Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest

May be you would count it a vild thing to be accused of whoredom, the Filthiness of the flesh, I but what say you to the filthiness of the spirit, of pride, malice, distrust, earthly mindedness, and such like, these promises are to cleanse from the filthiness of the spirit, aswell as of the flesh. And then perfecting holiness in the fear of God, it makes them fear God more, and then it perfects holiness, such a one as is acquainted with the promises of the Gospel, is content with no measure of holiness, but grows higher and higher till he comes to perfection. Here you see the use of promises, what a cleansing nature promises have, Oh my brethren, be much exercised in promises, lay up promises, if you would get power over your corruptions.

May be you would count it a vild thing to be accused of whordom, the Filthiness of the flesh, I but what say you to the filthiness of the spirit, of pride, malice, distrust, earthly mindedness, and such like, these promises are to clense from the filthiness of the spirit, aswel as of the flesh. And then perfecting holiness in the feare of God, it makes them fear God more, and then it perfects holiness, such a one as is acquainted with the promises of the Gospel, is content with no measure of holiness, but growes higher and higher til he comes to perfection. Here you see the use of promises, what a clensing nature promises have, Oh my brethren, be much exercised in promises, lay up promises, if you would get power over your corruptions.

And then one scripture more for this is that, in 2. Pet. 1.4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises. The promises of the Gospel they are precious, more worth then a world, a believer that knows the preciousness of the promises, accounts more of them then of his estate. What do you account precious? that you may have your ships laden home with precious things, I but to have your hearts filled with precious promises, it is far better then these. But now, wherein do ⟨p. 324⟩these promises appear to be so precious? It appears by this, whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, that by these great and precious promises you might be partakers of the divine nature, that is of holiness of sanctification, that is called the divine nature, having escaped the corruptions that is in the world through lust. By these the soul escapes the corruption that is in the world by lust, and not only escapes the corruption of the world, that is, doth not live so wickedly as others do, but comes to be made partaker of the divine nature through these promises. So that Christ is the rest of sanctification, because in him all promises are made, they have a mighty cleansing virtue to sanctify the heart, you would willingly have interest in promises, and have the mercy that the promise holds forth, now as you would have the interest in the promises, and have the mercy that the promises holds forth, so you must labour to feel the efficacy of the promises to cleanse your hearts and make you partaker of the divine nature.