defective, and that guilt is thereby rather increased than taken away,—­he must answer again, true; but I have done with the guilt of my faith and repentance, as with the rest, taken all to Christ, and left all on him; and herein only do I acquiesce,—­I look not for pardon for my imperfect faith and repentance, yea, nor would I look for pardon of my sins, for my faith and repentance, were they never so perfect, but only in and through Jesus Christ, the only Cautioner, Redeemer, and Advocate.  But further, this deputy would be brought to his master, who can only command him to silence; that is to say, the believer would go to Christ with the accusing conscience, and desire him to command its silence, that he may have peace of conscience, and freedom from those accusations that are bitter and troublesome.  Remember withal, that if these accusations drive thee to Christ, and endear him more to thy soul, they will do no harm, because they drive thee to thy only resting place, and to the grand peacemaker.  But if otherwise they discourage or for-slow thee in thy motion Christward, then be sure conscience speaketh without warrant, and its accusations ought not, in so far, and as to that end, to be regarded.

CHAPTER IX.

HOW TO MAKE USE OF CHRIST FOR CLEANSING OF US FROM OUR DAILY SPOTS.

Having spoken of the way of making use of Christ for removing the guilt of our daily transgressions, we come to speak of the way of making use of Christ, for taking away the guilt that cleaveth to the soul, through daily transgressions; “for every sin defileth the man,” Matt. xv. 20; and the best are said to have their spots, and to need washing, which presupposeth filthiness and defilement, Eph. v. 27.  John xiii. 8-10.  Hence we are so oft called to this duty of washing and making us clean.  Isa. i. 16.  Jer. iv. 14.  Acts xxii. 16.  David prays for this washing, Psal. li. 2-7.  And it is Christ’s work to wash. 1 Cor. vi. 11.  Rev. i. 5.  Eph. v. 26.  See Tit. iii. 5.  Now, in speaking to this, we shall observe the same method; and first shew, what Christ has done to take away this filth; and next, what way we are to make use of him, for this end, to get our spots and filthiness taken away, that we may be holy.

As to the first, for the purging away of the filth of our daily failings and transgressions, Christ has done these things: 

1.  He hath died that he may procure this benefit and advantage to us; and thus he hath washed us meritoriously in his own blood which he shed upon the cross.  Thus he “loved us, and washed us from our sins, in his own blood,” Rev. i. 5; and this is from all sins, as well such as are committed after, as such as are committed before conversion.  Thus, “he by himself purged our sins,” Heb. i. 3, viz. by offering up of himself as an expiatory sacrifice to make an atonement, and so procure this liberty.  So also it is said, Eph. v. 25-27, that