4. It is, therefore, their duty to acquaint themselves with that only remedy in this case, that only means of cleansing, which God hath appointed, and which he makes effectual. One great end of the revelation of the will of God, from the foundation of the world, of his institutions and ordinances of worship, was, to direct the souls and consciences of men in and unto the way of their cleansing; which as it argues his infinite love and care, so the great importance of the matter itself And one principal means which Satan from the be- ginning made use of to keep men in their apostasy from G-'d, and to encourage them therein, was, by supplying them witli innumerable
456 THE FILTH OF SIN PUKGED [BOOK IV.
ways of purification, suited to the imaginations of their dark, unbe- lieving, and superstitious minds. And in hke manner, when he de- signed to draw men off from Christ and the gospel under the Papacy, he did it principally by the suggestion of such present and future purgatories of sin as might comply with their lusts and ignorance. Of so great importance is it, therefore, to be acquainted with the only true and real way and means hereof! And there are two consi- derations that are suited to excite the diligence of sinners in this inquiry: (1.) The weight that is laid on this matter by God himself. (2.) The difficulty of attaining an acquaintance with it. And, — (1.) As hath been observed, any one by considering, [1.] The legal institu- tions of old will see what weight God lays hereon. No sacrifice had any respect unto sin but there was somewhat peculiar in it that was for its cleansing; and there were sundry ceremonious ordinances which had no other end but only to purify from uncleannesses. [2.] Among all the promises of the Old Testament concerning the estab- lishment of the new covenant and the grace thereof, which are many and precious, there are none more eminent than those which con- cern our cleansing from sin by the administration of the Spirit, through the blood of Christ; some of them have been mentioned before ; — which also farther manifests the care that God hath taken for our instruction herein. [8.] There is nothing more pressed on us, nothing more frequently proposed unto us, in the gospel, than the necessity of our 'purification, and the only way of effecting it. If, therefore, either instructions, or promises, or precepts, or all concur- ring, may evidence the importance of a duty, then is this manifested to partake therein. And those who will prefer the guidance of car- nal reason and vain tradition before these heavenly dhections shall live in their ignorance and die in their sins. (2.) The difficulty of attaining an acquaintance with it is to be duly considered. It is a part of the "mystery of the gospel," and such a part as is among those which the wisdom of the world or carnal reason esteemeth " foolish- ness." It is not easily admitted or received, that we can no other- wise be cleansed from our sins but by the sprinkling of that blood which was shed so long ago; yet this and no other way doth the Scripture propose unto us. To fancy that there is any cleansing from sin but by the blood of Christ is to overthrow the gospel. The doc- trine hereof are persons, therefore, obliged to inquire after and come to the knowledge of, that, being satisfied with its truth, and that this is the only way of cleansing [from] sin, appointed and blessed by God himself, their minds may be exercised about it, and so be taken off from resting on those vain medicines and remedies, which (having no- thing else to fix upon) their own hearts and others' blind devotions would suggest unto them.
CHAP, v.] BY THE SPIRIT AND BLOOD OF CIIPJST. 457
5. But now tlie great inquiry is, How a sinful, defiled sold may come to have an interest in, or be partaker of, the purifying virtue and efficacy of the blood of Christ? Ans. 1. The purifying virtue and force of the blood of Christ, with the administration of the Spirit for its application to make it effectual unto our souls and con- sciences, is proposed and exhibited unto us in the promises of the covenant, 2 Pet. i. 4. This all the instances (which need not be re- cited) before produced do testify unto. 2. The only way to be made partaker of the good things presented in the promises is hj faith. So Abraham is said to have " received the promises," Heb. xi. 17; and so are we also, and to receive Christ himself. Now, this is not from their being proposed unto us, but from our believing of that which is proposed, as it is expressed of Abraham, Kom. iv. 19-21, x. 6-9. The whole use, benefit, and advantage of the promises depend ab- solutely on our mixing them with faith; as the apostle declares, Heb. iv. 2. Where they are " mixed with faith,'' there they profit us, — there we really receive the thing promised. Where they are not so mixed, they are of no use, but to aggravate our sins and unbelief. I know that by some men the whole nature and work of faith is de- rided ; they say, " It is nothing but a strong fixing of the imagination upon what is said.'' However, we know that if a man promise us any thing seriously and solemnly which is absolutely in his power, we trust unto his word, or believe him, considering his wisdom, honesty, and ability. This, we know, is not a mere fixing of the imagination, but it is a real and useful confidence or trust. And whereas God hath given unto us great and precious promises, and that under seve- ral confirmations, especially that of his oath and covenant, if we do really believe their accomplishment, and that it shall be unto us ac- cording to his word, upon the account of his veracity, divine power, righteousness, and holiness, why shall this be esteemed " a fanatical fixing of the imagination?" If it be so, it was so in Abraham, our example, Rom. iv. 19-21. But this blasphemous figment, designed to the overthrow of the way of life and salvation by Jesus Christ, shall be elsewhere more fully examined. God, as was said, gives unto us great and precious promises, that by them we might be made partakers of the divine nature. These promises he requireth us to receive, and to mix them with faith, — that is, trusting to and resting on his divine power and veracity, ascribing unto him thereby the glory of them, to believe that the things promised unto us shall be accomplished ; which is the means, by God's appointment, whereby we shall be really made partakers of them. Such was the faith of Abraham, so celebrated by our apostle ; and such was all the true and saving faith that ever was in the world from the foundation of it. Wherefore, 3. This is the only luay and means to obtain an inte-