Christian Behavior, Title page – To the reader
Christian Behaviour; OR THE Fruits of true Christianity. Shewing the Ground from whence they flow, in their Godlike order in the Duty of Relations, as Husbands, Wives, Parents, Children, Masters, Servants, &c. With a Word of Direction to all Backsliders.
By John Bunyan, a Prisoner of Hope.
The Earth that drinketh in the Rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth Briers and Thorns is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned, Heb. 6. 7, 8.
London, Printed for F. Smith, at the Elephant and Castle without Temple-Bar.
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
Courteous Reader,
HAving formerly writ some small matter, touching the Doctrine of Faith; as Justification by Grace through the Faith of Christs Blood, &c. I do here, as the second to that Doctrine, present thee with a few lines, touching Good Works, that I might, as at first I shewed thee the Good and Glory of the one, so now shew thee the Beauty and Excellency of the other: For though we are justified, Rom. 3. 24, &c. freely by Grace through Christ before God; yet we are justified before Men, Jam. 2. 18. by our Works: Nay, a life of Holiness flowing from Faith in us that are saved by Grace, it doth justifie that Grace before the World that justifies us before God, 2 Cor. 6. 1, 3. 2 Cor. 9. 12, 13, 1 Pet. 2. 11, 12.
I have not here only in general treated of this Doctrine of Good Works, but particularly (after some discourse about Works flowing from Faith, and what makes it truly and gospelly Good) I discourse of them as we stand under our several relations in this World among men;
As first, The Duty of the Master of a Family: Of the Husband to his Wife; and of hers to him: Of the Duty of Parents to their Children; and of Children to their Parents: Of Masters also to their Servants; and of the Servant again to his Master; with a brief touch upon Good Neighbourhood; and a discovery of Covetousness, Pride and Uncleanness, which are great Obstructions to a truly Gospel-Conversation.
I know there are many that have treated of Good Works in large and learned Discourses, but, I doubt, all have not so Gospelized their discourses as become them, and as the Doctrine of the Grace of God calleth for. However, I thoughtit my duty to add this discourse to all that are past; and that for these Reasons.
First, to take away those Aspersions that the Adversaries cast upon our Doctrine (Rom. 3. 8. as also in the dayes of Paul) that because we preach Justification without the Works of the Law; therefore they pretend we plead for loosness of life, whose damnati…s just.
Secondly, Because though there be much discourse about Works in general; yet a particular Discourse of them, as afore is touched, is too much neglected, and by this means every one too much left at uncertainties (as from them) of their several works under their particular Relations, which I think is one reason of that disorder in Families and Places, where God's People live, to their shame, and the dishonour of their God.
Thirdly, Because these few Books that do particularly treat thus of Good Works, are, I think, now so scarce, or so big, that but few have them, and few buy them, if they may be had, especially our new Converts; for whose sakes principally this short Discourse is intended: and indeed this is one reason of my brevity, that the price might neither be burdensome, nor the reading long and tedious: Multitude of words drown the Memory; and an Exhortation in few words, may yet be so full, that the Reader may find that in the side of a sheet, which some are forced to hunt for in a whole Quire, &c. The Lord teach us this Wisdom.
Fourthly, I have written this Book, to shew that I bear a fellow-Testimony and Witness (with all that know God) of the Operation that Grace hath, and will have in the heart that hath savingly received it.
Lastly, I have thus written, because it is amiable, and pleasant to God, when Christians keep their Rank, Relation and Station, doing all as become their Quality & Calling. When Christians stand every one in their places, and do the work of their Relations, then they are like the flowers in the Garden, that stand and grow where the Gardner hath planted them, and then they shall both honour the Garden in which they are planted, and the Gardner that hath so disposed of them: From the Hysop on the Wall, to the Cedar in Lebanon, their Fruit is their glory. And seeing the stock into which we are planted, is the fruitfullest stock; the sap conveyed thereout the fruitfullest sap, and the dresser of our souls, the wisest Husbandman, John 15. 1. How contrary to nature, to example, and expectation should we be, if we should not be rich in Good Works.
Wherefore take heed of being painted fire, wherein is no warmth, and painted flowers, which retain no smell, and of being painted trees, whereon i… no fruit. Whoso boasteth himself o… a false gift, is like Clouds and Wind without Rain, Prov. 25. 14.
Farewel▪ The Lord be with thy Spirit, tha… thou mayest profit for time to come. J. BUNYAN
Christian Behaviour; OR, The Fruits of true Christianity.
Tit. 3. 7, 8.
That being justified by his Grace, we should be made Heirs according to the hope of Eternal Life.
This is a faithful Saying; and these things I will that you affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God, might be careful to maintain good Works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
I Shall not at this time discourse of every Particular at large, included in these words, but shall briefly fall upon those things that I judge most necessary for the People of God: Neither shall I need to make any great preamble to the words for their Explication, they themselves being plain, and without tha… ambiguity that calleth for such a thing the general scop being this, That the which have believed in God, should be care…ful to maintain Good Works.
But yet, to prosecute what I inten… with what clearness I may, I shall in … word or two make way for what is to be the main of this Book.
[This is a Faithful Saying] This Which? Why that which goeth before namely, That being justified by Grace, w… should be made Heirs according to the hop… of Eternal Life. This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm con…stantly.
Why so?
Why, that they which have believed i… God, might be careful to maintain Goo… Works.
The meaning is, That the way to provoke others to Good Works, is constant…ly (in the evidence and demonstratio… of the Spirit) to shew them the certainty of their being by Grace made Heirs of Eternal Life.
From this Scripture therefore I do gather these things observable.
First, That Good Works do flow from Faith. Yea,
Secondly, That every one that believeth should be careful that their Works be Good.
Thirdly, That every Believer should not only be careful that their Works be good, and for the present do them, but should also be careful to maintain them; that is, They should carefully study to keep in a constant course of Good Works.
And lastly, That the best way to provoke both our selves and others to this Work. It is to be often affirming to others, the Doctrine of Justification by Grace, and to believe it our selves. This is a faithful Saying; and these things I will, saith Paul, that thou affirm constantly, that they who have believed in God, might be careful to maintain Good Works.
I begin with the first.
That Good Works do flow from Faith.
This is evident divers wayes. First, from the impossibility of their flowing from any other thing; they must either flow from Faith, or not at all: For whatsoever is not of Faith, is sin. And again; without Faith it is impossible to please Him, (Rom. 14. 23. Heb. 11. 6.) Every man by nature, before Faith, is an evil and a corrupt tree: And a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (Mat. 7. 16, 17.) Now a man is made good by Faith, and by that bringeth forth the Fruits that are acceptable to God, (Heb. 11. 4. Col. 1. 4, 5, 6.) Wherefore sinners before faith, are compared to the Wilderness, whose fruits are briers and thornes; and whose hearts are the habitation of Dragons; that is, of Devils, (Isa. 35. 6, 7. Heb. 6. 7, 8.) And hence again it is, that they are said to be Godless, Christless, Spiritless, Faithless, Hopeless; without the Covenant of Grace; without Strength; enemies in their minds by wicked works, and possessed by the Spirit of wickedness, as a Castle by a Conqueror, Ephes. 2. 12. Jude 19. 2 Thes. 3. 2. Col. 1. 21. Luke 11. 21.
Now these things being thus, it is impossible that all the men under heaven, that are unconverted, should be able to bring forth one work rightly good; even as impossible, as for all the Briers and Thrones under Heaven, to bring forth one cluster of Grapes, or one bunch of Figs; for indeed they want the qualification: A Thorn bringeth not forth Figs, because it wanteth the nature of the Fig-tree; and so doth the Bramble the nature of the Vine. Good Works must come from a good heart.
Now, this the unbeliever wanteth, because he wanteth Faith; For 'tis that which purifieth the heart (Luk. 6. 45. Acts 15. 9.) Good Works must come from love to the Lord Jesus; but this the unbeliever wanteth also; Because he wanteth Faith: for Faith worketh by love, and by that means doth good, as Gal. 5. 6.
And hence again it is, That though the carnal man doth never so much which he calleth good, yet it is rejected, slighted, and turned as dirt in his face again; his prayers are abominable, his plowing is sin, and all his righteousness as menstruous rags (Prov. 15. 8. Prov. 21. 4. Isa. 60. 4.) Thus you see, that without Faith there is no Good Works. Now then to shew you that they flow from Faith. And that,
For that Faith is a principle of Life by which a Christian lives (Gal. 2. 20, 21.) a principle of Motion by which it walks towards Heaven in the Way of Holiness, (Rom. 4. 12. 2 Cor. 5. 7.) It is also a principle of strength, by which the soul opposeth its lust, the Devil and this World, and over-comes them; This is your victory, even your Faith, (1 John 5. 4, 5.) Faith in the heart of a Christian, is like the Salt that was thrown into the corrupt Fountain, that made the naughty waters good, and the Land fruitful (2 Kings 2. 19, 20, 21.) Faith, when it is wrought in the heart, it is like leaven hid in the meal, Mat. 13. 33. or like perfume, that lighteth upon stinking leather, turning the smell of the leather the savour of the perfume; it being the… planted in the heart, and having its natural inclination to holiness. Hence it i… that there followeth an alteration of the life and conversation, and so bringeth forth fruit accordingly. A good man ou… of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth good fruit, Luk. 6. 45. Which treasure, I say, is this Faith (Jam. 2. 5. 1 Pet. 1. 7.) And therefore it is, that Faith is called, The Faith according to Godliness, and the most holy Faith, Tit. 1. 1. Jude 20.
2. Good Works must needs flow from Faith, or no way; Because, that alone carrieth in it an argument sufficiently prevalent to win upon our natures, to make them comply with holiness.
Faith sheweth us that God loveth us, that he forgiveth us our sins, that he counteth us for his Children, having freely justified us through the Blood of his Son, Rom. 3. 24, 25. Rom. 4. Heb. 11. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 8.
Faith receiveth the Promise, imbraceth it, and comforteth the Soul unspeakably with it. Faith is so great an Artist in arguing and reasoning with the soul, that it will bring over the hardest heart that it hath to deal with: It will bring to my remembrance at once, both my vileness against God, and his goodness towards me; it will shew me, that though I deserve not to breath in the Air, yet that God will have me an Heir of Glory.
Now, there is no argument greater than this: this will make a man run thorow ten thousand difficulties to answer God (though it never can) for the Grace that he hath bestowed on it.
Further, Faith will shew me how distinguishingly this Love of God hath set it self upon me: It will shew me, that though Esan was Jacobs Brother, yet he loved Jacob, Mal. 1. 2. that though there were thousands more besids me that were as good as me, yet I must be the man that must be chosen.
Now this, I say, is a marvellous argument, and unspeakably prevaileth with the sinner, as saith the Apostle, For the Love of Christ constrains us, because we th… judge, That if one dyed for all, then are all dead, and that he died for all, that they which live (that is by Faith) should not henceforth live unto themselves, but to Hi… that died for them, and rose again, 2 Cor. 5. 14. Love, saith the Wise man, is strong as Death; many waters cannot quench Love, neither can the floods drown it▪ If a man would give all the substance of his house for Love, it would be utterly contemned. Song. 8. 6, 7.
Oh! when the broken dying condemned sinner, can but see, by Faith, the Love of a tender-hearted Saviour; and also see what he underwent to deliver it from under that Death, Guilt and Hell that now he feels and fears, which also it knoweth it hath most justly and highly deserved: Then bless the Lord, O my soul; and what shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits? Psal. 103. 1, 2, 3. Psal. 116. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
Thus is Faith a prevailing argument to the sinner, whereby he is fetched off …rom what he was, and constrained to …end and yeeld to what before it neither would nor could, 1 Cor. 2. 14. Rom. 8. ….
And hence it is, that Gospel-obedience is called the Obedience of Faith, as well as obedience to the Faith, (Rom. 16. 26. For it must be by the Faith of Christ in my heart, that I submit to the Word of Faith in the Bible, otherwise …ll is to no profit, as saith the Apostle▪ The Word preached did not profit them, it not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it (Heb. 4. 2.) For Faith alone can see the reality of what the Gospel saith; and so I say, argue over the heart to the imbracing of it.
4. Faith is such a Grace, as wil represent to the soul all things in their proper colours: it doth not (as doth unbelief and ignorance) shew us all things out of order, puting darkness for light, and bitter for sweet, but will set every thing in his proper place before our eyes, God and Christ shall be with it, the chiefest good, the most lovely and amiable; a Heavenly Life shall be of greater estee… and more desirable, than all the tre…sures of Egypt: Righteousness & Sanct…fication will be the thing after which … will most vehemently press, because … seeth not only Death and Damnation, … the fruits of sin, but sin also in it sel… distinct from the punishment belongin… to it, a detestible, horrible, and odiou… thing, Heb. 11. 25, 26, 27. Phil. 3. 7, 8, 9▪ 10, 11, 12. Rom. 12. 9.
By Faith we see this World hath n… abiding in it for us, nor no satisfactio… if it were otherwise, Prov. 33. 5. Heb▪ 11. 15, 16. & 13. 14. 1 Cor. 7. 29, 30, 31▪ And hence it is, that the People of God have groaned to be gone from hence, int… a state that is both sinless, and temptationless: And hence it is again, that they have run through so many Tryals, Afflictions and Adversities, even because of that Love to holiness of life, that Faith being in their hearts did prompt them to by shewing them the worth and durableness of that which was good, and the irksomeness and evil of all things else▪ …Cor. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Heb. 11. 33, …4, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39.
5. Faith layeth hold of that which is …ble to help the soul to bring forth Good Works: It layeth hold of, and ingageth …e Strength of Christ, and by that over…ometh that which oppresseth. I can do …ll things through Christ that strengthen…th me, Phil. 4. 13.
In a word, A Life of Holiness and Godliness in this world, doth so insepa…ably follow a Principle of Faith, that … is both monstrous and ridiculous to …uppose the contrary. What, shall not …e that hath life have motion? Gal. 2. …0. He that hath by Faith received the …pirit of Holiness, shall not he be Ho…y? Gal. 3. 2. And he that is called to Glory and Vertue, Shall not he add to …is Faith Vertue? 2 Pet. 1. 4, 5. We are …y Faith made good Trees, and shall not …e bring forth good Fruit? Luke 6. 43. They that believe are created in Christ …esus unto Good …orks; and God hath, …efore the world was, ordained that we …hould walk in them; and shall both our second Creation, and God's fore-ordin…tion be made frustrate? Ephes. 1. 4. & … 10. Besides, the Children of Faith … the Children of Light, and of the … 1 Tim. 5. 5. Lights upon a Hill, & Ca…dles on a Candle-stick, and shall not the shine? They are the Salt of the Earth shall not they be seasoning? Mat. 5. 1… 14.
The Believer is the alone Man, … whom God sheweth to the World th… Power of his Grace, the operation of h… Peoples Faith, &c. The unbeliever… reade indeed of the Power of Grace, … the Faith, Hope, Love, Joy, Peace, an… Sanctification of the Heart of the Chri…stian, but they feel nothing of that sin killing operation that is in these things these are to them as a story out of Rom… or Spain: Wherefore, to shew them i… others, what they find not in themselves God worketh Faith, Hope, Love, &c. i… a Generation that shall serve him; an… by them they shall see what they canno… find in themselves; and by this mean… they shall be convinced, that though sin… …nd the pleasures of this life, be sweet to …hem, yet there is a People otherwise-…inded, even such a People, that do in…eed see the Glory of that which others …eade of, and from that fight, take plea…ure in those things which they are most …verse unto. To this, I say, are Christi…ns called; herein is God glorified; Hereby are sinners convinced; and by …his is the World condemned, 1 Thes. 4. …. 1 Pet. 2. 12. & 3. 1. Heb. 11. 7.
Object. But if Faith doth so naturally …ause Good Works, what then is the rea…on that God's People find it so hard a mat…er to be Faithful in Good Works?
I answer, First, God's People are …ruitful in Good Works, according to the pro…ortion of their Faith; if they be slender …n Good Works, it is because they are weak …n Faith. Little faith is like small can…les, or a weak fire, which though they shine, and have heat, yet but dim shining, and but small heat, when compared with bigger Candles & greater Fire. The reason why Sardis had some in it whose works were not perfect before God; … was because they did not hold fast, b… Faith, the Word that they had former … heard, and received, Rev. 3. 1, 2, 3.
Secondly, There may be a great mistak… in our judging of our own fruitfulness… the soul that indeed is candid, and righ… at heart, is taught by Grace to judge … self, though fruitful, yet barren upo… two accounts; 1. When it compareth it life to the Mercy bestowed upon it: Fo… when a Soul doth indeed consider th… greatness and riches of the Mercy be…stowed upon it, then it must needs cr… out, O wretched man that I am! Rom▪ 7. 24. for it seeth it self wonderfully t… fall short of a Conversation becomin… one who hath received so great a benefit▪ 2. It may also judge it self barren, becaus… it falleth so far short of that it woul… attain unto; it cannot do the thing tha… it would, Gal. 5. 17. 3. The heart o… a Christian is naturally very barren; up…on which, though the Seed of Gra… (that is the fruitfullest of all Seeds) b…sowen, yet the heart is naturally subjec… to bring forth weeds, Mat. 15. 19.
Now, to have a good Crop from such ground, doth argue the fruitfulness of the Seed: wherefore I conclude upon these three things.
First, That the Seed of Faith is a very fruitful Seed, in that it will be fruitful in so barren a soil.
Secondly, That Faith is not beholding to the heart, but the heart to it, for all its fruitfulness.
Thirdly, That therefore the way to be a more fruitful Christian, it is to be stronger in believing.
Now for the second thing, to wit, That every one that believeth should be careful that their Works be Good. This followeth from what went just before; to wit, That the heart of a Christian is a heart subject to bring forth weeds.
There is Flesh as … well as Spirit in the best of Saints: and as the Spirit▪ of Grace will be alwayes putting forth something that is good, so the Flesh will be putting forth continually that which is evil.
For the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit as the Spirit against the Flesh, Gal. 5. 17. Now, this considered, is the cause why you find so often in the Scriptures so many items & cautions to the Christians to look to their lives and conversations▪ As, Keep thy heart with all diligence, Prov▪ 4. 23. Watch ye; stand fast in the Faith▪ quit you like men, be strong, 1 Cor. 16. 13▪ Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man soweth, that shall he reap▪ for he that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap Corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting, Gal. 6. 7, 8.
All works are not good that seem to be so: It is one thing for a mans wayes to be right in his own eye; and another, for them to be right in God's. Often that which is in high estimation with men, is abomination in the sight of God, Prov. 30. 12. Luke 16. 15.
Seeing Corruption is not yet out o… our natures, there is a proneness in us t… build upon the right foundation, Wood Hay and Stubble, instead of Gold and Silver and precious Stones, 1 Cor. 3. 11, 13, 14, 15. How was both David the King, Nathan the Prophet, and Vzza the Priest deceived, touching Good Works? 1 Chron. 17. 1, 2, 3, 4. 1 Chron. 13. 9, 10, 11. Peter also in both his defending his Master in the Garden, and in diswading of him from his sufferings, though both out of love and affection to his Master, was deceived touching Good Works, Mat. 16. 22, 23. John 18. 9, 10.
Many have miscarried both as to Doctrine, Worship, and the prosecution of each.
1. For Doctrine. Christ tells the Jews, That they taught for the Doctrines of God, the doctrines and traditions of men, Mat. 15. Mark 7. As also saith the Apostle▪ They teach things they ought not, for filthy lucres sake, Tit. 1. 11.
2. Also, touching Worship, we find how frequently men have mistaken both for time, place and matter with which they worshipped.
1. For time. It hath been that which man hath devised, not which God hath commanded, 1 Kings 12. 32. They change the Ordinances, saith Isaiah, Isa. 24. 5. They change God's Judgments into wickedness, saith Ezekiel, Ezek. 5. 6.
2. For place. When they should have worshipped at Jerusalem, they worshipped at Bethel, at Gilgal, and Dan, in Gardens under Poplers and Elms, 1 Kings 12. 26, 27, 28, 29. Hos. 4. 13, 14, 15. Isa. 65. 2, 3, 4, 5.
3. For the matter with which they worshipped. Instead of bringing according to the Commandment, they brought the lame, the torn, and the sick: they would sanctifie themselves in Gardens, with Swines-flesh and Mice, when they should have done it at Jerusalem, with Bullucks and Lambs, Isa. 66. 17.
Again, Touching mens prosecuting their Zeal for their Worship, &c. that they do think right: How hot hath it been, though with no reason at all. Nebuchadnezzar will have his Fiery-Furnace, and Darius his Lyons-Den for Nonconformists, Dan. 3. 6. & 6. 7, &c.
Again, they have persecuted men even to strange Cities; have laid traps and snares in every corner to intrap and to intangle their Words; and if they could at any time but kill the Persons that dissented from them, they would think they did God good service, Acts 26. 11. Luke 11. 53, 54. John. 16. 1, 2. But what need we look so far from home, (were it not that I would seal my Sayings with Truth) we need look no further to affirm this position, than to the Papists and their Companions: How many have they in all ages hanged, burned, starved, drowned, wracked, dismembred and murdered, both openly and in secret? and all under a pretence of God, his Worship, and Good Works.
Thus you see how both Wise men and Fools, Saints and Sinners, Christians and Heathens, have erred in the business of Good Works; Wherefore every one should be careful to see that their works be good.
Now, then to prevent, if God will, miscarriage in this matter, I shall propound unto you what it is for a Work to be rightly Good.
First, A Good Work must have, The Word for its authority.
Secondly, It must, as afore was said, flow from Faith.
Thirdly, It must be, both rightly timed, and rightly placed.
Fourthly, It must be done, Willingly, chearfully, &c.
1. It must have the Word for its authority.
Zeal without knowledge, is like a metled Horse without eyes, or like a sword in a mad-man's hand: and there is no knowledge where there is not the Word; For if they reject the Word of the Lord, and act not by that, What Wisdom is in them? saith the Prophet, Jer. 8. 9. Isa. 8. 20. Wherefore see thou have the Word for what thou dost.
2. As there must be the Word for the authorizing of what thou dost, so there must be Faith, from which it must flow, as I shewed you before: For whatever is not of faith is sin: and without faith, it is impossible to please God. Now I say, without the Word there is no Faith; Rom. 10. 17. As without Faith there is no good, let mens pretences be what they will.
3. As it must have these two afore-named, so also it must have, first, right Time, and secondly, right Place.
1. It must be rightly timed: Every work is not to be done at the same time, every time not being convenient for such a work: There is a time for all things; and every thing is beautiful in its time, Eccles. 31. 11. There is a time to pray, a time to hear; a time to read, a time to confer; a time to meditate; a time to do, and a time to suffer. Now, to be hearing when we should be preaching, and doing, that is, yeelding active obedience to that under which we ought to suffer, is not good. Christ was very wary, that both his doings and sufferings were rightly timed, John 2. 3, 4. & 13. 1, 2. and herein we ought to follow his steps: To be at plow in the field, when I should be hearing the Word, is not good; and to be talking abroad, when I should be instructing my family at home, is as bad. Who so keepeth the Commandment, shall feel no evil thing: and a wise mans heart discerneth both time and judgement, Eccles. 8. 5. Good things mis-timed, are fruitless, unprofitable, and vain.
2. As things must have their right time, so they must be rightly placed; for the misplacing of any work, is as bad as the mis-timing of it.
When I say, things, if good, must be rightly placed, I mean, we should not give to any work more than the Word of God alloweth it; neither should we give it less: Mint, Anise, and Cummin, are not so weighty matters, as Faith and the Love of God, as in Mat. 23. 23. For a Pastor to be exercising the office of a Deacon instead of the office of a Pastor, it is misplacing of works, Acts 6. 2. For Martha to be making outward provision for Christ, when she should have sate at his feet to hear his Word, was the mis-placing a work; and for her sister to have done it at her request, (though the thing in it self was good) had been her sin also, Luke 10. 39, 40, 41, 42.
Now, to prevent the misplacing of Good Works, observe,
First, They misplace them that set them in the room of Christ, Rom. 10. 1, 2, 3.
Secondly, They also misplace them that make them co-partners with Him, Rom. 9. 31, 32. Acts 15. 1.
This is, setting up our posts by God's posts; and man's righteousness by the righteousness of Christ, Ezek. 43. 7, 8. these are said to be teachers of the Law, not knowing what they say, nor whereof they affirm, 1 Tim. 1. 7.
Thirdly, They also misplace works, who ascribe to a work of less moment, that honour that belongeth to a work more noble: and such are, 1. Those who count the ceremonial part of an Ordinance, as good as the doctrine and signification of it.
2. Such who count the dictates and impulses of a meer natural conscience, as good, as high, and divine, as the leadings and movings of the Spirit of Christ.
3. Those also who count it enough to do something of what God hath commanded (and that something, possibly the least instead of all, and the things more necessary and weighty.
Fourthly, They also much misplac… them, who count things indifferent, a… high as those that are absolutely necessary in the Worship of God.
5ly. But they grosser, who place men traditions above them.
6ly. And they greatest of all, who pu… bitter for sweet, and darkness for light. Al… these things we must shun and avoid, a… things absolutly obstructive to Good Works▪
Wherefore, touching Good Works; Obedience is better than Sacrifice; that is, to do things according to the Word of God, is better than to do them according to my fancy & conceit, 1 Sam. 15. 22. Wherefore let all things be done decently and in order, 1 Cor. 14. 40.
Again, as Good Works should be ordered and qualified as afore is touched, so they should be done from the heart, willingly, chearfully, with simplicity and charity, according to what a man hath, 1 Joh… 5. 3. 2 Cor. 9. 7. Rom. 12. 8. Col. 3. 20. 1 Cor. 10. 14. 1 Cor. 8. 12.
Further, There are three things that a man should have in his eye in every work he doth.
1. The honour of God, 1 Cor. 6. 20.
2. The edification of his Neighbour, 1 Cor. 14. 26.
3. The expediency or inexpediency of what I am to do, 1 Cor. 6. 12. And alwayes observe it, that the honour of God is wrapped up in the edification of thy neighbour; and the edification of thy neighbour, in the expediency of what thou dost.
Again, if thou wouldst walk to the edification of thy neighbour, and so to God's honour, in the midst of thy observers; Beware, 1. That thou in thy words and carriages, dost so demean thy self, that Christ in his precious benefits may be with clearness spoken forth by thee: and take heed, that thou dost not enter into doubtful points with them that are weak, Rom. 15. 1. but deal chiefly, lovingly, and wisely with their Consciences about those matters that tend to their better establishment in the Faith of their Justification, and deliverance from Death and Hell. Comfort the feeble-minded, confirm the weak, 1 Thes. 5. 14.
2. If thou be stronger than thy brother, take heed that thou do not that before him, that may offend his weak conscience; I mean, things that in themselves may be lawful: All that is lawful is not expedient; all that is lawful edifieth not, 1 Cor. 6. 12. Wherefore here is thy wisdom and love, that thou in some things deny thy self for thy brothers sake: 1 Cor. 8. 13. I will not eat meat while the world standeth, saith Paul, lest I make my Brother to offend. Wherefore have this Faith to thy self before God, Rom. 14. 22. but if thou walk otherwise, know, thou walkest not charitably, and so not to edification, and so not to Christ's honour, but dost sin against Christ, and wound thy weak brother, for whom Christ died, Rom. 14. 15. 1 Cor. 8. 12.
But I say, all this while keep thy eye upon the Word; take heed of going contrary to that under any pretence what…ver; for without the Word, there is no…hing to God's glory, nor thy brothers edification. Wherefore, walk wisely in a perfect way, Psal. 101. 2, 3.
Having thus, in few words, shewed you what are works rightly Good, I beseech you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you put your selves into a consciencious performance of them, that you may, while you live here, be Vessels of Honour, and fit for the Masters use, and prepared to every Good Work, 1 Tim. 6. 17. Study to approve things that are excellent, that you may be sincere, and without offence, until the Day of Christ, Phil. 1. 10. Covet communion with God; covet earnestly the best gifts, 1 Cor. 12. 31. Ah! we that are redeemed from among men, Rev. 14. 4. and that rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God, Rom. 5. 2. we that look, I say, for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the Great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, Tit. 2. 13. What manner of persons should we be in all holy Conversation and Godliness? 2 Pet. 3. 11.
To conclude; For your further edific… tion, take a plain rehearsal of your sev… ral general Duties and Works, to whi… God ingageth you in his Word, accor…ing to your places, callings, and relat…ons in this World.