Practical Divinity, Sermon 5
THE NECESSITIE OF GOSPEL OBEDIENCE. In two Sermons.
BY That laborious and faithfull Meſſenger of CHRIST, WILLIAM FENNER, Sometimes Fellow of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge, and late Miniſter of Rochford in Eſſex.
THE NECESSITIE OF Goſpel-Obedience.
COLOSS. I. 10.
That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleaſing, being fruitfull unto every good work.
THere is a double ſenſe in theſe words:
Firſt, wherein we may not, not cannot walk worthy of GOD.
And ſecondly, there is a ſenſe, wherein we may, and muſt walk worthy of Him.
The firſt ſenſe, wherein we cannot walk worthy of God, is twofold.
Firſt We cannot walk worthy of God, with an abſolute worth of exact proportion; for in this ſenſe the Angels of heaven cannot walk worthy of God: they bleſſe God and praiſe him unceſſantly; but God is above all bleſſing and praiſe, Nehem. 9. 5. Their holineſſe &c. had a beginning; but God is infinite. Oh then, how much leſſe can we walk worthy of God!
Secondly, We cannot walk worthy of God, with a ſinleſſe worth of a mortified condignitie, ſo worthily as we might have done if we had not had ſinne; for we are compaſſed with the fleſh and ſinne, which leads us on to all impieties. And in this reſpect John ſaith, I am not worthy, &c. Luk. 3. 16. It was no idle complement in that good man, That he was not worthy to untie Chriſts ſhoo-tyers, or to carry his books after him, as we uſe to ſpeak; but it is certain, in regard of ſinne which makes us unfit to do any dutie to God; God is worthy of better ſervice then the beſt of us can performe, and to have better attendance then we can give him.
Nevertheleſſe, there is a ſenſe wherein we may and muſt walk worthy of God. And this is alſo twofold:
Firſt, quoad dignitatem non repugnantiae, As a niggard or a ſparing ſervant is an unworthy ſervant to a bountiful maſter, or a drunkard to a ſervant of God: there is a repugnancie between a maſter and ſuch a ſervant. He that will not take up his croſſe and follow me, is unworthy of me, Mat. 10. 37. And in this ſenſe we muſt walk worthy of God, that is, not contrary to God.
Secondly, This worthy includes dignitatem condecentiae; Walk worthy of God, i. e. ſutable unto him. A correſpondencie there muſt be between Chriſt and thoſe that are his, between the children of God, and God; we muſt walk anſwerable to him; God is holy, gracious, mercifull, &c. now we muſt walk worthy, (viz,) ſutable to thoſe attributes; and not to deal baſely wiſh God, who hath dealt bountifully with us, and hath delivered us from hell, and helps us to heaven. Let us not then put unworthy tricks on God, but let us walk as men renewed. So much for the ſenſe.
This ſpeech is directed to the profeſſors of the goſpel of Chriſt in Coloſſe; for firſt, Epaphras had given out that there were godly ſoules in that city.
Secondly, as it was reported; ſo this report came to Paul; he heard that there were a company of men, that went for Gods ſaints: We have heard, ſaith he &c. verſ. 4. I Paul heard ſo; and hence it is that Paul directs his ſpeech. As if he ſhould ſay, (for ſo it is in the ninth verſe) I hear that there are profeſſors among you; Now I pray God that you walk worthy of God; You profeſſe Chriſt and his word, I pray God you may walk worthy of the maſter you ſerve. Hence obſerve,
That thoſe that profeſſe Chriſt, muſt walk worthy of chriſt; worthy of Chriſt whom you ſay you ſerve, or they ſerve.
This is further commanded, and that expreſly in I Theſſ. 2. 12. That you would walk worthy of God. Think not that this is a duty left to your choiſe no, no, ſaith the Apoſtle, you know how we have exhorted & charged you; as if he ſhould ſay, I have given many exhortations to this purpoſe, I have begged that you would do ſo, ver. II. I have encouraged and comforted them that have done ſo; I commanded the unwilling, and you know it, and I tell you that this is a duty of great conſequence.
Firſt becauſe he hath called you to be criſtians; now it is a ſhame for you to be unworthy of your calling whereunto you are called. It is fit, if a man be called unto a calling, that he be worthy of it. When a wicked and an unjuſt man is preferred to be a Judge, God knowes he is a very unworthy man for that calling: A licentious Divine for a pulpit, is unworthy of that vocation. It is a ſhame a man ſhould be unworthy the calling whereunto he is called. We are called to be Chriſtians; is it not a ſhame a man ſhould be unworthy the vocation the Lord hath called him unto? I beſeech you, ſaith the Apoſtle, Epheſ. 4. 1. You are called to be Chriſtians by Chriſt: I beſeech you conſider this, and be worthy of this calling. Art thou a Chriſtian, and art thou not loving and kinde? Are you Chriſtians, and yet are you careleſſe and ſecure, and will you not walk as Chriſt walked? What, ſhall a man be a Chriſtian, and carry himſelf diſhoneſtly, otherwiſe then the Goſpel commands? What a ſhame is this?
A ſecond ground or reaſon is; The Goſpel of God whereby we are called, this is a bleſſed cailing. The Lord Jeſus tels thee what goſpel is, Luke 4. 18. itis riches to the poor, ſight to the blind, deliverance to captives, a goſpel of peace and libertie &c. It hath many excellent names in Scripture. Now this is the goſpel whereby you are called from being damned wretches, to be the ſons of God. That man is unworthy of freedome, that is content to be a ſlave; he is unworthy of theſe bleſſed things which the goſpel brings, that will walk in ſinne ſtill. What, will you be captives to hell ſtill? will you go on in your old faſhion ſtill? will you live after the imaginations of your own hearts ſtill, notwithſtanding you are called by the goſpel? Have you the goſpel of a Kingdome, and will you not obey it, when it cals you to be Kings? what an unworthy thing is this, that a man ſhould not behave himſelf worthy of the goſpel whereby he is called? Phil. 1. 27. This is a main one, that your converſations be worthy of the goſpel of God. For men to be covetous proud, drunkards &c. ſtill, when we have the goſpel to draw us out of theſe ſinnes; ſurely it is a ſhame, and we are unworthy of this goſpel.
Thirdly, becauſe we are called to Repentance. For as we are called by the goſpel, ſo by the goſpel we are called to repentance; therefore we muſt walk worthy. Is it repentance enough, to heare a Sermon, or do any good duty? No, no, theſe are not fruits worthy the name of repentance, Luk. 3. 8. I mean not worthy to be repented of, but, not worthy the name of repentance. For a man to put finger in the eie, and crie, Lord; is this worthy the name of repentance? No, no, it is othergates mourning then this. True it is, many repent, but they repent not enough; they muſt bring forth fruits worthy repentance.
Fourthly, becauſe if we walk not worthy of God, the wiſdome of God will not hold us for his ſervants. A maſter, if he be wiſe, will not keep a ſervant that will not do his buſineſſe; if the maſter have cattell to be looked unto, and other buſineſſe abroad to be done, if his ſervant do lie and ſleep all day, or lie at the alehouſe and neglect his maſters buſineſſe, ſure I am, if he be but worldly-wiſe, he will not keep ſuch a ſervant. In 1 Sam. 30, 31. an Amalekite did turn away his ſervant becauſe he was ſick; this was hard dealing; Nevertheleſſe, that man that will not walk worthy, that will not look to the charge that God hath given him, he is unworthy to be Gods ſervant. The Lord hath abundance of buſineſſe to be done; Commandments to be perform'd, Sacraments to be received, & abundance of imployment; & ſhal he hire ſervants & do his work himſelf? will any keep a dog, & bark himſelf? That man is not worthy of God, that will not do his buſines: therfore the wiſdom of God will turn us out of doors, becauſe we leave his work, and fall to wrangling within our ſelves. What diviſion is there amongſt us? what heart-burning between neighbours and neighbours? what growing cold in religion, &c? And God hath haſte of buſines to be diſpatched; why are not his Commandements regarded, his Promiſes deſired, his Judgements feared? Certainly, the Lord expects that we ſhould goe about theſe things, and wee are unworthy, if wee doe them not.
Fifthly, if we will not walk worthy of God, then 'tis for his glory to caſhiere us out of his ſanctuarie. It is not for a maſters credit to keep a ſervant that will diſcredit him; as to keep a whoremaſter, or a ſharking companion; what will honeſt men think? Is not he naught himſelf, that keeps ſuch ſhag-rags about him? All the diſhonour lies on the maſter. So it is not for the honour of God, to ſuffer ſuch to be within the company of profeſſors of his Name, that diſhonour his Name, and cauſe the goſpel of God to be blaſphemed by them that are without. So ſoon as Eliſhai his ſervant had abuſed him, he ſent him packing, He went forth from his preſence, &c. 2 King. 5. 27. He ſhould ſtay no longer with him; why? becauſe he had diſhonoured him; and what might Naaman think? Will he now have ſomething? and even now he would have nothing; he hath ſoon repented him of his kindnes. Though Naaman did not argue thus, yet thus he might, and, for ought we know, ſuch thoughts he had; but howſoever, Geh…zi greatly diſhonoured his maſter, and therefore his maſter ſent him out of his preſence. Even ſo, if we walk not worthy of God, he will turn us put of doors.
Note. You that be the ſervants of God, and be taken with a Lie, undermining one another, or that live uncharitably one with another; this is a diſhonour to God, this is not to walk worthy of God: no, It is to diſgrace the Goſpel, and to caſt aſperſions on it. Therefore as it concerns the glory of God, ſo we ought to walk worthy of God. What may the world think, if Profeſſors walk looſely, and be taken tripping? what will the world ſay? God keep me from being a Puritan; I had rather be a Papiſt: and thus the name of Chriſt comes to be blaſphemed for your ſakes. Theſe ſay, Come, come, I warrant you for all this, yet he will lie for a need, though he ſay Yes verily. And thus Religion and the goſpel of Chriſt is called into queſtion by the men of this world, even for your ſakes that walk not worthy of God; nay, by reaſon of this, God cannot hire ſervants to do his work. Beloved, God hath ſent us out to hire ſervants; now many would come in willingly, but becauſe they ſee & think that thoſe that profeſſe the name of Chriſt be diſſemblers, Puritans, and hypocrites; and therefore they ſay as ſometimes the Indians did of the Spaniards, If theſe men be the ſervants of Chriſt, I will never be his ſervant; So, if theſe men be the ſervants of God, Lord bleſſe me from them. What a damned thing is this?
Sixthly, If we walk not worthy of God, we put great indignity upon him. A worthy man cannot abide to meddle with unworthy things; and ſhall a Chriſtian ſerve God after an unworthy faſhion? Note. No maſter, either in heaven, earth or hell, will have a ſervant unworthy of him; and this is the reaſon why men ſweare, and lie, and live like devils incarnate, becauſe the Devil will have them worthy of hell. So the world lets men cozen and diſſemble, for no other cauſe but becauſe the world will have them worthy of the world. So that all maſters, whether the world, the fleſh, or the devil, look that their ſervants ſhould be worthy of them; and do you then think that the Lord will not have his ſervants walk worthy of him? Be not deceived, God is not mocked, Gal. 6. 7. Doſt thou come into his houſe, heare his Word, and wilt thou not obey it? Comeſt thou to a Sacrament, and haſt thou drinking, carding and dicing, at home? Thou goeſt under the name of a good Chriſtian, yet thou liveſt in thy ſins, having a ſecret luſt, either to ſweare, or lie, or to commit adulterie. Take heed, I ſay, God will not be mocked. For men to go in the name of Gods children, and yet not to ſerve & obey him, this is to make a mockery of God; but God will not be mocked.
Oh, ſaith one, my Father will never like it, if I be ſo ſtrict and preciſe; and as for my Mother, ſhe cannot abide a Puritan. Another ſaith, I cannot keep my children unleſſe I put my money to uſe, &c. But what ſaith Chriſt? He that loveth father or mother, &c. more then me, is not worthy of me, Mat. 10. 37. Doſt thou argue on this faſhion, and yet hopeſt to be a Chriſtian? Doſt thou plead ſelf-reſpect, and doſt thou hope to go for a Chriſtian? what a mockerie is this? nature abhorrs it.
I remember a ſtorie of a Boy, who being at Lyons, and ſaw two men, one tall, and he had a ſhort cloak, the other ſhort, and he had a long cloak; and thought it very unſeemly; ſo he took the long cloak and put it on the tall mans back, and the cloak on the ſhort mans back, and then it liked him. So, is it ſeemly that any of us ſhould weare the long robes of Chriſtianitie, and yet be ſhort in Obedience? that we ſhould go for the people of God, and not behave our ſelves ſutably?
In this place there is no room for Papiſts to eſtabliſh merit for themſelves; the Apoſtle intends no ſuch matter in this place; for we are not our own men, and therefore cannot merit. We are taught to pray, Give us this day our daily bread; we have not one bit of bread but we muſt beg it; and when we have done all we can, (as who doth?) yet we are but unprofitable ſervants. But ſuppoſe we could merit all righteouſneſſe; yet all our ability is from God. Again, ſuppoſe we be righteous, what is that to him? if we be holy, what is that to him? If we be damned, he is never the worſe, if we be ſaved, he is not the better; if we keep all his commandements, yet it is his mercy to ſave us. He ſhews mercy to thouſands; to whom? not to them that ſin, but to them that love me and keep my commandements, Exod. 20. 6. To one that keeps Gods commandements, it is his love to ſave him, it is his love that he hath mercy on him. The Church of Rome do talk much of their well-doing; but in the mean while what becomes of their ſins? they ſhould go and ſuffer for their ſins, and then come and talk of merit; Do they talk of merit before they have ſatisfied for their ſinnes? the Law will be ſatisfied firſt; and when they have endured hell-fire world without end, then let them talk of merit. The Lord doth not mean that we muſt walk worthy ſo as to merit any thing: for ſuppoſe that al1 the ſufferings of this life, and all the torments of the world that all the Saints of God have ſuffered, were put on one man, and he to endure them all; yet they are not worthy the glory that ſhalbe revealed Rom. 8. 18 Here then is no room for Papiſts merits. Yet we muſt walk worthy of God with ſutableneſſe; and if we do not ſo, the Lord will not owne us. You know the ſtory of the gueſts in the Goſpel, and how they were invited to the ſupper; one pretended one thing, another another thing; one had married a wife, he could not come, yet ſure I am he might have brought her with him: another had bought oxen, &c. But what followes in the text, Mat. 22. Thoſe that were bidden were not worthy, therefore they ſhall not taſte of my ſupper. So ſome ſay for their ſinnes, it is their nature, or one occaſion or other puts them off, they could not come. None that are unworthy of God, ſhall taſte of the mercy of God, neither in the pardon of their ſins, nor ſalvation; no, you get not ſo much as a taſte of Chriſt, if you walk not worthy of the goſpel of Chriſt.
The truth of this will appeare in the Uſe, if we conſider what this worthy walking is.
Vſe. Firſt, We muſt be as it were even the very nature of God; we ſhould, as Peter ſpeaks, ſhew forth the vertue of him that hath called us, that we may ſhew what a glorious God, what a bleſſed Redeemer, and righteous Judge we have, and admire his goodneſſe that hath called us out of darkneſſe into this glorious light; and we muſt be holy as he is holy, 1 Pet. 1. 15. How doth this ſute with the nature of God, when we walk not worthy of God? God is juſt, 2 Cor. 1. 3. how unworthy then are we that are cruel, unmerciful, and unjuſt? God is a God of peace, 1 Cor. 14. 22. how unworthy then are we of him, that live in heart-burning one with another? We are the image of God, if we pleaſe him, 1 Cor. 11. 7. What a ſhame, diſhonour, and wrong then is it to God, that we ſhould have his image, and yet be nothing like him? Should a glorious King ſee a deformed picture of himſelf, ſurely he would make that man ſmoke that pictured him ſo: And ſhall we go for the image of God, the God of all glory, and ſhall we be vile and unclean, negligent and careleſſe, and yet go for Gods picture? what do we make of God? will not God be angry, and will not his wrath burn like fire? What, am I a drunkard, a whoremaſter, &c. is this my picture? Sure I am God cannot endure this.
Secondly, conſider the relation we have with God; we are the children of God, we are the begotten of the Father: doth God beget monſters? doth God beget ſuch children? We profeſſe our ſelves ſervants to God; the ground of that relation is, that we are at Gods command: did God command us to do the duties of Religion▪ thus? No, no, beloved; if we be ſervants, we muſt be at his command. We profeſſe our ſelves ſheep of his paſture; but do we live as if we fed on his Commandements? Is this to live worthy the commons that Chriſt hath put us in, which is ſuch rich food of ſalvation? How unworthy is this? If I be a father, where is mine honour? If I be a maſter, where is my feare? Mal. 1. 6. Is not this rather to diſhonour God, that a childe ſhould have a worthy man to his father, and be a lout himſelf? what indignity is this that we put on God? Let us examine our ſelves whether we walk worthy of God, or no. I ſpeak to the profeſſors of the goſpel; for it is certain, that they that profeſſe it not, are unworthy; you that are yet in the gall of bitterneſſe, and in the bond of iniquitie, are not worthy.
For firſt, Chriſtianitie is a trade. What profeſſion ſoever thou art of, that is thy trade: will a man ſay to a Phyſitian, what, cannot you keep your Phyſick to your ſelf? muſt you needs make profeſſion of it? Or will a man go to a ſhoo-maker and ſay, Cannot you keep your ſhooes and trade to your ſelf? So Chriſtianitie is a Profeſſion, and thou art unworthy of it unleſſe thou profeſſe it.
Secondly, To what end is a trade? it will do a man no good unleſſe he profeſſe it; Every man in his calling lives on his calling; then, if he live by it, he muſt walk worthy of it. A Lawyer may die for all his calling, if he profeſſe it not: Doſt thou walk in no calling nor profeſſion? Undoubtedly, thou wilt get no living by it?
Thirdly, Chriſtianitie is an Order. If a man be a Papiſt, yet he cannot be a Franciſcan, unleſſe he profeſſe himſelf to be of that Order. So if we be Chriſtians, Chriſt is the father of that order. Jeſus Chriſt the High-prieſt of our profeſſion, Heb. 3. 1. he is the Father of all Chriſtianitie, and thou canſt not be a Chriſtian, unleſſe thou profeſſe that Order. Let your light ſo ſhine &c. ſaith our Saviour, or elſe you walk not worthy of God. I ſpeak this to thoſe that profeſſe Chriſt; for a man may profeſſe a trade, and yet not walk worthy of it.
For firſt, If we walk worthy of God, then our labours anſwer all the coſt God hath been at. That ground is unworthy tillage, that will not pay the coſt that is beſtowed on it; that Scholler is not worthy to be maintained, that doth not anſwer the coſt of his Parents. So, my beloved, if you walk worthy of God, anſwer the charges that God hath been at with you. It hath coſt God his Son to redeem you, and what are you the better? The work of his Spirit comes to enlighten us; the labour of his Miniſters to teach us: Now what are we the better for all this? It hath coſt God abundance of MercieMercy to allure us, abundance of Judgement to terrifie us, many Corrections, and above all he is patient to beare with us; and this is a merciemercy of mercies. A man will ſhew all he hath, before he ſhew his patience; a man may ſhew himſelf kind, and if he be much wronged, he will ſay, What, will you try my patience? I tell thee, God hath ſuffered his patience to be tyred by us a long time, and he hath been at a great deal of coſt with us; but have we anſwered it? if we have not, we are unworthy of God. God hath been at a great deal of coſt to make you love one another, and ſhall there be heart-burning ſtill? Good ground brings forth good herbs meet for uſe, not only herbs, but meet herbs: ſo if you be good children to God, you will bring forth fruit meet for God; otherwiſe, if God have been at all this coſt, and you ſecure, and ſtrangers ſtill one from another, and never the better, you are neer unto curſing, your labour is not to profit in the Word, and ſo you anſwer not God the coſt that he hath been at with you. I fear me, God will remove his candleſtick, or if he continue it, you shall have hardneſſe of heart with it: For ſince thoſe rents have been, how hath the number of believers decreaſed? when was one converted? when was a whoremaſter or a drunkard renewed, unleſſe it be to take a higher degree in ſin? No, no, the Goſpel hath done child-bearing; and ſurely this is the cauſe; We walk not worthy of it.
Secondly, If we walk worthy of God, then we walk with God in white. I have a few names, &c. Rev. 5. 4. for they are worthy, &c. In white, (i. e.) in true love and holineſſe, with white robes of puritie, clothed with the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt: but if you be of the black qualities of the world, you walk not worthy, you edifie not your ſelves, nor others; this kind of walking is for the men of the world, 'tis for them to ſtand at a ſtay in religion; 'tis for them to hear and not to practiſe; theſe are black qualities; but if you walk aright, you walk with me in white, ſaith God; thoſe that walk aloof, walk unworthy, like baſe Rogues who are not admitted into the Kings preſence.
Thirdly, if we walk worthy of God, we do not diſappoint Gods account. God accounts us ſincere and undefiled, as a Virgin unſpotted pure in heart; Such as are renewed, the Lord calls all that are his children by this name. Now if you walk ſo, as the world may tax you for pride, covetouſneſſe, hatred, or any other vice; this is not to walk worthy of God, but to diſparage Gods account; God counts you righteous, and the world cenſures you, and ſayes you are not, and that becauſe of your ill carriage, and ſo Gods judgement ſeems not to be right. they that ſhall be counted worthy, &c. Luk. 20. 35. they that enjoy Gods glory, are counted worthy; God counts them worthy, Chriſt counts them worthy, conſcience and the world counts them worthy: but do you think that the wicked ſhall ſay at the laſt day that they were worthy? No, no, this were a diſparagement to God.
Fourthly, If we walk worthy of God, then we are importunate beggers; that begger that will not beg hard, is unworthy of an alms; ſo we are unworthy of merciemercy, if we beg not hard for it: Watch therefore and pray alway, that you may be counted worthy, &c. Luk. 21. 36.
Fifthly, If we walk worthy of God, then we adde humiliation to every dutie we doe to God. It is true, all our prayers are not accepted, unleſſe they be worthy; our receiving the Sacrament is curſed in Gods ſight, unleſſe it be done worthily; but yet not as if there were any inherent righteouſnes in man; no, no. Luk 6. 6. I am not worthy, that is, I think not my ſelf worthy. Here is the worthines of all our wages, if we pray in faith, and adde humiliation to our prayers; we muſt obey God, and adde humiliation thereunto, we muſt adde unto every good duty humiliation; ſo that if we be worthy, we are the more humbled. This is a dutie, as of great moment; it is ſuch a dutie, as if we walk not worthy of God in humiliation, we are not capable of the goſpel, nor pardon of ſinne, if we be not content to be ruled by Chriſt. If the houſe be worthy, let your peace abide upon it, Mat. 10. 11. The peace of Gods Miniſters is peace to the conſcience; and the conſcience is at peace, if ſinne be pardoned: So that if this place, this congregation, be not worthy that they ſhould have pardon of ſin preached, they are not capable of it. The world muſt be pulled down, ſelf-will and ſelf-luſt muſt be lamed and mortified, to do as the Lord will have it; that man is not capable of the goſpel, that will not be ruled by it.
In the ſecond place, let us conſider, If we walk not worthy of God, we walk worthy of ſomewhat elſe; if not of God, then of hell, vengeance, and condemnation: Let us aſſure our ſelves, of whatſoever we walk worthy, that we ſhall have. I ſpeak not of worth of proportion. Let a man be ignorant, if he be thought worthy of hell, then to hell he ſhall go; none ſhall go to hell, but thoſe that are unworthy of heaven; and none ſhall go to heaven, but thoſe that have the tokens of heaven about them. Fill her with blood (ſaith God) Rev. 15. 6. as ſhe was worthy of blood, ſo God would give her blood her belly-full; ſo when men walk on in their ſinfull courſes, as they are worthy, ſo ſhall they have
Secondly, You are guilty of Chriſt, if you walk not worthy of Chriſt. It is a damnable thing for a man to be thought or found guilty of perjurie; but to be thought or found guilty of Chriſt, this is the greateſt of all. Beloved, you are guilty of Chriſt, if you walk not worthy of Chriſt: ſee it in one branch of a Chriſtians walk. If a man receive the Sacrament unworthily, he is guilty of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 11. 27. If a man walk unworthily in any one dutie, he is guilty of Chriſt, and the death of Chriſt ſhall be laid upon him: Oh, what then will become of them who walk unworthily in all the duties of Chriſtianitie? Judas betrayed Chriſt, and thou art guilty; Pilate condemned him, and thou art guilty; ſo &c. His blood lies on thy ſoul, and thou ſhalt anſwer for it, if thou get not into Chriſt. Thus you ſee, if we walk not worthy in one dutie, we are guilty if all.
Thirdly, If you walk not worthy of Chriſt, you ſhall be condemned; the ſentence of condemnation is on you for ever. He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh his own damnation; and this is but one branch. So he that prayes, or profeſſeth the name of Chriſt unworthily, what ever duty it be, if a man labour not to do it ſutable to God, it is his damnation. That priſoner is unworthy of a pardon, that will not ſtand to the conditions of his pardon, and be ruled by the Judge. Even ſo, you that will not walk holily according to the conditions of the goſpel, you are not worthy of pardon, and you ſhall never enjoy it; for the Lord knows beforehand who are worthy walkers before him. Hath God children here, and vvould they be ſo accounted? Let them vvalk worthy of God, let their light ſhine, &c. let them labour to quit the coſt that God hath been at; vvalk vvith Chriſt in all thy vvaies, for this is to vvalk vvorthy of God in all pleaſing. Let this ſuffice for Exhortation.