The new covenantThe nevv covenant

We now proceed to the rest of the properties of this perfection, that you may try your selves by them; And we will hold the same course we did, in opening to you the nature of this perfection: that is; we will open to you those places of Scripture, wherein the Scripture expresseth the proper effects of a perfect heart: And therefore, to that second we will add this as a third that will keep you from mis-understanding it:¹ that is; we must be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect; that property of perfection you shall find,² 1 Joh. 3. 3. He that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure. ³So likewise 2 Cor. 7. Since we• have such ⟨p. 2⟩promises, let us cleanse our selves from all pollution of flesh and spirit. That is; those that have these promises, and believe them, will be still cleansing of themselves: Contrary to which is that generation spoken of Prou. 30. 12. ⁴There is a generation that are pure in their own Eyes, but yet they cleanse not themselves from their filthiness. So that, my beloved, to have a purified disposition, to have a heart and a spirit ready to cleanse it self, this is to have a perfect heart: So that a Godly man, he may be many times defiled with sin and uncleanness, he may have his heart many times muddy and imp•re, he may have it clouded and overcast with passions and unruly affections, but yet it clears up again, and he comes out of them all with more brightness, and with more clearness and pureness of heart. The substance of it is this▪ we deny not that a godly man may fall into many sins, into many impurities, into many defilements but yet he riseth out of them again by an assiduous and daily repentance, and still he grows up daily to more and more perfection, as David, and Hezekias, and the rest; whereas, on the other side, a man that hath an imperfect and unsound heart, though he be recovered out of a sin again, and again, yet he returns to it, as it is said,