How to do good to many, or, The public good is the Christians life…How to do good to many, or, The publick good is the Christians life…

No man well in his Wits can think that any thing we do can merits of God in commutative justice, as if he received any thing from us: This were even to deny God to be God. But are we not under a law of Grace, and doth not that Law command us obedience and the improvement of our Talents in doing good? And shall we not be judged by that Law? And what is Judging but Justifying or Condemning? No works of ours can stand the trial, by the Law of Innocency or Works, but only the ⟨p. 33⟩perfect righteousness of Christ: But he that is accused of final impenitency, Infidelity, Hypocrisy or unholiness, if truly accused, shall never be justified; and if falsely, must be justified against that charge by somewhat besides what is done out of him by Jesus Christ.

No man well in his Wits can think that any thing we do can merits of God in commutative justice, as if he received any thing from us: This were even to deny God to be God. But are we not undera law of Grace, and doth not that Law command us obedience and the improvement of our Talents in doing good? And shall we not be judged by that Law? And what is Judging but Justifying or Condemning? No works of ours can stand the tryal, by the Law of Innocency or Works, but only the ⟨p. 33⟩perfect righteousness of Christ: But he that is accused of final impenitency, Infidelity, Hypocrisie or unholyness, if truly accused, shall never be justified; and if falsely, must be justified against that charge by somewhat besides what is done out of him by Jesus Christ.

It is an easier thing to be zealous for an opinion (which is sound or supposed such) about works and grace, than to be zealous of good works, or zealously desirous of grace. How sad use did Satan make of mens zeal for Orthodox words, when the Nestorian, Eutychian and Monothelite Controversies were in agitation? He went for a hollow hearted Neuter, that did not hereticate one side or other: And I would that factious ignorant zeal were not still alive in the Churches. How many have we heard on one side, reviling Lutherans, Calvinists, Arminians, Episcopal, Presbyterians, Independents, &c. To render them odious that never understand the true state of the difference? And how fiercely do some Papists and others cry down Solifidians, and persuade men that we are Enemies to good works, or think that they are not necessary to Salvation (because some rashly maintained, that in a faction against George Major long ago) or at least that they are no further necessary; but as signs to prove that which God knoweth without them? And on the other side how many make themselves and others believe that the true expositors of Saint James's words are almost Papists, and teach men dangerously to trust to works for their Justification, while they understand not what either of the Apostles mean by Justification, Faith or Works. Many so carefully avoid trusting to good works, that they have none or few to trust to. No doubt, nothing of man must be trusted to for the least part that belongs to Christ: But all duty and means must be both used and trusted for its own part.