3. With respect to the Spirit, who reneweth us for this end ; we are new made, that we may look u})on doing good as our calling and only business. All other things are valuable according to the use for which they serve ; the sun was made to give light and heat to inferior creatures, and we are enlightened by grace, and inclined by grace, that our light may shine before men, Mat. v. 1(>.
4. With respect to heaven and eternal happiness, they are the way to heaven. We discontinue or break olf our walk when we cease to do good ; but the more we mind good works the more we proceed in our way : Phil. iii. 14, ' Pressing onward' to our final reward, and at length our entrance is more full, and with greater peace, 2 Peter i. 11.
III. How are they fitted and prepared by this new nature that is put into them fur good works ?
Ans. Tliere is a remote preparation, and a near preparation.
1. The remote preparation is an inclination and propensity to all the acts of the holy and heavenly life. All creatures have an in- clination to their proper operations, so the new creature. As the sparks fly up and the stones downward by an inclination of nature, so are their hearts bent to please and serve Cod. The inclination is natural, the acts are voluntary, because it is an inclination of a free agent : ' The
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law of God is ia tlieii' hearts,' Ps. xl. 8 ; Ps. xxxvii. 31. Others force themselves, but here there is an affinity between the work and the vital principle which is in us, so that we need not much enforcement : 1 Thes. iv. 9, ' As touching brotherly love, I need not write unto you, for you are taught of God to love one another.' Now, God's teaching is not by expression, but by impression ; he hath inclined, suited our hearts to it : as there need not many arguments to move the mother to give suck to her tender infant ; nature hath taught her, left such an instinct and inclination upon her, which doth sufficiently excite her to do ik
2. The near preparation is called promptitude and readiness for every good work, or a ' ready obedience to every good work,' Titus iii. 1. So 1 Tim. vi. 18, ' Ready to distribute ;' Heb. xiii. 16, 'Pieady to communicate.' So Paul, eroi/AO)? e^d), Acts xxi. 13. This is beyond inclination. The fire hath an inclination to ascend upwards, yet something may violently keep it down ; so a Christian may have a will to good, a strong, not a remiss will, but yet there are some impediments, Rom. vii. 18. Inclination implieth a remote power, but readiness the next and immediate power ; therefore a Christian ought to keep himself in a readiness or fitness of disposition for his duty, whether it concerneth God, ourselves, or others. This is seen in zeal, that beareth down all impediments. All graces are operative, and zeal is that earnest impulsion and activity of every grace where it is in strength and vigour. Faith worketh, Gal. v. 6. Love constraineth, 2 Cor. V. 14. Hope quickeneth, 1 Peter i. 3, ' a lively hope.' This proceedeth from the new nature when it is in right frame and strength. We need not only make conscience of our duty, or have some mind to it, but our hearts will not let us have any quiet and rest without it : 2 Peter i. 8, ' They make you that you shall be neither barren nor un- fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Christians must be ' zealous of good works,' Titus ii. 14. Paul was * pressed in spirit,' Acts xvii. 16 ; Acts xviii. 5.
The benefits that come by it are : —
1. We do good works more easily, as being inclined thereunto: Exod. XXXV. 29, ' The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord ;' Ps. ex. 3, 'Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.' There is a great deal of difference between doing things by compulsion and doing things from an inclination ; between Israel's making brick in Egypt and building the wall in Nehemiah's time, Nell. iv. 6.
2. With more delight and alacrity : 1 John v. 3, ' His command- ments are not grievous ;' Ps. cxii. 1, ' Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.' It is a pleasure to them to do a good work ; to others, a toil.
3. With constancy. That which is forced lasts not long ; upon the first occasion we break out, cast off the burden which pincheth and galleth us. A man is never constant to his duty till he be held to it by his heart ; and the bias of the heart is not fear, but love. You cannot easily persuade him against his love and inclination, though you may overcome his fears : Cant. viii. 6, 7, ' Set me as a seal upon thine arm : for love is strong as death ; jealousy is cruel as the grave.
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