unto this sycamine tree, be thou plucked up SERM. by the root, and be thou planted in the sea, XIV. " and it should obey you. But which of you

66

66

having a servant ploughing, or feeding cattle, "will say unto him by and by, when he is

66

come from the field: go and sit down to "meat. And will not rather say unto him, "make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird

66

thyself, and serve me till I have eaten and “drunken, and afterwards thou shalt eat and "drink? Doth be thank that servant because "he did the things that were commanded him? "I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall "have done all those things which are com"manded you, say, we are unprofitable ser"vants, we have done that which was our

66

duty to do." Now this parable sets the matter in the right light. Whatever we may suppose, we have no title to reward for obeying the commandments of God; it is our bounden duty, let what will come of it. The parable indeed cannot set it in its full light, because among ourselves there is always something due to a good and faithful servant; and as he is our fellowcreature, we may owe him even thanks for

XIV.

66

SERM. his care and fidelity, but between God and us the case is different-God receives nothing from all our services; If thou be righteous," says Elihu to Job, "what givest thou him, or what receiveth he at thy band?" Towhich we may add the remark of the holy Psalmist, "Thy goodness reach"eth not unto him." God is above all wants, and therefore in reality in need of no services; but he is supreme above all things, and therefore he may promulgate his laws freely, and require strict obedience. But from what I have been saying, let it not be imagined I am depreciating good worksfar from it. They are not the less amiable for being necessary, but as the case stands with us Christians, we have a nobler hope, than what can arise from any prospect of recompence strictly due to our just deeds. And the text I have chosen may serve to open your eyes to the truth of what I have been urging. In the text, two things are very prominent and noticeable: we are there called the servants of God-death is said to be the wages of sin, but that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ

Our

66

66

XIV.

our Lord. Here it is plain, that eternal SERm. life is not represented as the wages of righteousness, as death is said to be the wages of sin, but it is a gift, a free gift of God through Jesus Christ. The servants of God, all men are by nature, as the dependent creatures of his hands, and amenable to his holy laws, so far as they are made known; but we who have been baptised in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, are the servants of God, through JESUS CHRIST; or rather, (for so are we ennobled by his redemption of us), even the heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. Here then we ought to find the spring and principle of all our good actions: with steady faith we must fix our eyes on our Redeemer, who has set us free from sin, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life. Our good works are a debt due to God under all circumstances whatsoever; at all events, we are bound to fulfil his commandments; but under the operation of a true Christian faith, our good works become a badge of our profession; signs of our loyalty to the Saviour of the world; R claiming

SERM. claiming no reward on their own account, XIV. but yet serving to recommend us to him who died for us, and so far putting us in the way of the gift of eternal life, which he has promised to all such as love him, and keep his commandments. Now though it is not to be supposed, but that, in the case of those who have not received the good tidings of Christ's covenant, good works will in some way or other operate to their advantage in the world to come independent of any faith in Christ; yet good works, springing from a love and confidence in our blessed Lord, may well be expected to stand higher in his regard. Our blessed Lord laid down his life for us, and called upon us to follow him. For his sake boldly to withstand temptations; to resist the world, the flesh, and the devil; to mortify our fleshly lusts that war against our souls; and to glory in his cross and passion. Here is a hope afforded us far beyond the common desert of good moral actions; by this call of our blessed Lord we are enlisted under his banners, and if we prove ourselves worthy of our high calling, we shall inherit the

promises.

XIV.

promises. Good works then, without any SERM. regard to the merciful interposition of our blessed Saviour, may possibly obtain for us the wages due to them; but good works, proceeding from a sound faith and confidence in Christ, may obtain for us something far greater than the just measure of wages, for we shall be saved and advanced through grace; and that not of ourselves, not as wages earned, but it will be the gift of God. And now possibly I was but right, when I said at the beginning of this discourse, that this great and noble principle was often overlooked and neglected. Do you regulate your actions by a just sense of all that your Saviour and Redeemer has done for you? Do your righteous acts spring from a high and noble sense of gratitude to him who laid down his life for you, or do you only think to compass the joys of heaven as a just recompence of your good deeds? Beware of such a mistake. The joys of heaven are transcendent, far exceeding any thing our actions here below can merit. When we shall have done all we are commanded to do, we shall still be but "unprofitable serR 2 “vants"