3. There are opera Justitice, works of righteousness ; as to give every man his due, to hurt none, to live without wrong to any, or wreck of or breach upon our own consciences: Acts xxiv. 16, 'Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man.' These are good and profitable to human society, and the credit of religion is much concerned in them ; h^^pocy tes, that abound in worship, and are zealous for the institutions of Christ, most commonly are' here defective; they are not just, 'righteous, and conscionable in their dealings ; therefore they are strictly required : Micah vi. 8, ' He hath showed thee, 0 man, what is good ; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy?' God requires it of all, but especially of men professing piety, because making conscience of justice and equity in their dealing is both an irgument of their sincerity and an ornament of their profession. God Ivill have the world know that religion is a friend to human society.
YeK?14.] SEEMONS upon TITUS II, 11-14. 277
Indeed tkere are some that would be accounted religious persons, yet 'live as if the whole second table were to be blotted out, and so they prove a stain and blot to their religion. Men judge by what ■ is ' visible, and therefore, when you break all restraints of "honesty and conscience, you disparage your profession : Neh. v, 9, ' 0 light ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the-.heathen our enemies ? ' Our adversaries are watchful, therefore keep up the credit and renown of religion, do justice, deal righteously, for that is the case in hand. Austin asserts, and so do the fathers generally, the primitive glory of the christian religion, that none were BO just, so good in their relations, so true and faithful to their trust, as the.christians were. Dent exercihim talem, tales imperatoi'es, &c. — Let them show such magistrates, such people, such merchants, such soldiers, as the christian religion affords.
4. There are (ypera ^Jia^'itatis et miser icordice, works of charity and mercy ; as to relieve the poor, to do good to all, to help others by their purse, estate, counsel, admonition but especially to do good to them that are good : Gal. vi. 10, 'As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.' These are usually, and l)y a proper term, called ' good works.' Therefore Dorcas is said to be ' full of good works and alms-deeds,' Acts ix. 36 ; and 1 ^im. vi. 16, ' Charge them that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to com- municate.' It is not a thing left arbitrary to you, but laid upon you as a part of your charge and duty. It is a due debt you owe to God, if not to the poor ; and we are thieves, not only in robbing and taking from others, but in not giving to others ; and therefore the Holy Ghost us'eth that expression, Prov. iii. 27, ' Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.' It is due by the law of God to those that are in distress. When God casts us upon objects of pity and christian commiseration, there is something due. By virtue of God's' command the poor are a kind of owners, and charity is a part of righteousness. Christians, you are stewards, and to dispense the estate you have according to the master's command. An unfaithful steward, that keeps all to himself, is a" thief. A nobleman hath need of money, and sendeth to his steward'; Go to my steward, and demand such. a sum : will he deny him his own when his loitl hath need of it ? God hath commanded to give when he sendeth to you. . How doth God send to us but in the course of his |)rovidence ? We are one day to give an account, and what a sorry account shall we make ! So much for pomp, so much for pleasure, so much^f or gorgeous apparel, so much for riot and luxury, and so little for the master's use. If a man to whom the care of children is com- mitted should feed dogs and whelps, and neglect the children, what a sorry account would he give of his trust ! God hath demanded his right by our poor brethren ; he hath made them his proxies. Our bounty reacheth not to God himself, therefore he offereth them to our i)ity ; what we do for them he accounteth as done to himself. Acts of mercy are required, that we may acknowledge God's property ; it is our sent to the great landlord of the world. It is an honour put ujion you ; you are as gods to them to relieve them and comfort them. He could givo
278" SERMONS UPON TITUS 11. 11-14. [SeR. XXII.
without thee, but he trieth thee, and will have thee interested in the act. It is a great honour to religion ; the world is taken with bounty : Rom. V. 7, ' Perad venture for a good man some would even dare to die;' Titus iii. 14, 'And let ours also learn to maintain good works for neces- sary uses, that they be not unfruitful.' Let not others, that have not such high motives, or such glorious advantages, be more forward than ours.