The Interpreter answered, "This parlor is the heart of a man that
was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel; the dust is
his, original sin and inward corruptions that have defiled the whole
man. He that began to sweep at first is the law; but she that
brought water and did sprinkle it, is the gospel. Now whereas thou
sawest that so soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly
about that the room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou wast
almost choked therewith: this is to show thee that the law, instead
of cleansing the heart by its working, from sin, doth revive, put
strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it doth discover
and forbid it; for it doth not give power to subdue it. Rom. 5: 20;
7:11; 1 Cor. 15:56."
Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with, water,
upon which it was cleansed with pleasure this is to show thee that
when the gospel comes in the sweet and precious influences thereof
to the heart, then, I say, even as thou sawest the damsel lay the
dust fry sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished and
subdued, and the soul made clean through the faith of it, and
consequently fit for the King of glory to inhabit. John 14: 21-23;
15:3; Acts 15:9; Rom. 16: 25, 26; Eph. 5:26.
When Christ dwells in my heart by faith and the moral law dwells in
my members, the one to keep up peace with God, the other to keep my
conversation in a good decorum, then am I right, and not till then.
But this will not be done without much experience, diligence, and
delight in Christ. For there is nothing that Satan more desires,
than that the law may abide in the conscience of an awakened
Christian, and there take up the place of Christ and faith; for he
knows if this may be obtained, the veil is presently drawn over the
face of the soul, and the heart darkened as to the knowledge of
Christ; and being darkened, the man is driven into despair of mercy,
or is put upon it to work for life. There is therefore much
diligence required of him that will keep these two in their places
assigned them of God; much diligent study of the word, diligent
prayer, with diligence to walk with God in the world.
When this law with its thundering threatenings doth attempt to lay
hold on thy conscience, shut it out with a promise of grace: cry,
The inn is taken up already; the Lord Jesus is here entertained, and
here is no room for the law. Indeed, if it will be content with
being my informer, and so lovingly leave off to judge me, I will be
content; it shall be in iny sight, I will also delight therein: but
otherwise, I being now made upright without it, and that too with
that righteousness which this law speaks well of and approveth, I
may not, will not, cannot, dare not make it my saviour and judge,
nor suffer it to set up its government in my conscience; for by so
doing I fall from grace, and Christ Jesus doth profit me nothing.
The sum then of what hath been said is this: the Christian hath now
nothing to do with the law as it thundereth and burneth on Sinai, or
as it bindeth the conscience to wrath and the displeasure of God for
sin; for from its thus appearing he is freed by faith in Christ. Yet
he is to have regard thereto, and is to count it holy, just, and
good; which that he may do, he is always, whenever he seeth or
regards it, to remember that he who giveth it to us is MERCIFUL,
GRACIOUS, LONG-SUFFERING, and ABUNDANT IN GOODNESS AND TRUTH.
Here thou mayst say, O law, thou mayst roar against sin, but thou
canst not reach me; thou mayst curse and condemn, but not MY SOUL;
for I have a righteous Jesus, a holy Jesus, a soul-saving Jesus, and
he hath delivered me from thy threats, thy curses, thy
condemnations; I am out of thy reach and out of thy bounds; I am
brought into another covenant, under better promises of life and
salvation, free promises to comfort me without my merit, even
through the blood of Jesus, the satisfaction given to God for me by
him.
The law is that which standeth at the entrance of the paradise of
God, as a flaming sword, turning every way to keep out those that
are not righteous with the righteousness of God--that have not skill
to come to the throne of grace by that new and living way which he
hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.
For though this law, I say, be taken away by Christ Jesus for all
that truly and savingly believe, yet it remains in full force and
power in every tittle of it against every soul of man that now shall
be found in his tabernacle, that is in himself and out of the Lord
Jesus; it lie'th, I say, like a lion rampant at the gates of heaven,
and will roar upon every unconverted soul, fiercely accusing every
one that new would gladly enter in through the gates into this city.
So then, he that can answer all its most perfect and legal commands,
and that can live in the midst of devouring fire and there enjoy God
and solace himself, he shall dwell on high and shall not be hurt by
this law. His place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks;
bread shall be given him, and his waters shall he sure; thine eyes
shall behold the King in his beauty, they shall see the land that is
very far off.