2. We must look to the Qualificati∣ons of them. Now there are several qualifications required in good works to make them good in the sight of God, which can be found in none but true Saints. As,
1. They must proceed from a good
Sincerity, or, The upright mans walk to heaven in two parts shewing I. that sincerity is the true way to happiness, II. that the keeping of our selves from our own iniquity is the true way to sincerity / delivered in several sermons in the parish church of St. Michael in Long-Stratton Norfolk by James Oldfield, late minister there.
About this Item
- Title
- Sincerity, or, The upright mans walk to heaven in two parts shewing I. that sincerity is the true way to happiness, II. that the keeping of our selves from our own iniquity is the true way to sincerity / delivered in several sermons in the parish church of St. Michael in Long-Stratton Norfolk by James Oldfield, late minister there.
- Author
- Oldfield, James.
- Publication
- London :: Printed for Edward Giles,
- 1687.
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This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this text, in whole or in part. Please contact project staff at eebotcp-info@umich.edu for further information or permissions.
- Subject terms
- Sincerity.
- Christian life -- Anglican authors.
- Cite this Item
-
"Sincerity, or, The upright mans walk to heaven in two parts shewing I. that sincerity is the true way to happiness, II. that the keeping of our selves from our own iniquity is the true way to sincerity / delivered in several sermons in the parish church of St. Michael in Long-Stratton Norfolk by James Oldfield, late minister there." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A53271.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 9, 2024.
Pages
Page 231
heart, 12. Matthew 33. so 8. Luke 15. God looks to the goodness of the heart, if our hearts be naught▪ God will ne∣ver tast of the fruit we bear. That's the root.
2. The tree must belong to Christ, or else he will never own the fruit; the Woman is first Married, and then she bares Children, else what she bring forth before Marriage are not legitimate; so all our good things before united to Christ, &c.▪ therefore the Fathers call all the vertues and good works of the Heathens, splendida peccata, only because they did not belong to Christ. Nay Christ tells us, that none out of him can do any thing acceptable unto God, 15. John 4. Look that you belong to Christ.
3. For the fruit it self. The•• qualifi∣cations.
1. They must be done in Faith. He that hath no Faith cannot please God. Faith that ripens all our fruits else they will tast very raw.
2. In Charity. 1 Cor. 13. 3. without charity i. e. a true love to God and Holi∣ness, all our fruits will tast sower.
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3. Our good fruits must bear propor∣tion.
1. To our former bad fruits, 6. Rom. 19. we must do as much for God as for∣merly for our selves, or the Devil, or sin, or lusts.
2. To the Soil we are planted in, i. e. to the means of grace we live under, 92. Psalm 13, 14. God expects more from us than from others; less would carry a man to Heaven formerly than now, because we have more means than they.
4. We must look especially that our aim and end be good, or else our works cannot be good, 1 Cor. 10. 31. Now if such be our fruits, then may I say to you in the words of the Apostle, 6. Rom. 22. Now are ye made free from sin, and become servants unto God, and ye have your fruit unto Holiness, and the end shall be everlasting life.