Fourthly, if thou wouldest know whether Christ have matched with thee, then be sure of this, that 1he hath washed thee from thy filthiness, look to that as another mark whereby thou mayest discern ⟨p. 19⟩it: For though JESUS CHRIST marry thee when thou art in thy blood, yet when thou art married once, he suffers thee not to continue so, but he will cleanse and wash thee from it, as we see in this Chapter, the Apostle exhorts Husbands to love their Wives, as Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify, and cleanse it with the washing of water, by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy without blemish; mark it, when Christ hath married thee, his end is, to present thee pure, to wash thee. Now consider whether thou find thy self cleansed from thy filthiness, and from all filthiness, for when he washeth any, he washeth them from top to toe, though not fully in respect of degrees, yet he suffers not any spot or wrinkle, to remain constantly upon them. For the meaning is, not that this wishing is perfected suddenly, when we come to heaven, there shall not be the least wrinkle at all: but notwithstanding he so washeth them here, that there is no spot remains, 2that is, they allow not themselves in any sin, that they wallow not in any puddle, he so cleanseth them from every sin, that it doth not abide there, a believer is still purifying himself, though he be still defiled; therefore consider with thy self, whether Christ have thus cleansed thee from all pollution of flesh and spirit. Beside in this washing, he doth not only cleanse thee from all outward defilements, but he will wash thee from thy filthy nature, not only from the outward ⟨p. 20⟩stains, but from that swinish nature: for though a swine be washed clean, if she retain her nature, she will be ready to fall into the next puddle she meets with; but now when Christ washeth his Church, he washeth them from the filthiness of their nature, even every man whom he washeth: Therefore consider if thou find this purifying of the Holy Ghost or no; for whosoever is washed by Christ, there is a certain simplicity and plainness of heart, that though he fall into sin, yet his heart is upright with Christ, as we see in 2. Cor. 11. 3. 4.
Fourthly, if thou wouldest know whether Christ have matched with thee, then be sure of this, that 1he hath washed thee from thy filthinesse, looke to that as another marke whereby thou maist discerne ⟨p. 19⟩it: For though IESUS CHRIST marry thee when thou art in thy bloud, yet when thou art married once, he suffers thee not to continue so, but hee will clense and wash thee from it, as we see in this Chapter, the Apostle exhorts Husbands to love their Wives, as Christ loved the Church, and gave himselfe for it, that hee might sanctifie, and cleanse it with the washing of water, by the word, that he might presentit to himselfe a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinckle, or any such thing, but that it should bee holy without blemish; marke it, when Christ hath married thee, his end is, to present thee pure, to wash thee. Now consider whether thou find thy selfe cleansed from thy filthinesse, and from all filthinesse, for when hee washeth any, hee washeth them from top to toe, though not fully in respect of degrees, yet he suffers not any spot or wrinckle, to remaine constantly upon them. For the meaning is, not that this wishing is perfected suddainly, when wee come to heaven, there shall not bee the least wrinckle at all: but notwithstanding he so washeth them here, that there is no spot remaines, 2that is, they allow not themselves in any sinne, that they wallow not in any puddle, hee so clenseth them from every sinne, that it doth not abide there, a beleever is still purifying himselfe, though he be still defiled; therefore consider with thy selfe, whether Christ have thus clensed thee from all pollution of flesh and spirit. Beside in this washing, hee doth not onely clense thee from all outward defilements, but he will wash thee from thy filthy nature, not onely from the outward ⟨p. 20⟩staynes, but from that swynish nature: for though a swine be washed cleane, if she retuaine her nature, shee will be ready to fall into the next puddle shee meetes with; but now when Christ washeth his Church, hee washeth them from the filthinesse of their nature, even every man whom hee washeth: Therefore consider if thou finde this purifying of the Holy Ghost or no; for whosoever is washed by Christ, there is a certaine simplicity and plainnesse of heart, that though he fall into sinne, yet his heart is upright with Christ, as wee see in 2. Cor. 11. 3. 4.
- 14 Way by sanctification.4 VVay by sanctification.
- 2How far the Saints are washed.
