Remains of that excellent minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Joseph Alleine being a collection…Remaines of that excellent minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Joseph Alleine being a collection…

And there are these four that belong to you First. He hath raised you from a state of ⟨p. 304⟩corruption and rottenness, to a state of health, and holiness. You know a state of death is a state of corruption: the grave is a place of rottenness and putrefaction. You that lye in your old lusts still, certainly you have no portion or part in this matter. But you that are changed are brought from this state: a state of sin, is a state of corruption. The Scripture every where speaks of sin by the Metaphor that carries in it the highest pitch of filthiness, Psal. 14. 3. They are altogether become filthy, or stinking. And so in Job 15. 16. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh in iniquity like water? Man in his natural state is a most filthy creature: no comparison is […] to set forth the odiousness of his condition, before he is sanctified by grace; and the reason is, because he drinketh in iniquity like water. As the fish doth swim in, and take in water naturally: so sin is his very element wherein he doth naturally live as it were. Thus the Apostle, Rom. 3. 13. Their throat is an open Sepulchre. And so our Saviour compares the Pharisees to to whited Sepulchres. But now you that are believers, God hath raised you from a state of Rottenness to a state of health and holiness. Grace is the health of the soul; Holiness is the soundness of the soul. An upright heart, is a sound heart. O beloved, what a privilege is this to be translated from a state of corruption, to a state of holiness? O what cause have you of thankfulness, that can find the stamp of God again upon your ⟨p. 305⟩souls? you are highly favoured indeed whom God hath privileged with this. There is all that is desirable in grace and holiness; Riches, Wealth, beauty, all. How often do we read of the beauty of Holiness? And so of its Riches too; I counsel thee to buy of me gold, that thou mayest be Rich, Rev. 3. 18. 'Tis the true Riches. And so it is Health and Soundness too,