458 WHAT LIGHT MUST mankind which tendeth to the approving of the good works of Christians, and to their glorifying God thereupon. 7. God is glorified even by common men, when they approve of the glory of holiness in believers: it is not only by saints that God is glorified. 8. As contrary as holiness is to corrupted nature, there is such resplendent goodness in true Christians' works, 'which common men may glorify God for; and so somewhat in them, and in Chris- tianity, which bath such agreeableness as may tend to further good. 9. The excellency and splendor of the good works of Chris- tians. especially teachers, is a grand means, ordained by God him- self, for the conviction of the world, and the glorifying of God. But the resolving the question, What the splendor of these works must be, is my present undertaken task. God is not glorified by our adding to him, but by our receiving from him ; not by our making him greater, or better, or happier than he is, but by owning slim, loving him, and declaring him as he is, that we and others may thereby be wise,, and good, and happy. He is bis own glory and ours ; and by his own light only we must know both him and all things. We are not called, to bring our candle to show the world that there is a sun, but topersuade them into its light, to open the windows and curtains, to disperse the clouds, and to open the eyes of blinded sinners. I. The way of doing this, and glorifying God, is in the order following 1. The :first thing that our works must 'show is their own good- ness : they can never prove the cause good until it is clear that they are good themselves ; therefore, doubtless, Christ here intend- eth that we must abound especially in those good works which the world is capable of knowing to be good, and not only in those which none but Christians themselves 'approve. If believers and unbelievers agreed in no common principles, we were not capable of preaching to unbelievers, nor convincing them, nor of conversing with them. There are many excellent things which nature Both approve, and which both parties are agreed to be good ; by the advantage of these, as granted principles, we must convince them of the conclusions which they yet deny ; and not as the scandalous Christian, so absurdly affect singularity, as to make light of all good which is taken for good by unbelievers, and to seek for emi- nency in nothing but what the world thinks evil: There is a glory in some good works; which all do honor, and which manifesteth itself. 2. And then the goodness of the work doth manifest the good-
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