E 7° SERMONS upon Serm: X. tits applied to us : Therefore 'cis Paid , Heb. i r. 6. Without faith 'tii imponible to pleafe God: For till there be fome means, that God be a Rewarder rather than a Puni/her to the fallen creature, nothing is done kindly, or taken kindly. Well then, nothing can pleafe God but what is done in faith,lor in a reconciled efiate 5 and that both in refpeft to the perfon working, or the work its felt. With refpetl to the perfon working; for he is not within the Covenant of Grace till he believe , but the wrath of God abideth on him, john 3. 36. he is an enemy to God. a. With refpetI to the work its felf: For till it be quickned by a true and lively faith, and love to. God as the confequent of it, it is but the carcafe of a good work, and fo not acceptable to God ; the life and foul of it is wanting , that obediential confidence which fhould enliven it. Certainly there is no bringing forth fruit unto God, till married to Chrift, Rom. 7.4. Aschildren are not legi- timate who are born before .marriage,'tis a baftard off- fpring 5 fo neither are works ac- ceptable till we be married to Chrift. 2. It is allo requifite that'the perfon be renewed by the Spirit of Chrift ; for otherwife he cannot have his spirit, affe &ions, and ways, filch as to pleafe God. Nature can rife no higher than its felf, 'cis grace carrieth the foul to God , there needeth renewing grace, Heb. 12.28. Let es have grace, whereby we may' ferve him acceptably With reverence and godly fear. To ferve him ivasircr in an acceptablemanner, and with that reverence and ferioufnefs as is neceffary, is a work above our natural faculties; till God change them,we cannot pleafe him. So alto atXaal grace, Heb. 13. 21. Working in you that which is plea. fing in his fight. The bell aûions of wicked men pleafe him no more than Cains Sacri- fice, or Ef iu's tears, or the Pharifees prayers, 'cis but a shadow of what a man reconciled and "renewed doth, or an imperfeU imitation, as an Ape doth imitate a man, or a violent motion doth refemble a natural. I. VS E is, To thew us what to think of the good anions of carnal men ; they do not pleafe God; they are for the matter good, but there are manifold defefts in them. I. Thereto a defetl in their /late , they are not renewed and reconciled to God by Chrift, and therefore God may juftly fay, Mal. I. ro. I have no pleasure in you, neither will 1 accept an offering at your bands. They live in their fins, and therefore he may juftly abhor and rejefb all their Cervices 5 they live in enmity to him, and a negleft of his grace, and will not fueout their atonement. 2. There is a defeti in the root of thefe actions. They do not come from faith working by love, which is the true principle of all obedience, Gal. g. 6. Without love to God in Chrift, we want the foul and life of every duty. Obedience is love breaking out into its perfeft aft, I Job. 2. 5. If we keep his Word, herein is'love perfetfed. 3. There is a de fett in the manner ; They do not ferve God with that fincerity, reve- rrnce, ferioufuefs, and willingnefs, which the work calleth for they Phew love to him with their lips, when their hearts are far from him, Matt. t 5.8. there is an habitual aver fation, whilst they feem to (hew love to him. All their duties are but as flowers ftrowed upon a dunghill. 4. There is a defell in the end. They do not regard Gods glory in their moil commen- dable action ; they have either a natural aim, as when they are frighted into a little re- ligioufnefsof wor(hip in their extremities, Hof 7. 14. They howl upon their beds for corn and wine. And then they are like Ice in thawing weather, (oft at top, and hard at bot- tom. Or a carnal aim, out of bravery and vainglory, Matt. 8.2. Or a legal aim, when they feem very devout, to quiet confeience, or to fatisfie God for their fins, by their ex- ternal duties, Mic. 6. 6, 7, 8. Wherewith ¡hall I come before the Lord, and bow my flf be- fore the high God 1 Shall 1 come before himwith burnt-offerings, and calves of a year old_? Will the Lard be pleatd with thousands of rams, or with ten thoufand rivers of oil? Shall I give my frrfi born for my tranfgrenion, the fruit of my body for the fn of my foul ? But Solomon telleth us, Prov. 21. 27. The facrif ci of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, much more when be bringeth it with an evil mind. At belt 'cis an abomination , much more when 'cis to buy an indulgence in fome licentious praflice, by performing Come du- ties required a fin offering, not a thank offering. But this cannot pleafe God, to as to ob tain an eternal reward. God temporally rewardeth moral obedience, to keep up the go. vernment of the world ; as Pagan Rome while it excelled in Virtue, God gave it a great Empire and large Dominion. And Ahab's going foftly and mourning, was recompenced with a fufpenfion of temporal judgments, 1 King. 21. 29. Becaufe be humbleth himfelfbe. fore me, I will not bring the evil in his days. Again, there is a difference between a wicked man going on in his wickedaefs , and a natural man returning to God. When wicked men pray to God to profper them in their wickednefs, as Balaam's Altars were made; or to
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