We know not how much good thofe around us fometimes reap, from an observation of the purity, benevolence, and zeal, of their fellow Chriftians. All those who walk Those who are called of God, are stirred up to an holy emulation at the view: faith the Apoftle to the Hebrews, Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with fo great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay afide every weight, and the fin that doth fo easily befet us, and let us run with patience the race that is fet before us. aright become patterns with others, so that ye were, faith the Apostle Paul, enfamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. And those who are not yet effectually called by the grace of God, may be brought over to the love of the truth, by a conversation becoming the Gofpel. Thus fpeaks the Apostle Peter, Likewife ye wives, be in fubjection to your own husbands; that if any obey not the word, they also may, without the word, be won by the converfation of the wives; having a good conScience; that whereas they speak evil of you as of evil doers, they may be ashamed, who falsely accuse your good converfation in Chrift. To promote the fpiritual good, the best interest of all around us, is an object worthy of men, and of Chriftians; and the probability that we may, by any just means, effect this, fhould induce us to make it our endeavour; but their best good cannot be promoted fo fuccessfully any other way, as by a patient continuance in well doing, and manifefting our love to God by a holy practice. 3. In this way too our own good is promoted. It is by a good converfation, that the fecurity of our hearts, the integrity of our confciences, the foundness of our faith, and in a word, the truth of all our graces are clearly manifested, cherished, and increased. If we content ourselves with faying, Lord, Lord; and do not the $ 4 things things which he faith, our profeffion is plainly infincere; it is hypocrify. If we maintain not a converfation becoming the Gospel, our confciences are defiled, our faith is dead, inactive and useless. By a good conversation, the prefence of the Holy Spirit in us is teftified to our own peace and comfort. All the various graces of the Chriftian are so many fruits of the Spirit, wrought in him by the Holy Ghost; and therefore, a holy practice proves the presence of the Holy Spirit with us. In this way, too, is gained the affurance of God's love, and outward evidence is given of our election and salvation. Befides, by fuch a walk many judgments are either prevented or removed, foftened or fanctified; and what is still a greater bleffing, deftruction from the Almighty will be happily avoided :-Hereby shall we escape from deferved and unutterable despair, and get into the path of life, the way of peace, and the happy road to joys unspeakable and full of glory. How great, my hearers, will be the gain of piety, both here and hereafter ! Thirdly, I come now to confider a little the neceffity of good works. The importance and neceffity of good works can be eafily maintained, without ascribing to them any merit or any influence in our justification; and although we prefs not the doing of good works as being meritorious, yet there are forcible reasons or arguments, from which we may urge the great neceffity of them. And, 1. They are highly neceffary, as being commanded and expressly required by God himself. Whatever God requires in his word, must be done. Obedience is neceffary, and therefore holiness of heart and life is indispensably neceffary. That good works are required required of Chriftians will not be doubted by any, who are in the leaft acquainted with the Bible. Let ours alfo, faith an Apostle, learn to maintain good works for necefJary ufess and faith the fame inspired writer, This is a faithful faying, and these things I will that thou affirm conftantly, that they who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works, these things are good and profitable unto men. Where the word of a king is, there is power; and is there no authority in the precepts of Heaven? No obedience due to the commands of the living God? How dwelleth the fear and love of God in those men who violate the divine law, and trample on the dread authority of the Moft High? Surely a holy walk with God is neceffary, fince it is enjoined by himself. 2. Good works are the way to the kingdom of God. For though they are by no means to be confidered as the cause of our reigning in heaven, yet without them we shall never attain to the kingdom; we fhall never fee God; fo fpeaks the Apostle Paul, Without holiness no man fball fee the Lord. The fum of felicity confifts in the enjoyment of the ever bleffed God. They who being born of God by the regenerating influences of the Holy Spirit, live a holy and humble life, fhall know by fweet and happy experience, that in the prefence of God there is fulness of joy, and at his right hand, to which distinguished honour they shall foon be happily advanced, there are pleasures for evermore. 3. Good works are an evidence or demonftration of our faith. The Apostle James, speaking of the faith of Abraham, and how it was proved to be genuine, fays, Seeft thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And a fruitless inactive faith, which produceth not the fruits of righteousness, is by the fame A poftle Apostle denominated, a dead faith. Works are therefore neceffary, as evidences of our faith; and in this way only can it be proved to be genuine, a true and living faith. To evidence our faith is of great importance, and highly neceffary, as without it, it is impoffible to please God, or to escape eternal wo-be that believeth not shall be damned. How vaftly neceffary then are good works, as they are a demonstration of the truth and reality of our faith? 4. The not doing of them merits eternal death. For although we must disagree with those who suppose that doing good works merits everlafting life, yet we know that the most exquifite torments of the damned, will be no more than the just reward of their impious deeds. Whatever ftores of wrath are referved for the wicked, they are but the treasures which guilty finners have hoarded up for themfelves.-But after thy bardness and impenitent heart, saith St Paul, treasureft up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God; and the fame infpired writer tells us, that the wages of fin is death. If then indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, shall be upon them who obey not the truth, and on every foul of man that doth evil, how neceffary are good works? How careful fhould we be to walk in the way of God's commandments? With what diligence and zeal ought all men to serve the Lord in their day and generation? 5. The neceffity of good works will appear, if we confider them as expreffions of our gratitude. It is indeed true, that when we have done all those things which are commanded, we may still say, we are unprofitable fervants. However, by doing what we are commanded, according to our ability, we show ourselves grateful children of our Father, who is in Heaven. And I think this is an argument of more weight with an ingenuous child of God, than any motive which can be drawn from merit, or the fuppofed worth of our obedience. For when the Christian pondereth on the free grace, and boundless mercy of God, in giving his own Son, in accepting the returning finner for Chrift's fake, in pardoning all his fins, and in referving for him everlasting life, it tends fo to inflame his heart with love and gratitude, that he is always ready to do whatsoever he thinks may be wellpleafing in the fight of God, even to the utmost of his power. Gratitude to God is our duty; it is a delightful and neceffary duty; it is, and will be performed by all that love God. But good works are the genuine fruits of a grateful difpofition, and without them, it will never be fuitably expreffed. Hath the bleffed God loaded us with benefits, and followed us with loving kindness and tender mercies, and shall his people, shall any who call themfelves Chriftians, break his laws, and trample on the authority by which they are enacted? Can any suppose that such conduct will be a grateful return to the Father of our mercies? Oh! what a rich gift was that, when God gave us his own Son? Is it for this, that poor finners despise and disobey him, and rush on the bucklers of the Almighty? I fhall now proceed to make fome application of the fubject. 1. This fubject teacheth us, that thofe who walk not in God's ways, cannot be esteemed his affectionate people.. For whoever hath a due regard to the Supreme Jehovah, whoever truly fears and loves him, will teftify his regard to him by a devout and holy converfation. Inward af fection to God will make us fear, and fly from the very, appearance |