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1 John 3.10. The manifest difference between the children of God, and of the Devill, is working of righteousnesse.
Reas. 1. From the weaknesse and impotency of nature to bring forth a righ∣teous work, Rom. 8.3, 4. Rom. 7.18. & 3.10.12. none of the famous Heroes among the Heathen, but their best actions were splendida peccata. Deut. 32.32, 33. Gods people had corrupted themselves, and the Spirit of God was not up∣on them; their sweetest works were like the Grapes of Sodom and Gomorrah, which are fair to the eye, but if touched vanish away; there is a fair out∣side, but no nourishment: none so opposite to Christ, as men of best naturall abilities, Acts 17.32.19.20. Rom. 11.17.20. Phil. 3.6. though Paul was clean in his own and others eyes, yet did he persecute the Church of God, there is no power of nature, can reach to a supernaturall work, Rom. 6.16, 17, 18, 19.20.
2. From the impotency and weaknesse of common Graces, Mat. 12.33. Heb. 9.14. untill Christs blood hath sprinkled our consciences, all our works are but dead works, every work that is spirituall, must
1. Spring from Faith, Gal. 3.14. Rom. 14. ult.
2. The end must be the glory of God, 2 Cor. 10.13. nature never works higher then its own glory. Brutus when he heard his Sons conspired with the Tarquins, he sent for them and cut off their heads, whereof the Poet spake thus, Vivit aemor patriae, laudumque immensa cupido, had this been bounded in Gods glory, it had been good: let Saul Prophesie, let Jehu set upon refor∣mation with great zeal, let Herod hear John Baptist gladly, yet all these detain the truth in unrighteousnesse.
3. From the necessity of abiding in Christ, to the performing of every duty, John 15.5. he doth not say without me ye can doe no great matter, but with∣out me ye can doe nothing.
4. From the resemblance that is between Christ and such as work righteous∣nesse, there is such a resemblance as is between Father and Son, John 3.2. we are the seed of Christ, and are made like him; as a child is known to be born of such a man, by his look, speech, carriage: such as work righteousnesse, their works will own them, Isa. 61.1, 2, 3. Isa. 9.6.
Q. How are we said to be born of Christ?
A. He is sometimes (though he be our elder Brother) called our Father, we are born of his Seed, his Word and Spirit, and we resemble Christ as well as the Father, Rom. 8.29.
Ʋse 1. This reproves the Jesuits and Franciscans Doctrine, that hold, that by strength of common graces a man may receive justifying grace when it is offered, a man must be born of God, that will doe so good a work; it is there∣fore a Doctrine contrary to the Word of God.
Ʋse 2. Those that are in state of nature or common grace, should not rest there.
Ʋse 3. Such as are born of God should make use of their new birth; walk in the life of the new birth, else thou dost nothing, Gal. 2.20. we must doe all out of the strength of the new birth: if the Sun should shine into our houses, and we shut up all the doors and windows to keep it in, we shut it out; so we must keep the windows of our hearts open to Christ.
Ʋse 4. Have respect to works of righteousnesse: it is injustice to sell places of office, and suffer men to sell them; if men buy dearly, they must be forced to deale hardly.
Obj. A man that buyes dearly, may sell so.
Ans. A man may sell what he bought justly, a man may but his own right, yet not sell it; it is injustice to sell what is not our own, as places in free election.