Burgess - Houston-Packer Collection BT715 .B85 1652

306 ofGoodWorks. Sacr.Vie isto mingle heaven and earth , yea heavenand hell together : either therefore lay alidethe nameof aChrifien, or the worksofan Heathen, and one who knoweth not God. Quidinmeoefiie, non srei ? What doyou who are not Gods,ingods vine. yard ? Why are you that are Goats, among Chrifts Cheep? Oh confider what re- proachye are to theholy nameof Chrift. 3, Thirdly , Confider the7itimwhich theScripturegivetk evil works,and thofetitles wiltiemonfìrate thenature of them. They arecalled Theworks of the Dive', What can be amore horrid aggravationthento fay,Thylufls,thy ungodlinefe,they are of thy felf, and they areof the Divel too? It is the Divel in thee , andby thee, who provokes thee to such waies. Thus our Saviour bid Peter, Get theebehinde meSa- tan,get thee bebinde me :Dive!, Mat. 16. x 3. Why ? was Peter a Divel? No, but becaufewhat hedid came by theDivels infligation and temptation ; therefore he ufeth that phrafe. Thus Peterfaith to Ananias and Sapbira, Wby hath Saran filled thy heart,to lye again! the holy ghofl ?Aí1.5.3. and the Jewes or Pharifees are,faid to be oftheir Father theDivel,for hiswork they do:andChrilt is laid to come into the world to destroy the works ofthe Divel. Oh then remember thy felt, by whom, and from whom is it that thou art fo prophane and ungodly? Is it not from the Divel ? Doth not that unclean fpirit ruling in thee,provokethee to all uncleanneffe? Thou wouldfljudge it anuncharitable cen(ure tobe called as Simon Magus was, Thonchild ofthe Divel; but yet every man living fn that ungodly and unholyway, is fo. Neither doth this excufe them, as if they were juflified, and all the blame to be laidon theDivel, no, for he works uponthy corrupt difpofition within. If thou wert not fiat tempted by thy own tuft, the divel could not be a tempter to thee : If thou wert not Itubble, hisfiery darts would not enflame thee. Confider then all this,you who wallow in all mire and filthoffin.lfthe Divels were toall vifibly up- on the earth, and had bodily members to workwithall , they would do as thou dolt : And further alto remember that hewho thus enticed' thee to all tin, will be a tormenter afterwardsunto thee,and will be an accuser unto God againfl thee , for that whichhe hathexcufed unto thee; throw them then away, they are theDi- vels Works. q, Fourthly, Again they are theworks ofdoirknefs .ugoodwor(s arethe work, ofthe light. A wickedman is indarkneffe, andknoweth not whither he gosh. They are works ofDarknefs, Ephef. 5. r n. partly becaufe it is for want of light and know. ledge that they are committed. Ifthou didflknow what the Scripture commands, ifthou didfl know the willof God, and thehappineffe promised to the contrary thou doll, thouwouldil never live as thoubat. Again they are works ofdarknefs, becaufe committed without fear and lhame, men do not think God feerh them, that therevengefuleye of God is upon them. Oh the horror and confalon that wouldbe on their fouls ifthis were attended to. And hilly they are works of darkneffe, becaufethey will be rewarded withutter darkneffe. Thy fin and thy , u- nifhment will be proportionable. Thou loved!t darkeneffe, and therefore thou (halt be thrown into utter darkneffe. Oh that wicked and ungodly men fhould be no more amazed at their dreadfull elate. In thermal place they are 'called the works ofthe fle/h,asgood work; the works of the fÿirie, Ga1.5. Of the flelh,bc cause they come wholly fromus corrupt and carnal; there is nothingof the Spirit of God in them : they are fparks from that fire and brimilone in thy bowels : they are fo many drops of poyfon ventedfrom thy venemous nature : and as t1t.y are than works of thefielh,fo theywork corruptionas the fiefh it self is corrupti- ble. They that fowto thefiefb,fhalIofthefiefh reapconniption, Gal. 6.8. Again they arevainworks, as the fcripture calls them, r Pet. r.r 8.Theyare empty of that they promise: thou lookefe forpleasure, profit, advantageby them, but theybring the clean contrary: they havea glittering skin,bur a fting in the tail ofrhem.With What curfes& indignation wilt thoubid thembegone,which now thou doll fo embrace? All that momentany pleature,What is becomeof it? What is that drop ofbony to that Ocean ofGall thou mutt for ever drink in hell t %Jfe a.

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