[2.] We must obey the truth ; that is, act agreeably to the revealed
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will of God in scripture ; that is to do well. It is the scripture which helpeth us to distinguish good from evil, and will be a sure direction in well-doing : Ps. cxix, 105, ' Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path ; ' Prov. vi. 23, ' For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light ; ' Isa. viii. 20, ' To the law and to the testimony ; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.' We are not to be ruled by our own thoughts, but by God's word, which amply sets forth our duty to us. The light of nature is very dim, and it would be a matter of great difficulty to find out our duty if we had no supernatural light to help us. There- fore God hath given his word, and that not only to instruct us in moral duties, most of which are evident by the light of nature, but also in supernatural verities, which tend to our relief and deliverance by Christ. Well, then, well-doing is not one work only, but all our entire obedience, which is necessary to salvation, that we may not only love God, do good to others, govern our appetites and desires, but believe in Christ, and live according to his holy institutes, and perform all the duties which belong to his new remedying law. This is well- doing.
2, There must be continuance in well-doing. As we must endea- vour universally to do all that God hath commanded us, so we must continue this care unto the end : Luke i. 75, ' In holiness and righteous- ness before him all the days of our life.' In a journey it is not enough to go a mile or two, but we must continue till we come to our journey's end ; so must we never give over whilst we are in this world. There may be interruptions, diversions, and stragglings, but a christian gets into the way again. Sometimes we slip and stumble, and some- times step aside, but we must not go back again. Some are good for a pang or fit : Deut. v. 29, ' Oh, that there were such an heart in them that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always!' I might heap up many considerations here, but the thing is evident. The law bindeth continually, and g/ace planted in the heart should influence all our actions. God's eye is always upon us, and every hour and moment we are anew obliged to him fur his benefits. How reasonable is it our duty should last, and the use of means be continued till we attain our end ! Therefore do not lose your crown, and the benefit of all you have done already. The promise runneth to per- severance : Kev. ii. 10, ' Be thou faithful to the death, and I will give thee a crown of life.'
3. Here is patient continuance ; that is necessary also. The good ground is described to be that which ' bringeth forth fruit with pa- tience,' Luke viii. 15. The other grounds brought forth fruit, but they did not bring forth fruit with patience. The stony ground was im- patient of contradiction and afflictions ; the thorny ground was im- ])atient of the delay of the reward, and therefore took up with present things, riches and honours and voluptuous living ; but they that have a deep sense of the other world, and can tarry God's leisure, enduring the hardships of obedience, and look for their happiness in the world to come, that is the good ground. So Heb. vi. 12, ' Be ye followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.' We shall meet wilh opposition within and without ; till we can deny ourselves,
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our hearts are not sound witli God. We need the working patience, because of the labour and pains which belongeth to well-doing ; and the waiting patience, because our reward is to come ; and the bearing patience, because of the troubles and dangers which we must endure, if we would be faithful with God ; loss of estate, slanders of the wicked, and sometimes danger of life. The working patience should not be grievous to us, because the pains of godliness will be recompensed with the fruit of it, the peace and comfort that followeth it ; and because there is more labour in committing sin than doing good. The waiting patience should not be grievous, because there must be a time for the- trial of our faith. They are hypocrites which must have their reward at present : Mat. vi. 2, * Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.' The believer he can wait for it ; he looketh for glory and honour too,, but not now. The bearing patience should not be irksome, because faithfulness in our trials is most comfortable to us, and most acceptable to God. Comfortable to us ; we have not ordinarily so clear a proof of the reality of grace as when we are under sore trials : 1 Peter i. 7, 'That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold,, though it be tried with fire, may be found unto praise, and honour, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.' Faith is then faith indeed, and obedience obedience indeed. The greater the work, and the more impediments we meet with, self-denying obedience doth most evidence itself to the conscience. Whilst we do anything for God, while we do it without shame, opposition, and loss, it is more hard to interpret our sincerity : it is more acceptable to God ; it is tried friendship and obedience which is most valuable. The obedience of a soldier is pleas- ing to a general in a time of peace ; when he saitli to one, Go, and he goeth ; and to another, Come, and he cometh ; but especially in the most desperate hazards, when he doth not dispute commands when he is bidden to go upon the cannon's mouth. From the whole, mortifica- tion, self-denial, contempt of the world, patience under manifold suffer- ings, is necessary to all that would be faithful with God, and are sure- notes of his peo})le.