A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved

The principal, internal, immediate efficient cause of this purification of Sins, is the Blood of Christ; the Blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God, cleanseth us from all our Sins, 1 John 1.7. The Blood of Jesus purgeth our Consciences from dead works, Heb. 9.14. He washeth us in his own Blood, Rev. 1.5. And there is an external helping Cause thereof, which is Trials and Afflictions, made effectual by the Word, and accomplished in Death.

But this way of purging Sins by the Blood of Christ, is mysterious. There is no discerning of its Glory but by spiritual Light, no experience of its Power, but by Faith. Hence it is despised and neglected by the most that yet outwardly profess the Doctrine of the Gospel. Men generally think there are a thousand better ways for the purging of Sin, than this by the Blood of Christ, which they cannot understand. See Micah 6.6, 7. It is Mysterious in the Application of it unto the Souls and Consciences of Believers by the Holy Ghost; it is so in the Spring of its efficacy, which is the Oblation of it, for a Propitiation, and in its relation unto the new ⟨p. 252⟩Covenant, which first it establisheth, and then makes effectual unto this end. The Work of it is gradual and unperceptible unto any thing but the eyes of Faith, and diligent spiritual Experience.

Again, It is so ordered by Divine Wisdom, as strictly to require, to begin, excite, and encourage the utmost diligence of Believers in a compliance with its efficacy unto the same End. What Christ did for us, he did without us, without our aid or concurrence. As God made us without our selves, so Christ redeemed us; but what he doth in us, he doth also by us; what he works in a way of Grace, we work in a way of Duty. And our Duty herein, consists as in the continual exercise of all gracious Habits, renewing, changing, and transforming the Soul into the Likeness of Christ (for he which hopes to see him, purifieth himself as he is pure) so also in universal, permanent, uninterrupted Mortification unto the end, whereof we shall speak afterwards. This also renders the Work more Mysterious and difficult. The improvement of Afflictions unto the same end, is a principal part of the Wisdom of Faith; without which they can be of no spiritual Use unto the Souls of men.