Remains of that excellent minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Joseph Alleine being a collection…Remaines of that excellent minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Joseph Alleine being a collection…

Rev. 3. 1. I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest and art dead.

These words are part of Christs Epistle from heaven to the Church of Sardis, wherein he shrewdly checks her hypocrisy and formality, and throughout gives counsels and directions, for her recovery out of that sad estate; from the words we have given you this observation.

THese words are part of Christs Epistle from heaven to the Church of Sardis, wherein he shrewdly checks her hypocrisie and formality, and throughout gives counsels and directions, for her recovery out of that sad estate; from the words we have given you this observation.

We gave you the Reasons for confirmation, and made entrance into the Application, and have applied it as to the two first branches; to wit, the matter, and the quantity of our works. To come now to the Application of the third thing, namely, the quality of them.

We gave you the Reasons for confirmation, and made entrance into the Application, and have applyed it as to the two first branches; to wit, the matter, and the quantity of our works. To come now to the Application of the third thing, namely, the quality of them.

Use. Is it so that the Lord Jesus Christ doth ⟨p. 62⟩take such notice of our works for the quality of them? then this may be useful by way of Reprehension and Exhortation.

Use. Is it so that the Lord Jesus Christ doth ⟨p. 62⟩take such notice of our works for the quality of them? then this may be usefull by way of Reprehension and Exhortation.

First. For Reprehension, this reproves us that we rest so much in the work done, and do so little enquire into the quality of our works as to the sincerity and soundness of them. O my Brethren! how often do we pray, and never examine how we have prayed? and hear, and never enquire, how we have carried it, while we have been hearing? O how many a mans bosom am I now in? Brethren, this is a great evil among men. Yea, I fear among Gods own people, that there is not that care to look into their duties, how they are performed. Brethren, if the Lord Jesus Christ did as you, look no farther than the outside of your duties, and the work done, then you may rest in that; O but Jesus Christ he looks into the inside of them, and he labours to see what there is of soundness and sincerity in them: And seeing the Lord Jesus Christ looks so narrowly into them, should not you? This is the cause of many sins and mischiefs among Professors.

First. For Reprehension, this reproves us that we rest so much in the work done, and do so little enquire into the quality of our works as to the sincerity and soundness of them. O my Brethren! how often do we pray, and never examine how we have prayed? and hear, and never enquire, how we have carried it, while we have been hearing? O how many a mans bosome am I now in? Brethren, this is a great evil among men. Yea, I fear among Gods own people, that there is not that care to look into their duties, how they are performed. Brethren, if the Lord Jesus Christ did as you, look no farther than the outside of your duties, and the work done, then you may rest in that; O but Jesus Christ he looks into the inside of them, and he labours to see what there is of soundness and sincerity in them: And seeing the Lord Jesus Christ looks so narrowly into them, should not you? This is the cause of many sins and mischiefs among Prosessors.

First. This is the cause of much undoing Self-deceit, when persons rest in the work done, and do not carefully examine, what principles they did act by, and ends they did act for; this doth cause many souls to be undone to their destruction. This was the reason why Sardis was so miserably out, and Laodicea, that she was so much mistaken, they kept on the trade of Religious duties, and because the ⟨p. 63⟩thing was done, and the duty performed with constancy, they thought they were in a good state. You know the speech of that Church, I am rich &c. you are to understand it of spiritual Riches, she thought her self upon the growing hand. O but when Jesus Christ comes and sees how little sincerity there was in them, he disrellisheth them, and shows them that their works were not perfect before him. And thus it is with many Professors in these days, that because they keep on in Family prayer and good duties, they think all is well, and for want of looking into the Spring of their duties, and their ends in them, they are undone by them. O what a miserable deceit is this! when a poor creature shall reckon that he hath so much gold, so much treasure laid up in heaven, and when it comes to be tried, all his Gold shall prove but Counters! O consider what a miserable estate that will be, when you shall come with them, Lord, Lord, we have been a praying people, and have owned and followed thee; and he shall say, away you Hypocrites, you shall have the reward of Hypocrites, there was not the soundness of Religion in you; O what a miserable disappointment will this be! Jam. 1. 26. He speaks there of some, that did but [seem] to be religious, and deceive their own souls. There be some men, their Religion will serve for no other end but to deceive their own souls; to undo them, because they are unsound in their Religion. There are many Professors, that when they come to receive the reward of their ⟨p. 64⟩du•ies they will receive another manner of reward than they thought of; they think to receive the reward of their prayers, and keeping the Sabbath and the like; but he that taketh notice of the heart, knoweth their prayers were, but a taking of his name in vain. When they think to have eternal life for their reward, God will say, I will give you the reward of your works. I sound your works to be but hypocrisy, and you shall have the reward of Hypocrites.

First. This is the cause of much undoing Self-deceit, when persons rest in the work done, and do not carefully examine, what principles they did act by, and ends they did act for; this doth cause many souls to be undone to their destruction. This was the reason why Sardis was so miserably out, and Laodicea, that she was so much mistaken, they kept on the trade of Religious duties, and because the ⟨p. 63⟩thing was done, and the duty performed with con•tancy, they thought they were in a good state. You know the speech of that Church, I am rich &c. you are to understand it of spiritual Riches, she thought her self upon the growing hand. O but when Jesus Christ comes and sees how little sincerity there was in them, he disrellisheth them, and shews them that their works were not perfect before him. And thus it is with many Professors in these days, that because they keep on in Familyprayer and good duties, they think all is well, and for want of looking into the Spring of their duties, and their ends in them, they are undone by them. O what a miserable deceit is this! when a poor creature shall reckon that he hath so much gold, so much treasure laid up in heaven, and when it comes to be tryed, all his Gold shall prove but Counters! O consider what a miserable estate that will be, when you shall come with them, Lord, Lord, we have been a praying people, and have owned and followed thee; and he shall say, away you Hypocrites, you shall have the reward of Hypocrites, there was not the soundness of Religion in you; O what a miserable disappointment will this be! Jam. 1. 26. He speaks there of some, that did but [seem] to be religious, and deceive their own souls. There be some men, their Religion will serve for no other end but to deceive their own souls; to undo them, because they are unsound in their Religion. There are many Professors, that when they come to receive the reward of their ⟨p. 64⟩du•ies they will receive another manner of reward than they thought of; they think to receive the reward of their prayers, and keeping the Sabboth and the like; but he that taketh notice of the heart, knoweth their prayers were, but a taking of his name in vain. When they think to have eternal life for their reward, God will say, I will give you the reward of your works. I sound your works to be but hypocrisie, and you shall have the reward of Hypocrites.

O Brethren, I beseech you consider it! It is an awakening truth, but deserves your consideration; there are many that will not only be undone by their swearing, and deceiving, and the like; but many will be undone by their praying and hearing, I mean they will be undone by them, by making them the matter of their righteousness before God; and by their confidence and trust, and leaning to their duties. There be many persons, whose prayers and good duties will serve for no other end, but to blind them, and harden them to their own destruction. If you perform religious duties, and do not look into the manner of performing them, and take care that you be upright, you may come to blind, and harden your selves by them. O there are multitudes of Professors in Hell this day for wanting care to enquire into this, what ingredients there were in their duties; whether they sprang from principles of grace, or, but from common convictions; whether they were done for, and from themselves, more than from and for God, This made Luther say that he was afraid ⟨p. 65⟩more of his good works, than of his sins, for his good works were apt to lift him up, but his sins did keep him humble. O Brethren! you had need to look about you, Satan can make a snare of your good duties, to catch your souls by. There are two ways whereby men may be undone by their duties, (1) when they make them as a supposed righteousness, when men do perform Religious duties, and expect that these should obtain the favour of God, and remission of sins, or, at least, should help with the merits of Jesus, to make up a righteousness for them, on which they may climb up to heaven, and stand before God. Thus those carnal Jews, though they were zealous of their duties required by the Law, yet they were lost by going about to establish those as a righteousness of their own. Rom. 10. 3 (2) when they make them as a mistaken evidence. There are many persons (I conceive) that are so far convinced of the sinfulness of their duties, that they do not lean to these as their Righteousness before God, that those should obtain Gods favour, and their pardon; yet they do conclude that this is an evidence that they have an interest in Christ; and hereby they deceive their own souls-

O Brethren, I beseech you consider it! It is an awakening truth, but deserves your consideration; there are many that will not only be undone by their swearing, and deceiving, and the like; but many will be undone by their praying and hearing, I mean they will be undone by them, by making them the matter of their righteousness before God; and by their confidence and trust, and leaning to their duties. There be many persons, whose prayers and good duties will serve for no other end, but to blind them, and harden them to their own destruction. If you perform religious duties, and do not look into the manner of performing them, and take care that you be upright, you may come to blind, and harden your selves by them. O there are multitudes of Professors in Hell this day for wanting care to enquire into this, what ingredients there were in their duties; whether they sprang from principles of grace, or, but from common convictions; whether they were done for, and from themselves, more than from and for God, This made Luther say that he was afraid ⟨p. 65⟩more of his good works, than of his sins, for his good works were apt to lift him up, but his sins did keep him humble. O Bretheren! you had need to look about you, Satan can make a snare of your good duties, to catch your souls by. There are two wayes whereby men may be undone by their duties, (1) when they make them as a supposed righteousness, when men do perform Religious duties, and expect that these should obtain the favour of God, and remission of sins, or, at least, should help with the merits of Jesus, to make up a righteousness for them, on which they may climb up to heaven, and stand before God. Thus those carnal Jews, though they were zealous of their duties required by the Law, yet they were lost by going about to establish those as a righteousness of their own. Rom. 10. 3 (2) when they make them as a mistaken evidence. There are many persons (I conceive) that are so far convinced of the sinfulness of their duties, that they do not lean to these as their Righteousness before God, that those should obtain Gods favour, and their pardon; yet they do conclude that this is an evidence that they have an interest in Christ; and hereby they deceive their own souls-

Object. But you will say, are not our good duties signs of our right to Christ? doth not the Scripture say, [he that doth Righteousness is righteous?] I answer, good works are indeed a good sign of faith: but then you must look to this, that they be sincerely good. But ⟨p. 66⟩•ow many do conclude, because the work is done, that therefore they are in Christ, when as they do not look into the bottom of their duties, whether they be done in sincerity or hypocrisy, and so do but deceive their own souls by trusting to them; because their duties are not sincere. O my Brethren, how effectually are many Professors undone by this! That are so hardened in their estate, that it is more hard to bring them into Jesus Christ, than those that are openly profane. Thus it was observed in our Saviours ministry, that it was more hard to bring in the Self-justifying Pharisees, than the Self-condemning Publicans.

Object. But you will say, are not our good duties signs of our right to Christ? doth not the Scripture say, [he that doth Righteousness is righteous?] I answer, good works are indeed a good sign of faith: but then you must look to this, that they be sincerely good. But ⟨p. 66⟩•ow many do conclude, because the work is done, that therefore they are in Christ, when as they do not look into the bottom of their duties, whether they be done in sincerity or hypocrisie, and so do but deceive their own souls by trusting to them; because their duties are not sincere. O my Brethren, how effectually are many Professours undone by this! That are so hardned in their estate, that it is more hard to bring them into Jesus Christ, than those that are openly prophane. Thus it was observed in our Saviours ministry, that it was more hard to bring in the Self-justisying Pharisees, than the Self-condemning Publicans.

Secondly, Another mischief of this, is, this is the cause of so much pride and self-confidence in duty. Had Laodicea but made a due search into her duties, you should have heard another manner of speech from her. O my poverty! Hypocrisy! Deadness! Formality! Lord pity my woeful state! this would have been the language you would have heard from her: but now because she did not search into the bottom, this did lift her up; and made her think so well of her case. The reason why we are so well persuaded of our selves, is, because we do not see into our selves. Did we but throughly reflect upon, and search into our duties, when they are performed, we should run to God for pardoning grace. As Neh. last 22. Remember me O my God, for good. He did thus after his great zeal for God, and work of Reformation. He flies to God to pardon the sins of his duties, O Christian! if thou didst ⟨p. 67⟩look into thy duties, thou wouldst see enough to make thee ashamed of them, thou wouldst be ready to cross what thou hast written, and to cut out thy work, and pick it out stitch by stitch. But now persons not searching into their duties, this makes them stick, and be confident in them.

Secondly, Another mischief of this, is, this is the cause of so much pride and self-considence in duty. Had Laodicea but made a due search into her duties, you should have heard another manner of speech from her. O my poverty! Hypocrisie! Deadness! Formality! Lord pitty my woful state! this would have been the language you would have heard from her: but now because she did not search into the bottom, this did lift her up; and made her think so well of her case. The reason why we are so well perswaded of our selves, is, because we do not see into our selves. Did we but throughly reflect upon, and search into our duties, when they are performed, we should run to God for pardoning grace. As Neh. last 22. Remember me O my God, for good. He did thus after his great zeal for God, and work of Reformation. He slies to God to pardon the sins of his duties, O Christian! if thou didst ⟨p. 67⟩look into thy duties, thou wouldst see enough to make thee ashamed of them, thou wouldst be ready to cross what thou hast written, and to cut out thy work, and pick it out stitch by stitch. But now persons not searching into their duties, this makes them stick, and be confident in them.

Thirdly. This is the cause of so much barrenness & in proficiency in the ways of God, did the Christian but duly examine his own duties and espy the defects of the present duty, and be sure to amend that the next time, that was am•ss now, this would make him, in a little time, come to a wonderful proficiency in godliness. But when men go on in a customary course, and do not find out their errors, it is no wonder they go on in their errors, in one tract, duty after duty, yea one year after another: A Christian that is careless in the examining of his duties, that doth not observe the failings of his duties, to amend at one time what was amiss before, he will be but a Bungler in Religion all his days. But he that is careful to examine it. that he may amend what was amiss, this man will soon come to be his Crafts-master in his Trade.

Thirdly. This is the cause of so much barrenness & in prosiciency in the ways of God, did the Christian but duly examine his own duties and espy the defects of the present duty, and be sure to amend that the next time, that was am•ss now, this would make him, in a little time, come to a wonderfull prosiciency in godliness. But when men go on in a customary course, and do not find out their errours, it is no wonder they go on in their errours, in one tract, duty after duty, yea one year after another: A Christian that is careless in the examining of his duties, that doth not observe the failings of his duties, to amend at one time what was amiss before, he will be but a Bungler in Religion all his dayes. But he that is carefull to examine it. that he may amend what was amiss, this man will soon come to be his Crafts-master in his Trade.

Fourthly, This is the cause of so much ignorance of our own estate; It is no wonder that so many Professors are at a loss about their condition; it is for want of looking into their Religion. They do not know whether they be sound or unsound, whether they be going forward, or going backward, all this is from want of care, to examine and enquire into their duties.

For want of this men do not know whether they be sound or unsound, for how doth a man know the tree but by the fruit? When all is done, 'tis mens actual obedience that is the great evidence, that their estates must be tried by. Whatsoever seeming principles of grace and life, and love, may seem to be within, and good resolutions, yet if all this, be not strong enough to bring forth the fruits of obedience, in a holy, self-denying, and flesh displeasing godliness, all is unsound. But then we m• not look only to the outside of our obedience, we must not take the Carcass without the soul. Now when persons do not look into their duties, but rest in the work done, how can they make any judgment into their estate by them.

For want of this men do not know whether they be sound or unsound, for how doth a man know the tree but by the fruit? When all is done, 'tis mens actual obedience that is the great evidence, that their estates must be tryed by. Whatsoever seeming principles of grace and life, and love, may seem to be within, and good resolutions, yet if all this, be not strong enough to bring forth the fruits of obedience, in a holy, self-denying, and flesh displeasing godliness, all is unsound. But then we m• not look onely to the outside of our obedience, we must not take the Carkass without the soul. Now when persons do not look into their duties, but rest in the work done, how can they make any judgment into their estate by them.

So many that are sound Christians, do not know whether they are decaying or increasing for want of this, because they do not look into their duties how they perform them. Christians, how do you perform your duties? Do you more look into them, how sweet they are to you? whether it is better than it was? Christians, you must look to this, are you more extensive. and intensive in your duties? Are you more extensive? Heretofore you looked only at home, to do your selves good; do you do good now to others? Heretofore, Religion was confined to your knees, but now do you bring it forth into your Shops, and Callings? Here•osore, you were for personal godliness, but are you now for Relative godliness? Heretofore, you were for duties of the first Table only, but now do you put both Tables together? ⟨p. 69⟩this would be a good sign, but for want of mens searching into this, they are at a loss; they do not know whether they are better or worse, declining or increasing.

So many that are sound Christians, do not know whether they are decaying or increasing for want of this, because they do not look into their duties how they perform them. Christians, how do you perform your duties? Do you more look into them, how sweet they are to you? whether it is better than it was? Christians, you must look to this, are you more extensive. and intensive in your duties? Are you more extensive? Heretofore you looked onely at home, to do your selves good; do you do good now to others? Heretofore, Religion was consined to your knees, but now do you bring it forth into your Shops, and Callings? Here•osore, you were for personal godliness, but are you now for Relative godliness? Heretofore, you were for duties of the first Table onely, but now do you put both Tables together? ⟨p. 69⟩this would be a good sign, but for want of mens searching into this, they are at a loss; they do not know whether they are better or worse, declining or increasing.

Fifthly. This is the cause of so much […] in duty. When a […] know that there will be a strict […] into him, his preparation will be […]: but when he fears not that, he […] the more remiss. So 'tis here, If we […] a strict examination into our hearts, then they will be the more careful to ply the work the more, when they know they shall be looked after. But when they know they shall not be looked into, they will do the work thereafter. Beloved, if we would do the work of Religion to purpose, we must deal by our hearts, as we would by truantly servants, if you would have any thing done, you must keep your eye upon them, If you keep your selves to this course constantly, to enquire into your duties, how they were done, then your hearts will be careful to make thorough work of it. And indeed this enquiring into your duties, is not only a means to make your hearts sincere in duty, but it is a great part of sincerity. That man that makes no enquiry into his heart, that man is an hypocrite, there is no soundness in that man. And the less care thou hast in looking into thy heart, the less there is of Christianity in thee.

Fifthly. This is the cause of so much 〈…〉 in duty. When a 〈…〉 know that there will be a strict 〈…〉 into him, his preparation will be 〈…〉: but when he fears not that, he 〈…〉 the more remisse. So 'tis here, If we 〈…〉 a strict examination into our hearts, then they will be the more careful to ply the work the more, when they know they shall be looked after. But when they know they shall not be looked into, they will do the work thereafter. Beloved, if we would do the work of Religion to purpose, we must deal by our hearts, as we would by trewantly servants, if you would have any thing done, you must keep your eye upon them, If you keep your selves to this course constantly, to enquire into your duties, how they were done, then your hearts will be careful to make thorough work of it. And indeed this enquiring into your duties, is not onely a means to make your hearts sincere in duty, but it is a great part of sincerity. That man that makes no enquiry into his heart, that man is an hypoerite, there is no soundness in that man. And the lesse care thou hast in looking into thy heart, the less there is of Christianity in thee.