(3.) Works are necessary as evidences of our faith in Christ, and of our title to heaven.

As these are the fruits of faith, so by them its sincerity is proved. This was the Apostle's rejoicing, the testimony of his conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, he had his conversation in the world. His persuasion, that there was laid up for him a crown of righteousness, arose from a consciousness, that he had fought a good fight, and kept the faith. He exhorts Christians to give diligence unto the full assurance of hope, and, for this purpose, to be followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises,

(4.) Good works essentially belong to religion. They. are binding upon us in the obvious reason of things, and by the express command of God. That we should honor and worship the great and glorious Creator, on whom we continually depend-that we should be just, faithful and beneficent to our fellow men, with whom we are nearly connected-that we should use the bounties of heaven with sobriety and temperance-and that we should bring our appetites and passions under the dominion of our reason, which is the superior faculty of man, is naturally fit and right, and explicitly requir ed in the divine word. Nothing can remove or diminish our obligation to be such manner of persons in all our conversation: Lest we should imagine, that faith supersedes this obligation, the gospel gives it in charge, "that they who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works, because they are profitable to men." The Apostle with abhorrence repels the suggestion, that Christians, because they are under grace, may therefore continue in sin; for, says he, "How shall they who are dead to sin, live any longer therein ?"

(5.) Works are necessary to adorn our profession, and honor our religion before men. Christians are exhorted to exhibit the virtues of the gospel in their common conversation, that the word of God may not be blasphemed, nor the way of truth evil spoken of; but,

on the contrary, the enemies of religion, beholding in the professors of it, a pattern of good works, may glorify God in the day of visitation.

Lastly: Works are necessary, as by them we are to be judged in the great day of the Lord. This is the constant doctrine of the gospel, that Jesus Christ, to whom all judgment is committed, will render to every man according to his works-according to the deeds done in the body. Though heaven is the purchase of Christ, yet it is promised only to them who seek it by a patient continuance in well doing. They only who do the commandments have a right to enter into the holy city. Though the righteousness of the Redeemer, and not our own, is the ground of our acceptance; yet, for the encouragement of virtue and holiness, God assures us, that the future happiness of believers will be measured out to them, in a greater or less degree, according as they have more or less abounded in works of rightcousness. "Let us therefore be stedfast and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as we know, that our labor is not in vain in the Lord."

III. Our last observation is, that the necessity of works does not diminish the grace of God in our salvation, nor afford us any pretence for boasting.

The whole scheme of redemption originated in God's selfmoving mercy. It was not the works or the prayers of men that brought Jesus down from heaven; but the preventing grace and love of God that gave his Son to die for their sins. It was not their sagacity which discovered; but his wisdom which revealed this glorious Saviour, and the marvellous plan of salvation through him. It was not their will that fixed; but his sovereign grace that stated the terms of salvation; and his promise is the foundation of our hope. Neither our faith, nor repentance, nor works can be considered as making atonement for past sins: That our salvation. stands in connexion with these terms, is owing wholly

to the grace of God. It is of grace, that we are brought to a knowledge of, and faith in Jesus, and are disposed to the performance of works really good. "Faith is the gift of God." The means of faith are from him: The word of revelation is not our procurement, but his gracious bestowment. It is by his kind influence, that we are excited to attend on the instructions of his word. It is his Spirit, that gives the word a saving power. "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works."-"By the grace of God," says St. Paul, "I am what I am." It is by the power of God, that we are kept through faith unto salvation. If we live, yet we live not by ourselves, but Christ liveth in us. If we labor, it is not by our own power, but by the grace of God which is with us.

Our spiritual services are acceptable only by Jesus Christ, not by their own intrinsic worth. Were our works ever so perfect, yet between them and the reward promised to them, there is no proportion. Therefore, though believers have their fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life, yet this is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

IMPROVEMENT.

1. Humility essentially belongs to the Christian temper. The believer perceives his own unworthiness, and his dependence on the grace of God. He knows he has no cause for boasting, and he feels no dispo sition to it. Where faith operates, the soul is humbled. So faith used to operate, and so it does still. They who, on the apprehension of a title to salvation, are puffed up with pride in themselves, and contempt of others, discover manifest signs of the want of gospel faith.

2. The mighty preparation which God has made for our recovery from the ruins of the apostacy, teaches us, that the human race is of great importance in the scale

of rational beings, and in the scheme of God's universal government. Though in ourselves we are unworthy of God's notice, yet he has done much for us-more than we could have asked-more than we can even think. He must, then, have some great designs to accomplish by us. His glory is in some way or other to be wonderfully displayed in us. Let us now fall in with the design of his rich mercy and grace, lest hereafter we should stand everlasting monuments of his ireful justice, against perverseness and ingratitude.

3. It infinitely concerns us to comply with the proposals of the gospel.

A salvation procured in the manner which the gospel discovers, is great and important beyond all imagination. If we neglect this, proportionably great and awful will be our destruction. If without the grace here revealed, our state would be wretched and hopeless: How dreadful must be the condition of those who reject this grace? If he who sinned against the law, fell under a sentence of death, without any mercy promised him, How sore will be the punishment of those who despise the grace and grieve the spirit of God, and tread under foot the blood of a dying Saviour?

4. Let no man flatter himself, that he is in a state of salvation, as long as he lives in the neglect of good works.

These are the fruits of that faith by which we are saved. If these are wanting, the root of the matter is not in us. The hope, comfort and joy of Christian professors, must greatly depend on their care to maintain those works, to which true believers are created, and which God has ordained that they should walk in them. They who rise to the joy of hope, on some transient religious exercises, before they have had opportunity to manifest their sincerity by the performance of religious duties, greatly dishonor religion and dangerously impose on themselves. And they who pre

sume to pronounce others in a converted state, before their faith has appeared in its works, and their repentance in its fruits, it is to be feared often flatter deluded souls to their eternal destruction.

5. Let us be careful, that we mistake not the nature of good works.

Works really good must proceed from a good prin. ciple from a principle of faith. And as faith is a belief of the gospel, so works flowing from it will be conformed to the gospel. They will be accompanied with a correspondent temper, regulated by the divine precepts, and produced by the influence of gospel doctrines. If then we believe that we are God's workmanship, let us walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing, and abound in all the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.