An Introduction to the Following Discourse

through A life thxt becomes so blessed a Gospel as has declared unto us the remission of our fins for the fake ofjefttaChrist. He then that would have Forgiveness of Sins, andso be delivered from the Curse os God, must believe in th.e Righteous/essand Blood of Christ: but he that would shew to his Neighbours that he hath truly received /his Mercy of God, must do it by good Works; for all things else to them, is but talk: As for example; A Tne isknVivn to be what it is, to wit, whether of iff J is or that hind, ] by it's Fruit?* A Tree it is without Fruit, , but so longas it so' abideth,''there is ministred' occasion to doubt what manr ner of Free /vv'' v. -"' -.'-At

A Professor is aProfeffor though he hath nogoqd Works; but that, as such, he is truly godly he is foolish that so .concludesh.. Not. that Works make, a Man good; for the Fruit maketh.not a good Free, . . it

it is the Principle, to wit, Faith, Matt.j.i& that makes a Man good, and, his ^Luk,6"14works that [hew him to beso' What then? why, all Professors

'that have not good Works flowing from their Faith, are naughtjtHeb. 6. 8. are Bramble- bushes; are nigh unto Cursing, whose end is to be burned. For Professors by their

. fruitlefntfs declare that they are not of the planting of God; nor the Wheat: but Tares and Matt. i?.

- Children of the [Picked one. 37,

Not that Faith medethgood works

- as an help to Justification before God. For in this matter Faith will be ignorant of aUgood Works, except those done by the Person of Chris. Here then the good Man worketh not, but belteveth'.for he is Rom 4. 3, not now to carry to God, but to re- ⁴'^s' ceive at his Hand the matter of

his Justification by Faith . nor is the-flatter of his Jujlification be-' "' fore God ought else but the good deeds of another Man,to wit,Christ Jesus. A ^ But

But is there therefore no need at all of good Works, because a Man is justified before God without them? or can that be called a j/tJob a 2. >' strfymg Faith that has not for its ]am.a. ao, Fruit, good Works? Verily good works are necessary, though God need them not, nor is that Faith, as to Justification with God, worth A rush, that abidesh alone, or without them.

A twofold There is therefore a twofold ^F41th' Faith of" thrift in the World, and as tothewoxxon of Justifying Righteousness, they both concur and agree, but as to the manner of application there they vastly differ.

The one, to wit, the non-saving faithistandeth inspeculation and na ked knowtedg of Christ, and so abi- Job..1.12. deth idle: but the other truly feeeth, ,- and Receives him, and so becometh Rom. 10. Fruitful. And hence the trae jit^lS' stiffing Faith, issaid to receive, to imbrace, to obey the Son of God as tendred in the Gospel: by , whichexpressions is shewed both the nature of justifying Faith, in its actings in point ofJustification,and also the cause of its being full of good Works in the Wor Id. A gift is not made mine by my feeing of it, or because I know the nature oj the thing so given: but then it is mine ifl receive and imbrace it, yea, and as to the point in hand, if I yield my self up tostand and fall by it. Now he that /hall, not only . fee, receive, net only know,, but imbrace the Son of God; to be pjiified by him, cannot but bring forth good Works, because Christ who is now received and imbraced _Act$ fy Faith, leavens and ftaj&ns the ch^lfit, Spirit of this Sinner (through his ¹

• Faith} to-the making of him ca- J***'¹*
pable Jo to- be. Faith made Sarah.
receive Strength. to- conceive Seed,

and we areSanilified through Faith,
rvhich is in Christ. For Faith ,

* hath joyned Christ, and the Soul
together, and being so joyned, the

A 4 Soul

Soul is one Sprit with him: not essentially but in agreements and oneness of design. Besides, when Christ is truly received and insbracedto the justifying of the sinner, in that Mans Heart he drvels by his Word and Spirit through the fame Faith also. Now Christ by his Spirit and word must needs seasons, the Soul he thus dwetis in: so then the Soul being seasoned, it feafoneth the Body, and Body and Sou/, the Life and Conversation.'-. !,

We kno.v it is not the Seeing, but taking of a potion that maketh it work as it (hould, nor is the Blood of Christ a Purge to this dr. .'that Conscience, except received. by Faith. . ) \t ". . • Shall that then be counted right believing in Chrijl unto justification , that amounts to no more than to an idle speculation, or naked knotvledg of him? shall that knotvledg of him I fay be counted such, as only causes the Soul to be'. . hold

hold but moveth it not to good. 2₈^CorWorks? No 'verity. For the true beholding of Jesus to justification and Life, changes from glory to glory.

Nor can that Man that hath so believed, as that by his Faith he hath received and imbraced Christ for Life before God, be de~ stitute of good works: for, as I' said, the Word and Spirit comes alfe by this Faith, and dirt Is in the Heart, and Conscience: now, shall a Soul where the Word and Spirit of Christ dwels , be a Soul without good Works ^? Tea, shall a Soul that, nas receivedthe Love, the Mercy > the Kjndnefs, Grace and Salvath on of God through the Sorrorvs, Tears, Groans, Cross and. Cruet. Death of Christ, be yet a Fruitless Tree! God forbid. This faith is as the Salt which the Prophet cast into the Spring of bitter Wx * _s Ki ter, it makes the Soul good and '9' serviceable for ever. ²

A < :if

If the receiving of a temporal Cist i naturally tends to the making of us to move our Cap And f&iee: and binds us to be the Servant of'the Giver : shalt we think that Faith will leave him who by it has received Christ, to be as unconcerned as a Stock or Stone, or that its utmost excellency is to provoke the Soul to a lip-labour, and to giveChrifta few fair Words for his Pains and Grace: and so wrap up the business? No, no: the Love of Christ conjlraineth. us thus to judge that it is but reasonable j since he gave his all for us, that we should give our some for him;'

. Let no Man then deceive him' Jelf (as he may and will if he takes not heed, with true Notions} but examine himself concerning his Faith, to wit; Whether he hath any, and if some, Whether of that kind that will turn to account in the day when God shall judge the world. 1 till

1 told you before that there is * *^v twofold Faiths; and now I will tell yon that there are two forts of good works: and a, Man may be proudly guessed at with reference to his. Faiths even by the works that h€ chufeth to be conversant in.

There are works that cost nothing, and Works that are chargeable: And observe it, The unsound Faith will chitfe to it self the most eafie works it can find.' For example_y there is Readings Praying , hearing of Sermons, Baptism,Breaking of Breads Church fellowship, Preaching, and the like: and there is mortification of Lujlsi Charity, Simplicity, openHeartedqe/s,, with a liberal Hand to the Poor, and thetr like also. Now the unsound Faith picks and chuses , and takes and leaves, . but the true Faith does not so.

there are a great many P-rofef son now in. England , that have nothing to distinguish them from,

the the worst of Men, but their Praying, Reading, hearing of Sermons, Baptism, Church Fellowship, and Breaking of Bread. Separate them but from these, and every where else they are as black as others, even in their whole Life and Conversation. Thus they have chosen to them the mofi easy things to do them, but love not to be ConfciO' nably found in the practice of the other: a certain sign their Faith is nought, and that these things, even the things they are conversant in, are things attended to of them, not for the ends for which God has appointed them , but , to beguile and undo themselves withall. '\ Praying, Hearing, Reading; for what art these things Ordained, but that we might by the godly use of them , attain to more of the knowledges God, and be strength' enedby his Grace to serve him better according to his moral Law? * Baptism, Fellowship,. and the

Lords

Lords Supper, Are Ordained for these ends' also. But there is a vast difference between ufin% of these things, and a using of then* for the^e ends. A Man may pray, yea, pray for such things, had he them, as would make him better in Morals i veithout desire to be better in Aiertals, or Love to the things he prays for. A Man may Read and Hear, ntt to learn to do, though to know: Tea, he may be dead to doing Moral goodness, and yet be great for Reading andHearing, all his days. the people then among all Professors, that are ^T". 2.14. zealous of good Works, are the peculiar ones to Christ. What has a. man done that is' Baptized, if he pursues not the ends for which that appointment Wm Ordained: the like I fay of Fellowship, of Breaking of Bread, &C. For all these things we jbould use to Support our Faith , to mortise the Flesh/ andstrengthen tts to walk

Mi newness of Life by the rule of the moral Law. Nor can that Man be esteemed holy, whose life is tainted with immoralities' let him he what he can in all things else. I am of that mans mind as to practical Righteousness, who said to Christ upon this very questiMark 12. on, Well Master, thoo hast said _the Truth: For to Love the Lord our God with all the Heart, and with all the Understanding and with all the Soul, and with all the Strength: and to love his Neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. Ts> love my Neighbour as my fe 1st 0 do as I would be done unto_, thtsis the Law and the Prophets. And he that is altoge- I ther a stranger to these things^ I how dvpelleth the Love of God in him i or how will he manifest to another that his Faith will save him.

Satm

Satan u afraid that Men should bear of justification by Christy lest they should imhrace it : but yet if he can prevail with them , to keep Fingers tjfc though they do hear and look en_x and practice lesser things, he can the better bear it. Tea, he will labour to , make such Professors bold to conclude they shad by that kind of Faith injoy him, though by that they cannot imhrace him, nor lay hold of him. For he knows that how far I soever a Man ingages in a Profession of Christ with a Faith that looks oti) but cannot receive nor imbrace him , that Faith will v- '. leave him to nothing but mi| flakes and disappointments at Ufi.

The Gospel comes to some in i Theff.i. Wordonly', and the Faith of such stands,but in a. verbal found: but , g_} 19,20. the Apostle was resolved not to know, or Jake notice of such a Faith: For the Kingdom of

God, faith he i is not in Word, but in Power. He whose Faithstands only in a faying, I believe, bos his Works in bare Words also , and as vertual is the one as the other, and both insignificant ejtough. If a Brother or a Sister _x6 be naked or destitute of daily Food. And one of you fay unto them, Depart in peace, be. you warmed and filled: notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit? Even so Faith, if it hath not Works is dead, being alone. . i- This Faith therefore, Satan . can allow^ because it is somewhat of kin to his own..

Besides _r what greater con-r . .temp can be cast upon Christ than by such wordy Professors is cast upon him? Thefe are the men that by practice fay, The Gospel is , hut an empty found. Tea, the Wore they profess, the louder, they .

proclaim

proclaim it thus to be to bis disgrace, while they, rtotwithstanding their profession of Faith, hold and maintain their League wifk the Devil and Sin. \

The Son of God was manifest 1 _?. that he might destroy the works of the Devi/, but these men profess his Faith and keep these works alive in the World, shall these pass for such as believe to the saving of the Soul. For a man to be content with this kind of Faiths and to look to go to Salvation by it: what to God is a greater provocations .

The Devil laugheth here, for he knows he has not lost his Vassal by such a Faith as thts, but that rather he hath made use of the Gospel, that glorious Word of Life, to secure his Captive through hit presumption of the right Faith,., the faster in his shackles. "-. !. .

// is marvelous to me to fee (in so high amidst the swarms of professors fefsors that are found in every cor- t nerofthk Land. Nor can any other reason be given for it₉ but because the C off el h,u loft its wonted vertue, or because Professors want faith therein. But do you think it is because of the first? no j the word of our God shall (land (in its strength ) for ever : the Faith of such therefore is not right i they have for shields of Gold, made themselves Shields of Brass: or instead of the Primitive Faith, which was of the operatii⁹2^CS,^roio. on of God, they have got to themCol. 2. i2. selves a Faith that stands by the i Cor. 2.4i p_0VPcr , and in the wijdom of * Man. .' \ ... .

And to fay no more to thii; for what is G<*d ja angry with this Land_t but for the (in of the Professors that dwell therein, while they have polluted his name with their Gifts, and with their Idols i God.. I fa/y has been provoked' most bitterly by tts^ while we have

profaned

'rofanedhis name₉ making use of ns Name , hit word and Ordinances to serve our selves ( O Lord what wilt thou do to this Land/). We are every one looking (or something $ even for something that carrieth terrour and dread in the found of its wings as it comes, though rve knovp not the form nor visage thereof. One cries oat, another hits his Hands us on hts Loyns , and a third ismade mad with the fight of his Eyes, and with what his Bars dohear. And as their Faith hath served them about Justification: so it now serves them about Res en' tance and Reformation, it can do nothing here neither, for though, as was said, Men cry out, and are with their H~nds upon their Loyns forfear: yet where is the Church, the House, the Man that stands in the gap for the Land to turn away this Wrath by Repentance, and amendment of Life.

Behold Behold the Lord cometh forth out of his place, and will come down anti tread upon the places of the Earth, and the Mountains (hall be molten under him, and the Valleys JhaH be cleft, as wax before the Fire, and as the Waters that are poured down a steep place (but what is the cause of aU this? ) For the Mich. r. transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the Sin of the House of Israel. . . tongue: Not in great and seemingly affectionate gestures, but in a Practical walking in the Law of the Lor A. Hence such, and such only are called the undefiled in the way. ( You know who sayes, I am the way.; Bltffed, faith Da- JJJ'J vid, are the undefiled in the way: who walk in the Law ot the Lord.

It is that that is observed by them that can make Observation, that all that God has done to us already, has been ineffectual as to cause that Humility and Reformation, by which his judgments must be turned away* Repentance is rare this day, and yet without doubt, that without which things will grow worse and worse. .As for them that hope that God will save his people„ though but from temporal Judgments, whether they Repent and Reform, or

tlo otherwise; j must leave them tnd their Opinions, together: thu I have found, that sometimes the Repentances even of the Godly, has come tH> late to divert such Judgments. And how some of the Godly should be so indulged as U be saved\from punishment without Repentance., .when the true tnd unfeigned Repentance of otbers will not deliver. them , leaves me ₅ / confess, in a }ViU der»ess. ') "\-A nn\tr7^.'fc

But thah-whi'ch isms of aU to be lamented^, That fin, through custom, is he come no^fn. . The superfluity of naughtiness is at this day become neifin\ teith mdhy.iWX^

Surely tbmwm'jhe. case. wjth Israel / else ^owxo'uld tbe^say vrkeritbe Prpphhs so bitterly denounced Gods judgments' against .-.i them. Because * we ar© innocent, Jer. 2.35'. surely his anger shall turn from' us. ,/f/tf'acastom or ^e'xarrij^e,' bus taken away the Conscience os

sin:

fin: it is a sign that Soul is t a dangerous Lethargy: and yl this is the condition of the most ibi .profess amongft us this day, Bi\ to leave thts and to proceed. A twofold ^As there is a twofold Faith love to Jwo firts of good woris, And th Christ. ^ ft there is also Alwofol love to Christ, the one siandœ. or stepping in some passions of th windy and affections. The othe is that which breaks through a\ difficulties to the holy Command ment to do k,Qf\both*beft\Jiber is mention modi in the Scripture And. thrugh all true Love begins *} the Hearty yes. thatlovtis bu\ little set by that breaks not througl to praifiee. Have many are then in the'-worldthat seem^to havxtht first, .hut. horv ftvo sbevp the seMark 10. cond. The yoking Man in the Go. f$ _lE .T ^r sjpel did by his running, kneeling^ crying, enquiningamd iirtreathig of Christ, to. fb( rv him the may to Life _t shew that be had inward : x Love

Love to Christ andhis own Sa hation, but jet it was not a love _c that JvAs strong as Deaths cruel as the Grave, and hotter than the Coles of Juniper. It was a Love that frost in mind and affection, but could not break, out into Frattice. This kind of Lovr, if it be let alone; and not pressed to proceed till it comes into a labouring practising of the Commandment , will love *s hng as you will, to wit, as- long as Mouth and Tongue can wag; but yet you {ball net by all your skill drive this Love farther than the Mouth. For with their Mouth^; they shew ,much Love, but their Ezdt. Heart goeth after their Cove- ^3I" toufnefs. ''. ^J .'

Nor may this Love be counted for that of the right kind, because it is in the Hearts for the Heart knows how to dissemble afout Love, as much as about ether matters. This is feigned Love_%

or Love that pretends to dear af-
fections for Christ, . but. can be-
fiove no cost upon him. Of this
kind of Love the world is full at
this day, especially the Professors
of this Age, 'but as I (aid, of this
the Lord Jesus makes little or no
account, for that it hath in it an
essential defeftivenefs*: ,\ v\ \
.. Thus therefore Christ and his
Servants describe,the love that is
true *nd of the right, kind, and
that with reference, to himself and

But here again, the hypocrite Matt. 25. will give us the flip by betaking ^2J. of himselfto exterior matters ₃asto his mint, anise, and cummin : fiill "glefling the more weighty matters of the Lavc,to wit, Judgment, Mercy, Faith. Or else to. the sig- . ._{ff 4} nificative ordinances, still negle- _tjv*'ordicling to do to all men as he would nonets, they should do to him. But let such know that God never ordained significative ordinances, such at Baptism, the Lords Supper, or the like, for the sake of water, or of Bread and wine: nor yet because he takes any delight that we are B dipped

dipped in Water jr eat that brtad': . but they ivere ordained to minister to us by the aptness of the Elements^ through our sincere partaking ofthem i further know ledg of the death, .puria/y-and Refurre&ion of Christ j and of our death and resurrection by him to newness of life, wherefore he that eateth and believeth not, and he that' is Baptized, and u not dead to fin_y and walketh not in ne wness . of Ltfe^ neither keepeth theje drdi-. nances nor pleaseth God. . Now to be dead to fin, is to be dead -to those things'for bidden j fhemo_r i ,y- - -; ral Law].: 'FVr'stn is the trahfgres, ■ ,iV: ^. fion^ihai-)- and ft ayailew'hot' to yaunt that Urn a Saint, and undit' this or that significative ordinance, if I live in the transgress i Joh.j. 4. son of the Law. For I am con-, viffed' of the Law as a transgressor _y and ' so concluded to be_, one that loveth not Christ\ tho' J make,' a noise of my obedience to Christ _y

and

and of my partaking of bis significative ordinances. The Jews of old made a great noise with their significative ordinances, whiles they lived in the breach of the moral Lawbut their practice of significative ordinances could not save them from the judgement and displeasure of their God.Thej could frequent the Temple> steep their feasts^ flay their Sacrifices, and be mighty apt about all their, significative things. But they loved Idols₇ and lived in. the Ore ach of the second Table of the Law. Wherefore God cast them out of his presence thark what the Prophet faith of them. . Come to Bethel} and transgress, at Giigal multiply tran^rgressiOn; and bring your Sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years. And offer a Sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim, and publish the free-will osseingSj For this liketh you, O ye ChilB 2 dren

dren of Israel,saith the Lord God. Thus as I [aid; the hypocrite gives us the flip; for when he hearetb that love is in the keeping of the Commandments of Cod , then he betakes him to the more external parts of worship _}dnd negleffetb the more weighty mattersjo the provoking of'the God of Israel,

Secondly_}As love to Godisshewed\ by keeping of his Commandments; So love to my Neighbour u the keeping of the Commandments of God likewise. By this

dren of God, when we love God,, and keep his Commandments. For this is the love of God (in • us, both to God and Man, j that we keep his Commandments, and his Commandments are not grievous* He that keepeth not Gods Commandments, loves neither God nor Men.

Thus then we must learn to -, love one anoth:r. He that keep

"eth

, eth Gods Commandment _}dotb to his brother what is right, for that is Gods Commandment .He that keeps Gods Commandment doth to his Brother even as he would be done unto himself, for that is Gods Commandment. He that keeps Gods Commandment (hutteth not up his bowels of Compassion from him : for the contrary is his Commandment. Further j He that keepeth Gods Commandment fbeweth his Brother what he mujl da to honour the Christ that he profeffeth, aright: Therefore he that keeps the Commandment, loves his brother. Tea, the keeping of the Commandment is loving the Brethren. ^''

But if all love which we pretend to have one to another, were try ed by this one ⁽Text, how much of that that we call so would be found to be nothing less? Preposterous are our Spirits in all things^ nor can they be guided right but by the B j word. word and spirit of God; the which the good Lord grant unto us plentifully, that we may do. that which is well pleasing in hi? fight through Jeftts Christ our Lord. Tea and that there may, by them, be wrought found repentance in us for _fdU that hath been done by us , amiss, , left he give Jacob to the spoil? and Israel to [the Robbers ifor that they a.42.24. have finned against ■ him hy, not walking in his ways, ' and, by not being obedient to his Law. X ^:\\

Let me add, left G,>d doth not only pu/iifh us in.the fight, and by . the hand of the wicked; but imbolden them to fey, it was-. God that set them-on , yea left they make those fins of ours, which we have not repented of, not only there bye-word against usto after generations_, but the Argument the to another tf their justification for all the evil that they

n (i