The nature and principles of love, as the end of the commandment declared in…

Thirdly, (Which is the matter in hand:) The Principle, or spring of the work must be good: 'Tis possible for one to do a work that's good for the matter of it, and to have some good ends in it, and yet not to do it out of a right principle: and this is it which the Text and Doctrine speaks, unless the Principle be good, the work's not good. As the Fountain is, such are the streams that come from it: As the Tree is, such is the fruit that grows upon it. Do men gather Grapes of Thorns, or Figs of Thistles? Matth. 7. 16. Why, the Thorn hath not a Principle in Nature to put forth a Grape, the ⟨p. 20⟩Thistle hath not a Principle in Nature to put forth a Fig; and therefore saith Christ, A corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Which words of Christ, as they are primarily to be understood concerning false Prophets and their Doctrine, so they may be truly applied to all false professors and their ends; they being corrupt, they cannot bring forth good fruit. If you would draw out of a vessel which is unseasoned, or ill scented, the liquor will taste of the Cask. Now we all by nature are unseasoned; yea, we are ill scented vessels, therefore the liquor, that which passes from us, considered so, must needs have an ill scent, an ill taste. And hence that cutting question of Christ to the Pharisees, Matth. 12. 34. O Generation of Vipers, how can ye being evil, speak good things? They might possibly speak good for the matter. Bad men will often tip their tongues with good words, and appear Chrysostom's, Golden mouthed speakers, ⟨p. 21⟩when their hearts are nothing but brass and dross. But usually evil men speak evil; that which is evil for the matter. Their throats are an open sepulchre, the poison of Asps is under their lips, as the Apostle speaks, quoting it from the Psalms, in Rom. 3. 13.

Thirdly, (Which is the matter in hand:) The Principle, or spring of the work must be good: 'Tis possible for one to do a work that's good for the matter of it, and to have some good ends in it, and yet not to do it out of a right principle: and this is it which the Text and Doctrine speaks, unless the Principle be good, the work's not good. As the Fountain is, such are the streams that come from it: As the Tree is, such is the fruit that grows upon it. Do men gather Grapes of Thorns, or Figs of Thistles?