$ ec T. VI. of Good works. 97 dple of its motion, for its felf fake, and notby accident : And thus natural moti- onsdiffer from violent, whichare from a principle without, and by accident. Oh its a matter worthy of all your confideration, to attend to the principle of your motions inholythings, whether itbe natural orviolent. Youmay read of eilhabr good works in fòme fenfe , he prayed, and humbled himfelf, but he was not created to them, becaufethey were from a violent principlewithout , the judgements of God; not a naturalprinciple within, which is a fandified and renewedheart: Yea, if you look upon yadat, youmay fee in forne refpedsalïo his good works c there washis contrition, his confef&on, and his farisfadion, but he was not created to thefe good works, becaufe extracted by Ravifh horror ofconfcience , not fwertly enclined thereunto by faith in God, and loveofhim. There is a great difference be- tween the nudes care ofthe child, and the mothers : The former doch it becaufe hired, and betrufled with it, but the latter from an inward florgy , and maternal bowels : So then is it thus with thee? doffthou pray, hear, live in all Godlinefs, as one that iscreated thereunto ? One who bath a free voluntary inclination ? in whichrefped the lawofGod is Paid tobe written in their inward parts. Secondly , 7o becreatedto goodworks , implieth not only an inclination , but a 26 readinefe,or preparednefe,which re a further qualification. The firebath aninclination to afcend upwards , but yetfomethingmay violently keep it down, that it cannot afcend actually : Inclination COgood worksimplieth the remote power, but rea- dinefs fuppofeth the proxime and immediate power. Godsownpeople whohave the feed of Grace in them,yet how unprepared , and unready many times to that which is good 1 Therefore to watch and to be ready, is aduty fo often preffed ; Be ready toevery goodWork and prepared to everygoad work: To this is oppofite, dulnefs, Iluggifhnefs, Iiftlefneffe,_ and all kind of wearifomnefs in the fervice of.God. But chis fhould quicken us up , That weare created to Godlinefs: There- fore the heart (horrid alwaies be(wept and ready dreffed for Chrift to lodge in you mull have lamps andoyl ; commonly fin furprifethus, becaufe we are not pre- paredfor Godlinefs:Thus Chrift knocked,defirous to come in,but the,Churchwas unwilling, andfo deprived her fellofmuchcomfort. Prayer is the Keyofheaven, but if tufty it will not open ; and thus it is of all duties, ifthy heart benot prepa- red for them. Thirdly, The phra(e, createdtogoodworks, dothdenote than to betheprincipaland 3; mainend. God bath appointedevery thing to anend, which holds notonely in mo- ral agents, but allonatural : Hence is that rule, Opera naturefont opera inte/ligen- tie , The works ofnature are the works of reafonand underftanding , becaufe it ordereth, and wifelydiredeth them toan end. Now as other creatures have their ends, fo this new creature bath its, which is to be wholly imployed in thofe works that are godly. This is his errand, his bufinefs and employment. The Apoflles ex- preffion is remarkable,Tit. 3. 8, 9. 7hir fie afaithfulfaying, and which thou art toaffirm confiantly, What is that? That chafe who believe be careful to maintain goodworki : Two Greek wordsare obfervable tpor dCmm, that it be their care and Rudy, and all their wifedome , and then oe9fseI*e a to maintain, or rather tobe an example, and a prefiriese. The Apofle his(cope is,that all Chriftians fhould make their bodes and families afcbool- houfe,as it were,ofa godly life,that therefhould be no prophanenefs,no filthy tufts, no fcandals. That which the Apoflle (peaks to Timotby, belongs toall, weuo eon , to exercife himfelfuntoGodlinefs; ashe that is to run in a race, givethhimfelfe wholly to that: fo that hell isnot more oppefiteto heaven, then their lives are to this new creature, who live in aconfiant wayofim- piety and manifcftwickednefs.The fruits ofthefefh aremanifeft,faith the Apouile, Every man that liveth in obedience thereunto,may prefencly difcern he is not a new creature. Ohthen, when thouart overtaken with any evil ungodly way,fay,Is this thegood workGod createdme unto ? Is this the Godlyadios he made me for? Goddidnot make thee to eat and drink, much lef(e to riot and revel ft,but to walk holily, righteoully, and foberly ; and let the Godly when at any time unwilling, Qq and
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