It is not such a Faith as whereby Abraham was justified for his Faith did appear and evidence it self by his works vers 21 22 23. And so did Rahabs Faith vers 25. Caution 1. But let none so mis understand this as if according to the Popish Doctrine a man were justified by his works By the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge of sin Rom. 3.20 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law vers 28. See also Rom. 4.3 6 7 8. Therefore when S. James saith that by works a man is justified and not by faith onely Jacobus docet quod non side sterili sed fide foecundâ operibus justificamur Cajet in Jac. 2. Jam. 2 24. the meaning is as Cajetan himself doth expound it That a man is not justified by faith that is barren but fruitful in good works So when he saith vers 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered up Isaac his son upon the Altar by works must needs be meant a working Faith for he addes vers 23. And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness Now that was spoken of Abraham long before his offering up of Isaac as appears by Gen. 15. 22. so that Abraham was justified by faith long before but that work of obedience which he did in offering up his son shewed that his faith was a true justifying faith indeed and that it was not without good cause said of him that he believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness Caution 2. Neither again must the Doctrine so be understood as if which the Papists also hold good works did merit heaven and eternal life It is one thing not to be saved without good works and another thing to be saved for them Aliudest secundum opera reddere aliud propter ipsa opera reddere Greg. in Psal 145.8 God will render to every one according to his deeds Rom. 2.6 but not to every one for his deeds To the wicked indeed he will render both according to their deeds also for their deeds because their deeds deserve damnation But to the godly he will onely render according to their deeds not for their deeds not for the merit of them because they do not deserve salvation For 1. The best works that any can do are due and therefore not meritorious When ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you say We are unprofitable servants We have done that which was our duty to do Luk. 17.10 Secondly If we do any good we do it not of our selves by our own power but it is God that doth inable us to do it For we are not sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but all our sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3.5 Therefore whatever good we do we are beholding to God and not he to us for it and consequently we cannot merit any thing at his hands by it Thirdly Our good works are mixed with evil works and are in themselves even the best of them imperfect In many things we offend all Jam. 3.2 There is iniquity even in our holy things Exod. 28.38 Therefore Nehemiah though he prayed unto God to remember him concerning the good that he had done yet to shew how far he was from presuming of the merit of it he added And spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy Neh. 13.22 Fourthly There is no proportion betwixt our works and Salvation no works that we can do are equal to it Illi namque beatae vitae in quâ cum Deo de D o vivitur nullus potest aequari labor nulla opera comparari presertim cum Apostolus dicat non sunt condigne passiones hujus temporis ad futuram glorià m quae revelabitur in nobis Gregor ubi supra and therefore neither can they merit it The most that we can do is to suffer for the Name of God and of Christ and for righteousness sake Phil. 1.29 Mat. 5.10 11. But the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 But as none must think to be saved for good works so neither must any expect Salvation without good works In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but faith which worketh through love Gal. 5.6 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the commandments of God 1 Cor. 7.19 Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling Philip. 2.12 Vse 1 This then may serve first to vindicate our Doctrine and to wipe off the Aspersion which the Papists cast upon us as if we were adversaries and enemies unto good works teaching people that if they believe then all is well enough what ever they do however they live they are sure of Salvation This is not our Doctrine though some may make this perverse use of it We are for the necessity of good works as much as they of the Church of Rome are though we dare not ascribe so much unto them as they do See Serm. 5. Use 1. Vse 2 This also confutes the Antinomians and such as are so for the preaching of Gods mercy and free Grace that they cannot endure to have Duties preached unto people and pressed upon them This they think is legal and servile not agreeable to that Evangelical and free Estate that Christians are now in But we have not so learned Christ He indeed doth make us free Joh. 8.36 But how Not free to sin but free from sin For whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin Joh. 8.34 Know ye not that to whom ye yeild your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of righteousness unto life But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of Doctrine which was delivered unto you Being then made free from sin ye became the servants of righteousness Rom. 16.16 17 18. For this end God sent his Son to redeem us that being delivered out of the hands of our enemies we might serve him without fear in righteousness and holiness before him all the days of our life Luke 1.74 75. For this end Christ gave himself for us He died for all that they which live might not live unto themselves but unto him that died for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5 15. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2.14 There is no hope of Salvation by Christ without yielding obedience unto Christ He is the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 He is a King as well as a Priest and a
Now heaven is a place of righteousness no unrighteousness can find any roome there It is the high and holy place Isa 57.17 When the Angels once sinned presently they were throwne out of heaven 2 Pet. 2.4 So also was Adam presently after his trangression cast out of Paradise which was a type of heaven neither was he permitted to have any accesse to the tree of life which was a type of eternal life Gen. 3.24 To him that overcometh saith Christ will I give to eate of the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God Revel 2.7 Blessed are they doe his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in thorow the gates into the city Rev. 22.14 Use 1 If this be the doctrine which according to the Scriptures we teach and preach then they of the Church of Rome are very injurious unto us in calling us Solifidians as if we were all for faith and nothing for workes as if we perswaded people that though they live as they list and doe what they will yet if they beleeve they shall be saved We hold that although imputed righteousness whereby we are justified and inherent righteousness whereby we are sanctified are diverse and different one from the other yet they are not divided but alwayes goe together so that where the one is there the other is also We hold that though faith alone as the hand receiving Christ and applying his righteousness doth justifie yet that justifying faith is not alone but is ever accompanied with good workes And therefore we observe that of the Apostle This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirme constantly that they which have beleeved in God may be careful to maintaine good works these things are good and profitable unto men Tit. 3.8 And vers 14. Let ours also learne to maintaine good workes for necessary uses that they be not unfruitful 2. Away then with the horrid and damnable doctrine Use 2 of some who went out from us but were not of us Atque adeo id sibi precipuè proponunt ut sopiant conscientias quò omni sollicitudine vacui hostes quicquid sese offeret quicquid appetierint perpetrent Calv. advers libert cap. 15. Vide etiam ib. c. 18. for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us 1 John 2.10 of some I say who with the Libertines in Calvines time make it the very high way to heaven and the sure signe of salvation for people to give the reines unto their lusts to worke all iniquity and to commit all uncleanness even with greediness But you have not so learned Christ If so be ye have been taught by him as the truth is in Iesus That ye put off as concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts And be renewed in the spirit of your minde And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Ephes 4.19 24. 3. This doctrine serves to convince all such as looke Use 3 for salvation and yet heed not to worke righteousness Though whiles they live they worke iniquity and live wickedly yet when they die they thinke to be saved as others But this is a most vaine and foolish a most irrational and absurd imagination as if one should sow tares and hope to reape wheat Be not deceived God is not mocked as a man soweth so shall he reape For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reape life everlasting Gal. 6.7 8. It was truly said by Eliphaz though not rightly applied to Job whom he falsly judged wicked because of that affliction which he was in They that plow iniquity and sow wickedness reape the same Job 4.8 It is worthy to be observed that the Apostle speaking of this point to wit that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdome of God nor enjoy salvation he divers times admonisheth Christians to take heed of being deceived as Gal. 6.7 and 1 Cor. 6.9 and Ephes 5.6 This inculcating of our admonition shewes both that it is a dangerous thing to be deceived in this case which all will I presume easily grant and also that people herein are very apt to be deceived And so experience shewes that in this great and weighty business people many ways deceive themselves building castles as they say in the aire and promising unto themselves salvation and eternal life though they regard nothing lesse then to performe this which is required of all those that shall be saved to wit to worke righteousness 1. Some presume upon this that God is merciful But though Gods mercy be never so great as it is infinite and incomprehensible yet it nothing at all belongs unto them that worke wickedness I meane that continue in that course and will not turne from it Let the wicked forsake his way saith the Prophet Esay and the unrighteous man his thoughts and turne unto the Lord and he will have mercy on him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Isai 55.7 David extolled Gods mercy as much as may be yet ever sheweth to whom it doth belong namely to them that feare him and so he excludes the wicked and unrighteous from having any share in it As the heaven is high above the earth saith he so great is his mercy towards whom towards them that fear him Psal 103.11 And vers 13. Like as a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth whom them that feare him And vers 17. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon whom them that feare him and his righteousness to childrens children To such as keepe his covenant and thinke upon his commandments to doe them 2. Christ say some died for us therefore they perswade themselves that howsoever they live yet through Christ they shall be saved But Christ died for our sanctification as well as for our salvation He loved the Church and gave himselfe for it That he might sanctifie it Ephes 5.25 26. He gave himselfe for us to redeeme us from all iniquity and to purifie unto himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes Tit. 2.14 None shall be saved by Christ but such as are sanctified by him As for those that worke iniquity he will say unto them Depart from me I know ye not Matth. 7.23 3. Some flatter themselves as if their sinnes were only sinnes of infirmity and therefore should not prejudice their salvation But if they did sin of infirmity 1. They would not make a common practice of sin as they doe It is the propertie of the wicked to set himselfe in a way that is not good Psal 36.4 Noah Lot David and other godly men through infirmity fell into sin grosse and haynous sin but they did not make it their practise No thus the godly doe
answer Not so he that made all will not save all he might in justice have damned all for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Rom. 3.23 That any are justified and saved it is freely by his grace v. 24. And his Grace being free he may bestow it as he pleaseth for who hath given unto him first and it shall be recompensed to him again Rom. 11.35 To the third God is merciful to all I answer He is so but not in respect of saving mercy No in this respect He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardneth Rom. 9.18 God is just as well as merciful and he will have the Glory of his Justice in the deserved damnation of some as well as the Glory of his Mercy in the undeserved Salvation of others To the fourth Christ died for all I answer Christ's death is not available to the Salvation of all I lay down my life for the sheep saith he Joh. 10.15 And again I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine Joh. 17.9 That 1 Joh. 2.2 He is the propitiation for our sins and not for our sins only but also for the sins of the whole world that I say is meant not for the sins of the Jews only but for the sins of the Gentiles also whoever they be throughout the whole World that believe in him And so all those places of Scripture where Christ is said to be the Saviour of the World or to have died for all or the like are to be understood in this manner It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant so speaks God unto Christ as Man to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the dispersed of Israel I have also given thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth Isa 49.6 Christ is there said to be God's Salvation unto the ends of the earth because not only the Jews but the Gentiles also should enjoy Salvation by him Paul and Barnabas alledged this place of Esay to prove that the Gospel was to be preached not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles Lo we turn to the Gentiles say they for so hath the Lord commanded saying I have set thee for a light of the Gentiles that thou shouldst be for salvation to the ends of the earth Act. 13.46 47. So Simeon having said Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people to shew how Christ is a Salvation prepared of God before the face of all people he adds immediately To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel Luke 2.30 31 32. Thus also the four Beasts and the four and twenty Elders that is the whole Company of the Redeemed say unto the Lamb that is unto Christ Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation Rev. 5.9 Not all of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation but us that is some out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation That of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.22 As in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive is explained by the Apostle himself in the very next verse to be meant not simply and absolutely of all but of all that are Christs that belong unto Christ and are his All that believe in Christ shall be saved by him For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3.16 But all have not faith 1 Thess 3.2 No Faith is the gift of God Ephes 2 8. And God vouchsafes it not to all but to some as he pleaseth For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe in him but also to suffer for his sake Phil. 1.29 Therefore even to believe in Christ is a gift vouchsafed only unto some and not unto all 2. Therefore this may serve to rouze us up out of the Use 2 slâ—ep of security and presumption and to stir us up to have a care that we be of the number of those that shall be Heirs of Salvation seeing it belongs not unto all but only unto some yea but to a few in comparison of those that miss and come short of it When one asked our Saviour saying Lord are there few that shall be saved he answered Strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you shall seek to enter in and shall not be able Luke 13.23 24. Think not that thou arâ— safe bâ—cause thou walkest in the same path wherein others and iâ— may be the most walk for it may be they whom thou followest are out of the way that leadeth to Salvation and therefore try the way thou walkest in and chuse the way of truth as David saith he did Psal 119.30 Stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein and ye shall finde rest to your souls Jer. 6.16 I am the way the truth and the life saith Christ no man cometh to the Father but by me John 14.6 No coming to Salvation but by Christ There is not salvation in any other neither is there any other name under heaven given among men whereby they may be saved Act. 4.12 Neither is there any coming unto Christ but by Faith for to come unto him is to believe in him He that cometh to me shall never hunger saith Christ and that we may know what it is to come unto him he adds immediately and he that believeth in me shall never thirst John 6.35 But this Faith which bringeth unto Christ and so procureth Salvation through Christ this Faith I say doth purifie the heart Act. 15.9 it worketh through love Gal. 5.6 it bringeth forth the fruit of good works and of all holy obedience else it is a dead Faith altogether vain and unprofitable Jam. 2 14-26 Use 3 Thirdly and lastly This may teach and admonish such as God hath vouchsafed effectually to call unto the state of Salvation by working true justifying Faith and true sanctifying Grace in them to consider the great Goodness and Mercy of God towards them and to have a care to shew themselves truely thankful unto him who hath done that for them which he hath not done for all yea which he hath done but for a few When a Benefit is both great in it self as surely Salvation is most great and also is vouchsafed but to a few this makes us to set a higher price on it and to esteem it the more What account then ought we to make of God's so great and singular Favour towards us if we finde our selves so qualified as
they are and must be that shall be saved Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven said Christ to his Disciples but to them it is not given Matth. 13.11 Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self unto us and not unto the world said Judas not Iscariot unto Christ John 14.22 Let us therefore give unto the Lord the glory due unto his Name Psal 29.2 Let us not arrogate any thing to our selves as if there were any thing more in us then in others why God should deal thus with us but let us ascribe all unto God acknowledging that all is meerly of his Free-Grace and undeserved Mercy Who maketh thee to differ and what hast thou that thou hast not received Now if thou didst receive it why doest thou glory as if thou hadst not received it 1 Cor. 4.7 By the grace of God I am that I am 1 Cor. 15.10 Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us Tit. 3.5 By grace ye are saved Ephes 2.5 And v. 8. For by grace ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God But let us also have a care to express our thankfulness by our Obedience Let us have a care to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work Giving thanks unto the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Who hath translated us from the power of darkness into the kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1.10 12 13. SERM. 3 SERM. III. Psal 15.1 Lord Who shall abide in thy Tabernacle Who shall dwell in thy holy Hill THese words do yet hold out unto us another Doctrine Doct. namely this That it is a thing which doth mainly concern every one to know and consider how he must be qualified that he may be saved For this end David here makes this enquiry Lord who shall abide in thy tabernacle c. He doth it not out of curiosity and presumption as seeking to know particularly the persons that shall be saved but out of a good and godly care that he hath both of himself and others he asks how they must be qualified and what manner of persons they must be that shall enjoy Salvation And see how sollicitous he is how he ingeminates the Interrogation Who shall who shall Thus also Psal 24.3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord and who shall stand in his holy place And Psal 27.4 One thing saith he have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his temple This was it that our Saviour commended Mary for when Martha complained of her because she sate at our Saviour's Feet to hear his Words and did not joyn with her in making preparation for Christ's bodily Entertainment Martha Martha said he unto her thou art careful and troubled about many things But one thing is needful and Mary hath chosen the better part which shall not be taken away from her Luke 10 41 42. This is that which our Saviour teacheth and requireth when he saith First seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness Mat. 6.33 There is great reason for it why it should be so For 1. Salvation is a thing most precious Reasons why all ought chiefly to look afâ—er Salvation and worthy to be regarded How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation Heb. 2.3 It is a great exceeding great Salvation and therefore by no means to be neglected but by all means to be sought after Though a man have all yet if he want Salvation what is he the better What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul Mat. 16.26 All that the World can afford a man cannot give him full content but still one thing or other will be wanting and even of that which he hath in greatest abundance he will still be desiring more and will not be satiâ—fied with that which he hath already Though Ahab had a Kingdom Unus Pelleo inveni non sufficit orbis Juv. Omnis mihi copia quae Deus mâ—us non est Egestas est Aug. Confes l. 13 c. 8. yet it would not satisfie him because he could not have Naboth's Vineyard 1 King 21. Though Haman were in the highest honour that the Great Monarch Ahasuerus could advance him to yet all would not suffice because Mordecai did not bow unto him Esth 5.11 12 13. He that loveth silver saith Solomon shall not be satisfied with silver nor he that loveth abundance with encrease Eccles 5.10 So is it in respect of all worldly things whatsoever Ratio vanitatis verissima haec est vanitas est quod nec confert plenitudinem continenti nec fulcimentum innitenti nec fructum laboranti Parif 2. part de Universo cap. 25. For as he also telleth us All is vanity Eccles 1.2 therefore it cannot fill it cannot satisfie But Salvation will fill the Soul and satisfie the desire of it When I awake I shall be satisfied with thy likeness saith David unto God Psal 17.15 So it must needs be for there is fulness of joy and pleasure for evermore Psal 16.11 Delight thy self in the Lord saith he and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart Psal 37.4 The Godly even in this life many times have unspeakable joy through the sense of God's Love and the assurance of Salvation Whom having not seen ye love Et aliquando intromittis me in affectum multum inusitatum intro sus ad nescio quam dulcedinem quae si perficiatur in me nescio quid erit quod vita ista non erit Aug. Confes l. 10 c. 40. in whom though now you see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory receiving the end of your faith the salvation of your souls 1 Pet. 1.8 9. David having lost the sense of this joy prays for the restoring of it Restore unto me saith he unto God the joy of thy salvation Psal 51.12 How much greater and more unspeakable is that joy which the Saints have in Heaven where they actually possess Salvation and have the full fruition of it Again if the things of this World could satisfie for the present yet they are transitory and fading The fashion of the world passeth away 1 Cor. 7.31 The world passeth away and the lust thereof 1 John 2.17 But Salvation is durable and eternal My salvation shall be for ever saith God Isa 51.6 Christ is the Author of eternal salvation to all that obey him Heb. 5.9 Every man that striveth for mastery is temperate in all things Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown but we an incorruptible 1 Cor. 9.25 We look not at the things which are seen
none iniquity that is they doe not give themselves up to the practice if any iniquity Psal 119.3 they walke in Gods wayes as there it followes immediately after 2. Their sinnes would be more troublesome and grievous unto them then they are Mine iniquities are gone over mine head and are a heavy burthen too heavy for me to beare Psal 38.4 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Thus did David and Paul complaine which shewes that their sinnes were indeed of infirmity but so are not theirs who rejoyce to doe evil Prov. 2.14 Who make a mocke of sin Prov. 14.9 Such as these doe not sin of infirmity but of presumption 4. Some build upon this that they performe holy duties they heare pray c. But the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord Prov. 15.8 to wit because as it followes vers 9. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. The Prophet Malachi speaking of Christ saith He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and he shall purifie the sonnes of Levi and purge them as gold and silver that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness Then shall the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord c. Mal. 3.3 4. Then that is when they that offer them are made pure If a man therefore purge himselfe from these he shall be a vessel unto honour sanctified and meet for the masters use and prepared unto every good worke 2 Tim. 2.21 A man of any quality cannot endure to be served in an uncleane vessel so much lesse can God endure that service which proceeds from the wicked and ungodly See Isai 1.11 17. and 66.3 This David considered and therefore he said I will wash mine hands in innocency and so will I compasse thine altar O Lord Psal 26.6 These and other such like grounds many have to build their hopes of heaven and heavenly happiness upon but they are false grounds and will deceive them false I say either simply in themselves or at least as they build upon them Let us then be provoked and stirred up to worke righteousness Let us consider Motives to stirre up to worke righteousness 1. That this is pleasing unto God The righteous Lord loveth righteousness Psal 11.7 And because he loveth it therefore also we shall love and practice it Ye that love the Lord hate evil Psal 97.10 Hate the evill and love the good Amos 5.15 Abhorre that which is evil and cleave to that which is good Rom. 12.9 2. That this is profitable to our selves Indeed God loves righteousness and hates iniquity but our righteousness cannot profit him nor our iniquity doe him any prejudice If thou sinnest what doest thou against him or if thy transgressions be multiplied what doest thou unto him If thou be righteous what givest thou him or what receiveth he of thine hand Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art and thy righteousness may profit the son of man Job 35.6 7 8. But God can neither be hurt by the one nor profited by the other Now if we be righteous we our selves shall have the benefit of it if we be unrighteous we our selves shall suffer for it If thou beest wise saith Solomon thou shalt be wise for thy selfe but if thou scornest thou alone shall beare it Prov. 9.12 Let us take heede therefore of being like Balaam who loved the wages of unrighteousness 2 Pet. 2.15 Yet he could say Let me die the death of the righteous and let my latter end be like his Num. 23.10 Let us live the life of the righteous if we would die the death of the righteous let us worke the workes of righteousness if we would obtaine the crowne of righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 â—he wicked worketh a deceitfull worke but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward Prov. 11.18 Yea if we would enjoy the good things of this live let us have a care to worke righteousness For godliness is profitable unto all things having the promise both of the life that now is and also of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 First seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousness and all these outward and earthly things shall be added unto you so farre forth as God sees them needful and expedient for you Mat. 6.33 Whether the righteous have little or much of these outward things they have Gods blessing with it which is more then all besides and without which all is nothing This the wicked want whatsoever they have besides though the things which they have in themselves considered be blessings yet to them they are not blessings but curses Because they doe not give glorie unto the name of God therefore he doth curse their blessings Mal. 2.2 Their prosperity doth destroy them Prov. 1.32 Their table is made a snare unto them and that which should have been for their welfare is unto them an occasion of ruine Psal 69.22 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked but he blesseth the habitation of the just Prov. 3.33 Therefore a little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked Psal 37.16 Quest But may some say what must we doe that we may work righteousness Answ I answer 1. We must be in Christ we must be ingrafted into him by faith For of his fulness we must all receive grace for grace John 1.16 But without him or as the margent hath it severed from him we can doe nothing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 15.5 Therefore our prime and principal worke must be to lay hold on Christ that he may dwell in our hearts by faith Means whereby to worke righteousness Ephes 3.17 When the Jewes asked our Saviour saying What shall we doe that we may worke the workes of God He answered This is the worke of God that ye beleeve in him whom he hath sent John 6.28 29. This is that worke without which no worke can be truely good and pleasing in the sight of God 2. We must acquaint our selves with the word of God and take heede unto it as to a light shining in a darke place 2 Pet. 1.19 Thy word saith David unto God is a lampe unto my feete and a light unto my paths Psal 119.105 Wherewithal saith he shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heede thereto according to thy word vers 9. And againe Order my steps in thy word and let none iniquity have dominion over me vers 133. Gods will is the rule of righteousness Be ye not unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is Ephes 5.17 Be not conformed to the world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minde that ye may prove what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God It is Gods revealed will to which we must give heede see Deut. 29.29 Rom. 12.2 Now Gods word is that by
rather then others that so the glory of mans salvation may the better appear to be due not unto man but unto God For you see your calling brethren that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty And base things of the world and things despised and things that are not hath God chosen to bring to nought things that are That no flesh should glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28 29. Vse 3 In the last place Let all be admonished to take heed of coming short of the common Salvation How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Heb. 2.3 If we have the means whereby to attain unto Salvation and yet neglect them either not use them at all or use them negligently what do we else but neglect salvation and are we not worthy to be without if we do neglect it Men and brethren children of the stock of Abraham said Paul to the Jews and whosoever among you feareth God to you is the word of this Salvation sent Act. 13.26 Then a little after he addes this admonition Beware therefore lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the Prophets Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish for I work a work in your days which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you vers 40 41. It is true we cannot be qualified and fitted for Salvation except God work this qualification and fitness in us It is he that must make us meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1.12 It is he that must work in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2.13 Yet nevertheless we must yea even therefore we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 God doth work in us so as that through him we must work also Acti agimus being acted by him we act and because of our selves without him we can do nothing therefore it behooves us to take heed both of sloth negligence and carelesness and also of security and presumption and self-confidence and with fear and trembling that is in all humility and with all diligence to work out our salvation 1. Therefore take heed of unbelief Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Heb. 3.12 By Christ we come unto God No man cometh to the Father saith he but by me Joh. 14.6 And by faith we come unto Christ to come unto Christ and to believe in him import one and the same thing He that cometh unto me saith Christ shall never hunger and he that believeth in me shall never thirst John 6.35 Therefore we are said to be saved through faith Ephos 2.8 And salvation is called the end of our faith 1 Pet. 1.9 2. Take heed of a false Faith Examine your selves whether you be in the faith prove your own selves 2 Cor. 13.5 See that your Faith be the Faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1.1 that is Faith unfained 1 Tim. 1.5 Faith that worketh through love Gal. 5.6 As many as walk according to this rule peace shall be upon them and mercy c. Gal. 6.16 SERM. XXX SERM. 30 Psal 15.5 He that doth these things shall never be moved HAving done with the Agent He that and the observation arising from thence I come now to the Act doth It is not said He that heareth these things or knoweth these things or professeth these things or assenteth to these things but He that doth these things Hence we may observe Doct. That it is not hearing or knowing or professing of duty or assenting to it but the doing of it that will bring a man unto salvation 1. It is not the hearing that will do it Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it that is observe and obey it Luk. 11.28 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock And the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand And the rain descended and the floods came and the windes blew and beat upon that house and it fell and great was the fall of it Mat. 7.24 52 26 27. But be ye doers of the word and not hearers onely deceiving your own selves For if any man be a hearer of the word and not adoer he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass For he beholdeth himself and goeth his way and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed Jam. 1.22 23 24 25. Nor will knowledge serve the turn Thou Solomon my son said David unto him know thou the God of thy father and not onely know him but also serve him c. 1 Chro. 28.9 If ye know these things said Christ to his disciples happy are you if yee do them Joh. 13.17 3. Neither is profession sufficient They profess that they know God but in their works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and to every good worke reprobate Tit. 1.16 Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven Many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy Name have cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful works And then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity Mat. 7.21.22 23. Then shall ye begin to say We have eaten and drunken in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets But he shall say I tell you I know not whence you are depart from me all ye workers of iniquity Luk. 13.26 27. 4. Nor is it enough to assent unto the truth such a Faith as is not active and operative shewing forth it self by good works is not availiable unto salvation What doth it profit my brethren if a man say he hath faith and have not works can faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that faith to wit which is without works save him Jam. 2.14 Faith if it have not works is dead being alone vers 17. Such a faith is no better then the faith of devils who believe and tremble vers 19. He is a vain man that relies on such a Faith vers 20.