SERMOX XXII.
Zealous of good icorhs. — Titus ii. 14.
I COME to tlie last circumstance, the outward manifestation of Christ's purifying;, that he might make us ' Zealous of good works.'
I shall consider it partly as the note of evidence of God's peculiar people, and partly as it falls under the aim of Christ's death.
Doct Zeal for or in good w^orks is a note of God's people and a fruit of Christ's purchase.
Here I shall inquire — (1,) What good works are; (2.) What it is to he zealous of good works ; (3.) In what respect and ]')lace we are to put this zeal, or how it stands in order to the death of Christ.
I. What good works are. I shall show the kinds of them, and the requisites to them.
First, The kinds of good works. Good works, for the matter of them, may be distributed into four sorts or ranks — opera mdtus, acts of "worship ; opera vocationis, works of our own particular function and calling; opera _;w5^iYeflg, works of righteousness ; opera charitatis, -works of mercy.
1. Opera cultus, acts of worship, both internal and external ; external, to pray, hear, read, meditate, to be much in communion with God. So for internal acts, as faith, and repentance, and love. All these are good ■works, and fitly placed in the first rank ; of these we must be chiefly zealous, because our happiness lies in communion with God. It is not- able Daniel would not omit prayer for one day, though he w^as forbidden by the king, and in danger of death : Dan. vi. 10, ' Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went to his house ; and his windows being open in his chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.' Certainly they have little zeal in them that care not to be frequent in communion with God, and call not upon his name. These are the chiefest parts of those good works we must press and exhort you to, where we are to be the more punctual, because the offence is immediately done to God. If we do not works of mercy and justice, there the offence is done to men ; but neglecting the works of piety and godliness, the offence is done immediately to God, who is very jealous of being defrauded of his worship ; and a failing in the least circumstance is a sin of a high nature ; witness Uzzah slain for touch- ing of the ark, and the fifty thousand slain at Bethshemesh for looking into the ark. And there is a notable instance of Daniel, as he would not omit'prayer, so neither the opening of his casement. A man would have thought, being in imminent danger of his life, he might have dispensed with that circumstance. Why would he open his casement ? I answer — Because Solomon, at the dedication of the temple, required this ceremony as an act of faith ; they were to pray towards the place where the house of God was, which was a type of Christ, to show their eye and heart should be to Christ whenever they call on God ; there- fore would he not dispense with opening his casement. Danger of life should not diminish our zeal here. These good works must be done
276 SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14. _ [SeE. XXII.
with all exactness and care ; God very precisely requires them, ^fc is notable that will-worship is only in the duties of the first table ; in love to our neighbours there is no place for superstition and will-worship. . That may be done at one time that is not to be done at another.- '"But in the expressions of our love to God, there precepts are immutable, we are to be exact. God here would not leave us at liberty, and be at the creature's finding ; he knows his own institutions are the best means to keep up and preserve a respect and honour to himself, therefore here we must be punctual.
2. There are opera vocationis, the works of our calling. Every man should labour in that work to which he is called. Though such works be for our own support, yet God is pleased to interpret it as an !ict of obedience, by which he is glorified. Thus christians may honour God in the meanest calling. Servants in their relation are said to make the doctrine of God comely : Titus ii, 10, ' That thev may adorn the doc- trine of God our Saviour in all things.' Though they be in the condi- tion of slaves, as then they were, bought and sold like beasts in the market, yet the apostle speaks to them. You may adorn the gospel of God. It is good to be profitable to human society in your way and place ; for that is the account Paul gives of Onesimus, speaking of his former and present estate : Philem. 11, ' Which in .time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and me.' It is a great honour to God when we are faithful in the work of our relations. God tries us, by the duties of our personal calling, what honour we will bring to him there. Public acts of worship may be counterfeit, as prayer, heating, receiving ; but here is a constant and daily trial, whether we have grace or no, whether we have only our good moods, or a constant spring of grace in our hearts ; and therefore he that is not good in his relation and calling is nowhere good, for that is the sphere of his activity ; there he is to glorify God, and to discover the power of godliness. It is notable, when John had preached a sermon. of repentance, his hearers came to him, and said, 'What shall we do?' Luke iii. 10 ; as possibly j^ou may say. What are these good works ? And he presseth them to duties proper to their relations. To the publicans : ' Exact no more than that which is appointed you,' ver. 14. To the soldiers : ' Do violence to no man, neither .accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages,' ver, 15.