An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

First, Holy persons fit for holy duties, and only they.

Sin is our separation from God, and holy duties are acts of communion with him: how then shall sin and duty stand together?

Make thy supplication, seek unto God, but be thou pure and upright. What have unholy persons to do about holy things? God cannot like the services of those who are unlike him. Prayer purifies, yet purifying must be a preparative to prayer. Psal. 66.18. If I regard iniquity in my heart (if I lodge filthiness there) God will not bear me; he will not regard my prayer. The blind man saw this truth, Joh. 9.31. (it seems this was a received maxim among them) God heareth not sinners. We are commanded to pray, lifting up pure hands, 1 Tim. 2.8. An Heathen being at sea in a great storm, and perceiving many wicked wretches with him in the ship, calling upon the gods,¹ O (saith he) forbear prayer, hold your tongues, I would not have the gods take notice that you are here, they will sure drown us all if they do. If an Heathen by the light of nature could say this, much more may we by the light of Scripture, That God heareth not sinners, Isa. 1. When you spread forth your ⟨p. 35⟩hands, I will hide mine eyes from you, yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear, your hands are full of blood. As he speaks out the fullness of the grace of God (Come let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, &c.) So also the necessity of gracious purity in man, Wash ye, make ye clean, &c. Observe,