The new covenantThe nevv covenant

But yet a little further, a man may be yet deceived in this, a mans faith may work, and an Hypocrite may do many works, if it be but bare working, a man may be deceived, and therefore this is added further, it works by love. Beloved, a man may do exceeding many duties, as you know, he may suffer Martyrdom, he may give all to the poor, he may be a very diligent Preacher of the Gospel: for Paul saith, I may speak with the tongue of men and Angels, I may give my goods to the poor, ⟨p. 146⟩I may give my body to be burned▪ and yet if these great works be done, without love, they are nothing. But, on the other side, if you find this, that you do but the least work, if it be but to give a cup of cold water, and do it out of love, if you abstain from one sin, if you overcome any one lust whatsoever, that is dear and near to you, because you love Jesus Christ, if you set your selves upon any work, upon any employment and endeavour, and thy heart witnesseth this to thee, it is because I love the LORD, and desire exceedingly to please him, he is one that I would fain have communion with, my delight is in him, therefore I do these works: for it is my meat and drink to do his will; now thou art on a sure ground, now thou mayest know thou art within the Covenant: for thou believest as Abraham did, and therefore thou art within the Covenant, as he was; thou mayest know it, because thy faith works, and then thou mayest know that it works right, because it is done by love. Well, yet there is another way to know this, that is in thy seed (saith the Text) shall all the Nations of the world be blessed, if a man be then ingrafted into this seed, into the Messiah once, then he shall be blessed, if once he belong to him. Well, how shall a man know that.

But yet a little further, a man may be yet deceiued in this, a mans faith may worke, and an Hypocrite may doe many workes, if it bee but bare working, a man may bee deceiued, and therefore this is added further, it workes by loue. Beloued, a man may doe exceeding many duties, as you know, hee may suffer Martyrdome, he may giue all to the poore, hee may be a very diligent Preacher of the Gospell: for Paul saith, I may speake with the tongue of men and Angels, I may giue my goods to the poore, ⟨p. 146⟩I may giue my body to be burned▪ and yet if these great workes be done, without loue, they are nothing. But, on the other side, if you finde this, that you doe but the least worke, if it be but to giue a cup of cold water, and doe it out of loue, if you abstaine from one sinne, if you ouercome any one lust whatsoeuer, that is deare and neare to you, because you loue Iesus Christ, if you set your selues vpon any worke, vpon any imployment and endeauour, and thy heart witnesseth this to thee, it is because I loue the LORD, and desire exceedingly to please him, he is one that I would faine haue communion with, my delight is in him, therefore I doe these workes: for it is my meate and drinke to doe his will; now thou art on a sure ground, now thou maist know thou art within the Couenant: for thou beleeuest as Abraham did, and therefore thou art within the Couenant, as hee was; thou maist know it, because thy faith workes, and then thou maist know that it workes right, because it is done by loue. Well, yet there is another way to know this, that is in thy seede (saith the Text) shall all the Nations of the world bee blessed, if a man be then ingrafted into this seede, into the Messiah once, then he shall bee blessed, if once he belong to him. Well, how shall a man know that.