A30567:33
The difference between the spots of the godly and of the wicked preached
The difference between the spots of the godly and of the wicked preached by Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs at Cripple Gate.
London : s.n., 1668
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
It's an expression that I remember Austin hath: saith he, You would have all things good and clean in your house; all the furniture in your house; yea your ⟨p. 15⟩shoes if they be bespotted. you will have them clean: And hast thou more care of thy very shoes, then of thy soul that's spotted and defiled: O! there's little care for the cleansing of that: But now my Brethren, these things especially should be applied, when we are to go more immediately and solemnly into the presence of God. We must look into the Glass of the Law every day, be humbled, be ashamed; and labour to purge the spots of our souls, and that continually; But I say, when we are to go into Gods presence in a more immediate manner, as when we are to go to prefer a petition to God, and that, such a petition as concerns our souls and Eternal estates, when we are to go to hear his word, and worship him: When we are to go to his Table, at the Lords Supper, we had need then prepare by looking into that Glass, and by being humbled for our sins, and labouring to cleanse: Though you care act so much for spots upon your face and clothes when you are at home, yet when you are to go before your Betters, then what looking is there in the Glass to be trim, and to have clothes that are clean washed. Remember now, that every time thou art to go to worship God, thou art to set thy self as in his immediate presence, to have to deal with that infinite holy God whose pure eyes cannot endure to behold ⟨p. 16⟩least iniquity; that God that is so Holy that the very Angels cover their faces as not being able to behold him, thou art to go before this God, and wilt thou go bespotted and be• smeared, and never look into the glass o• the Law to see how thou art there, that tho• mayest labour to cleanse thy soul? wilt tho• come into Gods presence in thy filth? O• bold sinner that knowest not what it is to dea[…] with the Infinite Holy God: Those that kno• what God is, what his Infinite Holiness means, when they come into Gods presence they make it the great part of their work i• preparing their hearts before they come; and indeed the spiritual part of Godliness doth a much consist in this one thing, as in any, i the preparation of the heart for the presence of God in Holy duties;