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 ftirring up the grace of God that is in them o. IV. They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is poffible in this life, are so far from being able to fupererogate and to do more than God requires, as that they fall fhort of much which in duty they are bound to do p. fefh, and I will give you an heart of fieth. v. 27. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my ftatutes, and ye fhall 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 fufficient of our felves to think any thing as of our felves: 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 abfence; work out your own falvation with fear and trembling. Heb. vi. 11. And we defire that every one of you do fhew 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 godlinefs, 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 fhall never fall: v. II For fo an entrance fhall be miniftred unto you abundantly, into the everlatting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Christ, Ifa. lxiv. 7. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou haft hid thy face from us, and hast 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 promise made of God unto our fathers: v. 7. Unto which promise our twelve tribes inftantly ferving God day and night, hope to come: for which hope's fake, king Agrippa, I am accufed of the Jews. Jude 20. But ye beloved, building up your felves on your most holy faith, praying in the holy Ghost, v. 21. Keep your felves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jefus Chrift unto eternal life. IV. Luke xvii. 10. So likewise ye, when ye fhall have done all those things which are commanded you, fay, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Neh. xiii. 22. And I commanded the Levites, that they fhould 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 diftance 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 fervants r; and because, as they are good, they proceed from his Spirits; and, fhould cleanse themfelves, and that g : V. q Rom. iii. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there fhall no flesh be juftified 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 alfo defcribeth the bleffedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righte oufnefs without works. Eph. ii. 8. For by grace are ye faved, through faith; and that not of yourfelves: it is the gift of God. v. 9. Not of works, left any man fhould boast. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteou nefs, 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 thed on us abundantly, through Jefus 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 fufferings of this prefent 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 giveft 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 son of as they are wrought by us, they are defiled and mixed with fo much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure. the feverity of God's judgment t. VI. Yet notwithstanding, the perfons of believers being accepted through Chrift, their good works alfo are accepted in him, 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 weakneffes 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; fo that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Rom. vii. 15. For that whichI 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 prefent 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 fhall no man living be justified. Pfalm cxxx. 3. If thou, Lord, fhouldft 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 alfo, as lively ftones, are built up a fpiritual houfe, an holy priesthood, to offer up fpiritual facrifices, acceptable to God by Jefus Chrift. Exod. xxviii. 38. And it fhall 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, he alfo brought of the firftlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof; and the Lord had refpect 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 witnefs that he was righteous, God teftifying of his gifts: and by it, he being dead, yet fpeaketh. w Job ix. 20. If I justify myself, my own mouth fhall condemn me: If I fay, I am perfect, it fhall also prove me perverfe. Pfal. cxliii 2. And enter not into judgment with thy fervant: for in thy fight fhall no man living be justified. x Heb. xiii. 20. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jefus, 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 Jefus Chriit; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Cor. viii. 12. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted ac cording 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 ufe 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 fhewed toward his name, in that ye have miniftred to the faints, and do minifter. Matt. xxv. 21. His Lord faid unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful fervant; thou haft 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. 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 pafs when Ahab heard thofe words, that he rent his clothes and put fackloth upon his flesh, and fafted, and lay in fackloth, and went foftly. v. 29. Seeft 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 upon fons days will I bring the evil his houfe. Phil. i. 15. Some indeed preach Chrift even of envy and ftrife; and fome alfo of good-will. v. 16. The one preach Chrift of contention, not fincerely, fuppofing to add affliction to my bonds. v. 18. What then? notwithstanding every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Chrift is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. 4. z Gen. iv. 5. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not refpect. ́ And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. With Heb. xi. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent facrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witnefs that he was righteous, God teftifying of his gifts, and by it he being dead, yet fpeaketh. Heb. xi. 6. But without faith it is impoffible to please him: for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently feek him. a 1 Cor. xiii. 3. And though I beftow 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 doft thine alms, do not found a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do, in the fynagogues, and in the not please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from Godc. And yet their neglect of them is more finful, and difpleafing unto God d. CHAP. XVII. Of the Perfeverance of the Saints: THE HEY whom God hath accepted in his beloved, effectually called and fanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but fhall the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily, I fay unto you, they have their reward. v. 5. And when thou prayeft, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the fyna- ' gogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be feen of men. Verily I fay unto you, they have their reward. v. 16. Moreover, when ye faft, be not as the hypocrites, of a fad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily, I fay unto you, they have their teward. Hag. ii. 14. Then anfwered Haggai, and faid, So is this people, and fo is this nation before me, faith the Lord; and fo 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 defpife 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 unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will a certain venge the blood of Jezreel upon the houfe of Jehu, and will caufe to ceafe the kingdom of the house, of Ifrael. Rom. ix. 16. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that fheweth mercy. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteoufhefs, which we have done, but according to his mercy he faved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the holy Ghoft. 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 fhould ferve him and what profit fhould we have, if we pray unto him. Mat. xxv. 41. Then fhall he fay also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye curfed, into everlafting 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 ftranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: fick and in prison, and ye vifited me not. v. 45 Then |