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sity to all sinners, that none may expect par don without it. (1)

IV. As there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation; (2) so there is no sin so great, that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent. (3)

V. Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man's duty to endeavour to repent of his par ticular sins, particularly. (4)

(1) Luke xiii. 3, 5. I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. See also Acts xvii. 30.

(2) IV. Rom. vi. 23. For the wages of sin is death. Matt. xii. 36. But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

(3) Isa. lv. 7. Let the wicked forsake 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 which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Isa. i. 18. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

(4) V. Ps. xix. 13. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Luke xix. 8. And Zaccheus stood, and said 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 false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 1 Tim. i. 13, 15. Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that

VI. As every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon thereof; (1) upon which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy: (2) so he that scandalizeth his brother, or the church of Christ, ought to be willing, by a private or public confession and sorrow for his sin, to declare his repentance to those that are offended; (3) who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him. (4)

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

(1) VI. Ps. xxxii. 5, 6. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly, pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. See also Ps. li. 4, 5, 7, 9, 14.

(2) Prov. xxviii. 13. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 1 John i. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.

(3) James v. 16. Confess 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, 4. Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. Josh. vii. 19. And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. Ps. li. throughout.

(4) 2 Cor. ii. 8. Wherefore I beseech you, that ye would confirm your love toward him. See Gal. vi. 1, 2

CHAPTER XVI.

OF GOOD WORKS.

Good works are only such as God hath commanded in his holy word, (1) and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intention. (2)

II. These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith: (3) and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, (4)

(1) I. Micah vi. 8. He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, 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 aoceptable, and perfect will of God. Heb. xiii. 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will.

Isa.

(2) Matt. xv. 9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. xxix. 13. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far fron me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precepts John xvi. 2. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doeth God service. See 1 Sam. xv. 21, 22, 23.

of men.

(3) II. James ii. 18, 22. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

(4) Ps. cxvi. 12, 13. What shall I render unto the

strengthen their assurance, (1) edify their brethren, (2) adorn the profession of the gospel, (3) stop the mouths of the adversaries, (4) and glorify God, (5) whose workmanship they

Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. 1 Pet. ii. 9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

(1) 1 John ii. 3, 5. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.-But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 2 Pet. i. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

(2) 2 Cor. ix. 2. For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Matt. v. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

(3) Tit. ii. 5. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 1 Tim. vi. 1. Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. See also Tit. ii. 9, 10, 11, 12.

(4) 1 Pet. ii. 15. For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

(5) 1 Pet. ii. 12. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that, whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may, by your good works which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation Phil. i. 11. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. John xv. 8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.

are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, (1) that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life. (2)

III. Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ. (3) And that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure; (4) yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them. (5)

(1) Eph. ii. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

(2) Rom. vi. 22. But now, being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

(3) III. John xv. 5, 6. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire. See Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27.

(4) Phil. ii. 13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Phil. iv. 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 2 Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.

(5) Phil. ii. 12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Heb. vi. 11, 12. And we de

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