2.98 ofGood Works. SaQT. VI, and indifpofed to that which is good, Dir up themfdves to, all chearfulncfs, hying, Ferthie end godcreatedme anew ; fir thii end Icameinto the world, How can I . fiegleét the main butnefs I have tbdo ? Fourthly, It implieth confiancieandperpetuity. That which we are created unto, is notonce or twice tobe thought on, or praffifed ; but it is the conflant imploy- mept of a man. All natural aftions areconilanr ; The fire doth alwaiesattend, the Donedoth alwaies defcend:and thushe that is rightecus,dothrighteoufnefs,t john s. 29. faith the Apothle : Thisdifcovereth the hypocrifie of thole who are uncer bin, and in fome firsonely for good' actions. In time of fearand danger, then they will do good, bewail their fins, promife reformation ; but this bulrufh that hangs down itshead for a while, becaufe of fome (form falling upon it, after a fair day doth prefcntlyperk up again , Gal. 6, 9. Let us not be weary in well doing; let us Mt faintor fwoánd by any difceuragements or oppefitions,butremember a good aEtion will alwaies meet with agood reward , which grace will Crown it with. How many are almoff perfwaded ro take upa godly andholy life , but prefent- ly return to their vomit again! Fifthly , Here isuniverfality ofgood irons. The Apofile (peaks indefinitely, created togood works, and that is equivalent toanuniverfal where thematter is neceffary : He Bothnot fay, created co fomegood works, or this, and that good work, but good works in the general. Ifa man be fludicus for allthe good works of rf,e lecond Table that relatetoman, as the worksofrighteoufnefs, liberality,hu- inility,andlove,&c. if negligent in thegood works that relate to the firft Table, ofpiety, worfhipof God in Tenth and fincerity, keepinghis Sabbath, zealous for hisglory, fearing an Oath; this manis bur for fome good works, and fo not created by God, Which is univerfal. Again, if a manbe zealous for the works of piety and religion, but careleffe in the duties of juffice, equity, truth to men, ofbrotherlylove and liberality to thole that are in neceflities,as far as it is his ditty, he alto is to doubt whether hebe created to good works; for Godsgrace createth toone as well as to another. Sixthly , Itdoth not one)fuppofe its inclining andready to them, but zealeufly to purjue them. Thus they are called a peculiar people , a.ealetet of good works; zeal is an hot burning afleetion, compounded partlyofgrief,becau(e we arehindered in what we woulddo; partly changer againftthat whichoppofecla us; and partly of Vehement love, which carrieth us out to that we defire. Thus the godly aregreatly grieved, becaufeof that relique and remainder 0fcorruption which makes them not to do the good they would ;as Paulbitterly complaineth. Theyare aileangry at thofe lulls which have the greater/ power over them : And lafily, hot burning, love to theglory of God , whom they do honour, and defire to exalt continually. And as zeal breeds jealoufie, fo it doth allo in thegodly breath : Their zealto that which is holy makes them jealous, leftat any time fin fhould deceive them , or Sa- tan feduce them. Thus fob made a covenant with his eyes, andDavidfee awatch before hie mouth , and Paulkept down his 6ody,and all out of a godly jealoufie, left though they had gone fo far in the way ofholine(s, their feet at lati ihòuldbe turn- ed oútoftheway. Having thus explained thephrafe, Createdtogood works , let as confider what they are; For there is a wo to him that calls evil good,andgood evi67ouabthought he did well tobeangry : it is a great degreeto do good works, when we know what they are: And t. What works Fief}, Tholeonely aregood warks which arecommandedby Cod , and conformable good works to the rule laiddown in the Scripture, So that as the definition offin is, 7losr it it the trotnfgrejon ofthe law, thus the definition of a good work is , That it it a conformi- ty to the lawof god. The word ofGod is the Rule, the Canon; and as the Artificer candraw no good line which is not commenfurate tothe rule, fo whatfoever thou doth which is not agreeable toScripture, which is not anfwerable to that pattern,it is not good a workhow glorious foeverit bc,This is an excellent truth tobe inlift- ed
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