(2.) God hath promised to purify the souls of his people : Ezek. xxxvi. 25, ' I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness.' God giveth the Holy Spirit to cleanse us, to abide in us as a living spring : though the waters of the fountain be muddy, yet the living spring worketh itself clean again. Christ purchased it for us, Eph. v. 25-27, Titus ii. 14.
(3.) Though God be the author and supreme agent, yet we are to act under him, and by the strength and power of his grace to go on with the work. First he worketh upon us, and then with us and by us : he doth not work upon us, as a carver upon a dead stone ; he gave the grace, but we having life, must use it and act by it.
(4.) We have the more encouragement, having not only internal prin- ciples, but many outward helps. The ordinances : John xv. 3, ' Ye are clean, through the word which I have spoken to you.' Provi- dences : Isa. xxvii. 9, ' By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away sin.' He suiteth his providences and afflictions to the improvement of our spiritual condi- tion. Well, then, we must purify ourselves in a true and proper sense, mind this work, implore the Lord's grace, and improve the appointed means.
2. It noteth a continued act ; it is not he hath purified, but, he purifieth himself ; he is always purifying, making it his daily work to clarify and refine his soul, that it may be fit for the vision of God, and the fruition of God. By nature we are altogether become filthy and abominable, Ps. xiv. 2 ; and after grace received, ' Who can say, My heart is clean ; Prov. x. 9. There is a great deal of corruption still remaineth. By grace we cease to be wicked, but we do not cease to be sinners. Indeed, time will come when we shall have no sin, but now
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we cannot say that we have none : the old corrupt issue that hath long run upon us, is not yet dried up ; and therefore we must be still purging and purifying the heart. And for the life, our Lord telleth us, John xiii. 10, ' He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet.' Though God's children do not wallow like swine in the puddle, yet by walking up and down in a dirty world they defile their feet anew. Again, where this likeness to God is begun, the soul purifieth itself till it attains the perfection thereof, and must never be satisfied till it gets more of it. Though you be not perfect, yet you must live as those that aim at, and would be so. Therefore a sincere, hearty, and constant desire of inward cleanness, both to have, and keep it, and increase it, is the fruit and effect of this lively hope. And these being the months of our purifi- cation, we must still be following our work, ' Cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and perfecting holiness in the fear of God,' 2 Cor. vii. 1. Perfection in holiness is our mark to aim at, as well as complete happiness, and all our actions and endeavours must be levelled at this mark and scope.
3. It noteth a discriminating act, ' He purifieth himself.' It is not said, should purify of right, dejure, but de facto ; he is, and will be in this work. It is not laid clown here by way of precept, or as a rule of duty, which yet would be binding upon us, but as an evidence and mark of trial, whereby the heirs of promise are notified and distinguished from others. Indulgence to sensual pleasures, or a liberty of sinning, hath no consistency with this state of blessedness ; and if any should let loose the reins upon the pretence of his assurance of the love of God, and confident hopes of eternal life, he showeth that his hope is but a pre- sumption or a groundless hope. The main business of the apostle here is to distinguish the children of God from others. All his children resemble their Father in purity and holiness, which was the proposition to be proved.
4. It noteth an unlimited endeavour, ' He purifieth himself.' He doth not say from what, he leaveth it indefinitely, because he would include all sin, and exclude none. There must be an endeavour after universal purity. A man may purify himself from wantonness, and leave covetousness behind ; from sensuality, and leave pride and envy behind : James i. 21, 'Wherefore lay apart all filthiness, and super- fluity of naughtiness.' Many serve their lusts in a more cleanly manner than others, but yet they serve them, and so become inapt for the sight and fruition of God. Therefore the true believer purifieth himself from carnal vanities, worldly affections, sensual inclinations, envious detrac- tions, proud imaginations. We must not distinguish ; a habit of purity worketh out all — all malice, all guile, all hypocrisy, all envious evil- speaking, 1 Peter iv. 1. If you will have me descend to particulars, let me warn you of two things — first, fleshly lusts, 1 Peter ii. 11 ; and, secondly, worldly lusts, Titus ii. 12.