276 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. X,
the. fear of God, and hope in his grace ; for these are the substantial duties of the first table. And compare substantials with substanlials, first-table duties are more weighty ; but compare internals of the second with externals of the first, moral duties of the second with the cere- monies of the first, duties natural and evident with the merely positive and instituted, these are more weighty. To conclude, let me add that of the psalmist : Ps. xi. 7, ' The righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.'
[3.] Righteousness fitteth for communion with God. True it is the righteous have an easy access to God, and are sure of audience : Ps. xvii. 15, ' As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness.' Saul will not see my face, but this comforteth me, that I can behold thy face. Lord, thou wilt look upon me, be gracious to me, and hear my prayer, because I desire to come before thee in righteousness. God will not hear the prayers of the unjust, nor accept their offerings, 'till judgment run down as a river, and righteousness as a mighty stream,' Amos v. 23, 24 ; and rejecteth the Jewish fast, Isa. Iviii., because they did not loose the bands of wickedness, and undo the heavy burden, and let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke.
[4.] The work of the Spirit is to enable us to glorify God in the eyes of the world, which is veiy much done by righteousness ; for this is very lovely and venerable in the eyes of the worst sort of men. A christian, if he had no other engagement upon him, yet, for the honour of God and the credit of religion, he should do those things which are lovely and comely in themselves, and so esteemed by the world. Natural conscience reverenceth righteousness : Mark vi. 20, ' Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and observed him.' When you give every one their due, you bring more honour to God and credit to religion ; you can better hold up the credit of it against contradiction. Justice is so lovely a thing, partly as it is a stricture of the image of God ; it is said, Prov. xii. 26, ' The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour ; ' for all excellency and perfection is determined by conformity to God. And partly because the welfare of human society is promoted by it ; for ' these things are good and [)ro- fitable to men,' Titus iii. 8. They are such good things as the world is most capable to know and own. There are some things which none but christians themselves approve, as the positive rites of religion, or the peculiar mysteries thereof. These the carnal world are no capable judges of. Acts xviii. 13-15, ' This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to law. And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong, or wicked lewd- ness, 0 ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you ; but if it be a question of words, and names, and of your law, look ye to it, for I ■will be no judge of such matters.' But there are other things which the world approveth ; there are certain common principles wherein we agree. Nature approveth goodness, justice, and truth, as corrupt as it is, though not faith and sacraments. The unbelieving world reveren- ceth these things as good, and of a divine original.
3. The third office of the Spirit is to be a comforter. Now riglit- eousness affordeth peace of conscience, and quietness and holy secu- rity: 2 Cor. i. 12, 'For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our con- sciences, that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our con-
YeR. 9.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 277
versation in the world ; ' Ps. xcvii. 11, ' Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart ; ' Prov. xxix. 6, ' The righteous doth sing and rejoice;' that is, whatever befalleth him, good or evil, much or little, in life or death. And he hath comfort in his portion, because what he hath he hath by the fair leave and allowance of God's providence ; if it be little, that little is better than more gotten by fraud and injustice: Prov. xvi. 8, 'Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right ; ' Ps. xxxvii. 16, ' A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.' Suppose their condition be evil, yet still they have ground of comfort ; if scorned or neglected, yet he hath the comfort of his innocent dealing to bear him out ; as Samuel when he and his house were laid aside : 1 Sam. xii. 3, * Behold, here I am ; witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed ; whose ox have I taken ? or whose ass have I taken ? or ■whom have I defrauded ? whom have I oppressed ? or of whose hand have I received bribes to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will re- store it you.' If opposed or maligned, as Moses: Num. xvi. 15, 'And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Kespect not thou their offering; I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.' If oppressed: Ps. cxix. 121, 'I have done judgment and justice ; leave me not to my oppressors.' Suppose death cometh : ' The righteous hath hope in his death,' Prov. xiv. 32 ; Isa. xxxviii. 3, ' And he said, Eemember, 0 Lord, I beseech tliee, how I have walked before thee, in truth, and with a perfect heart.' When he is going the way of all the earth, this will be a comfort to him, that he hath done no wrong, that he hath served God faithfully, and lived with men without guile and deceit. Oh, for the comforts of a dying hour ! The crooked, the subtle, the deceitful have them not, but those that walk with a simple plain-hearted honesty. III. It is a choice fruit of the Spirit.