For the more particular discovery of this Truth, let us first look upon the best works of the best men. Though we say not that they are sins, and in naturarei culpable, as our adversaries charge us; yet so much evil doth adhere unto them by the mixture of our corruptions, by passing through our hands, as when sweet water passeth through a sink, as that God might justly turn away his eyes from his own Graces in us, not as his Graces, but as in us. It is true, the Spiritual offerings and1 sacrifices of the Saints, as they come from Gods Grace, are clean and pure, a sweet savour, acceptable, well pleasing, and delightful unto God. But yet as they come from us they have iniquity in them, as not being done with that through and most exact conformity to Gods Will, as his Justice requires, and therefore if he should enter into judgement, and mark what is done amiss, he might reject our Prayers, and throw back the dung of our sacrifices into our faces, for abusing and defiling his Grace; For cursed is every one that continueth not in everything written in the Law to do it. Clean then and acceptable they are. First, comparatively in regard of wicked mens offerings, which are altogether unclean. Secondly, by favour and acceptance, because God spareth us as a father his son that desires to please him. Thirdly, (which is the ground of all) by participation with Christ, 2being perfumed with his incense, being strained through his blood, being sanctified upon his Altar; When he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of gold, to purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, then shall they 3offer unto the Lord an off•ring in righteousness, then shall the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the ⟨p. 326⟩Lord. But in it self ou• best righteousness is as a m•nstruous rag. If God should lay righteousness to the4 line and judgement to the plummet, should take such exceptions as he justly might at the most holy action that any Saint can offer to him; If he should show the conscience how short it falls of that total perfection which his pure eye requires, how many loose thoughts, how much deadness, weariness, irreverence, diffidence, vitiateth o•r purest prayers; how many by ends, corrupt respects, ignorances, oversights, forgetfulness, worldly intermixtures deface and blemish our brightest actions;
For the more particular discovery of this Truth, let us first looke upon the best workes of the best men. Though we say not that they are sins, and in naturarei culpable, as our adversaries charge us; yet so much evill doth adhere unto them by the mixture of our corruptions, by passing through our hands, as when sweete water passeth through a sinke, as that God might justly turne away his eyes from his owne Graces in us, not as his Graces, but as in us. It is true, the Spirituall off•rings and1 sacrifices of the Saints, as they come from Gods Grace, are cleane and pure, a sweet savour, acceptable, well pleasing, and delightfull unto God. But yet as they come from us they have iniquitie in them, as not being done with that through and most exact conformitie to Gods Will, as his Iustice requires, and therefore if hee should enter into judgement, and marke what is done amisse, he might reject our Prayers, and throw backe the dung of our sacrifices into our faces, for abusing and defiling his Grace; For cursedis every one that continueth not in everything written in the Law to doe it. Cleane then and acceptable they are. First, comparatively in regard of wicked mens offerings, which are altogether uncleane. Secondly, by favor and acceptance, because God spareth us as a father his sonne that desires to please him. Thirdly, (which is the ground of all) by participation with Christ, 2being perfum'd with his incense, being strained through his blood, being sanctified upon his Altar; When he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of gold, to purifie the sonnes of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, then shall they 3off•r unto the Lord an off•ring in righteousnesse, then shall the offerings of Iudah and Ierusalem bee pleasant unto the ⟨p. 326⟩Lord. But in it selfe ou• best righteousnesse is as a m•nstruous ragge. If God should lay righteousnesse to the4 line and judgement to the plummet, should take such exceptions as he justly might at the most holy action that any Saint can offer to him; If hee should shew the conscience how short it falls of that totall perfection which his pure eye requires, how many loose thoughts, how much deadnesse, wearinesse, irreverence, diffidence, vitiatth or purest prayers; how many by ends, corrupt respects, ignorances, oversights, forgetfulnesse, worldly intermixtures deface and blemish our brightest actions;
- 1Mal. 1▪ 10. Phil. 4. 18. Heb. 13. 16. Prov. 15. 8.
- 2Eph. 1. 6.
- 3Mal. 3. 3, 4.
- 4Isaiah. 64▪ 6.Esai. 64▪ 6.
