destroy both open sins in others and secret sins in himself and he is most busie with that at home he will harbour no sin so neer the spirit of God Seventhly A godly man makes Conscience of time he accounts his time precious and therefore he takes much care how he spends it and by this indeed may every man be discerned in taking notice how men spend their times A godly man takes all opportunities to do his duty is carfull that he waste not that which was bought at so deer a rate he knows it cost the blood of Christ as 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. And also the blood of many a Saint hath been spent for it to gain this liberty and time we now enjoy and therefore the godly man will not squander it away he knows how to employ himself in it he is not like to those that say they know not how to pass away time and therefore use foolish gaming and carnal mirth no he is not to seek what to do in any spare time his heart is on God and his glory and therefore when time is to be had he studies how he may advance that glory Again he knows that Fellowship and Communion with God is sweet to him and therefore hath no time to spend wherein he desireth not this enjoyment Also he sees much of the minde of God in his Word and therefore all spare time that he can have he imploys himself to search it out He sees Communion with the Saints and Communion with the godly both pretious and profitable and therefore his heart is so after it that he cannot waste any of his precious time in carnal and fruitless Discourses his delight is to meditate in the precepts of God day and night as David saith in Psal 1. where thou hast this largely set forth there thou shalt finde what are the ways of the godly and also what kinde of men wicked men are which make no conscience of time how they spend it And here now let none deceive themselves and shift off this Mark as though it did not concern them for assure your selves t is a truth that godly men account time precious and make Conscience how they spend it Lord teach me to number my dayes saith David that I may spend my time in wisdom Again the godly man knows that time is uncertain and therefore whilst he hath it he will not be imployed about base and unfruitful Acts. And therefore now who ever thou art that hast not thus valued time look into that 1 Pet 1 2 3 4 5. Is it not a shame that a godly man should live in sin what shall he spend his time as doth the wicked Did Christ die on the Cross for a people to make them sons of God Heirs with himself and shall they live to the flesh and spend their time after that as 1 Pet. 4. Then I pray from what did Christ Redeem his Saints was it not from sin from dead works as 1 Pet. 1. 17 18. if not what meaneth that saying of the Apostle Paul in Eph. 4. 1 2 3 what meaneth that 1 Pet. 1. 14 15 also that in 1 Pet. 2. 9 10 11 12. Read lay these to heart for thou seest it is a truth that the Saints make conscience of their time A godly man sees that he was called to that end and therefore makes aright use of it I shall end this branch with the same Advice Caution that the Apostle used to the Hebrews in ch 3. 12 13 14. And I say take heed lest thou hast an evil heart in departing from the living God and from the ways of godliness to spend thy time in idleness and profaness lest thou finde thy heart besotted with the deceitfulness of sin and so instead of holding out and persevering in holiness thou art cut off and cast out as a dead branch and so witherest away even to destruction See what Christ saith Joh. 15. 6. Read and consider this Chapter Eightly Wouldst thou know a godly man thou shalt finde him out by his manner of performing holy duties thou mayst perceive his heart to be affected with what he doth If he prayes thou shalt see how his words savour of the Spirit of God in him so in his Discourse his experience of God flows from him And here thou mayst know him from one who enjoys not the Spirit of God easily thus though the godly mans abilites be small yet his duties are performed rightly the other out of fear of Judgement or out of formality or to appease Conscience keeps much ado as the Pharisees did of whom Christ speaks in Matth. 6. thinking to get something by it and so salve up their wounded Consciences who cry guilty But the godly man doth his duties out of a tender love and obedience to the object who hath so loved him and so maketh good that word of the Apostle John we love him because he first loved us so he doth them out of love and also out of Obedience to his Commands A godly man performs holy duties because God commands them and so maketh good that saying of Christ If ye love me keep my Commandments A godly man in his duties rests not on them but flies from them to Christ and accounts all that is done in the creatures strength but as dung and dross Again a godly man hath a low esteem of himself and he thinks he is in his best but an unprofitable servant He desireth not a high esteem in the sight of men This thou mayst see in a godly mans performances of duties Ninthly and Lastly Wouldst thou know a godly man then take that course to finde him as Christ speaks of in the 7 of Matthew ver 16. to 21. See what fruit he beareth a godly man bringeth forth good fruit and by that thou mayst know him He is as David saith Like a tree planted by the rivers side which bringeth forth his fruit in due season his leaf withereth not it is not so with the wicked see Psal 1. Here thou mayst know a godly man from frothy turbulent-spirited men the godly man bringeth forth fruit with patience Luke 8. 15. But the other three sorts there mentioned were carried away they could not have patience to wait so long on God something choaks their hearts therefore be not deceived as Paul saith neither mistake in this for if thou doest miscarry here all is lost Ephes 5. where from ver 1. to 26. the Apostle discourseth what godliness is and what kind of men godly men should be and also the ungodly what they are Read and Consider A godly man is a fruitful man and therefore be not deceived Let men go under what title or name soever they will pretend what they will t is to no end except they bring forth fruits they cannot be godly and therefore now we come to the last pinch give me leave to tell thee who ever thou art great or small rich or poor let thy
Eph. 4. 25. And grow up unto him who is thy head as in Eph. 4. 15. Thus much for the first Question The second thing is A holy Conversation what it is and the happiness that comes by it 1. What is a holy conversation A holy conversation is this When a man walks in the ways of God and godliness then he is said to have a holy Conversation as in 2 Pet. 3. 11. The Saints of God they are called to it as we see in 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. Our God is holy saith the Apostle and therefore ye ought to be so in all manner of Conversation that is as if he had said O ye Saints your God is a holy God and cannot endure sin especially in you therefore be ye holy that is be ye obedient unto your God do what he hath commanded you be ye godly call upon your Father walk in his ways let thy conversation be in heaven as the Apostle saith in Eph. 3. 20. A holy conversation is a heavenly conversation I shall not stand here any longer in regard I have laid down nine particulars whereby a godly man may be known I shall proceed to the benefits that come by a holy life and conversation you shall finde them to be many As 1. Thy Communion with God and the Lord Christ if thou live a holy life God will delight in thee to do thee good and will shew thee his salvation Psa 50. 23. and will have Communion with thee God is Light and therefore he will not have communion with darkness as Paul saith in 2 Cor. 6. 15 16 17 18. 2. The Saints will love and own thee if thou live a holy life then thou wilt have the benefit of their Communion otherwise if thou live ungodly they will not own thee Consider the benefit of this what it is to be owned among the Saints and servants of the Lord. 3. Thou will finde comfort in the course of thy life when the judgments of God fall on the wicked for disobeying his Commands and that they know not whether to flie from his hand and that the Lord say to such unprofitable servants get you from me into utter darkness for ever as in Matth. 25. 30. Of what benefit will this holy life be to thee that when thy Lord Christ cometh he shall finde thee doing his will as in Matth. 24. 46. 4. At the time of death thou wilt finde a benefit indeed when thou canst say as Christ said I have finished thy work which thou gavest me to do Joh. 17. 4. And I have glorified thee on earth What thinkest thou will it be of no value then that thou hast lived holy Thou mayest see of what worth the Apostle Paul makes it in 2 Tim. 4. 6 7 8. My departure is at hand but here is my comfort I have fought a good fight I have finished my course and kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness and for all them that love the appearing of Jesus Christ 5. And lastly After death thou shalt finde that God intends to judge the world by thy conversation in 1 Cor. 6 2 3. Nay even the Angels shall be Judged by it thou hadst need be holy indeed what a shame will it be to thee that thou hast lived fruitless and carnal when God shall open every mans book and shall judge the world and angels by thy life of what comfort will it be that thou haft been holy If it be so then let all that are Saints endeavor to outstrip one another in a holy life and conversation and that they all watch and have their Lamps ready with oyl to meet the Bridegroom Matth. 25. Read and consider this for the Lord Christ will come when we are not aware and as a thief in the night and as lightning that is soon come so will the Lord Christ Matth. 24. all the chapter Thirdly What it is to have a true fellowship with God Christ and the Saints and the blessedness and comfort it brings to those that have it First What this fellowship is with the Father and the Son as the Apostle John speaks of in his 1. Epist. ch 1. ver 2. 3. To have fellowship with God and Christ is a very high fellowship indeed Our fellowship is with the Father and the Son saith the Apostle that is God and Christ have given themselves with their treasures unto us and we are made partakers of the Divine nature of God and Christ dwels in the Saints as you may see 1 Joh. 4. 13. They dwell in them by the spirit and the Saints they dwell in God and Christ their very life is in God Here is a neer one-ness indeed this fellowship is worth much it is to live in the bosom of God it is to be very nearly acquainted with God God speaks by his Spirit to the Souls of his Saints I am your God and Father Come unto me in my Son and I will hear you The Saints they bring the Lord Christ with them and come into the presence of God and there they make their minds known unto him they lay their souls open before him and then the Lord drops in some refreshing and sends the soul away with sweet content And this is the fellowship the Saints have with God and Christ Before I go any further I shall speak a word or two by way of advice to the Saints and it is this Is it indeed such a neerness that you have with God and the Lord Christ Let this then advise you that you behave your selves with holy reverence Is the holy God so near you and the Lord Christ in you Dear friends how ought you to carry your selves then in the presence of your God and Lord God expects reverence from you as you see in Psal 89. 7. Look to your hearts that they wander not from God when you come into his presence and that you walk holily with your God where-ever you are Consider I say the great neerness that is between God and you and let the consideration of it drive away all carnal delights that thou mayest delight in thy God to have fellowship with him Secondly What is it to have fellowship with the Saints To have fellowship with them is to be partners in the same enjoyment I shall draw a comparison here of fellowship in outward things And although indeed spiritual things should be compared with spiritual things yet this will much open the word Fellowship and make it plain There are many things to be observed in fellowship amongst men that deal together as 1. They give in their names 2. They promise to hazard all alike 3. They bring in every man his share 4. They send all away to Sea 5. They patiently wait for a Return 6. When it returns they receive the profit For the first the Saints all give in their names to follow the Lord Christ and the wayes of God together 2. They promise to hazard all
unto all that hold out to the end 2 Tim. 4. 8. 6. We cannot end our discourse but that we must speak a word or two to those that are yet in a state of nature and endeavour to lay before them the bread of Life and offer to them that which is so lovely and precious and that thou mayest prize it and accept of it I shall tell thee 1. In what condition thou art 2. VVhat will help thee out of it 3. How happy thou wilt be if thou accept of it For the first Thy condition is sad and therefore hearken hither thou art without God in the world and so is every one that is in a state of nature You have it in Scripture at large we shall search it out Eph. 2. 12. Here thou art without Christ and without God thou art a stranger to the ways of God Consider what will become of thee Again you shall finde in 2 Cor. 13. 5. that you are Reprobates It may be you may think it strange But here you see t is true thou art but a Reprobate though thou art civilized and wouldst make shew of Religion yet it is most certain except Christ be in thee and therefore mark now some few things that I shall tell thee Every man and woman is by the fall of Adam under the wrath of God and so thou wast assoon as thou wast born liable to the curse Rom. 6. 23. and thou art polluted in sin Also by thy actual transgressions thou art cursed As thou art in thy self thou canst not keep the holy Law oâ— God and that also is a curse to thee Gal. 3. 10. Now take notice of thy self art thou yet in that state Art thou yet in thy sins canst thou tell of nothing dost thou look for any thing from the Law to do thee good hast thou not yet seen the worth of Christ then now hearken for thou art in a sad Condition all thy sins are lading thy poor soul down to hell and I tell thee except thou take this Advice in the following Remedy thou art undone for ever 2. Thou must take this Remedy come to the Lord Christ and get thy sins washed away in his blood that thou mayst become clean and white and that thou mayst have thy guilt done away in him He came from the bosom of God to the end that he might save sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Come unto him now that thou mayst be one of them And that thou mayst not be deceived here I will tell thee how thou must come to him and how thou must accept of him thou must forsake all thy sins and become a new man forsake all thy old lusts as the Apostle Paul saith in 2 Cor. 5. 17. Forsake all thy old Companions with whom thou hast formerly delighted to commit sin and thou must give up thy self to Christ and enquire what his will is and begin to do his will thou must now love Christ and let thy soul long for him take up his yoke and learn of him lay down all thy own righteousness at his feet and let him be thy righteousness make choice of the Saints to be thy Companions love them and be often with them Nothing but this will help thee therefore make no delay come to the Lord Christ he hath promised that those which come to him he will in no wise cast off Joh. 6. 37. Christ stands at the door and knocks wilt not thou open to him and let him in Rev. 3. 20. Entertain him whilst it is called to day lest thou die in thy sins Turn unto God that thou mayst receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified Act. 26. 18. That when the time of refreshing shall come and the Lord shall send Jesus Christ which now is offered to thee thou mayst have the witness of a good conscience washed in his blood and mayst with rejoycing be ready to meet the Lord and get in with him into the Marriage-Chamber as thou seest the Saints shall Matth. 25. 10. 3. If thou accept of this how happy art thou thou art happy indeed if thou hast Christ then thou art a Son of God Joh. 1. 12. Thou shalt be made like him 1 Joh. 3. 2. and thou art an heir of heaven Gal. 4. 7. and thou art a Member with the Saints of the body of Christ Eph. 5. 30. Consider this now and thou shalt finde more comfort then I can tell thee of In the eight place I shall only speak a word or two of the sad condition all they will be in that accept not of this offer of grace that will not hearken to the voice of Christ poor soul thou wilt be in a sad condition indeed for that Christ whom thou slightest will come in flaming fire to render vengeance on thee 2 Thes 1. 8. Then shalt thou cry to the Mountains to fall on thee to hide thee from the wrath of the Lamb then shalt thou hear that sad sentence go ye cursed into everlasting perdition Matth. 25. 41. Read this Chapter and see thy condition and flatter not thy self for this will assuredly fall on thee I shall leave thee with the saying of Christ Matth. 24. 35 36 37 38 39. FINIS
Gospel-Mysterie OR The great Vnion that is betwixt CHRIST and the SAINTS From Cant. 2. 16. WITH A true Way to discern a Godly man from a Carnal or Vngodly man AND The way how the Saints return after Back-sliding Also The Worth of a good Conscience By Robert Dornford Revel 3. 20. Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man will open I will come in and sup with him LONDON Printed by R. W. for Francis Tyton and are to be sold at the three Daggers in Fleet street neer the Inner-Temple-Gate 1652. Christian Reader I Have made bold to present thee with a few lines in which it is like thou mayest find much weakness I shall humbly intreat thee to bear with that and to lay aside all prejudice that may arise in thy heart and do desire thee to read it over on this consideration That God makes use of weak Instruments for many good ends And this I will assure thee that I do not tell thee of that which I partake not of but of that which I have both heard and learned seen and felt and do offer it to thee not as my own fancy but thou seest it no more then the Word of God witnesseth and therefore whether I please man or no it matters not much I know many Pretenders to be Saints yet deny the Power of Godliness The Lord turn all the hearts of his People away from them In a few words my desire is that thou and I may not have a name to live yet be dead that we may not own the titles of Saints and yet live as carnal as others which many do at this day But it is no more then we may expect in regard the Lord CHRIST and the Apostles have foretold of Wandring Stars and Clouds without water carried about with wind I tell thee whosoever thou art either Spiritual or Temporal here is something for thee to do And therefore weigh that which thou readest in the ballance of Truth and the Lord make both thee and me not only hearers of his will but doers also Which is the earnest desire of Thy Christian Friend R. D. A great Neerness Betwixt CHRIST and the SAINTS THe words of Scripture on which I shall discourse is in the 2. Chap. of Canticles My Beloved is mine and I am his In this and also in the whole Treatise we have the Expostulations of Love betwixt Christ and the Saints I shall not stand upon the variety of it but shall keep to the words in which we have chiefly these four parts 1. We have the Spouses assurance of Christ My Beloved is mine 2. We have her great esteem of Christ He is her Beloved or He is greatly beloved of her 3. We have her assent to Christ I am his 4. We have the Union betwixt them I shall endeavour to open these Heads in order according as they lie And from the first thing I take notice of the Observation will be this That every Saint of God hath a full assurance of the love of Christ My Beloved is mine There is no being a Saint untill thou canst say Christ is my Christ untill Christ be thine and in thee thou art but a Reprobate 2 Cor. 13. 5. But the Spouse here hath a full assurance that Christ her beloved is hers the Spirit of God doth witness this unto her as it appears by that Scripture in Rom. 8. 15 16 17. where the Apostle saith that the Spirit of God doth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God This in it self were enough to prove the truth of what hath been said but take a place or two more for confirmation 1 Joh. 3. 1 2. The Saints they have a full assurance that they are the sons of God saith John And if thou art a son of God then thou canst not fail of the love of Christ See Rom. 8. 9. If any man hath the Spirit of God then Christ is his if he hath not Christ is none of his It is this assurance of the love of Christ that makes the Saints so confident it was that which made them lay down all lives and all for him I know that my Redeemer liveth saith Job c 19. v. 25 26. From the second thing I take notice of the Observation will be this Obs 2. That Christ is deerly beloved and highly prized by every believing Soul I am now upon the cleerest truth and the easiest proved that is and therefore shall not stand long on it Only by the way take notice That it is one thing to love Christ after this manner and another thing to tell of loving him Many speak high words and fine smooth speeches but they love not Christ so as to part with all for him But Christ is so deerly beloved to the Saints that are Saints indeed that all things are as nothing when it comes to competition with Christ To you that believe saith the Apostle Peter Christ is precious 1 Pet. 2. 7. There is nothing so dear to a poor Saint as his dear Christ who shed his blood for him The Apostle Paul how doth he declare his dear affection to Christ Phil 3. 7 8 9. I saith he account all lost for Christ nay more then lost I account all dung that I may win Christ and be found in him You may take notice a little how the Spouse by which is meant the Saints doth express her love to Christ Cant. 1. 7. O thou whom my soul loveth and so almost all the Canticles is filled with the like expressions by which you may easily see that it is a dear love the Saints have to Christ Christ is so highly prized you see by Paul that all things are by him accounted dung nothing is so lovely in all the world as the Lord Christ Thirdly from the Spouses assent to Christ we may draw this Observation Obs 3. That all the Saints do give themselves freely to Jesus Christ Or That all the Saints are given to Christ Thev are given to him by a twofold gift First God gives them to him Joh. 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me saith Christ shall come to me and Joh 10. 29. My Father which gave them me is greater then all and therefore no man is able to pluck them out of my hands Secondly the Saints give up themselves to Christ I am his saith the Spouse to do what please him with me and now I am to follow him whithersoever he goeth as it is in Mat. 16. 24. He that hath given himself to Christ as the Spouse as all the Saints do he is to bear his Crosse although in a field of blood The Saints they give themselves to Christ to be at his dispose to obey what he commands as appears plainly in Joh 10 27. My sheep hear my voice saith Christ I know them and they follow me But I shall not stand here in regard I know that all that are Gods must witness to this That the Saints do give
themselves to Christ and follow him in that way he commands I shall draw one Observation more which lieth in the way that is Obs 4. That there is an unseparable mutual union betwixt Christ and every Saint From these words My Beloved is mine and I am his there is the union as if the Spouse had said I am united to Christ and he to me as the Vine is to the branches Joh 15. 5. so is Christ to me and I to him and as the head is to the members so is Christ to the Saints and the Saints to Christ and as the head is governour of the body so is Christ over the Saints and the Saints act by his light and motion This union is mutual as it is with the consent of will and truth of love so it is unseparable the love of Christ never changes it holds out for ever As the Prophet Jeremy c. 31 3. I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore in loving kindness have I drawn thee Christ will never depart from his Saints he will never leave them untill he hath saved them to the utmost point of salvation Heb. 7. 25. There is no peace no quiet neither in Christ nor in the souls of the Saints longer then they enjoy each other And that made the Apostle Paul say Our life is hid with Christ in God Our life is in Christ there is no life for a Saint out of Christ Again God hath given all the Saints to Christ All that the Father giveth me saith Christ shall come to me and all those that come to Christ shall never be plucked out of his hands Joh. 10. 28. So likewise in Hos 2. 19. I will betroth thee unto me for ever The Spouse of Christ is joyned to him for ever there is no separation See one Scripture more 1 Thess 4. 17. At the time of death when all ungodly men shall for ever be separated from Christ then is the time for the Saints to enjoy their Beloved fully and for ever You see now that this is a truth that there is both a mutual union and unseparable between Christ and the Spouse which is his Church or the Saints Well now from these Heads or Observations there will proceed Uses The first will be a use of Examination to all in general whether we have this assurance of Christ yea or no. The second will be a use of Exhortation to all the Saints that they love and prize Christ dearly as it is their duty The third to all that as yet are without Christ that they be perswaded to give up themselves to him The fourth is a use of Comfort to the Saints in general The first Use is of Examination to search our hearts and souls thorowly whether we have Christ or no And in the doing of this beware that you do not look on those Evangelical Marks and Signes in the Word of God as notions but bring thy heart to the Word and see what thy Portion is there and what thy fruits appear to be and what Condition soever thou finde thy self in deal plainly with thy self if thou finde thy self yet in a state of Nature then think it thy duty to confess it and do not deny it because it is a sad Condition but own it and take those courses to come out of it that thou findest hereafter mentioned 2. Consider the equity of this Duty and the great need all men and women have to be sure of Christ You must have Christ or else you are but Reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5. Again God chooseth and setteth apart the Godly for himself as you have it in Psal 4 3. and therefore I tell thee of nothing but what thou standest in great need of and which thou art required to do if thou intendest to be a sharer in the Lord Christ Therefore now let us put the Work upon examination and search after our assurance and if we are willing to see our selves in our own condition then take notice of these marks which follow First Take notice what men and women are by Nature 2. Consider what the work of Conversion is and what blessed effects there is that followeth this work First Consider what estate all are in by nature All by nature are the children of wrath Ephes 2. 3. In this estate thou art in darkness and hadst nothing to do with Christ thou hadst no fellowship with him neither wast thou any way taken with the Commands of God as to see any loveliness in them every soul in the world in this estate is alienated from God and as Adam hid himself from God for fear of his sin so do all poor creatures run from God for fear of punishment and as they are by nature they never desire to have to do with God the guilt of sin lies hard on every unregenerate soul and that makes him a stranger both to God and his wayes and therefore now let us search into our souls and try if our condition be not such a one as this is 2. Let us consider what the work of Conversion is and we shall finde it to be A changing of this nature and a quickening of the soul as you may see in Eph 2. 5. It is a working over of the soul into obedience to the Commands of God And usually the great God is pleased to do it by these six particular degrees which follow First By Illumination 2. By Inspiration stirring up the soul to do the will of God 3. By Operation working up the soul to the love of Christ 4. By Direction teaching us to do the will of the Lord. 5. By assisting us to do that which is directed to us 6. By a full evidence of his Spirit that we are the Sons of God First The Lord illuminates the soul the poor soul being in darkness and knowing no way to come out the Lord enlightens him and brings him to see his miserable estate John 1. 5. the Lord shews the soul the filthiness of sin and his lost and undone condition that he is in by nature and his great need of Christ makes him to long for his Assurance of the love of Christ more then ever he did for any thing in the world and now being enlightened all things to him are as bad as may be sin is exceeding sinfull to him and he sees himself loaden with it and therefore he is like those in the Acts who were so enlightened Men and brethren what shall we do to be saved Acts 2. 37. 2. The Lord works by Inspiration carrying on the soul to Actions of life making him fit for such service as is now to be done makes him still in motion and ready not only to see but obey As Paul saith in Rom. 6. 17. Ye obeyed from the heart the doctrine delivered This is worth something to have the heart lifted up to God in Obedience and to have the soul at an utter enmity with sin striving against it in a continual motion never
cannot be denied The first Question is Who is the Godly man and how shall we know him Ans Thou shalt know a godly man assuredly by these nine particulars both that he is a godly man and wherein his godliness consists and he may know himself also by these marks First a Godly man is a Converted man he is new-born his Nature is changed Every man must be a new Creature before he can be godly and this Christ tells us in Joh. 3. 3. Thou canst not see the Kingdom of God nor any thing that pertaineth to godliness except thou art New-born that is except God come in by his power and give thee the sight of all thy sins and as it were break thy heart at the sight of them and give thee true and unfeigned Repentance and that he shew thee thy lost and undone condition as thou art in thy self for ever and that he hath caused thee to lay hold on the Lord Jesus Christ for life and to give up thy self to be governed and guided by him I say except thou hast felt this work upon thy soul thou art not a godly man and thou seest it is truth Christ himself said so to Nicodemus and if thou wilt believe what he saith let this be granted And yet further the Apostle Paul tells us that if any man think or say that he is a godly man or in Christ and be not a new Creature he is a lyar And this you may see by comparing 2 Cor. 15. 17. with 1 Joh. 1. 6. If you say you have fellowship with God or that you are godly and are not new Creatures but walk in your old darkness then you see the word saith you are lyars And although this be indeed the work of God alone and that it be only between God and the soul yet this is for ever a true Note that thou canst not be a converted man but it must appear in thee it did so in the godly men of Old when Saul was converted in the 9. of the Acts you may see how it did appear to the world that God had called him and now he was not ashamed to profess that which he had so much despised Now Paul began to learn how to live godly in Jesus Christ And because this first mark is the wheel as it were which turns the whole work give me leave to come as neer thee as possibly and ask thee this Question art thou a changed man hast thou a new nature is thy heart possessed with godliness art thou indeed a godly man Then tell me how camest thou to be so Did not God work thee over by shewing thee the ugliness of sin canst thou not remember the time when to be assured of the love of God in Christ was worth ten thousand worlds and was it not the love of Christ that hath constrained thee to follow God If this be truly to be found in thee I do assure thee that thou art a son or daughter of God But if thou hast received that which thou enjoyest either by tradition or education or else by some flashes of comfort upon any other ground whatsoever I tell thee thou art but an hypocrite thou art not a godly man You shall see an example of this in Acts 16. 29 30. When the power of God comes then the poor sinner trembleth and O then what shall I do to be saved It is the work of God to shew the sight of sin in its colour that drives him to see the want of a Saviour then Christ is desirable and not before not untill God begin to work on him and therefore whosoever thou art that thinkest thou art a godly man and hast not been thus changed thou deceivest thy soul There are many nay most of the people in this land that are even utterly lost here for alas they think that they are godly because of some moral excellencies that are in them and so even from the Priest unto the people many are deluded To all such persons I shall present that Lesson of Christ John 3. ver 3. to 8. And as Christ said to him so say I to you Marvail not at this for it is a truth of God and if ever thou see the Kingdom of God thou must be acquainted with it therefore stifle not thy conscience which tells thee thou art not yet such a one as hath been thus changed and therefore now mark the godly man and thou shalt finde him to be such a one as I tell thee of But when God is working on his Saints you look on it as a poor contemptible thing and many of you have mocked as you did at those poor Saints of God whom the Devil and wicked men together called by a nick-name of Puritans you would not be such for a world such poor despised creatures as they were Well you must know that of such is the Kingdom of God they were godly men And so now at this day they that are begotten again by the Spirit and power of God they are the godly men indeed A godly man is a new man and you shall see it in his life I warrant you he hath given sin farewell It may be he was a Drunkard a Swearer and what not But now what is he Canst thou discern no change Is it not apparent that he hath put off the old man as Paul saith Eph. 4. 22 23 24. This old man must be put off and the new man put on assure thy self whosoever thou art that thou art not a godly man until it be done in thee A godly man is a cleansed a washed man Tit. 3. 5. his filth is done away in the blood of Christ Rev. 1. 5. A godly man his scarlet sins are made white in the blood of Christ Rev. 7. 14. A godly man is a new man his affections are new he hath a new mind he is renewed by the Spirit of God yea in some measure he is sanctified 1 Cor. 6. 11. The Spirit of God now dwels in him and acts him in spiritual acts Oh how his mind is now taken up about that infinite love of God in sending the Lord Christ to die for him and how is his desire now after Christ Give me Christ saith he whatever I want all is dung to him as Paul saith in comparison of Christ now he can see the nothingness of all things below the enjoyment of God in the Lord Jesus A godly man his heart is much taken with the righteous commands of God there is nothing grievous to him as Iohn saith 1 Joh. 5. 3. Wouldst thou know a godly man then take notice wherein he is imployed thou shalt find him imployed for his God in acts of holines thou shalt find him much in holy duties thou shalt find him fitting himself for the Bridegroom that he may go in with him into the marriage-chamber and whilst thou seest rugged and hot-spirited men gnashing at one another about carnal priviledges and empty shels thou shalt
find a godly man endevouring to search out the great mysterie of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and therein lifting up the praise of God and trying his heart by the Word of truth keeping a Diurnal of his daily practise and so can say as Hezekiah Remember O Lord how I walked before thee I see 2 King 20. This work is fit for a godly man and by this thou mayest know him So much of the first mark He is a new man 2. A godly man wouldst thou know him thou shalt know him in the second place by his Will his will is now subject to the will of God See an example of this in Saul Act. 9. Although he was going with a full consent to persecute the Saints of God and that with zeal yet so soon as God doth but speak to him see the change in him Lord what wilt thou have me to do And let the will of God be what it will he will be willing to submit to it and therefore it is that the godly man sets such a high esteem upon the Word of God in the Scriptures because the revealed will of his God is discovered there there he finds it the will of his God that he should hear the voice of his Son This is my dear Son saith God hear him To which the godly man answers Must I hear the voice of Christ nothing in the world is more sweet to me He looks not on it as a burden but as a high priviledge and would be content to enjoy it continually Further the godly man eyes the will of God in all things and endeavours to bring his will under it As to instance in some things first in that which Paul saith 1 Thess 4. 3. The will of God is our Sanctification the godly man sees it to be the will of God and therefore he endeavours according to his strength to possess his vessel in honour and sanctification I mean acts of godlines by humbleness patience prayer thanksgiving c. By which thou mayest see clearly that he is such a one as I have told thee of And so likewise in all things in every dispensation of God the godly man is willing to yield to God either to take up or to cast down in all things he is content as Paul saith of himself content in every condition And yet further he is very inquisitive after the knowledge of Gods will a gratious heart is not content to follow God in some things and neglect others no he is inquiring still further and strives to go on to higher attainments he presseth forward as the Apostle Paul saith to the mark And here thou mayest discern him also from the formal man who keeps much ado about his knowledge as if he knew all things and would force all to live as he and that none should step beyond him but a godly man in the state of grace he is so far from this kinde of temper that he sees nothing in himself and as Paul saith 1 Cor. 8. 2. neither knows as he ought to know Therefore his desire is that all men who are godly should press forward he knows there are yet higher attainments to be enjoyed and therefore is industrious to finde out truth and when he hath found it out he confers not with flesh and blood but goeth on to do as he is commanded 3. Wouldst thou know a man in the state of grace a godly man thou shalt know him by his love to God and his wayes such a soul loveth the Lord Christ dearly O how delightful are all these to him he cries out as the Spouse the Saints of Christ Cant. 1. 2. and 7. O thou whom my soul loveth the heart and soul of a godly man is engaged to love God and Christ and the wayes of God that he thinks he never loves them enough and cries out as David Psal 31. 23. O love the Lord ye his Saints and then for his love to Christ he is sick of it longs to be with Christ Cant. 25. Tell such a soul of what thou canst t is in vain his love cannot be drawn from his God and dear Redeemer and therefore that is the reason why a godly man holds on in his love to God and his wayes because it is fixed firmly and on good and sure grounds and here now thou mayest discover why those that have made fair shews in Religion have fallen away because they had not this love firmly fixed they reserved to themselves other lovers which at last stole away the heart after them And again the hearts of such were never new modell'd they never saw as yet what it was truly to enjoy the love of God and therefore how should such love him so as to hold out all weathers God will by one way or other discover all such Wandring-stars but chiefly his way is to do it by themselves he gives them up to that lust which they were most in love with so that all the world may see that they never loved God nor his ways in truth We see many in these dayes so laid open and made manifest I hope it will not be long that such rotten-hearted men shall have any shelter under the profession of godliness God hath begun to lay them open some of every form Some in turning with the sow and dog to build that which they cryed so often to destroy and to accomplish their ends joyn themselves with that Crew which God hath as appears designed to ruine and this they do as 't is pretended out of zeal But wilt thou know what the practise of a godly man is then see Gal. 5. 22 c. to the end of the Chap. thou shalt in spight of thy teeth by this word be condemned for in no part is this to be found in thee in stead of these thou art no better then a rigid Railer who art not content with Gods will but wouldst have thine own accomplished as appears by thy late actings which 't is a shame to name And instead of admiring at the goodness of God in delivering his people from that trouble which they were in before these wars and in bringing down the proud looks of the greatest Enemies they had even Mighty and Noble ones are fallen and that he hath raised a poor despised small Number and given them the Rule of this Commonwealth and hath by them in some measure sorely wounded the hairy scalp of the wicked I say in stead of thy admiring and blessing God for this thou art discontent and hast not a heart for but against this great work I tell thee and thou shalt find it true that if thou return not from this thou wilt even perish with the enemies of God and his people I can only lay it before thee Be not wise in thine own conceit To be short Thou seest many others discovered Some for defrauding the State and such like have been Cashieâ—'d with their sin on their head Others more wicked for denying