] Qu. ' works as well as word ' ? — Ed.
Vers. 7, 8.] sermons upon matthew xxv. 373
[1.] That we be justified, and reconciled to God through Christ; that we daily renew friendship by the exercise of a godly sorrow for sin, and a lively faith in Christ: 1 John v. 1, 'Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God ; ' and 1 John ii. 1, ' Little children, these things I write unto you, that ye sin not : and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the right- eous.' Others are not accepted with God.
[2.] That we be sanctified, or renewed by the Spirit, Titus iii. 5, and so fitted and framed by this general holiness for the particular duties we are called to. A bowl must be made round before it can run round ; the instrument must be framed, and strung, and put in tune before it can make any melody ; the tree must first be made good before we can expect any good fruit from it, Mat. xii. 33. Actions are holy by their rule ; a person is holy by his principle. Therefore, till there be a principle of grace wrought in our hearts, we are not such manner of persons as God will accept ; nor are we fitted to perform him any service, or to meet him at his coming.
4. When our persons are in frame, we must look to the course of our actions or walking ; for the tree is known by its fruit, and a man by the course of his actions. We do but imagine we have holiness within, unless we manifest it in our outward conversation ; and will strive to show ourselves mindful and respectful of God's commands at every turn: Ps. cxix. 1, 'Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord ;' not only undefiled in the rule, but un- defiled in the way. A sincere, constant, uniform obedience to God's law, or a careful endeavour to approve ourselves to God in all our ways, is the mark of true blessedness. A man is judged by the tenor of his life, not by one action.
5. This holiness must be in all the parts of our conversation : ' In all holy conversation.' In our outward carriage and secret practice, common affairs and religious duties ; in the duties of God's immediate worship and the duties of relations ; towards superiors, inferiors, and equals, 1 Peter i. 5 ; in every creek and turning of our lives. There is no part of a Christian conversation but should savour of holiness and godliness : his common and civil actions, in adversity, prosperity, at home and abroad. So Titus ii. 12, 13, 'The grace of God which bring- eth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying all ungodliness, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.' Soberly as to ourselves ; righteously as to our neigh- bour ; godly as to God. To rest in a partial practice of holiness will not become the expectation of Christ's coming, who will examine us upon every point of duty.
6. Godliness is added to holiness to increase the sense and significa- tion, There is some formal difference between these two. Holiness signineth the purity of our actions, and godliness the respect they have to God, that he be eyed and aimed at in all that we do; that all things should be done in and to the Lord, or for his glory. This should be the supreme end of all our ways and actions. If we consider grace as it provideth for the rectitude of our actions, positively it is called holiness ; if relatively, with respect to our dedication to God, it is called godliness. Well, then, we should be such manner of persons,
374 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SER. VI.
not only in all holy conversation, but godliness. We should stir up ourselves to do more for Grod in the world, and love him, and fear him, and honour him in all that we do.
7. In both we should endeavour the highest pitch that possibly we can attain unto ; for it is in the original, ' All holy conversations and godlinesses;' which doth not only imply the extension (as we render it), ' in all holy conversation and godliness,' but the intension and de- gree, as well as all the parts and points of godliness. Those that have made most progress in godliness should still aspire after higher degrees : the more will our comfort be now, and the more our glory when Christ cometh. We cannot be over, it is easy to be short. The most serious and the most painful do exceedingly lament their negligence when they come to die ; but none ever begrudged their pains, or bewailed their diligence. There should be holinesses and godlinesses. There- fore we should not only keep what we have, but seek to get more. This is the apostle's use of the resurrection of the dead, and so by con- sequence of Christ's second coming. 1 Cor. xv. 18, 19. So Phil. iii. 11,
The next place is ver. 14, ' Wherefore, beloved, seeing ye look for such things, be diligent, that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.' In which words observe —