a treatise on good works-µÚ9ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
and¡¡if£»¡¡when¡¡we¡¡were¡¡enemies£»¡¡we¡¡were¡¡reconciled¡¡to¡¡God¡¡by¡¡the
death¡¡of¡¡His¡¡Son£»¡¡much¡¡more£»¡¡being¡¡reconciled£»¡¡shall¡¡we¡¡be¡¡saved
by¡¡His¡¡life¡£¡¨¡¡
Lo£¡¡¡thus¡¡must¡¡thou¡¡form¡¡Christ¡¡within¡¡thyself¡¡and¡¡see¡¡how¡¡in¡¡Him
God¡¡holds¡¡before¡¡thee¡¡and¡¡offers¡¡thee¡¡His¡¡mercy¡¡without¡¡any
previous¡¡merits¡¡of¡¡thine¡¡own£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡such¡¡a¡¡view¡¡of¡¡His¡¡grace
must¡¡thou¡¡draw¡¡faith¡¡and¡¡confidence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forgiveness¡¡of¡¡all¡¡thy
sins¡£¡¡Faith£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡does¡¡not¡¡begin¡¡with¡¡works£»¡¡neither¡¡do
they¡¡create¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡must¡¡spring¡¡up¡¡and¡¡flow¡¡from¡¡the¡¡blood£»
wounds¡¡and¡¡death¡¡of¡¡Christ¡£¡¡If¡¡thou¡¡see¡¡in¡¡these¡¡that¡¡God¡¡is¡¡so
kindly¡¡affectioned¡¡toward¡¡thee¡¡that¡¡He¡¡gives¡¡even¡¡His¡¡Son¡¡for
thee£»¡¡then¡¡thy¡¡heart¡¡also¡¡must¡¡in¡¡its¡¡turn¡¡grow¡¡sweet¡¡and¡¡kindly
affectioned¡¡toward¡¡God£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡thy¡¡confidence¡¡must¡¡grow¡¡out¡¡of
pure¡¡good¡will¡¡and¡¡love¡¡¡¡God's¡¡love¡¡toward¡¡thee¡¡and¡¡thine
toward¡¡God¡£¡¡We¡¡never¡¡read¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Holy¡¡Spirit¡¡was¡¡given¡¡to¡¡any
one¡¡when¡¡he¡¡did¡¡works£»¡¡but¡¡always¡¡when¡¡men¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡Gospel
of¡¡Christ¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mercy¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡From¡¡this¡¡same¡¡Word¡¡and¡¡from¡¡no
other¡¡source¡¡must¡¡faith¡¡still¡¡come£»¡¡even¡¡in¡¡our¡¡day¡¡and¡¡always¡£
For¡¡Christ¡¡is¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡out¡¡of¡¡which¡¡men¡¡suck¡¡oil¡¡and¡¡honey£»¡¡as
Moses¡¡says£»¡¡Deuteronomy¡¡xxxii¡£¡¡
XVIII¡£¡¡So¡¡far¡¡we¡¡have¡¡treated¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡work¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡First
Commandment£»¡¡but¡¡very¡¡briefly£»¡¡plainly¡¡and¡¡hastily£»¡¡for¡¡very¡¡much
might¡¡be¡¡said¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡We¡¡will¡¡now¡¡trace¡¡the¡¡works¡¡farther¡¡through
the¡¡following¡¡Commandments¡£¡¡
The¡¡second¡¡work£»¡¡next¡¡to¡¡faith£»¡¡is¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Second
Commandment£»¡¡that¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡honor¡¡God's¡¡Name¡¡and¡¡not¡¡take¡¡it¡¡in
vain¡£¡¡This£»¡¡like¡¡all¡¡the¡¡other¡¡works£»¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡done¡¡without
faith£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡it¡¡is¡¡done¡¡without¡¡faith£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡all¡¡sham¡¡and¡¡show¡£
After¡¡faith¡¡we¡¡can¡¡do¡¡no¡¡greater¡¡work¡¡than¡¡to¡¡praise£»¡¡preach£»
sing¡¡and¡¡in¡¡every¡¡way¡¡exalt¡¡and¡¡magnify¡¡God's¡¡glory£»¡¡honor¡¡and
Name¡£¡¡
And¡¡although¡¡I¡¡have¡¡said¡¡above£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡true£»¡¡that¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no
difference¡¡in¡¡works¡¡where¡¡faith¡¡is¡¡and¡¡does¡¡the¡¡work£»¡¡yet¡¡this
is¡¡true¡¡only¡¡when¡¡they¡¡are¡¡compared¡¡with¡¡faith¡¡and¡¡its¡¡works¡£
Measured¡¡by¡¡one¡¡another¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡difference£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡is¡¡higher
than¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡Just¡¡as¡¡in¡¡the¡¡body¡¡the¡¡members¡¡do¡¡not¡¡differ
when¡¡compared¡¡with¡¡health£»¡¡and¡¡health¡¡works¡¡in¡¡the¡¡one¡¡as¡¡much
as¡¡in¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡yet¡¡the¡¡works¡¡of¡¡the¡¡members¡¡are¡¡different£»¡¡and
one¡¡is¡¡higher£»¡¡nobler£»¡¡more¡¡useful¡¡than¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡so£»¡¡here¡¡also£»
to¡¡praise¡¡God's¡¡glory¡¡and¡¡Name¡¡is¡¡better¡¡than¡¡the¡¡works¡¡of¡¡the
other¡¡Commandments¡¡which¡¡follow£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡done¡¡in¡¡the
same¡¡faith¡¡as¡¡all¡¡the¡¡others¡£¡¡
But¡¡I¡¡know¡¡well¡¡that¡¡this¡¡work¡¡is¡¡lightly¡¡esteemed£»¡¡and¡¡has
indeed¡¡become¡¡unknown¡£¡¡Therefore¡¡we¡¡must¡¡examine¡¡it¡¡further£»¡¡and
will¡¡say¡¡no¡¡more¡¡about¡¡the¡¡necessity¡¡of¡¡doing¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡faith¡¡and
confidence¡¡that¡¡it¡¡pleases¡¡God¡£¡¡Indeed¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡work¡¡in¡¡which
confidence¡¡and¡¡faith¡¡are¡¡so¡¡much¡¡experienced¡¡and¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡in
honoring¡¡God's¡¡Name£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡greatly¡¡helps¡¡to¡¡strengthen¡¡and
increase¡¡faith£»¡¡although¡¡all¡¡works¡¡also¡¡help¡¡to¡¡do¡¡this£»¡¡as¡¡St¡£
Peter¡¡says£»¡¡II¡£¡¡Peter¡¡i£º¡¡¡¨Wherefore¡¡the¡¡rather£»¡¡brethren£»¡¡give
diligence¡¡through¡¡good¡¡works¡¡to¡¡make¡¡your¡¡calling¡¡and¡¡election
sure¡£¡¨
XIX¡£¡¡The¡¡First¡¡Commandment¡¡forbids¡¡us¡¡to¡¡have¡¡other¡¡gods£»¡¡and
thereby¡¡commands¡¡that¡¡we¡¡have¡¡a¡¡God£»¡¡the¡¡true¡¡God£»¡¡by¡¡a¡¡firm
faith£»¡¡trust£»¡¡confidence£»¡¡hope¡¡and¡¡love£»¡¡which¡¡are¡¡the¡¡only¡¡works
whereby¡¡a¡¡man¡¡can¡¡have£»¡¡honor¡¡and¡¡keep¡¡a¡¡God£»¡¡for¡¡by¡¡no¡¡other
work¡¡can¡¡one¡¡find¡¡or¡¡lose¡¡God¡¡except¡¡by¡¡faith¡¡or¡¡unbelief£»¡¡by
trusting¡¡or¡¡doubting£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡works¡¡none¡¡reaches¡¡quite¡¡to
God¡£¡¡So¡¡also¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Second¡¡Commandment¡¡we¡¡are¡¡forbidden¡¡to¡¡use
His¡¡Name¡¡in¡¡vain¡£¡¡Yet¡¡this¡¡is¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡enough£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡are
thereby¡¡also¡¡commanded¡¡to¡¡honor£»¡¡call¡¡upon£»¡¡glorify£»¡¡preach¡¡and
praise¡¡His¡¡Name¡£¡¡And¡¡indeed¡¡it¡¡is¡¡impossible¡¡that¡¡God's¡¡Name
should¡¡not¡¡be¡¡dishonored¡¡where¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡rightly¡¡honored¡£¡¡For
although¡¡it¡¡be¡¡honored¡¡with¡¡the¡¡lips£»¡¡bending¡¡of¡¡the¡¡knees£»
kissing¡¡and¡¡other¡¡postures£»¡¡if¡¡this¡¡is¡¡not¡¡done¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡by
faith£»¡¡in¡¡confident¡¡trust¡¡in¡¡God's¡¡grace£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡nothing¡¡else¡¡than
an¡¡evidence¡¡and¡¡badge¡¡of¡¡hypocrisy¡£¡¡
See¡¡now£»¡¡how¡¡many¡¡kinds¡¡of¡¡good¡¡works¡¡a¡¡man¡¡can¡¡do¡¡under¡¡this
Commandment¡¡at¡¡all¡¡times¡¡and¡¡never¡¡be¡¡without¡¡the¡¡good¡¡works¡¡of
this¡¡Commandment£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡will£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡he¡¡truly¡¡need¡¡not¡¡make¡¡a
long¡¡pilgrimage¡¡or¡¡seek¡¡holy¡¡places¡£¡¡For£»¡¡tell¡¡me£»¡¡what¡¡moment
can¡¡pass¡¡in¡¡which¡¡we¡¡do¡¡not¡¡without¡¡ceasing¡¡receive¡¡God's
blessings£»¡¡or£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡suffer¡¡adversity£¿¡¡But¡¡what¡¡else
are¡¡God's¡¡blessings¡¡and¡¡adversities¡¡than¡¡a¡¡constant¡¡urging¡¡and
stirring¡¡up¡¡to¡¡praise£»¡¡honor£»¡¡and¡¡bless¡¡God£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡call¡¡upon¡¡His
Name£¿¡¡Now¡¡if¡¡you¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡else¡¡at¡¡all¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡would¡¡you¡¡not
have¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡this¡¡Commandment¡¡alone£»¡¡that¡¡you¡¡without
ceasing¡¡bless£»¡¡sing£»¡¡praise¡¡and¡¡honor¡¡God's¡¡Name£¿¡¡And¡¡for¡¡what
other¡¡purpose¡¡have¡¡tongue£»¡¡voice£»¡¡language¡¡and¡¡mouth¡¡been
created£¿¡¡As¡¡Psalm¡¡li¡£¡¡says£º¡¡¡¨Lord£»¡¡open¡¡Thou¡¡my¡¡lips£»¡¡and¡¡my
mouth¡¡shall¡¡show¡¡forth¡¡Thy¡¡praise¡£¡¨¡¡Again£º¡¡¡¨My¡¡tongue¡¡shall¡¡sing
aloud¡¡of¡¡Thy¡¡mercy¡£¡¨¡¡
What¡¡work¡¡is¡¡there¡¡in¡¡heaven¡¡except¡¡that¡¡of¡¡this¡¡Second
Commandment£¿¡¡As¡¡it¡¡is¡¡written¡¡in¡¡Psalm¡¡Ixxxiv£º¡¡¡¨Blessed¡¡are¡¡they
that¡¡dwell¡¡in¡¡Thy¡¡house£º¡¡they¡¡will¡¡be¡¡for¡¡ever¡¡praising¡¡Thee¡£¡¨
So¡¡also¡¡David¡¡says¡¡in¡¡Psalm¡¡xxxiv£º¡¡¡¨God's¡¡praise¡¡shall¡¡be
continually¡¡in¡¡my¡¡mouth¡£¡¨¡¡And¡¡St¡£¡¡Paul£»¡¡I¡£¡¡Corinthians¡¡x£º
¡¨Whether¡¡therefore¡¡ye¡¡eat¡¡or¡¡drink£»¡¡or¡¡whatsoever¡¡ye¡¡do£»¡¡do¡¡all
to¡¡the¡¡glory¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¨¡¡Also¡¡Colossians¡¡iii£º¡¡¡¨Whatsoever¡¡ye¡¡do¡¡in
word¡¡or¡¡deed£»¡¡do¡¡all¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡Jesus£»¡¡giving¡¡thanks
to¡¡God¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Father¡£¡¨¡¡If¡¡we¡¡were¡¡to¡¡observe¡¡this¡¡work£»¡¡we¡¡would
have¡¡a¡¡heaven¡¡here¡¡on¡¡earth¡¡and¡¡always¡¡have¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡as¡¡have
the¡¡saints¡¡in¡¡heaven¡£¡¡
XX¡£¡¡On¡¡this¡¡is¡¡based¡¡the¡¡wonderful¡¡and¡¡righteous¡¡judgment¡¡of¡¡God£»
that¡¡at¡¡times¡¡a¡¡poor¡¡man£»¡¡in¡¡whom¡¡no¡¡one¡¡can¡¡see¡¡many¡¡great
works£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡privacy¡¡of¡¡his¡¡home¡¡joyfully¡¡praises¡¡God¡¡when¡¡he
fares¡¡well£»¡¡or¡¡with¡¡entire¡¡confidence¡¡calls¡¡upon¡¡Him¡¡when¡¡he
fares¡¡ill£»¡¡and¡¡thereby¡¡does¡¡a¡¡greater¡¡and¡¡more¡¡acceptable¡¡work
than¡¡another£»¡¡who¡¡fasts¡¡much£»¡¡prays¡¡much£»¡¡endows¡¡churches£»¡¡makes
pilgrimages£»¡¡and¡¡burdens¡¡himself¡¡with¡¡great¡¡deeds¡¡in¡¡this¡¡place
and¡¡in¡¡that¡£¡¡Such¡¡a¡¡fool¡¡opens¡¡wide¡¡his¡¡mouth£»¡¡looks¡¡for¡¡great
works¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡so¡¡blinded¡¡that¡¡he¡¡does¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡notice
this¡¡greatest¡¡work£»¡¡and¡¡praising¡¡God¡¡is¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡a¡¡very¡¡small
matter¡¡compared¡¡with¡¡the¡¡great¡¡idea¡¡he¡¡has¡¡formed¡¡of¡¡the¡¡works
of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡devising£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡he¡¡perhaps¡¡praises¡¡himself¡¡more
than¡¡God£»¡¡or¡¡takes¡¡more¡¡pleasure¡¡in¡¡them¡¡than¡¡he¡¡does¡¡in¡¡God£»¡¡and
thus¡¡with¡¡his¡¡good¡¡works¡¡he¡¡storms¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Second¡¡Commandment
and¡¡its¡¡works¡£¡¡Of¡¡all¡¡this¡¡we¡¡have¡¡an¡¡illustration¡¡in¡¡the¡¡case
of¡¡the¡¡Pharisee¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Publican¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Gospel¡£¡¡For¡¡the¡¡sinner
calls¡¡upon¡¡God¡¡in¡¡his¡¡sins£»¡¡and¡¡praises¡¡Him£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡has¡¡hit¡¡upon
the¡¡two¡¡highest¡¡Commandments£»¡¡faith¡¡and¡¡God's¡¡honor¡£¡¡The
hypocrite¡¡misses¡¡both¡¡and¡¡struts¡¡about¡¡with¡¡other¡¡good¡¡works¡¡by
which¡¡he¡¡praises¡¡himself¡¡and¡¡not¡¡God£»¡¡and¡¡puts¡¡his¡¡trust¡¡in
himself¡¡more¡¡than¡¡in¡¡God¡£¡¡Therefore¡¡he¡¡is¡¡justly¡¡rejected¡¡and¡¡the
other¡¡chosen¡£¡¡
The¡¡reason¡¡of¡¡all¡¡this¡¡is¡¡that¡¡the¡¡higher¡¡and¡¡better¡¡the¡¡works
are£»¡¡the¡¡less¡¡show¡¡they¡¡make£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡every¡¡one¡¡thinks¡¡they¡¡are
easy£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡is¡¡evident¡¡that¡¡no¡¡one¡¡pretends¡¡to¡¡praise¡¡God's
Name¡¡and¡¡honor¡¡so¡¡much¡¡as¡¡the¡¡very¡¡men¡¡who¡¡never¡¡do¡¡it¡¡and¡¡with
their¡¡show¡¡of¡¡doing¡¡it£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡is¡¡without¡¡faith£»¡¡cause
the¡¡precious¡¡work¡¡to¡¡be¡¡despised¡£¡¡So¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Apostle¡¡St¡£¡¡Paul
dare¡¡say¡¡boldly£»¡¡Romans¡¡ii£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡blaspheme¡¡God's¡¡Name¡¡who
make¡¡their¡¡boast¡¡of¡¡God's¡¡Law¡£¡¡For¡¡to¡¡name¡¡the¡¡Name¡¡of¡¡God¡¡and
to¡¡write¡¡His¡¡honor¡¡on¡¡paper¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡is¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡matter£»
but¡¡genuinely¡¡to¡¡praise¡¡and¡¡bless¡¡Him¡¡in¡¡His¡¡good¡¡deeds¡¡and
confidently¡¡to¡¡call¡¡upon¡¡Him¡¡in¡¡all¡¡adversities£»¡¡these¡¡are¡¡truly
the¡¡most¡¡rare£»¡¡highest¡¡works£»¡¡next¡¡to¡¡faith£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡if¡¡we¡¡were
to¡¡see¡¡how¡¡few¡¡of¡¡them¡¡there¡¡are¡¡in¡¡Christendom£»¡¡we¡¡might¡¡despair
for¡¡very¡¡sorrow¡£¡¡And¡¡yet¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡constant¡¡increase¡¡of¡¡high£»
pretty£»¡¡shining¡¡works¡¡of¡¡men's¡¡devising£»¡¡or¡¡of¡¡works¡¡which¡¡look
like¡¡these¡¡true¡¡works£»¡¡but¡¡at¡¡bottom¡¡are¡¡all¡¡without¡¡faith¡¡and
wi