e truth, to look upon that cleansing blood as well as that
pure light, to consider the perpetual use of the one, until you have fully
attained the other. Know that the fountain is kept open, and not shut, not
only to admit you to come at first, but to give ready access in all after
defilements, and there is no word more comprehensive than this here, it
"cleanseth from all sin." All thy exceptions, doubts, and difficulties,
are about some particular sins and circumstances, thy debates run upon
some exception. But here is an universal comprehensive word, that excludes
all exception--no kind of sin, either for quality, or degree, or
circumstance, is too great for this blood. And therefore, as you have
reason to be humbled under your failings, so there is no reason to be
discouraged, but rather to revive your spirits and vigour again in the
study of this walking in the light, knowing that one day we shall be in
the light, as he is in it. Nay, take this along with you, as your strength
and encouragement to your duty, as the greatest provocation to more
purity,--that there is so constant readiness of pardon in that blood.

Sermon XVI.

1 John i. 8.--"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us."

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand," Rom. xiii. 12. This life is
but as night, even to the godly. There is some light in it,--some star
light, but it is mixed with much darkness of ignorance and sin, and so it
will be, till the sun arise, and the morning of their translation to
heaven come. But though it be called night in one sense, in regard of that
perfect glorious perpetual day in heaven, yet they are called the children
of light, and of the day, and are said to walk in the light, and are
exhorted to walk honestly as in the day, because, though there is a
mixture of darkness in them, of weakness in their judgments, and impurity
in their affections, yet they are _nati ad majora_, "born to greater
things," and aspiring to that perfect day. There is so much light as to
discern these night-monsters, their own corruptions, and Satan's
temptations,--to fight continually against them. They are about this noble
work, the purifying themselves from sin and darkness, so that they lie in
the middle, between the light of angels and glorified spirits, that hath
no darkness in it, and the midnight of the rest of the world, who are
buried in darkness and wickedness, and lie entombed