X74 SERMONS upon the SERM. XXII. SERMON X SII. MATT P. XXV. V. 35, 36. For I was an Hungred, and ye gave me Meat ; I was 7hirtiy, and ye gave me Drink; I was a Stranger, and ye took me in Naked, and ye Cloathed me; I was Sick, and ye vifzted me ; M1 as in Prif n, and ye came unto me. E have feen the Sentence, now the Reafon of the Sentence : f For The Illative Particle fheweth, that many like the Sentence, would be glad to be entertained with a Come ye' bieffed of my Father : But turn back upon the Reafon, to Vi/t, Feed and Cloath they have no mind, or to any other ferious Duties and AEts of Faith and Self-de- nyal, but we muff regard both ; and I hope in a bufnefs of ruch moment you will not be skittifh and impatient of the word of Exhortation. I fhall firft Vindicate the words, and then give you fome Obfervations from them. Fir/l, Vindicate them, and affert their proper fenfe and intendment ; for upon the Reading, four Doubts may arife in your minds. t. That good Witrks are the reafön of this Sentence. 2. That the good Works of the- Faithful are only mentioned, and not the evil they have committed. 3. That only works of Mercy, or the fruits of Love are fpecified. 4. AIL cannot exprefs their Love and Self denyal this way. Let me clear there things, and our way will, be the more eafie and finooth af- terward. I. For the firff Doubt, That works .are affigned as the reafon of the Sentence of Ab- folution : For the Papiffs thence inferr their Merit and caufal influence upon Eter- nal Life. I Anfwer. (r.) 'Tis one thing to give a Reafon of the Sentence, another to exprefs the Caufe of the Benefit received and adjudged to us by that Sentence. A Charter may be given to a fort of People out of meer grace, and Priviledges promifed to all fuel] as are under fuel' a qualification, though that qualification no way me- riteth thole Priviledges, and that Grace promifed : As if a King fhould offer Par- don 'and Preferment to Rebels, that lay down their Arms, and return to their Duty and. Allegiance, and live in fuels bounds ; their returning to their Duty, doth not merit this Pardon : for it was a meer aCt of Grace in the Prince, much lets Both their return to their Duty, and living peaceably within their ancient bounds, merit the Honours and Advancement promifed ; yet this is pleadable in Court, and the Judge that taketh knowledge of the Caufe, taketh the Reafon of his Sen- tence from their peaceable Living within their bounds, whereby he Judgeth them capable of the Honours promifed and expeéted : So here, God of his meer Grace promifeth the Pardon of our Sins, and to beffow upon its Eternal life, if we Be- lieve, and Repent, and return to the Duty the owed him by our Creation : Our Obedi- ence is not the Caufe of our Pardon, or of our right to Givey, but his free Pro- mire
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