Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

tending the Credit of Religion, compared to the Salt of the Earth, and to a City fet on an Hill.

The Uncommon and Shining Virtues of the firft Chriftians were, under God, highly Inftrumental towards the Converfion of the World. Their Perfeverance in well-doing, their Zeal for their Mafter, and the Effects of their Charity to all the World, were so many demonftrations of the Spirit. The Apologifts did ever appeal to this Known and Unexcep→ tionable Testimony in their several Apologies for the Chriftian Religion. And this Argument was of the Greater force, because it was fuch as the Ignorant could eafily Conceive, and the Learned could neither Defpife nor Disprove.

Such was the Excellency of Their Examples, and fuch should be Qurs, if we would be rank'd amongst those, who turn many to Righteousness. We fhould not be Content with Low and Obfcure Performances, but fometimes Rife to fuch, as This Day teftifies; such as may strike Emulation or Reverence into the Behold

[blocks in formation]

ers, and may Adorn and Recommend that Truth which we profess. The Apostle exhorts to

* Adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, and, to provide for Honeft (xaxa, Honourable, things, not only in the fight of the Lord, but also in the Sight of Men.

5. Pofitive Goodnefs is Neceffary to that Perfection which the Gospel requires. A Chriftian is defcribed under Characters Importing, not only that he is purged from dead Works, but that he faithfully ferves the living God; not only that he hath put off the Old Man, but that he hath put on the New Man, in order to become an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The Chriftian Inftitution is a Difcipline Qualifying us for Heaven, and the feveral Rules of the One do, in fome refpect, Affimilate our Affections to the Öther. That Flame of Divine Love is to be raised in This Life, which is to shine forth in Full Glory for ever in the Next. But Negative Goodness is at a

Tit. ii. 10,

2 Cor. viii. 21.

great

great Distance from this Perfection, and is indeed little better than the Infancy and Elements of Religion. Repentance from dead Works, is but the previous Difpofition to that Perfect Goodness, which is required in a Chriftian. The Restraint of the Paffions, which made fo great a Part of Philofophy, is no more than a Preparation to the Principal Duties of Chriflianity.

The Peculiar Doctrines of the Gospel begun, where the Other Institutions ended. When Man's Reafon was at a loss, and could carry him no further, Faith came in to his Succour, that he might go on to Perfection. And as Faith is in it felf the Highest and Noblest Principle, fo it is a practical Principle, and by Works is Faith made perfect,

The Gofpel does not only require those Good Works which were inforced by the Law of Nature, and that in Higher degrees of Excellency, than what they ap pear'd in before; but does likewife call for Additional Acts of Goodness, in fuch Inftances as could never have iffued forth from Natural Light. Those Good Works, which

P 3

which stand in the First rank under the Gospel, are fuch as Reason without Faith could not discover, and Nature without Grace could not perform.

And all this ought to be well confider'd by Thofe, who go on in a Middle way betwixt Saints and Sinners; who, though they be free from the Vices of the Carnal Man, are yet at a great Distance from the Perfections of the Spiritual. They fatisfy themselves, if they step not afide into Wrong Paths, though they do not Move forward in the Right One, toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Chrift Jefus. They hang in a State of Indifferency between God and the World, without any vehemence of Tendency toward Either. And though they have Experience enough, to fee through this Grave cheat, which is fo commonly put upon Life, yet they still remain Indulgent of Ease, and Patient of Delufion. They are not willing to offend God by flagrant Acts of Iniquity; but they continually provoke him, by neglecting to do thofe things that are pleafing in his Sight.

Wherefore

Wherefore let every Unprofitable Servant Carefully view the Precipice, whereon he ftands; that he may betimes retire from the Dreadful Brink to a fafer Situation: Let his Total Neglect of Good Works be Succeeded by Earneftness, and Affiduity, and Fervency in the Performance of them. And This leads me in the next Place briefly to represent,

II. That Zeal is the Neceffary Qualification of Pofitive Duty, or Acts of Goodness; for 'tis incumbent upon the Servants of our Lord, that they fhould be Zealous of Good Works. The value of Performances does much depend upon That Difpofition of Mind from whence they flow. When Good Works are done with a Negligence and Unconcern, as if it were perfectly Indifferent to the Man, whether they be Undertaken, or let alone, whether they Succeed or Miscarry; They then fit upon him with a very ill grace, and he may eafily expect, that What is Performed with fo much Coldness, will meet with a Cold Reception. 'Tis the Life and Spirit, the Sprightlinefs and the Fervour of Religious enterprizes, that P 4 muft

« AnteriorContinuar »