A30128:36
Christian behaviour, or, The fruits of true Christianity showing the ground from whence they…Christian behaviour, or, The fruits of true Christianity shewing the ground from whence they…
Christian behaviour, or, The fruits of true Christianity showing the ground from whence they flow in their godlike order in the duty of relations, as husbands, wives, parents, children, masters, servants &c. : with a word of direction to all backsliders / by John Bunyan.Christian behaviour, or, The fruits of true Christianity shewing the ground from whence they flow in their godlike order in the duty of relations, as husbands, wives, parents, children, masters, servants &c. : with a word of direction to all backsliders / by John Bunyan.
London: printed for F. Smith, 1663
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now these things being thus, it is impossible that all the men under heaven, that are unconverted, should be able to bring forth one work rightly good; even as impossible, as for all the Briers and Thrones under Heaven, to bring forth one cluster of Grapes, or one bunch of Figs; for indeed they want the qualification: A Thorn bringeth not forth Figs, because it wanteth the nature of the Fig-tree; and so doth the Bramble the nature of the Vine. Good Works must come from a good heart.
Now, this the unbeliever wanteth, because he wanteth Faith; For 'tis that which purifieth the heart (Luk. 6. 45. Acts 15. 9.) Good Works must come from love to the Lord Jesus; but this the unbeliever wanteth also; Because he wanteth Faith: for Faith worketh by love, and by that means doth good, as Gal. 5. 6.
And hence again it is, That though the carnal man doth never so much which he calleth good, yet it is rejected, slighted, ⟨p. 15⟩and turned as dirt in his face again; his prayers are abominable, his ploughing is sin, and all his righteousness as menstruous rags (Prov. 15. 8. Prov. 21. 4. Isa. 60. 4.) Thus you see, that without Faith there is no Good Works. Now then to show you that they flow from Faith. And that,