Discourses, or, Sermons on several Scriptures

1. Obedience to Gods Commandments gives us a Right of Evidence to Eternal Life. ¹He is judged to have the best Right to an Estate, who can produce the best Evidence for it. Now the best Evidence that can be shown for Heaven, is our unfeigned Obedience: All other things that Men may rely upon to justify their Title, will prove but forged Deeds, to which only the Spirit of Presumption or Enthusiasm hath set his Seal, and not the Spirit of God; and therefore we find how miserably the Confidence of those Wretches were dismounted, and their Hopes frustrated, who came with Lord, ²Lord, Have we not prophesied in thy Name, and in thy Name cast out Devils, and in thy Name have done many wonderful Works? All this ⟨p. 71⟩may be, and yet be no good Title, no good Evidence for Heaven; for if those who cast out Devils, have not cast out their Lusts; if those who prophesy in his Name, by their Sins dishonour and blaspheme that Name; if those who are Workers of Miracles, are yet Workers of Iniquity, he professeth against them, that he knows them not; and commands them to depart from him for ever, as Workers of Iniquity; ³whereas on the contrary, we find a joyful and blessed Sentence pronounced upon others, according to the Evidence brought in for them by their good Works; so our Lord himself tells us, Come ye Blessed of my Father, ⁴inherit the Kingdom prepared for you: for I was hungry, and ye gave me Meat; for I was thirsty, and ye gave me Drink; a Stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; sick and in Prison, and ye visited me. This Particle [For] ⟨p. 72⟩is not a Note of Causality or Merit, but only of Evidence; for as Evidences prove our Right to our Possessions, so likewise our Obedience and good Works do effectually prove the Right which we have to Eternal Life, through Christ's Purchase, and God's free Donation; and therefore the Evidence being clear, the Sentence must in Equity proceed accordingly. God, as a just and righteous Judge, instates them in the Possession of the Kingdom of Heaven, because they visited, and relieved, and cherished his Son in his Members: Not that their Love to him, or their Charity to them purchased any such Right; but only proves and evinceth it: It is not the Cause of their Justification, but a Reason why God declares them justified;