Effects of it 379 The Remedy of it 383 Truth of Speech and Action what 841 Trials Various Sorts of Trials 361 Trials do manifest what Men are ibid. Why God will manifest Men by Trials 361 Types the several Kinds of them 746 Types of the Law why to be considered ibid. V UNgodliness what it is 31 The Negative Part of Ungodliness 33 The Positive Part of it 40 What it is to deny Ungodliness 32 Means to deny Ungodliness 40 Motives to deny Ungodliness ib. Ungodliness and worldly Lusts coupled 42 Victory of Christ over the Devil the Effects of it 540 How far Satan was destroyed hereby 543 Vid. Devil Power of Satan The Nature of Christ's Victory for Believers 546 W WAiting on God an Effect of Faith 457 War against Satan Motives to ingage in it 547 Washing us from our Sins the Fruit and Evidence of Christ's Love 1129 The Value and Worth of this Benefit 1180 Well-doing what it is 1227 Continuance in Well-doing what it is 1228 Patient Continuance in Well-doing what 1229 Wicked Men who are so 1059 When they shall have enough of Sin 1113 Why wicked Men shall have their Fill of Sin 1114 Will of God How God wills that none shall perish but all come to Repentance 937 Willingness of Christ to suffer how demonstrated 155 Objections answered 158 The Grounds and Reasons of this Willingness Vid. Giving 157 Winking How God winked at the times of Heathen Ignorance 276 Word of God threefold of Promise Blessing and Power 463 The Power and Certainty of God's Word 196 On what Grounds the Word of God is more conducible to Repentance than if one came from the Dead 672 949 The Relation of the Word to Faith 444 The Acts of Faith about the Word 446 The Effects of Faith thus exercised 447 How we may discern the Strength of Faith from hence 449 Work of the Devil what it is 538 How Christ destroys the Work of the Devil Vid. Victory ibid. Works good the Requisites to them 184 The Kinds of them 181 Zeal for good Works Vid. Zeal World The whole World lies under Sin and Wrath 1125 What is meant by Christ taking away the Sin of the World 1124 Vid. Taking away Sin What there is in the World that is to be overcome 445 The Necessity of overcoming the World ibid. Faith overcomes the World and how 456 Worldly Desires Arguments to moderate them 1099 Worldly Lusts. Vid. Lusts. Worldly Men are sorry when they cannot go to Heaven in their own way 365 Worldliness incident to great Persons ibid. Y YOung Man in the Gospel What was commendable in him The Question he puts 285 The Quality of his Person 286 The Manner how he puts it 289 Wherein he was defective ibid. Christ's Answer to the young Man opened 293 Why Christ refers him to the Commandments 303 Why the Commandments of the second Table are only mentioned 305 His Plea that he had kept all the Commandments how far true and how far false 315 What is meant by Christ's loving him 321 Why Christ tells him that he only lacked one thing 330 Young Men why they should apply themselves to Religion 287 313 Z WHAT it is to be zealous of good Works 184 Zeal in good Works a Note of God's People 185 Zeal in good Works the Fruit of Christ's Death 187 Motives to Zeal 188 A TABLE of Scriptures besides the Texts of the several Sermons explained in this Fourth Volume GEN. 2. 15. Pag. 1080 Â 3. 4. 90 Â Â 15. 789 Â 9. 26 27. 835 Â 10. 21. ib. Â 15. 2 3. 483 Â 20. 16. 329 1197 Â 22. 18. 475 Â 33. 5. 833 Exodus 5. 2. 520 Â 24. 4 to 11. 828 Â 34. 6. 1019 Numbers 33. 4. 1121 2 Samuel 7. 3. 817 Â 13. 22. 1195 Â 16. 4. 905 2 Kings 3. 22. 661 Iob 10. 13. 1022 Â 31. 24 25. 377 Psalms 4. 6 7. 1047 Â 14. 1. 647 Â 16. 8. 242 Â 17. 14 15. 128 Â 19. 7. 17 Â 31. 20. 898 Â 37. 28. 1095 Â 40. 7 8. 156 Â 45. 1. 606 Â 49. 11. 378 Â Â 13. 1112 Â Â 14. 142 Â 62. 9. 378 Â 84. 11. 483 967 Â 90. 11. 611 Â 91. 9. 901 Â 103. 5. 1003 Â 111. 4 5. 1118 Â 116. 11. 201 Â 138. 2. 445 Â 140. 3. 747 Â 141. 5. 1197 Â 145. 10. 869 Proverbs 8. 31. P. 156 Â 11. 4. 218 383 Â Â 31. 269 Â 14. 13. 71 642 Â 16. 7. 805 Â 18. 10 11. 377 Â 20. 9. 297 Â Â 12. 662 Â 25. 12. 1198 Â 27. 5 6. 1196 Â 31. 4 5. 73 Ecclesiast 2. 2. 71 Â 3. 11. 614 Â Â 21. 1169 Â 12. 1. 870 Canticles 7. 8. 627 Â 8. 14. 131 Isaiah 7. 14 15 16. 856 Â 10. 6 7. 667 Â 27. 5. 149 Â Â 13. 891 Â 41. 2. 488 Â 43. 3 4. 178 Â Â 25. 142 Â 53. 3. 862 Â Â 9. 1116 Â 54. 11 12. 260 Â 55. 5. 174 Â Â 7. 28 Â Â 8 9. 199 Ieremiah 2. 9 10 11 12. 798 Â 34. 18. 825 Â 50. 5. 94 Ezekiel 20. 37. 826 Â 21. 21. 669 Â 23. 19. 614 Daniel 6. 11. 182 Ionah 2. 8. 1159 Micah 7. 20. 1026 Habakkuk 3. 9. 201 Zephaniah 3. 10. 772 Zechariah 2. 5. 897 Malachi 1. 10. 1217 Matthew 5. 24. P. 85 Â 6. 13. 416 1184 Â 7. 14. 397 Â 10. 41 42. 258 Â 11. 5. 215 397 Â Â 11. 11 Â Â 12. 188 Â Â 17. 233 Â Â 28 29. 224 Â 12. 31. 1141 Â 16. 23. 157 Â Â 24. 386 Â 20. 23. 1137 Â 24. 30 31. 139 Â 25. 31. 141 Â 26. 41. 708 Â 28. 10. 1088 Luke 2. 52. 349 Â 8. 15. 1229 Â 12. 50. 156 Â 13. 7. 70 1005 Â 14. 20. 67 Â 16. 8. 606 639 Â Â 23 24. 1114 Â 21. 28. 134 Â 22. 15. 156 Â Â 24. 395 Iohn 1. 17. 11 Â 4. 34. 156 Â 5. 17. 666 Â 10. 16. 885 Â 13. 27. 157 Â 14. 6. 968 Â 16. 8 9 10 11. 543 Â 19. 36. 1117 Acts 3. 19. 134 Â 4. 32. 84 333 Â 5. 32. 930 Â 6. 10. 500 Â 7. 51. ib. Â 10. 10. 625 Â 13. 46. 7 Â 16. 20. 281 Â 17. 30.31 P. 174 452 Â 18. 10. 886 Â 19. 33. comp with 1 Tim. 1.19.654 Â 24. 22. 1031 Â Â 23 24. 1032 Â 26. 9. 735 Romans 1. 18. 31 Â 2. 22. 96 Â 5. 6. 31 Â 6. 19. 189 Â Â 20. 8 Â 7. 9. 17 Â 8. 2. ib. Â Â 3. 308 Â Â 16. 1135 Â Â 23. 134 Â 9. 16. com with 1 Cor. 9.24 1069 Â Â 30 31 32. 943 Â 10. 14 15. 444 Â 11. 36. 637 Â 14. 22. 954 1 Corinth 1. 30. 968 Â 2. 6. 632 Â Â 9. 659
therefore cast your selves upon God 3. Carry your selves as a peculiar People to him Wherein 1. You must not be contented with common Mercies Every distinct Society have distinct Privileges Now the Elect are a peculiar People and therefore should look after peculiar Privileges A Man may have outward things and here is nothing peculiar no Argument of God's special Love Cast-aways may have these things Psal. 119.132 Look then upon me and be merciful unto me as thou usest to do unto them that love thy Name Look not upon me as thou usest to do on the World in general but as thou dost on thy own People You must have renewing Mercies and sanctifying Mercies a holy Heart be kept from Sin and conformed to God Other Mercies a Man may have and go to Hell therefore be not satisfied with them Luther protested to God he would not be put off with Estate and the Favour of the World and with increase of Honour and Esteem Alas the multitude may have these things it is their Happiness Psal. 4.6 There be many that say Who will shew us any Good Lord lift thou up the Light of thy Countenance upon us 2. Be not contented with common Graces Thus far a Man may go and not be saved As for instance There are moral Inclinations in Heathens and they make Conscience of gross Sins It is not enough to keep from Theft Drunkenness Adultery a Heathen would discover those Sins by the Light of Nature and by such Arguments and Reasons as Nature suggests would avoid them And then Hypocrites may have flashes of Comfort Glances Wishes and good Moods though they have no constant Delight in Communion with God yet they have superficial Hopes and are much taken with Evangelical Strains and Tenders of the Gospel they have a desire to keep their Consciences quiet and peaceable but you should labour for Uprightness and special Graces Carnal Men desire to be secure rather than sincere that they may have some Delectations and superficial Tastes but you are to look after things that accompany Salvation Heb. 6.9 In the Original it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things that have Salvation in them you should be contented with no Grace but that which is an undoubted Pledg and Evidence of Heaven not a loose Hope of the Gospel 3. Be not satisfied with a common Conversation How is that Partly thus You must not live according to ordinary Privileges and ordinary Hopes You must discover Self-denial as one trained up in the School of Christ. It is an Accusation the Apostle brings against the Corinthians 1 Cor. 3.3 Are ye not Carnal and walk as Men When Men pretend to be God's peculiar People and have nothing singular but are given to worldly Cares vile Passions and corrupt Affections as other Men are this hardens carnal Men. A Christian should live like a Wonder in his place by discovering much Self-denial and Mortification in his Conversation Mat. 5.4 For if ye love them which love you what Reward have you do not the Publicans the same It is the greatest Hypocrisy that can be in the World to profess to be a peculiar People and to deny your selves in nothing but do as others do we should live at another rate and be more Holy more Charitable more Heavenly 4. Do not live according to ordinary Examples We may not frame and fashion our selves to the Guise of the World because we are the Lord 's peculiar People Deut. 14.1 2. Ye are the Children of the Lord your God ye shall not cut your selves nor make any baldness between your Eyes for the Dead For thou art an holy People unto the Lord thy God and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar People unto himself above all the Nations that are upon the Earth Dead Fishes swim with the Stream A Christian should live in a Counter-motion to the World You cannot do as others do for you profess your selves to be distinct Especially we should consider this in times of general Defection not to run away from God Mich. 4.5 For all People will walk every one in the Name of his God and we will walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever When every Man sets up a distinct Religion that is the meaning of it then the peculiar People of God should hold together and shew forth special Zeal and special Strictness in the Ways of God in times of Coldness Indifferency and Neutrality in Religion Josh. 24.15 And if it seem Evil unto you to serve the Lord chuse you this Day whom you will serve whether the Gods which your Fathers served that were on the other side of the Flood or the Gods of the Amorites in whose Land ye dwell but as for me and my House we will serve the Lord. SERMON XXII TITUS II. 14 Zealous of Good Works I Come to the last Circumstance the outward Manifestation of Christ's Puririfying that he might make us zealous of good Works I shall consider it partly as the Note of Evidence of God's peculiar People and partly as it falls under the Aim of Christ's Death Doct. Zeal for or in good Works is a Note of God's People and a Fruit of Christ's Purchase Here I shall enquire I. What good Works are II. What it is to be zealous of good Works III. In what Respect and Place we are to put this Zeal or how it stands in order to the Death of Christ. 1. What good Works are I shall shew the Kinds of them and the Requisites to them First The Kinds of good Works Good Works for the Matter of them may be distributed into four Sorts or Ranks Opera Cultûs Acts of Worship Opera Vocationis Works of our own particular Function and Calling Opera Iustitiae Works of Righteousness Opera Charitatis Works of Mercy 1. Opera Cultûs Acts of Worship both Internal and External External to Pray Hear Read Meditate to be much in Communion with God So for Internal Acts as Faith and Repentance and Love All these are good Works and fitly placed in the first Rank of these we must be chiefly zealous because our Happiness lies in Communion with God It is notable Daniel would not omit Prayer for one Day though he was forbidden by the King and in danger of Death Dan. 6.11 Now when Daniel knew that the Writing was signed he went to his House and his Windows being open in his Chamber towards Jerusalem he kneeled upon his Knees three times a Day and prayed and gave Thanks before his God as he did afore-time Certainly they have little Zeal in them that care not to be frequent in Communion with God and call not upon his Name These are the chiefest parts of those good Works we must press and exhort you to where we are to be the more punctual because the Offence is immediately done to God If we do not Works of Mercy and Justice there the Offence is done to Men but neglecting the Works of Piety
the Devil Vid. Victory ibid. Works good the Requisites to them 184 The Kinds of them 181 Zeal for good Works Vid. Zeal World The whole World lies under Sin and Wrath 1125 What is meant by Christ taking away the Sin of the World 1124 Vid. Taking away Sin What there is in the World that is to be overcome 445 The Necessity of overcoming the World ibid. Faith overcomeâ— the World and how 456 Worldly Desires Arguments to moderate them 1099 Worldly Lusts. Vid. Lusts. Worldly Men are sorry when they cannot go to Heaven in their own way 365 Worldliness incident to great Persons ibid. Y YOung Man in the Gospel What was commendable in him The Question he puts 285 The Quality of his Person 286 The Manner how he puts it 289 Wherein he was defective ibid. Christ's Answer to the young Man opened 293 Why Christ refers him to the Commandments 303 Why the Commandments of the second Table are only mentioned 305 His Plea that he had kept all the Commandments how far true and how far false 315 What is meant by Christ's loving him 321 Why Christ tells him that he only lacked one thing 330 Young Men why they should apply themselves to Religion 287 313 Z WHAT it is to be zealous of good Works 184 Zeal in good Works a Note of God's People 185 Zeal in good Works the Fruit of Christ's Death 187 Motives to Zeal 188 A TABLE of Scriptures besides the Texts of the several Sermons explained in this Fourth Volume GEN. 2. 15. Pag. 1080  3. 4. 90   15. 789  9. 26 27. 835  10. 21. ib.  15. 2 3. 483  20. 16. 329 1197  22. 18. 475  33. 5. 833 Exodus 5. 2. 520  24. 4 to 11. 828  34. 6. 1019 Numbers 33. 4. 1121 2 Samuel 7. 3. 817  13. 22. 1195  16. 4. 905 2 Kings 3. 22. 661 Iob 10. 13. 1022  31. 24 25. 377 Psalms 4. 6 7. 1047  14. 1. 647  16. 8. 242  17. 14 15. 128  19. 7. 17  31. 20. 898  37. 28. 1095  40. 7 8. 156  45. 1. 606  49. 11. 378   13. 1112   14. 142  62. 9. 378  84. 11. 483 967  90. 11. 611  91. 9. 901  103. 5. 1003  111. 4 5. 1118  116. 11. 201  138. 2. 445  140. 3. 747  141. 5. 1197  145. 10. 869 Proverbs 8. 31. P. 156  11. 4. 218 383   31. 269  14. 13. 71 642  16. 7. 805  18. 10 11. 377  20. 9. 297   12. 662  25. 12. 1198  27. 5 6. 1196  31. 4 5. 73 Ecclesiast 2. 2. 71  3. 11. 614   21. 1169  12. 1. 870 Canticles 7. 8. 627  8. 14. 131 Isaiah 7. 14 15 16. 856  10. 6 7. 667  27. 5. 149   13. 891  41. 2. 488  43. 3 4. 178   25. 142  53. 3. 862   9. 1116  54. 11 12. 260  55. 5. 174   7. 28   8 9. 199 Ieremiah 2. 9 10 11 12. 798  34. 18. 825  50. 5. 94 Ezekiel 20. 37. 826  21. 21. 669  23. 19. 614 Daniel 6. 11. 182 Ionah 2. 8. 1159 Micah 7. 20. 1026 Habakkuk 3. 9. 201 Zephaniah 3. 10. 772 Zechariah 2. 5. 897 Malachi 1. 10. 1217 Matthew 5. 24. P. 85  6. 13. 416 1184  7. 14. 397  10. 41 42. 258  11. 5. 215 397   11. 11   12. 188   17. 233   28 29. 224  12. 31. 1141  16. 23. 157   24. 386  20. 23. 1137  24. 30 31. 139  25. 31. 141  26. 41. 708  28. 10. 1088 Luke 2. 52. 349  8. 15. 1229  12. 50. 156  13. 7. 70 1005  14. 20. 67  16. 8. 606 639   23 24. 1114  21. 28. 134  22. 15. 156   24. 395 Iohn 1. 17. 11  4. 34. 156  5. 17. 666  10. 16. 885  13. 27. 157  14. 6. 968  16. 8 9 10 11. 543  19. 36. 1117 Acts 3. 19. 134  4. 32. 84 333  5. 32. 930  6. 10. 500  7. 51. â—0  10. 10. 625  13. 46. 7  16. 20. 281  17. 30.31 P. 174 452  18. 10. 886  19. 33. comp with 1 Tim. 1.19.654  24. 22. 1031   23 24. 1032  26. 9. 735 Romans 1. 18. 31  2. 22. 96  5. 6. 31  6. 19. 189   20. 8  7. 9. 17  8. 2. ib.   3. 308   16. 1135   23. 134  9. 16. com with 1 Cor. 9.24 1069   30 31 32. 943  10. 14 15. 444  11. 36. 637  14. 22. 954 1 Corinth 1. 30. 968  2. 6. 632   9. 659  5. 8. 761  7. 14. 835  10. 24. 87  11. 10. 78   14 16. 77  13. 3. 343  15. 24. 144 2 Corinth 12. 7. P. 708 Galatians 3. 19. 309   22. 308  5. 2 3. 310  6. 1. 1198 Ephesians 2. 2 3. 342   4. 7  3. 10. 921   17. 1122   18. 923  4. 27. 709  6. 12. 406 Philippians 2. 10 11. 142  4. 6 7. 778 Colossians 1. 24. 353  2. 9. 1151  3. 11. 23 1 Thessal 1. 3. 105 1105 1 Timothy 1. 13. 83   15. 208  2. 2. 80  4. 4 5 6. 74 742  6. 11. 89   17. 288   19. 1025 2 Timothy 1. 7. 1105   10. 198  2. 16 17. 672  4. 2. 1199 Titus 2. 12. 1228  3. 4. 326 Hebrews 1. 3. 413  2. 14 15 537 1186  2. 18. P. 709  5. 9. 1185  6. 19. 110  10. 25. 954   2â— 648 1089  11. 7. 929  12. 11. 236   16. 18   24. 1146  13. 20. 830 1152 Iames 2. 23. 226  4. 6. 531 1 Peter 1. 2. 1233   9. 1164   12. 614 657  2. 10. 174  3. 6. comp with Gen. 18.17 328   15. 955   19. 100   21. 22 2 Peter 1. 5 6. 63  2. 4. 547  3. 10 11 12 89 144 1 Iohn 2. 16. 44 406  3. 20 21 22. 1073  5. 14. 820 Iude  6. 709   20 21. 1106 Revelat. 1. 10. 625  2. 17. 215  6. 2. 543  22. 20. 131 ERRATA in the First Part. PAge 3. line 16. read no more Grace P. 17. l. ult r. Heat increaseth with Light P. 21. l. 37. f. sure r. soar P. 22. l. 29. r. we must hearken P. 25.
Labour and Charge the more Resistance the more Glory God's Children are glad that they may not serve God with that which cost them nothing as David professeth 2 Sam. 24.24 I will not offer a Burnt-offering unto the Lord my God of that which did cost me nothing Certainly Men are not zealous and their Hearts are not set upon the Ways of God when every slight Excuse will serve the turn and every little Profit draws them away and every petty Business doth hinder them and break off Communion with God and every slender Temptation doth interrupt and break off all their Purposes and Resolutions to Duty and Obedience be it Prayer Charity or Acts of Righteousness We must be resolute for Gal. 4.18 It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing 3. To be zealous of good Works imports Diligence and Earnestness to advance Piety to the highest pitch when we are not contented with any low degrees of Obedience but would fain carry out a godly Conversation to the uttermost to do it with all our Heart Is he zealous that is contented with a little Charity with a little Worship only Sloth and Idleness will not stand with Zeal Rom. 12.11 Not slothful in Business fervent in Spirit serving the Lord. Thus it will be when we are seething hot in Spirit as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies A large Affection cannot be contented with mean things and low degrees of Holiness nor lay a dead Child in the room of a living one This the Apostle calls being rich in good VVorks 1 Tim. 6.18 One or two Acts will not serve the turn Thus Dorcas is said to be full of good VVorks Acts 9.36 How full It is not an Allusion to the fulness of a Vessel that is full of Water or a Chest full of Clothes but to the fulness of a Tree loaden with Fruit James 3.17 Full of Mercy and good VVorks Those that are planted into this noble Vine Jesus Christ are full of good Works 4. To be zealous of good Works is to be constant to the End The Fire on the Altar never went out but it was always maintained and kept in so we must never let the Fire of Zeal go out Zeal is not like Fire in Straw Alas sudden Fervours are soon spent they are but Freewill-Pangs the Birth of an unrenewed Will but it is like Fire in Wood that casts a lasting Heat Gal. 4.18 It is good to be zealously affected always Not at first only for a Fit or Pang that doth not come from Sanctification therefore you should keep up your Fervour Watch against all Decays especially in Age. The Motions of Youth are very vehement for Youth is full of eager Spirits and seems to be all on fire but many times these Motions are not so sincere but the Actions of Age are more solid tho many times they want Vigour and Heat Therefore strive to keep up your Zeal Gal. 5.7 Ye did run well who did hinder you Carnal Men when their first Heats are spent give over they grow cold careless and indifferent in Matters of Religion But shall all these Heats and Desires of Reformation be in vain and shall we give over at length In worldly things we will not give over when we have been at great cost but shall all that is past in Religion be in vain Gal. 3.4 Have you suffered so many things in vain if it be yet in vain His meaning is It is not like to be in vain it will but tend to your greater Condemnation An Adulteress is punished more than an Harlot It is more Dishonour and Ingratitude to God to tire at length III. The Respect and Place of Zeal in good Works it is a Note of God's People and a Fruit of Christ's Death 1. It is a Note of God's People Vnumquodque operatur secundum suam formam There is in the New Creature a Propensity and Inclination to good Works As all Creatures are created with an inclination to their proper Operations such a willing tendency is there in the New Creature to those Actions which are Heavenly As Sparks fly upwards and a Stone moves downward so the New Creature is carried to Obedience and Holiness from a free Principle within The Nature of every thing is the Principle of its Motion Faith will discover it self therefore we read of God's fulfilling the VVork of Faith with Power 2 Thess. 1.11 Hope is called lively from the Effect 1 Pet. 1.3 He hath begotten us to a lively Hope by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ from the Dead Love constraineth 2 Cor. 5.14 The Love of Christ constraineth us Good Works are a Note of the New Creature We are the Workmanship of God created in Christ Iesus unto good VVorks Ephes. 2.10 As an Artificer sets a Mark upon his Workmanship that he might know it so God sets a visible Mark upon his Servants he doth not make a new Creature for old Works Good Works are Christianae Fidei quasi testes Witnesses that you can bring to evidence the Truth and Power of Grace Luther saith Good VVorks are Faith incarnate that is Faith is manifested by them as the Son of God was manifested in the Flesh. They are Witnesses to the World to your selves and unto God that you are his They are Signs and Witnesses to the World This is the Badg by which God would have his peculiar Children known not by Pomp and worldly Splendor not by any outward Excellency Riches Greatness and Estate but by Zeal to good Works There are no barren Trees in Christ's Garden it is not for the Honour of God for our heavenly Father would be glorified in his Servants bringing forth much Fruit John 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much Fruit so shall ye be my Disciples God standeth much upon his Honour Now it is for the Honour of God that all which are planted and grafted into Christ should be full of good Works And they are Testimonies to our selves 2 Pet. 1.10 Give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure Some Copies add 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make your Calling and Election sure by good VVorks certainly it may be collected from the Context he bids them ver 5. add to their Faith Vertue to Vertue Knowledg c. and so they might come to make their Calling and Election sure Graces are not discerned by their Habits but by their Acts and Exercise Look as in a Tree the Sap and Life is hid but the Fruit and Apples do appear so Zeal of good Works is that which appears and so it manifests and clears up your Condition This is the great Note of Difference between us and the Prophane they are zealous for the Devil's Kingdom Factors for Hell Iohn 8.44 Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father you will do They are known by their Works they are earnest for Satan zealous for the Devil follow Sin with earnestness and do Evil with both hands
a Religion to talk of but not to live by therefore they are cold and indifferent and when the Children of God offer a holy Violence to the Kingdom of Heaven they become a Matter of Scorn and Opposition to them And besides formal Men cannot endure to be outstripp'd and therefore malign what they will not imitate as those that are at the Bottom of the Hill fret at those that are at the Top and Men of a lazy and slow Pace envy them that are more zealous strict and holy but they have little Cause to envy them for Christ died to make us zealous of good Works 3. It informs us if we would expect any Benefit by Christ's Death we must be zealous of good Works and more warm in the Service of God A cold Christian will have but cold Comfort For whom did Christ die for those that are zealous of good Works Matth. 11.12 The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence and the Violent take it by Force It is an Allusion to Exod. 19.23 24. where there was a Rail about the Mount of God that the People might not break through but when Iohn the Baptist began to discover the Grace of God and pointed to the Lamb of God then the Kingdom of God suffered Violence Men began to break through and press upon God there is a free Access to God and Men are earnest and will not be denied Entrance Matth. 5.20 Except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no Case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven It is not cold Prayers and yawning Devotions and drowzy Wishes when Men are half asleep that will serve in this Case Heaven is gotten by Force and surprized by On-set and Storm it signifies breaking through the Rail and all Restraints that are set to keep us off from God Vse 2. To stir us up to this Zeal of good Works In a dead and drowzy Age we need an Alarum Knowledg hath now devoured Practice in these decaying times Seneca complains Men are altogether studious for filling their Brains not warming their Hearts And when once Men became more learned they were less good The World is altogether for storing the Head with Notions empty and airy Strains so that if Christ should come amongst us he would find few zealous but a Company of lazy Christians that live at a low cheap Rate of Christianity High-flown we are indeed in our Fancies in Notions and Pretences but low and flat in Practice and Conversation Usually thus it is in the time of the Church's Prosperity like a River it loseth in Depth what it gains in Breadth then it hath many Friends but their Love is not so strong nor so hot as at other times Salvian complains Multiplicatis fidei populis fides diminuta est crescentibus filiis mater aegrotat c. When Professors were multiplied their Faith was lessened and as a Mother grows the weaker the more Children she bears so doth Religion grow weaker and weaker when every one takes up a cold Profession they learn Formality one of another And he goes on Quantum copiae accessit tantum disciplinae recessit as a large Body is less active In audito genere processus recessus crescens simul decrescens When the Church increaseth in Multitude and decreaseth in Vigour and Strength it loseth in Spirit what it injoyeth in temporal Felicity Thus it often falls out with the Church of God that when Religion is fair many take up the Profession but alas it is but weak and spiritless without any Life and Vigor Therefore in such a drowzy Age and dead times we need Alarms and quickning Excitations to awaken our Zeal again for solid Piety for those good Works that are commended to us in the Scripture Therefore let us inquire what kind of Enforcements and Considerations are likely to be most operative to press us to this Zeal and Care of good Works 1. Consider how violent and earnest carnal Men are in the Ways of Sin and shall they serve Satan better than you serve God O consider you have a better Master better Work and better Wages their Master is the Devil their Work is the basest Drudgery being Slaves to their own Lusts and their Wages are sutable their Reward is everlasting Damnation and a Separation from the Presence of the Lord. How active are wicked Men for the Kingdom of Darkness How zealous and earnest to ruine themselves as if they could not be damned soon enough Isa. 5.19 They draw Iniquity with Cords of Vanity and sin as it were with a Cart-rope The meaning is they would sin though it cost them a great deal of Pains and Sorrow and though they could not sin at a cheap rate The Prophet doth not say they were drawn into Sin as into a Gin and Snare but they themselves did draw on Sin it is horrid Work yet they delight in it toiling and tiring themselves as Beasts at a Plough they were sinful though it cost them Sorrow and Pain There is no Corruption but it puts you to some Self-denial Luxury is costly and he that loves Wine and Oil saith Solomon will be poor Pride we say will endure the cold and Vain-glory will expose a Man to Danger and Ruine Worldliness incroacheth upon Pleasantness and the Comforts of Life a Worldling will rise early sit up late and eat the Bread of Sorrows Psal. 127.2 With what Earnestness and unwearied Diligence do carnal Men pursue after a few Trifles How do they lay out all their Wisdom and all their Sagacity about worldly things Luke 16.8 The Children of this World are wiser in their Generation than the Children of Light As Children are busy about Toys and Puppets so they cumber themselves about much Serving and all their Life is but Care and Disquiet and a constant Self-denial Psal. 39.6 Surely every Man walketh in a vain Shew surely they disquiet themselves in vain They make a great deal of Stir and Bustle and many times when all is got what is it A sorry Comfort and that which must be left on this side the Grave Thus wicked Men are active and restless in their way So for Idolatry with what Cost and Diligence do Men promote false Worship and compass Sea and Land to make a Proselyte they will give Rivers of Oil and thousands of Rams they do not stand at Pains and Cost God bids the Prophet look upon this Sight as indeed it is worthy of a Christian Consideration Ier. 7.17 18. Seest thou what they do in the Cities of Judah and in the Streets of Jerusalem The Children gather Wood and the Fathers kindle the Fire and the Women kneed the Dough to make Cakes to the Queen of Heaven and to pour out Drink-Offerings unto other Gods What a busy Diligence is here to promote their false Worship Fathers Children Husbands Wives they all put their helping Hands to the Work and find some Imployment or other Where will you have a Family
Profit and Pleasure that is in Adultery and Theft but shutteth the Eyes of his Mind against the Filthiness or Injustice that is in it and therefore he is like a Man that leapeth from an high place into the Water who first shutteth his Eyes and then casts himself into the Flood or Stream 3. Consequent Ignorance is after the Sin or Act of the Will either from the depraved Disposition of the Will Iohn 3.20 For every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved Or from the just Judgment of God Iohn 9.39 For judgment I am come into the world that they which see not might see and that they which see might be made blind God inflicts a Judicial Blindness on Men that will not obey the Truth 3. Ignorance is either Invincible or Vincible 1. Invincible Ignorance is when there is not sufficient Revelation when it is a thing we should know but God hath not brought Light among us Thus the Heathens are punished for not glorifying God whom they knew by the Light of Nature Rom. 1.21 When they knew God they glorified him not as God Not because they believed not in Christ for he was not revealed unto them But Christians shall be punished for not obeying the Gospel 2 Thess. 1.8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ. 2. Vincible Ignorance is when there are plentiful Means and gross Helps to overcome it then is our Ignorance more culpable This is seen when either Ignorance is Voluntary and Pertinacious or when there is gross Negligence When it is Voluntary 2 Pet. 3.5 For this they are willingly ignorant of That they may Sin more freely and securely they will not know what may disturb or trouble their Sleep in Sin Iob 21.14 Therefore they say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways The Psalmist says of them Psal. 95.10 It is a people that do err in their hearts they have not known my ways They err in their Hearts as well as in their Minds when they do not desire to know what they should know this Ignorance is voluntary Or else it is bewrayed by gross Negligence when a Man doth a thing that if he were not grosly Negligent he might know to be Sin Eph. 3.15 16 17. See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Redeeming the time because the days are evil Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is A Christian is bound to use all holy Means to know all things that belong to his Duty and must bestow much time and diligence upon it If he is grosly ignorant it is a sign he hath a mind to put a cheat upon his Soul Use. Let us beware of Sin against Knowledge these Sins of all others are the most dangerous whether they be Sins of Omission to omit Duties that we know to be Duties this is very dangerous Iames 4.17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is sin Or Sins of Commission to commit Sins that we know to be Sins Rom. 2.21 22. Thou therefore which teachest another teachest thou not thy self Thou that preachest a man should not steal dost thou steal Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery dost thou commit adultery Thou that abhorrest idols dost thou commit sacriledge To commit Sins that we know to be Sins is to involve our selves in Wrath and Vengeance Have a care then of these Sins if you are guilty of them it cannot be pleaded for you Father forgive them they know not what they do A Sermon on JOHN xix 30. He said It is finished and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost THIS is one of the seven Words which Christ uttered upon the Cross the last save one for before his bowing of the Head and giving up the Ghost those Words must come in which are mentioned Luke 23.46 Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and having said thus he gave up the ghost To make way for these Words we need go no farther back than the 28th Verse it is said there After this Iesus knowing that all things were now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled said I thirst Where we may observe 1. The exact knowledge which Christ had of all his Sufferings He knew that all things were accomplished namely all the preparative Sufferings which were to usher in his Death All these bitter Sorrows were numbred out to him by the Divine Decrees and praesignified in the Prophesies Jesus knew all the exact Tale and account of them A Circumstance that doth much commend his Love to us Christ knew how dear the bargain of Souls would be to him and yet he would shew his Obedience to the Father and his Love to Mankind He long since sate down and counted the Charges and yet he came to do his Father's Will When a Business proveth hazardous and inconvenient we are apt to say If I had known it would have cost me so much I should never have undertaken it Christ went not to the Cross blindfold he knew the Work of our Redemption would be troublesom and painful that he was to give his Back to the Smiters and his Cheeks to the Nippers that he was to be hurried from the Garden to the Courts of Men from the Courts of Men to the Cross and there to endure acute Pains and Torments Jesus knew that all these things were to be fulfilled 2. Observe It is said he knew they were accomplished Christ had a lively feeling of every part of his Sorrows and his Senses remained in full vigour to the last and without any stupefaction He knew what Hour the Clock of the Divine Decree would next strike or what was the next Circumstance whereby he was to discover himself to be the true Messiah David saith Died Abner as a fool dieth 2 Sam. 3.32 We may say so Died the Lord Jesus as a Fool dieth in a stupid sensless way Or as one merely passive Extremity of Pain had now surprized the Thieves which were crucified with him we hear no more of them but Christ's Reason and Senses are still exercised and his Sorrows made more active by his own apprehension 3. Observe That the Scriptures might be fulfilled he said I thirst By fulfilling another Prophecy God discovereth another Note whereby the Messiah might be known All the Passages of Christ's Death were appointed with infinite Wisdom and Love either they were such as were necessary parts of Redemption or some Indications whereby the Messiah fore-prophesied of might be discovered Here is another Prophecy fulfilled in Christ's Thirst. The Prophesies alluded to are two one is Psal. 22.15 My strength is dried up like a potsheard and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws thou hast brought me to the dust of death The other Prophesie hinteth the