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A45205 Dorcas revived the second time: or a sermon preached at the funerals of Mrs. Anne Mickle-thwait the one and twentieth of March 1658. Hunter, Josiah, minister in York. 1656 (1656) Wing H3765B; ESTC R224179 44,466 48

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he that is barren in good works and yet bears high and broad the sail of Profession seems to be afraid lest the World should not take notice of him for an Hypocrite Good works likewise without a knowledge and profession of Christian Religion Splendida peccain are no better than glorious Sins as Augustine calls them no better than the virtues of Heathens Quid vobis ethnici cum virtutibus qui christum dei virtutem ignoratis unto which though we give the name yet they want the nature of virtue For as Bernard said What have you Heathens to do with virtues who are ignorant of Christ the virtue and power of God unto Salvation But where a profession of Religion and a practice of good works are in conjunction they make integrum sanctum an entire sincere compleat Saint Such an one was Dorcas in those days such an one was the Dorcas of our days First in general Full of good works then more particularly and Almes-deeds which she did In general She was full of good works When it is said that Dorcas was full of good works it is not meant that she was perfect 3 Jam. 2. for in many things we offend all and every Sin is a defect Much lesse may we think that She did works of supererrogation They are super-arrogant that think themselves righteous above the Rule As full as Dorcas was I dare say for her blessed Soul that She thought her self empty and barren Ears that are most laden with Corn hang lowest down to the ground and holiest Persons have alwayes the humblest thoughts of themselves Hereby therefore I conceive are meant three things 1. She was full of that is abundant in good works as when it is said 2 Chro. 24 25 that Jehojada waxed old and was full of days the meaning is he grew very old and when it is said of wicked worldly men that they are full of Children 17 Psal 14. the meaning is they have many Children So Dorcas was full of good works that is she was a very good woman and did abound in good works To be full of good works is as much as to be fruitful Dorcas her good works were not few as the gleaning Grapes 24 Isa 13. when the Vintage is done or as the shaking of an Olive Tree two or three Berries in the top of the uttermost bough four or five in the most fruitful branches thereof 17 Isa 5 but she was full of good works like the Vine before it is gathered and the Olive Tree before it be shaken 2. She was full of good works that is She did not only abound but in some sort super-abound considering her condition She did very many good works even beyond the expectation of those that knew her when they compared what She did as they imagined with what She had they would not have thought that She had so rich a Treasury that would have furnished her to expend so liberally They could not but think that her fulnesse of good works abroad would bring her to want at home Yet so it was She did many good works nor did they draw her dry but some way or other She was supplyed that She still did more it is very probable that Dorcas was not a woman of great worldly Estate and if she had not been notable for her good works She might in other respects have lived obscurely enough But whatever her estate was She had a free heart and did not for fear of wanting her self hold back her hand from supplying the necessities of others The Widow that cast her two Mites into the Treasury is said to have cast in more than they that cast in greater gifts 21 Luk. 1 2 3. because what they gave was out of their abundance but she cast in all that she had So Dorcas was full of good works that is She did abound yea she did super-abound comparing her abilities with her expence She did more than she was supposed able to do 3. She was full of good works that is her works were not only abounding but abiding She did not satisfie her self with what good she had done 3 Phil. 13.11 Eccles 6. but still she did more with the Apostle she forgot that which was behind and though shee had done very much good yet still she with-held not her hand according to the injunction 6 Gal. 9 10. Let us not be weary in wel-doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not as we have therefore opportunity let us do good Out of the good Treasure of her heart She was still bringing forth good things 12 Math. 35 She was like the Orange-tree of which they write that it is bringing forth fruit all the year long as some are ripe so others are still budding And as it is said of the Church of Thyatira 2 Rev. 19. her works were more at the last than at the first Hereby She made it appear that she was no Hypocrite who is moved by an external principle and doth his good works only for particular ends and therefore continues not always to do good But She was a sincere Christian whose good works flowed from an inward Principle of grace and were directed to an universal end Gods glory So then Dorcas was full of good works that is She did very much good more than could be expected from such a Woman and thus she continued to her death 24 Mat. 46. and so was one of those blessed servants whom her Lord when he came sound well-doing Good works are sometime strictly taken for works of Charity because that Love is the fullfilling of the Law Aug. lib. 10. de civ Dei ca. 1. hac sibi Deus vel pro sacrificiis vel prae sacrificiis placere testatur God accepts of works of Charity for sacrifices with such sacrifices God is well-pleased 13 Hebr. 16. Yea he accepts them before sacrifices I will have mercy and not sacrifice 9 Math. 13. But oftentimes good works are taken more largely for the whole obedience of a Christian so we are said to be Gods workman-ship created in Christ Jesus unto good works Sure it is 2 Eph. 10. the Law is the Rule of good works and therefore obedience to any branch 1 Joh. 3.4 of the Law is a good work as the breach of any part of the Law is an evil work and as the Logicians say there is no created being but it is reduced into one of the ten predicaments so there is no duty or good work commanded of us but it is contained in one of those ten words 10 Deut. 4. as Moses calls them that is Commandments These good works in other places of Scripture are called good Fruits 3 Jam. 17. Fruits of righteousnesse 1 Phil. 11. Fruits of the Spirit 5 Gal. 2. Fruits worthy of Repentance 3 Luk. 8. and amongst many other expressions they are called armour of light 13 Rom. 12. Good works therefore are