Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > a treatise on good works >

µÚ9½Ú

a treatise on good works-µÚ9½Ú

С˵£º a treatise on good works ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




pretty£»¡¡shining¡¡works¡¡of¡¡men's¡¡devising£»¡¡or¡¡of¡¡works¡¡which¡¡look

like¡¡these¡¡true¡¡works£»¡¡but¡¡at¡¡bottom¡¡are¡¡all¡¡without¡¡faith¡¡and

without¡¡faithfulness£»¡¡in¡¡short£»¡¡there¡¡is¡¡nothing¡¡good¡¡back¡¡of

them¡£¡¡Thus¡¡also¡¡Isaiah¡¡xlviii¡£¡¡rebukes¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡Israel£º

¡¨Hear¡¡ye¡¡this£»¡¡ye¡¡which¡¡are¡¡called¡¡by¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Israel£»¡¡which

swear¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lord£»¡¡and¡¡make¡¡mention¡¡of¡¡the¡¡God¡¡of

Israel¡¡neither¡¡in¡¡truth£»¡¡nor¡¡in¡¡righteousness¡¨£»¡¡that¡¡is£»¡¡they¡¡did

it¡¡not¡¡in¡¡the¡¡true¡¡faith¡¡and¡¡confidence£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡the¡¡real¡¡truth

and¡¡righteousness£»¡¡but¡¡trusted¡¡in¡¡themselves£»¡¡their¡¡works¡¡and

powers£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡called¡¡upon¡¡God's¡¡Name¡¡and¡¡praised¡¡Him£»¡¡two

things¡¡which¡¡do¡¡not¡¡fit¡¡together¡£¡¡



XXI¡£¡¡The¡¡first¡¡work¡¡of¡¡this¡¡Commandment¡¡then¡¡is£»¡¡to¡¡praise¡¡God

in¡¡all¡¡His¡¡benefits£»¡¡which¡¡are¡¡innumerable£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡such¡¡praise

and¡¡thanksgiving¡¡ought¡¡also¡¡of¡¡right¡¡never¡¡to¡¡cease¡¡or¡¡end¡£¡¡For

who¡¡can¡¡praise¡¡Him¡¡perfectly¡¡for¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡of¡¡natural¡¡life£»¡¡not

to¡¡mention¡¡all¡¡other¡¡temporal¡¡and¡¡eternal¡¡blessings£¿¡¡And¡¡so

through¡¡this¡¡one¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Commandment¡¡man¡¡is¡¡overwhelmed¡¡with

good¡¡and¡¡precious¡¡works£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡do¡¡these¡¡in¡¡true¡¡faith£»¡¡he¡¡has

indeed¡¡not¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡vain¡£¡¡And¡¡in¡¡this¡¡matter¡¡none¡¡sin¡¡so¡¡much¡¡as

the¡¡most¡¡resplendent¡¡saints£»¡¡who¡¡are¡¡pleased¡¡with¡¡themselves¡¡and

like¡¡to¡¡praise¡¡themselves¡¡or¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡themselves¡¡praised£»¡¡honored

and¡¡glorified¡¡before¡¡men¡£¡¡



Therefore¡¡the¡¡second¡¡work¡¡of¡¡this¡¡Commandment¡¡is£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡on¡¡one's

guard£»¡¡to¡¡flee¡¡from¡¡and¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡all¡¡temporal¡¡honor¡¡and¡¡praise£»

and¡¡never¡¡to¡¡seek¡¡a¡¡name¡¡for¡¡oneself£»¡¡or¡¡fame¡¡and¡¡a¡¡great

reputation£»¡¡that¡¡every¡¡one¡¡sing¡¡of¡¡him¡¡and¡¡tell¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡which¡¡is

an¡¡exceedingly¡¡dangerous¡¡sin£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡the¡¡most¡¡common¡¡of¡¡all£»

and£»¡¡alas£¡¡¡little¡¡regarded¡£¡¡Every¡¡one¡¡wants¡¡to¡¡be¡¡of¡¡importance

and¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡least£»¡¡however¡¡small¡¡he¡¡may¡¡be£»¡¡so¡¡deeply¡¡is

nature¡¡sunk¡¡in¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡of¡¡its¡¡own¡¡conceit¡¡and¡¡in¡¡its

self¡­confidence¡¡contrary¡¡to¡¡these¡¡two¡¡first¡¡Commandments¡£¡¡



Now¡¡the¡¡world¡¡regards¡¡this¡¡terrible¡¡vice¡¡as¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡virtue£»

and¡¡this¡¡makes¡¡it¡¡exceedingly¡¡dangerous¡¡for¡¡those¡¡who¡¡do¡¡not

understand¡¡and¡¡have¡¡not¡¡had¡¡experience¡¡of¡¡God's¡¡Commandments¡¡and

the¡¡histories¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Holy¡¡Scriptures£»¡¡to¡¡read¡¡or¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡heathen

books¡¡and¡¡histories¡£¡¡For¡¡all¡¡heathen¡¡books¡¡are¡¡poisoned¡¡through

and¡¡through¡¡with¡¡this¡¡striving¡¡after¡¡praise¡¡and¡¡honor£»¡¡in¡¡them

men¡¡are¡¡taught¡¡by¡¡blind¡¡reason¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡nor¡¡could¡¡be

men¡¡of¡¡power¡¡and¡¡worth£»¡¡who¡¡are¡¡not¡¡moved¡¡by¡¡praise¡¡and¡¡honor£»

but¡¡those¡¡are¡¡counted¡¡the¡¡best£»¡¡who¡¡disregard¡¡body¡¡and¡¡life£»

friend¡¡and¡¡property¡¡and¡¡everything¡¡in¡¡the¡¡effort¡¡to¡¡win¡¡praise

and¡¡honor¡£¡¡All¡¡the¡¡holy¡¡Fathers¡¡have¡¡complained¡¡of¡¡this¡¡vice¡¡and

with¡¡one¡¡mind¡¡conclude¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡very¡¡last¡¡vice¡¡to¡¡be

overcome¡£¡¡St¡£¡¡Augustine¡¡says£º¡¡¡¨All¡¡other¡¡vices¡¡are¡¡practised¡¡in

evil¡¡works£»¡¡only¡¡honor¡¡and¡¡self¡­satisfaction¡¡are¡¡practised¡¡in¡¡and

by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡good¡¡works¡£¡¨¡¡



Therefore¡¡if¡¡a¡¡man¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡else¡¡to¡¡do¡¡except¡¡this¡¡second¡¡work

of¡¡this¡¡Commandment£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡yet¡¡have¡¡to¡¡work¡¡all¡¡his¡¡life¡­time

in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡this¡¡vice¡¡and¡¡drive¡¡it¡¡out£»¡¡so¡¡common£»¡¡so

subtile£»¡¡so¡¡quick¡¡and¡¡insidious¡¡is¡¡it¡£¡¡Now¡¡we¡¡all¡¡pass¡¡by¡¡this

good¡¡work¡¡and¡¡exercise¡¡ourselves¡¡in¡¡many¡¡other¡¡lesser¡¡good¡¡works£»

nay£»¡¡through¡¡other¡¡good¡¡works¡¡we¡¡overthrow¡¡this¡¡and¡¡forget¡¡it

entirely¡£¡¡So¡¡the¡¡holy¡¡Name¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡which¡¡alone¡¡should¡¡be¡¡honored£»

is¡¡taken¡¡in¡¡vain¡¡and¡¡dishonored¡¡through¡¡our¡¡own¡¡cursed¡¡name£»

self¡­approval¡¡and¡¡honor¡­seeking¡£¡¡And¡¡this¡¡sin¡¡is¡¡more¡¡grievous

before¡¡God¡¡than¡¡murder¡¡and¡¡adultery£»¡¡but¡¡its¡¡wickedness¡¡is¡¡not

so¡¡clearly¡¡seen¡¡as¡¡that¡¡of¡¡murder£»¡¡because¡¡of¡¡its¡¡subtilty£»¡¡for

it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡accomplished¡¡in¡¡the¡¡coarse¡¡flesh£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡the¡¡spirit¡£¡¡



XXII¡£¡¡Some¡¡think¡¡it¡¡is¡¡good¡¡for¡¡young¡¡people¡¡that¡¡they¡¡be¡¡enticed

by¡¡reputation¡¡and¡¡honor£»¡¡and¡¡again¡¡by¡¡shame¡¡of¡¡and¡¡dishonor£»¡¡and

so¡¡be¡¡induced¡¡to¡¡do¡¡good¡£¡¡For¡¡there¡¡are¡¡many¡¡who¡¡do¡¡the¡¡good¡¡and

leave¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡undone¡¡out¡¡of¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡shame¡¡and¡¡love¡¡of¡¡honor£»¡¡and

so¡¡do¡¡what¡¡they¡¡would¡¡otherwise¡¡by¡¡no¡¡means¡¡do¡¡or¡¡leave¡¡undone¡£

These¡¡I¡¡leave¡¡to¡¡their¡¡opinion¡£¡¡But¡¡at¡¡present¡¡we¡¡are¡¡seeking¡¡how

true¡¡good¡¡works¡¡are¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡who¡¡are¡¡inclined¡¡to¡¡do

them¡¡surely¡¡do¡¡not¡¡need¡¡to¡¡be¡¡driven¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡shame¡¡and¡¡the

love¡¡of¡¡honor£»¡¡they¡¡have£»¡¡and¡¡are¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡higher¡¡and¡¡far¡¡nobler

incentive£»¡¡namely£»¡¡God's¡¡commandment£»¡¡God's¡¡fear£»¡¡God's¡¡approval£»

and¡¡their¡¡faith¡¡and¡¡love¡¡toward¡¡God¡£¡¡They¡¡who¡¡have¡¡not£»¡¡or¡¡regard

not¡¡this¡¡motive£»¡¡and¡¡let¡¡shame¡¡and¡¡honor¡¡drive¡¡them£»¡¡these¡¡also

have¡¡their¡¡reward£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡says£»¡¡Matthew¡¡vi£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡the

motive£»¡¡so¡¡is¡¡also¡¡the¡¡work¡¡and¡¡the¡¡reward£º¡¡none¡¡of¡¡them¡¡is¡¡good£»

except¡¡only¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡



Now¡¡I¡¡hold¡¡that¡¡a¡¡young¡¡person¡¡could¡¡be¡¡more¡¡easily¡¡trained¡¡and

incited¡¡by¡¡God's¡¡fear¡¡and¡¡commandments¡¡than¡¡by¡¡any¡¡other¡¡means¡£

Yet¡¡where¡¡these¡¡do¡¡not¡¡help£»¡¡we¡¡must¡¡endure¡¡that¡¡they¡¡do¡¡the¡¡good

and¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡shame¡¡and¡¡of¡¡honor£»¡¡just¡¡as

we¡¡must¡¡also¡¡endure¡¡wicked¡¡men¡¡or¡¡the¡¡imperfect£»¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡we¡¡spoke

above£»¡¡nor¡¡can¡¡we¡¡do¡¡more¡¡than¡¡tell¡¡them¡¡that¡¡their¡¡works¡¡are¡¡not

satisfactory¡¡and¡¡right¡¡before¡¡God£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡leave¡¡them¡¡until¡¡they

learn¡¡to¡¡do¡¡right¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡God's¡¡commandments¡¡also¡£¡¡Just

as¡¡young¡¡children¡¡are¡¡induced¡¡to¡¡pray£»¡¡fast£»¡¡learn£»¡¡etc¡££»¡¡by

gifts¡¡and¡¡promises¡¡of¡¡the¡¡parents£»¡¡even¡¡though¡¡it¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be

good¡¡to¡¡treat¡¡them¡¡so¡¡all¡¡their¡¡lives£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡they¡¡never¡¡learn

to¡¡do¡¡good¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡God£º¡¡far¡¡worse£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡become

accustomed¡¡to¡¡do¡¡good¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡praise¡¡and¡¡honor¡£¡¡



XXIII¡£¡¡But¡¡this¡¡is¡¡true£»¡¡that¡¡we¡¡must¡¡none¡¡the¡¡less¡¡have¡¡a¡¡good

name¡¡and¡¡honor£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡one¡¡ought¡¡so¡¡to¡¡live¡¡that¡¡nothing¡¡evil

can¡¡be¡¡said¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡give¡¡offence¡¡to¡¡no¡¡one£»¡¡as¡¡St¡£

Paul¡¡says£»¡¡Romans¡¡xii£º¡¡¡¨We¡¡are¡¡to¡¡be¡¡zealous¡¡to¡¡do¡¡good£»¡¡not¡¡only

before¡¡God£»¡¡but¡¡also¡¡before¡¡all¡¡men¡£¡¨¡¡And¡¡II¡£¡¡Corinthians¡¡iv£º¡¡¡¨We

walk¡¡so¡¡honestly¡¡that¡¡no¡¡man¡¡knows¡¡anything¡¡against¡¡us¡£¡¨¡¡But

there¡¡must¡¡be¡¡great¡¡diligence¡¡and¡¡care£»¡¡lest¡¡such¡¡honor¡¡and¡¡good

name¡¡puff¡¡up¡¡the¡¡heart£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡find¡¡pleasure¡¡in¡¡them¡£¡¡Here

the¡¡saying¡¡of¡¡Solomon¡¡holds£º¡¡¡¨As¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡in¡¡the¡¡furnace¡¡proveth

the¡¡gold£»¡¡so¡¡man¡¡is¡¡proved¡¡by¡¡the¡¡mouth¡¡of¡¡him¡¡that¡¡praises¡¡him¡£¡¨

Few¡¡and¡¡most¡¡spiritual¡¡men¡¡must¡¡they¡¡be£»¡¡who£»¡¡when¡¡honored¡¡and

praised£»¡¡remain¡¡indifferent¡¡and¡¡unchanged£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡they¡¡do¡¡not

care¡¡for¡¡it£»¡¡nor¡¡feel¡¡pride¡¡and¡¡pleasure¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡remain

entirely¡¡free£»¡¡ascribe¡¡all¡¡their¡¡honor¡¡and¡¡fame¡¡to¡¡God£»¡¡offering

it¡¡to¡¡Him¡¡alone£»¡¡and¡¡using¡¡it¡¡only¡¡to¡¡the¡¡glory¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡to¡¡the

edification¡¡of¡¡their¡¡neighbors£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡no¡¡way¡¡to¡¡their¡¡own

benefit¡¡or¡¡advantage£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡a¡¡man¡¡trust¡¡not¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡honor£»

nor¡¡exalt¡¡himself¡¡above¡¡the¡¡most¡¡incapable£»¡¡despised¡¡man¡¡on

earth£»¡¡but¡¡acknowledge¡¡himself¡¡a¡¡servant¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡Who¡¡has¡¡given

him¡¡the¡¡honor¡¡in¡¡order¡¡that¡¡with¡¡it¡¡he¡¡may¡¡serve¡¡God¡¡and¡¡his

neighbor£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡if¡¡He¡¡had¡¡commanded¡¡him¡¡to¡¡distribute¡¡some

gulden¡¡to¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡for¡¡His¡¡sake¡£¡¡So¡¡He¡¡says£»¡¡Matthew¡¡v£º¡¡¡¨Your

light¡¡shall¡¡shine¡¡before¡¡men£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡they¡¡may¡¡see¡¡your¡¡good

works¡¡and¡¡glorify¡¡your¡¡Father¡¡Who¡¡is¡¡in¡¡heaven¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡does¡¡not¡¡say£»

¡¨they¡¡shall¡¡praise¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡but¡¡¡¨your¡¡works¡¡shall¡¡only¡¡serve¡¡them

to¡¡edification£»¡¡that¡¡through¡¡them¡¡they¡¡may¡¡praise¡¡God¡¡in¡¡you¡¡and

in¡¡themselves¡£¡¨¡¡This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡correct¡¡use¡¡of¡¡God's¡¡Name¡¡and¡¡honor£»

when¡¡God¡¡is¡¡thereby¡¡praised¡¡through¡¡the¡¡edification¡¡of¡¡others¡£

And¡¡if¡¡men¡¡want¡¡to¡¡praise¡¡us¡¡and¡¡not¡¡God¡¡in¡¡us£»¡¡we¡¡are¡¡not¡¡to

endure¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡all¡¡our¡¡powers¡¡forbid¡¡it¡¡and¡¡flee¡¡from¡¡it¡¡as

from¡¡the¡¡most¡¡grievous¡¡sin¡¡and¡¡robbery¡¡of¡¡divine¡¡honor¡£¡¡



XXIV¡£¡¡Hence¡¡it¡¡comes¡¡that¡¡God¡¡frequently¡¡permits¡¡a¡¡man¡¡to¡¡fall

into¡¡or¡¡remain¡¡in¡¡grievous¡¡sin£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡that¡¡he¡¡may¡¡be¡¡put¡¡to

shame¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡all¡¡men£»¡¡who¡¡otherwise

could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡kept¡¡himself¡¡from¡¡this¡¡great¡¡vice¡¡of¡¡vain¡¡honor

and¡¡fame£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡remained¡¡constant¡¡in¡¡his¡¡great¡¡gifts¡¡and

virtues£»¡¡so¡¡God¡¡must¡¡ward¡¡off¡¡this¡¡sin¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡other¡¡grievous

sins£»¡¡that¡¡His¡¡Name¡¡alone¡¡may¡¡be¡¡honored£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡one¡¡sin

becomes¡¡the¡¡other's¡¡medicine£»¡¡because¡¡of¡¡our¡¡perverse¡¡wickedness£»

which¡¡not¡¡only¡¡does¡¡the¡¡evil£»¡¡but¡¡also¡¡misuses¡¡all¡¡that¡¡is¡¡good¡£¡¡



Now¡¡see¡¡how¡¡much¡¡a¡¡man¡¡has¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡would¡¡do¡¡good¡¡works£»

which¡¡always¡¡are¡¡at¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡great¡¡number£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡which¡¡he¡¡is

surrounded¡¡on¡¡all¡¡sides£»¡¡but£»¡¡alas£¡¡¡because¡¡of¡¡his¡¡blindness£»¡¡he

passes¡¡them¡¡by¡¡and¡¡seeks¡¡and¡¡runs¡¡after¡¡others¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own

devising¡¡and¡¡pleasure£»¡¡against¡¡which¡¡no¡¡man¡¡can¡¡sufficiently

speak¡¡and¡¡no¡¡man¡¡can¡¡sufficiently¡¡guard¡£¡¡With¡¡this¡¡all¡¡the

prophets¡¡had¡¡to¡¡contend£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡this¡¡reason¡¡they¡¡were¡¡all¡¡slain£»

only¡¡because¡¡they¡¡rejected¡¡such¡¡self¡­devised¡¡works¡¡and¡¡preached

only¡¡God's¡¡commandments£»¡¡as¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡says£»¡¡Jeremiah¡¡vii£º¡¡¡¨Thus

saith¡¡the¡¡God¡¡of¡¡Israel¡¡unto¡¡you£º¡¡Take¡¡your¡¡burnt¡¡offerings¡¡unto

all¡¡your¡¡sacrifices¡¡and¡¡eat¡¡your¡¡burnt¡­offerings¡¡and¡¡your¡¡flesh

yourselves£»¡¡for¡¡concerning¡¡these¡¡things¡¡I¡¡have¡¡commanded¡¡you

nothing£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡thing¡¡commanded¡¡I¡¡you£º¡¡Obey¡¡My¡¡voice¡¡£¨that¡¡is£»

not¡¡what¡¡seems¡¡right¡¡and¡¡good¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡but¡¡what¡¡I¡¡bid¡¡you£©£»¡¡and

walk¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡commanded¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡And¡¡Deuteronomy¡¡xii£º

¡¨Thou¡¡shalt¡¡not¡¡do¡¡whatsoever¡¡is¡¡right¡¡in¡¡thine¡¡own¡¡eyes

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ