1. The object : good iivrks; that is, works becoming the new creature : in short, we should live Christianly.
2. God's act about it : oh Trporiroiixaa-ev 6 ©eb^, lohich God hath before ordained. The word signifies hoU\ prepared, and ordained. (1.) God hath prepared these works for us. (2.) God hath prepared us for them. He hath prepared them for us either by his decree or precept. If you understand it in the first sense, God, that hath ordained the end, hath also appointed means, as Acts xxvii. 31, compared with 24 ; or else appointed by his precept and express will, Micah vi. 8 ; and he hath prepared us for them by his Spirit, making our hearts fit for our work, Heb. viii. 10, enlightening the mind, inclining the will. The first showeth the necessity of them, the second the easiness of them. God hath accommodated all things to that end, enabling us to know our duty and to do it.
3. Our duty : that loe shoidd loalh in them. Walking noteth both a way and an action.
[1.] It implieth a way, that good works are the way to obtain salva- tion, purchased and granted to us by Jesus Christ. Unless we walk in the path of good works we cannot come to eternal life.
[2.] An action. Walking notes : —
(1.) Spontaneity in the principle : not drawn or driven, but imlk, set ourselves a-going.
(2.) Progress in the motion. He that wnlkcth sets himself forward and gets ground; he doth not stand still or lie down, but goeth on still.
398 THE TWENTIETH SERMON. [EpH. II. 10.
Doct. Tl)^ new creatures are both obliged and fitted, or prepared for «!:ood works.
I. What is meant by good works ?
II. "What obligation lietli on the new creature to make conscience of them ?
III. How they are fitted and prepared by that new nature wliicli is bestowed upon them by and through Christ ?
I. What is meant by good works ?
1. The kinds.
2. The requisites.
First, The kinds — all acts of obedience : more particularly they are divided and distributed into five sorts or ranks.
1. Opera cultus : acts of God's immediate worship, both internal and external. The internal acts are faith and love, trust, delight, reverence. The children of God are often described by these — by believing in his name, John i. 12 ; love to God and delight in him ; Ps. xcvii. 10, ' Ye that love the Lord, hate evil;' Ps. xxxvii. 4, 'Delight thyself also in the Lord; ' trust : Ps. Ixii. 8, ' Trust in him at all times, ye people ; ' fear or reverence : Ps. cxxx. 4, ' There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayst be feared.' E.xternal, as to pray, read, hear, to be mucli in communion with God in all the parts of his worship. Without works of piety we are practical atheists, Ps. xxxvi. 1 , and Ps. xiv, 1,2,4. God's people do certainly make conscience of these : the internal acts are the life of their souls ; the external are their solace, strength, and support, their songs in the house of their pilgrimage, their refreshing by the way. Cornelius, Acts x. 2, feared and prayed to God alway ; Daniel Avould not omit prayer one day though in danger of death, Dan. vi. 10, 11. There is little zeal in them that are not frequent with Gud, but forget him days without number, Jer. ii. 32.
2. Opera vocalionis : every man must labour in the work to which he is called. God is pleased to appoint and accept the duties of our call- ings as a good work. Are they never so mean, yet servants may honour God by diligence in their duties : Titus ii. i), 10, ' Exhort servants to be obedient to their masters, &c., that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.' To be profitable to human society in your place is good ; the new nature helpeth us so to be : Philem. 11, Une- simus ' in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and me.' AH have their work, from the Mediator to the poorest creature in the world ; John xvii. 4, ' I have glorified thee on earth : I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.' So Titus iii. 14, ' Let ours also learn to maintain good woiks for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful/ When John's hearers came to know what they should do, he referreth every one to their callings, Luke iii. 10-12 ; walk conscionably therein, glorify God, soldiers, publicans, &c. Without these good works we are drones in the common hive, yea, burdens upon the earth.
3. Ojjera Just like: works of righteousness and justice, to hurt none, to give every one his due, to use fidelity in ouv relations, Acts xxiv. l(j. The credit of religion is much concerned in the just dealing of them that profess it. Cod will have the world to know that religion is a good friend to human society; Neh. v. d, ' Ought ye not to walk in
EpH. II. 10.] THE TWENTIETH SERMON. 399
the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the heathen, our ene- mies ?' This was the primitive jJjlory of Christianity, Dent exercitum talem, tales exactores Jisci, &c. ISome carry it so that they deal with God's commandments as Hanun with David's messengers, as if they had cut off' the whole second table, and so prove a stain and blot to religion. In short, they that do not make conscience of paying their debts, and using justice, equity, and honesty in all their dealings, are robbers, thieves, and enemies to human society.