Chapter 16: Of Good Works

Good Works are only such as God hath commanded in his holy Word,^a and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blinde zeal, or upon any pretence of good intention.^b

Good Works are only such as God has commanded in his holy Word,^a and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intention.^b

These good works, done in obedience to Gods Commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith:^a and, by them, Beleevers manifest their thankfullnesse,^b strengthen their assurance,^c edifie their Brethren,^d adorn the profession of the Gospel,^e stop the mouthes of the adversaries,^f and glorifie God,^g whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto;^h that, having their fruit unto holinesse, they may have the end, eternall life.ⁱ

These good works, done in obedience to Gods Commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith:^a and, by them, Believers manifest their thankfulness,^b strengthen their assurance,^c edify their Brethren,^d adorn the profession of the Gospel,^e stop the mouths of the adversaries,^f and glorify God,^g whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto;^h that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life.ⁱ

Their ability to doe good works, is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ.^a And that they may be inabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is required an actuall influence of the same holy Spirit, to work in them to will and to doe, of his good pleasure:^b yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unlesse, upon a speciall motion of the Spirit; but, they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.^c

Their ability to do good works, is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ.^a And that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the same holy Spirit, to work in them to will and to do, of his good pleasure:^b yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless, upon a special motion of the Spirit; but, they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.^c

They, who in their obedience, attain to the greatest height, which is possible in this life, are so farre from being able to supererogate, and to doe more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to doe.^a

They, who in their obedience, attain to the greatest height, which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.^a

We cannot, by our best Works, merit pardon of sin, or eternall life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come; and, the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom, by them, we can neither profit, nor satisfie for the debt of our former sins,^a but, when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants;^b and, because, as they are good, they proceed from his Spirit;^c and, as they are wrought by us, they are defiled, and mixed with so much weaknesse and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of Gods judgement.^d

We cannot, by our best Works, merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come; and, the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom, by them, we can neither profit, nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins,^a but, when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants;^b and, because, as they are good, they proceed from his Spirit;^c and, as they are wrought by us, they are defiled, and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of Gods judgment.^d

Yet notwithstanding, the persons of Beleevers being accepted through Christ, their good workes also are accepted in him,^a not as though they were in this life wholy unblameable and unreproveable in Gods sight;^b but that, he looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept, and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.^c

Yet notwithstanding, the persons of Believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him,^a not as though they were in this life wholly blameless and irreproachable in Gods sight;^b but that, he looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept, and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.^c

Works done by unregenerate men, although, for the matter of them, they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves, and others:^a yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith;^b nor are done in a right manner, according to the Word;^c nor, to a right end, the glory of God;^d they are therefore sinfull, and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God.^e And yet, their neglect of them is more sinfull, and displeasing unto God.^f

Works done by unregenerate men, although, for the matter of them, they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves, and others:^a yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith;^b nor are done in a right manner, according to the Word;^c nor, to a right end, the glory of God;^d they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God.^e And yet, their neglect of them is more sinful, and displeasing unto God.^f