626 Book VI. 1Lroliing unto 'Jjdus. dences; I know works without faith are but glillering tins, and yet ~<-orks done in faith are figns, and fore-runners of eternal glory; I know that if all the excellencies of all the moralities of alithe men in t~le world were put t?gcrher, thcfe could never reach glory, , l'\,mb.xo. 24• and yet a e~tp of cold waterg.ven to one ofChrijl s ltttle ones m the name of a Difciple of Chrift Jb~ll not loft its reward. Ifa Chrillian doubt,, how !hould I know that my works are of a rrght !lamp. Ianfwer, l. Look atthe prmcrple, rs there not fomething above nature? do I no_t find fome new light let out by God, that lhews a glory, and excellen– cy, and beauty rn good works? is there not fomething in me that makes the fame to be fweet, orpleafant, oragrceablctome? 2. Look atcheend; natural works have no better ~nd than felf and creatnre-refpects ; but in my works is there no aim at fame– thing htgher than felf? what ever I do, is not this in mine eye, that all I do may tend to the honour and glory of God? I had need take heed of vain-glory, and fdf-applaufe. the godly at the day of judgment. do not ~now the good works they did; if my aim b~ at God I /hall forget my felf. as rf all I drd were fwallowed up in God. 3. Look at the manner of my doing works: Vz..z..~h had a good intention, but his workwas not good, becaufe th_e manner was not good; are my works according to the rule? do they carry a c_onform11y to the Law of God? Let everyman try hu own work_ in this : 0 my foul, brmg thy works to the touch-llone, the Scnpture, the Rule of goodnefs, is not all thy gold then difcovered to be drofs? the Scripture doth not oncly tdl of works, but tells us the manner of performing them; as for intlance, if rightly done, tltey mull be done in zeal, in fervency, in activity; thus God's people are called a peculiar people, z.ealollf of go•d work_,, a formal, cutlomary, fuperficial performance of holy works fails in the manner of performing them: what, are my works performed in :ieal? is there not too much of coldnefs, emptinefs, formality in all I do ? why, thus may I know whether my works are of a right ftamp ; certainly all works, duties, actings, which are not done by a gracious heart, through a gracious power, to agracious end, in a graciQus manner, are fins, and not fucb works as /hall have the rewards of Heaven. Some may object, this is an hard faying, who then lhall be faved ? I anfwer, I. By conceffion, very few; What is the wholecompany of Chrijlians, beftd« avery few ( faid Salvian) but aftnk..of vim? are they onely good works which are thus and thus qualified ? it were enough to make us-all fear all rhe works that ever we have done. But fecondly, here's all our hope, that in a Go(pcl-way Chriftlooks at our good works in the truth of them, and not in the Rom. 7 • 1 a, 19 • perfection of mem; no man &oes beyond Paul, w_ho when he wo~tld do f,ood, f•und evil prefen~ with him : Alas, ther~ ~s a p~rpetual oppofiuon and con~Ict betwiXt the flelh and tbefptm, fo tbatthe moll fprmual man cannot do the good thrngs he would do; and yet we mull not conclude, that nothing is good in us, becauft:not perfectly good. Sin– cerity and truth in the inward pans, m~y in this cafe bold up our beans fro111 linking; as he in the Gofpcl cried, I believe, Lord help my uRbelief; fo if we can but fay, I da good warks, Lord help me in the conclirrence af all needful cirmmjlances, here will be our evidence that <?Ur hopes are found , and that Chrift will fentence us to eter– nal life. Come ye bleffed, &c. and why fo ? for l WM an hung red, and ye g11ve me meat, .&c. 5· If we believe in Chrifl, then /hall we live with Chrift ; if we come to him and receive him by faith, then will he comeagain,<f'dreceive usto himftlf, thllt where he is, there we may be dlfo. Good works are good evidences, but of all works thofe of the Gofpel are clear<!ft evidences, and have--clear~ft promifes; come then, let us try our obedience to the Commandments of faitb, as well as life; let us try our fubmiffion to the Lord by believing, as well as doing. Surely the greateft work of God that ever any creature did, it is this Gofpel-work, when it apprehends its own unworthinefs, and ventures it felf and its efiate upon the righteoufnefs of I efus Chrifl: if we were able to perform afull, exact, and accurate obedience to every particular of the r;toral Law, it were not fo great a work, nor fo acceptab_le to G?d, nor fhould b~ fo glor~o~/ly reward– ed in Heaven, as this one work of behevrng rn Ius Son Jefus Chnll. This •s the work tO which in exprefs terms falvation, Heaven, and glory is promifed ;_He that believeth John 3· 36 ' on the Son bath everlajling life ; and he that hcarcth my words, 4nd be!.eveth on h1m that fent me, hath cverl~fling life, and Jb•ll n.r come into condemnation; bm he bath paffed fr•m John 5· 24. death to lifeA nd this isrhewil( of him that fent me, that every one that feeth the S011, John 6. 40. John zo. 3'· Mls 16. 3'· andbelieveth on him may have everlafling life-· And thefe things arc Wrtttcn thatye msgkt believethat Jc{Ns u Chrift theSon ofGod, and that believing ye might have life thro~<gh hss name- Believe 011 the Lord 'jefus Chriff, arul thou jhalt /le faved- And if rim<]halt ' 0 nfefs
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