1. Some are so only by external dedication and profession ; as by baptism they are set apart for God as a clean and holy people. None enter into Christ's kingdom but those that are washed and cleansed from sin : Acts xxii. 16, 'Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' And their baptismal vow bindeth them to die unto sin, especially to the lust of uncleanness. But all that have given up their names to Christ have not given up themselves to Christ ; and those that do not renounce their baptism, yet forget their baptism and the bond and obligation of it, 2 Peter i. 9. They forget or do not mind that once they were washed in God's laver. Surely there is an obligation upon them still to keep them from fornication, adultery, and all manner of uncleanness, lest they forfeit the name of saints : 1 Thes. iv. 7, * For God hath not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness.' If they renounced the flesh, they must subdue and crucify the flesh chiefly in the grosser lusts, otherwise their baptism will be a nullity as to their comfort and benefit by it, yet not as to their judgment and punishment. Better never have been baptized in that sense : 2 Peter ii. 20, ' For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and over- come, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.' In those early times grown persons were baptized, and none were admitted ta it but upon some knowledge of Christ, and professed resolutions to forsake the fxidafxaTa, the pollutions of the world ; but if they relapse •again into them, the league and confederacy between Satan and their flesh being never thoroughly dissolved, and wallow in the filthiness they had renounced, better they had never meddled with religion. By quitting holiness they forsake blessedness, and involve themselves in the greater punishment. As they turn from the holy commandment, they turn from the gracious promises. They do not dislike the happi- ness offered by Christ, but the seriousness of his religion ; so that the privilege of betaking themselves to the way of Christ maketh their guilt become the greater and more dangerous. Christian heathenism is worse than bare heathenism at first. Now though we are born christians, yet the case is almost the same ; we do not renounce our parents' act when we come to years of discretion, rather })retend to stand to our baptismal vow and covenant, submit to the instructions of the church, would take it ill not to be accounted christians, own the same creed and Bible that others do. But alas ! what will your
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Christianity profit you if you live in all uncleanness, fornication, and filthiuess ? There are certain frailties incident to tlie best, but the /xidcrfxaTa Koajxov, the pollutions of the world, these are spots that are not as the spots of God's children.
'1. Others are saints by internal regeneration, as sanctified and renewed by the Holy Ghost : Titus iii. 5, ' Not by works of righteous- ness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.' These have the effect of their baptism wrought in them. Now these things are contrary to the disposition and spirit of saints, or to the holy, new, and divine nature which is put into them. Nothing so opposite to the spirit as the flesh ; and among all the lusts of the flesh, those which have most turpitude in them, as the lusts of uncleanness. Hence nature hath imprinted a shame upon them ; and conscience, till it be debauched and seared, will never suffer men to live quietly and securely in them. Now if bare nature thinketh it a stain and blemish to us, much more the new nature, which checks those lusts, and bears back as from something abhorrent and contrary to itself. If nature blush at the sin, surely grace or the new nature should restrain it.'
II. What purity and cleanness of heart belongetli to christians ? In the scripture they are everywhere described by it : Ps. xviii. 18, ' With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure,' John xv. 3, ' Ye are clean through the word which I have spoken to you ; ' Ps. Ixxiii. 1, ' Surely God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart ;' 2 Cor. vi. 17, ' Separate yourselves from the unclean thing, and I will receive you ; ' and in other places. God being purity, light, and perfection itself, cannot delight in an unclean person : Ps. xxiv. 3, 4, 'Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ? and who shall stand in his holy place ? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not lift up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.' It were endless to instance in all places. Let us see what obligations lie upon us to be clean and pure.
1. We are consecrated to the service of a holy God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Our God is pure : Hab. i. 13, ' He is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity ; ' that is, so as to let it go unpunished. We should never think of this, but we should abhor ourselves, and be ashamed of tbe remainders of corruption in us. Much dregs and dross of sin yet remain in the best. Christ is pure, undefiled, separate from sinners ; so should we be who are separated from the world and dedi- cated unto God. And he came to wash us in his blood, and cleanse us by his Spirit, and followeth the woi k he hath begun, till we be without spot and blemish : Eph. v. 25-27, ' Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it ; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish.' The Holy Spirit, if we belong to God, hath already begun to purify and sanctify us: 1 Cor. vi. 11, ' Such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.' And the great part of our duty lietli in obeying his sanctifying motions: 1 Peter i. 22, ' Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit.' Now all this obligeth us to great purity of heart and life.