Use 1. This may serve to condemne those that are whited over with the name of Christians, but never look after the purity of their soules: and therefore they may be rightly called whited wals, Acts 23.7. and whited Sepulchres, Matthew 23.27.
2. To exhort us to use the utmost of our endeavours to purifie our souls, that they may be made the temples of the holy Ghost.
Doctrine 13. This purification is wrought by the hearing of the word, & the effectuall operation of the holy Ghost by the word.
This is gathered from these words: in obeying the truth through the Spirit. Where the word of God, especially of the Gospell, is called the truth, partly for that excellency of truth that it hath above all other sayings or writings, and partly because by vertue of the truth or faithfulnesse of those promises which are contained in the word, this purification is wrought, together with all those spirituall blessings, that pertaine to the consolation and salvation of the faithfull.
Reason 1. Because the word together with the Spirit doth reveale unto us that true purity which is pleasing and acceptable to God, whereof we are ignorant.
2. Because the word together with the Spirit is the oracle or power of God unto salvation, and consequently is able to beget every grace in us.
3. Because faith purifies the hearts of the faithfull, Acts 15.9. and faith comes by hearing of the word, Romans 10.17.
Vse 1. This may serve to refute the heresies of those, which either hold that there is such power in the strength of nature, that men may sanctifie themselves at their own free will and pleasure, or, which comes all to one, maintaine that the outward preaching of the word is sufficient without the powerfull operation of the Spirit.
2. To exhort us, first, to hearken diligently unto the word of God; secondly, not to rest our selves satisfied in the bare letter of the word, but alwayes to crave the grace of God and the operation of his Spirit: thirdly, in the use of the word through the Spirit to seek the purification of our soules.
Doctrine 14. The effect and signe of a purified soule, is a pure, sincere, and fervent love of the faithfull, as of brethren.