Gospel-love, heart-purity, and the flourishing of the righteous being the last sermon of the…

I, but now I have another sight to show you, according to the Tenure of this Text and Doctrine, which is very sad also. And what's ⟨p. 30⟩that? Why, to see bad men do according to the works of good men, still continuing in their bad state. They plod on, and go on doing good things, but never mind to become good themselves: And so bad men do according to the works of the righteous: I say, This is a sad sight. And thus did Saul, when he was among the Prophets: There was a bad man doing good things, 1 Sam. 10. And thus did Ahab, when he humbled himself; a wicked man doing a very good thing, 1 Kings 21. Thus did Jehu, when he destroyed Idolatry: A very good work, but a very bad man, 2 Kings 10. 28. Thus did Judas, when he preached the Gospel; a very good work, but himself a Traitor. And thus did Demas, when he profest the Gospel, and followed the Apostles: A very good work, but himself an hypocrite, and a lover of the world. And thus indeed do all hypocrites, and mere formalists, in their performing of ⟨p. 31⟩Gospel worship. And thus Christ will tell them at the last day, as he saith, Matth. 7. 22, 23. when they came upon him so to upbraid him (as it were) with the good things which they had done. We have prophesied in thy name, we have cast out Devils in thy Name; we have done many good and mighty works in thy Name; Saith Christ to them, Depart from me ye workers of iniquity. Though you did these good things, yet you never did them from a sound principle, from a principle of Grace: No, you your selves were secret workers, or lovers of iniquity, while you did all these good things. Now is not this a sad sight? I confess, it is a sad sight, to see a bad man do that which is bad, or a wicked man to do that which is wicked; yet I say, it is a sadder sight to see a bad man continuing in his state, having no spiritual principles, to go on doing good: For what is this, but the ⟨p. 32⟩just contrary to what I spake before. This is the acting of the new Creatures part in the old Creatures state; and what will that avail?