* That is, ' merely moral.' — G. t That is, ' iutentness.' — Ed.
THE church's complaint AND CONFIDENCE. 193
Dlack but yet well-favourecl,' saitli the spouse, Caut. i. 5 ; black in regard of sin, but well-favoured in regard of the Spirit of God and the acceptation of Christ. He is a saint and a sinner : a sinner in respect that sin hath spread over all parts, and a saint in respect of Christ's acceptance. ' My love and my dove.' Christ makes love to his church as if she had no defilement ; but he looks on her better part ; he looks on her as she is in his love, and as he means to bring her after. But the church looking upon herself as she is in herself, she is much abased. The ground of it is the imperfection of sanctification in this world. The best of our works are ' as menstruous cloths.' When we think of the corruption of the best things as they come from us, when we come to humble ourselves before God, we must down with proud styles and Pharisaical thoughts, although there be somewhat that is good. Yet let us think of all the ill that may abase us.
There is a season for every thing, when we are tempted to be overcome by Satan. Then think of the good, as Job when he was tempted. ' I have done this and this ; you cannot take away mine innoceuc}',' Job xxxiii. 9. In false temptations from the world and Satan, then stand upon our innocenc)'. But when we humble ourselves before God — ' Alas ! I am dust and ashes,' ' I abhor myself,' as Job and Abraham said. Gen. xviii. 27, Job xlii. 6- — lay all proud apprehensions of ourselves aside ; and all good works, especially in one kind, in matter of justification, ' all is dung in comparison of Christ,' Philip, iii. 8. All must be sold for the pearl, the righteousness of Christ. There is no reckoning must be had of good works by way of merit in justification and our title to heave-n> What gives us title to heaven and frees us from hell ? The death of Christ, the obedi- ence and satisfaction of Christ. God by it hath redeemed us perfectly without anything in ourselves, and accepts us to life everlasting only by the righteousness of Christ. Therefore it is called God's righteousness, because it was done by Christ, it was wrought by God. Our righteousness is as ' a menstruous cloth.' It is spotted and stained and defiled. It will not do the deed. It Avill not satisfy conscience, much less the exact piercing judgment of God. That is the righteousness that must stay our souls in life and death, and we must oppose it to all temptations, as a satisfying thing that will set down conscience to be quiet. It must be righteousness of God-man ; nothing else will do it. ' All our righteousness is as filthy rags.' That is the confession of their sinful actions.
The next thing he confesseth is senselessness. ' There is none that calls upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee.' There be other words betv/een concerning the complaint of their miserable estate ; but I will handle them that concern their sins first.
' There is none that calls upon thy name.'
In a word, he means that none worshipped him ; because p,rayer is put for the whole worship of God, as indeed it may well be put for the whole, for it exerciseth all the graces of the Spirit. What one grace is not set on work in prayer ? It is put for all the inward worship of God. If it be faith, prayer is the flame of faith. When there is faith in the heart there will be prayer in the mouth. The knowledge of God : prayer is grounded upon a promise. So it comes from that part of spiritual worship. Hope : hope makes a m.nn pray. No man would pour out his supplications but to him that ho hath hope in. And for love : God's love and mercy draws us into his presence ; and joy and delight in the presence of God draws us to pray. We give God the honour of all his attributes in prayer ; of his truth,
VOL. VI. N
194 THE chuech's complaint and confidence.
of his goodness, of his mercy, of his presence everywhere, &c. So it sets all graces on work, and gives God the honour of all. It is the worship of God every way ; for though it be an outward verbal worship of itself, yet it exprcsseth the worship of God inward. It gives God the honour of all. Therefore, those that pray not, what kind of persons are they ? Wretched persons. The sickness is now among us. If a man should ask now, What family is likeliest to have the vengeance of God on it ? — though I speak not to censure those that have it, but I speak in God's ordinary course — surely those that do not exercise the duty of prayer. ' Pour out thy wrath upon those that call not upon thy name,' Ps. Ixxix. 6. Those families that call not upon God humbly morning and evening, or that person that doth not morning and evening reverently call upon God, they are fit objects for the vengeance of God, for the plague or the like. ' Pour out thy wrath upon the families and persons that call not upon thy name,' insinuating that the Lord will spare us if we do call upon his name and humble our- selves. If thou wilt needs pour out thy vengeance, let it be on them that have not grace humbly to call upon thy name. Let us make conscience of this dutv, except we will prove atheists, and lie open to all the vengeance of God."