' My undefiled.' Undefiled is a high word to be applied to the church of God here ; for the church, gr-oaning under infirmities, to be counted perfect and undefiled. But Christ, who judgeth aright of his chiu'ch, and knows best what she is, he yet thus judgeth of her. But, how is that ? The chm-ch is undefiled, especially in that it is the spouse of Christ, and clothed with the robes of his righteousness. For there is an exchange so soon as ever we are imited to Christ. Our sins are upon him, and his righteousness is made ours ; and therefore in Christ the church is un- defiled. Christ himself the second person is the first lovely thing next the Father ; and in Clirist all things as they have relation to him are loved, as they are in him. Christ's human nature is next loved to the second person. It is united, and is first pure, holy, and beloved. Then, because the church is Christ mystical, it is near to him ; and, in a manner, as near as that sacred body of his, both making up one Christ mystical. And so is amiable and beloved even of God himself, who hath pure eyes ; yet in this respect looks upon the church as undefiled.
Christ and his church are not to be considered as two when we speai
VOL. n. F
82 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON YII.
of this iinclefileclness, but as one. And the church having Christ, ■with all that is Christ's, they have the field, and the pearl * in the field together. And Christ giving himself to the church, he gives his righteousness, his perfection, and holiness ; all is the church's.
Quest. But how can it be the chui-ch's, when it is not in the chui'ch, but in Christ ?
Ans. It is safe for the church that it is in Christ, who is perfect and un- defiled for us ; to make us appear so. And -so it is in Christ, the second Adam, for our good. It is not in him as another person, but it is in him as the church's Head, that make both one Christ. The hand and the foot see not ; but both hand and foot have benefit b}'' the eye, that sees for them. There is no member of the body understands, but the head does all for them. Put the case we have not absolute righteousness and undefiledness in our own natures and persons inhering in us. Yet we have it in Christ, that is one with us, who hath it for our good. It is ours, for all the comfort and good that we may have by it ; and thereupon the church in Christ is undefiled ; yea, even then when it feels its own defilements. And here ariseth that wondrous contradiction that is found in a believer's apprehension. The nature of faith is to apprehend right- eousness in the sense of sin, happiness in the sense of misery, and favour in the sense of displeasure.
And the ground of it is, because that at the same time the soul may be in some measure defiled in itself, and yet notwithstanding be undefiled in her head and husband Christ. Hence the guilty soul, when it feels corrup- tion and sin, yet notwithstanding doth see itself holy and clean in Christ the head. Ajid so at once there is a conscience of sin, and no more con- science of sin, as the apostle saith, Heb. x. 2, when w^e beheve in Christ, and are purged with his blood, that is, there is no more guilt of sin bind- ing over to eternal damnation, yet notwithstanding always there is a con- science of sin, for we are guilty of infirmities, ' And if we say we have no sin, we lie, and deceive om-selves, 1 John i. 8.
Ohj. But, how can this be, that there should be conscience of sin, and no conscience of sin, a sinner, and yet a perfect saint and undefiled ?
A)is. 1. The conscience knoivs its own im2:ierfectio7i, so it is defiled, and accuseth of sin. And as it holes to Christ, so it sees itself jyure, and purged from all sin. Here is the conquest, fight, and the victory of faith in the deepest sense of sin, pollution, and defilement in ourselves, at the same time to see an abso- lute and perfect righteousness in Jesus Christ. Herein is even the triumph of faith, whereby it answers God. And Christ, who sees our imperfections, but it is to purge and cleanse them away, not to damn us for them, at the same time he sees us in his own love clothed with his righteousness, as one with himself, endowed with whatsoever he hath ; his satisfaction and obe- dience being ours as verily as anything in the world is. Thus he looks on us, and thus faith looks upon him too, and together with the sight and sense of sin, at the same time it apprehends righteousness, perfect righteousness, and so is undefiled. This is the main point in religion, and the comfort of Christians, to see their perfection in Christ Jesus, and to be lost in them- selves, as it were, and to be only ' found in him, not having their own righteousness, but the righteousness of God in him,' Phil. iii. 9. This is a mystery which none knows but a believing soul. None see coiTuption more, none see themselves freed more. They have an inward sight to see corruption, and an inward faith to see God takes not advantage at it. And * That is, ' treasure.' See Mat. xiii. 44.— G.