From Scripture. SECTION 1. Eccles. xii. 13. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Isai. iii. 10. Say ye to the righteous it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Rom. ii. 10-15. But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law: (for not the hearers but the doers of the law of the law are just before God, shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves; which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another. Deut. vi. 25. And it shall be our righteousness if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us. Ephes. ii. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Phil. ii. 12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence; work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Acts x. 34, 35. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him. 2 Cor. viii. 12. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. Acts xvi. 14. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. Rom. iii. 9, 10. 19, 20. 23. What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, there is none righteous, no not one. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Tit. ii. 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Heb. xiii. 20, 21. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen, SECTION 11. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. 2 Cor. ix. 8. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you: that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work, 1 Tim. i. 5. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. Col. i. 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. 1 John v. 3. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? SECTION III. 2 Tit. ii. 21. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Gal. v. 22, 23. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Rom. xii. 1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 1 Pet. iii. 15, 16. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience, that whereas they speak evil of you as of evil doers, they. may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. Heb. xi. 6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 1 Pet. i. 22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. Ephes. v. 9. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth. Phil. i. 11. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. Luke viii. 18. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he seemeth to have. Phil. iv. 8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Col. i. 10, (See above.) Tit. iii. 1. 8. 14. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, and to be ready to every good work. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. James ii. 17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. John xv. 8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. Gal. vi. 4. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. Matt. v. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Heb. x. 24. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. 1 Cor. x. 31. Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. SECTION IV. Matt. xii. 35-40. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matt. vii. 17. 20, 21. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Tit. ii. 12-14. Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world: looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Rom. vii. 7. 12-14. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin but by the law: for I had not known lust except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good: that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. James ii. 9. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 1 John iii. 4. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law for sin is the transgression of the law. 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable, for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works. John xv. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. : SECTION V. Heb. xiii. 16. But to do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Ephes ii. 19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the houshold of God. Rom. vii. 9. But ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell |