A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 67. Of externall Sanctitie.

HE that hath his heart sprinkled from an evill conscience, hath a great worke wrought upon him; but yet not that which is sufficient; for our bodies also must be washed with pure water. a 1.1 The body is the externall part of a man, for it is here distinguished from the heart and conscience, which are internall parts. In this respect it is distinguished from the spirit, 1 Cor. 6. 20. and from the spirit and soul, 1 Thes. 5. 23.

By this it is manifest that outward sanctity must be added to inward purity. Of the* 1.2 two, inward purity is the most excellent & glorious, but not enough: we must cleanse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit, thus will holinesse be perfected, 2 Cor. 7. 1. Hands must be cleansed, as well as hearts purified, Jam. 4. 8. He shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Gods holy place, who hath clean hands and a pure heart, Psal. 24. 4.

Both soul and body are Gods workmanship, they are both redeemed by Christ, and members of his mysticall body, and they are both temples of the Holy Ghost.

As a true man consists of soul and body, so the new man is renewed in both. P•…•…ence of sprinkling the heart from an evill conscience without washing the body with pure water; (which can be but a meere pretence) savours rank of prophaness; as a shew of washing the body, without sprinkling the heart, savours too much of hy∣pocrisie.

Sundry aberrations are hereby discovered,

• ...

  1. Placing all religion in outward performances.

  Of these there are two sorts.

  • 1. Cloaked hypocrites.
  • 2. Cold moralists.
• 2. Conceiting their hearts to be sufficiently sprinkled, when they neglect the outward washing▪

Of these there are also two sorts.

• 1. Licentious libertines.
• 2. Timerous Nicodemites.

If there be any grace in any of these, they take a course to kill it. Sin to the

spirit is as water to the fire. We are therefore forbidden to quench the Spirit, 1. Thes. 5. 19.

Let them therefore who think they have their hearts sprinkled from an evill co•…•…∣science, manifest the truth thereof by washing their bodies with pure water. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will the Father be glorified, the vertue of Christs blood manifested, the power of the Spirit discovered, the word of grace justified, brethren encouraged, adversaries are won, or confounded, 1 Pet. 3. 1, 16.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  Outward san∣ctity with in∣ward purity.