A Body of Practical Divinity

1. It is a defiling thing. Sin is not only a Defection, but a Pollution. It is to the Soul as Rust is to Gold, as a Stain is to Beauty. It makes the Soul red with guilt, and black with filth. Sin in Scripture is compared to a menstruous cloth, Isa. 30.22. to a plague sore, 1 Kings 8.38. Joshua's filthy Garments, in which he stood before the Angel, Zach. 3.3. were nothing but a Type and Hieroglyphic of Sin. Sin hath blotted God's Image, and stained the orient brightness of the Soul. Sin makes God loath a sinner, Zach. 11.8. and when a sinner sees his sin, he loathes himself, Ezek. 20.42. Sin drops poison on our holy things, it infects our Prayers. ⟨p. 77⟩The High Priest was to make Atonement for sin on the Altar, Exod. 29.36. to typify that our holiest Services need Christ to make Atonement for them. Duties of Religion in themselves are good, but sin corrupts them, as the purest Water is polluted, running through muddy ground. The Leper under the Law, if he had touched the Altar, the Altar had not cleansed him, but he had defiled the Altar. The Apostle calls Sin [Greek or Hebrew], filthiness of flesh and spirit, 2 Cor. 7.1. Sin stamps the Devil's Image on a Man. Malice is the Devil's Eye, Hypocrisy his Cloven foot It turns a Man into a Devil, John 6.20. Have not I chosen twelve, and one of you is a Devil.

1. It is a defiling thing. Sin is not only a Defection, but a Pollution. It is to the Soul as Rust is to Gold, as a Stain is to Beauty. It makes the Soul red with guilt, and black with filth. Sin in Scripture is compared to a menstruous cloath,