Twenty sermons preached at Oxford before His Majesty, and elsewhere

But now there is another thing which distinguishes it: it is the peculiar work of faith. In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but the new creature, Gal. 6.15. and again Gal. 5.6. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing, but faith which worketh by love. It's twice set down. Now what is a new creature? Why, he that hath such a faith, as works by love: not a dead faith, but a faith that works; but how does it work? it not only abstains from evil, and does some good acts, which a temporary may do, but its such a faith as works by love. The love of God constrains him, 2 Cor. 5.14. and he so loveth God, as that he hates evil for Gods sake; the other does it not out of love to God; all the love he hath, is self-love: he serves his own turn on God rather than hath any true love to serve him.

Now that we may the better distinguish between these two, I shall endeavour to show you how far one may go farther, than the other. I know not a more difficult point then this, nor a case more to be cut by a thread, then this; it being a point of conscience; therefore, First, I declared unto you the nature of faith; How God first works the will and the deed, and that there is a hungering and thirsting after Christ. First, I say there is a will and desire to be made partaker of Christ and his righteousness; then there is the deed too. We are not only wishers and woulders, but do actually approach unto the Throne of grace, and there lay hold on Christ, touch the Golden Sceptre, which he holdeth out unto us; but,

Now that we may the better distinguish between these two, I shall endeavour to shew you how far one may go farther, than the other. I know not a more difficult point then this, nor a case more to be cut by a thread, then this; it being a point of conscience; therefore, First, I declared unto you the nature of faith; How God first works the will and the deed, and that there is a hungring and thirsting after Christ. First, I say there is a will and desire to be made partaker of Christ and his righteousness; then there is the deed too. We are not only wishers and woulders, but do actually approach unto the Throne of grace, and there lay hold on Christ, touch the Golden Scepter, which he holdeth out unto us; but,