Selected quad for the lemma: work_n
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A17334
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The schole of godly feare a sermon preached at the assises holden in Exeter, March 20, 1614.
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Bury, John, 1580-1667.
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1615
(1615)
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STC 4180.5; ESTC S262
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20,285
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40
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worke Respect of persons issueth commonly eyther from affection or opinion affection being partiall willingly peruerteth opinion being preiudicate vnwittingly seduceth Now who can suspect partiality in Gods affection that heareth so often inculcated in the diuine Oracles that Rich or Poore Priest or People Iew or Gentile not their persons but their doings shall be regarded and rewarded Tros Tyriusque mihi nullo discrimine agetur Tribulation and anguish vpon euery soule that doth euill the Iew first and also the Grecian but to euery man that doth good glory honour and peace to the Iew first and also to the Grecian for there is no respect of persons with God Rom. 2.9.10.11 On the other side who can imagine that a preiudicate opinion can blind those eyes of fire Reu. 1.14 that stay not vpon the vizour and outside of formall profession but pierce thorow the inside and heart of euery prisoner at his Barre All the world before his throne is a sea of glasse like vnto Chrystall Reu. 4.6 transparent and perspicuous to the supreme Iudge who will inlighten the hidden darkenesse 1. Cor. 4.5 and make the counsels of the heart manifest and is not onely an eye witnesse of all outward passages but also searcheth the heart and trieth the reines Iere. 17.10 euen to giue euery man according to his wayes and according to the fruit of his works which is the other supporter of Gods tribunall viz. a proportioning hand According to euery mans worke 2. Proportionable to works This word according implieth a double regard of workes in the finall iudgement 1. According to their quality whether they bee straight or crooked good or bad 2. According to their quantity whether they bee great or small many or few The quality of euery mans workes shall bee tried 1. According to their quality whether they be straight or crooked by laying them to that rule of righteousnesse which God hath giuen him viz. The Law of Nature to the Gentiles the Law written for the Iewes and the Gospell for vs Christians all which appeareth Rom. 2.12.15.16 The two Lawes being indeed one for the naturall Law is the morall infolded and the morall Law is the naturall vnfolded they haue both one iniunction Doe this and liue the Gospell another Beleeue and liue The Law exacteth the perfect righteousnees of works the Gospel accepteth for perfect the righteousnees of faith Ro. 3.20.21 4.13 But heere lieth a great blocke in the way For workes are regarded for if we be saued by faith and not by workes as that and other places of Scripture doe teach vs how then is this true that Euery man shall be iudged according to his workes at this blocke both Papists and Libertines haue so stumbled that they haue tumbled into errour the one vpon the right hand of Merite the other on the left hand of Licentiousnesse For the clearing of the way betweene them and the whole doctrine of faith and workes let vs conceiue of two Courts wherein God proceedeth in iudging vs. Of 1. Iustification in this life 2. Remuneration after death For the opening hereof Although not in Iustification wee may imagine how the penitent sinner commeth into the Court of Iustification desiring to be approued of God and accepted in his fight but seeing exact righteousnesse to bee there exacted and that none are receiued but such as are pure and perfect hee shrinketh backe and lamenteth his owne wretched plight that dares not appeare in iudgement being all ouergrowne with a sinfull leprousie and can but cry Opera non praecedunt iustificandum Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant O Lord. But anon perceiuing that Christ the Lord Iudge his Sonne hath plenary righteousnesse not for himselfe for being the naturall Sonne hee needeth not to buy his Fathers acceptation but for his retainers and hearing him call Reuel 3.18 I counsel thee to buy of me white raiment that thou maiest be clothed and that thy filthy nakednesse doe not appeare hee prostrateth himselfe at the feet of this heauenly Clothier and hauing no money nor merites to buy he falleth to begging in the humble supplicat of a liuely faith Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me cleane This suit being effectuall hath an answere as comfortable I will bee thou cleane Then washing away the leprous spottes of his sinnes with the bloud which hee shed and clothing his nakednesse with the merites which hee wrought for vs hee thus presenteth him to his Father and the Father accepteth him for righteous and registreth him among his Saints And this is the summe of our Iustification But before this blessed Sauiour Sed sequuntur iustificatum dismisse this healed sinner Cynthius aurem vellit admonuit Hee roundeth him in the eare and scholeth him for keeping a diet Behold thou art made whole sinne no more lest worse betide thee but goe and offer for thy clensing those things which Moses commanded Mark 1.44 Although I haue freed thee from the curse of the Law yet thou in thankfulnesse art still obliged to the duty of the Law that being thus deliuered thou maist serue God without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of thy life Thou canst not indeed doe so well as thou shouldest but be carefull to doe so well as thou canst What thou canst not doe so well as thou shouldest the white raiment of righteousnesse which I haue giuen thee shal couer and it shall not be punished and what thou doest so well as thou canst the same white garment shall make to shew more white and it shall be rewarded Thus we see The dispensation granted to the beleeuer how faith hauing procured a qualification of grace a dispensation is granted for workes that 1. Our euill deeds though perfectly euill shall be excepted as washed and drowned in the bloud of Christ 2. Our good deeds though imperfectly good shall be accepted as decked and beautified with the righteousnesse of Christ And comming vnto God henceforth in the fragrant raiment of our elder brother as Iacob in Esau Gen. 27. he smelleth a sweet sauour from vs is pleased to feed vpon and to relish that which wee bring him and so blesseth vs and we shall be blessed And as lame Mephibosheth was entertained at King Dauids Table for his father Ionathans sake 2. Sam. 9.7 so God admitteth our halting obedience for his Sonnes sake to make vs partakers of his heauenly Table Now as the Court of iustification regardeth onely faith Yet in remuneration workes are respected in making him righteous that is not such so the Court of remuneration will respect workes in declaring him righteous which hath beene made such For it standeth for a principle that whosoeuer truely beleeueth well endeuoureth duely to liue well and euery one that is graced of God by iustification doth striue to glorifie God by santification and with the healed Cripple Act. 3.8 followeth walking and leaping and praising God it is