Fa To reveal his Son in me. Gal. i. 16. Flesh and Great God, thy Scriptures will impart The blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John i. 7. WHATEVER We do of ourselves, in answer to our convictions, is a covering, not a cleansing; and if we die in this condition, unwashed, uncleansed, unpurified, it is utterly impossible that we should be admitted into the blessed presence of the holy God. Rev. xxi. 7. Let no man deceive you with vain words. It is not the doing a few good works, it is not an outward profession of religion that will give you an access with joy unto God. Unless you are washed from your actual transgressions in the blood of Christ, and cleansed from the pollution of your nature by the Spirit of God, you shall not inherit the kingdom of God; yea, without this washing you will be a horrible sight unto saints and angels, to yourselves, and to one another, when the shame of your nakedness shall be made to appear. If, therefore, you would not perish, and that eternally; if you would not perish as base defiled creatures, an abhorring unto all flesh, then, when your pride, and your wealth, and your beauty, and your ornaments, and your duties, will stand you in no stead, look out betimes after that only way of purifying and cleansing your souls which God hath ordained. "Without shedding of blood there is no remission." Heb. xi. 22. "The blood of Jesus cleanseth from all sin." "Ye were redeemed not with corruptible things, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. No works of ours, the most or best, Can wash a conscience clean; The blood of Christ, our great High Priest, I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. Gen. ix. 13. THE rainbow is a token of the covenant of preservation made with Noah, and with all the creatures of the earth; it is fixed and sure; it may be considered also as an emblem of the covenant of grace (Isa. liv. 9, 10); or rather, it may be an emblem of Christ himself (Rev. x. 1), as appears in many particulars. When we are apt to fear being overwhelmed by the rain, Jehovah shews this seal of his promise that we shall not. Thus he removes our fears, when we weep for sin, and are afraid of a flood of wrath, by reminding us of the covenant of grace established in Jesus. The thicker the cloud, afterwards the brighter the bow in the cloud; so when afflictions abound, consolations do much more abound. The bow appears when one part of the sky is clear; which intimates mercy remembered in the midst of wrath. The rainbow is caused by the refraction of the beams of the sun; so all the glory of the covenant of grace and the significancy of the seals, are derived from Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. The bow speaks terror; but this is without string or arrow, is directed upwards, and not to the earth. God looks upon the bow to remember his covenant; so should we, that we may be mindful of the covenant of grace with faith and thankfulness. Christ's open arms like rainbows stand, God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Gal. vi. 14. WHATEVER others may do, or whatever they may exult or glory in, God forbid that I should exult, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the grand doctrine of justification and sanctification through Him. And what else could I exult or glory in ?-for a true believer has nothing to glory in but CHRIST alone. Even in his very best performances he will be often deeply humbled, and cry out, "Lord, enter not into judgment!"-and well he may; for the ground of our glory, comfort, and salvation, is not in works, but in CHRIST, and the free grace of God; who, for his Son's sake, lays nothing to our charge, but daily covers and richly pardons all our iniquities: and thus believers walking steadily, might always be kept in solid peace; for the cross of CHRIST is a solid and unshaken foundation. When I survey the wondrous cross Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the cross of Christ my God; His dying crimson, like a robe, Were the whole realm of nature mine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. Purifying their hearts by faith. Acts xv. 9. By faith in the Son of God we get an interest in his great and glorious salvation; we are justified by faith; we have peace with God by faith. This is an excellent grace, which brings us out of a state of slavery and sin, into the liberty of the sons and daughters of God, and will issue in everlasting salvation. Faith purifies the heart of man, naturally vicious, and unites us to CHRIST, the root of all holiness. Now, reader, examine yourself whether you be in the faith; try the tree by its fruits; ask yourself these questions: Has my faith a purifying influence on my heart? Does the view of CHRIST dying for my sins make me die unto them? Has my faith in CHRIST as wounded for my transgressions and bruised for my iniquities, made me bitterly lament them, sincerely hate them, and seek the death of every one of them? Though there may be still sin in me, is there none allowed? Is there none, no, not one; no, not that sin which does most easily beset me, which I desire to be spared and excused in? Do I rather look upon all sin as the enemy of CHRIST and my own soul, and as such do I hate it with a perfect hatred? Am I praying fervently for divine grace to subdue it? and in the strength of that grace, do I maintain a constant and vigorous war with it, determined never to give it any rest in my heart, never to cease my conflict with it, till I have gained the complete and everlasting victory? prosper! Then thou art upright, go on and That faith to me, O Lord, impart, Which while it bringeth peace, Will daily purify my heart, And bring in holiness! |