A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

§. Sect. 4 That we must practise what we know, in our works and actions.

Secondly, with our words and outward profession, we must join also our works and actions, in doing service unto God, without which we cannot approve our hearts to be upright before him. Neither is it sufficient to make us accepted of God, that we speak religiously, and make a glorious profession of the Truth, unless our practice be suitable in the works of holiness and righteousness. It is not enough (as our Saviour hath taught us) to cry, Lord, Lord, for entering into Gods Kingdom, unless we ¹do the will of his Father which is in heaven; no nor yet that we have prophesied and preached in his Name; seeing we shall be excluded & depart from him, if we be workers of iniquity. For not the hearers and talkers of the Law, but the ²doers thereof shall be justified. Neither will God render unto us according to our outward profession, but according to our deeds, & we shall receive at Christs ³appearing to Judgement, not according to our words and shows, but according to that we have done, whether it be good or bad. Yea in truth, bare profession without practice, doth make us the more odious in Gods sight. And if we deny God in our works, whom we profess to know with our words, we become abominable hypocrites, who dishonour him more by their sins then any other. In which regard, the Lord would have none to make profession of Religion, who do not endeavour to practise what they know in their lives. What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes, or that thou shouldest take my Covenant ⁴