402 THE TWENTIETH SERMON. [EpH. II. 10.
Many ^vatcrs cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it : if a man would p:ivc all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.'
The uses are: —
1. For reproof of many professing Christians, who are not more pre- pared lor the Lord, and made ready for every good work. Alas ! some are ' to every good work reprobate,' Titus i, 16, unfit for any Christian jiractice. In others, all their holiness standeth in being less vicious or wicked than others. If they avoid the greater crimes, though they freely practise the less, they are accounted good men. Some ttilk, but do nothing, like cypress trees, tall and beautiful, but unfruitful ; or the carbuncle, afar off seeming all on fire, but the touch discovers it to be key-cold : their zeal is more in their tongues than their actions. Others are very unready, arguing for a mediocrity, disputing every inch with God, beating down the price of religion as low as they can, as little worship and charity as may be, and will do no more than needeth, and it is well if they do that. True goodness, like live honey, droppetli of its own accord, 2 Cor. viii. 2 ; and is always desirous to do more for God: Ps. Ixxi. 14, ' I will praise thee more and more ;' Phil. i. 9, ' I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;' 1 Thes. iv. 1, ' Furthermore, we exhort you, brethren, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk, and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.' But little of this temper is to be found.
The second use, of information.
First, Observe the deduction of good works from their proper cau.ses, viz., the Avill of God requiring, our regeneration fitting : the one detcr- mineth our duty, the other maketh us ready to perform it. While carnal, that which we do is but the image of a good work, not really and spiritually good.
Secondly, The necessity of good works.
1, Necessitate conscquentis, as the fruit and end of regeneration. All things are valued by their use. What doth the new creature serve for but that we may walk in newness of life ? otherwise it is but a notion. It is not given us to lie hid in tlie heart, as a sluggish, idle quality, but that we may act by it, and improve it for God. The Lord made no creature in vain. Indeed, all that we have from God, both in nature and grace, was that we might be fruitful in holiness. In nature we have life, health, and parts for nothing else, but that by our present duty we may prejiare ourselves for everlasting joys. All God's mercies bind us to diligence, all his ordinances are means to lielp us, all liis graces are power to enable us ; and there is, over and above, the Holy Spirit to excite and quicken that power, John iv. 10 ; Ezek. xxxvi. 27.
2. Necessitate prcecepii. God hath required them at our hands. Now we must make con.science of what God hath required, especially when all 'his commandments are holy, just, and good.' If some greater thing were required, ought we not to have done it ? 2 Kings V. 13. But when he Iiath required such noble work, shall we refuse ? There is nothing in his law but what becometh his nature, prcserveth nnd makes iiai)|)y ours.
EpH. II. 10.] THE TWENTIETH SERMON. 403
3. Necessitate medii, as the way to heaven. Good works are indis- pensably required of grown persons if they mean to be saved : Heb. xii. 14, ' Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see God.' A Christian shall be judged at the last day by what he hath done : Rev. xx. 12, '1 saw the dead, small and great, stand before God ; and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which was the book of life : and the dead were judged out of those things that were written in the books, according to their works ;' 1 Peter i. 17, ' If ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth every man according to his work.' Profession Avill not carry it, but our works come into tlie judgment. So Rev. xiv. 13, ' Their works follow them ;' that is, they have the fruit and comfort of them in another world,, and without them we cannot be saved.
4. Necessitate signi, as evidences of our right to salvation, both to others and ourselves. Works or external acts are more sensible and visible, and also liable to the notice of our own consciences ; and it is more hard to judge of the internal grace than the external fruits.
[1.] As to others. God seeth what is in our hearts, but men see it not until the effects manifest it. AVhen John suspected the pharisees, he said to them. Mat. iii. 8, ' Bring ye forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.' The fear of God is more known by the external act than by the internal habit ; therefore that description is given, Prov. viii. 13, ' The fear of the Lord is to hate evil : pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate ;' and Job xxviii. 28, ' The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom ; and to depart from evil is understanding.' The current of a man's life and actions doth best ex- pound and interpret his heart. Thus the psalmist discovered the wicked: Ps. xxxvi. 1, ' The transgression of the wdcked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.'