Christ gave himself for his church, “that he might sanctify and cleanse it—­that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.”  So, Tit. ii. 14, “He gave himself for us, that he might purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”  Here then is the foundation and ground of all cleansing and purification—­Christ’s death procuring it.

2.  As he hath procured, so he sendeth the Spirit to effectuate this, and to work this washing and sanctification in us.  Hence, it is said, 1 Cor. vi. 11, “that we are sanctified and washed, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”  We are said to be saved “by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he hath shed upon us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour,” Tit. iii. 5, 6.  The sending then, or shedding of the holy and sanctifying Spirit upon us, whereby we are sanctified, and consequently purified and purged from our filth, is a fruit of Christ’s death and mediation, being purchased thereby, and is an effect of his resurrection, and glorification, and intercession in glory.

3.  He hath made a fountain of his blood for this end, that we may go to it daily, and wash and be clean.  Thus his “blood cleanseth from all sin,” 1 John i. 7-9.  This is the “fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness,” Zech. xiii. 1.

4.  He hath purchased and provided the external means, whereby this cleansing and sanctification is brought about, viz. the preaching of the gospel, which he himself preached, and thereby sanctified, John xv. 3, “Now are ye clean through the word that I have spoken unto you.”  Eph. v. 26, the church is “sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water, by the word.”

5.  So hath he procured, and worketh in the soul those graces that promove and carry on this work of sanctification and purifying; such as faith, which purifieth the heart, Acts xv. 9; whereof he is the author and finisher, Heb. xii.; and hope, which whosoever hath, “purifieth himself, even as he is pure,” 1 John iii. 3.

6.  He hath confirmed and ratified all the promises of the covenant, which are ample and large, touching this cleansing and washing, Jer. xxxv. 8, “And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me.”  Ezek. xxxvi. 25, “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness.”  So Ezek. xxxvii. 23, “and I will cleanse them.”  And all the other promises of the covenant, apprehended by faith, have no small influence on our cleansing; 2 Cor. vii. 1.  “Having therefore these promises, let us cleanse ourselves,” &c.; all which promises are yea and amen in Christ, 2 Cor. i. 20.

Thus Christ made all sure, for the cleansing and washing of his people, conform to that article of the covenant of redemption, “so shall he sprinkle many nations,” Isa. lii. 15.