450 Ofthe wordofC9od. OfgoodWorks. our hands,foit ilia!' opt neede the furnace ofour vaine reafon,foritfurther triall,Pfal,i a. This wordwas given firft byGod in hisowne perfon : lecondly, by the miniftede of An. gels : chirdly,byhisferuantsthe Prophets: fourthly, by hisowne fonne,Colo(Cz,3,it was written, z.Pet. r.z i , it was infpired, a.Timoth.3.i 6. it is perfit, Prouerb.3o.6. Deut.4.2. it is plaine,Ioh.7,17.'h 'hereuntowee mutt give our diligence, bewaring that the rule of wsllworfbip. our obediencebe not our owne good intent,will, ordeuotion: nor the rebellious affe- aionsofourcorrupt nature: northat wilèdoine,inventions,dodtrinesofthecarnal! man, nor theexamples, cuftonaes,fa(hions,mannersof theworld, but onely thepure andperfit word.of God,whichis compared co a(word for the cleauing and diuidingachehard hart. Ifa fwordwill not ferue, it is compared to firefor melting, and dilfoluing of fuck, aswill not giueplace to the edge : but ifwe be fo ftonie,as fire will not doevs good,it is anham- mer tobatcer,bruife,aud crufh vsin peeces. CHAP. 74. Ó(goodvVorkes,andour obedience tohisword. T is written,Exod. a o.5.6. MofesandAaron didas theLord commanded them, and fo didthey. And the Apoftle Paul faith, that of our felues wee can doenothing. see through the Lord lefts:ireare able to doe allthings. Vpon filch like places the Papifts gather that the commandements may bekept. I anfwere, that thole words concerningMofes andAs- Numbso. .mss.'' +e'r`r) ronaretobe referred to that particular aétion of bringing thepeople out ofEgypt : for both before,andafterwefee many infirmitiesin did, yeawith what ten porall punifhments are they punifhed, that theycannot enter intothe promifedland. Thatallo that was faidofNoah,is tobe referredto themakingofthe Arke, Gen.6.z2,.Sowhen David prayeth tobeheard according tohis rigbeeoufneffe,itisin rrfpe& ofthat caufe which hehadin hand, forthewhich his enemies did perfecute him. Agame, the children of God from time to timehaue fallen into great Pinnes; asNoah, Abraham, Lot,and Dauid,whofeexamples weought to lay vp in our liarts,tokeep vsfrom delpayre, when wefreleinfirmities in vs. a Nothing is fo auaileabletoobedience,as the due confideration ofGods ordinance. Obedience. 3 The obedience ofGod is as achainetotie vp allthe creaturesofGod from our hurt, and as a thing to muzzle their mouthes that they cannot bitevs. Againe,difobedience breaketh the chaiue,and openeth the mouthes ofall thingstoourdelaruóaion. Good mooks. 4 Ingood works wemuff not onely bewrought vponas patients,but workasagents. rIescOigneoof There bethree fpecialt fignesofgoodworkes firlt,a good workernuft haueit foundation good works, in the word, for a good worke is grounded ona good word, and eueryplant,that is not r.VVord. planted inGodhis Eden, (hall beplucked vp. In vaine weeworfhip the Lord,with our ownetraditions,whatfoeuer thou docft, doeit, becaufe God commandeth thee. Nowbe- caufe wicked men may doegood tbing's,as facrifice,hearetheword,pray, build houles,vfe a.Fai:b. hofpitalitie,&aweemutt next feewhether thefebeapplesof thetree of faithorno,which only purifieth theh eart,A&t.i;.and euen makestheaftionspwre. Kainkneeled, at theal- " tar,Habel kneelethattlie altar,both facrifice,bothobey thecommandements in both the " Cameworke according tothe fame word : but the one offersin faith, theother not. Chore " offered hisfacrifice,Aaron offers hisfacrifice,the fame worke, butnot the fame faith. Efeu " heeling the blefing wept,PeterfeelingCliriftwept : here are teares alike, but notin truth " alike.Iudas laidpeccassi, David laidpeccassi: here'srepentance, the work like,thefaitbvn- 3.rhe end, " like. Yeaagain,as wemutt looketo haueawrit from the Lord,andwith a good writbane Gods glorie. a good heart;fo wemull bewarewe lookenotat circlethings with a fquinc eye. The Plia- rifer prayeth in themarket places,he wouldhaue agoodworke ishand, buthis heart was outright, it was mixed with a littlelcauen ofvaine-glorie. Here then falles all the great works
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