“But the trial hurries and frets your own soul.” Perhaps it did so for this very reason, because you thought you was accountable for the event, which no man is, nor indeed can be. Or perhaps, because you was off your guard; you was not watchful over your own spirit. But this is no reason for disobeying God. Try again; but try more warily than before. Do good (as you forgive) not seven times only; but until seventy times seven. Only be wiser by experience: attempt it every time more cautiously than before. Be more humbled before God, more deeply convinced, that of yourself you can do nothing. Be more jealous over your own spirit: more gentle and watchful unto prayer. Thus cast your bread upon the waters, and you shall find it again after many days.
IV. 1. Notwithstanding all these plausible pretences for hiding it, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.This is the practical application which our Lord himself makes of the foregoing considerations.
Let your light so shine—Your lowliness of heart, your gentleness and meekness of wisdom: your serious, weighty concern for the things of eternity, and sorrow for the sins and miseries of men: your earnest desire of universal holiness and full happiness in God: your tender good-will to all mankind, and fervent love to your supreme benefactor. Endeavour not to conceal this light, wherewith God hath enlightened your soul: but let it shine before men, before all with whom you are, in the whole tenor of your conversation. Let it shine still more eminently in your actions, in your doing all possible good to all men: and in your suffering for righteousness sake, while you rejoice and are exceeding glad, knowing that great is your reward in heaven.
2. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works: so far let a Christian be from ever designing, or desiring to conceal his religion. On the contrary, let it be your desire, not to conceal it; not to put the light under a bushel. Let it be your care, to place it on a candlestick, that it may give light to all that are in the house. Only take heed, not to seek your own praise herein, not to desire any honour to yourselves. But let it be your sole aim, thatall, who see your good works, may glorify your Father which is in heaven.
3. *Be this your one ultimate end in all things. With this view, be plain, open, undisguised, let your love be without dissimulation: why should you hide fair, disinterested love? Let there be no guile found in your mouth: let your words be the genuine picture of your heart. Let there be no darkness or reservedness in your conversation, no disguise in your behaviour. Leave this to those who have other designs in view; designs which will not bear the light. Be ye artless and simple to all mankind; that all may see the grace of God which is in you. And although some will harden their hearts, yet others will take knowledge, that ye have been with Jesus, and by returning themselves to the great Bishop of their souls, glorify your Father which is in heaven.
4. *With this one design, that men may glorify God in you, go on in his name, and in the power of his might. Be not ashamed, even to stand alone, so it be in the ways of God. Let the light which is in your heart, shine in all good works, both works of piety and works of mercy. And in order to enlarge your ability of doing good, renounce all superfluities. Cut off all unnecessary expence, in food, in furniture, in apparel. Be a good steward of every gift of God, even of these his lowest gifts. Cutoff all unnecessary expence oftime, all needless or useless employments. And whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might. In a word, be thou full of faith and love: do good: suffer evil. And herein be thou stedfast, unmoveable: yea, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as thou knowest that thy labour is not in vain in the Lord.
SERMON XXV.
UPON OUR LORD’S SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
Discourse V.
Matt. v. 17, 18, 19, 20.
Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
For verily I say unto you, ’till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, ’till all be fulfilled.