Good works that accompany salvation (Quality: Average)

[0:00] Again, I would desire to draw your attention to the words you'll find in the second chapter, Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, verses 9 and 10.

[0:17] Not of works, lest any man should boast, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

[0:45] Those of you who were here this morning will remember that we ventured upon these words. But I can say of a truth that one felt, to come miserably short, to be able to set forth the truth that they contain.

[1:10] And in reading we did this evening from Corinthians, that third familiar chapter, so short but so full of sacred truth, how one does fear of times last, we might become a sounding brass or a tingling symbol.

[1:42] And you know, as such, one, how in a solemn place, if they have no more religion, either speaker or hearer, it is only of a tinkling sound that is to say, making much a noise and a do, and yet void of those vitalities of faith, hope, and love, as given unto the soul, sovereign and free, by God the Father, through Christ, and by the operation of the Holy Ghost.

[2:33] and of these particular points, if we have a life in the soul, I believe there will be an exercise, and a right exercise, as to our standing, and this will cause us to have a searching of heart, as to if we have received those true things, that must be known.

[3:10] Well, it's your mercy and mine, if we have that searching of heart, our souls, and then also, in that searching of heart, we may be made willing to be searched, by God, through his word.

[3:29] And when we read the chapter here in Ephesians this evening, I am sure, that there will be much searching of heart, as to how much we walk, in God's precepts, which are laid down so perfectly clear, by the apostle.

[3:54] Well, some of us have to confess, before the majesty of heaven, that we come miserably short, in fulfilling, those exhortations, given us, by the wisdom of God, and by the wisdom he has given unto his servant, Paul, the set of them for, for a warning unto us, and also, that we might endeavor, as enable, to walk in them.

[4:35] But, there is this one point, as Christ, walked, and, in obedience, under the holy law, and paid every iota, of his demands, so we only have this one hope, that he fulfilled, all the precepts, and that I lay down in God's word, for, and on your behalf, and by it.

[5:13] And so that, his redemption, is a public redemption, redeeming us from sin, even from all sin, from the sin, that we have been neglectful, of walking in those things, he had laid down in his word, and being neglectful, to walk around, before him.

[5:42] Now this doesn't give us license, to go on in it. Though none of us know, how much we might be left to fall, even now. I've won't ensure mercy, and mine, if we are given strength, to shun, the very appearance of evil.

[6:03] That we may not let sin, roll under our tongue, as a sweet morsel, as we did once. That we may, be kept, from, walking in a path, that shall be, that is, shall be, and is displeasing, unto our God, who is pure, and holy, and undefined, and cannot look upon sin, with any degree of allowance.

[6:36] What a solemn state, we stand in then, before the Lord, our maker. and yet, in and through Christ, the mediator, may he cure, and holy, by his spotless righteousness, which he hath procured for us, upon the cross.

[6:58] Then it is, and not, by works, lest any man, should boast. There is no room here, for boasting, is there?

[7:10] When, we are, such before God, we shall never say, well done, I, or, strut about, in pride, of our heart, that we are, great Christians, or, that we are, doing this, or that, or another, or another, for Christ.

[7:32] Surely, we shall be brought, as nothing before him. And we shall acknowledge, that before him, that it is, through sovereign, unmeditated grace, that grace, that flows, so blessedly, from, the meditorial work, of our dear Redeemer.

[7:54] That grace, that shone, in all its splendor, upon the cross, when he suffered, the just, for the unjust, when he bowed, his dear sacred, having sorrow, and cried out, unto his dear Father, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

[8:16] His grace, waits in all its, greatness, in all its beauty, as it shines forth, is the King, of grace.

[8:27] as he, bore, to, the heavy weight, of sin, and the, of displeasure, of the Father, a policy, as he saw fit, to lay it, upon the harmless, Lamb of God, though he, was pure, and holy, and without sin.

[8:53] This is a death, carnal reason, will never fathom, that the dear Lamb of God, should suffer, the just, for the unjust, and that the sins, of the church, and we hope, you and I, who are members of it, it will be so, that our sins, were cast, upon him then, and that, and that grace, was shown, her forth too, as he rose, triumphant, from the grave, and left, the sins, of the church, buried, in the sepulcher, always in that attack, that they were buried, there, forever, and ever, thus, God the Father, says, thy sins, and thine iniquities, I will remember, no more, it's you and I, that remember them, because they're so, hemias, they're so, terrible, they are such, and would have, damned our soul, forever, had it not been, for God's grace, for his unbounded mercy, to war us, that he condescended, in his love, and pity, to be made, a little doll, of the angel, through suffering, of death, that he might, be enabled, to take on, that cross, even, as he passed, through this time state, he had a cross, what a cross, it must have been, to him, when, wicked men, rose up against him, blasphemed his dear, sacred name, to his face, and, said all manner, of evil, against him, falsely, and so, you see, he had to bear, that cross, as you and I, if we are, followers, of the, true, of the dear, land of God, and, hold fast, the sacred truths, we shall have a cross, we shall have, those that will not, walk with us, and cannot, because they know, not the things of God, are right, and, they will,

[11:11] I say, cast, your name out, as evil, think it strange, that you run, not with them, to the same, excessive grant, but having, being cleansed, some, in some humble measure, from those, wicked works, though they be, religious works, by being, cleansed from, from them, we desire, to have, the whole truth, and nothing, but the truth, that, that I have been revealed, in God's sacred word, by the apostles, and by, Jesus Christ himself, and when he says, no man cometh unto me, except the father of Morty, that, definitely, is by works, of the flesh, that we are able, to come unto him, because, of the father's, drawing us, by the cause, of his eternal love, and his mercy, toward us, that love, that was made, manifest, in the covenant, of grace, toward his own elect, his chosen, his redeemed, his sanctified, those that were in Christ, in eternity, before all worlds, well, there, these are they, that experience, his grace, oh, to grace, our greater debtor, daily, we are constrained to thee, here is my heart,

[12:54] Lord, like a petto, by my wandering, after thee, oh, is that your cry, sinner, do you feel, you are a wanderer, wandering, from the past, wherein you know, you once, have been able, to walk, wandered, from him, far away, into a wilderness, wandered, hither and thither, in many things, that are forbidden, in God's word, oh, in this condition, you say, return unto me, oh, Lord, for I am a sinner, and in this experience, there will be, I believe, in due time, in the heart, of the Savior, to come, come unto that one, that is lost, cry unto him, sinner, let thy heart, be lifted up, unto him, on the throne, though in your, far off condition, as you have wandered, from him, like this poor sinner, speaking you, into here tonight, oh, how we need him, to come, and, take, hold of us, and bring us back, though sometimes, he brings his sheep, back with broken bones, though sometimes, he brings them back, by a way, seeming to be hurtful, to the flesh, but he will bring them back, ensure mercy, and mine, and by his sovereign grace, alone, he says, even in this case, thus far, shall thou go, no further, there shall I, throw away, be stayed, now, at that appointed time, he will come, he will indeed, he'll come, like he did, under those, in the world, who were sinners, who see, he didn't, come under the Pharisees, it never was, in the mind, of the father, that he should, come under the Pharisees, he was sent, under sinners, oh, how it shines, so perfectly clear, as through the gospels, that Christ, was sent, under sinners, isn't it, mercy, to be one, of these sinners, having some, humble hope, that he came, on this earth, unto one, that he might, redeem us, from the works, of the Lord, and from all, our slavish fears, which have, torment, that he might, deliver us, from all, our enemies, that he has, driven out, we hope, all those enemies, before us, as he promised, dear Joshua, when, he commanded, him to take, the people, over Jordan, he said, be thou, really courageous, and he, give him that, command, to go forward, you know, how it was, that, he proved, that God, was with him, and, according, unto God's, promise, he did, what he said, he would, drive out the enemy, but there's one occasion, just breaking my ear,

[16:28] God love, after, the children, of Israel, went over Jordan, there was one, in the camp, you know, a camp, in the camp, and, it was through him, and his transgression, it's very solemn, and his transgression, that covetousness, took hold of him, and he took, of the spoil, that he was forbidden, and hid them, in his tent, and, you know, how God gave, Joshua, command, that he should search this out, and he did search it out, and, they took Achan, and all that he had, his wife, and his family, and all his possessions, and stole them, and burned them, and cast a heap of stones upon them, isn't that solemn, as God ruled, man would say, well, that's never right, well, we're not going to cavil, with God's righteousness, of his justice, of those things, that he has a perfect right to do, to cleanse his church, from filthy mass, and you know, the children of Israel, were not, to mingle, with the heathen, and with those, of those nations, and so, the spiritual Israel,

[18:06] I believe, are by God's word, a separate people, separate from every, other, kid rank, whatever name, they may be called, God has separated them, that's why we read, in this particular chapter, of God's people, that they are no more, strangers than foreigners, but fellow citizens, with the saints, because God has made them so, God has brought them out, from every other people, upon the face of yours, and we are not, to mingle, with any other people, that have a religion, that is a religion of works, but that we are to stand, fast in that faith, that was once delivered, to the saints, and that have been, throughout the ages, opposed, by the enemies of truth, as is opposed today, by the enemies of truth, and ensure mercy, that if grace, has made us to differ, we have nothing to glory in, in this, by that, if God's grace, has made us to differ, and made us willing, to walk in those things, to be separated, from all others, and to, and to act, according to God's command, come ye out, from among them, and be ye separated, and touch not, the unclean thing, and he gives a promise, and I'll be a father, unto you, and ye shall be my son, that is the blitzed union, that tricks the father, and the son, and the church, so that, as we read, this evening, this great mystery, is known, that Christ, and his church, is one, married, unto his church, by the divine decrees, of the father, and by, the, express will, of the father, that, they are joined together, in that bond of union, as it is with the union, between the husband, and the wife, so that, this man,

[20:48] Christ Jesus, our dear Redeemer, to some all, be dear fellow, that he might, be married, unto his wife, his church, and they, too, become one flesh, or what a, wonderful union, grace has made, between Christ, and his church, that there is, this, being joined together, and that, there is, being made, bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, well, it's your mercy, and mine, if at any time, we have been given, some humble hope, of that, this has taken place, in us, we may not feel, just tonight, the sweetness of it, it's not always, felt, in that wine, there may be, some of you here, might say, well, that's rather, high ground,

[21:56] I can't say, that I feel, or have felt, much of it, well, we're not, speaking, that you feel, a lot of it, it's not that, much, as you've heard me say, before, what you feel, it's what you receive, in the little, and thus, if you have received, a little, of the love of God, in the soul, and, in that love, you have felt, love unto Christ, and, it's a being brought forth, in your soul, so that, you have been able, to, weep before him, for that love, manifested, then there is a union, felt, between you, and Christ, well, then it's not of works, lest any man, should boast, for we are, his workmanship, created, in Christ Jesus, unto good works, well, all this, that I've been speaking of, in some humble measure, is, as a workmanship, of Christ, he works, these things, in us, and he accomplishes, them in us, and thus, we become, his workmanship, which I mentioned, a little of, this morning, and is in Christ, and that, unto good works, and here,

[23:37] I believe, I was speaking, concerning those good works, which Christ, has brought in us, faith, hope, and love, and we read, this evening, the effect of them, in the souls, of God's people, and if we have, this love, we shall surely love, one another, we shall love, the principle of grace, that, is in another, and this will overcome, all our faults, and failings, which we, as poor, sinners before God, are subject of, and which, we were born with, came to this world with, and will be, our pest and torment, to the last, but looking beyond, at these things, there will be love, in our hearts, by the operation, of the Holy Ghost, to those principles, that God, implanted, in the heart, and this will, and this will, cause us, to love, one another, that love, which, binds, people together, that love, which is, is such, with its, will indeed, cling, to Christ, the more, difficulties, and, sorrows, we might be called, to pass through, and,

[25:27] I believe too, where this love abounds, with God's people, it is honor, unto Christ, who, who, has suffered, for us, and, hath, obtained, grace, for us, that it might, be manifest, in us, by the workings, of the Spirit, and, not only this, this will be observed, by others, that, behold it, you know, there will be times, when, others will observe, that we have been, with Jesus, and that we have, been made, been made, partakers, of that love, given unto us, by the Holy Ghost, for we are, his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, unto good works, which God, hath ordained, that we should, walk in them, well all these things, are ordained, of the Spirit, ordained, of the Father, that, we should, walk in them, well there is a walking, in these things, and if we are, failed to walk in them, and while, we are walking, in them,

[27:03] I am sure, that the, fear of God, will be an exercise, I wish, the fear of God, was more, an exercise, from day to day, I am sure, we should be, preserved, from much trouble, we should be, preserved, from much darkness, of soul, preserved, from, much, of that, far off condition, but, there is none, that can, bring us nigh, but the Lord, and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and enable us, to walk, in those paths, which are, right in his side, those paths, which, he has appointed, for us, for it is a mercy, to be made willing, to walk, in those paths, that God, has appointed, well, these paths, sometimes, will be, so irksome to us, and we will say, well I can never, walk in this path, it's a path, that,

[28:12] I didn't expect, well, if you didn't expect it, is it not, then it is, one of those ways, which he said, I'll lead them, into paths, may I not know, it may be that, you know, ah, you see, sometimes, he leads us, leads us, into those paths, as a strange, to our flesh, that ultimately, we may prove, according to his word, that it is, the right way, he says, he says in the word, he led them forth, by the right way, there's something, at the end, that they may go, to a city, of habitation, well, there is this, city of habitation, where, his people, those that are saved, by sovereign grace, and have renounced, I say renounced, all the works, of the flesh, as being, of any merit, whereby, we may enter, into that city, and that we may know, at that time, that it is, through sovereign grace, alone, that we have, come to that place, with God, and God, to prepare for us, a city, which one says, are we meant to be loved, meant to be loved, a city where, sin, never can enter, a place, where, our redeemer, is forever, and ever, sitting at the right, hand of the father, there to make, intercession for us, and that, in and through, is our merit, and there too, we may see, that grace, shall reign, and have dominion, over all, his works, and shall be, the means, whereby, you and I, shall be brought, safely through, the tempestuous sea of time, and eventually, be among those, that shall acknowledge, his grace, throughout the countenance, of eternity, how, there are those, that we believe, who have entered into that, eternal, and everlasting rest, and which we made it, who knew, here on earth, that, it was not by their own works, that they came in possession, of those things, it was not by, anything, that, they would do, to give themselves, relief, from the bondage, they were in by nature, but through, the sovereign, power of God, while, there was, that knowledge, with some of us, that we were held, past, by the shackles, and the power of the Lord, and conscience, minding us too, bringing us in guilty, before the judge, it was such a time, that we needed, the grace of God, to be made known to us, that we might be brought forth, out of that set condition, so then there is, a path, which, is known,

[32:13] by a few, for you know, Christ, when he is on earth, speaks of this view, when he said, strive to enter in, at the straight gate, for straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth, unto eternal life, and few there be, that find it, and yet, in that great day, when God, shall make up his jewels, it shall be a mighty multitude, and it is a, and it is a number, which we read in the word, that no man can number, that God, that God, of number, of them, he knows, every one, my friends, and he knows, the time appointed, by him, and when the last, pistol of mercy, will be gathered, tie thee, no more, when his kingdom, shall be, a kingdom, forever and ever, and all other kingdoms, lay low, oh my friends, what a mercy it is, if you have, if you and I have, some humble hope, that we have been partakers, of his grace, or even, that there may be, some among you, who may not feel, to be able to say, that you have partaken of it, but are after it, logging after it, praying after it, and are made willing, to acknowledge, that you have, no merits of your own, well may you be able, to say, we stand, on Jesus merit, and there alone, that we have, no other stay, but Christ alone, the eternal, everlasting rock, where on the church, shall rest, when lightnings blaze, and thunders roll, when Christ, shall come, in his majesty, and his power, with ten thousands, of his saints, to deliver, and to, bring forth, those, that he has redeemed, his family, oh, what an assembly, that would be wanted, you might wonder, why I dwell, all times upon, these thoughts, of eternity, but I've been, much there of late, thinking upon, the entry into, that eternal rest, one poet says, though it's not in our book,

[35:14] I know, but there's many beautiful hymns, not in our book, he says this, we speak, of the land, of the blessed, but what must it be, to be there, we can only speak, of it with mortal tongues, here, when we get to heaven, we shall have, immortal tongues, those tongues, that can praise, every grace, his mercy, to us, throughout the, capitalization of eternity, I know it's been said, that there will be one, there will be one, shouting the loudest, I don't want, to fall in there, but I'm not a couple, with any of our poets, but I don't believe, there will be a jarring note, of any noise in heaven, one harmonious soul, my friends, one eternal, everlasting soul, there will be no, superiority there, there will be no, one above another there, there will be no, eminent men in heaven,

[36:27] I don't speak this unkindly, nor having any thought of others, but I say, there will be no, eminent men there, the poor beggar, with the kings of the earth, who are called by grace, will be on a level there, they will be all, there I say, in that, in that everlasting soul, singing his praises, for our eternity, can you and I, hope, that we as sinners, as we all times feel, shall be among that sacred throne, forever and ever, well, there's times when, we have an evening of it, when we, do hope and trust, though we are often overcome, with many things here below, that when we come to our end, we may have, the knowledge given unto us, even there, that Christ, our mighty,

[37:31] Savior, and King, has swallowed up death, in victory, and given it a mortal wound, that you and I, might have an eternal land, through Christ, the mediator, through his, through his work, and all that he has done, oh, I wish I could enter, into these things more, I wish I could enter, more into the grace of God, into those things, I know, that are couched, beneath the world, here I'll be so, dependent, upon God, to unloose, the precious seals, that are in God's world, but you know, we have it, in God's word, recorded, that the lion, of the tribe of Judah, and Privatan, to unloose, the seals, that are not, sometimes he does, come, and unloose, these seals, and we see, wondrous things, in his holy law, we see, wondrous things, in the law, the gospel, which he has, of priests, here on earth, not only, through, at the word, of his mouth, but reached to us, by his sufferings, and his death, for what a servant, there is, weaning, spoken by Christ, in his sufferings, his death, and his marriage, and his grace, and his mercy, as sinners, of whom, some of us have to say, sometimes I am, chief,

[39:16] I believe, that we could feel, that more often, that we should, be kept, from many things, which are, of trouble to us, those things, which weigh us down, if only, we could feel, more than war, by that, he has, indeed, saved us, with everlasting salvation, and that, if we only remember, that, our proud, conditions, conditions, often told, because, we have, been unbindful of it, well, you know, there's, some of us, here tonight, must, do business, with the world, and the things, other, get their livelihoods, some of you, I know, where you are, I've been there, you know, many years, after getting, one's livelihood, in the world, and how I've longed, some of you, feel, though some might say, well, it seemed, rather wrong, for, well, we have to, leave that, to the purpose, for this point, here, that how I longed, especially, toward the end, and that I, marty delivered, and have to earn, my, the bread and perish, among the world, because of the, contamination, of it, what a burden, it used to be, the filthy, communication, of a wicked, or how this, vex, the soul of dear lot, is Sodom and Gomorrah,

[40:54] I say, sinner, is this wicked world, sometimes, like a Sodom and Gomorrah, to you, as it can vex, your holy soul, and that you, would, would like, to be able, to, leave God's house, sometimes, and not ever, come in contact, with those things again, with those things again, well, I have thought, of length, I don't think, I mentioned it here, but I know, I have recently, I have thought, I should like, to be taken to heaven, from God's house, when I have a sweet time, of his love, that we might indeed, when we feel, to be brought away, from, from, all things, here below, and, we can find, for a few moments, we are holding, the world, with a loose hand, all we pose as, our loved ones, in all things, for the time being, or out of view, that we see Jesus, see him, as the king of grace, see him, as the God of love, see him, as he sits, upon the throne, supreme, and preeminent, over all things, see him, too, with his saints, gathered, around the throne, by precious faith, and as faith, penetrates, through all the, scenes of time, into heaven, his soul, beholding, there, too, the saints, worshipping, in forever and ever, what an unspeakable favor, the time, shall shortly come, when we may enter, into, that eternal, everlasting rest, that our son, may never more, go out, that we may, find him, to be our temple, and our everlasting, and eternal night, for we read, that he had no, neither the sun, that he had no, neither the candle, or the light of the sun, for Christ himself, is the eternal light, it will be, unto him, then alone, all praises, will, we down, forever and ever, and here, on earth, we would sing, would we now, and again, all hail, the power, of Jesus name, that angels, prostrate, fall, bring forth, through our garden, and crown him,

[43:51] Lord of all, well as a prelude, to that everlasting song, it is indeed, you and I, once felt that, in our hearts, of adoration, and praise, unto him here, I cannot feel, it will be divided, but it will be, one day, we hope, when all our enemies, are slain, within us, and the last, great enemy, to enter into, that joy, which the world, shall never know, but is known, and will be known, unto his people, wherever and ever, well, my friends, may God forgive, if I have mentioned, or spoken, one thing of this, and may he grant, too, that there may be, some profit, to your soul, and to mine, may he grant us, in the coming week, that we may have, some sweet meditation, upon these truths, and seal them, over upon our hearts, that we may, of course, remember, this, this Sabbath day, in, in this month, when he met with us, that we, we may be able, to say, he blessed me, there.