2. He must be our approver and judge. If we be sincere, we make him so : 2 Cor. v. 9, ' Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him; ' 2 Cor. i. 12, Tor our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have
350 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XVIII.
had our conversation in the world.' But whether we will or no, he wiH call us to an account, and then everything will come into the judgment : Eccles. xii. 14, 'For God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.' When you reckon with your servants, a general bill doth not serve the turn. Now we cannot be too strict who are to account for all our thoughts^ words, and actions. Christ will not take our accounts by heap and in the lump, there will be a narrow search into our hearts and lives.
Thirdly, A great obligation to our strict obedience, as we are chil- dren of the light.
1. Surely there should be a great and broad difference between them and the children of darkness. Now it is both a saddening and quickening consideration to consider how far a natural man may go ; and if jon go lower in the rule of holiness, how can you think your- selves sincere with Grod ? Christ hath told us, Mat. v. 20, ' Except your^ righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.' As he convinceth the pharisees of unsoundness : Mat. v. 46, 47, ' For if you love tliem that love you, what reward have ye ? do not even the publicans the same ? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? do not the publicans so ? ' What singular thing do ye more than others ? So to convince false christians, what do ye more than others ? The pharisees were a strict sect ; they did profess irepLaaeveiv, to exceed, to supererogate ; and add to the duty of the law in externals. It were wondrous to tell you what a painful and costly profession they made, insomuch that the Jews had a proverb, that if two men only should be saved, one of them would be a scribe, the other a pharisee, such were their long devotions, large alms, and frequent penances. Now our righteousness must exceed as to principle, manner, and end. The love of God, a more thorough heart-subjection to him, and his glory, must be our scope.
2. Because the more light and knowledge a man hath, the more he is bound to take heed to his ways, that his practice may be according to his light. The children of light can better choose their way and foresee their danger ; and if they do not, their sin is double, and so will their punishment be : Luke xii. 47, ' That servant which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.' You have more light than others, and therefore you should walk more exactly ; to stumble in the dark is not so culpable. None can sin as you do, because none sin against such clear light as you do. You are ' light in the Lord.' The gospel hath not only shined upon you, as the sun may upon an opaque and dark body, but hath also shined into your hearts. You have the light seated in you, and so are made luminous yourselves ; therefore you have need to look to the principles, ends, motives, and circum- stances of all your actions, that you may do nothing that may after- wards be a shame, disgrace, or grief of heart to you. Whatever vanity, disorder, or confusion is seen in the lives of others, that are carried to no certain scope, but are hun-ied hither and thither by the uncertain motion of their lusts, you should refer all things to their great end and scope, and not be deceived with a false appearance.
YeR. 15.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 351
3. They are the light of the world : Mat. v. 14, ' Ye are the light of the world ; ' Phil. iii. 15, ' Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded ; and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.' They should be a copy and pattern to others to invite them to the heavenly life by the strictness and seriousness of their conversations. The same honour is put upon you that was put upon the star at Bethlehem, to be guides to Christ. Therefore you. are to be more exemplary, which cannot be without circumspection.
4. Because there are many snares and dangers ; as in a chessboard, we can hardly move back or forth but we are ready to be attacked. In all the businesses, affairs, and comforts of this life, we are apt to miscarry. To some their table becometh a snare : Ps. Ixix. 22, ' Let their table become a snare before them ; and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.' To others their estates :