fore these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God°\" We must not wait till we are cleansed, and then em- brace the promises : but first embrace the promises ; and then make use of them for the cleansing of our souls.
What encouragement does this afford to those who feel the corruption of their hearts, and who, if their own piu'ity were to be the foimdntion of their hope, would be in utter despair! Go then, how polluted soever ye are, and seek pardon and sanctification at the hands of Jesus ; and you shall find him " faithful and just, to forgive you your sins, and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness "."]
" 2 Cor. vii. 1. See the same also by St. Peter, 2 Pet. i. 4. " 1 John i. g.
1 John iii. 5. Ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins: and in him is no sin.
AMONGST the numberless advantages which the light of revelation has conferred upon us, one of par- ticular importance is, the strength of the motives which it suggests to us for the mortification of sin. A Heathen could devise no argument beyond what re- lated to our own welfare and that of society at large. But Christianity discovers to us wonders, of which unassisted reason could form no conception : it declares to us, that Almighty God himself assumed our nature for the express purpose of counteracting the effects of sin, and of destroying its power. To those therefore who have embraced Christianity, here is an argument that is wholly irresistible, if once it be admitted into the mind, and suffered to have its due operation upon the soul. St. John avails him- self of it in the passage before us. He is shewing to the Christian world that they must aspire after uni- versal holiness, and purify themselves '* even as their incarnate God was pure :" And the more eflPectually to enforce his exhortations, he makes this unanswer- able appeal to all of them without exception : "Ye
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