Fourthly, by bringing the heart more and more acquainted with Christ his Son: (which is the Fathers work to do, for none comes to the Son, but whom the Father draws) Now how many souls are there, who have gone puddering on (as I may so speak) in the use of other means, and though in the use thereof Christ hath communicated some virtue to them, yet because they did not trade with him chiefly in those duties, they have had little in comparison to what afterwards they have had, when he hath been discovered to them, as that great ordinance who is appointed by God to get their lusts mortified. Afore this they have washed, and washed, but they have washed without soap, until Christ hath been thus revealed to them, and the virtue of his death, and rising again, which is compared, Mal. 3. unto Fullers soap, &c. In the 13. Zach. 1. it is said, that God opens a fountain to the house of David, for sin and for uncleanness: that is, for the guilt of sin, and the power of sin. Now by that opening is not meant the promise of sending his Son into the world to be crucified, but the discovery of him to believers after his being crucified: For Chap. 12. 10. he is supposed to be crucified already, for they there see him whom they have pierced; therefore that opening there is meant the discovery of him to his people, and him to be the great ordinance of cleansing them. Now the more distinctly a man understands Christ, and how to make use of him, (who is already made Sanctification to us) the ⟨p. 70⟩more easily he gets his lusts purged; such an one that trades immediately with Christ, will do more in a day, then another in a year; for seeing that the power of purging us lies immediately in him; and that he is the purging drug which mingles it self with the Word, and all means else, and sets them all awork: therefore the more of him we have, and the more immediate application we have of him to us, and of his power, the more recourse our hearts have to him, the more our lusts are purged; as it is in drugs or minerals, if the infusion and steeping of them in liquors will work; how much more if the substance of them be taken down inwardly and immediately? now this comes to pass, as God doth go on to open our faith to see him, and know him, and to be acquainted with him: for so the Apostle expresseth it, Phil. 3. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection.
Fourthly, by bringing the heart more and more acquainted with Christ his Sonne: (which is the Fathers work to doe, for none comes to the Son, but whom the Father draws) Now how many soules are there, who have gone puddring on (as I may so speak) in the use of other meanes, and though in the use thereof Christ hath communicated some vertue to them, yet because they did not trade with him chiefly in those duties, they have had little in comparison to what afterwards they have had, when he hath been discovered to them, as that great ordinance who is appointed by God to get their lusts mortified. Afore this they have washt, and washt, but they have washt without sope, untill Christ hath been thus revealed to them, and the vertue of his death, and rising againe, which is compared, Mal. 3. unto Fullers sope, &c. In the 13. Zach. 1. it is said, that God opens a fountaine to the house of David, for sinne and for uncleannesse: that is, for the guilt of sinne, and the power of sinne. Now by that opening is not meant the promise of sending his Sonne into the world to be crucified, but the discovery of him to beleevers after his being crucified: For Chap. 12. 10. he is supposed to be crucified already, for they there see him whom they have pierced; therefore that opening there is meant the discovery of him to his people, and him to be the great ordinance of cleansing them. Now the more distinctly a man understands Christ, and how to make use of him, (who is already made Sanctification to us) the ⟨p. 70⟩more easily he gets his lusts purged; such an one that trades immediately with Christ, will doe more in a day, then another in a yeare; for seeing that the power of purging us lies immediately in him; and that he is the purging drug which mingles it selfe with the Word, and all meanes else, and sets them all aworke: therefore the more of him we have, and the more immediate application we have of him to us, and of his power, the more recourse our hearts have to him, the more our lusts are purged; as it is in drugs or minerals, if the infusion and steeping of them in liquors will worke; how much more if the substance of them be taken downe inwardly and immediately? now this comes to passe, as God doth goe on to open our faith to see him, and know him, and to be acquainted with him: for so the Apostle expresseth it, Phil. 3. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection.
