ignorance of foolish men Ninthly by charitable works the poore distressed are much releeued and such are commended and commanded in the word of God Philem. 7. We haue great ioy and consolation in thy loue because the bowels of the Saints are refreshed by thee brother Iob saith Iob 29.12 I deliuered the poore that cryed and the fatherlesse and him that had none to helpe him the blessing of him that was readie to perish came vpon me and I caused the widowes heart to sing for ioy To do good Heb. 13.16 and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased Tenthly when we do such works as beseeme them that repent we countenance the Gospell of Christ and our holy profession Therefore euen seruants are commanded so to walke Tit. 2.10 That they may adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all things And this precept is giuen to all the faithfull Phil. 1.27 Let your conuersation be such as becometh the Gospell of Christ Furthermore let it be well remembred that to the wel doing of a good worke all the foure causes must meete together the two externall the Efficient and the End the two internall the Matter and the Forme By the Efficient is meant the Author worker or doer of a good worke who is no meere naturall man for he doth not perceiue the things of God 1. Cor. 2.14 much lesse do them No hypocrite who doth all for himselfe euen when he pretendeth most holinesse as Iudas could say Ioh. 12.5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and giuen to the poore This he said not that he cared for the poore but because he was a theefe and had the bag and bare that was put therein No wicked man Pro. 15.8 whose very sacrifice is abhomination to the Lord. But he must be in Christ a new creature a regenerate man one that hath faith purifying the heart Act. 15.9 and which giueth him assurance that for Christ both his person and his worke is accepted with God As God had first respect to Abel and then to his offering Gen. 4.4 So it is Gods chosen that he hath ordained to bring forth fruite Ioh. 15.8 and be glorified that they beare much fruite He being the true author of all good works working in his both the will and the deed Secondly the End and principall scope of all our works is the glorifying of God Whether ye eate or drinke 1. Cor. 10.31 or whatsoeuer ye do do all to the glorie of God Pro. 3.9 Honour the Lord with thy riches and with the first fruits of all thine increase Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in heauen There are also other lawfull subordinate ends of good works as in those nine seuerall vses before mentioned is made plaine Thirdly the Matter and substance of good workes is not euery deuised worke of man vpon his good meaning and good intent Our Sauiour reproueth the Pharisies for their traditions and seruices of God of their owne deuising Mat. 15.9 saying In vaine do they worship me teaching for doctrines the commandements of men Whatsoeuer I command you Deut. 12.32 take heede ye do it thou shalt put nothing thereto nor take ought therefrom So that nothing can be a good worke with God will allow but onely what he hath commanded The Law of God teacheth what good works we must do as Christ out of it answered to the yong man that would know What good thing he should do Mat. 19.16 Phil. 4.8 to haue eternall life Whatsoeuer things are true honest iust pure louely of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise thinke on these things these things which ye haue learned receiued and heard in me do and the God of peace shall be with you Fourthly the Forme and manner of doing them must be as the Lord commandeth 1. In faith Rom. 14.23 1. Pet. 2.5 the heart hauing a well grounded perswasion that for Christ they are pleasing to God 2. In loue as the precept is Let all your things be done in loue 1. Cor. 16.14 Tit. 3.8 Whence springeth 1. A carefulnesse They which haue beleeued in God be carefull to maintaine good workes Also 2. Readinesse and forwardnesse Tit. 3.1 Gal. 2.10 Be readie to euery good worke Onely they would that we should remember the poore the same which I also was forward to do 3. Timely for the good of the receiuer Pro. 3.27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due when it is in the power of thy hands to do it say not to thy neighbour Go and come againe and to morrow I will giue thee when thou hast it by thee 2. Cor. 9.7 4. Chearefully for God loueth a chearefull giuer Thirdly discreetly and with iudgment Eccles 8.5 For a wise mans heart discerneth both time and iudgement And as in the Psalme Psal 112.5 A good man sheweth fauour and lendeth and will guide his affaires with discretion Doing first good to them that excell in vertue and then to others after the example of the Samaritan Yea prouidently to take occasions of doing good As we haue opportunitie Gal. 6.10 let vs do good vnto all men especially to them who are of the houshold of faith Fourthly Plentifully The praise of Tabitha is Act. 9.36 that she was a woman full of good workes and almes deeds Charge them that be rich 1 Tim. 6.18 that they do good that they be rich in good workes readie to distribute willing to communicate Fiftly zealously and earnestly must good workes be done with feruent desire of heart and outward diligence He gaue himselfe for vs Tit. 2.14 to purifie vs to himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes Sixtly Constantly also and not for twice or thrice and then giue ouer Let vs not be wearie of well doing Gal. 6.9 for in due time we shall reape if we faint not Thus we teach good workes thus we practise thus we encourage all thereto Colos 1.10 yea We ceasse not to pray that we may walke worthy of the Lord vnto all pleasing being fruitfull in euery good worke and increasing in the knowledge of God The second vse and fruite Which we are to make by our knowledge of holy Maries blessednesse is to be informed and taught that it is the nature of true faith to apply to our owne selues apart personally particularly the promises of saluation and to put on Christ as a man putteth on his owne garment vpon his body not onely to beleeue that Christ and all his riches is ours but also that Christ is mine and I am his So said the Spouse of Christ My beloued is mine Cant. 2.16 and I am his so said the holy mother of Christ Luke 1.47 My soule
reioyceth in God MY Sauiour It was no affectation of singularitie in that gracious woman to say MY Sauiour as though he had bene hers alone But so she well expressed the life of true and liuely faith vnto vs. And after her example euery Christian for himselfe is to beleeue his owne saluation building his assurance first on Gods loue in Christ 2. Cor. 5.19 reconciling vs to himselfe Secondly and on the truth of Gods free and vnchangeable promises sealed in our hearts by the spirit of adoption We receiued not the spirit of the world 1. Cor. 2.12 but the spirit which is of God that we might KNOW the things that are freely giuen vs of God It is a conceit without warranty to think this was a prerogatiue granted to her alone or to Peter Paul or some few that haue it by reuelation for euery one that is effectually called doth particularly with such application to himselfe so beleeue as she did and hath no sound and certaine comfort till he so beleeue Marke it heedfully how Paul so applieth to himselfe the promise of life and then to all euery of the faithfull that loue Christs coming I haue kept the faith 2. Tim. 4.8 henceforth is laid vp for ME the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue ME at that day and not to ME onely but to ALL them also that loue his appearing He that doth not beleeue particularly and faithfully that Christ Iesus is His Sauiour his beleefe is no better then the faith of diuels they beleeue Christ is a Sauiour to some men but they beleeue not that he is their Sauiour As of old euery one that sprinkled his dore posts with the bloud of the Paschall Lambe Exod. 12.13 was assured by the promise of God that he should escape the destroying hand of the Angell so euery one is baptized seuerally that he may haue a personall beleefe that His sinnes are washed away in Christs bloud and He shall escape the wrath to come Philip will not baptize the Eunuch till he professe such a faith Act. 8.37 Thou mayest be baptized if thou beleeuest with all thine heart We haue a cloud of witnesses of the holy ones that thus apart to themselues applied the promises of God whose steps we must follow if we wil haue true peace in our soules Iob expresseth his faith apartly and particularly thus Iob. 19.25 I KNOW that MY redeemer liueth In Isaias we reade My soule shall be ioyfull in MY God Isa 61.10 In Abacuk I will reioyce in the Lord Abac. 3.18 I will ioy in the God of MY saluation In Zacharie I will say it is my people Zach. 8.8 and they shall say the Lord is MY God So Dauid Psal 27.1 The Lord is MY light and MY saluation Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist Luke 1.43 Whence cometh this to me that the mother of MY Lord should come to me Thomas the Apostle after he was healed of his vnbeleefe could say MY God MY Lord. Ioh. 20.28 Paul most holily acknowledgeth I liue by the faith in the Sonne of God Gal. 2.20 who hath loued ME and giuen himselfe for ME. It is no presumption to beleeue all that God hath promised nor to waite for all he intends to giue vs. But it is the great sinne for which the holy Ghost will reproue the world Because they beleeue not on Christ Ioh. 16.9 As a wounded man hath not comfort of his incarnatiue plaister till it be laid on his sore so haue we no fruit of Gods sweete promises till we apply theÌ„ close to our soules Who knoweth not that the commandements Thou shalt not kil nor commit adulterie nor steale are giuen to euery of vs as if he had said Thou Iohn Thomas Peter c. shall obey me when I say Thou shalt not kill c. So the promises of saluation for comfort are spoken to vs as if he named euery beleeuer seuerally It will do thee no good nor put any comfort into thy soule to beleeue the resurrection of the dead and life euerlasting except thou beleeue that thou thy selfe shalt at the end of the world rise againe and enioy life euerlasting â—â—ias prophecying of the coming of the Messias into the world Isa 9.6 saith not onely A Child is borne but vnto VS a childe is borne vnto VS a sonne is giuen So the Angels that were messengers of glad tidings say Luke 2.11 Vnto YOV is borne this day a Sauiour which is Christ the Lord. So the Prophets and Apostles lay downe to their hearers their particular sinnes particular punishments and particular comforts when they repent Our dutie and comfort it shall be where God speaketh to all his generally to apply it our selues particularly As Seeke ye my face my heart answered vnto thee O Lord Psal 27.8 I will seeke thy face The third vse and fruite Is comfort and reioycing for the certainty of blessednesse by faith in Christ Iesus So the Virgine Marie hauing much assurance of her owne saluation Luke 1.47 Her spirit reioyced in God her Sauiour So the Lord bad his seauentie disciples Luk. 10.20 Reioyce that their names were writtten in heauen Now reioycing which God commandeth is for good things that are certaine and not vncertaine Be it so that such as know not that the Lords loue is towards them are euer full of doubting and vncertaintie and say the Apostles Disciples of Christ by Christs reuelation might be sure and certaine of their owne personall and seuerall saluation but so cannot others Let such be put in mind that where true faith is there is also a true assurance of blessednesse the holy Ghost teaching vs that faith assurance and reioycing in the Lord go together Rom. 5.1 Iustified by faith we haue peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom also we haue accesse by faith into the grace wherein we stand and REIOYCE in hope of the glorie of God Phil. 4 4. Againe Reioyce in the Lord alway Agreeable whereto is that in Peter 1. Pet. 1.8 In whom though ye now see him not yet beleeuing YE REIOYCE with ioy vnspeakeable and full of glorie And for assurance and certaintie the holy exhortation is Heb. 10.22 Let vs draw neare with a true heart in full assurance of faith We could not attaine to this assurance of Gods loue But that we haue receiued the Spirit which is of God 1. Cor. 2.12 that we might KNOW the things that are freely giuen to vs of God He it is that perswades our hearts infallibly enabling vs to beleeue the power truth and loue of God to vs. 1. Pet. 1.5 We are kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation What more assurance can we desire or what surer ground of reioycing then to know that we are kept for saluation and saluation kept for vs as it is there also said
who in their owne sense were miserable when their wiues and children and all that they had were caried a way captiues and yet behold after carefull vsing of good and discreete meanes 1. Sam. 30.3.19 recouered all that the Amalekites had taken away So though for a moment we are deiected and seeme to be forlorne yet God in his time Psal 63.5 which is alwaies simply best giueth a recouery with comfort and reioycing in the Lord. Noahs arke may be much tossed rocked and shaken but drowned it cannot be so the faith of the Saints is assaulted weakened and battered but neuer finally and wholly ouercome 2. Cor. 4.8 We are troubled on euery side yet not distressed perplexed but not in despaire persecuted but not forsaken cast downe but not destroyed The bush burned and consumed not Exod. 3.2 for God was in the middest of it To draw to an end that the called chosen and faithfull may haue sincere rest tranquillitie comfort of mind and conscience a true and vndoubted assurance of eternall blessednesse by Iesus Christ God that is the giuer of the gift giueth also witnesse thereof Rom. 8.16 Gods Spirit beareth witnesse with our spirit that we are the children of God 1. Ioh. 3.24 And as Iohn saith who most clearely and often teacheth this infallible certainty Hereby we know he abideth in vs 4.13.5.13 euen by the Spirit which he hath giuen vs. Now the fruits of our spirit renewed by his Spirit though they are not all in all beleeuers in like measure and at all times yet are they of such power as giue vs comfort and discerne vs from the vngodly and wicked they are to vs pledges of Gods loue and as the gate of heauen as namely a searching out of our sinnes and defections a groning vnder the burthen of them an hatred and abhorring of them a striuing against them a labour and watchfulnesse to preuent sinnes and timely to cut off the occasions of them a mourning for the sinnes of the land an hungring after righteousnesse true loue to God and his children and the word of his grace patient hope waiting on God knowing that he will blesse both prosperitie and aduersitie vnto vs a desire aboue all things to please God vprightnesse of heart without hypocrisie and endeuour to keepe a good conscience to walke in our calling faithfully and chearefully boldnesse with God in humble prayer thankfulnesse for all his goodnesse to vs these and the like do assure vs that we are borne of God As for our certainty to perseuere in grace the foundation of it is not on the earth for so it would fall but on the Lords faithfulnesse He now hath the keeping of vs and of our blisse it is not in our hands as it was in Adams who quickly lost it He will confirme you to the end 1. Cor. 1.8 that ye may be blamelesse in the day of our Lord Iesus Christ God is faithfull by whom ye are called vnto the fellowship of his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Yea he hath made a sure Couenant so to renew vs Iere. 32.40 that He will put his feare into our hearts that we may neuer depart from him Maruellous is the light that God hath put into mans eye whereby he seeth the earth about him and the heauens aboue him without paine in a moment but more admirable is the sight of faith which can see before the world God electing vs to saluation in his Sonne our head in the world redeeming vs by his Sonne our Mediator after the world glorifying vs with his Sonne our King in the heauens for euermore The loue of God which is our life is ancient free sweete constant great vnspeakable incomprehensible and eternall God hath giuen his Sonne to be our Sauiour his Spirit to be our Comforter Isa 60.19 and he will be our glorie eternally Let all the Lords redeemed say and that continually with deuout and religious hearts My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit reioyceth in God my Sauiour Blessing and glorie Reu. 7.12 and wisedome and thanksgiuing and honour and power and might be vnto our God for euer and euer Amen The comfort of a Christian by assurance of Gods loue to him MY peace of heart my happinesse My sweetest ioy is this Ephe. 1.4 That God me lou'd ere world was made And purpos'd me to blisse Iohn 13.1 This sure decree for lasting life This bountie great and free Ephe. 1.5 Iohn 6.39 Rom. 5.12.17 He hath fulfild in Christ his Sonne Whom he hath giuen for me Our fall in Adam fearefull was We left a cursed race Yet Christ our King the Lord of life Act. 15.11 Iohn 5.25 Hath sau'd vs by his grace A powerfull voice his Gospell hath To raise vp dead in sinne 2. Thes 2.14 Act. 11.17 Whom he doth call effectually Are strongly brought to him I call'd I come I runne with ioy I haste Lord vnto thee Mar. 10.49 As Bartimeus boldly went When Christ said Come to me Act. 11.18 Repentance thou doest giue to life The seale of thy sure loue Mat. 21.32 By it I stand in state of grace As new-borne from aboue When Law doth giue me sight of sinne Rom. 7.7 1. Chro. 34.27 My soule doth melt and rent My troubled sp'rite and broken heart Doth grieue and much lament Iob 33.27 Ier. 31.19 Psal 32.5 1. Tim. 1.13 I am asham'd of all my faults To God I them confesse I iudge my selfe a wickedwretch And of my selfe helplesse When sinne and Satan bid despaire Gods voice speakes to mine eare Beleeue in Christ his grace is great Act. 16.31 Shake off mistrustfull feare He mercie shewes to humbled men Heart-wounded he doth cure Luk. 4.18 Luke 1.53 He fils the fainting soule with ioy Their comfort he makes sure He great he good he slow to wrath Exod. 34.6 He kindnesse shewes to all He casts-off none that seeke to him Iohn 6.37 Yea he doth sinners call All ye that wearie are of sinne Whom it doth lode and quell Come ye to me I will you ease Mat. 11.28 My peace with you shall dwell These gracious words of Christ my Lord Cant. 5.2 Ier. 31.3 These comforts strongly pierce This Gospell moues my heart to bleed My sobs for sinne increase Psal 51.4 That I my God my Father deare With sinnes should so prouoke Gen. 39.9 And hauing found such mercy rare Should so cast off his yoke Iere. 9.1 A floud of teares I do desire To weepe both night and day Ephe. 4.30 Thaâ— I haue grieu'd the spirit of grace And turn'd his face away In stead thereof some holy flames Are kindl'd from aboue Luke 7.47 And many sinnes to me forgiuen My God I do much loue My selfe my seruice ioyfully Psal 119.106 A fresh to him I vow With setl'd heart to tread the path That he doth best allow Gen. 5.22 My
shall alwaies behold God in his glorie and be satisfied with his likenesse Psal 17.15 yea conformed vnto him and partakers of a ful and endlesse glorie It is the bounty and kindnesse of the Highest to all his chosen little ones Tit. 3.7 That we should be iustified by his grace and be made heires according to the hope of eternall life Rom. 8.15 that we be annexed heires with Christ Psal 16.11 and possesse the pleasures at Gods right hand for euermore Now let it be carefully obserued and well remembred that while we so highly commend the sauing-faith that ascribeth glorie to God and bringeth such comfort to mans soule we arrogate nothing to our selues as if it were in our owne power to beleeue but we acknowledge it meerely to be the free gift of God as we are taught Heb. 12.2 That Iesus is the author and finisher of our faith We may not say that it is attained by mans skill and industrie but that it is a peculiar gift to Gods elect as the holy word teacheth vs Phil. 1.29 To you it is giuen to beleeue in his Name It is a work of God neither common nor small Ye beleeue according to his mightie power Eph. 1.19 And when God by the ministerie of his word and power of his Spirit hath wrought it in vs yet through our infirmitie it is weake imperfect such as standeth in need of daily increasing and confirming so as that the Apostles of Christ prayed Luk. 17.5 Lord increase our faith Euen where faith is in truth and sound it is but as a beggers hand to receiue a Kings bounty or if you would haue a gayer similitude to expresse it it is like the firie chariot that caried Eliah vp to heauen or like a gold ring that hath a pearle or rubie set into it the worth of the ring not being from the gold but from the precious pearle in it Excellencie of faith is in apprehending and applying to vs the most precious Obiect of it that is Christ Iesus and in him eternall life which the word doth plainly say is the gift of God Rom. 6.23 giuen onely to beleeuers yet not for the worthinesse of their persons or faith but meerly of Gods loue and free fauour as inheritances befall to men for whom they are prepared 2. Sam. 9.7 As lame Mephiboseth was set continually at the kings table not for any worth in him being also a deformed cripple but onely for Ionathans sake so we find acceptance with God but altogether because he hath loued vs in his beloued So that both the blessing Ephes 1.6 to be made capable of it is his most free gift We see that Kings suffer their Nobles to enioy much honor and great prerogatiues yet they will suffer no fauourite to weare their crowne So the Lord out of his infinite and most rich grace bequeatheth to vs in his holy Testament the legacie of eternall life and putteth faith into our hearts to seale the assurance thereof vnto vs yet the honor for the exceeding gift he reserueth to himselfe Isa 45.25 and will giue it none other We are all equally vnder the curse but when God calleth outwardly by his word and inwardly by his Spirit giuing to vs faith to beleeue in Christ our righteousnesse our hearts are much comforted and we greatly reioyce in the Lord. He that spared not his owne Sonne Rom. 8.32 but deliuered him vp for vs all how shall he not with him also freely giue vs all things Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect It is God that iustifieth who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen againe who is euen at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for vs. If the Sonne of God obey the Law for vs die for vs make intercession for vs why should we doubt of blessednes by him seeing he casteth off none but such as cast him off through their vnbeleefe Heb. 3.18 To them that beleeued not he sware they should not enter into his rest Dare man commit his life that is so precious vnto him to a ship made by the skill of man in it to passe ouer the wide stormie seas and shall we not boldly commend the whole safegard of our soules and bodies to the Sonne of the euerliuing God that laid downe his life for the sauing of vs Dare Benhadad put his life into the hands of his enemy vpon this ground that he had heard that the Kings of Israel were mercifull 1. Kin. 20.31 and shall not we that are professed Christians and desire to be accounted for the children of the Highest confidently fully and ioyfully resigne our selues to Iesus Christ to claime the mercifull promises made vnto sinners especially seeing he is at peace with vs is our peacemaker and taught vs that he came to saue sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Gal. 3.26 and that he hath made vs the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus Ioh. 6.47 with a Verily verily I say vnto you he that beleeueth on me hath euerlasting life Among all the seuen nations of the Cananites that for their abhominations were destroyed the Gibeonites onely were wise and escaped deserued destruction Ios 9.13 for they sought and obtained peace with the Israelites and yet had nothing to pleade for themselues why they should be spared but put themselues vpon their mercie pretending that they came from a very far countrie shewing their old garments old shoes old bottels mouldie bread So of all the people on the face of the earth they onely will be found wise and happy that distrusting their owne works done before grace as altogether sinfull and those done after grace receiued as very faulty for not right vsing of them wholly despaire in themselues relie vpon trust to and cast themselues fully on the rich mercy of God and the holy merits of Iesus Christ and firmly beleeue that it is a true saying 1. Tim. 1.13 and worthie of all men to be beleeued that Iesus Christ came to saue sinners As Ionas was willingly cast into the sea Ionas 1.12 to stay the raging of it that all in the ship with him might not perish and they vpon his suffering enioyed a calme and desired safetie so Christ Iesus to appease the wrath curse that would haue fallen on vs suffered and gaue himselfe for vs Ephes 5.2 an offering to God for a sweete smelling sauour by it Gods iustice is satisfied his wrath appeased and all beleeuers reconciled As he that was guiltie of manslaughter though he could make no satisfaction for the bloud he had shed yet if he sought to the appointed citie of refuge by Gods mercifull dispensation and pardon he was set free Num. 35.28 but it was at the death of the High-priest So we that can pleade nothing for our selues being guiltie of many and great sins
22.19 and Iames 2.18 Abraham was approued for righteous when he beleeued Gods promise euen before Isaac was borne so it is as plaine as can be spoken Gen. 15.6 He beleeued in the Lord and he accounted it to him for righteousnesse But Saint Iames sheweth how he declared it and made it manifest in worke and deed by a rare obedience to God When he offered Isaac his sonne vppon the altar Iam. 2.21 His faith so rested on Gods promise that although Isaac were killed and burnt to ashes Yet God was able to raise him vp Heb. 11.19 euen from the dead from whence also he receiued him in a figure All that are taught of God know that faith worketh by loue Gal. 5.6 that it cannot be idle or fruitlesse Eph. 2.10 God hauing created vs anew vnto good workes which he hath ordained that we should walke in Though they go not before iustification yet do they follow it where the Lord forgiueth sinne he also giueth a power to resist sinne to hate and shun it with a sound desire to practise such holinesse as through Christ is pleasing to God Though some ignorant people say We are iustified for our good workes yet the holy Ghost saith otherwise namely that We are iustified freely by his grace Ephes 1.7 through the Redemption that is in Christ Iesus Euen that grace wherein he hath made vs accepted in his Beloued in whom we haue redemption through his bloud the forgiuenesse of sinnes according to the riches of his grace Euen that grace which is Gods eternall free bounty and loue to vs in electing calling adopting and iustifying vs in Christ who is the Lord our righteousnesse Ier. 23.6 not that infused grace which is but as a drop and fruit of the other consisting in the renouation of the new man which being but in part for they that haue greatest measure Rom. 7.16 do what they would not and leaue vndone what they would do is not able to stand before the Tribunall seate of iustice which exacteth entire absolute obedience Deut. 27.26 accursing euery one that confirmeth not all the words of the Law to do them Which moued Dauid to powre out this desire of his soule Psal 143.2 Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall none that liueth be iustified And Paul who as touching the righteousnes which is by the Law was vnrebukeable yet counted all things losse Phil. 3.8 and did iudge them as dung that he might win Christ and might be found in him that is not hauing his owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ euen the righteousnesse which is of God through faith A third obiection and doubt It is said of the godly professors in Sardis that had not defiled themselues Reu. 3.4 that they shall walke with me in white for they are worthie there is then say some a worthinesse in our faith or works or both together by which we merit our blessednesse That we may not mistake this place seeing no prophesie of the Scripture is of any priuate interpretation 2. Pet. 1.20 conferre it with Luke 20.35 They that shall be accounted worthy to obtaine that world and the resurrection from the dead and that in 2. Thessal 1.5 That ye may be accounted worthy of the kingdome of God for which ye suffer And we shall perceiue that these are worthy by acceptation in mercy worthy by the righteousnesse of Christ imputed not by holinesse inherent the reward of going clothed in white or to haue a kingly dignity and much beauty set on them is not a merit or a reward for the desert of their works but of the meere grace and mercie of God for the merits of Christ for whom we and our works wrought by his Spirit find acceptance and fauour the Law teaching that the reward is of mercie Exod. 20.6 And the Gospell telling vs That the sufferings of this present time are not worthy of the glorie which shall be shewed vnto vs. Rom. 8.18 The crowne of life is of Gods promise not of our deseruing Iam. 1.12 as it is said Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receiue the crowne of life which the Lord promised to them that loue him The things which some call merits very vnfitly and not according to the phrase of the Scriptures are the nurses of our hope the prouocations of loue the signes of our election the forerunners of our future happinesse the way of the kingdome not the cause why we reigne It is Iesus Christ the holy Lambe of whom it is properly spoken Reu. 4.11.5.12 Thou art worthy O Lord to receiue glorie and honour and power and Worthy is the Lambe that was slaine to receiue power and riches and wisedome and strength and honour and glorie and blessing He alone purchased his Church with his owne bloud Our robes are made white in the bloud of the Lambe Our persons Reu. 7.14 our seruice our works haue acceptance with God onely for Iesus sake as it is said Eph. 1.6 He made vs accepted in his Beloued and our spirituall sacrifice is acceptable to God by Iesus Christ 1. Pet. 2.5 As no mans free gift can bind him to giue more but he that receiues more is the more bound to him that giues it therefore hence it followeth that by the good deeds which God hath enabled vs to do he is not bound by the debt of his iustice to giue vs more that he should be vniust if he gaue it not but we rather are bound to him And if he giue any reward to our well-doings this is not that he is a debtor to the works but of his owne liberalitie How vnfitly are good works said to be meritorious seeing they are not ours originally but Gods Phil. 2.13 he working both the will and the deed and that of his owne good pleasure But as they are ours they are debts due to God by his holy Law binding vs to do them and more Iam. 3.2 they are imperfect For in many things we offend all they are faulty not done alwaies with sinceritie fulnesse of desire or not with whole strength zeale and continuance as the Lord requireth yea they are vnequall to the recōpence When ye shall haue done all those things which are commanded you Luk. 17.10 say We are vnprofitable seruants we haue done that which was our dutie to do Let not our hearts be lifted vp in conceit of the worthinesse of our doings Habac. 2.4 as is vsuall in all Hypocrites but desire we that as they that looke through greene glasse thinke all they see greene the Lord will looke vpon vs in the face of his Annointed and accept vs as righteous in him who is our righteousnesse Gen. 27.24 That as Iacob got a blessing which was not due to him in