good pleasuren: yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them o. IV. They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to fupererogate and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to dop. flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. v. 27. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Phil. ii. 13. For it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to do, of his good pleasure. Phil. IV. 13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthneth me. 2 Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves: but our fufficiency is of God. Phil. ii. 12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my prefence only, but now much more in my absence; work out your own falvation with fear and trembling. Heb. vi. 11. And we defire that every one of you do shew the fame diligence, to the full affurance of hope unto the end: v. 12. That ye be not flothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 2 Pet. i. 3. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. v. 5. And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge. v. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling : V. Wę and election fure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: v. 11. For so an entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly, into the everlatting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Ifa. lxiv. 7. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and haft confumed us, because of our iniquities. 2 Tim. i. 6. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou ftir up the gift of God which is in thee, by the putting on of my hands. Acts xxvi. 6. And now I stand, and am judged for the hope of the promife made of God unto our fathers: v. 7. Unto which promise our twelve tribes instantly serving God day and night, hope to come: for which hope's fake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Jude 20. But ye beloved, building up your selves on your most holy faith, praying in the holy Ghost, v. 21. Keep your selves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. IV. p Luke xvii. 10. So likewife ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Neh. xiii. 22. And I commanded the Levites, that they should Thould cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to fanctify the fabbath-day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. Job ix. 2. I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? v. 3. If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. Gal. v. 17. For the flesh lufteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; fo that ye cannot do the things 'that ye would. 1 V. We cannot, by our best works merit pardon of fin or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great difproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit, nor fatisfy for the debt of our former fins q; but, when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servantsr; and because, as they are good, they proceed from his Spirits; and, as they are wrought by us, they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the feverity of God's judgment t. V. q Rom. iii. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his fight: for by the law is the knowledge of fin. Rom. iv. 2. For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. v. 4. Now to him that worketh, is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. v. 6. Even as David also defcribeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righte ousness without works. Eph. ii. 8. For by grace are ye faved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. v. 9. Not of works, lest any man should boaft. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy, he faved us as by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the holy Ghost; v. 6. Which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour, v. 7. That being justified by his grace, we thould be made heirs, according to the hope of eternal life. Rom. viii. 18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Pial. xvi. 2. O my foul, thou haft faid unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee. Job xxii. 2. Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wife may be profitable unto himfelf? v. 3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? Job xxxv. 7. If thou be righteous, what givest thou him; or what receiveth he of thine hand? v. 8. Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art, and thy righteousness may profit the fon of man. Luke xvii. 10. (See letter p in this chapter.) Gal. v. 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-fuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, v. 23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. + Ifa. lxiv. 6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteoufneffes VI. Yet notwithstanding, the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works alfo are accepted in himu, not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreproveable in God's fight w; but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is fincere, altho' accompanied with many weaknefses and imperfections x. neffes are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Gal. v. 17. For the flesh lufteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Rom. vii. 15. For that whichl do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not, but what I hate, that do I. v. 18. I know, that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not. Pfalm cxliii. 2. And enter not into judgment with thy fervant: for in thy fight shall no man living be justified. Pfalm cxxx. 3. If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities: O Lord, who shall stand? VI. v Eph. i. 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. 1 Pet. ii. 5. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual facrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Exod. xxviii. 38. And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Ifrael shall hallow in VII. Yet all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord, Gen.iv. 4. And Abel, healso brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof; and the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering. With Heb. xi. 4. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent facrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it, he being dead, yet speaketh. w Job ix. 20. If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: If I fay, I am perfect, it shall alfo prove me perverse. Pfal. cxliii. 2. And enter not into judgment with thy fervant: for in thy fight shall no man living be justified. x Heb. xiii. 20. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, v. 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleafing in his fight, through Jesus Chrilt; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Cor. viii. 12. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not accord VII. Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them, they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and others y: yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faithz; nor are done in a right manner, according the word a; nor to a right end, the glory of Godb; they are therefore finful, and can according to that he hath not. Heb. vi. 10. For God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministred to the faints, and do minister. Matt. xxv. 21. His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful fervant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. v. 23. His lord faid unto him, Well done, good and faithful fervant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. VII. y 2 Kings x. 30. And the Lord faid unto Jehu, Because thou haft done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and haft done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy chidren of the fourth generation shall fit on the throne of Ifrael. v. 31. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Ifrael, with all his heart, for he departed not from the fins of Jeroboam, which made Ifrael to fin. r Kings xxi. 27. And it came to pass when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes and put fackloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in fackloth, and went softly. v. 29. Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his not fons days will I bring the evil upon his house. Phil. i. 15. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good-will. v. 16. The one preach Christ of contention, not fincerely, fuppofing to add affliction to my bonds. v. 18. What then? notwithstanding every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. z Gen. iv. 5. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect." And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. With Heb. xi. 4. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent facrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and by it he being dead, yet speaketh. Heb. xi. 6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. a 1 Cor. xiii. 3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Ifaiah i. 12. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? b Mat. vi. 2. Therefore, when thou dost thine alms, do not found a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do, in the synagogues, and in not please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from Godc. And yet their neglect of them is more finful, and difpleasing unto God d. T CHAP. XVII. Of the Perseverance of the Saints. HEY whom God hath accepted in his beloved, effec tually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but fhall the streets, that they may have gloty of men. Verily, I say unto you, they have their reward. v. 5. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the syna- ' that runneth, but of God that shew gogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. v. 16. Moreover, when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a fad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily, I say unto you, they have their teward. < Hag. ii. 14. Then answered Haggai, and faid, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, faith the Lord; and so is every work of their hands, and that which they offer there is unclean. Tit. i. 15. Unto the pure all things are pure, but unto them that are defiled, and unbelieving is nothing pure, but even their mind and confcience is defiled. Amos v. 21. I hate, I despise your feaft-days, and I will not fmell in your folemn affemblies. v. 22. Though you offer me burnt offerings, and your meat offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beafts. Hof. i. 4. And the Lord faid anto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will a certain venge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Ifrael. Rom. ix. 16. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him eth mercy. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the holy Ghost. d Pfal. xiv. 4. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord. Pfal. xxxvi. 3. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wife and to do good. Job xxi. 14. Therefore they fay unto God, Depart from us, for we defire not the knowledge of thy ways. v. 15. What is the Almighty, that we should ferve him and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him. Mat. xxv. 41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. v. 42. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: v. 43. I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: fick and in, prifon, and ye visited me not. v. 45. Then |