A good man can no more do evil things, than a good tree can bring forth bad fruit; and a bad man, notwithstanding all his hypocrify, can no more really and habitually do good things, than a corrupt tree can bring forth good fruit.

19. Every tree that bringing not forth good fruit, is hewn down and caft into the fire.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, however it may look fair and be full of leaves, is yet by men counted good for nothing, but to be cut down and burnt. In like manner every man, whose doctrine tends not to virtue, and whofe works are not righteous, and just, and good; whatever pretences he may make to piety and religion, is certainly a bad man, and, if he continues fo, defigned of God to deftruction.

20. Wherefore by their fruits ye fhall know them.

By these fruits therefore of good and evil difpofitions and actions, may ye certainly dif tinguish the preachers of true religion, from deceivers and falfe prophets.

21. Not every one that faith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Fa ther which is in heaven.

And according to these fruits of good and evil lives will God himself judge and reward or punish men. For not every one that makes an outward profeffion of religion, and believes

and

and calls upon my name; but they only who, in their lives obey the commandments of God, fhall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

22. Many will fay to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophefied in thy name? and in thy name have caft out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Many will fay unto me in the day of judgment; Lord, have we not believed and embraced thy true religion, and taught and preached it to others? and have we not had fo great faith, as even to caft out devils and work miracles in thy name? wilt thou not therefore now receive us, and acknowledge us for thy true difciples?

23. And then will I profefs unto them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

But I shall reject them faying, Notwithftanding you have indeed done all these things, . yet fince in your lives and converfations ye did not obey my commandments, but were proud, or covetous, or fenfual, or contentious, therefore I never *looked upon you as my true difciples: neither do I now approve or acknowledge

*The words oud'επожε yrwv, I never knew you, fignify in Scripture phrase, I never approved you, Thus Pfalm i. 6. The Lord knoweth, that is, approverb, the way of the righteous. So Romans vii. 15. That which I do où yivásuw, I know not, that is, I allow not. So 1 Cor. viii. 3. If any man love God is known, that is, approved of him.

acknowledge you: depart from me, all ye that have lived wickedly.

24. Therefore, whofoever heareth these fayings of mine, and doth them, I will liken him unto a wife man who built his house up

on a rock :

Wherefore he that fhall not only hear and receive thefe my inftructions, but alfo remember, and confider, and practise, and live according to them; fuch a man may be compared to one that builds his houfe upon a rock.

25. And the rain defcended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that houfe and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.

For as a houfe founded upon a rock, ftands unfhaken and firm, against all the affaults of rains, and floods, and ftorms: fo the man who in his life and converfation actually prac tifes and obeys my inftructions, will firmly refift all the temptations of the devil, the allurements of pleafure, and the terrors of perfecution and shall be able to stand in the final judgment, and be rewarded of God.

:

26. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doth them not, fhall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his houfe upon the fand:

But he that fhall hear and receive my instructions; and yet not obey them in his life and actions; may fitly be compared to a foolfh man who builds his house upon the fand.

27. And

27. And the rain defcended, and the winds blew, and beat upon that houfe, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

For as a houfe without foundation, built upon the loose fand, is not able to refift the affaults of winds and floods, but is easily overturned and ruined by them; fo the man who hears, and believes, and makes profeffion of true religion, but lives not fuitably to the precepts thereof: cannot refift the violence of temptation, and will not be able to ftand before God in judgment, but fhall perish for ever.

28. And it came to pass when Jefus had ended thefe fayings, the people were astonish ed at his doctrine.

Thus Jefus ended his fermon, and the people which heard him were furprized with admiration at the excellency of his discourse.

29. For he taught them as one having au thority, and not as the fcribes.

For his doctrine was not like the preach ings of the Jewish doctors, formal and trifling, full of vain traditions, and depending on the groundless authority of rabbies and heads of fects but the things which he spake were great and noble: and he delivered them with a voice of majefty and authority, of gravity and truth.

CONTENTS.

CONTENT S.

R

EASONS for publishing this fecond part of the New Week's Preparation, Page 191 The generality of communicants labour under the fame doubts and fcruples concerning a worthy preparation for the Lord's Supper; which doubts and fcruples are here removed,

- ib. Thofe Authors to blame who have made it their business to raise and inflame the devotion of their readers, but have taken no care about informing or fettling their understandings, 192 What the most confiderable doubts are, which render the minds of communicants uneafy, Meditation is a noble exercise of the soul, and why, How the meditations are to be made ufe of, 193 Concerning the Hymns and their ufe, Concerning the prayers,

ib.

ib.

ib.

ib.

Of the time to be spent in the preparation for the

facrament,

194

Those who lay too great ftrefs upon habitual pre. paration deceive themselves,

ib.

Of