How to Do Good to Many

p. 1How to do Good to Many: OR, THE PUBLICK GOOD IS THE CHRISTIANS LIFE, &c.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good to all Men, especially unto them who are of the houshold of Faith.

GOOD is an Epithite of the highest signification of any, in humane Language. Some think the Name GOD is thence derived. Greatness and Wisdom are equally his Attributes, but Goodness is the completion, and sweetest to the Creature. Christ appropriateth it to God, to be good, that is, essentially, primarily, and perfectly, and universally communicative: When it is said that God is Love, the sense is the same, that he is the infinite, essential, and efficiently, and finally amiable, perfect Good.

But tho no one of his Attributes in propriety and perfection are communicable (else he that hath one part of the Deity must have all) yet he imprinteth his similitude and image on his works: And the impress of his Love and Goodness is the chief part of his Image on his Saints: This is their very Holyness: For this is the chief part of their likeness to God, and dedication to him, when the Spirit of Sanctification is described in Scripture, as given upon believing, it signifieth, that our faithful perception of the redeeming, saving love of God in Christ, is that means which the p. 2Spirit of Christ will bless, to the operating of the habit of holy Love to God and Man, which become a new and divine nature to the Soul, and is Sanctification it self, and the true principle of a holy Evangelical Conversation. And as it is said of God, that he is Good and doth Good, so every thing is enclined to work as it is: Christ tells us the Good, Tree will bring forth good fruits, &c. And we are Gods Workmanship Created in Christ Jesus to Good Works, which God hath ordained, that we should walk in them, Eph. 2. 10.

Yet man doth not Good as the Sun shineth, by a full bent of natural necessitation, else the World would not be as it is: But as a free undetermined Agent, which hath need to be commanded by a Law, and stirr'd up by manifold Motives, and Exhortations; such as the Holy Ghost here useth in the Text.

p. 2Where 1. Doing Good is the substance of the duty: 2. Men are the objects: 3. To all men is the extent: 4, Especially to them of the Houshold of Faith, is the direction for precedency: 5. And while we have opportunity is the season, including a Motive to make haste. So large and excellent a Theme would require more; than my allotted time to handle it fully: Therefore I shall now confine my self to the duty Extended; Do Good to All men.

Doct. To do Good to all men is all mens duty, to which every Christian especially must apply himself.

All men should do it: True Christians can do it, through Grace, and must do it, and will do it. A Good man is a common good: Christs Spirit in them is not a dead or idle Principle. It makes them in there several measures the Salt of the Earth, and the Lights of the World: They are fruitful branches in the true Vine. Every Grace tendeth to well doing, and to the Good of the whole Body, for which each single Member is made. Even Hypocrites, as Wooden Legs, are serviceable to the body, but every living Member much more, except some diseased ones, who may be more troublesome, and dangerous than the Wooden Leg. It's a sign he is a branch Cut off and withered, who careth little for any but himself. The malignant Diabolist hateth the true and Spiritual Good: The ignorant know not Good from Evil: p. 3The erroneous take Evil for Good, and Falshood for Truth. The slothful Hypocrite wisheth much Good, but doth but little: The formal Ceremonious Hypocrite extols the Name and Image of Goodness: The worldly Hypocrite will do Good if he can do it cheaply, without any loss or suffering to his Flesh: The Libertine Hypocrite pleadeth Christs Merits against the necessity of doing Good, and looketh to be saved because Christ is Good, tho he be barren and ungodly; and some ignorant Teachers have taught them to say, when they can find no true Faith, Repentance, Holiness, or Obedience in themselves, that it is enough to believe that Christ Believed and Repented for them, and was Holy and Obedient for them. He was indeed Holy and Obedient for Penitent Believers; not to make Holiness and Obedience unnecessary to them, but to make them sincerely Holy and Obedient to Himself, and to excuse them from the necessity of that perfect Holiness and Obedience here, which is necessary to those that will be Justified by the Law of Works or Innocency. Thus all sorts of bad men have their oppositions to doing Good; But to the sincere Christian it is made as Natural: His heart is set upon it: He is Created and Redeemed and Sanctified for it; as the Tree is made for Fruit. He Studieth it as the chief Trade and Business that he liveth for. He waketh for it: Yea, he sleepeth and eateth and drinketh for it; even to enable his body to serve his Soul, in serving that Lord, whose Redeemed peculiar People are all Zealous of Good Works, Tit. 2. 14. The Measure of this Zeal of doing Good, is the utmost of their power, with all their Talents, in desire and sincere Endeavour: The extent of the Object is to All (tho not to all alike) that is to as many as they can.

p. 3But for order sake we must here consider.

1. Who this All meaneth, and in what order.

II. What is Good: And what is that Good which we must do.

IV. What Qualifications he must have that will do Good to many.

III. What Rules he must observe in doing it.