied Do not I know what the Pool of Bethesda is Have I not seen the Waters of it with the frequent Signs of the Angels troubling of them Can any Man acquaint me with any Passage or Circumstance about that Pool which I know not as well as themselves And whatever others are pleased to say or affirm about the healing Vertue of it yet for my part I lay a Waiter upon it for thirty eight Years and am come off a Cripple at last But yet you may read that his long waiting upon it and keeping close to it in obedience to God's Ordinance relating to it had a full Recompence with a perfect Cure the Story you have at large in John 5. 3 4 5 6 7 8 Verses This Pool of Bethesda was a lively Figure of the Preaching of the Word with the rest of the Ordinances of the Gospel which are called the Healing Waters Ezek. 47. 9. and the Fountain which is opened for Sin and Vncleanness Zech. 13. 1. And as the Waters of Bethesda healed not until the Angel came down into them giving a present Vertue to them for that purpose so the Word and Ordinances of the Gospel must receive their Power and Vertue from the Presence of Christ in them who is the Angel of the Covenant this and only this makes them healing to our leprous Souls John 15. 3. Now are you Clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you Beware then as you value your Souls that you give not way to a haughty Spirit in slighting and neglecting the healing Waters of the Sanctuary for fear lest you Perish and Die in your Leprosies Oh! read and tremble at that word in Heb. 2. 3. How shall we Escape if we neglect so great Salvation 2dly There are a second sort of Lepers which are not healed by the cleansing Means of the Word and Ordinances of the Gospel and they are your careless Hearers which tho they attend upon the Means and Ministry of the Word yet they do not seriously intend any saving Benefit to their Souls thereby There are many whose Consciences will not allow them to neglect an Ordinance yet never propose to themselves any spiritual End in their waiting upon them There are several that will travel some Miles to be at a religious Meeting where the Word is preached but never design the Conversion and Regeneration of their Souls thereby Such as these who have no higher End in waiting upon the Gospel but only to keep Peace with their Consciences are in the Eyes of Christ no better than Refusers of that healing Means which he holds forth to them in the Gospel there being in his account little difference betwixt not regarding the end of the Means and an open refusal of it of such we read in Ezck. 33. 31 32. They come unto thee as the People cometh and sit before thee as my People and they hear thy Words but they will not do them for with their Mouths they shew much Love but their Hearts goeth after their Covetousness for lo thou art unto them as a very lovely Song of one that hath a pleasant Voice and can play well on an Instrument for they hear thy Words but they do them not 2dly A second thing observable about the Leper is this After he had been with the Priest and if his Disease was found to be a Leprosie he was then to be separated from the rest of his Brethren Lev. 13. 46. All the Days wherein the Plague shall be in him he shall be Defiled he is Vnclean he shall dwell alone without the Camp shall his Habitation be Now if we apply this to the Anti-type we may note this Truth from it Doct. That those Persons which are under the Power of their spiritual Leprosies and Pollutions are not only unfit for Fellowship and Communion with God but with his People also This is a Truth so clear as if it were written with the Beams of the shining Sun As first of all That God and spiritual Lepers whose Leprosie is reigning in them can have no Fellowship nor Communion together Isa 59. 2. Your Iniquities have separated between you and your God and your Sins have hid his Face from you Hab. 1. 13. Thou art of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity nor canst thou behold Evil. 2 Cor. 14. 15. What Fellowship hath Righteousness with Vnrighteousness and what Communion hath Light with Darkness and what Concord hath Christ with Belial Yea though he be a King in his Royal Robes and hath this Leprosie on him in the Dominion of it God will have no Fellowship with him though he sits upon the Throne Psal 94. 20. Shall the Throne of Iniquity have Fellowship with thee which frameth Mischief by a Law Thus as God will have no Fellowship with Lepers himself so hath he prohibited his People from the same this you see in Lev. 13. 46. That as soon as the Leprosie did appear upon any Israelite he was to be separated from the Camp he was to have no more Communion with his Brethren nor they with him until his Leprosie were healed And doth not the Apostle seem to apply this in a spiritual Sense to the People of God as a Rule to be observed by the Churches of Christ in the times of the Gospel Doth he not say in 2 Cor. 6. 15. What part hath he that believeth with an Infidel So 2 Thess 3. 14. If any Man obey not our Word by this Epistle note that Man and have no Company with him that he may be ashamed So 1 Cor. 5. 11. But now I have written unto you not to keep Company if any Man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or Covetous or an Idolater or a Railer or a Drunkard or an Extortioner with such a one no not to Eat Thus you see how plain and clear it is First That God will not and Secondly His Will is that his People should not have any Fellowship with spiritual Lepers And so we come to the Reason upon
as soon as the Priest could apply each one after the other the Bloud applied first and then the Oil next From hence we may observe this Point of Doctrine Doct. That when Christ doth Justifie a Soul by his Bloud the same doth he Sanctifie by the Oil of his Grace Look through the whole Book of God and you will find nothing more a truth than this nor can you read of one Person therein who is recorded for a justified Man by the Bloud of Christ but you shall find it affirmed of him that he was a sanctified Man by the Oil of Christ's Grace besides How fully doth the Word speak out the Truth of the thing itself Rom. 8. 30. Moreover whom he did Predestinate them he also Called 1 Pet. 1. 2. Elect according to the Fore-knowledge of God through the Sanctification of the Spirit 1 John 5. 6 7 8. This is he that came by Water and Bloud even Jesus Christ not by Water only but by Water and Bloud for there are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one and there are three that bear Witness in Earth the Spirit the Water and Bloud and these three agree in one 2 Thess 2. 13. Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation thro Sanctification and Belief of the Truth And so we come to the Reason of the Point Reason Now the Reason why where Christ Justifies by his Bloud there he Sanctifies by his Spirit is that the Justified might be made meet and fit Temples for himself to live in here and also that they may be filled and made meet to dwell with him hereafter First Christ must dwell in his People here in this Life Ephes 3. 17. That Christ may dwell in your Hearts by Faith 1 Cor. 6. 19. Know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own Thus as Christ fits the Souls of his People by Grace and Sanctification as Temples for himself to dwell in here so also by the same means doth he prepare them that they may be Company meet to dwell with him in Glory hereafter 2 Thess 2. 14. Whereunto he hath called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Col. 1. 12. Who hath made you meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Now it 's only Sanctification that can fit prepare and qualifie the Soul as a Habitation fit for Christ to take up his Residence in while in this Life and it is nothing short of true Sanctification which can prepare the Soul to live in Glory with Christ when this Life is over Acts 15. 9. Purifying their Hearts by Faith And without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. The second Reason of the Point is this because all those which are Christ's justified Ones are ordained thereby to bring forth Fruit to God this is what our Saviour told his Disciples That the reason why his Father elected them by his Grace and why himself redeemed them by his Bloud and justified them by his Obedience all this was that they might bring forth holy Fruit to God Ephes 2. 10. For ye are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained that we should Walk in them Ephes 1. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be Holy and without Blame before him in Love John 15. 16. Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth Fruit and your Fruit should remain Now this Fruitfulness can never be brought forth without Grace and Sanctification be first poured forth upon the Heart for whatever the Fruit be that is brought forth it can be of no other kind than the Root is from whence it springs if the Root be but Nature's Qualification take it in its highest Flourish yet the Fruit which springs from it is but Rottenness and Hypocrisie in the sight of God The best that is spoken of the Fruit which the Children of Nature do bring forth in the Eyes of God is what you have recorded in Deut. 32. 32 33. For their Vine is as the Vine of Sodom and of the Fields of Gamorrah their Grapes are Grapes of Gallâ— their Clusters are bitter their Wine is the Poison of Dragons and the cruel Venome of Asps So that where the Oil of Grace is not the Root there the best of our Obedience will not pass for Fruit in God's Eyes Matt. 7. 18. A good Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit neither can a corrupt Tree bring forth good Fruit. Therefore the Root must be Grace and Sanctification or the Fruit will meet with no less than final Rejection Let it be the greatest of Self-denial Patience Temperance Self-mortification Meekness Works of Charity Prayer with the performance of any other Duties done in the Worship of God if it flows not from the Root of true Grace and Sanctification in the Heart all is abominable in the Sight of God Prov. 21. 27. The Sacrifices of the Wicked is Abomination how much more when he bringeth it with a wicked Mind Vse This shews us then how much they are mistaken about their eternal State who think they are Justified by Christ's Bloud and yet were never Sanctified by his Spirit How many Thousands are there of these living in a Gospel-professing Kingdom which are held under the Power of this Soul-damning Delusion who will not believe but they are Justified in the sight of God though they were never yet Sanctified in the fight of Men They are just like a company of Drunkards who dreamed that they were all Feasting in a Royal Palace but when they awoke they found themselves made fast with their Feet in the Stocks Of such a sort of Dreamers James speaks Jam. 2. 18. Yea a Man may say Thou hast Faith and I have Works shew me thy Faith without thy Works and I will shew thee my Faith by my Works Thou believest there is one God thou doest well the Devils also believe and tremble But wilt thou know O vain Man that Faith without Works is dead Oh never think that the Bloud of Atonement hath been shed for thee if the Oil of Sanctification hath not been poured forth upon thee The second Use is to instruct us how to attain to some hopeful Assurance of our Justification which is by a Trial made of our Sanctification I know that it is much a Query amongst the doubting part of Christians Oh How shall we do to know whether we be in a Justified State and Condition Answ Look into your Hearts and search whether the Oil of Grace be infused into it Grace changeth the Heart Ezek. 36. 26. Grace reneweth the Heart Titus 3. 5. Grace regenerateth the Heart John 3. 3. Grace turns
the old Man into a new Creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. Grace purifieth the Heart Acts 15. 9. And purgeth the Heart from dead Works Heb. 9. 14. Grace works Desires after Christ Psal 42. 1 2. Grace imbitters Sin to the Soul Jen 2. 91. Grace crucifies the World with the Affections and Lusts thereof Gal. 5. 24. Gal. 6. 24. Grace puts the highest Value upon Jesus Christ Phil. 3. 8. Grace makes the Word sweeter than the Honey-comb Psal 19. In a word The gracious Soul can better live without its appointed Food than it can without Prayer Psal 55. 17. Psal 109. 4. Grace is a living Principle which never will lie still but will be working stirring acting and moving in the Soul Grace cannot be idle it will still be bringing forth things new and old here you have a Looking-glass before you present your Hearts before this Glass and see what you can espy of these Signs of Grace within your Souls in order to the finding out of your Justification by the Bloud of Christ the Lamb slain for the Cleansing of your spiritual Leprosie 2. Thus after the Priest had poured out the Oil into the Palm of his Hand we next come to take notice of the Parts of the Leper's Body which the Priest was to apply the Oil unto and that was to the Tip or Lap of the right Ear the Thumb of the right Hand and the great Toe of the right Foot which Parts viz. The Ear Thumb or Hand and Foot are the three principal Members of Service to the whole Body and you find that the Bloud of Christ which was typed out by the Bloud of the Lamb and the Bird the Apostle calls it the Price which Bought us Now the Purchase which Christ made for us is twofold 1st From the Curse and Condemnation of the Law Rom. 8. 1. with Gal. 3. 13. 2dly He by the same Price bought us for his Use and Service 1 Cor. 6. 20. For ye are Bought with a Price therefore glorifie God in your Bodies and Souls which are the Lord 's So that the Priest's putting of the Bloud and Oil upon the right Ear Hand and Foot of the Leper that was to be Cleansed shadowed out these Mysteries to us First of all as to Priest's applying of the Bloud of the slain Lamb to the right Ear Hand and Foot which are the three principal Members of Service to the whole Body it notes to us this Truth for our Observation That the same Bloud of Christ which redeemed us from Wrath to come did also purchase us for that Work and Service which he commands us to do for him for so much as this I gather from the Priest's tipping of the right Ear Thumb and Toe of the right Foot of the Leper with the Bloud of the slain Lamb which Lamb was a Type of Christ which Action held a Congruity to the levitical Manner of making Men perpetual Servants to the Jewish Masters Exod. 21. 5 6. If the Servant shall plainly say I love my Master my Wife and my Children I will not go out free then his Master shall bring him unto the. Judges he shall also bring him unto the Door or to the Door-post and his Master shall bore his Ear through with an Awl and he shall serve him for ever So in like manner the Leper that was to be Cleansed was to have the Bloud of the Lamb tipt upon his Ear to be a professed Servant of the levitical Administration by which he was Cleansed for ever Now inasmuch as the Bloud of the Lamb by which the corporal Leper was Cleansed was a Type of the Bloud of Christ and the corporal Leper a Figure of a spiritual Leper and his corporal Cleansing binding him to perpetual Service typocal of that perpetual Obligation which every spiritual-cleansed Leper lies under to Christ altogether affords us this Note Doct. That he which intends to be redeemed from Sin the Curse and Condemnation of the Law and Wrath to come must become willing to give up himself to the Service of Christ for ever For the proof of this Truth read 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. You are not your own you are bought with a Price therefore glorifie God in your Bodies and Spirits which are God's As if the Apostle had said O ye Corinthians remember that the Bloud of your Redemption hath been put upon the tip of your right Ears your Hands and Feet in token of your perpetual Service to Christ as the Levitical-servant had his Ear bored through with an Awl to be his Master's Servant for ever Oh so hath the Bloud of Christ been upon your Ears also to make you his perpetual Servants for ever you are bought with a Price you are not your own therefore glorifie him in your Bodies and Spirits which are his Have a care that you rob him not of his Right in you in giving that Service to the Devil World and the Flesh which is only due to him And so we come to the Reason of the Point Reason Why that Soul who would have Redemption by Christ must be willing to become a perpetual Servant to Christ is because Christ redeems none but upon that Condition Isa 1. 19. If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good things of the Land Heb. 5. 9. He is the Author of eternal Salvation to as many as obey him Rom. 8. 13. If ye live after the Flesh ye shall die but if through the Spirit ye mortifie the Deeds of the Body ye shall live So Ver. 6. For to be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace Thus you see how Conditional the Promises are which speak out a Soul's Benefit by the Redeeming-bloud of Christ which do all call upon us for a willing chearful and sincerc Obedience to Christ though we grant That it is not an old but a New Covenant-condition even such a Condition that the Grace and gracious Aid which only can enable us to perform the Condition is graciously given into the Soul by Jesus Christ and who will as graciously accept our Endeavours though clothed with many Weaknesses and Infirmities so that our Obedience to him be but sincere 2 Cor. 8. 12. If there be first a willing Mind it is accepted according to what a Man hath and not according to that he hath not And so we come to make some Application of this Matter 1st Vse This informs us then why the Number is so small which comes under the Yoke of Jesus Christ the Reason is because there are so few that are willing to come up to the Terms he propounds which is a willing Subjection to the Government of his Word and Spirit which is the Condition he propounds to all that would have an Interest in his Salvation They would willingly accept of his Bloud to wash away the Guilt of Sin from their Souls but they like not to have it tipt or applied to their Ears to engage them to his Work and Service
own way every one for his Gain from his quarter Hence it is that though we read of so much Corruption breaking forth upon the Seven Churches of Asia yet the Ground and Cause of it in some Measure was charged upon the Ministers of those Churches which were called the Angels of the same when Ministers are given up to an idle lazy Life to be remiss in nothing more than in and about their Duty to God and the Souls of their People no wonder if their Hearers do decline and wither as to the Spirit Life and Power of Godliness under their Hands Ministers are called Physicians and you know when a Physician grows careless and negligent in his Office towards his Patient no wonder if the Body of such a Patient abounds with corrupting Humours and the Malignity of their old Distempers returns back upon them again He that reads the Conversation of Israel's Pastors Isa 56. 10 11 12. need not wonder at Israel's Corruption which is exprest in Isa 1. 4 5 6. Secondly A second Ground of the Churches Corruption ariseth from the earthly-mindedness of their Ministers when Ministers through Covetousness shall make Merchandize of the Souls of their Hearers and set their everlasting Happiness to sale to fill their Treasures with worldly Gain I mean when they shall mind more their own worldly Wealth than their Peoples spiritual Health this opens a Door to let in bad Diseases upon their People it is a very rare thing to find a Minister greedy of the Churches Wealth in worldly things and the People to grow spiritually Wealthy under such a Minister Thirdly A third Ground ariseth from the Debauchery and bad Lives of Ministers this excludes the Presence of God and his Blessing from their Labours and leaves a Curse in the room of it such a Minister may Preach until he hath preach'd out his Heart before he shall do any good upon his People Jer. 23. 14 32. I have seen also in the Prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing they commit Adultery and walk in Lies they strengthen also the Hands of Evil-doers that none doth return from his Wickedness they are all unto me as Sodom and the Inhabitants of Gomorrah Ver. 32. They cause my People to err by their Lies and by their Lightness yet I sent them not nor commanded them therefore they shall not profit this People at all saith the Lord. Fourthly A fourth Ground ariseth from the Superstitiousness of a Minister when the blind Zeal of a Minister shall incline him to a greater eagerness to promote the Superstition of the Church than faithfully to promote the pure Institutions of Christ woe to that People which lives under the Charge of such a Man Matt. 15. 8 9. Ye Hypocrites well did Esaias Prophesie of you saying This People draweth nigh unto me with their Mouth and honour me with their Lips but their Heart is far from me but in vain they do Worship me teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men. Secondly The Reasons are also drawn from the Churches themselves that there is so much Corruption amongst them First of all It ariseth from their Negligence in not exercising of their Faith in the hearing of the Word Heb. 4. 2. For unto us the Gospel was preached as well as unto them but the Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it Secondly It ariseth from a Peoples not receiving the Truth in the Love of it when a People shall rather hear the Word to please their Fancy than to feed their Faith when they shall hear more to get Head-notions than warm Affections or to grow in Gifts rather than to grow in Grace let such beware of that fearful Judgment spoken of in 2 Thess 2. 10 11 12. Because they received not the Love of the Truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong Delusions that they should believe a Lie that they all might be damned who believe not the Truth but had pleasure in Vnrighteousness Mark There was a receiving of the Truth but not to a right end many there are and but too too many which are sick of this Disease viz. To hear much and read much to increase their Parts but not their Piety to be admired of Men rather than to be approved of God but when Men from a Spirit of Vain-glory attend the Ministry of the Word but not aiming at the Glory of God wonder not if such Mens Knowledge prove at last like the Wilderness-manna to the Israelites when â—athered and unlawfully kept Exod. 16. 20. It bred Worms and stank So woful have been the Effects of an unsanctifying hearing of the Word upon some Men. Thirdly It ariseth from the Peoples Unfruitfulness under the Word which they hear this was Israel's Sin which greatly increased their Corruption even the same Means which was sent to soften them turned to their hardning through their unfruitfulness under it Isa 5. 1 2. My Beloved had a Vineyard in a very fruitful Hill and he looked for Grapes and it brought forth wild Grapes But what was the Issue of this Read Isa 6. 9 10. Go and tell this People hear ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive not make the Heart of this People fat and their Ears heavy shut their Eyes lest they should see with their Eyes and hear with their Ears and understand with their Hearts and convert and be healed Thus having given you the Grounds and Reasons whence it is that the spiritual Houses of Christ are so subject to their Defilement and Corruption in this Life we next come to the Application of the Point 1st Vse This serves then in the first place to inform us of the Duty both of the Ministers and Hearers First Of the Ministers who under Christ are the Owners of his spiritual Houses or Churches Would you know what his Duty was that was the Owner of the Levitical House when the Plague of Leprosie broke forth in it Read Lev. 14. 35. He was to go to the Priest and tell the Priest that it seemed to him that there is as it were a Plague in the House so in like manner ought every Pastor or Minister to do even by Prayer Fasting and true Humiliation to acquaint Jesus Christ the great High-Priest with the leprous Distemper which is broken forth in his Churches This is the Advice which the Spirit of God gave the Old Testament-churches as a means to cure them of their Pollution and Defilement Joel 2. 16 17 18. Gather the People sanctifie the Congregation assemble the Elders gather the Children and those that suck the Breast let the Bridegroom go forth of his Chamber and the Bride out of her Closet let the Priests and Ministers of the Lord weep between the Porch and the Altar and let them say Spare thy People O Lord and give not thy Heritage to reproach then will the Lord be jealous for his Land and pity his
Churches of Christ in general and every Christian in particular to give the whole Honour of their spiritual Cure to Christ alone have a care of thrusting him out of his Work by thrusting in of any thing into it or by employing of any one else about this Work which is only proper to him there is no Man ought to take this Honour upon him but he that is called of God as Aaron was Aaron was â—ut a Typical Healer to the Church of the Jews it 's true he was a visible Healer of their Plagues Pestilence Sins and Sufferings which they were subject unto but still the principal Healer was Christ in the Person of Aaron Oh! take not away this Honour from Jesus Christ either by not making use of him or by making use of others for help in opposition to him which is worst of all For he will not give his Glory to another nor his Praise to Graven Images Isa 42. 8. Christ is the Head of his Church and who should the Members make use of for Healing if not him as 〈◊〉 once said John 6. 68. Lord to whom shall we go for thou hast the Words of eternal Life Christ is the good Shepherd John 10. 11. and unto whom should the Sheep repair for Help but to theâ—r Sâ—epherd Christ is the good Physician and unto whom should his â—â—ick Paâ—ients have recourse unto for Health and Healing if not to him In a word He is that Sun of Righteousness which carrieth that Healing in his Wings which makes the feeblest of his People to grow up as Fat as the Calves of the Stall Mal. 4. 2. Thus having viewed the Healer of the leprous House which was the Priest we next come to consider what was to be done by the Priest in order to the Healing of the House First He was to scrape off that part of the Wall in the House which was infected with the Leprosie Ver. 41. He shall cause the House to be scraped within round about This Action of the Levitical Priest doth livelily Type out the Work of Christ who is our Gospel High-Priest in the cleansing of his Gospel Spiritual-houses we need not doubt but the levitical Priest had his Instruments and other Means to use in the cleansing of the leprous House So Jesus Christ he hath also his Instruments and Means to use in the cleansing of his leprous Churches no doubt but the Levitical Priest had his Levites to assist him in scraping off the infected Plaister of the House so hath Jesus Christ his Ministers to work by in the scraping off the Pollution of his Churches Hence they are called Work-men 2 Tim. 2. 15. and Labourers such as labour in the Word and Doctrine 1 Tim. 5. 1â— even such by whose Labours they present Men perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 2. 28. Secondly The Means which Christ useth in cleansing of his Churches is the Preaching of the Word with the Power of the Holy Ghost working with it John 15. 3. Now are ye clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you By this it is that Christ scrapes his Churches clean from that leprous Filth which is apt to cleave unto them by this it was which hâ— healed his diseased Church in the Wilderness from those frequent Rebellions which so often broke out amongst them Psal 107. 20. He sent his Word and healed them and delivered them from their Destruction By this it was which he healed by scraping his People in Babylon from that Uncleanness which they went away Foul and Filthy withal from their own Land He sent his Word and Prophets to them to scrape them clean of that Defilement Ezek. 3. 11. â—o get thee to them of the Captivity unto the Children of thy People and speak unto them and tell them thus saith the Lord God Whether they will hear or whether they will forbear So Ezek. 36. 33. Thus saith the Lord In the Day that I shall have cleansed you from all your Iniquities I will cause you to dwell in the Cities And by the same Means it was which our Lord endeavoured to cleanse the seven Churches of Asia as Ephesus from their coldness of Love to him Pergaâ—os of its unsound Doctrine Thyatra of its Neglect in Discipline Sardis of its spiritual Deadness and Laodicea of its Lukewarmness he sent his Word to them all by his Servant John to cleanse them from their spiritual Leprosies and Pollution Rev. 1. 4 5 Verses Secondly But if the use of this means will not do Christ will use other means that shall and that is Affliction If the Word will not scrape the â—â—od shall rake until Christ hath fetch'd off the Rust from his People the Rod sometimes effâ—cts and brings to pass what the Word doth not the Word may and doth shew Men their Duty but it 's the Rod which drives Men to it many a Man which hath leapt over the Word yet at last hath been fetcht back again by the Rod Afflictions if sanctifyed are as necessary for the People of God as Physick is for a diseased Body they are purging Means in order to a healthful Constitution David found much good by his Afflictions Psal 119. 71. Afflictions makes way for the entrance of the Word into the Affections which have lain for some Years as lifeless upon the Heart as Seed upon the Ground that wants Rain Joseph's Brethren who sinfully sold him into Egypt lay under the unrepented Gilt of that Sin for twenty Years together until the Rod of Affliction awakened it in their Consciences Gen. 42. 21. So we come to the Application 1st Vse This then should teach the Churches of God great Thankfulness to him who hath made such gracious Provision against their spiritual Maladies he might have suffered you all to have perished in your Pollutions and Defilements and have took as great Satisfaction in the glorifying of his Justice in your final Destruction as in magnifying of the Riches of his Grace and Mercy in your Recovery Oh! but on the other Hand what cause have we all to adore the Riches of boundless Grace with a thankful Admiration that a Fountain of Mercy is sound out and set wide open for the worst of Lepers and leprous Churches to Wash in and be Clean Are you liable to the Leprosie of Pride Passion Lukewarmness Errours Earthly-mindedness Doth a Spirit of Discord Backbiting and Envy break forth amongst you Lo here is the Word and Ordinances of the Gospel in Place to scrape and cleanse off all this from you which if attended with a divine Blessing it is a quick and powerful Means sharper than a two-edged Sword to divide asunder the Joynts and Marrow the Soul and Spirit and is a Discerner of the Thoughts of the Heart Heb. 4. 12. And you have heard if this Means will not do rather than God will suffer his People to Perish and Rot in their Corruption he will use his Rod of Correction to set home his Word of Instruction upon their Souls
know that I am â—e which searcheth the Reins and Hearts and I will give unto every one of you according to your works Christ's Severity upon some Offenders will make others the more affraid to offend when the angry Father takes up the offending Child to correct it this makes the rest of the Children to quake and tremble The second Reason It is so because Christ will perform the Trust which is reposed in him by his Father with relation to the Churches and that with the greatest circumspection all the Churches of Christ in the World were originally the Fathers John 17. 6. Thine they were and thou gavest them to me That is the Father gave them to Christ to be kept watch'd over governed and ruled in his Father's Name as Vers 12. sheweth and one special purpose why the Father hath â—ntrusted Christ with the care of his Churches is that God might have fruitful service from them John 15. 8. In this is my Father glorified that you bear much fruit The Church is God's Vineyard and Christ is made the Vine-dresser of it with this Commission That if any of the Vines proves so rotten that instead of bringing forth of good Fruit they bring forth nothing but wild Grapes then must he cut down such unfruitful Vines Isa 5. 1 2. with Vers 5. My Beloved hath a Vineyard in a very fruitful Hill and he looked that it should bring Grapes and it brought forth wild Grapes now I will tell you what I will do to my Vineyard I will take away the Hedge thereof and it shall be eaten up and I will break down the Wall thereof and it shall be trodden down And this Trust our Lord Jesus dischargeth with a world of Justice on each hand first of all he dischargeth this Trust in order to the making of his Vineyard fruitful Isa 27. 2 3. In that day sing ye to her a Vineyard of red Wine I the Lord do keep it I will water it every moment lest any hurt it I will keep it night and day Secondly And he is as righteous to fulfil his Commission upon them if they prove unfruitful Vers 5. of the 26th Chapter For he bringeth down them that dwell on high the lofty City he layeth low he layeth it low even to the Ground he bringeth it even to the Dust So that if Churches will not be Trees of Righteousness Christ will fell them to the Ground for Trees of Rottenness if they will not yield him Fruit for his Father's Table they must be Fuel for his Father's Fire Luke 3. 9. Now the Ax is laid to the root of the Tree every Tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fire Christ is his Fathers Servant in this great Work and the Will of his Father he must and will do both in the preservation of some or destruction of other of his Churches in this Life according as they prove either fruitful or unfruitful in his sight for he came not to do his own Will but the Will of him that sent him John 6. 38. The third Reason It must be so because Christ will manifest to all the World the Righteousness of his Government over his Churches whilst here on Earth In Isa 9. 6. it 's said that the Government shall be upon his Shoulder and his Name shall be called the wonderful Counsellor and as it shall not be said that so wonderful a Counsellor Rules indiscreetly so neither shall it be said that he rules his Churches unrighteously It is said that Christ our Lord will order his Kingdom and establish it with Judgment and Justice for ever therefore let those Churches which will not be subject to the Government and Discipline of this high Governour know their doom Deut. 32. 20 21 22 23 24 25. And when the Lord saw it he abhorred them because of the provoking of his Sons and of his Dvughters and he said I will hide my Face from them I will see what their end shall be for they are a very froward Generation Children in whom is no Faith they have moved me to jealousie with that which is no God they have provoked me to anger with their vanities and I will move them to jealousie with those which are not a People I will provoke them to anger by a foolish Nation for a fire is kindled in my anger and shall burn to the lowest Hell and shall consume the earth with her increase and shall set on fire the foundation of the Mountains I will heap mischief upon them I will spend my Arrows upon them they shall be burnt with hunger and devoured with a burning heat and with bitter destruction I will send the teeth of wild Beast upon them with the poyson of Serpents of the dust the sword without and terror within shall destroy thy young Men and the Virgin the Suckling also with the Man of gray Hairs This will our Lord do to his polluted Churches to vindicate his righteousness in the Government which he exerciseth over them So that I shall conclude with this hearty Prayer That God would give you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of these things that so you might have a clear discerning of the fatal Ruine which is like to light upon our Luke-warm Congregations who have the Leprosie of so much Formality upon them who with Sardis have a Name to live but are dead and that you may be of the few Names in Sardis which have not defiled your Garments and having your Lamps trimmed your Lights burning and Garments shining and so accounted worthy to walk in white with your dear Lord Jesus both now and for evermore Amen FINIS A Catalogue of BOOKS lately printed for Will. Marshal and sold at the Bible in Newgate-street and at the Bible in Gracious-street 1. A Discourse of Christian Religion in sundry Points Preached at the Merchants Lecture in Broad-street by the late Reverend Mr. Tho. Cole Master of Arts and Student of Christ ' s Colledge in Oxford Price bound 2 s. 6 d. 2. God all in all or The Kingdom of the Son delivered up to God even the Father by the Son himself by T. B. Price 6 d. 3. A true second Spira or A Soul plunged in his Case but is recovered being Comfort for Back-sliders Price 6 d. 4. An Answer to six Arguments produc'd by Du-pin Likewise a Refutation of some of the false Conceits in Mr. Lock 's Essay of Human Vnderstanding Price 6 d. 5. A wakening Call or An Alarum from Heaven to wise and foolish Virgins wherein the Vice of the Age is laid open and bewailed Price 6 d. 6. A Review of what God hath been pleased to do this last Year according to Prophesie by T. B. Price 6 d. 7. God's Exaltation in the glorious Work of Man's Salvation through Christ by Samuel Blower Price 6 d. 8. Stated Christian Conference asserted to be a Christian's Duty Price 6 d. 9. The heavenly Foot-man by J. Bunyan Lately printed Price 6 d. 10. Separation from the Church of England Price 3 d. 11. A new methodised Concordance Price 6 d. 12. The everlasting Covenant or The Nature of the Covenant of Grace opened being a sweet Cordial for a drooping Soul by B. K. Price 6 d. 13. The true Spring of Gospel-light and Sense of Sin Jesus Christ and him Crucified evidently set forth by his Spirit in his Word Delivered in a Sermon preached at London and since enlarged by Richard Davis Price 6 d. 14. An Examination of the Pacifick Paper chiefly consisting of absolute Election of particular Persons with the universality of Redemption and the Conditionality of the Covenant of Grace Price 4 d. 15. A Compendium of the Covenant of Grace as the most solid Support under the most terrible Conflicts of Death though armed with Desertion decay of Grace and sense of Guilt by Walter Cross M. A. Price 6 d. 16. An Account of some doing Sayings of Susannah Yeats with her Funeral Sermon by Tho. Wording Minister Price 6 d. 17. 〈…〉 Divine Questions and Answers 〈…〉 Price 2 d. 18. Bunyan of Election and Reprobation unfolded and explained in eleven Chapters Price 6 d. 19. Christianity the great Mystery in answer to a â—ate Treatise Christianity not Mysterious together with a Post-script Letter to the Author Price 1 s. 20. The young Man's Guide for Drawing Limning and Etching with printed Directions Price 1 s. 21. A Discourse of the Powers of the World to come or The miraculous Powers of the Gospel and Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Price 1 s. 22. Dr. Owen of the Spirit and his Works and of spiritual Gifts being an Addition to his Folio bound 2 s. 23. Evidences of the Faith of God's Elect left by Dr. Owen for his Wife 's private Meditations bound 1 s. 24. Principles of the Doctrine of Christ useful for all Families by Dr. Owen Price bound 6 d. 25. A Guide to Church-Fellowship and Order according to the Gospel Institution by Dr. Owen Price bound 6 s. 26. A Plea for ancient Gospel 1. Of Christ and the Elect. 2. Of the Covenant of Grace 3. The Natures of Saving-Faith 4. Of the free Offer of Christ to Believers 5. Of Vnion to Christ before Faith 6. Of Justification only by Faith 7. Of the way to attain Assurance by D. C. Price bound 3 s. 27. Ashood ' s heavenly Trade Price bound 2 s. 6 d. 28. The best Treasure or The unsearchable Riches of Christ by Mr. Ashood Price bound 2 s. 6 d. 29. Observations of English Bodies with physical Receits for most Distempers Price bound 2 s. 6 d. 30. The fulfilling of Scripture Last Edition Price 2 s. 6 d. 31. Eyres of free Justification of a Sinner Price 2 s. 32. A View of the State of Mankind in the first and second Adam Price 4 d. 33. A Map of Salvation and Damnation by John Bunyan Price 6 d. 34. Faith and Order of Congregational-Churches in England agreed upon Price bound 6 d. 35. The Child's Delight fitted for the Education of Children and Youth as Spelling Reading casting Account with Letters to Parents Price bound 6 d. 36. Doctrine according to Godliness being a Body of Divinity by D. Chaunsey Price bound 2 s. 37. Terms of Toleration or An Abstract of the Act of Parliament for the Liberty of Dissenters Price 2 d.
did it by a voluntary Dedication and Consecration of himself as an unblemished Sacrifice for his People But the Scripture further tells us That Christ's being Sanctified for his People is meant his receiving a Fulness of Grace for them that with that Fulness they might be made Gracious also John 1. 14 with 16 Ver. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld his Glory as the Glory of the only Begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth that of his Fulness we might receive and Grace for Grace Now who is it that the Scripture calls the Head of every spiritual cleansed Leper Is it not Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 11. 3. The Head of every Man is Christ. Col. 1. 18. And he is the Head of the Body the Church Ephes 5. 23. Even as Christ is the Head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the Body Now the Oil which was to be applied to the Head of the cleansed Leper that was not to be given out in a few Drops with the tip of the Priest's Finger as it was to the Leper's Ear Thumb and great Toe as before no but when the Oil comes to be applied unto the Head of him that was to be Cleansed here it was to be poured out without measure And the Remnant of the Oil in the Priest's Hand he shall pour it upon the Head of him that is to be Cleansed Ver. 18. Hence the Scripture speaking of Christ the Head of his cleansed Lepers tells you That he received not the Spirit by Measure John 3. 34. And that it pleased the Father that in him should all Fulness dwell Col. 1. 19. And that he was full of Grace and Truth John 1. 14. And he was anointed with the Oil of Gladness above his Fellows Psal 45. 7. And that Grace was poured into his Lips Ver. 2. So that this Fulness of the Oil of Grace which was poured out upon Christ the Head of Believers this dwells in Christ for them upon a double account First That the Fruit of it which was his Obedience might be imputed to them for their Justification Secondly That the Grace of it might be imparted to them for their Sanctification as far as they need it and he sees good to impart it First of all That Christ's Obedience unto Righteousness which was the Fruit of his Anointing might be imputed to Believers for their Justification Rom. 5. 18. Even so by the Righteousness of one the Free-gift came upon all Men unto Justification of Life Secondly That it might be imparted unto Believers for their Sanctification John 1. 16. Of his Fulness we have all received and Grace for Grace Both of these two Benefits Paul sums up together in one Verse 1 Cor. 1. 30. Who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption And Paul supposing that the Colossians were invested with these two saving Benefits now saith Paul Ye are Compleat in him Col. 2. 10. Thus you see where a Believer's Perfection lieth as to his Sanctification it lieth and liveth in Christ their Head hence then when Satan shall raise Objections against thee labouring thereby to discourage thy Soul from the lowness and littleness of thy Sanctification then reply to him as a Man would do to those who upbraid him with the course Clothes which he wears on his Back he is ready to answer them O ye Despisers did you know the rich and costly Rayment which I have at Home you would never despise me as you do for the Clothes I now wear So poor drooping Soul reply to Satan in like manner What though the Sanctification which dwells in me be both low and little yet I have better Clothes than these laid up in Christ for me Look not so much upon the Habit which I wear my self but look upon the glorious Robes of Christ my Head and behold the rich Clothing he appears in at the Father's right hand for me all this is mine and for my Use to be put on by me when the fulness of Time is come for then Phil. 3. 21. He changes our vile Body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself This was it which caused the Spouse to hold up Heart and Head above Water in opposition to all the Discouragements that the Malice of Hell could cast into her about the littleness of her Sanctification Cant 1. 5. Though I am black yet comely O ye Daughters of Jerusalem as the Tents of Kedar and the Curtains of Solomon That is though she were black with Affliction and Persecution for which the World derided her and though she were black in her self with Corruption for which the Devil objected against her yet she still comforted her self with what she was in Christ there she was more comely than the Curtains of Solomon And the same Testimony Christ gives of all his cleansed Lepers Cant. 4. 7. Thou art all Fair my Love there is no Spot in thee In a word as little as that Grace is which seems to be in thee yet the Scripture calls it glorious Grace Psal 45. 13. The King's Daughter is all glorious within her Clothing is of wrought Gold PART VII Lastly when all the foregoing Particulars were applied to the Leper in order to his Cleansing then was the Lâ—per by orders from the Priest to shave off the Hair of his Head Beard and Eye-brows Levit. 14. 9. because in the Hair of the Head Beard and Eye-brows might much of the Filth and Scurf of the Distemper lie and might prove Hiding-places to the same whcih might much anticipate and hinder the Cure and grèatly hazard the breaking out of the old Distemper upon the Leper again THerefore the Leper was to shave the Hair wholly off from his Head Beard and Eye-brows Ver. 9. the Mystery of which is to shew us what his Duty is who is Cleansed from the Guilt and Filth of Sin by Jesus Christ namely to endeavour ever afterward the Mortification of the same which is called the Cutting off or Circumcising the Fore-skin of your Hearts Deut. 30. 6. which the Apostle makes to agree with the Work of mortifying the Lusts of the Flesh Col. 3. 5. Mortifie therefore your Members which are upon the Earth Fornication Vncleanness inordinate Affection evil Concupiscence and Covetousness which is Idolatry The Words thus opened afford us this profitable Observation Doct. That as Jesus Christ in love to the Souls of his People hath washed them in his own Bloud from the Guilt of Sin and by the Oil of his Grace removed the dominion of Sin from them so it is the Duty of every Christian to endeavour ever afterwards the Mortification of the remains of Sin in their Hearts and Lives continually This is so clear a Truth that nothing shines with more brightness in all the Scripture Rom. 8. 13. If ye Sin after the Flesh ye shall Die but