is laid down in the Revelation and then judge whether Goats and Swine are fit to be admitted to be its Inhabitants A bare profession may give you admission into the Church Militant but it is nothing but Scriptural holiness and real purity that can give you admission into the Church Triumphant as for profane persons however they may flatter themselves with vain hopes yet while they continue in sin every leafe almost in the Bible stands as a flaming sword to keep them out of Paradise Fifthly We should labour after purity of heart because without this there can be no perseverance Those whose Religion stands only in a glistering shew of outward profession though they may seem stedfast and flourishing for a while yet they will certainly fall away in an hour of temptation What is the reason that so many have begun in the spirit and ended in the flesh so many with the Church of Ephesus have forsaken their first love It is because their hearts were rotten and corrupt from the beginning perhaps their heads were enriched with choice notions curious speculations and the like but still they were strangers to purity of heart they looked upon Religion as that which could only afford matter of discourse or did consist in disputing for opinions Sixthly We should labour for purity of heart that so we may plentifully tast the goodness of God in all conditions that is a very remarkable place in Psal 73.1 Truely God is good to Israel even to them that are of a clean heart Whatsoever Changes Vicissitudes and Revolutions there may be in the world yet the pure in heart shall experience the mercy and goodness of God In the last place We should labour to get purity of heart because the very life of Christianity doth consist in this In 1 Peter 3.21 Baptisme also now saveth not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God We must consider whether grace have enabled us to answer those solemn engagements which our baptismal Covenant laid upon us it is inward washing which doth principally denominate a Christian Thus much for the reasons and motives stirring up to labour after purity of heart But in the third place What must we do to get our hearts purified First Labour to be heavenly-minded you may observe the nearer things are to heaven the more pure they are Water is more pure than the earth as being higher in its situation Air is more pure then water and the Fire is more pure than the Air because it is nearest to the heavenly bodies If thy heart were turned and taken off from the world if it were more raised to converse with heaven and things of an heavenly nature this would mightily encrease the purity of it Secondly Attend upon the word John 15.3 Now you are clean saith Christ to his Disciples through the word that I have spoken unto you So Psal 119.9 Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed according to thy word And then get the spirit of grace to dwell in thy heart that is the most effectual way to have the heart purified the spirit is sometimes compared to water for its purifying nature John 3.5 Except a man be born again of water and the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God by water here is not meant the Element of water made use of in baptisme none can conclude baptismal Regeneration from such a place of Scripture as this no but except a man be born of water and the spirit that is of the spirit that resembles water compared to water for its cleansing vertue and efficacy so likewise the Spirit is compared to fire Mat. 3.11 John speaking concerning Christ One cometh after me greater then I whose Shoe Latchets I am not worthy to unloose he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost and with fire that is with the Holy Ghost that doth resemble fire so called from its refining vertue In the fourth place I proceed to shew wherein this purity of heart doth discover it self It discovers it self chiefly in these four things an understanding free from error in purity of Works in purity of Words and in purity of Worship First An understanding free from error those that have a pure heart they will strive against Errors in Doctrine as well as Errors in Practice for if the head be once poysoned the venemous influences of it will quickly distend to the heart infecting the very vitals of Christianity corrupt opinions and corrupt practices commonly go together they that have purity of heart will be filled with a love to truth Secondly Purity of heart discovers it self in purity of works if there be a conformity to the Image of God in the heart there will also be a conformity to the Law of God in the outward conversation you may as well suppose the Sun to be without light the fire without heat and honey without sweetness as that saving grace should be rooted in the heart and not bring forth the fruits of holiness in the life Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven therefore those do miserably cheat their own souls which boast as if their hearts were good though they live in the dayly practice of gross and scandalous sins a pure fountain would never send forth muddy streams a good tree would never bring forth corrupt fruit if filthiness appear in the outward behaviour you may certainly conclude that there is much more impurity in the inward parts Thirdly Purity of heart sheweth it self in purity of words James 1.26 If any man among you seem to be Religious and bridle not his tongue but deceiveth his own heart this mans Religion is vain How can the heart be chast when the words are loose and immodest how can the heart be humble when the speech is swelling and lofty how can the heart be heavenly when the discourse constantly runs out and spends it self upon the things of the World the words are still sutable to that treasure which is laid up in the heart Mat. 12.35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things Fourthly They that are endued with purity of heart labour for purity of worship they are Enemies to Will-worship they cannot endure to serve God in any way save that which he has appointed they would not have the gold of the Sanctuary mingled with the dross of humane invention t is the coruption and uncleanness of mens spirits which makes them so violently contend for and obstinately addicted to the observation of Idolatrous customes HEB. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation THe Apostle had told us in the foregoing verse that if the word which was spoken by the Angels that is the Law which was published upon Mount Sinai
Secondly why we should labour to get purity of heart Thirdly what means we should use to have our hearts purified Fourthly in what particulars this purity of heart will especially discover it self I. There are many things implyed or comprehended in this purity of heart First the justification of our persons civilizing morality doth onely furnish men with some sweet sented flowers which may perfume their outward conversation rendring it more acceptable to humane society though still their hearts may continue as filthy and impure as ever they were before Moral men commonly have a high conceit of themselves and yet they may be abominable in the sight of God as Solomon speaks Prov. 30.12 There is a Generation that are pure in their own eyes and yet is not washed from their filthiness but no true purity can be effectually produced in our inward parts until we come to be sprinckled in the blood of Christ Rev. 1.5 Who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood We can never be clensed from our sinful abominations until we be washed in the blood of that immaculate Lamb which takes away the sins of the World when the soul is brought into a state of justification it is cloathed in the wedding Garment of Christs imputed righteousness which is large enough to cover all its natural deformities and then though it were never so black and filthy before it presently appears full of amiable lustre and shining excellency bright and clear beautiful as an Angel without spot or blemish in the sight of God Secondly Purity of heart doth imply a renovation of our nature We are all defiled in our very birth and conception the poysonous Leprosie of Original sin hath spread it self over every faculty of the soul and member of the body therefore if ever we obtain any acceptable purity this corrupt depraved nature must be changed hence is that Petition of the Prophet David which you may read in Psal 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Tit. 3.5 we are said to be saved by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost And the Apostle Paul likewise prays in the behalf of his Thessalonians that they may be sanctified throughout both in body soul and spirit 1 Thes 5.23 The soul and the spirit are here to be distinguished The Spirit here signifies the most Noble sublime and Angelical part of man comprehending his will conscience and understanding the soul that signifies the inferiour faculties of sensitive desires and affections and the body that is the outward man the instrument of the soul In Ezek. 36.25 26. you have an excellent Gospel promise I wil sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be washed from all your filthiness and from all your Idols will I cleanse you a new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you Oh that men were generally more convinced about the excellency and necessity of this sanctifying work Thirdly purity of heart requires the casting out of defiling sins all sin is of a very defiling nature therefore it s shadowed forth in the book of Leviticus under the notion of a spreading Leprosie t is compared likewise to the vomit of a Dog and to that filthy mire which Swine delight to wallow in But more particularly sinful pleasures must be cast out of the heart In the 47. of Ezek. there you read concerning the River of the Sanctuary that is the Doctrine of the Gospel which is dispersed amidst the wilderness of the Gentiles and most places where it came received a healing vertue from it but in the 11 vers the Miry places and the Marishes thereof shall not be healed By the Marishes and Miry places some fitly understand those men women that have given themselves over to sinful pleasures these kind of persons are very unlikely to be healed by the waters of the Sanctuary what gross defilement do many contract while they let loose the raines to vile affections and drown the masculine activity of their spirit in a loathsome pudle of sensuality Also earthly-mindedness is another sin which must be cast out if we desire to have a pure heart When a thing is mingled with that which is of a superior nature it s thereby made more rich and precious as when silver is mingled with gold but if it be mingled with that which is of an inferiour nature as silver mingled with lead such a heterogeneus mixture doth debase and impoverish it thus when the soul of man is as I may so speak mingled with the graces of the spirit this makes it more Noble exalting it to a higher degree of perfection But if it be mingled with the drossy vanities of the world this makes it base and vile The Scripture tells us concerning the pollutions of the World 2 Epist of Peter Cap. 2. vers 20. and in James 1.27 saith he This is pure Religion and undefiled before God and the father to visit the fatherless and the widows in their afflictions and to keep himself unspotted from the world the things of the world they are a dirty defiling nature they are like Pitch t is hard to touch them and not contract some defilement or other How is it possible that that man should have a pure heart that can be contented from morning to night to entertain nothing but the world in his soul John 17.15 saith Christ I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil Fourthly Purity of heart requireth that we should adorn our selves with purifying Graces First Hope 1 Joh. 3.3 He that hath this hope purifieth himself even as he is pure Raised expectations of future happiness should stir up in the soul strong and vigorous endeavours after present holiness because a defiled heart and a undefiled inheritance cannot stand together Secondly Faith that 's another purifying grace as you have it Acts 15.9 Purifying their hearts by faith Those which perswade themselves that they doe believe in Christ and yet their hearts are as carnal and corrupt as filthy and impure as ever they were before They may know that their faith is but a fantastick dream or deluding shadow there is nothing of truth nothing of reality in it Faith having tied a marriage knot between Christ and the soul layes a strong engagement upon her to keep her self chast and pure till the approach of her glorious Bridegroom when she shall be taken into the everlasting embraces of his love Thirdly Repentance that is another purifying grace Repentance pulls off the mask from the face of sin causing it to appear in its proper colours so that it hath no alluring paint nor counterfeit dress by which it should ensnare or delude the soul any longer Repentance fills the soul of a sinner with hatred and detestation against sin making him restless in his desire till he can procure an
universal divorce and perpetual separation from it Those that continue impenitent can lye soaking in the mire of bloody raigning lust and yet not be sensible of the least defilement but the truly penitent soul is solicitous to wash out every spot and stain Fourthly Love that has a notable purifying influence upon the heart Love chiefly stands in a reciprocal similitude of disposition They that love God will strive every day to have more and more of his likeness of his picture they are ambitious to be beautified with the most plentiful participation of his image They that love God will endeavour for such a measure of holiness and purity as may dispose and fit them to maintain a refreshing fellowship and communion with God You that can wallow in the fink of common profaness without the least check or remorse of conscience Oh! it is a sign you have not the least dram of true love to God Fiftly Purity of heart requireth that we should be consecrated devoted and given up to the service of God Men of drossy impure spirits look after carnal self in whatsoever they doe they aim at nothing but the pleasing and gratifying of their flesh that 's the great end which they propose to themselves in all their actions but those who have a pure heart endeavour to glorifye God by yeilding impartial obedience to his Commands They act according to the simplicity of the Gospel walking in the plainess candor and ingenuity of a gracious spirit Pharisaical Hypocrites how ever they may cleanse the outside yet their hearts are rotten and impure because they onely serve God for by-ends and self respects Sixthly purity of heart requireth that we should resist vain thoughts Jerem. 4.14 Oh Jerusalem wash thy heart from wickedness that thou mayst be saved what wickedness was this which must be washed away lest it did hinder salvation the holy Ghost tells you in the following words how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee Those which indulge themselves in the harbouring of vain thoughts must never look to have their hearts clensed therefore when ever thoughts begin to rise in thy soul command them to stand and undergo a serious examination if they can shew a pass from the Scripture let them go on and be encouraged but if they appear to be vain idle and impertinent send them back to hell from whence they came not giving them the least countenance or approbation In the last place purity of heart requires that we should bridle immoderate affections You know water though it be never so fresh and pure while it runs in its proper Channel yet if it overflow the banks it will quickly grow mudy and defiled thus thy affections if they be kept within due bounds and proper limits they may be pure but when once they overflow the banks of sobriety and moderation they presently are defiled Take heed therefore lest thy spirit be defiled by the irregular distempers and corrupt excess of joy anger carnal love or other the like transporting violent passions In the next place I proceed to shew why we should labour after this purity 1. Because without this we cannot hear the word so as to profit by it If the stomack be filled with corrupt matter the most wholesome food will prove distastful thus when the heart abounds with impurity the most spiritual and heavenly truths that can be delivered will scarce find any acceptable or savoury relish those which cannot feed upon the word with such sweetness delight satisfaction if they would seriously examine themselves they may possibly find that they have defiled their consciences by some secret way of sinning against God and that 's the reason why their hearts are so little affected under the Preaching of those Gospel truths which were formerly entertained with highest esteem and were thought worthy of all acceptation 2. Without this we cannot draw nigh to God in any other Religious duties James 4.8 Draw nigh unto God and he will draw nigh unto you but how shall we be made partakers of this incomparable priviledge the former words direct us cleanse your hands you sinners and purifie your hearts you double-minded Isaiah 1.16 wash ye make ye clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes come now let us reason together saith the Lord there is no coming unto God except we be first wash'd and made clean Heb. 9.13 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself up without spot unto God cleanse your consciences from dead works that you serve the living God you cannot serve the everliving God in an acceptable manner unless your consciences be clensed from dead works and this can onely be done by the blood of Jesus Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself up without spot unto God 3. We should therefore labour for purity of heart because without this we can have no true peace peace and purity go together When God appears in his Majesty and Glory when he ariseth terribly to shake the earth and magnifies his excellent power working wonders amongst the children of men this is the priviledge of those which are pure in heart that they shall remain undaunted because conscience will speak peace to them Job 11.14 15. If iniquity be in thy hand put it far away and let not wickedness dwell in thy Tabernacles for then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot yea thou shalt be stedfast and shalt not fear So Psal 51.7 8. saith David purge me with Hysop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter then snow make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce as if he had said Lord I have defiled my self by this bloody sin which I have committed and because of my defilement joy and gladness hath been banished from my spirit but do thou wash me purge me clean and then the joy of thy salvation will be restored peace will return again Many they complain for want of comfort for want of peace let them consider whither there be not some sin or other that they harbour with allowance for beleive it one sin will fill the heart with bitterness vexation and galling perplexity Sin is a Jonah that raiseth storms and tempests where ever it comes Fourthly We should labour for purity because without this there can be no scriptural wel grounded hope of getting to heaven David saith Psal 24.3 4. Who shall ascend into the Hill of the Lord who shall stand in his holy place hee that hath clean hands and a pure heart who hath not lift up his soul unto vanity Those that live after the flesh wallowing in all impurity 't is strange that they should cheat themselves with such confident expectation of future blessedness The new Jerusalem is Civitas Sancta gloriosa tota ex auro tota gemmis et margaritis decorata as Zanchy speaks Consider that magnificent description of this City which
greater than sin here committed upon the earth therefore the sin of the fallen Angels was the greater because committed in a place where God was pleased to make speciall and extraordinary discoveries of his presence the more of God there is in any thing the greater is their sin who abuse it there is more of God in the Gospel then there is in all the works of the Creation and providence Secondly We should have a care least we be found guilty of neglecting the Gospel because that is the conduit which God hath appointed to convey the choicest blessings to the hearts of his people Those that live under the faithful and powerful dispensations of the Gospel let them know that they enjoy the greatest priviledge which they are capable of receiving in this life Oh then what shall we think of those poor soules which have continued for many years and are grown gray-headed under the preaching of the Gospel and yet are never the better for it every Sermon hath been like a shower of water falling upon a rock making no impression at all Thirdly Therefore do not neglect the Gospel because it is very quick and lively in its working it will quickly bring men into a state of Salvation or else sinke them deeper into perdition Heb. 4.12 the word of God is quick and powerful saith the Apostle and sharper than a two-edged sword and pierceth even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit Math. 3.10 Now the Ax saith he is laid unto the root of the Tree and every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire The Ax is laid to the root of the Tree When was that Why when John the Baptist came preaching repentance because the kingdome of God was at hand the preaching of the Gospel was at hand though the tree was barren before yet it might stand still and not be cut down but now when the powerful ministration of the word cometh either close with the Gospel and be saved or else refuse the Gospel and perish So Mar. 16.15 16. Goe saith Christ and preach the Gospel to every creature He that beleeveth and is baptized shall be saved and he that beleeveth not shal be damned Fourthly therefore we should not neglect the Gospel because it is that by which we must be judged at the last day Heathens that never heard of Christ they shall not be punished for not beleiving in him for obligation unto duty doth necessarily presuppose the promulgation of a Law but as for those that have lived under the Gospel without controversie they shall be judged according to the Gospel what would many a person give to know how it shall speed with him in that great and notable day when the Heavens shall pass away with a mighty noise and the Elements melt with fervent heat when all the beauty and bravery of the World shall sink into a bed of ashes what would many a man give to know how he shall speed then why the Gospel tells you those which the Gospel doth condemn now they shall be condemned then and they that are acquitted by the Gospel now they shall be acquitted then Fifthly All that neglect the Gospel they are near to a curse c. There is a clear place for it in Heb. 6.7 8. The Earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it and bringeth for Herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed receiveth a blessing from God but that which bringeth forth briars and thornes is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned the meaning of it is briefly thus the good soyl are those honest hearers which receive the word and bring forth fruit and receive a blessing from God but that which bears briars and thornes the bad ground is those hearers which receive the word hear as many Sermons as others yet they bring nothing forth but briars and thornes repining and murmuring against the purity and truth of Gospel-Ordinances these are rejected and are nigh unto cursing Then in the last place those that do neglect the Gospel it will deeply agravate their condemnation The Sodomites that were consumed with fire and brimstone from Heaven you will say they were great sinners and yet Christ tells us plainly it will be more tollerable for them at the day of judgement then for those that neglect the Gospel Secondly if it be so dreadfull to neglect the Gospel then endeavour to receive the Preaching of the Gospel as Christ hath appointed receive with meekness that ingrafted word which is able to save your souls I shall onely name these three 1. Receive it with reverence and attention as those which must give an account to the Lord of Glory for every Sermon which 〈…〉 2. Receive it with thankfulness we give 〈…〉 for the shining of the Sun and for the dropping of the clouds and for fruitful seasons 〈…〉 seldome do we break forth into 〈…〉 Christ for the unspeakable benefit of his Gospel 3. Receive it with an holy hunger and 〈◊〉 after it as new born Babes desire the 〈◊〉 Milk of the word that you may 〈◊〉 thereby FINIS