ws
that such as say they have no sin, who either, by the deposition of their
hearts, or carriage of their ways, do by interpretation say that they want
sin, such deceive themselves, and the truth is not in them, and so they
have no benefit of that blood that cleanseth from all sin. And so it is
imported here, that though the blood of Christ be fully sufficient to
cleanse all sin, yet it is not so prostituted and basely spent upon
sinners, as to be bestowed upon them who do not know their sins, and never
enter into any serious and impartial examination of themselves. Such,
though they say they are sinners, yet never descending into themselves to
search their own hearts and ways, and so never coming to the particular
knowledge of their sins, and feeling of them, they cannot at all make
application of that blood to their own consciences, either seriously or
pertinently. Though the river and fountain of Christ's blood run by them,
in the daily preaching of the gospel, yet being destitute of this daily
self-inspection and self-knowledge, being altogether ignorant of
themselves, they can no more wash here than those who never heard of this
blood. They being strangers to themselves, sets them at as great distance
and estrangement from the blood of Christ, as if they were wholly
strangers to the very preaching of this blood. Let us, then, have this
first established in our hearts,--that there is no cleansing from sin,
without the knowledge of sin, and there is no true knowledge of sin,
without a serious soul examination of sin. These are knit together in
their own nature. For how should our sins be pardoned, when we know
nothing of them but in a confused generality that can never affect the
heart? How should our sins not be opened and discovered before the
holiness of God, when they are always covered unto us, and hid from our
eyes? Certainly, the righteousness and wisdom of God require, that such a
monstrous thing, so great an enemy of God's holiness, be not wholly passed
away in silence without observation. If we do not observe, he will, for to
what purpose should pardon be so lavished upon them who are not capable of
knowing what favour and grace is in it? And certainly, that none can know
without the feeling knowledge of the height and heinousness of sin. Now, I
pray you, how should you know your sins, when you will not allow any time
for the searching of yourselves? Many cannot say, that ever they did
purposely and deliberat