Page images
PDF
EPUB

Goodness; laying out ourselves in good SERM. Actions that others, feeing our good Works, IV. may glorify our Father which is in Heaven. From the Words thus explained, I fhall fhew,

I. WHAT is here meant by good Works, or
what Qualifications are neceffary to de-
nominate a Work good.

II. I SHALL lay down fome Motives and
Encouragements, to engage us to be-
come eminent and exemplary in the
Performance of good Works.

III. FROM the Premises, I fhall conclude
with an Inference or two,

I. WHAT is meant by good Works, or, what Qualifications are neceffary to denominate a Work good.

BUT here I beg Leave to premife, that by good Works I mean, not fuch Works, as are perfectly and intirely good, fuch as are exactly agreeable to the Law of God in every Particular, and in every Circumftance; for it is not in the Power of the best Man to perform any fuch good Work: The Evangelical Prophet has long fince told us, that the best and most perfect of our religious Performances are tainted with Sin; But, by good Works, is meant, fuch

good

[ocr errors]

SERM. good Works as God has promised to accept of IV. for the Sake of his dear Son, who has attoned for our Sins, and offers up our Prayers and good Works to his Father, having first washed off their Impurity, and filled up their Imperfections with his precious Blood, and by the Merits of his Paffion. Those Works which good Men perform, which flow from an upright Heart, and a fincere Endeavour to please God, are here called good Works, and ought to have thefe following Qualifications.

1.IT is requifite that all our good Works flow from aright Principle, and that our good Deeds be performed for this very Reason, because they are the Commands of the great Governour of the World, in whom we live, and move, and have our Being, who has given us all that we poffefs, and has a Right to exact our Obedience, and therefore, will either reward, or punish us at the Laft Day. We must have a full and fettled Conviction upon our Minds, that though all our Works are maimed and imperfect, and, by Confequence, a very unfit Sacrifice to be offered up unto God, yet they will be rendered acceptable unto him, by the Merits and Interceffion of our crucified Saviour; this

J

[ocr errors]

Heb. xi.

is that Faith, without which it is impof- SERM, fible to pleafe God, viz. the Belief that IV. our bleffed Saviour died to attone for our Sins, and to make up the Defects of our Words and Actions, and to prefent them holy and undefiled in the Sight of God.

IT is from the Affurance of this Faith, that we can approach with Confidence, and offer up our Prayers at the Throne of Grace, in the prevailing Name of our Saviour and Redeemer. And, if our good Actions do not proceed from this Principle of Faith in Jefus Chrift, they will be fo far from being fhining Lights, that they will be only Splendida Peccata, varnifhed Sins; and then, how can we imagine that our good Works fhould light others to Heaven, when we ourselves enter not in through Unbelief. Thofe Perfons Heb. iv. who have not heard of a Saviour, and 6. yet live up to the Principles of Natural Religion, may have fuch Allowance made them, as we Christians cannot reasonably expect; and it is very probable that God, out of his wonderful Goodness and Mercy, may apply the Merits of Christ's Death and Paffion to fuch Perfons who never have had the Means nor Opportunity to believe on him.

2. EVERY

105.

Joh. iii.

20, 21.

SERM. 2. EVERY good Work must be conIV. versant about a due Object, i. e. it must be fomething which is either commanded or allowed of in the Word of God; and therefore the Prophet David tells us, that God's Word is a Lamp unto our Feet, and Pf. cxix. a Light unto our Paths, intimating to us, that we fhould guide all our Actions, by this Lamp and Light, and make God's Word the Rule of all our Thoughts, Words, and Deeds; and our Saviour affirms, that every one that doth Evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, left bis Deeds fhould be reproved; but he that doth Truth cometh to the Light, that his Deeds be made manifeft, that they are wrought in God. For no Action can be acceptable to God, which is contrary to the revealed Will of God, of which we have an eminent Instance in Saul; for, when God fent Saul, and commanded him to deftroy the Amalekites, and all that they had, and yet he reserved the best of the Sheep and of the Oxen to facrifice unto the Lord, which was, in itself, a religious Duty, but was therefore difpleafing to God, because it was directly contrary to his pofitive Command; Samuel thus upbraids him, Hath the Lord as great Delight in Burnt-offerings and

1 Sam. xv.

22.

may

Sacrifices,

Sacrifices, as in obeying the Voice of the SERM.
Lord? Behold, to obey is better than Sa- IV.
crifice; and to hearken, than the Fat of
Rams.

3. EVERY good Work must be directed to a right End, viz. to promote the Glory of God, and the Well-being of our Neigh bour in the World; all our Thoughts, Words, and Actions must be directed to advance his Glory, and the Good of others for his Sake. For it will obfcure the Light of our good Works, if we perform them for any bye End; to advance our own temporal Intereft, or to gain popular Applaufe: If we make either of thefe the End of our good Works, we may probably obtain what we feek for; but we fhall deprive ourselves of a more valuable Recompence, the Teftimony of a good Conscience here, and the Hopes of eternal Happiness hereafter. But yet, fince the Glory of God may be, and generally is beft promoted, by doing our good Works publickly, and letting our Light fhine before Men, that they may be incited to imitate our Example; we must appeal to our Christian Prudence, when to perform our good Works privately, and when publickly: For,

4. EVERY

« PreviousContinue »