hast been honourable The godly are a Crown of glory in the hand of God Isa. 62. 3. They are plants of Renown Ezek. 16. 14. They are not only Vessels of Mercy but Vessels of Honour 2 Tim. 2. 21. Aristotle calls Honor the chief good thing The godly are neer a Kin to the blessed Trinity they have the Tutelage and Guardianship of Angels they have Gods Name written upon them Revel 3. 12. and the Holy Ghost dwelling in them 2 Tim. 1. 14. The godly are a sacred Priesthood the Priesthood under the Law was honourable the Kings Daughter was wife to Iehoiada the Priest 2 Chron. 22. 11. It was a custome among the Egyptians to have their Kings chosen out of their Priests The Saints are a Divine Priesthood to offer up spritiual sacrifices 1 Pet. 2. 9. They are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coheirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. They are Kings Rev. 1. 6. Novarinus relates of an antient King who invited a Company of poor Christians and made them a great Feast and being asked why he showed so much respect to persons of such mean birth and Extract he told them these I must honour as the Children of the most high God they will be Kings and Princes with me in another world The godly are in some sense higher than the Angels the Angels are Christs friends these are his spouse the Angels are called morning-stars Iob 38. 7. but the Saints are clothed with the Sun of righteousness Rev. 12. 1. all men saith Chrysostome are ambitious of honour behold then the honour of the godly Prov. 7. 8. Wisdome is the principal thing therefore get wisdome exalt her and she shall promote thee she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her The Trophies of the Saints renown will be erected in another world Famaque post cineres major 3 The godly are beloved of God Psal. 47. 4. The excellency of Iacob whom he loved An holy heart is the garden where God plants the flower of his love Gods love to his people is an antient love it bears date from eternity Ephe. 1. 4. he loves them with a choice distinguishing love they are the dearly beloved of his soul Ier. 12. 7. The men of the world have bounty dropping from Gods fingers but the godly have love dropping from Gods heart he gives the one a golden cup the other a golden kiss he loves the godly as he loves Christ Iohn 17. 26. it is the same love for kinde though not for degree here the Saints do but pitissare sip of Gods love in heaven they shall drink of Rivers of pleasure Psa. 36. 8. And this love of God is permanent death may take away their life from them but not Gods love from them Ier. 31. 4. I have loved thee with a love of perpetuity 4 The godly are prudent persons they have good Insight and Foresight 1 They have good insight 1 Cor. 2. 10. He that is spiritual judgeth all things the godly have insight into Persons and Things 1 They have insight into persons they have the anointing of God and by a spirit of discerning they can see some difference between the precious and the vile Ier. 15. 19. Gods people are not censorious but they are juditious they can see a wanton heart through a naked breast and a spotted face they can see a revengeful spirit through a bitter tongue they can guess at the Tree by the fruit Mat. 12. 33. They can see the Plague-tokens of sin appear in the wicked which makes them remove from the tents of those sinners Num. 16. 26. 2 The godly have insight into Things Mysterious 1 They can see much of the mystery of their own hearts Take the greatest Politician who understands the mysteries of state yet he doth not understand the mystery of his own heart you shall sometimes hear him swear his heart is good but a Childe of God sees much heart-corruption 1 King 8. 38. though some flowers of grace grow there yet he sees how fast the weeds of sin grow therefore is continually weeding his heart by repentance and mortification 2 The godly can discern the mystery of the times 1 Chron. 12. 32. The children of Issachar were men that had understanding of the times The godly can see when an age runs dregs when Gods name is dishonoured his messengers despised his Gospel ecclipsed the people of God labour to keep their garments pure Rev. 16. 15. their care is that the times may not be the worse for them nor they the worse for the times 3 The godly understand the mystery of living by faith Heb. 10. 38. The just shall live by faith they can trust God where they cannot trace him they can fetch comfort out of a promise as Moses did water out of the rock Hab. 3. 17. Though the Fig-tree doth not blossome yet I will rejoyce in the Lord. 2 The godly have good foresight 1 They foresee the evil of a Temptation 2 Cor. 2. 11. We are not ignorant of his devices The wicked swallow temptations like Pills and when it is too late feel these Pills gripe their Conscience but the godly fore-see a Temptation and will not come near they see a snake under the green grass they know Satans kindness is craftiness hee doth as Iâ—phtha's daughter he brings forth the Timbrel and danceth before men with a temptation and then brings them very low Iudg. 11. 35. 2. The godly fore-see temporal dangers Pro. 22. 3. A prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself The people of God see when the Cloud of wrath is ready to drop upon a Nation and they get into their Chambers Isa. 26. 20. The Attributes and Promises of God and into the clifts of the Rock the bleeding wounds of Christ and hide themselves well therefore may they be baptized with the name of Wise Virgins 5. The godly are the bull-wark of a Nation 2 Kin. 2. 12. O my Father the Chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof The godly are the Pillers to keep a City and Nation from falling they stave off Judgement from a Land It was said of old so long as Hector lived Troy could not be demolished God could do nothing to Sodom till Lot was gone out of it Genesis 19. 22. Golden Christians are Brazen Walls The Lord would soon break up house in the world were it not for the sakes of a few Religious ones Would God think we preserve the world only for Drunkards and Swearers He would soon sink the Ship of Church and State but that some of his Elect are in it Yet such is the indiscretion of men as to injure the Saints and to count them burdens which are the chief blessings 6. The godly are of a brave Heroick spirit Numb 14. 24. My servant Caleb because he had another spirit An excellent spirit was found in Daniel Cap. 5. 12. The godly hate that which is base and sordid they will not inrich their purses by inslaving
THE Godly Mans Picture Drawn with a Scripture-Pensil OR Some Characteristical Notes of a Man that shall go to Heaven By THOMAS WATSON Minister of the GOSPEL But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is Godly for himself Psalm 4. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clâ—m Alex. LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the three Crowns over against the great Conduâ—t at the lower end of Cheap-side 1666. To the Reader Christian Reader THe Soul being so precious and Salvation so glorious it is the highest point of Prudence to make preparations for another world That there is an Inheritance in Light 〈◊〉 beyond all dispute and that there must be an Idoneity and meetness for it 〈◊〉 in Sacred Writ most strenuously asâ—â—rted If any shall ask who shall â—scend into the hill of the Lord The â—nswer is He that hath clean hands 〈◊〉 a pure heart To describe such 〈◊〉 person is the work of this ensuing â—â—reatise Here you have the godly â—ans Effigies and see him pourtrayed 〈◊〉 his full Lineaments What a rare â—â—ing is godliness 't is not airy and flatulent but solid and such as will take up the heart and spirits Godliness consists in an exact harmony between holy Principles and Practises 〈◊〉 that all into whose hands this Book shall providentially come may be 〈◊〉 enamoured with Piety as to fall 〈◊〉 the hearty imbracing of it So sublimâ— is Godliness that it cannot be delâ—â—neated in its perfect radiancy and lustre though an Angel should take 〈◊〉 Pensil Godliness is our wisdomâ— Job 28. 28. The fear of the Lord thâ—â— is wisdome Policy without Piety profound madness Godliness is a Spâ—ritual Queen which whosoever Maâ—ries is sure of a large Dowry with 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godliness hath the prâ—mise of the life that now is and that which is to come Godliness givâ— assurance yea holy triumph in Goâ— and how sweet is that It was 〈◊〉 Latimers Speech when sometimes I sit alone and have a setled assurance of the state of my Soul and know that God is my God I can laugh at all troubles and nothing can daunt me Godliness puts a man in heaven before his time Christian aspire after Piety it is a lawful Ambition Look upon the Saints Characters here and never leave till thou hast gotten them instamped upon thy own Soul This is the grand business that should swallow up your time and thoughts Other Speculations and Quaint Notions are nothing to the Soul They are like Wafers which have fine works printed upon them and are curiously damasked to the eye but are thin and yield little nourishment But I will not stay you longer in the Porch should I have inlarged upon any one Character of the Godly Man it would have required a Volume but designing to go over many I have contracted my Sails and given you only a brief Summary of things If this Piece how indigested soever may conduce to the good of Souls I have my Option which that the God of Grace will effectually accomplish shall be the Prayer of him who is Thine in all Christian affection Thomas Watson Feb. 26. 1666. THE Character of a Godly Man drawn with a SCRIPTURE-PENSIL PSAL. 32. 6. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee CHAP. I. Containing the Preface or Introduction HOly David in the front of this Psalm shews us wherein true happiness consists not in beauty honour riches the Worlds Trinity but in the forgiveness of sin Vers. 1. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven The Hebrew word to forgive signifies to carry out of sight which well agrees with that Ierem. 50. 20. In those dayes saith the Lord the sins of Judah shall be sought for and they shall not be found This is an incomprehensible blessing and such as layes a foundation for all other mercies I shall but glance at it and lay down these five Assertions about it 1. Forgiveness of sin is an act of Gods Free Grace The Greek word to forgive deciphers the Original of pardon it ariseth not from any thing inherent in us but is the pure result of Free Grace Isa. 43. 25. I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake When a Creditor forgives a Debtor he doth it freely Pardon of sin is a fine thread spun out of the bowels of Free Grace Paul cries out I obtained mercy 1 Tim. 1. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I was be-mercied he who is pardoned is all bestrewed with mercy When the Lord pardons a sinner he doth not pay a Debt but give a Legacy 2. God in forgiving sin remits the guilt and penalty Guilt cries for justice no sooner had Adam eaten the Apple but he saw the flaming sword and heard the Curse but in remission God doth indulge the sinner he seems to say thus to him Though thou art fallen into the hands of my Justice and deservest to die yet I will absolve thee and whatever is charged upon thee shall be discharged 3. Forgiveness of sin is through the blood of Christ. Free grace is the impulsive cause Christs blood is the meritorious Heb. 9. 22 Without shedding of blood is no remission Justice would be revenged either on the sinner or the surety Every pardon is the price of blood 4. Before sin is forgiven it must be repented of Therefore repentance and remission are linked together Luk. 24. 47. That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name Not that repentance doth in a Popish sense merit forgiveness Christs blood must wash our Tears but repentance is a qualification though not a cause He who is humbled for sin will the more value pardoning mercy When there is nothing in the soul but clouds of sorrow and now God brings a pardon which is a setting up a Rainbow in the Cloud to tell the sinner that the flood of wrath shall not overflow him O what joy is there at the sight of this Rainbow The soul that before was steeped in tears now melts in love to God Luk. 7. 38. 47. 5. God having forgiven sin he will call it no more into remembrance Ier. 31. 34. the Lord will make an act of Indempnity he will not upbraid us with former unkindnesses or sue us with a cancelled Bond. Micah 7. 19. he will cast our sins into the depth of the sea Sin shall not be cast in as Cork which riseth up again but as Lead which sinks to the bottom How should we all labour for this Covenant-blessing 1. How sad is it to want it It must needs be ill with the Malefactor who wants his pardon all the Curses of God stand in full force against the unpardoned sinner his very blessings are cursed Mal. 2. 2. Caesar wondred at one of his Souldiers that was so merry when he was in debt Can the sinner be merry who is heir to all Gods Curses and knows not how soon he may take up his Lodgings
himself By virtue of this Sacrifice the soul may go to God with boldness Lord give me heaven Christ hath purchased it for me he hung upon the Cross that I might sit upon the Throne Christs Bloud and Incense are the two hinges on which our Salvation turns 3. Christs Regal Office is precious Rev. 19. 16. He hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Christ hath a preheminence above all other Kings for Majesty he hath the highest Throne the richest Crown the largest Dominions and the longest possession Heb. 1. 8. Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever Though Christ hath many Assessors Ephes. 2. 6. yet no Successors Christ sets up his Scepter where no other King doth he rules the will and affections his power binds the Conscience The Angels take the oath of Allegiance to him Heb. 1. 6. Christs Kingship is seen in two Royal Acts. 1. In ruling his people 2. In over-ruling his Enemies 1. In ruling his people He rules with Clemency his Regal Rod hath honey at the end of it Christ displays the Ensign of Mercy which makes so many Volunteers run to his Standard Psal. 110. 3. Holiness without Mercy and Justice without Mercy were dreadful but Mercy encourageth poor sinners to trust in him 2. In over-ruling his Enemies He pulls down their pride befools their policy restrains their malice Psalm 76. 10. The remainder of wrath thou shalt restrain Or as it is in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou shalt girdle up That stone cut out of the Moutains without hands which smote the Image Dan. 2. 34. was an Embleme saith Austin of Christs Monarchical power conquering and triumphing over his Enemies 3. Christ is precious in his benefits by Christ all dangers are removed through Christ all mercies are conveyed in his bloud flows Justification Act. 3. 9. Purgation Heb. 9. 14. Fructification Ioh. 1. 16. Pacification Rom. 5. 1. Adoption Gal. 4. 5. Perseverance Heb. 12. 2. Glorification Heb. 9. 12. This will be matter of sublimest joy to Eternity We read that those who had passed over the Sea of Glass stood with their Harps and did sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb Revel 15. 2. So when the Saints of God have passed over the glassie Sea of this world they shall sing Hallelujahs to the Lamb who hath redeemed them from sin and hell and hath translated them into that glorious Paradise where they shall see God for ever and ever 2. The second thing to be illustrated is that every godly man doth set an high value and estimate upon Christ 1 Pet. 2. 7. Unto you therefore who believe he is precious In the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an honour Believers have an honourable esteem of Christ the Psalmist speaks like one captivated with Christs amazing beauty Psalm 73. 25. There is none upon earth that I desire besides thee He did not say he had nothing he had many comforts on earth but he desired none but God as if a wife should say there 's no ones company she prizeth like her husbands How did David prize Christ Psa. 45. 2. Thou art fairer than the children of men The Spouse in the Canticles looked upon Christ as the Coriphoeus the most incomparable one Cant. 5. 10. The chief among ten thousand Christ out-vies all others Cant. 2. 3. As the appletree among the trees of the wood so is my beloved among the sons Christ doth infinitely more excel all the beauties and glories of this visible world than the appletree doth surpass the trees of the wild Forrest So did Paul prize Christ that he made him his chief study 1 Cor. 2. 2. I determined to know nothing among you save Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I judged not any thing else of worth St. Paul did best know Christ 1 Cor. 9. 1. Have I not seen Iesus our Lord He saw him with his bodily eyes in a Vision when he was wrap'd up into the third heaven 2 Cor. 12. 2. and he saw him with the eye of his faith in the blessed Supper therefore he did best know him and behold how he did slight and vili-prize other things in comparison of Christ Phil. 3. 8. I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord. Gain he esteemed loss and gold dung for Christ. Indeed a godly person cannot chuse but set an high valuation upon Christ he sees a fulness of worth in him 1. A fulness in regard of variety Col. 2. 3. In whom are hid all treasures No Country hath all commodities of its own growth but Christ hath all kind of fulness fulness of Merit of Spirit of Love he hath a treasure adequate to all our wants 2. A fulness in regard of degree Christ hath not only a few drops or rays but is more full of goodness than the Sun is of light he hath the fulness of the Godhead Col. 2. 9. 3. A fulness in regard of duration The fulness in the creature like the brooks of Arabia is soon dried up but Christs fulness is inexhaustible 't is a fulness over-flowing and ever-flowing And this fulness is for Believers Christ is Communis Thesaurus as Luther saith a common Treasury or Magazine for the Saints Ioh. 1. 16. Of his fulness have we all received Set a glass under a Still and it receives water out of the Still drop by drop So those who are united to Christ have the dews and drops of his grace distilling upon them Well then may Christ be admired of all them that believe Use 1. Is a godly man an high prizer of Christ then what is to be thought of them who do not put a value upon Christ are they godly or no There are four sorts of persons who do not prize Christ. 1. The Iews They believe not in Christ 2 Cor. 3. 15. Unto this day the vail is upon their heart They expect their saeculum futurum a Messiah yet to come as their own Talmud reports they blaspheme Christ they slight righteousness imputed They despise the Virgin Mary calling her in derision Marah which signifieth bitterness They vilifie the Gospel they deny the Christian Sabbath they have the Christians in abomination they hold it not lawful for a Jew to take physick of a Christian. Schecardus relates of one Bendema a Jew that being stung with a Serpent a Christian came to heal him but he refused his help and chose rather to die than to be healed by a Christian So do the Iews hate Christ and all that wear his Livery 2. The Socinians who acknowledge only Christs Humanity this is to make him below the Angels for the Humane Nature simply considered is inferiour to the Angelical Psa. 8. 5. 3. Proud Professors who do not lay the whole stress of their Salvation upon Christ but would mingle their dross with his gold their duties
their Dominion taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a season So though the Dominion of sin is taken away yet the life of it is prolonged for a season and while sin lives it molests The Persians were daily Enemies to the Râ—mans and would be invading upon their frontiers So sin wars against the Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. And no cessation of arms till death will not this cause tears 3. A Childe of God weeps that he is sometimes overcome by the prevalency of Corruption Rom. 7. 19. The evil I would not that do I. Paul was like a man carried down the stream How oft is a Saint overpowred with pride and passion When David had sinned he steeped his Soul in the brinish tears of Repentance It cannot but grieve a regenerate person to think he should be so foolish as after he hath felt the smart of sin yet to put this fire in his bosom again 4. A godly heart grieves that he can be no more holy it troubles him that he shoots so short of the Rule and Standard which God hath set I should faith he love the Lord with all my heart But how defective is my love how far short do I come of what I should be nay of what I might have been What can I see in my life but either blanks or blots 5. A godly man weeps sometimes out of the sense of Gods love Gold is the finest and most solid of all the metals yet is soonest melted with the fire Gracious hearts which are golden hearts are the soonest melted into tears by the fire of Gods love I once knew an holy man who walking in his garden and shedding plenty of tears a friend coming to him accidentally asked him why he wept He brake forth into this pathetical expression O the love of Christ the love of Christ Thus have we seen the Cloud melted into water by the Sun-beams 6. A godly person weeps because the sins he commits are in some sense worse than the sins of other men the sin of a justified person is very odious 1. Because he acts contrary to his own principles he doth not only sin against the Rule but against his Principles against his knowledge vows prayers hopes experiences He knows how dear sin will cost him yet he adventures upon the forbidden fruit 2. The sin of a Justified person is odious because it is a sin of unkindness 2 King 11. 9. Peters denying of Christ was a sin against love Christ had enrolled him among the Apostles he had taken him up into the Mount of Transfiguration and showed him the glory of Heaven in a Vision yet after all this signal Mercy that he should deny Christ it was high ingratitude This made him go out and weep bitterly Mat. 26. 75. He baptized himself as it were in his own tears The sins of the godly go neerest to Gods Heart Others sins anger God these grieve him The sins of the wicked pierce Christ sides the sins of the godly wound his heart the unkindness of a Spouse goes neerest the heart of her Husband 3. The sin of a Justified person is odious because it reflects more dishonor upon God 2 Sam. 12. 14. By this deed thou hast given occasion to the Enemies of the Lord to blaspheme The sins of Gods people put black spots in the face of Religion Thus we see what cause there is why a Childe of God should weep even after Conversion Quis talia fando temperet à lachrymis Now this sorrow of a godly man for sin is not a despairing sorrow he doth not mourn without hope Psal. 65. 3. Iniquities prevail against me There is the Holy Soul weeping as for our transgressions thou shalt purge them away There is Faith triumphing Divine sorrow is excellent There is as much difference between the sorrow of a godly man and a wicked as between the water of a Spring which is clear and sweet and the water of the Sea which is salt and brackish A godly mans sorrow hath these three qualifications 1. It is internal it is a sorrow of Soul hypocrites disfigure their faces Mat. 6. 16. godly sorrow goes deep it is a pricking at the heart Acts 2. 37. True sorrow is a spiritual Martyrdome therefore called Soul-affliction Lev. 23. 29. 2. Godly sorrow is ingenuous it is more for the evil that is in sin than the evil which follows after it is more for the spot than the sting Hypocrites weep for sin only as it brings affliction I have read of a Fountain that never sends out streams but the Evening before a Famine Hypocrites never send forth the streams of their tears but when Gods Judgements are approaching 3. Godly sorrow is influential it makes the heart better Eccles. 7. 3. By the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better Divine tears do not only wet but wash they purge out the love of sin Use 1. How far are they from being godly who scarce ever shed a tear for sin If they lose a neer Relation they weep but though they are in danger of losing God and their Souls they weep not How few know what it is to be in an Agony for sin or what a broken heart means their eyes are not like the Fish-pools of Heshbon full of water Cant. 7. 4. but rather like the Mountains of Gilboa which had no dew upon them 2 Sam. 1. 21. It was a greater plague for Pharaoh to have his heart turned into stone than to have his Rivers turned into bloud Others if they do sometimes shed a tear yet they are never the better they go on in wickedness and do not drown their sins in their tears Use 2. Let us labour for this Divine Character be weepers This is a repentance not to be repented of 2 Cor. 7. 10. 'T is reported of Mr. Bradford Martyr that he was of a melting spirit he seldome sate down to his meat but some tears trickled down his cheeks There are two Lavors to wash away sin Bloud and Tears The Bloud of Christ washeth away the guilt of sin tears wash away the filth repenting tears are precious God puts them in his bottle Psal. 56. 8. They are beautifying a tear in the eye doth more adorn than a Ring on the finger Oyl makes the face shine Psal. 104. 15. Tears make the heart shine tears are comforting a sinners mirth turns to melancholy a Saints mourning turns to musick Repentance may be compared to Myrrhe which though it be bitter to the taste it is comforting to the spirits Repentance may be bitter to the fleshy part but it is most refreshing to the spiritual Wax that melts is fit for the Seal a melting Soul is fit to take the stamp of all heavenly blessings Let us give Christ the water of our tears and he will give us the Wine of his Bloud SECT IX 9. A godly man is a lover of the Word Psal. 119. 97. O how love I thy Law 1. A
David though a King yet looked upon himself as a worm Psal. 22. 6. I am a worm and no man Bradford a Martyr yet subscribes himself a sinner Iob 10. 15. If I am righteous I will not lift up my head Like the Violet a sweet flower but hangs down the head 2. An humble soul thinks better of others than of himself Phil. 2. 3. Let each esteem others better than themselves An humble man values others at an higher rate than himself and the reason is because he can better see his own heart than he can anothers he sees his own corruption and thinks sure it is not so with others their Graces are not so weak as his their corruptions are not so strong sure thinks he they have better hearts than I An humble Christian studies his own infirmities and anothers exellencies and that makes him put an higher value upon others than himself Pro. 30. 2. Surely I am more bruitish than any man And Paul though he were the chief of the Apostles yet he calls himself the least of Saints Eph. 3. 8. 3. An humble soul hath a low esteem of his duties Pride is apt to breed in our holy things as the worm breeds in the sweetest fruit and forth comes from the most generous wine An humble person doth not only deny his sins but his duties when he hath prayed and wept alas saith he how little have I done God might damn me for all this he saith as good Nehemiah Chap. 13. 22. Remember me O my God concerning this and spare me Remember Lord how I have poured out my soul but spare me and pardon me he sees that his best duties weigh many grains too light therefore he desires Christs Merits may be put into the Scales The humble Saint blusheth when he looks upon his Copy he sees he cannot write even nor without blotting this humbles him to think that his best duties run dregs he drops poyson upon his sacrifice Oh saith he I dare not say I have prayed or wept those which I write down for duties God might write down for sins 4. An humble man is ever preferring Bills of Indictment against himself he complains not of his condition but his heart O this evil heart of unbelief Lord saith Hooper I am hell but thou art heaven An hypocrite is ever telling how good he is an humble soul is ever saying how bad he is Paul that high-flown Saint who was caught up into the third heaven how doth this bird of Paradise bemoan himself for his corruptions Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am c. Holy Bradford subscribes himself the hard-hearted sinner The more knowledge an humble Christian hath the more he complains of ignorance the more Faith the more he bewails his unbelief 5. An humble man will justifie God in an afflicted condition Nehem. 9. 33. Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us If men oppress and calumniate the humble soul acknowledgeth Gods righteousness in the midst of severity 2 Sam. 24. 17. Lo I have sinned Lord my pride my barrenness my Sermon-surfeiting hath been the procuring cause of all these judgements when Clouds are round about God yet righteousness is the habitation of his Throne Psa. 97. 2. 6. An humble soul is a Christ-Magnifier Phil. 1. 20. he gives the glory of all his actions to Christ and Free-grace King Canutus took the Crown off his own head and set it upon a Crucifix so an humble Saint takes the Crown of honour from his own head and sets it upon Christs and the reason is from that 〈◊〉 he bears to Christ Love can part with 〈…〉 to the object loved Isaack loved 〈…〉 and he gave away his Jewels to 〈…〉 humble Saint loves Christ intirely therefore can part with any thing to him he gives away the honour and praise of all he doth to Christ let Christ wear those Jewels 7. An humble soul is willing to take a reproof for sin a wicked man is too high to stoop to a reproof The Prophet Micaiah used to tell King Ahab of his sin and saith he I hate him 1 Kin. 22. 8. Reproof to a proud man is like powring water on lime which grows the more hot a gracious soul loves him that reproves Pro. 9. 8. Rebuke a wise man and he will love thee The humble-spirited Christian can bear the reproach of an Enemy and the reproof of a friend 8. An humble man is willing to have his name and parts eclipsed so Gods glory may be more encreased he is content to be out-shined by others in gifts and esteem so that the Crown of Christ may shine the brighter This is the humble mans Motto Let me decrease let Christ encrease 'T is his desire that Christ should be exalted and if this be effected let who will be the instrument he rejoyceth Phil. 1. 15. Some preach Christ of envy They preached to get away some of Pauls hearers Well saith he Christ is preached and I therein do rejoyce ver 8. An humble Christian is content to be laid aside if God hath any other tools to work with which may bring him more glory 9. An humble Saint likes that condition which God sees best for him a proud man murmures he hath no more an humble man wonders he hath so much Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies when the heart lies low it can stoop to a low condition A Christian looking upon his sins wonders it is no worse with him he doth not say his mercies are small but his sins are great he knows the worst piece God carves him is better than he deserves therefore takes it thankfully upon his knees 10. An humble Christian will stoop to the meanest person and the lowest office he will visit the poorest member of Christ Lazarus his sores are more precious to him than Dives purple he doth not say Stand by come not neer to me for I am holier than thou but condiscends to men of low estate Rom. 12. 16. Use 1. Is Humility the inseparable Character of a godly man let us try our hearts by this Touch-stone Are we humble alas where doth their godliness appear who are swelled with pride and ready to burst But though men are proud they will not confess it This Bastard of Pride is born but none are willing to father it therefore let me ask a few questions and let Conscience answer 1 Are not they proud who are given to glorying 1 Cor. 5. 6. Your glorying is not good 1 VVho glory in their riches their hearts swell with their estates St. Bernard cals Pride the rich mans couzen Ezek. 28. 5. Thy heart is lifted up because of thy riches 2 VVho glory in their apparel Many dress themselves in such fashions as they make the devil fall in love with them Black-spots gaudy attire naked breasts what are these but the flags and banners which Pride doth display 3 VVho glory in their beauty
declared to be the Epistle of Christ written not with ink but with the spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone but in fleshy Tables of the heart Here is a golden Epistle the writing is the work of Faith the Table it is written in is the heart the finger that writes it is the spirit Now after the Spirits writing follows the Spirits sealing Ephes. 1. 13. After ye believed ye were sealed with the Spirit that is ye were sealed up to an assurance of glory What have ungodly men to do with the seal of the Covenant who have not the writing 4. The ungodly are spiritual fools Psalm 75. 4. I said to the fools deal not foolishly and to the wicked lift not up the horn If one had a Childe very beautiful yet if he were a fool the Parent would take little joy in him The Scripture hath dressed the Sinner in a Fools Coat and let me tell you better be a fool void of Reason than a fool void of Grace This is the Devils fool Pro. 14. 9. Is not he a fool who refuseth a rich portion God offers Christ and Salvation but the Sinner refuseth this portion Psal. 81. 11. Israel would none of me Is not he a fool who prefers an Annuity before an Inheritance Is not he a fool who tends his mortal part and neglects his Angelical part As if one should paint the wall of his house and let the Timber rot Is not he a fool who will feed the Devil with his Soul As that Emperour who fed his Lion with Feasant Is not he a fool who lays a snare for himself Pro. 1. 18. Who consults his own shame Hab. 2. 10. who loves death Pro. 8. 36. 5. The ungodly are vile persons Nahum â— 14. I will make thy grave for thou art vile 〈…〉 men base it blots their name it taints their bloud Psal. 14. 3. They are altogether become filthy In the Hebrew it is rancidi facti sunt they are become stinking Call wicked men never so bad you cannot call them out of their name they are swine Mat. 7. 6. Vipers Mat. 3. 7. Devils Iohn 6. 70. The wicked are scoria gluma the dross and refuse Psalm 119. 119. And heaven is too pure to have any dross mingle with it 6. Their Temporal Mercies are continued in Judgement The wicked may have health and estate yea more than heart can wish Psa. 73. 7. But their Table is a snare Psa. 69. 2â— Sinners have their mercies with Gods leave but not with his love The people of Israel had better been without their Quails than to have had such sowre sawce The ungodly are Usurpers they want a spiritual Title to what they possess their good things are like cloath taken up at the Drapers which is not paid for death will bring in a sad reckoning at last 7. Their Temporal Judgements are not removed in Mercy Pharaoh had ten Arrows shot at him ten Plagues and all those Plagues were removed but his heart remainiâ—g hard those Plagues were not removed in Mercy it was not a preservation but a reservation God reserved him for a signal Monument of his Justice when he was drowned in the depth of the Sea God may reprieve mens persons when he doth not remit their sins The wicked may have sparing Mercy but not saving Mercy 8. The ungodly while they live are exposed to the wrath of God Ioh. 3. 36. He that believeth not the wrath of God abideth on him He who wants Grace is like one who wants a pardon he is every hour in fear of Execution How can a wicked man rejoyce Over his head the Sword of Gods Justice hangs and under him hell fire burns 9. The ungodly at death must undergo Gods fury and indignation Psal. 9. 17. The wicked shall be turned into hell I have read of a Loadstone in Aethiopia which hath two corners with one it draws the iron to it with the other it puts the iron from it So God hath two hands of Mercy and Justice with the one he will draw the godly to heaven with the other he will thrust the sinner to hell And O how dreadful is that place It is called a fiery lake Rev. 20. 15. A lake to denote the plenty of Torments in hell a fiery lake to show the fierceness of them Fire is the most torturing Element Strabo in his Geography mentions a Lake in Galilee of such a pestiferous nature that it scaldeth off the skin of whatsoever is cast into it But alas that Lake is cool compared with this fiery Lake into which the damned are thrown To demonstrate this fire terrible there are two most pernicious qualities in it 1. It is Sulphureous it is mixed with brimstone Revel 21. 8. which is unsavoury and suffocating 2. It is unextinguishable though the wicked shall be choaked in the flames yet not consumed Revel 20. 10. And the Devil was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the Beast and the False Prophet are and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever Behold the deplorable condition of all ungodly ones in the other world they shall have a life that always dies and a death that always lives May not this affright men out of their sins and make them become godly unless they are resolved to try how hot hell fire is 2. What rare persons the godly are Pro. 12. 26. The righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour As the Flower of the Sun as the Wine of Lebanon as the sparkling upon Aarons Breast-plate such is the Orient splendor of a person imbellished with godliness The exceâ—lency of the persons of the godly appears in seven particulars 1. They are precious therefore they are set apart for God Psal. 4. 3. Know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself We set apart things that are precious the godly are set apart as Gods peculiar treasure Psa. 135. 4. As his garden of delight Cant. 4. 12. As his Royal Diadem Isa. 62. 3. The godly are the excellent of the earth Psa. 16. 2. Comparable to fine gold Lam. 4. 2. Double refined Zach. 13. 9. They are the glory of the Creation Isa. 46. 13. Origen compares the Saints to Saphires and Christal God calls them Iewels Mal. 3. 17. They are so 1. For their value Diamonds saith Pliny were not known a long time but among Princes and were hung upon their Diadem God doth so value his people that he will give Kingdomes for their ransome Isa. 43. 5. He laid his best Jewel to pawn for them Ioh. 3. 6. 2. They are Jewels for their lustre If one Pearl of grace doth shine so bright that it doth delight Christs heart Cant. 4. 9. Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes that is one of thy Graces Then how illustrious are all the Graces met in a Constellation 2. The godly are honourable Isa. 43. 4. Thou