Ralph Erskine (The Nature and Excellency of Purity opened), Sermons 1:271:
God hath promised, concerning the good works of the saints, that their works shall follow them, Rev. 14:13. Truly, if they were to be measured by the rule, as they come from us, it might be well for the saints that they might be buried for ever: but the Lord Jesus Christ, as their High-priest, bears the iniquities, the guilt, and provocation which, in strict and severe justice, doth attend them, Exod. 28:38. He bears the iniquities of our holy things; and not only so, but washes away all filth and defilement, and adds sweet incense that they may be accepted. Whatever is of the Spirit, of himself, of grace, that remains; but whatever is of flesh, self, and unbelief, that is hay and stubble, and that he consumes and takes away: insomuch that the good works of the believer shall meet him one day with such changed countenance that he shall not know them. That which seemed black, deformed, and defiled, shall appear beautiful and glorious. They shall not be afraid of them, but rejoice to see them follow them.
God hath promised, concerning the good works of the saints, that their works shall follow them, Rev. 14:13. Truly, if they were to be measured by the rule, as they come from us, it might be well for the saints that they might be buried for ever: but the Lord Jesus Christ, as their High-priest, bears the iniquities, the guilt, and provocation which, in strict and severe justice, doth attend them, Exod. 28:38. He bears the iniquities of our holy things; and not only so, but washes away all filth and defilement, and adds sweet incense that they may be accepted. Whatever is of the Spirit, of himself, of grace, that remains; but whatever is of flesh, self, and unbelief, that is hay and stubble, and that he consumes and takes away: insomuch that the good works of the believer shall meet him one day with such changed countenance that he shall not know them. That which seemed black, deformed, and defiled, shall appear beautiful and glorious. They shall not be afraid of them, but rejoice to see them follow them.
