Clean hands pure heart good grace full#

Clean hands pure heart good grace full#

Though 'clean hands' are mentioned first, as being more obvious to view, and better known, and more subject to the cognizance and observation of others yet a 'pure heart' is first in being and in order from whence cleanness of hands, when right and truth springs: no man has a pure heart naturally and of himself: the heart is desperately wicked the imagination of the thoughts of it is evil continually the mind and conscience are defiled with sin nor can any man make his heart clean, or say he is pure from sin but it is God that creates a clean heart, and renews a right spirit within men, and purifies the heart by faith, which is led to the blood of sprinkling, which purges the conscience, and cleanseth it from all sin and from this purity of heart flows purity of life and conversation, signified by 'clean hands' the hand being the instrument of action, holy actions, or good works, performed from a principle of grace, are meant the phrase is expressive of a holy, harmless, and innocent conversation, washing the hands being used to denote innocence, ( Matthew 27:24 ) ( Psalms 26:6 ) ( 73:13 ) not a conversation entirely free from sin, nor by which a man is justified before God for though he wash his hands ever so clean, they will not be pure in his sight, and will need washing in the blood of the Lamb but it denotes a conversation upright in general, and declares a man righteous in the sight of men, and distinguishes him from one of a dissolute life, whose hands are full of blood, and defiled with sin

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart