The works of Ephesus explained in a sermon before the honourable House of Commons…The workes of Ephesus explained in a sermon before the honovrable House of Commons…

Thirdly, seeing God knows our works, they shall certainly be rewarded. It is one of the vanities which Solomon observed under the Sun (and it is a vexing ¹vanity) That for every good work a man is envied of his neighbour. But will it not balance this vanity, that for every right work a man shall be honoured and rewarded of his God? Those works which the world entertains with Scorn, and besmears with Calumny, Christ who knows them will entertain with an Euge, and reward with Glory, Well done good and faithful servant, ²enter into thy Masters joy. Man doth, yea he ought to do many good works, which are never known of ⟨p. 18⟩man. And those which are known, come usually but to an ill market; at the best it were scarce worth the while, to do good, if all the pay were to be expected from the hands of men: But as we can do no good work, but it is known to God, so because it is known it shall be repaid: Blow not a Trumpet (saith Christ) your ³Father sees in secret; And observe what is three times inferred upon that, Your Father which sees in secret, himself ⁴will reward you openly; himself will do it, he will not send his Steward. And because many say (non tua sed te) Lord let us have thee rather then thine; therefore he will not only reward such himself, but himself will be their reward: And O, how exceeding ⁵great, how exceeding all greatness is that reward, which hath no measure but infiniteness. I, so watchful is Christ over the least grain of good we do, that he hath protested a cup of cold water (almost an indiscernible charity) given to a Disciple of his, in his name, ⁶shall in no wise (there is a double negative for it) lose a reward. Water is a small courtesy, and cold water a less; yet though thus given, as prepared by nature only, without the least charge to heat or mix it, it cannot miss a reward. And if works of Love which cost us nothing shall be thus rewarded, what shall we be repaid for those, in which (like Araunab to David) As Kings we give unto the King? When we are royal and magnificent for Christ, When we spare no cost,