to abide in Chrift, (which must be meant of a PraEtical abiding in him by Faith) that they might Shave Confidence or Boldness, and not be ashamed at Ibis coming; if there could be no fuch thing? Is any Part of God's Word fuperfluous or in vain ? God forbid. Then here must be fomething in all thefe Scriptures, which we find, in thefe Places, are principally fpoke to the Children of God. And therefore doth fhew, that all the Works of the Saints, the good and bad, are, and will be fo far took Notice of, as to be laid before the JudgmentSeat of Jefus Chrift at this time.

But before I clofe this Subject, I fhall briefly hint upon four or five Verfes in the firft Epiftle of Cor. iii. beginning at v. 11. for other Foundation can no Man lay, than that is laid; which is fefus Chrift. This Foundation all the Saints, the whole Election will be found built upon; for their Happiness and everlafting Comfort. And as there is no other, fo no other Foundation can be laid, than Jefus Chrift which is laid, for a Soul to build his Eternal Salvation upon.

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Verfe 12. Now if any Man build upon this Foundation, Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, Wood, Hay, Stubble, &c. What doth the Apoftle mean in thefe myfterious Texts? I fhall modeftly and briefly give my Thoughts, and fo leave it to Men of better Judgments. By thefe Expreffions of Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones. I do understand thereby all thofe good Works, which are wrought by the Spirit, done in Faith, flowing from Love to Jefus Chrift, to be fignified; which is more precious to the Lord than Gold, Silver, and precious Stones can be unto Men. These the Saints may be faid to

build upon the Lord Jefus, (who only is their Foun da ion) becaufe all good Works are firft in him more eminently (as in their Fountain) and from whence they flow to us, and from us (as Water in the Sea) return to him again, where they are found accepted. Now the Children of God, being fruitful in good Works (by the Exercife of Faith, in their Union to Chrift) or their building of these precious Things, compared to Gold, Silver, &c. upon Je fus Chrift, is not for Life and Juftification, but in Point of Duty, as being the Fruits of the Spirit in their Hearts, and the infeparable Effects, or Concomitants of faving Faith, and in which the Lord now doth, and hereafter will give Peace, Comfort, and Confolation, for thefe good Works which are or may be compared unto Gold, Silver, and precious Stones, being found upon this Founda tion the Lord Jefus Chrift (where only our Perfons and Works find Acceptance) is only to fhew, that all the good Works of the Saints, which will be looked upon as fuch, do wholly flow from the foot or bottom of free Grace.

Now by thofe other Words, Wood, Hay, Stubble, &c. muft doubtlefs mean all thofe Works, Words, and Actions of Men, that did not proceed from the Operation of the Divine Spirit upon the Heart, not flowing from Faith, out of Love to Jefus Chrift; but are the Works of Men, flowing only from Man's Wisdom; not proceeding from the Workings of Divine Grace in the Soul, and fo not pleasing nor acceptable untoGod: All these will be found (upon Trial, no better than Wood, Hay, and Stubble.

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Verse 13. Every Man's Work fhall be made manifeft: For the Day fhall declare it, because it fhall be revealed by Fire, and the Fire fhall try every Man's Work of what fort it is. Let this be took Notice of, Every Man's Work fhall be made manifeft. Then furely this muft take in the Works of the Saints; as well as the Works of others; though there will be a Difference, in the Manifeftation, for the Day fhall declare it: That is the great Day of the Lord, in the time of the Judgment: Because it fhall be revealed by Fire. This I understand to be meant of the Fire of the Spirit. And the Fire fhall try every Man's Work, of what fort it is. There be many Works now, which pafs for good amongst Men, which will not pafs fo in that Day. Yea, many of the Works of the Saints, that had a fhew of Goodness in them, will, when tried by this fearching Fire, be found no better than Wood, Hay, and Stubble: That is combuftible, as fit matter for the Fire to burn up. A great deal of which, it is to be thought (upon this trying Time) may be found in many of the Works of God's own Children.

Verse 14. If any Man's Work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he fholl receive a Reward. These Words do fhew, that the beft of the Works of the Saints fhall be tried in the Day of Judgment. This Fire will thoroughly try of what fort our Works are of; whether it will upon Trial be found Gold, Silver, precious Stones; or Wood, Hay, and Stubble, If the firft, he shall receive a Reward; and a Reward according to the Measure or Quantity of that Gold, Silver, and precious Stones, which he hath been building upon this Foundation. This

proves, what I have before afferted, that the Lord Febovab will reward the good Works of his own Children in that Day, the Fruits of his own Spirit in their Hearts, because there will be a Reward of Works in the Kingdom of Chrift; though (as before) Salvation is by pure, free and abfolute Grace. But if our Works, or moft of our Works be found of the latter, that is Hay, Wood, and Stubble, they fhall be burnt up, with a Lofs to fuch, as the following Words do fhew.

Verfe 15. If any Man's Work fhall be burnt, he fhall fuffer Lofs, but he himself fhall be faved; yet fo, as by Fire. Now, I appeal (in thefe Words) unto all Perfons found in the Faith, whether thefe Verfes, which I have mentioned, doth not refpect the People of God? And alfo, whether their Works will not be tried in that great Day; that those whofe Works are not good, (compared unto Wood, Hay, and Stubble) may be burnt up, with a Lofs to fuch who fhall have moft of their Works found to be of this Sort. I fay, I would appeal unto all ferious Perfons, whether thefe things will be fo or no? Because the Text faith, that though his Works may be burnt up, as being found Wood, Hay, and Stubble, with a Lofs to fuch, yet he bimfelf fhall be faved fo, as by Fire. If the Perfon, whofe Works are to be burnt up fhall be faved; then undoubtedly, this must be understood of God's own Children; unless we will allow that others befides the Saints fhall be faved at that Time.strid ad

This Fire, which shall try every Man's Work, and alfo burn up thofe which are not good, may have some respect unto that great Fire of the laft Day, in the Conflagration or burning of the World,

in the beginning of the thousand Years, upon the perfonal coming of the Lord Jefus Chrift from Heaven; which may then begin to try the Faith of the Saints, and their Works too. But principally I understand it to be meant of the Spirit, which is compar'd unto Fire: As Matt. iii. 11. He fall baptize you with the Holy Ghoft, and with Fire. This we fee is the Baptifm of the Spirit, compar'd unto Fire, in refpect of its trying, fearching, and purifying Nature; which will further try and make manifeft the Works of all the Saints, to fee of what Sort they will be found of in the thoufand Years Reign; that fo particular Reward may by the Lord Jefus Chrift be given unto each of them. If any fhould yet object, and fay, what Wood, Hay and Stubble can there be found in the Saints, at that Time, when they shall be in a finlefs perfect State? My Anfwer is, that the Tryal will not be, of what is found in them, when they fhall be perfect, but what will be found of Works, either good or bad, as done by them, while they were in the World, in the time of their Mortality. It is all thofe Works that fall be brought upon the Stage, to be tryed before the Fudgment Seat of Fefus cbrift. All which will ftand and agree very well with the time of their reigning and poffeffing of their Kingdom. And alfo very confiftent with the infinite Love, rich and fovereign Grace of Jehovah, difplaying it felf in all its glorious Acts, through the bleffed Mediator unto the Saints; during their time of judging, and the time of reigning; because the Lord will then make manifeft, and magnify all his glorious Attributes, both of Justice and Righteousness, as well as Love and Mercy, in the Fff

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