The best of Men not free from Sin in this life. [ 1344]
AS a Man,* 1.1 who in the Morning washeth his hands, and goes abroad about his Worldly businesse, though he doth not puddle in the mire, or rake amongst dunghills, yet when he returns home again at dinner, or at night, if he wash, he finds that he hath contracted some uncleannesse, and that his hands are foul;* 1.2 There's no Man can converse with an unclean and filthy World, but some uncleannesse must needs fasten unto him. Even so it is with the Souls of Men, such is the universal corruption of human Na••ure, that the Souls of the best, of the purest, of the holies••, though they do not rake in the dunghill, and wallow in the mire of Sin basely and silthily; yet they do from day, yea from moment to moment, contract some filth and uncleannesse; they may be clear from sinning wil••ully,* 1.3 and with delight, (in which sense it is said, He that is born of God sinneth no••,) and free from scandalous sins, whereinto many of Gods dear children have through inadvertency fallen; but they can never acquit themselves from Sins of infirmity, such as do inevitably and inseparably cleave unto the best of Men, espe∣cially considering the state and condition wherein they are, having corrupt flesh and bloud about them.