4. Where the work of sanctification and spiritual cleansing is really begun in any, there the whole person is, and is thence deno- minated, hol}^ As, therefore, Christ the head is holy, so are all the members holy according to their measure; for although there may be defilements adhering unto their actions, yet their persons are sanctified: so that no unholy person hath any communion with Christ, no member of his body is unholy, — that is, absolutely so, in such a state as thence to be denominated unholy.
5. Our union with Christ is immediately in and by the neiu crea- ture in us, by the divine nature which is from the Spirit of holiness, and is pure and holy. Hereunto and hereby doth the Lord Christ communicate himself unto our souls and consciences, and hereby have we all our intercourse with him. Other adherences that have any defilement in them, and consequently are opposite unto this union, he daily worketh out by virtue hereof, Rom. viii. 10. The whole body of Christ, therefore, and all that belongs unto it, is holy, though those who are members of this body are in themselves oft- times polluted, but not in any thing which belongs to their miion. The apostle describeth the twofold nature or principle that is in be- lievers, the new nature by grace and the old of sin, as a double per- son, Rom. vii. 19, 20; and it is the former, the renewed (and not the latter, which he calls "I" also, but corrects as it were that expres- sion, calling it " sin which dwelleth in him"), that is the subject of the union with Christ, the other being to be destroyed.
6. Where the means of purification are duly used, no defilement ensues, on any sin that believers fall into, which doth or can totally obstruct communion with God in Christ, according to the tenor of
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466 THE FILTH OF SIN PURGED [BOOK IV.
tlie covenant. There were many things under the Old Testament that did typically and legally defile men that were liable unto them ; but for all of them were provided typical and legal purifications, which sanctified them as to the purifying of the flesh. Now, no man was absolutely cut off or separated from the people of God for his being so defiled ; but he that, being defiled, did not take care that he might be purified according to the law, he was to be cut off from among the people. It is in like manner in things spiritual and evan- gelical. There are many sins whereby believers are defiled; but there is a Avay of cleansing still open unto them. And it is not merely the incidence of a defilement, but the neglect of purifica- tion, that is inconsistent with their state and interest in Christ. The rule of communion with God, and consequently of union with Christ, in its exercise, is expressed by David, Ps. xix. 12, 13, "Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret sins. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression." The design of the psalmist is, to be preserved in such a state and condition as wherein he may be up- right before God. To be upright before God is that which God requireth of us in the covenant, that we may be accepted with him and enjoy the promises thereof. Gen. xvii. 1. He that is so will be free from that great transgi'ession, or that abundance of sin which is inconsistent with the covenant love and favour of God. And hereunto three things are required: — (1.) A constant, humble ac- knowledgment of sin : " Who can understand his errors?" (2.) Daily cleansing from those defilements which the least and most secret sins are accompanied withal: " Cleanse thou me from secret sins." And, — (3.) A preservation from " presumptuous sins," or wilful sins com- mitted with a high hand. Where these things are, there a man is upright, and hath the covenant-ground of his communion with God ; and whilst believers are preserved within these bounds, though they are defiled by sin, yet is there not any thing therein inconsistent with their union with Christ.
7. Our blessed Head is not only pz«'e and holy, but he is also gra- cious and '}nerciful, and will not presently cut off a member of his body because it is sick or hath a sore upon it. He is himself passed through his course of temptations, and is now above the reach of them all. Doth he, therefore, reject and despise those that are tempted, that labour and suffer under their temptations? It is quite otherwise, so that, on the account of his own present state, his com- passions do exceedingly abound towards all his that are tempted. It is no otherwise with him as to their sins and defilements. These he himself was absolutely free from in all his temptations and suffer-
CHAP, v.] BY THE SPIRIT AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. 467
ings, but we are not; and he is so far from casting ns away on that account, while we endeavour after purification, as that it draweth out his compassions towards us. In brief, he doth not unite us to him- self because we are perfect, but that in his own way and time he may make us so; not because we are clean, but that he may cleanse us: for it is the blood of Jesus Christ, with whom we have fellowship, that cleanseth us from all our sins.