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to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments d.

III. Although repentance be not to be rested in, as any fatisfaction for fin, or any caufe of the pardon thereofe, which is the act of God's free grace in Chriftf; yet is it of such neceffity to all finners, that none may expect pardon without it g. IV. As

it may be that the Lord God of hofts will be gracious unto the remnant of Jofeph. Pfal. cxix. 128. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every falle way. 2 Cor. vii. 11. For behold, this felf-fame thing that ye forrowed after a godly fort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourfelves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement defire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! in all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

d Pfal, cxix, 6. Then shall I not be aflamed, when I have refpect unto all thy commandments. v. 59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy teftimonies. v. 106. I have fworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. Luke i. 6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blame leis. 2 Kings xxiii. 25. And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his foul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moles; neither after him arofe there any like him.

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III. Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then fhall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and thall lothe your felves in your own fight, for your iniquities and for your abominations. v. 32. Not for your fakes do I this, faith the Lord God, be it known unto you:

be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O houfe of Ifrael. Ezek. xvi. 61. Then thou fhalt remember thy ways, and be afhamed, when thou shalt receive thy filters, thine elder and thy younger: : and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant. v. 62. And I will establish my covenant with thee, and thou fhalt know that I am the Lord. v. 63. That thou mayeft remember and be confound→ ed, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy fhame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, faith the Lord God.

f Hof. xiv. 2. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord, say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us gracioufly: fo will we render the calves of our lips. v. 4. I will heal their backfliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. Rom. iii. 24. Being juftified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jefus Chrift. Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption thro' his blood, the forgiveness of fins, according to the riches of his grace.

g Luke xiii. 3. I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye fhall all likewife perifh. v. 5. I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye fhall all likewife perifh. Acts xvii. 30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent. v. 31, Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the

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IV. As there is no fin fo fmall, but it deferves damnation b; fo there is no fin fo great, that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repenti.

V. Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man's duty to endeavour to repent of his particular fins particularlyk.

VI. As every man is bound to make private confeffion of his fins to God, praying for the pardon thereof /; upon which,

world in righteoufnefs, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given affurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

IV. b Rom. vi. 23. For the wages of fin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jefus Christ our Lord. Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one man fin entered into the world, and death by fin; and fo death paffed upon all men, for that all have finned. Mat. xii. 36. But I fay unto you, that every idle word that men fhall speak, they fhall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

i Ifa. Iv. 7. Let the wicked forfake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Rom, viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the fpirit. Ifa. i. 16. Wash ye, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, cease to do evil. v. 18. Come now and let as reafon together, faith the Lord; though your fins be as fcarlet, they fhall be as white as fnow; though they be red like crimson, they fhall be as wool.

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V. Pfal. xix. 13. Keek back thy fervant alfo from prefumptuous fins, let them not have dominion over me; then fhall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great tranfgreflion. Luke xix. 8. And Zaccheus ftood and faid unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken any thing from any man by falfe accufation, I restore him fourfold. 1 Tim. i. 13. Who was before a blafphemer, and a perfecutor and injurious. But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly, in unbelief. y. 15. This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chrift Jefus came into the world to fave finners; of whom I am chief,

VI. Pfal. li. 4. Against thee, thee only have I finned, and done this evil in thy fight: that thou mightest be justified when thou fpeakeft, and be clear when thou judgeft. v. 5. Behold, I was fhapen in iniquity: and in fin did my mother conceive me. v. 7. Purge me with hyffop, and I fhall be clean; wash me, and I fhall be whiter than fnow. v. 9. Hide thy face from my fins; and blot out all mine iniquities. v. 14. Deliver me from bloodguiltinefs, O God, thou God of my falvation: and my tongue fhall fing aloud of thy righteoufnefs. Pfal. F 4 xxxii.

and the forfaking of them, he shall find mercy m: So he that fcandalizeth his brother, or the church of Christ, ought to be willing, by a private or public confeffion and forrow for his fin, to declare his repentance to thofe that are offendedn; who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him o.

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CHAP. XVI. Of Good Works.

NOOD works are only fuch as God hath commanded in his holy word a, and not fuch as, without the warrant thereof, are devifed by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intention b.

xxxii. 5. I acknowledged my fin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid: I faid, I will confefs my tranfgreffions unto the Lord; and thou forgaveft the iniquity of my fin. Selah. v. 6. For this thall every one that is godly pray unto thee, in a time when thou mayeft be found: furely in the floods of great waters, they fhall not come nigh unto him.

m Prov. xxviii. 13. He that covereth his fins, fhall not profper: but whofo confefleth and forfaketh them, ihall have mercy. 1 John i. 9. If we confefs our fins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our fins, and to cleanfe us from all unrighteoufnefs.

James v. 16. Confefs your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Luke xvii. 3. Take heed to your felves: If thy brother trefpafs against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. v. 4. And if he trefpafs against thee feven times in a day, and feven times in a day turn again to thee, faying, I repent; thou fhalt forgive him.

II. These

Josh. vii. 19. And Joshua faid unto Achan, My fon, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Ifrael, and make confeflion unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done, hide it not from me. (Pfal. li. throughout.)

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2 Cor. ii. 8. Wherefore I befeech you, that you would confirm your love towards him.

I a Micah vi. 8. He hath fhewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Rom. xii. 2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God. Heb, xiii. 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his fight, through Jefus Chrift; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Mat. xv. 9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Ifa. xxix. 13. Wherefore the Lord faid, Forafmuch as this people draw near

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II. These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith and by them believers manifeft their thankfulness d, strengthen their affurance e, edify their brethren ƒ, adorn the pro

me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men. 1 Pet. i. 18. Foraímuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as filver and gold, from your vain converfation, received by tradition from your fathers, Rom. x. 2. For I bear them record, that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. John xvi. 2. They thall put you out of the fynagogues, yea, the time cometh, that whofoever killeth you, will think that he doth God fervice. I Sam, xv. 21. But the people took of the fpoil, fheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly deftroyed, to facrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal. v. 22. And Samuel faid, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and facrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord Behold, to obey is better than facrifice; and to hearken, than the fat of rams. v. 23. For rebellion is as the fin of witchcraft, and ftubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry: because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

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der unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me? v. 13. I will take the cup of falvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. 1 Pet, ii. 9. But ye are a chofen generation, a royal prieithood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye fhould fhew forth the praises of him, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

e 1 John ii. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. v. 5. But whofo keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 2 Pet. i. 5. And befides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; v. 6. And to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; v. 7. And to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. v. 8. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye fhall neither be barren, nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jefus Chrift. v. 9. But he that lacketh thefe things, is blind, and cannot fee far off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old fins. v. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election fure: for if ye do these things, ye fhall never fall.

f 2 Cor. ix. 2. For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boaft of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Mat. v. 16.

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the profeffion of the gofpelg, ftop the mouths of the adverfaries b, and glorify Godi, whofe workmanship they are, created in Chrift Jefus thereuntok; that, having their fruit unto holinefs, they may have the end eternal life l.

III. Their ability to do good works is not at all of themfelves, but wholly from the Spirit of Chrift m. And that they may be enabled thereunto, befides the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the fame holy Spirit, to work in them to will and to do of his

Let your light fo fhine before men, that they may fee your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

g Tit. ii. 5. To be difcreet, chafte, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blafphemed. v. 9. Exhort fervants to be obedient unto their own mafters, and to please them well in all things; not anfwering again; v. 10. Not purloining, but fhewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. V. II. For the grace of God that bringeth falvation, hath appeared to all men; v. 12. teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lufts, we fhould live foberly, righteoufly, and godly in this prefent world. 1 Tim, vi 1. Let as many fervants as are under the yoke, count their own masters worthy of all honour; that the name of God and his doctrine be not blafphemed. b1 Pet. ii. 15. For fo is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to filence the ignorance of foolish men.

i 1 Pet. ii. 12. Having your converfation honest among the Gentiles; that whereas they fpeak against you as evil doers, they may, by your good works which they

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fhall behold, glorify God in the day of vifitation. Phil. i. 11. Being filled with the fruits of righte ouinefs, which are by Jefus Chrift, unto the glory and praife of God. John xv. 8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, fo fhall fo fhall ye be my difciples.

k Eph. ii. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Chrift Jefus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we fhould walk in them.

Rom. vi. 22. But now being made free from fin, and become fervants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

III. m John xv. 4. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itfelf, except it abide in the vine: no more can ye, except ye abide in me. * v. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the fame bringeth forth much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing. v. 6. If a man abide not in me, he is caft forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them and caft them into the fire, and they are burned. Ezek. xxxvi. 26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the ftony heart out of your

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