t consisted in
external ordinances and rites. We think that God should be as well-pleased
with our service as we ourselves, therefore we choose his commands which
our humour hath no particular antipathy against and refuse others. But the
Lord will not be so served: as he will not share with the world, and
divide the soul and service of man with creatures, so as mammon should get
part, and he his part. No, if we choose the one, we must refuse the other;
for so will he not suffer his word and commands to be divided: there must
be some universality in respect of the gospel and the law, and a
conjunction of these two, or we cannot please him.

If religion do not include the gospel, we are yet upon the old covenant of
works, according to which none can be justified. If it do not include the
law in the hands of a mediator, then we turn the grace of God unto
wantonness. If it shut out Jesus Christ and have no use of him, how can
either we or our performances stand or be accepted before his holy eyes?
If it exclude the law that Christ came to establish, how can he be pleased
with our religion? both of these offer an indignity to the Son of God. The
sum, then, of Christian religion is believing and sanctification of the
Spirit unto obedience. That is the root and fountain, this is the fruit
and stream; justification of our persons, and sanctification of our lives
and hearts. This is pure religion and undefiled. And therefore Isaiah
says, "Wash you, make you clean,"--cleanse in the only true fountain of
Christ's blood. It is not your purifications of the law, your many
washings with water and hyssop; it is not the blood of bulls and of goats
can purge your consciences from dead works: they do but purify your flesh,
but cannot wash your souls worse defiled. This blood of Jesus Christ is
that clean water that he must sprinkle on you, if you would be clean. If
you take any other water, any other righteousness but his, and wash
thyself therewith, suppose it be snow water that washeth cleanest--thy most
exact conversation, yet, he will plunge thee in the mire, till thine own
clothes abhor thee, Job ix. 30, 31. Now, when you have washed your persons
(ye need not, save to wash your feet, says Christ,)--your daily
conversation, reform it in the virtue of that blood, for we are not called
"to uncleanness, but unto holiness," and therefore, "put away the evil of
your doings," &c. God hath put away the guilt of your doings by
justification,