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

And I would say to them further: The good you do in that state, not having a spiritual Principle, the good that you do will not profit you, 'twill not advantage you; 'twill be no plea in the great day. All the profit you can have by it at most, when you have had the utmost that it comes to, it is but some external or outward mercy. As Ahab, he humbled himself: why, he had somewhat for it; he had his penny: and therefore saith the Lord, Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself? The Judgement shall not come in his days. A deliverance from an outward Judgement: but here was no deliverance from wrath, and from eternal ⟨p. 34⟩Judgement. And so Jehu, for the good works that he did, he had somewhat; but alas, what was it? Indeed a great thing in the eyes of the world, a Kingdom; and a Kingdom for several Generations. But the truth is, A poor thing, for that was all indeed he had for his zeal in destroying Idolatry. He had the Kingdom for four Generations; but he abiding a wicked man, while he did that good thing, himself was cut off for ever. And you see the Ruler in Mark 10. 21. who came to Christ, and told him, how he had done almost all the matters of the Law: why, Jesus Christ saw indeed he had done them, but he knew he had not done them from a right principle; and therefore what was it that Christ gave him? Saith he, he beheld him, and loved him. A love of pity, as some expound the place. O it's a pity that such a person as thou art, that thou hast been a keeper of the Law, yet hast not done it upon a ⟨p. 35⟩right principle. And that he did not, it is plain; for when Christ put him home he went away sorrowful. Now all that he had for it, Christ gave him some approbation: and as he did to that other in Mark 12. 34. Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God. I, but he was so far, as he should never come there, unless he changed his state. So that I say, The Condition of those that do good things, not out of a good principle, is indeed very lamentable, upon these and many other accounts.

And I would say to them further: The good you do in that state, not having a spiritual Principle, the good that you do will not profit you, 'twill not advantage you; 'twill be no plea in the great day. All the profit you can have by it at most, when you have had the utmost that it comes to, it is but some external or outward mercy. As Ahab, he humbled himself: why, he had somewhat for it; he had his penny: and therefore saith the Lord, Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself? The Judgement shall not come in his dayes. A deliverance from an outward Judgement: but here was no delivence from wrath, and from eternal