Serm.CLIII. 0.f the Neceffity ofgood Works. 349 'God had not declared this in his Word, the confideration of God's effential Holi- ìiefs and Juftice would fufficiently allure us of it. But betides this, in the very nature and reafonof the thing, Holinefs and Good- nefs is the neceffary and only proper qualification for happinefs. Without the bleffed fight and enjoyment of God we cannot be happy, and Holinefs and Good- nefs can only qualifie us for this. For happinefs is a Efate which refults from á temper and difpofitionof Mind fuited to it ; and where this is wanting, the Man is no more capable of happinefs, than he that is fick is of cafe. Virtueand Goodnefs are fo effential to happinefs, that where thefe are not, titre is no capacity of it. Thefe make us like to God, who is the Fountain and Pattern of all Happinefs and if we be not like to God, we can have no enjoyment of him. And a wicked Man, if he coulddeal into Heaven, into the Sight and Prefence of God, would from the temper and difpofition of his own Mind, fo unfuitable to that holy Place and Company, be extremely miferable, even in the manfions of the bleffed. Such a temper of mind, fuch a polluted and guilty Confcience, as a finner carries with him out of this World, will accompany him, and remain with him in the other; and guilt is always reftlefs and full of torment, and tho' God fhould not punifh it with any pofitive infli&ion of pain, would of its own Nature, make a Man for ever miferablé. So that it is a vain dream and imagination, that any Man with- out the pra&ice of Holinefs andVirtue in this life, canbe happy in the other. A fincere and thorough Repentance of all our fins will indeed clear our Confciences of guilt, and by the Mercy of God make us capable of happinefs : but it does this by changing our Minds, and reconciling, them to Holinefs and Goodnefs, in firni purpofe and refolution of a new life ; andby changing our lives and actions too, if therebe opportunity for it ; but till this change be wrought, either in firm pur- pofe, or in real effect, it is impofliblewe fhould behappy. And tho' I will not de- ny but this may be done bya deep Repentance, and fuch as God fees wouldprove fincere, in the fait a& of our lives : yet it is extream madnefs to run fuch a ha- zard, becaufe we may be cut off from the opportunity of it ; or if God fhould afford us 'Time and Grace to that purpofe, it is the hardeft thing in theWorld to have any comfortable and well-grounded aifurance of the fincerity of it. So that very little hopes of Heaven and Happinefs can be givenupon any other terms, than the general and confiant courfe of a holy and virtuous Life; and leaft of all to thofe who have all their life long refolved to venture their everlafting Happinefs upon the infinite uncertainties ofa Death-bed Repentance at the laft. But, II. The truth of this Propofition, that they which havebelieved in God, fhouldbe careful to maintain good works, or that Faith and the Virtues of a good life ought to go together. I fay, the. truth of thiswill yet be more evident, if we confider the great end and defign of the Chriftian Religion in particular, which was to re- form theWorld, to purifie the hearts and lives of Men from corrupt affePions and wicked pra&ices, to teach Men to excel in all kinds of virtue and goodnefs. Andthis is every where in the new Teflament moft exprefly declared. The great promife of bleffednefs is made to the virtues ofMeeknefs, and Patience, and Peaceablenefs, and Purity, and Righteoufnefs, as our Saviour exprefly teacheth that excellent Sermon of his upon the Mount, which is the Summary of the Chriftian Religion. Ephef. 4. 57, 18, &c. This I fay therefore, and teflify in the Lord, thatye henceforth, that is, now that ye have embraced Chriftianity, walk not: as other Gentiles walk, in.the vanity of their mind, having the underfianding dark- ned, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, be= cufe of the blindnefs of their heart: Who being palIfeeling, havegiven themfelves over unto lafcivioufnefs to workall uncleannefs withgreedinefs, Butye have not fa learned Cbr f : If fo be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in efus, That yé put off, concerning the former converfation, the old man, which is corrupt, according to .the deceitful lulu : And be renewed in thefpirit °f your mind; and that ye put on that new man,which after God is created in righte- oafaefs and true bonnets. Wherefore putting away lying, fpeak every man truth withbis neighbour: for we are members one ofanother. Be ye angry and fn not; let
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