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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A54656 The gain of Godliness being a consideration of I Tim. 4. 8. / by Charles Phelpes. Phelpes, Charles. 1682 (1682) Wing P1977; ESTC R131 86,937 202

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exercise themselves unto Godliness nor walk in the spirit and steps of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus And particularly they walk not in the steps of the Apostle Paul for none was more zealous then he in appearing for and Asserting the weighty matters of the Law of Faith in which the Kingdom consisteth Hence he saith concerning these things do I now perswade men or God or do I seek to please men for if I yet pleased men I should not be the servant of Christ Gal. 1. 6 10. With respect to these momentous things he would not give place by Subjection in the least no not for an hour that the Truth of the Gospel might continue with the believers Gal. 2. 4 5. But now as with respect unto indifferent matters none was more indifferent and flexible than he Hence he thus Expresseth himself Though I be free from all men yet have I made my self servant unto all that I might gain the more And unto the Jews I became as a Jew that I might gain the Jews To them that are under the Law as under the Law that I might gain them that are under the Law To them that are without Law as without Law being not without Law to God but under the Law to Christ that I might gain them that are without Law To the weak became I as weak that I might gain the weak I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some And this I do for the Gospel's sake c. 1 Cor. 9. 19 20 23. And it is observable that the Apostle did not Act Extraordinarily in his Indifferency about these indifferent and lighter matters but to set others even us all an example to follow him Hence when he again speaks of these Lower and Lawful things he saith Give none offence neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God even as I please all men in all things not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved And then Immediately he Subjoynes to the former words this Exhortation Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 10. 32 33. and chap. 11. 1. O Let us not then mistake this Bodily exercise for Godliness or think that True Piety consists in an observance of or Abstinence from these Light and Indifferent things for neither the one nor the other simply considered will avail us any thing though still it is good and well-pleasing to God to submit our selves to them that have the rule over us in Lawful things and to Follow Peace so far as is consistent with Holiness and Charity Heb. 13. 17. and Chap. 12. 14. Rom. 14. we may say of these Indifferent things as the Apostle doth of meats But meat Commendeth us not to God for neither if we eat are we the better neither if we eat not are we the worse But take we heed lest by any means this liberty of ours become a stumbling-block to them that are weak 1 Cor. 8. 8 9. Godliness is generally profitable but these Indifferencies simply considered profit little or nothing O then consider and receive that Counsel given to the believing Hebrews to wit be not carried about with divers and strange Doctrines for it is a good thing that the heart be established with Grace not with Meats which have not profited them that have been Occupied therein Heb. 13. 7 9. But no more to that particular 3. Nor is the Godliness here mentioned and Commended the worship of God onely in a strict and restrained sense or that Religious service which doth directly and immediately appertain unto the only living and true God only Indeed sometimes the word Godliness is to be taken in that narrow and limited sense when it is spoken of distinctly As when it is distinguished from Honesty as it is by the Apostle where he saith That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and Honesty 1 Tim. 2. 2. And else-where it is distinguished from other divine graces and vertues so this Apostle thus Exhorts Timothy follow after Righteousness Godliness Faith Love Patience Meekness 1 Tim. 6. II. And so he doth distinguish Godly from Righteously and Soberly Tit. 2. 11. 12. And to the same purpose the Apostle Peter mentions Godliness by way of distinction from other fruits of the spirit where he thus Exhorts the believers saying Adde to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness Charity 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7. As Godliness is not either or both of the forementioned particulars to wit secular advantage or bodily exercise at all so neither is it onely the Divine Worship of God which immediately and only relates unto him in a narrow and district sense and consideration 2. But Affirmatively we may say Godliness in this place being mentioned alone is to be taken in a very large and Extensive sense even as Faith which though sometimes it be distinguished from other fruits of the spirit and so is to be taken more narrowly 1 Cor. 13. 2 13. Gal. 5. 22 23. Yet else-where it is to be understood more Comprehensively Joh. 3. 15 16. And Chap. 6. 29. Act. 16. 31. And the same we might Apply to Holiness Righteousness Love Repentance c. So I say here we are to understand by Godliness the whole Duty of man toward God toward his neighbour and toward himself as Tit. 2. 11 12. Thus when the Psalmist saith know that the Lord hath set apart him that is Godly for himself Psal 4. 4. He means by the Godly man there not strictly such an one as worships the true God but the person that doth Universally and sincerely keep Gods Commandments And thus the Godly are opposed to the unrighteous by Saint Peter when the unrighteous mean such persons as sin not against God directly or only but against themselves also and their neighbours or brethren as is evidently signified in his words to wit The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptation and to reserve the unjust to the day of Judgment to be punished But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise government presumptuous are they self-willed they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities 2 Pet. 2. 8. 10. And thus also the whole Conversation that becometh the Gospel of Christ is called a living Godly in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3. 12. And that kindness which ought to be shewed to Relations or to Parents is called Godliness by Saint Paul where he saith Let them learn to shew Piety at home and to requite their Parents for that is good and acceptable before God 1 Tim. 5. 4. And kindness and Courtesy toward brethren is to this purpose exprest also by Saint John as it is read in our Translation where it is said whom if