Of Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

3. In our best duties we have defilement: Isa. 64 6. Self, Unbelief, Form, drop themselves into all that we do We may be ashamed of our choicest performances: God hath promised that the Saints good works shall follow them; truly were they to be measured by the Rule as they come from us, and weighed in the balance of the Sanctuary, it might be well for us that they might be buried for ever: but the Lord Christ, first as our High Priest bears the iniquity, the guilt and provocation which in severe Justice doth attend them: Exod. 28. 37. 38. and not only so but he washes away all their filth and defilements. He is as a Refiners fire, to purge both the Sons of Levi and their offerings: adding moreover sweet incense to them that they may be accepted. Whatever is of the Spirit, of Himself, of Grace, that remains; whatever is of self, flesh, unbelief that is hay and stubble, that he consumes, wastes, takes away. So that the Saints good works shall meet them one day, with a changed countenance, that they shall scarce know them; that which seemed to them to be black, deformed, defiled, shall appear beautiful ⟨p. 196⟩and glorious: they shall not be afraid of them, but rejoice to see them follow them.

3. In our best dutys we have defilement: Isa. 64 6. Selfe, Unbeliefe, Forme, drop themselves into all that we doe We may be ashamed of our choysest performances: God hath promised that the Saints good workes shall follow them; truely were they to be measured by the Rule as they come from us, and weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary, it might be well for us that they might be buried for ever: but the Lord Christ, first as our High Priest beares the iniquity, the guilt and provocation which in severe Justice doth attend them: Exod. 28. 37. 38. and not only so but he washes away all their filth and defilements. He is as a Refiners fire, to purge both the Sons of Levi and their offerings: adding moreover sweet incense to them that they may be accepted. Whatever is of the Spirit, of Himselfe, of Grace, that remaines; whatever is of selfe, flesh, unbeliefe that is hay and stubble, that he consumes, wasts, takes away. So that the Saints good workes shall meet them one day, with a changed countenance, that they shall scarce know them; that which seemed to them to be black, deformed, defiled, shall appeare beautifull