V. Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man's duty to endeavour to repent of his particular sins, particularlyk.

VI. As every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon thereof; upon which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy": 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

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.

V. Psal. 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 innocert 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 four-fold. 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 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

VI. Psal. 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 Psal. li. 4, 5, 7, 9, 14.

m Prov. xxviii. 13. He that covereth his sins shall not pros. per: 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.

those that are offended"; who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive himo.

CHAPTER XVI.

Of Good Works.

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

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, pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confes sion unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide a not from me. Psal. li. throughout.

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

I. a Micah vi. 8. He hath shewed 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 acceptable, and perfect will of God. Heb. xiii. 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will. b Mat. xv. 9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Isa. 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 from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precepts of men. John xvi. 2. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whoso. ever killeth you, will think that he doeth God service. 1 Sam. xv. 21, 22, 23.

See

University of Colorado Libranes - Boulde

II. These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith: and by them believers manifest their thankfulness", strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the Gospels, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workman

II. James ii. 18, 22. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.-Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? d Psal. cxvi. 12, 13. What shall I render unto the 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, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

e 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.

f 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. Mat. v. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

g 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. Sce also Tit. ii. 9, 10, 11, 12.

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.

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.

ship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto", that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life'.

III. Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ". 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"; 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.

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.

1 Rom. vi. 22. But now, being made free from sin, and be come servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

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.

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.

• 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 desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope unto the end; That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Isa. lxiv. 7. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up him

IV. They, who in their obedience, attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate and to do more than God requires, that they fall short of much, which in duty they are bound to do.

V. We cannot, by our best works, merit pardon of sin, or eternal life, at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite dislance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit, nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants'; and because as they are good, self to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. See also 2 Pet. i. 3, 5, 10, 11. and 2 Tim. i. 6. and Acts xxvi. 6, 7. together with Jude 20 and 21 verses.

IV. P Luke xvii. 10. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Job ix. 2, 3. But how should man be just with God?-Ïf he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. Gal. v. 17. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

V. Rom. iii. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Rom. iv. 2, 4, 6. For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God.-Now to him that worketh, is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works. Eph. ii. 8, 9. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. I'sal. xvi. 2. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee. See also Tit. iii. 5, 6, 7. Rom. viii. 18, 22, 23. and Job xxxv. 7, 8.

⚫ Luke xvi 10. See letter P in this chapter.