Gods husbandry

And we may say assuredly, that unless the thing inducing us to the care of knowing and doing Gods will, be a dear and hearty affection which we bear in our souls to him, out of a persuasion that we have, of ⟨p. 118⟩the great and tender compassion that he bare unto us in Christ, and an apprehension of the infinite riches of his grace and wisdom, showed in his Son; our endeavour is not accepted, neither can be called holy. But the people of GOD, do find themselves so linked and tied unto God, in regard of that, his most wise, gracious, and favourable dealing with them in his Son, and those infinite excellencies, which from the sight of this goodness, they begin to discern in him; that out of the sweet and gentle motions of this love, they are fully resolved to obey him. Thus there is a joint operation of faith, and love in their obedience, it being utterly impossible, that the creature should love God, but out of some true persuasion of Gods love to him. Wherefore how godly or good soever any mans life be, in show and appearance; if the main motive to that goodness be the love of men alone, or the love of himself, or any such like, and not the love of God, springing from an inward, and grounded apprehension of Gods grace towards him, in the face of Christ; it is not to be called Goodness indeed, neither is so in Gods account. Let us instance in one or two particulars. A man meeting with a miserable person, is liberal towards him with money for his relief. The thing that induced him thereto, was the entreaty of the party, or a kind of natural compassion, or the labour of some friend: but he never considered, that God (who so infinitely loved him, as to make his only Son poor, that he might be made rich) hath required such duties of love ⟨p. 119⟩and bounty at his hands, towards his brethren for his sake; neither did provoke and stir up himself to exercise this bounty, with lifting up his mind to Gods commandment and good pleasure, and to the goodness and kindness of God towards him (to whom it were a shame of all shames for him to deny so small a matter, as the bestowing of a little pittance of his own wealth at his appointment). This alms-deed, this act of liberality, is not a fruit of piety; it is not a fruit of Faith, it is not a fruit of Christianity, it is not in him, and to him a good deed, or an act of obedience to the Lord:

And we may say assuredly, that vnlesse the thing inducing vs to the care of knowing and doing Gods will, bee a deare and hearty affection which wee beare in our soules to him, out of a perswasion that we haue, of