(2.) Some have a boldness a7id confidence in their condition, as that wliich is well and pure enough : " There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, yet are they not washed from their filthiness," Pro v. XXX. 12. Although they were never sprinkled with the pure water of the covenant, or cleansed by the Holy Spirit ; although their consciences were never purged from dead works by the blood of Christ, nor their hearts purified by faith, and so are no Avay " washed from their filthiness;" yet do they please themselves in their condition as " pure in their own eyes," and have not the least sense of any de- filement. Such a generation were the Pharisees of old, who esteemed themselves as clean as their hands and cups, that they were continu-
4.54 THE FILTH OF SIN PURGED [BOOK IV.
ally washing, though within they were filled with all manner of de- filements, Isa. Ixv. 4, 5. And this generation . is such as indeed despise all that is spoken about the pollution of sin and its purifica- tion, and deride it as enthusiastical, or a fulsome metaphor not to be understood.
(3.) Others proceed farther, and are so far from taking shame to themselves for what they are, or what they do, as that they openly boast of and glory in the most shameful sins that human nature can contract the guilt of " They proclaim their sins," saith the prophet, "like Sodom," where all the people consented together in the perpe- tration of unnatural lusts. They are not at all ashamed, but glory in the things which, because they do not here, will hereafter fill them with confusion of face, Jer. vi. 15, viii. 12. And where once sin gets this confidence, wherein it completes a conquest over the law, the inbred light of nature, the convictions of the Spirit, and in a word God himself, then is it ripe for judgment. And yet is there a higher degree of shamelessness in sin ; for, —
(4.) Some content not themselves with boasting in their own sins, but also they appt'ove and delight in all those who^give up themselves unto the like outrage in sinning with themselves. This the apostle expresseth as the highest degree of shameless sinning: Rom. i. 82, " Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." When open profligate sinners do, as it were, make themselves up into societies, encouraging and approving one another in their abominable courses, so that no company pleaseth them but such as have obtained an impudence in sinning, then is the greatest defiance given unto the holiness and righteousness of God.
Now, such as these will never seek after cleansing; for why should they do so who are sensible of no spiritual pollution, nor have the least touch of shame with respect thereunto? It is necessary, there- fore, unto the duty of purifying our souls that we be affected with shame for the spiritual defilements which our nature, under the loss of the image of God, is even rolled in ; and where this is not, it will be but lost labour that is spent in the invitation of men to the cleans- ing fountain.
3. Let persons so affected be fully satisfied that they can never cleanse or purify themselves by any endeavours that are merely their own, or by any means of their own finding out. According unto men's convictions of the defilements of sin, so have and always will their endeavours be after purification, Hos. v. 13. And, indeed, it is the duty of believers to purify themselves more and more, in the exercise of all purif3dng graces, and the use of all means appointed of God for that purpose, 2 Cor. vii. 1 ; and their neglect thereof is
CHAP, v.] BY THE SPIRIT AND BLOOD OF CHPJST. 455
the highest disadvantage, Ps. xxxviii. 5. But men in the state of nature, concerning whom we -now treat, are no way able to cleanse their natures or purge themselves. He only who can restore, re- pair, and renew their natures unto the likeness of God, can cleanse them. But here many fall into mistakes; for when, by reason of their convictions, they can no longer satisfy and please themselves in the pollution of sin, they go about by vain attempts of their own to "purify their souls," Hos. v. 13; Jer. ii. 22; Job ix. SO, 31. Their own sorrow and repentance, and tears of contrition, and that sorry amendment of life they can attain unto, shall do this work for them; and every especial defiling act, or every renewed sense of it, shall have an especial act of duty for its cleansing! But though these things are good in themselves, yet there is required more wisdom to the right stating of them, as to their causes, respects, ends, and use, than they are furnished withal. Hence are they so frequently abused and turned into an effectual means not only of keeping men off and at a distance from Christ, but also from a due and accept- able performance of the very duties themselves pretended unto : for legal sorrow or repentance, or mere legal convictions, being trusted unto, will infallibly keep the soul from coming up unto that evan- gelical repentance which alone God accepts; and mere reforma- tion of life rested in proves opposite to endeavours for the renovation of our natures. But let these duties be performed, however, in what manner you please, they are utterly insufficient of themselves to cleanse our natural defilements; nor Vv'ill any seek duly for that which alone is effectual unto this purpose until they are fully con- vinced hereof. Let, therefore, sinners hear and know, whether they will or will not believe it, that as by nature they are wholly defiled and polluted with those abominations of sin which render them loathsome in the sight of God, so they have no power by any endea- vours or duties of their own to cleanse themselves; but by all they do to this end, they do but farther plunge themselves into the ditch, and increase their own defilements. Yet are all those duties neces- sary in their proper place and unto their jaroper end.