07. Because if he does no more than others, it will appear that he is no more than others

Another reason why believers should do more than others, is, Because if they do no more, it will appear that they are no more than others.

As there is no man so vicious, but some relative good may be performed by him to man; so there is no one so religious, but some evil may be committed by him against God. As one swallow does not prove the approach of summer, neither does one good action prove a man a believer. There is in every being a natural tendency to some centre. God is the centre of the saints, and glory is the centre of grace. Now where we do not discover that bias, we may deny the being.

Reader, would you be thought more than publicans and sinners? then beware of living as publicans and sinners. Jesus Christ gives you an excellent mirror in his memorable sermon upon the mount, for you to behold your own likeness in: Ye shall know them by their fruits. There is no ascertaining the quality of a tree, but by its fruits. When the wheels of a clock move within, the hand on the dial will move without. When the heart of a man is sound in conversion, then the life will be fair in profession. When the conduit is walled in, how shall we judge of the spring, but by the waters which run through the pipes?

As a sinner will discover the good he wants; so a saint will shew the good he enjoys. When the sun dawns upon the earth, it is presently known; and when the Sun of righteousness arises upon the heart, it cannot be hid. It is said of the Saviour, that he could not be hid. As it is with the head, so it is with the members. Ye are the light of the world. Let your light so shine among men, that they may see your good works.

When Saul was made a sovereign, he had another spirit poured out upon him; a spirit of government, for a place of government: and when a sinner is made a saint, he has also another spirit poured out upon him. As he is what he was not, so he does what he did not.

It is reported of an harlot, that when she saw a certain person with whom she had committed folly, she renewed her enticements; to whom he replied, 'I am not now what I once was.' Though she was the same woman that she was before; yet he was not the same man he was before.

Were the sun to give no more light than a star, you could not believe he was the regent of the day; were he to transmit no more heat than a glowworm, you would question his being the source of elementary heat. Were God to do no more than a creature, where would his Godhead be? Were a man to do no more than a brute, where would his manhood be? Were not a saint to excel a sinner, where would his sanctity be?

Professor, if you live and walk as a worldling, you subject yourself to that apostolic rebuke, Are ye not carnal, and walk as men? If men debase themselves as beasts, the Lord will nominate them beasts; and if Christians walk as men, God will call them men. There is no passing for current coin in heaven, without the stamp and signature of heaven.

7.