the name of his elder brother and in his clothing so we putting on the Lord Iesus Christ Phil. 3.9 may be found in him not hauing our owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ and may say with the Church or seede which the Lord hath blessed I will greatly reioyce in the Lord Isa 61.10 my soule shall be ioyfull in my God for he hath clothed me with the garments of saluation he hath couered me with the robe of righteousnesse as a bridegroome decketh himselfe with ornaments and as a bride adorneth her selfe with iewels Now concerning faith we do not teach nor beleeue that we are iustified or saued for our faith or the worthinesse of it but we cleaue to the word and beleeue as therein we are taught namely Gal. 3.11 The iust shall liue by his faith We are iustified by faith haue peace with God Rom. 5.1 Gal. 3.26 We are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus To him that worketh not Rom. 4.5 but beleeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly his faith is COVNTED to him for righteousnesse And that comfortable bill of acquittance Act. 13.38 Be it knowne vnto you men and brethren that through this man is preached vnto you forgiuenesse of sinnes and from all things from which ye could not be iustified by the law of Moses by him euery one that beleeueth is iustified Vnderstand for a fuller clearenesse in this point that like as it is said of Timothie continuing in holinesse and sound doctrine 1. Tim. 4.6 In doing this thou shall saue thy selfe and them that heare thee It is not meant that Timothie or any Minister doth saue otherwise then as instruments Who is Paul 1. Cor. 3.5 or who is Apollos but Ministers by whom ye beleeued So though no other faith iustifieth but that which worketh by loue the same neither iustifying together with loue nor faith hauing his efficacie from loue yet faith which saueth Eph. 2.8 Ye are saued by grace through faith and not of your selues it is the gift of God saueth not as it is a worke or as it worketh by loue but as it receiueth Christ Iohn 1.11 that in him we may be righteous Euen as fire giueth comfort to the frozen and be nummed with cold not by the light thereof but by the heate of it As God giueth his Sonne vnto vs and in him eternall life so giueth he also to euery of his faith to be as a hand to receiue the gift so that they which receiue abundance of grace Rom. 5.17 and of the gift of righteousnesse shal reigne in life by one Iesus Christ It is true that true faith is neuer alone that is it is not fruitlesse barren or idle as that in Hypocrites but it is effectuall or there is a worke of faith 1. Thes 1.3 and labour of loue Yet it alone and no other grace iustifieth as to them that will be wise according to the word it is very manifest Gal. 2.16 Knowing that a man is not iustified by the workes of the Law but by the faith of Iesus Christ euen we haue beleeued in Iesus Christ that we might be iustified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be iustified This needeth no further declaration but is as cleare as that short speech of Christ to the same effect Mar. 5.36 Onely beleeue And that also Luke 8.50 Feare not beleeue onely and she shall be made whole And this doctrine maintaineth Christs honour and extolleth his bountie who giueth to the thirstie of the fountaine of the water of life freely Reu. 21.6 And it giueth to the broken in heart and sorrowfull soule much and sound comfort in greatest conflicts and terrors of conscience and when for sinne Satan would draw vs to despaire Let vs then cheare vp our hearts refresh our fainting spirits with the holy harmonie of the Apostles all of thē so sweetly sounding out this learning of our blessednesse by faith in Iesus Christ Saint Iude thus exhorteth Iude 21. Build vp your selues on your most holy faith looking for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ vnto eternall life Iames requireth we aske in faith Iam. 1.6 nothing wauering Iohn assureth vs that it is the commandement 1. Ioh. 3.23 that we should beleeue on the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ Paul setteth downe very briefly the summe of the Gospell Beleeue in the Lord Iesus Christ Act. 16.31 and thou shalt be saued Peter in a great assembly taught Act. 15.9 that God put no difference betweene them and vs after that by faith he had purged their hearts Why tempt ye God to lay a yoke on the disciples necks which neither our fathers nor we are able to beare but we beleeue through the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ to be saued euen as they do Yea To him giue all the Prophets witnesse Act. 10.43 that through his Name whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall receiue remission of sinnes A fourth obiection If good works do not answer the righteousnesse of Gods Law nor iustifie nor satisfie nor merite before God it may seeme they are vile in your eyes or at least you make small account of them and you set a doore wide open to carnall liberty and all licentiousnesse of liuing O be it farre from all that professe Christianitie so to thinke or speake for good workes are a maine part of that worship of God which he commandeth and will call vs to account for they are the end of our Election assurances of our Calling companions of our Iustification the practise of Sanctification forerunners of Glorification the effects of grace the life of Religion the beauty of Christianitie witnesses of faith nurses of hope fruites of loue euidences of thankfulnesse our sacrifice to God our acceptance with men the difference betweene Saints and reprobates the truth of repentance a turning from dead workes preseruatiues from scandals a lasting debt and dutie they adde honour to our profession peace to our consciences further our reckning they are seales of saluation the way to the kingdome follow vs to Gods tribunall they are our walking in the waies of God and our blamelesse conuersation without which we are as fruitlesse trees fitted for the fire and hypocrites that without all helpe shall be cast into hell for as the word of truth teacheth Heb. 12.14 Without holinesse no man shall see the Lord. Take knowledge then and be minded that we beleeue and teach both a necessitie of good works and sundry excellent vses of them A necessitie of good works we do beleeue First because of Gods commandement Psal 119.4 Thou hast commanded that we should keepe thy precepts diligently Leu. 19.2 Be ye holy for I am holy This is the will of God 1. Thes 4.3 euen your
sanctification Secondly it is Gods ordination We are his wormāship Eph. 2 10. created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes which God hath before ordained that we should walke in them Thirdly there is a necessity of the doing and presence of good workes for the manifestation of the righteous iudgments of God when he will come to be glorified in his Saints and crowne his owne works in them Mat. 25.35 Reu. 22.12 For he will iudge all men according to their deeds And giue to euery man as his worke shall be Fourthly a necessity is imposed vppon vs because we are debters as it is said Luk. 17.10 We haue done what was our dutie to do Rom. 8.12 And Paul saith Ye are debters but not to the flesh but to God our Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier Euer thinke we on it Tit. 2.14 that Iesus Christ gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purifie vs to himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes The obligation and bond of our debt is our Baptisme We are buried with him by Baptisme into death Rom. 6.4 that like as Christ was raised vp from the dead by the glorie of the Father so we should walke in newnesse of life Fiftly because there is no other way to eternall blessednesse but by the practise of holinesse For though good workes cannot be the cause of saluation but onely Iesus Christ as it is said Isa 49.6 I will giue thee for a light of the Gentiles that thou maist be my saluation vnto the end of the world yet are they the way and path vnto life and blessednesse Pro. 12.28 In the way of righteousnesse is life and in the path thereof there is no death Ye haue your fruite in holinesse Rom. 6.22 and the end euerlasting life The vses of good works are many and great in regard of God our selues others and our holy profession First God is glorified by our good workes which are being rightly performed a speciall part of his holy worship and seruice Ioh. 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bring forth much fruite His grace is manifested by enabling vs vnto a measure of obedience Eze. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes and ye shall keepe my iudgements and do them God is honoured and praised for them and by them They glorified God for me Gal. 1.23 1. Pet. 2.9 Ye are a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him which hath called you out of darknesse into his maruellous light 1. Pet. 4.11 Do it as of the abilitie which God giueth that God in all things may be glorified through Iesus Christ As a father delighteth in a dutifull sonne so God delighteth in all those that beare his image imitate his holy nature that take pleasure in well doing Ioh. 4.34 whose meate and drinke it is to do their fathers will Secondly by our blamelesse and good conuersation we become followers of the example of Christ of his Saints Ioh. 13.15 I haue giuen you an example that ye should do as I haue done to you As Christ forgaue you Colos 3.13 so also do ye Take the Prophets who haue spoken in the name of the Lord Iam. 5.10 for an example of suffering affliction and of patience Thirdly by our holy life and obedience to God we gaine assurance that God hath chosen vs to be heires of saluation 2. Pet. 1.10 Giue diligence that ye make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things ye shall neuer fall If we loue in deed and truth We know we are of the truth 1. Ioh. 3.19 and shall assure our hearts before him Thus the truth of faith is knowne for faith that hath no works is dead Gal. 5.6 being alone Neither Circumcision nor vncircumcision auaileth any thing but faith which worketh by loue Thus also is the soundnesse of repentance knowne Act. 26.20 I shewed to them that they should repent and turne to God and do works meete for repentance Fourthly by carefulnesse of well performing our dutie we are heartned to looke for the performance of Gods free promises made vnto vs. So Moses had respect vnto the recompence of the reward Heb. 11.26 Godlinesse hauing the promises of this life 1. Tim. 4.8 and that which is to come We may looke for obtaine if God see it expedient for vs long life a blessed posterity peace plentie ioy of heart preseruation in the euill day and whatsoeuer good is 1. Cor. 15.58 Be ye stedfast vnmoueable alwaies abounding in the worke of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vaine in the Lord. Gal. 6.9 Let vs not be wearie of well-doing for in due time we shall reape if we faint not Know that whatsoeuer good thing any man doth the same he shal receiue of the Lord. Fiftly they that liue righteously escape curses and calamities when the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience 2. Pet. 2.5 For when God spared not the old world he saued Noah the eight person a preacher of righteousnesse God said he would spare Sodome and Gomorha Gen. 18.32 Isa 65.14 for ten sake that were righteous Behold my seruants shall sing for ioy of heart but ye shall crie for sorrow of heart and shall houle for vexation of spirit Sixtly they that are of vpright conuersation and are studious to abound in good workes shall auoid offences Giue none offence 1. Cor. 10.32 neither to the Iewes nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God Mat. 18.7 2. Cor. 6.3 For wo vnto the world because of offences Giuing none offence in any thing that the Ministerie be not blamed Seuenthly by our good deeds we win others to God or make way and prepare some to conuersion I am made all things to all men 1. Cor. 9.22 that I might by all meanes saue some Haue your conuersation honest among the Gentiles 1. Pet. 2.12 that whereas they speake against you as euill doers they may by your good workes which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation Rom. 11.14 I magnifie mine office if by any meanes I may prouoke to emulation them which are my flesh and might saue some of them 1. Pet. 3.1 Ye wiues be in subiection to your husbands that if any obey not the word they also may without the word be wonne by the conuersation of the wiues Eightly righteous behauiour stoppeth the mouthes of the aduersaries that they cannot speake ill of vs. So the loyall and iust cariage of Dauid towards Saul ioyned with loue and meeknesse preuailed so far that he made this acknowledgment Thou art more iust then I. 1. Sam. 24.17 1. Pet. 2.15 So is the will of God that with well doing ye may put to silence the
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
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