A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

4. Keep your selves clean by a constant Watchfulness. James 1.27. Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction, and to keep your selves unspotted from the World. The World is a dirty Place, you will soil your Garments, therefore you must avoid all Appearance of Evil; hate the Garment spotted with the Flesh. We cannot keep at too great a Distance from Sin; a bold Use of our Liberty showeth the Heart hankereth after Sin, as a Raven hovereth within the Sent of the Carrion.

4. Keep your selves clean by a constant Watchfulness. Iames 1.27. Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction, and to keep your selves unspotted from the World. The World is a dirty Place, you will soil your Garments, therefore you must avoid all Appearance of Evil; hate the Garment spotted with the Flesh. We cannot keep at too great a Distance from Sin; a bold Use of our Liberty sheweth the Heart hankereth after Sin, as a Raven hovereth within the Sent of the Carrion.

Doct. II. Those that are purified, are reckoned to be God's Treasure and peculiar People.

The Word in the Original which we translate Peculiar People, is [Greek or Hebrew], the Vulgar renders it Populus acceptabilis, an acceptable People, but not emphatical enough. [Greek or Hebrew] signifies Wealth, Plenty, Treasure, that which we have above our necessary Substance: Yea, not only Treasure, but the principal Part of it, that which is locked up in the Cabinet, and takes up but a little Room, as Jewels. The Expression is taken out of the Septuagint, and alludes to those Places in the Old Testament, where God calls his People his Jewels or special Treasure;