Secondly, they are purging hopes; 1 John 3. 3. 1And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure: It is a lively working hope, 1 Pet. 1. 3. Blessed be God who hath begotten us again to a lively hope. As a fountain that hath dirt cast into it, it being a living fountain, it works, and works, and never leaves till it hath got the dirt out; cast dirt into a puddle, and it lies there, and putrefies: And this is the difference between the sin of one that is natural, and one that hath hope of eternal life: When sin comes into a carnal natural heart, it lies there and putrefies; but where sin comes into a gracious heart, that hath hope of eternal life, such a heart by these hopes are as a living fountain, that will never leave working till it be pure again: Such a soul as apprehends it self a vessel of such rich and glorious mercies as these, do labour to cleanse it self to the utmost: if you have a vessel that you put ordinary water into, you care not though there be some dust in the bottom, but if you will put in some precious liquor, you will cleanse it again, and again, and will not suffer any dust to be there: So carnal hearts that do not know what great things God hath laid up for his people, that are not vessels of mercy, but only look for some common things, they can suffer their hearts to filled with noisome lusts, but where ⟨p. 690⟩the soul does apprehend it self a vessel of mercy, such a one as God will fill with these glorious things, it would not have any filth and corruption abiding in it. In 2 Tim. 2. 21. The Apostle speaks of two sorts of vessels that are in Gods House, that is, in the Church, Vessels of honour, and Vessels of dishonour; But how shall we know we are vessels of honour, or of dishonour? if therefore a man purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel of honour; a vessel of dishonour is an unclean vessel, a vessel of honour is a clean vessel: If therefore your hopes be such as can stand with any beloved sin against knowledge, you are vessels of dishonour: And here is the liveliness of this hope; if thou hast a hope to be a vessel of honour, it purges you from filth, and by that purging from filth, there comes to be a readiness and preparation to every good work, here is such a one as shall ascend up into the holy Hill of God. This is the sixth note.
Secondly, they are purging hopes; 1 John 3. 3. 1And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure: It is a lively working hope, 1 Pet. 1. 3. Blessed be God who hath begotten us again to a lively hope. As a fountain that hath dirt cast into it, it being a living fountain, it works, and works, and never leaves till it hath got the dirt out; cast dirt into a puddle, and it lies there, and putrifies: And this is the difference between the sin of one that is natural, and one that hath hope of eternal life: When sin comes into a carnal natural heart, it lies there and putrifies; but where sin comes into a gracious heart, that hath hope of eternal life, such a heart by these hopes are as a living fountain, that will never leave working till it be pure again: Such a soul as apprehends it self a vessel of such rich and glorious mercies as these, do labor to cleanse it self to the utmost: if you have a vessel that you put ordinary water into, you care not though there be some dust in the bottom, but if you will put in some precious liquor, you will cleanse it again, and again, and will not suffer any dust to be there: So carnal hearts that do not know what great things God hath laid up for his people, that are not vessels of mercy, but onely look for some common things, they can suffer their hearts to filled with noysom lusts, but where ⟨p. 690⟩the soul does apprehend it self a vessel of mercy, such a one as God will fill with these glorious things, it would not have any filth and corruption abiding in it. In 2 Tim. 2. 21. The Apostle speaks of two sorts of vessels that are in Gods House, that is, in the Church, Vessels of honor, and Vessels of dishonor; But how shall we know we are vessels of honor, or of dishonor? if therefore a man purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel of honor; a vessel of dishonor is an unclean vessel, a vessel of honor is a clean vessel: If therefore your hopes be such as can stand with any beloved sin against knowledge, you are vessels of dishonor: And here is the liveliness of this hope; if thou hast a hope to be a vessel of honor, it purges you from filth, and by that purging from filth, there comes to be a readiness and preparation to every good work, here is such a one as shall ascend up into the holy Hill of God. This is the sixth note.
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