To speak a good word, may be a means to minister grace un•• the hearers; and to •o a good work, of any sort, ministers a gracious example to the beholders: by doing good, you may draw others to do good; to see one walking in ways of righteousness, invites and allures others into ways of righteousness; as bad examples corrupt, so good examples instruct; as bad examples build up for hell, so good examples build up for heaven; To be built or helped on heaven-ward, is the best profit in the world, greater profit than the gain of the whole world. And as every good work ministers a good example to the beholders, so works of Charity minister comfort and relief to the receivers, as also an occasion of blessing God for their benefactors; yea works of Charity to others are profitable also ⟨p. 53⟩to our selves, for there is a promise of reward to those who minister the least charities to such as deserve the greatest charity, though usually they find the least, (Math. 10.42.) Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones, a cup of cold water only (and how cold is their charity who will not give that!) in the name of a disciple, shall in no wise lose his reward; that is, he shall surely have it. Thus we see how profit and advantage, even great profit and advantage comes by Righteousness; yet take heed of thinking that your Righteousness deserves any the least profit at the hand of God. Though we press you to Righteousness as profitable, yet it becomes you to say, we are unprofitable servants, and therefore cannot challenge any profit as our due, how righteous soever we are. It doth not at all follow, because we affirm Righteousness will profit us, that therefore Righteousness can justify us, or that, because it is profitable to us, therefore it can save us. All our righteousnesses are but as a filthy garment, saith the Prophet, and therefore unprofitable for this thing. The Apostle counted all things loss (not gain) dung (not profit) that he might win Christ, and be found in him, not having his own Righteousness, (Phil. 3.8, 9.) Righteousness is profitable, if you keep it in its proper place, and apply it to its proper use; it is profitable to what God hath appointed it; he helps us to work Righteousness, and then rewards us for our righteous working: God is not unrighteous to forget our work and labour of love, (Heb. 6.10.)
To speak a good word, may be a means to minister grace un•• the hearers; and to •o a good work, of any sort, ministers a gracious example to the beholders: by doing good, you may draw others to do good; to see one walking in wayes of righteousness, invites and allures others into wayes of righteousness; as bad examples corrupt, so good examples instruct; as bad examples build up for hell, so good examples build up for heaven; To be built or helpt on heaven-ward, is the best profit in the world, greater profit than the gain of the whole world. And as every good work ministers a good example to the beholders, so works of Charity minister comfort and relief to the receivers, as also an occasion of blessing God for their benefactors; yea works of Charity to others are profitable also ⟨p. 53⟩to our selves, for there is a promise of reward to those who minister the least charities to such as deserve the greatest charity, though usually they find the least, (Math. 10.42.) Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones, a cup of cold water only (and how cold is their charity who will not give that!) in the name of a disciple, shall in no wise lose his reward; that is, he shall surely have it. Thus we see how profit and advantage, even great profit and advantage comes by Righteousness; yet take heed of thinking that your Righteousness deserves any the least profit at the hand of God. Though we press you to Righteousness as profitable, yet it becomes you to say, we are unprofitable servants, and therefore cannot challenge any profit as our due, how righteous soever we are. It doth not at all follow, because we affirme Righteousness will profit us, that therefore Righteousness can justifie us, or that, because it is profitable to us, therefore it can save us. All our righteousnesses are but as a filthy garment, saith the Prophet, and therefore unprofitable for this thing. The Apostle counted all things loss (not gain) dung (not profit) that he might win Christ, and be found in him, not having his own Righteousness, (Phil. 3.8, 9.) Righteousness is profitable, if you keep it in its proper place, and apply it to its proper use; it is profitable to what God hath appointed it; he helps us to work Righteousness, and then rewards us for our righteous working: God is not unrighteous to forget our work and labour of love, (Heb. 6.10.)
