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so they come to his church, and shew themselves as God's dear children. But St. John saith plainly, If we say that we have any company with God, and walk in darkness, we do lie. Others do vainly think that they know and love God, although they pass not of the commandments. But St. John saith clearly, he that saith, I know God, and keepeth not his commandments, he is a liar. Some falsely persuade themselves, that they love God, when they hate their neighbours. But St. John saith manifestly, if any man say, I love God, and yet hateth his brother, he is a liar. He that saith that he is in the light, and hateth his brother, he is still in darkness. He that loveth his brother dwelleth in the light; but he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth: for darkness hath blinded his eyes. And, moreover, he saith, hereby we manifestly know the children of God from the children of the devil. He that doth not righteously, is not the child of God, nor he that hateth his brother. Deceive not yourselves, therefore, thinking that you have faith in God, or that you love God, or do trust in him, or do fear him, when you live in sin: for then your ungodly and sinful life declareth the contrary, whatsoever you say or think. It pertaineth to a Christian man, to have this true Christian faith, and to try himself whether he hath it or no, and to know what belongeth to it, and how it doth work in him. It is not the world that we can trust to; the world, and all that is therein, is but vanity. It is God that must be our defence and protection, against all temptation of wickedness and sin, errors, superstition, idolatry, and all evil. If all the world were on our side, and God against us, what could the world avail us? Therefore let us set our whole faith and trust in God,

1 John i. ii. iii. iv.

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and neither the world, the devil, nor all the power of them shall prevail against us. Let us, therefore, good Christian people, try and examine our faith, what it is: let us not flatter ourselves, but look upon our works, and so judge of our faith what it is. Christ himself speaketh of this matter, and saith, the tree is known by the fruit. Therefore let us do good works, and thereby declare our faith to be the lively Christian faith. Let us, by such virtues as ought to spring out of faith, shew our election to be sure and stable, as St. Peter teacheth, endeavour yourselves to make your calling and election certain by good works. And also he saith, minister or declare in your faith, virtue; in virtue, knowledge; in knowledge, temperance; in temperance, patience; in patience, godliness; in godliness, brotherly charity; in brotherly charity, love: so shall we shew indeed, that we have the very lively Christian faith, and may so both certify our conscience the better that we be in the right faith, and also by these means confirm other If these fruits do not follow, we do but mock with God, deceive ourselves, and also other men. Well may we bear the name of Christian men, but we do lack the true faith that doth belong thereunto: for the true faith doth ever bring forth good works, as St. James saith, shew me thy faith by thy deeds. Thy deeds and works must be an open testimonial of thy faith; otherwise thy faith, being without good works, is but the devil's faith, the faith of the wicked, a fantasy of faith, and not a true Christian faith. And like as the devils and evil people, be nothing the better for their counterfeit faith, but it is unto them the more cause of damnation: so they that be Christians, and have received knowledge of God, and of Christ's merits, and yet of a set purpose do live idly, without good works, thinking the name of a naked

men.

Luke vi. 2 Pet. i. James ii.

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faith to be either sufficient for them, or else setting their minds upon vain pleasures of this world, do live in sin without repentance, not uttering the fruits that do belong to such an high profession; upon such presumptuous persons, and wilful sinners, must needs remain the great vengeance of God, and eternal punishment in hell, prepared for the unjust and wicked livers. Therefore, as you profess the name of Christ, good Christian people, let no such fancy and imagination of faith at any time beguile you; but be sure of your faith, try it by your living, look upon the fruits that come of it, mark the increase of love and charity by it towards God and your neighbour, and so shall you perceive it to be a true lively faith. If you fail and perceive such a faith is in you, rejoice in it; and be diligent to maintain it, and keep it still in you; let it be daily increasing, and more and more by well working, and so shall you be sure that you shall please God by this faith; and at the length, as other faithful men have done before, so shall you, when his will is, come to him, and receive the end and final reward of your faith, as St. Peter nameth it, the salvation of your souls: the which God grant us, that hath promised the same unto his faithful; to whom be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

1 Peter i.

As the tree is known by its fruits, this part of the Homily recommends a careful examination of our conduct, in order to prove the reality of our profession; lest by a counterfeit faith we deceive ourselves, mislead others, and mock God.

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HOM. V.

On Good Works.

HOMILY V.

A Sermon on Good Works annexed unto
Faith.

IN the last Sermon was declared unto you, what the lively and true faith of a Christian man is, that it causeth not a man to be idle, but to be occupied in bringing forth good works, as occasion serveth.

Now, by God's grace, shall be declared the second thing that before was noted of faith, that without it can no good work be done, accepted and pleasant unto God. For as a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, saith our Saviour Christ, except it abide in the vine: so cannot you, except you abide in me. I am the vine, and you are the branches, he that abideth in me, and I in him, he bringeth forth much fruit for without me you can do nothing. And St. Paul proveth that the eunuch had faith, because he pleased God. For, without faith, saith he, it is not possible to please God. And again, to the Romans he saith, Whatsoever work is done without faith, it is sin. Faith giveth life to the soul, and they be as much dead to God, that lack faith, as they be to the world, whose bodies lack souls. Without faith all that is done of us, is but dead before God, although the work seem never so gay and glorious before man. Even as the picture graven, or painted, is but a dead representation of the thing itself, and is without life, or any manner of moving so be the works of all unfaithful persons

Heb. xi. Rom, xiv. Ps. xxx.

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before God. They do appear to be lively works, and indeed they be but dead, not availing to the everlasting life. They be but shadows and shews of lively and good things, and not good and lively things indeed. For true faith doth give life to the works, and out of such faith come good works, that be very good works indeed, and without faith, no work is good before God, as saith St. Augustine. We must set no good works before faith, nor think, that before faith, a man may do any good works, for such works, although they seem unto men to be praise-worthy, yet, indeed, they be but vain, and not allowed before God. They be as the course of an horse that runneth out of the way, which taketh great labour, but to no purpose. Let no man therefore, saith he, reckon upon his good works before his faith: Whereas faith was not, good works were not. The intent, saith he, maketh good works, but faith must guide and order the intent of man. Christ saith, If thine eye be naught, thy whole body is full of darkness. The eye doth signify the intent, saith St. Augustine, wherewith a man doth a thing. So that he which doth not his good works with a godly intent, and a true faith that worketh by love, the whole body beside, that is to say, all the whole number of his works is dark, and there is no light in them. For good deeds be not measured by the facts themselves, and so discerned from vices, but, by the ends and intents for the which they were done. If a heathen man clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and do such other like works; yet, because he doth them not in faith, for the honour and love of God, they be but dead, vain, and fruitless works to him. Faith it is that doth commend the work to God: for, as St. Augustine saith, whether thou wilt or no, that work that cometh not of faith, is naught:

Matt. vi. Ps. xxxi,

And

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