Anonymous on Article XIV: Of Works of Supererogation

I. What Voluntary Works are; such as are besides , or over + and above God’s Word, or Works of our own Choiceand Wills, which we think we have no Obligation upon us to perform, and yet which we chuse to make an Offering to God, belides what he

ath commanded : That we may know the natural Meaning of

_ Besides, our Church explains it by over and above God’s Command- ments, which we present to him as a Freewill- Offering of our own, over and above what was our Duty to do. Such were the Works which the Scribes and Pharisees directed the devout Jews unto ; as

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the Washing of Cups, Basons, and Tables; making of Vows, and devoting their Estates to pious Uses ; and wasbing themselves after they had been in the Market; and other Traditions, which were the Commandments of Men. And these Works were so superstiti- ously admir’d, and insisted upon, that it was usual with them to break God’s Commandments, when they stood in Competition with their Traditions, and to break his known Laws, in offering him that which he never requir’d. Just as some in our Days would commit Fornication rather than marry, or refuse to work, that they may appear to be the more devout Beggars, or vow to be poor, that they may indulge their Sloth. It was common for the Jews todeny their Parents Relief, because they had vow’d to give what they had to God, and to make their Cups shine ; when their Souls were full of Uncleanness. Such were their Voluntary Works, or Works of Su-

pererogation, which must needs be excellent in their Opinions, be- _ cause out of the common Road of Duty, and invented on purpose to

serve an extraordinary Fit of Devotion. But to such our Lord says, Full-well ye rejef the Commandment of God, that ye may keep your own Traditions, „

II. The Danger in teaching such Works, or recommending them

to the Practice of the People: They cannot be taught without ma-

nifest Arrogancy and Impiety. Ts ad

1. Not without manifest Arrogancy, Haughtiness, and Pride. For what does that Man think of himself, who pretends to give that to God, which he never * ? Is he more able to discern what pleases God, than Himself 2 Or can he offer and give that which he never receiv’d? Or are his Inventions and Free-Will Offerings more grateful to God, than his own Commandments ? Will the Gift to the Altar, which Moses never enjoin’d, be better than honouring of Parents? Or is a single Life stain’d with Uncleanness, more honou- rable than chast Matrimony ? Or is a bright and clear Cup more

Article XIV. OP Von

Mark 7. 9.

welcome to the Spirit, than a clean Heart? Or can Poverty vowed

for the Sake of Christ, be more glorious than honest Labour, which

procures Bread? Who is not proud and arrogant, that teacheth Men to make such Offerings? Or are they not haughty that lay aside the

most substantial Duties, and busy themselves in such voluntary Un-

_ dertakings ? Is not Man subject to his Maker, under his Government,

and at his Disposal? And is it not thence impossible for him to do any thing over and above his Duty? Making theWord of God of none elsect, through your Tradition which ye bave delivered. 8

2. Such Works cannot be taught without Impiety: As much as they seem to be done for the Honour of God, they are dishonoura- ble to him; and as much as those that do them wou’d appear more devout than others, they are wicked. For is not that Impiety, which dishonours God’s Laws, and under the Pretence of honouring him, encourages Sin and Wickedness ? Is not God’s Authority leflen’d, his Government slighted 2 Are not his Laws rejected, when Men’s Tra- ditions are cry’d up, and are preferr’d before the Service of Christ ? when God’s reveal’d Will is dispensed with, and those Vows are cal- led

Mark 7. £3, the first Part.

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94 Au EXPOSITION I the Article led sacred, which are against Reason and Grace; nay, when the XIV. plain Rules of Morality are laid aside, and the worst of Vices are to- GY lerated and encouraged under the Pretence of Religion? If this is not Impiety, or Wickedness in an high Degree, what can be called by that Name? And ye have Reason to suspect it, whenever such | Voluntary Works are cried up ; for as their Credit rises, for the most part the Reputation of God’s Law falls and sinks; and the more Stress is put upon them, the more immoral are the Lives of Men. For when once they think they can give God more than he commands, they Nele that he will be mightily taken with it, and for Love of lach an extraordinary Favour, pass by their demure Vi- ces, and connive at their black Misdeeds. Thus when the Few had made his Estate Corban, he thought it such a Prize, that he was no longer bound to honour his Parents, and that he might be disobedi- ent with a good Grace. When another by the same Instigation kept his Dishes and Plate clean, he look’d upon it as such a wonderful Piece of Sanctity, that would easily attone for the Filth and Corru tion of his Heart.. And thus as Voluntary Works gain’d Applause, the Practice of Holiness was laid aside, and Religion was plac’d in Voluntary Offerings: And this Humour prevail’d fo far, that at last there was scarcely any Purity of Heart, or Righteousness of Life, no Faith or Vertue in a manner to be found upon the Earth. And thus it will be, whenever the Commandments of Men are preferr’d be- | fore theCommandments of God : Men being more apt to place theStress ll | of Religion upon external Compliances, than in the Regulation of 1 Heart and Life, according to the Will of God. Our Saviour tells 1 the 8 when any of them had devoted his Estate to God, tho- 4 Mark 7.12. his Parents were ready to starve; Te suffer him no more to do ought I for his Father or Mother. V

III. The Arrogancy lies in this: By such Works Men do declare, that [ they do not only render to God as much as they are bound to do, but . that they do more for his Sake, than of bounden Duty is required; \ which is arrogant and impious to an high Degree. „ Man ll : uponEarth can withReason pretend to do as much as he is bound to do; much less may he boast of that which was not required, or made his Duty before ? It must therefore be Arrogancy to the Purpose, to de- ll clare that they can do their Duty, and more than 1s their Duty. ll 1. *Tis arrogant to declare, that they render to God as much as they are bound to do. For where can the Limits of Obedience be li. fixed? Are we not pre-engaged to do our best for God? Are not all our Faculties given? And when we have done all that we can with „ our greatest Application, is there not more behind to be done? Are we not till upon Service? And do not our Duties increase with our = Days? And will they not remain upon us, whilst our Lives last ? I What Arrogancy is it therefore to declare, that they render unto i God as much as they are bound to do, when the Obligation reaches all the Powers of our Souls, and does not terminate till Death? I have heard of those that have asserted Perfection attainable, who nevertheless will grant that they are upon Service during Life 55 = un

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bound to proceed in Duty till their Work is done, and their Time ended; and so must all own, while they are dependent Creatures, and accountable to their Lord for their Faculties and Talents, their Time and Grace ; and we cannot plead we have render’d to God all that we are bound to do for him, till our Race 1s run, and our Accounts are called for, and we can be no longer his Stewards. And be called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee 2 Give an account of thy Stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer Steward. […] 2. It is great Arrogancy and Impiety to declare, that they do more for God’s Sake, than of bounden Duty is required: it smells rank of Pride; for what can Man give to God, that was not at first given to him? Or how does he become fo great, that he can offer that to God, which was none of his? And tis very impious too, as if Men were Self. sufficient, and could present that to God, which he is be- holden to them for, or which he could not command: But where is that to be found, that we are not obliged to perform ? By what Strength is it to be done? In what Season is it to be presented? For without doubt, if God gives them Strength, tis done by his Assistance: And if he continues Life, and affords the Time, tis done thro’ his Assistance, in his Season, and is no more than his Ser- vice, done by his Servant: So that if Men will be thus presuinptu- ous, and boast of such voluntary Works, let them forbear to ry

till they have Strength of their own, which they never receiv’d of

God; and till they can command Time, live as long as they please, and dispose of themselves without controul, and without Dread and Fear; for if they are not Self-sufficient in these Particulars, *tis un- reasonable to offer at such Works; and if they are in any measure

Article XIV. AY SS

Luk. 16. 2.

Pious, they will be asham’d of such Pretences, which are but the

vain Boastings of proud and wicked Men : Bur if they are Vicious, their Offerings are not worthy of Acceptance, but may be rejected with Indignation. When ye come to appear before me, who hath re- _ quired this at your band, to tread my courts ?

VV. This Declaration is directly contrary to our Saviour’s Doctrine, who says, © When ye have done all things that are commanded you, * say, we are unprofitable Servants. This is the plain and full decision of this Controversy, which with one word cuts asunder all the for- mal Claims and Challenges, that may be put in, or made by proud and imnpious Men to such Works, and leaves them in their Folly : For he’ who made us, who gave us what we have, who knows the best wecando; and what in Reason may be expected from us; assures us, that when we have done all which is commanded, we are but unprofita- ble Servants ; afid have done no more than what we were bound to ; and as he says it, we may believe him; as he commands us to own our selves/ uriprofitable, we may be sure that after all our En- deavouts, we do not exceed; for He that is Truth it self, and weighs all our Abilities, and knows our Make, would never enjoin us to be fo modest, as to tell a Lye; or put us upon that Dissimulation and Hypoctify, as to say that which we know to be false ; if therefore | N the

Isa. 1. 12.

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An EXPOSITION of the

XIV. 19 ˙⸗＋ 4

Luk. 17. 9, 10.

Article the best are but unprofitable Servants, when they have been the most diligent and careful, and are unsufficient to make such Offerings, what are the worst > How can the Vicious pretend to be so Eminent

in good Works, or those that are inferior to them, glory in their

Performances? If the Holiest and most Religious, can do no more

than what is their Duty, the rest that come behind them in GooJ- ness, can never offer any thing that is worthy of acceptance. We

may then lay aside all Thoughts of Works of Super-crogation (which in Times of Popery made such a Noise in the World, and against |

which this Article is design’d) being unable to offer unto God an

thing of that Nature; and being, in his Esteem, in our best Estate but unprofitable Servants. Will any Man thank his Servant for doing his Duty? Or can the Lord of all, be beholden to Men, when they are Obedient? Our Saviour speaks in the same manner, when he

brings in the Master commanding his Servant to wait upon him. Doth he thank that Servant, because be did the things that were com-

manded him? I trow not; so likewise ye, when ye shall have dong all these things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable

Servants ;, we have done that which was our duty to do.

From this Account of the Article, ye must give me leave to tell you, that we are so far from being able to do more than our Duty, that we do not do that as we ought ; that it will be more to our Commendation, when we sincerely do what we are commanded, as well as we can ; and that if we do that well, we shall soon see into

the Vanity of these Pretences.

1. We are so far from being able to do more than our Dut , that

we do not do our Duty as we ought. Our first Reformers did well

to pull down the Loftiness of proud Men, by declaring against Works

of Super-erogation ; but they little thought that we should run into the other extreme, and negle& to do our Duty: For though we

cannot offer more to God than what is commanded, shall we not offer

that which is commanded ? Or because the Papists magnify’d good

Works too much, and gloried in their Offerings, shall not we per- form our Duty, and be Fruitful in those good Works which we are commanded to abound in? But thus it 1s ; our Forefathers, when

they were deliver’d from the Corruptions of Rome, abhorred their Arrogancy and Impiety, in pretending to do more than was Com- manded ; and we are come to that pass, that we will not do what 1s,

our Duty, which God has commanded, and the negle& of which he

has threaten’d to punish, We pretend to be zealous against Rome, while we come short of sincere Christians; we cry up Religion, and: will not perform the Duties of it; we can zealously excliam against.

Works of Merit, when we willingly negle& to do what is command-

ed. What can be the meaning of this? Or what do we design by

, I hope ye will, allow, that ye may do your Duty ; and though ye declare against,

it? Though ye cannot do more than your Duty, I hope

the Pride of Rome, I hope ye intend to be faithful Servants of Christ.

Either therefore practise what ye are commanded, and do what can

be done, or never pretend to be Religious ; for at the same time

condemn the Vanity of those that pretend to do more tha a Lain

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Thirty Niue ARTICLES.

done, ye own, that what is to be done, ought to be done, and con- demn your selves for Presumption and Neglect: For he that knows

his Master’s Will, and does it not, is as much to blame, as he that

pretends to overdo it, and much more; for he does nothing, whilst the other does something, though in an unbecoming manner. I must entreat you therefore to do your Duty in your Stations with Up- rightness of Heart, that ye may be accepted. And that Servant which knew his Lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

2. It will be more for our Commendation, when we sincerely do what we are commanded, as well as we can ; and laying aside all Thoughts of doing more than Duty, take all imaginable Care to do our best for God, We all may know, that our Talents are given us to be improved, our Faculties to be used, our Time to be well-spent, and that in a little while the Day of Grace will be over; and as we know thus much, we must count it our Duty to im- prove our Talents, to use our Faculties, and to spend our Time in the Service of God, and to please him as well as we can in Newness

of Life; and if we are but upright in doing what can be done for

our Souls, we may be sure, our hearty Endeavours will be accepted, and the Memory of Duties well done, will afford us more Pleasure at the last, than all vain Pretences to Merit, or voluntary Offerings:

Let us then be Humble and Obedient, that at the Appearance of our Lord, we may be declared Faithful. His Lord said unto him (that Man. 23. 21

had done his Duty in improving Five Talents,) Well done thou good

and faithful Servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, T will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of

thy Lord. = | 3. If we do our Duty well, we shall soon see the Vanity of all

other Pretences, and in humility possess our Souls; for the more

faithful we are, the more sensible we shall be of our Unworthiness,

and of the meanness of our Performances; the better Men are, the

more Cause they find to humble themselves in the presence of the Lord, and to disclaim any worth in themselves; for the more they improve in Duty, the more they see into their own Vileness, and

the more they admire all the divine greatness, the more they consi-

der how mean and poor they are without Christ, and the more they wonder at the immensity of his Majesty and Goodness ; fo that if we do well, we shall soon detest all Pride and Self-conceit, and with the heartiest Devotion set forth the Glory of God; as the Psalmist doth :

When I consider the Heavens, the Work of thy Ages, the Moon, and pfal. 8. 3, 4.

tbe Stars, which thou hast ordained, what is Man, that thou art mindful of him, and the Son of Man, that thou visitest him ?

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A EXPOSITION of the

Article XV.