So it was the scope of John Baptist, he preached the baptism of repentance, and the washing away of sins, now they would be ready to take the sweet, therefore he tells them they must be obedient, and he urgeth it on particulars, as they that are soldiers must offer no wrong to any, and so of the ⟨p. 101⟩rest, the Lord will not take any thing of an enemy, a stranger, 2 Cor. 8. 12. He that giveth alms, 1and giveth not his person first to the Lord, the Lord accepteth it not, but yet on the other side, works must justify our faith: it is but an empty faith, except it hath an actual real obedience accompanying it. It is a dangerous rock to think our sins are forgiven, and we have accepted Christ, and have good meanings, and yet we have no obedience accompanying this: he that is in Christ hath crucified the flesh, and walketh after the spirit, and he that is in Christ, is subject unto him in all things. Aristotle saith, not he that had a strong body, but he that run well, had the crown in the Olympian games, it was not an athleticall ability, but he that wrestled best: and it is the similitude the Apostle himself alludes to, and takes 2up, 1 Cor. 9. towards the end. Exhorting to strictness of obedience unto Christ, as without which a man will loose his labour. It is well expressed in the parable of the sons, one said he would go into the vineyard, there were good intentions; the other said he would not: he that said he would, and went not, went besides the reward; and he that said he would not, but went, it was he that received the reward. It is not good desires, but actual performing of obedience that shall provide a Crown for you. And good reason why trial 3should be taken by this, for trial is in difficult things. To profess and know much, are easy, but to bring your affections into subjection, to wrestle with lusts, to cross your wills, and your selves, ⟨p. 102⟩upon every occasion, this is hard. The Lord looketh that in our lives we should be serviceable to him, and useful to men; that which is within, the Lord and our brethren are never the better for it; but the outward obedience flowing thence, glorifies God, and doth good to man. The Lord will have this done. What else is the end of our preaching, our planting, 4and watering, but that the trees may be filled with sap? And what is the end of that sap, but that the tree may bring forth fruit?
So it was the scope of Iohn Baptist, he preacht the baptisme of repentance, and the washing away of sinnes, now they would be ready to take the sweet, therefore he tells them they must be obedient, and he urgeth it on particulars, as they that are souldiers must offer no wrong to any, and so of the ⟨p. 101⟩rest, the Lord will not take any thing of an enemy, a stranger, 2 Cor. 8. 12. Hee that giveth almes, 1and giveth not his person first to the Lord, the Lord accepteth it not, but yet on the other side, workes must justifie our faith: it is but an empty faith, except it hath an actuall reall obedience accompanying it. It is a dangerous rocke to thinke our sins are forgiven, and we have accepted Christ, and have good meanings, and yet we have no obedience accompanying this: hee that is in Christ hath crucified the flesh, and walketh after the spirit, and he that is in Christ, is subject unto him in all things. Aristotle saith, not he that had a strong body, but he that runne well, had the crowne in the Olympian games, it was not an athleticall ability, but he that wrestled best: and it is the similitude the Apostle himselfe alludes to, and takes 2up, 1 Cor. 9. towards the end. Exhorting to strictnesse of obedience unto Christ, as without which a man will loose his labour. It is well expressed in the parable of the sonnes, one said he would goe into the vineyard, there were good intentions; the other said he would not: he that said he would, and went not, went besides the reward; and hee that said he would not, but went, it was hee that received the reward. It is not good desires, but actuall performing of obedience that shall provide a Crowne for you. And good reason why tryall 3should be taken by this, for tryall is in difficult things. To professe and know much, are easie, but to bring your affections into subjection, to wrestle with lusts, to crosse your wils, and your selves, ⟨p. 102⟩upon every occasion, this is hard. The Lord looketh that in our lives wee should bee serviceable to him, and usefull to men; that which is within, the Lord and our brethren are never the better for it; but the outward obedience flowing thence, glorifies God, and doth good to man. The Lord will have this done. What else is the end of our preaching, our planting,
- 12 Cor. 8. 12.
- 21 Cor. 9.
- 3Trial is from obedience.Tryall is from obedience.
- 4It is the end of preaching.
