6. Consider all your Religion is nothing, and will come to nothing, if you live in the neglect of Gods positive Will. And will you deny your self once and again in forbearing many things that would delight and gratify your Flesh, and possibly incur the anger of your profane Neighbours, for not running with them to the same excess of riot, and then lose all for want of doing what is commanded thee. Wouldst not thou think him a foolish Husbandman, that should take care for the casting out the stones, and plucking up the weeds out of his ground, and then lose all his cost ⟨p. 310⟩and pains for want of sowing it with good seed? Would it not vex a Scrivener, after he had taken much pains, and spent much time about a large Deed, or Conveyance, after he had taken great care to write it fair, without any blots, to be forced to write all over again, for his omission of some material passage in it? The Apostle writes to the Elect Lady, 2 Joh. 1.8. Look to your selves that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. If he that doth not persevere in well-doing, may deprive himself of all the benefit of his good deeds which he hath already done; what benefit can they expect, who never began to do good? How can their good works follow them to their comfort into the other World, who never did any? Or how can God Register their Prayers, and Watchings, and Fastings, and Weepings for Sin, and acts of Devotion in his Book of Remembrance, who never minded them, Rev. 14.13. Mal. 3.7. Christ tells us, Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every man according to his Works, Rev. 22.12. Now, Reader, ⟨p. 311⟩if thou contentest thy self in thine Omissions, what Works hast thou for Christ to reward? all the reward of a negative Holiness is but a cooler Hell, and, God knoweth, that is small comfort. Thou hast no work of Faith, or labour of Love, or patience of Hope, or fervency in Prayer, or breathings and longings after conformity to, and communion with the blessed God for Christ to Record and Reward. The Holy Ghost when he tells us, That God will render to every man according to his deeds, presently subjoins, To them who by patient continuance in well-doing (i. e. positive Holiness,) seek for Glory, and Honour, and Immortality, everlasting life, Rom. 2.6, 7. Virtutis est magis honesta agere quam non turpia, as he said well.
6. Consider all your Religion is nothing, and will come to nothing, if you live in the neglect of Gods positive Will. And will you deny your self once and again in forbearing many things that would delight and gratifie your Flesh, and possibly incur the anger of your prophane Neighbors, for not running with them to the same excess of riot, and then lose all for want of doing what is commanded thee. Wouldst not thou think him a foolish Husbandman, that should take care for the casting out the stones, and plucking up the weeds out of his ground, and then lose all his cost ⟨p. 310⟩and pains for want of sowing it with good seed? Would it not vex a Scrivener, after he had taken much pains, and spent much time about a large Deed, or Conveyance, after he had taken great care to write it fair, without any blots, to be forced to write all over again, for his omission of some material passage in it? The Apostle writes to the Elect Lady, 2 Joh. 1.8. Look to your selves that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. If he that doth not persevere in well-doing, may deprive himself of all the benefit of his good deeds which he hath already done; what benefit can they expect, who never began to do good? How can their good works follow them to their comfort into the other World, who never did any? Or how can God Register their Prayers, and Watchings, and Fastings, and Weepings for Sin, and acts of Devotion in his Book of Remembrance, who never minded them, Rev. 14.13. Mal. 3.7. Christ tells us, Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every man according to his Works, Rev. 22.12. Now, Reader, ⟨p. 311⟩if thou contentest thy self in thine Omissions, what Works hast thou for Christ to reward? all the reward of a negative Holiness is but a cooler Hell, and, God knoweth, that is small comfort. Thou hast no work of Faith, or labour of Love, or patience of Hope, or fervency in Prayer, or breathings and longings after conformity to, and communion with the blessed God for Christ to Record and Reward. The Holy Ghost when he tells us, That God will render to every man according to his deeds, presently subjoyns, To them who by patient continuance in well-doing (i. e. positive Holiness,) seek for Glory, and Honour, and Immortality, everlasting life,
