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WHite Garments are matter of Ho∣nour; this Ho∣nour all the Saints shall have.
They shall walk in white; Christ will honour them, because they have kept their Garments un∣defiled.* 1.1
They that are good indeed, shall have a good name; they shall walk in white.
To keep the Conscience clean, is to keep the Credit clean; and they who are careful not to blot their conversations, Christ will take care of their reputations, that they be not blotted.
The Old Worthies kept their Garments undefiled, and it was by the power of Faith; keeping them∣selves from the pollutions of the World, they kept themselves a good report. This honour and good re∣port which we get by keeping our Garments undefiled, is sure.
Sometimes God's people are not onely honourable in Gods eyes, but they sometimes walk in white in the eyes of the men of the World:* 1.2 He can give his people room in the opinions of men; he moves their hearts to think well of them, and he opens their mouths to speak well of them.
It is not much to us what the wicked World judge of us, yet God doth sometimes raise a Testimony of Honour for his people amongst Carnal men of the World.
Ioseph would not defile his Gar∣ments,
he walked in white amongst men. True, he was cast into Pri∣son, what of that? he was respe∣cted by the Keeper of the Prison, and afterward he walked in white in the whole Egyptian Court.
Daniel was one that walked in white with common men of the World.
With the Prince of Eunuchs he had tender favour: he told him he would not disobey God to please man; yet he did not rail a∣gainst him, and call him a stubborn fellow, because he would not bow to Baal.
And afterwards Daniel, as great a man as any in that Province, he walked in white. God hath crea∣ted Testimonies of honour for his people from some men of the world, yea they many times put white Gar∣ments upon them. God doth some∣time keep up their honour in the World,* 1.3 who will not defile their Garments.
This may teach us the readiest way to the White Robe, to the Robe of Honour: It is to keep our
selves from sinful practises. Certain∣ly they who please God, he can make the World to honour them. If God approve of us, he can make the World to approve of us too. If God see our Garments in the dirt, and spotted with the filth of the World, it will spoil the Honour we should have in the World.
They who defile their Garments lose their Honour with men, and they lose the Joy they should have hereafter.
* 1.4Nay, the Saints also shall walk in the white of peace and joy, and inward comfort, that keep their Garments white: what ever be∣comes of the other white of Ho∣nour in the world, they shall walk in the inward white of joy and peace with Jesus Christ.
They who have a good Testimo∣ny from their own Consciences, walk in white; they that have that grea∣ter Testimony than our Conscience, the Spirit, they walk in white; this witness doth cause wonderful joy.
This joy doth arise from that well-grounded hope which that
Soul hath that keeps himself clean.
Thus David walked, and appeals from man to God to judge him, he had so much of a well-grounded confidence.
So Iob walkt in white: though his friends blacken him exceeding∣ly, yet he walkt in white in his Conscience; he walkt in white, notwithstanding all his afflictions from God and his friends.
Hence we may see the happiness of all those who are true to Christ and his ways: Oh, how much better is it than the peace and joy of this World, and the comforts of this life!
A good Conscience, and indeed a merry Heart, do but one explain the other.
Here is no surfeting in this Feast, but a continual Musick.
Oh, the Rivers of Consolation that flow to them that keep them∣selves out of the Puddles of this World! though the World give thee nothing but the Water of Afflicti∣on, yet let thy Garments be always white.
This gives us an account why the Servants of Christ stand so strictly upon their terms with the world, because they understand in some measure what it is to walk with Christ in white; and it hath left such a tincture and relish upon their souls, that they would not lose it for all the dainty morsels of the world: They had rather indeed walk with Christ in white, than walk with the world in scarlet.
They will run any hazard, and undergo any affliction, rather than do any thing that will not please God, or be hurtful to their own Consciences. The Conscience is a busie faculty, and hath many offices; it records what we do, and comes as a witness.
The Conscience is Judge of what we do, and accordingly approves of what we do, and reproves us when we do amiss: I am more a∣fraid of the report of Conscience, than of any man whatsoever; there∣fore I will not do any thing that may reproach me as long as I live.
Christ hath threatnings for those
that defile their Garments, in the place of rewards for those who keep them clean.
They who defile their Garments shall walk in Garments of black, in the black of dishonour.
Oh, take heed of the after-claps of Conscience! I may say, of the thunder-claps of Conscience; for they will come upon you one time or other, if you defile your Gar∣ments.
They who venture to do things displeasing to God, shall not long be pleasing to themselves.
The Hypocrite shall lose his own hope, that is,* 1.5 he shall lose it despair∣ingly; 'tis a dreadful Judgment: This is the Suburbs of Hell.
For this will be the Portion of the Damned for ever; 'tis next to the Regions of Hell, for their worm dieth not;* 1.6 and that is the worm of Conscience.
Seeing there is such a reward promised, as this white, wherein we shall walk with Christ; it is an Angelical Happiness, 'tis Heaven before Heaven.
This white is such, as conquers all the black of the world.
'Tis not possible for the world to alter the colour of this white: how much dirt soever they put upon it, this white will be white still.
They cannot take away this peace, this joy from us; they can∣not strip off this habit: It is a con∣quering joy, turns all sorrow into joy.
They who keep their Garments undefiled here, shall be sure of that, to walk with Christ in glory here∣after.
Here are three whites: The white of Honour is Good, the white of Peace and Joy is very good, the white of Glory is best of all.
Psal. 119.1.
Rev. 3.4
1 Tim 5.17.
Rev. 4.4.
Job 8.13.
Mark 9.44