566- Chap. 34. An EA:pofstion upon the 13oolZ,gfJ o s. 'Veda t, mar (i Cor: r 5. 53.) Beye ftedfafland immoveable in the work/ of the Lord, foráfinuch as yehnow-that your labour is not invaine rn the Lord ; that is, the Lord will render to every rnni his labour. Hence alto that of Solomon (Eccl t t, x . ) Caft thy bread upon the 'waters, for thou fhalt find it after many dayes. Charities done in faith as anholy offering to God, produce aPureencreafe. To give with a right heart to the poore, is the beat way of growing rich. For God will render to manaccording to that work. And as it mayincourage todoe good , fo to doe it againft all discourage- ments. Wemull not onlydoe good when the Sun fhines ; when_ it is faire weather withùs, and all men applaud us ; but though men frowne and fcorne, though ( whichSolomon reports asone of the great vanities of this world, Eccl: 4. 4.) For a right worke, a man be envied of his neighbour ; let us not hold our hand from doing good, though we are oppofedand checkt, though we are traduced and flandred, though we are mif-interpreted and have the fouleft glotfesput upon our faireft workes, though men call ourzeale madnefs and our circumfpe6t Walking hypocrifie, yea though we are perfecuted and fuffer the worft of evills, though men cart (tones at us (as theydid at Chrift for his good workes) yet lec us not be deterred from doing good. For how- foever mendeale with us, or what rendrings foever we find from the world, yet Godwill render to us both according to the r ight- nelfe of dur workedone and according to the uprightneffe ofour hearts in doingit: Let this provoke us not only todoe the Lords worke, but todoe it with muchpatience, and perfeverance, forin due time wefhall reapsifwe faint not; where there path been low- ing, there will be reaping ; and where the feed time bath been With teares, theharveft or reaping, time fhall be with joy. Secondly , This is adreadful' do&tineto evillworkers ; Some ( as the Apoftle calls the Cretians , out of their owne Prophet ) are evill beafh,flow bellyes ; and as they are íiochfull, or flowbel- lyes át doing good : fo they are very free and forward, very quicke, lively; and nimble beats' in doing evill. O how fhould evil! workers tremble at this Scripture., 7o every man will God render according to hù worke; as a cup of cold water given to a difciple, in the name of a difci le , (hall not be loft , but have a reward, and the giver fully payd for it ; (Math: to. 42. ) fo not any the leaf' evil! worke, impenitently continued in, flail be un- nilhed. Further,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=