1 COR. XV. 58.

Forafmuch as ye know that jour labour is not in vain in the Lord.

I.

7HAT are we to understand by la

W bour?

1. Whatsoever care and pains you are at, to do good and ferve GOD ftedfaftly, it doth require great care and study, Luke xiii. 24. Pfal. cxxxii. 4, 5. Pfal. i. 2. 1 Cor. ix. 24, 25. 1 Theff. i. 3.

3.

2. Whatsoever cofts or charges ye are at, Phil. iii. 8. Mark x. 29, 30. Mat. xix. 21. Whatsoever trouble or affliction we undergo for Chrift's fake, Heb. xi. 24, 25. 2 Cor. vi. 4, 5. Heb. xi. 36, 37. 1 Pet. iii. 14. Acts xiv. 22.

II. In what fenfe will our labour not be in vain?

1. Neg. Not as if we could merit any thing at GOD's hand by what we do or fuffer for him. For Tua peccata funt merita Dei funt. Aug.

1. We can do no good Works but what we are beholden to GOD for, Jam. i.

17.

Merita omnia dona Dei, funt, & ita bomo magis propter ipfa Deo debitor eft quam Deus bomini, Bernard.

2. What

2. Whatsoever we can do or fuffer is no more than what we are bound to do

for him that gives us all things, Luke xvii. 10.

3. Our Works bear no proportion to our Reward, Rom. viii. 18.

Quibus laboribus quibus injuriis poffumus noftra levare peccata? Ambrof.

Quis noftrum fine divina poteft fubfiftere miferatione? Quid poffumus dignum premiis facere celeftibus? Id.

Quid funt merita noftra ad tantam gloriam?

Bern.

2. Pofitively. Their labour fhall not be loft,

or to no purpose, but GOD of his infinite Mercy in Chrift will abundantly recompence them both in this life and that to come, 1 Tim. iv. 8. Heb. x. 35.

I COR. XV. 58.

For as much as ye know that bour is not in vain in the Lord.

know that your la

II. POSITION.

G

OD of his infinite Mercy in Chrift will recompence all your good Works abun

dantly.

1. In this Life, with

1. A full pardon of all your former fins, Ezek. xvii. 21, 22. Ifa. lv. 7. This is the first and greatest bleffing we can enjoy, and upon which all others depend, Pfal. xxxii. 1, 2.

2. Peace with GOD; he will no longer be angry with you as he is with the wicked, Pfal. vii. 11. but will be reconciled to you by the Death of Christ, Rom. v.

I, 10.

3. GOD will not only not be angry with you, but you alfo will not be angry with your felves, but have peace of Confcience, Ifa. xlviii. 21, 12. 2 Cor. i.

12.

4. You will be the adopted Sons and Daughters of GOD himself, John i. 12. His People, Heb. viii. 10. His peculiar People, Exod. xix. 5. Tit. ii. 14.

By vertue of this your Adoption you will have,

1. Free access to GOD as your Father upon all occafions, Heb. iv. 16. Mat. vi. 9. John xx. 17.

2. Pro

2. Protection from all Evil and Danger, Pfal. 1. 15. Ifa. xli. 10. and xliii. 1, 2. Pfal. lvii. 1. ffa. 1. 10.

3. His bleffing upon all ye have, Deut. xxviii. 1, 2, 3.

4. All things will be yours, 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. and work together for your good, Rom. viii. 28. yea your very Afflictions too, 2 Cor. iv. 17.

2. In the life that is to come, we fhall have all manner of Perfection.

1. Perfect Conqueft over all our Enemies, yea over Death it self, 1 Cor. xv. 55, 56, 57.

2. Perfect cafe and freedom from all manner of evil, Rev. xxi. 4. and vii. 17.

3. Perfect Knowledge and Understanding,
1. Of the whole Creation.

2. Of the Creator himself, 1 Cor. iii. 9,
10, 12.

4. Perfect Purity and Conformity to his Law and Nature, 1 John iii. 2. 1 Pet. i. 15. 5. Perfect Joy and Happiness in the vifion and fruition of GOD himself, Pfal.xvi. 11. Pfal. xvii. 15.

6. Perfect continuance of all this to all Eternity, Mat. xxv. 46. 2 Cor. v. 1. 1 Pet. i. 4.

2 PET.

2 PET. i. S.

And befides this giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue.

Ere the Apostle gives us a Chain of all Chriftian Graces: Wherein we may observe in

HE

general,

I. Faith leads the Van, as 1 Cor. xiii. 12. For, 1. It is only by Faith that we have, or exercife any Grace.

1. All Grace comes by Chrift, John i. 17. and xv. 5.

2. We receive it from him only by Faith, Acts xxvi. 18. 1 Job. v. 5.

2. It is only by Faith that our other Graces or good Works are acceptable unto GOD, Heb. xi. 5, 6. 1 Pet. ii. 5..

Hence we are to endeavour after Faith in the first place, Eph. vi. 16.

II. Where true Faith leads the Van, all other Graces follow.

For Faith works by Love, Gal. v. 6.

And Love is the fulfilling the Law, Rom. xiii.

10.

He that believes is born of GOD, I Job. v. 1.
He that is fo born doth not fin, 1 John iii. 9.
Faith without Works is dead and ineffectual,
Jam. ii. 14. and xxii. 26.

Therefore a true and lively Faith always
brings forth good Works,

Ἡ δὲ πίςις ἕδρασμα ἀγάπης, ἀνεπάγεσα τὴν ἐυ-
Toiav. Clem. Alex.