The ground of their cavilling against our doctrine about good works is, because we do not set too high a prize upon them, and make them meritorious, which is to make them no good works, but proud, presumptuous, damnable, diabolical works. There be many forcible reasons for the necessity of good works, though that vain, frothy, windy, false, arrogant, impious, blasphemous reason of merit be not pressed. They are expressly commanded of God: therefore necessary. Though they be not the cause of reigning, yet 1they are the way to the kingdom, out of which way we cannot attain to the Kingdom: therefore necessary. Though the faithful are not justified by them, yet by them is their faith justified (Jam. 2. 22.) therefore necessary. 2Though the doing of them do not merit eternal life, yet the not doing of them meriteth everlasting death, (Mat. 25. 41, 42) therefore necessary. Though by the strict standard of the Law being found unperfect, they are rejected, yet by the gracious mitigation of the Gospel being found sincere, they are accepted: therefore necessary. Though when we shall have done all those things which are commanded us we are unprofitable servants, yet by doing according to our ability what we are commanded, we show our selves grateful children: therefore are good works necessary. This last motive is of more moment with an ingenuous child, then any merit can be. For when the believer thoroughly pondereth the free grace and rich mercy of God in giving him Christ, in accepting him in Christ, in pardoning all his sins, in reserving eternal life for him, his heart is so inflamed with a desire of testifying all gratefulness, as he is ready with his uttermost ⟨p. 118⟩power to do whatsoever he may know to be well-pleasing unto God. Now Gods Word declaring that to do good is a sacrifice well-pleasing to God, the fore-named desire doth 3more enforce him to do good, then the merit of many heavens could. Gratefulness more worketh on an ingenuous spirit then reward can. And that which in way of gratefulness is wrought, is much more kindly wrought, then that which is done for recompense. Answerably it is also more acceptable to God: for it manifesteth a better respect towards him.
The ground of their cavilling against our doctrine about good works is, because we do not set too high a prize upon them, and make them meritorious, which is to make them no good works, but proud, presumptuous, damnable, diabolicall works. There be many forceable reasons for the necessity of good works, though that vaine, frothie, windy, false, arrogant, impious, blasphemous reason of merit be not pressed. They are expresly commanded of God: therefore necessary. Though they be not the cause of raigning, yet 1they are the way to the kingdome, out of which way we cannot attaine to the Kingdome: therefore necessary. Though the faithfull are not justified by them, yet by them is their faith justified (Iam. 2. 22.) therefore necessary. 2Though the doing of them do not merit eternall life, yet the not doing of them meriteth everlasting death, (Mat. 25. 41, 42) therefore necessary. Though by the strict standerd of the Law being found unperfect, they are rejected, yet by the gracious mitigation of the Gospell being found sincere, they are accepted: therefore necessary. Though when we shall have done all those things which are commanded us we are unprofitable servants, yet by doing according to our ability what we are commanded, we shew our selves gratefull children: therefore are good works necessary. This last motive is of more moment with an ingenuous child, then any merit can be. For when the beleever thorowly pondereth the free grace and rich mercy of God in giving him Christ, in accepting him in Christ, in pardoning all his sinnes, in reserving eternall life for him, his heart is so inflamed with a desire of testifying all gratefulnesse, as he is ready with his uttermost ⟨p. 118⟩power to do whatsoever he may know to be well-pleasing unto God. Now Gods Word declaring that to do good is a sacrifice well-pleasing to God, the fore-named desire doth 3more enforce him to do good, then the merit of many heavens could. Gratefulnesse more worketh on an ingenuous spirit then reward can. And that which in way of gratefulnesse is wrought, is much more kindly wrought, then that which is done for recompence. Answerably it is also more acceptable to God: for it manifesteth a better respect towards him.
- 1Via regni non causa regnandi Bern. de Grat. & lib. arbitr.
- 2Ut ad meritum satis est de meritis non praesumere: sic carer• meritis, satis est ad judicium. Bern. sup. Cant Serm. 68. Luk. 17. 10.Vt ad meritum satis est de meritis non praesumere: sic carer• meritis, satis est ad iudicium. Bern. sup. Cant Serm. 68. Luk. 17. 10.
- 3Heb. 13. 16.
