The saints dignity and duty· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardness. /…The saints dignitie and dutie· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardnesse. /…

The second Exhortation is, to exhort us to labour every day more and more to get from under that iniquity under which we are. The former Exhortation exhorted us to keep our selves from coming under that from which we are gotten; this is to exhort us, to labour every day more and more to get from under that iniquity, under which we are: For did Christ give himself for this end, Oh then let us never give over till we are gotten from under all iniquity. What end can we better aim at, then Christ aimed at, the redeeming us from all iniquity? let us also aim at this, to redeem our selves from all iniquity.

The second Exhortation is, to exhort us to labour every day more and more to get from under that iniquitie under which we are. The former Exhortation exhorted us to keep our selves from coming under that from which we are gotten; this is to exhort us, to labour every day more and more to get from under that iniquitie, under which we are: For did Christ give himself for this end, Oh then let us never give over till we are gotten from under all iniquitie. What end can we better aim at, then Christ aimed at, the redeeming us from all iniquitie? let us also aim at this, to redeem our selves from all iniquitie.

Indeed it is true, in the point of satisfaction, and in the point of paying the ransom, we can do nothing, Christ doth all, but yet this I must tell you, that in the point of delivery of our ⟨p. 38⟩selves from under iniquity, we must do a great deal. Christ giveth us right to come out from under all iniquity, but Christ requireth that we our selves should bring our selves from under iniquity. It is true indeed, we cannot do it, but by Christ, it is the grace of Christ, the power of Christ, the spirit of Christ that doth help us to get our selves from under iniquity; yet notwithstanding we must labour to get our selves from under it, and Christ will help us. For this I might quote many places, but for fear of being too long, I will content my self with that in 2 Cor. 7.1. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Observe the Phrase, the Apostle doth not say be cleansed, but let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. But some might say, we are cleansed already, Christ hath cleansed us. Yea saith the Apostle in part, but we must perfect this holiness; Christ hath brought us from under iniquity in some measure, now Christ expects we should bring our selves from under the remainders of iniquity.