XIV - What works are reputed good before God

WE confesse and acknowledge, Exod. 20.3, &c. Deut. 4.7, &c. That God hath given to man his holy Law, in which not onely are forbidden all such works as displease and offend his godly Majesty, but also are commanded all such as please him, and as he hath promised to reward. And these works be of two sorts; the one are done to the honour of God; the other to the profit of our neighbours: Luke 1.75. Mica 6.7. And both have the revealed Will of God for their assurance; To have one God, To worship and honour him, To call upon him in all our troubles, To reverence his holy Name, To hear his Word, To believe the same, To communicate his holy Sacraments, are the works of the first Table. Ephes 6.17. Ezech. 22.1, &c. 1 Cor 6.19, 20 1 The 4.4, 5, 6 Jer. 22.3 9 9, &c. To honour father and mother, Princes, Rulers, and superiour Powers, To love them, To support them, yea, To obey their Charges (not repugning to the Commandment of God) To save the life of Innocents, To represse tyranny, To defend the oppressed, To keep our bodies clean and holy, Esay 50.1, &c. 1 Thess. 4 6. Rom 13.2. Ezek. 22.13. 1 John 3 4. To live in sobriety and temperance, To deal justly with all men, both in word and deed; and finally, To represse the appetite of our neighbours hurt, are the good works of the second Table, which are most pleasing and acceptable unto God, as those works are commanded by himself. The contrary thereof is sin most odious, which always displeaseth him, and provoketh him to anger; as, Not to call upon him alone when we have need, Not to hear his Word with reverence, To contemne and despise it, To have or to worship Idols, To maintain and defend Idolatry, Lightly to esteem the reverent Name of God, To profane, abuse, or contemne the Sacraments of Christ Jesus, Rom. 14.23. To disobey or resist any that God hath placed in Authority (while they passe not over the bounds of their Office) To murther, or consent thereunto, Heb. 11.6. To bear hatred, or to suffer Innocent blood to be shed, 1 Sam. 15.22. if we may gainstand it; and finally, The transgressing of any other Commandment in the first or second Table, we confesse and affirm to be sin, 1 Cor. 10.31. by the which Gods hot displeasure is kindled against the proud and unthankfull world: 1 John 3.4. So that good works we affirme to be those onely that are done in Faith, and at Gods Commandment, who in his Law hath expressed what be the things that please him: Esay 29.19. And evill works we affirme, not onely those that are expresly done against Gods Commandment, Matth. 15.9. but those also that in matters of Religion, and worshipping of God, have no assurance, but the invention and opinion of man, Mar. 7.7. which God from the beginning hath ever rejected, as by the Prophet Isaiah, and by our Master Christ Jesus, we are taught in these words; In vaine do they worship me, teaching doctrines which are the Precepts of men.