never true Use 1. How opposite are they to godliness who cry down zeal and count it a Religious phrensie They are for the light of knowledge but not for the heat of zeal When Basil was earnest in preaching against the Arrian Heresie it was interpreted folly and dotage Religion is a matter requires zeal the Kingdom of heaven will not be taken but by violence Mat. 12. 11. Object But why so much fervour in Religion what becomes then of Prudence Answ. Though Prudence be to direct zeal yet not to destroy it because sight is requisite must the body therefore have no heat If Prudence be the eye in Religion zeal is the heart Quest. But where is moderation Answ. Though moderation in things of indifferency be commendable and doubtless it would much tend to the setling the peace of the Church yet in the main Articles of Faith wherein Gods glory and our Salvation lie at stake here moderation is nothing else but sinful neutrality It was Calvins advice to Melancthon that he should not so affect the name of moderate that at length he lost all his zeal Object But the Apostle presseth moderation Phil. 4. 5. Let your moderation be known to all Answ. The Apostle speaks there of moderating our passion the Greek word for moderation signifies candour and meekness opposite to rash anger and so the word is rendred in another place Patient 1 Tim. 3. 3. By moderation then is meant meekness of spirit and that is clear by the subsequent words The Lord is at hand As if the Apostle had said avenge not your selves for the Lord is at hand he is ready to avenge your personal wrongs but this doth not at all hinder but that in matters of Religion a Christian should be zealous 2 What strangers are they to godliness who have no zeal for the glory of God they can see his ordinances despised his worship adulterated yet their spirits are not at all stirred in them How many are of a dull lukewarm temper zealous for their own secular interest but have no zeal for the things of heaven hot in their own cause but cool in Gods The Lord doth most abominate lukewarm professours I had almost said hee is sick of them Rev. 3. 15. I would thou wert cold or hot any thing but lukewarm but because thou art neither cold nor hot I will spue thee out of my mouth A lukewarm Christian is but dough-baked just like Ephraim Hos. 7. 8. Ephraim is a cake not turned To keep up a form of Religion without zeal is to be like those bodies the Angels assumed which mooved but had no life in them I would ask these Tepid neutral professors this question If Religion be not a good cause why did they undertake it at first if it be why do they go so faintly about it why have they no more holy ardours of soul these persons would fain go to heaven in a soft bed but are loath to bee carried thither in a fiery Chariot of zeal Remember God will be zealous against them who are not zealous he provides the fire of hell for those that want the fire of zeal Use 2. As you would be found in the catalogue of the godly labour for zeal as good bee of no religion as not to be zealous in religion Beware of carnal policy This is one of those three things which Luther feared would bee the death of Religion Some men have been too wise to bee saved Their discretion hath quenched their zeal beware of stoth which is an enemy to zeal be zealous and repent Rev. 3. 19. Christians what do you reserve your zeal for is it for your gold that perisheth or for your lusts that will make you perish can you bestow your zeal better than upon God how zealous have men been in a false religion Isa. 46. 6. They lavish gold out of the bag and weigh silver in the ballance The Iews did spare no cost in their idolatrous worship nay Ier. 32. 35. They cause their Sons and Daughters to pass thorow the fire to Molech They were so zealous in their idol-worship that they would sacrifice their Sons and Daughters to their false Gods how far did the purblinde Heathens go in their false zeal 〈◊〉 the Tribunes of Rome complained they wanted gold in their Treasurâ—es to offer to Apollo the Roman Matrons plucked off their chains of gold and rings and bracelets and gave them to the Priests to offer up sacrifice were these so zealous in their sinful worship and will not you bee zealous in the worship of the true God can you loose any thing by your zeal shall it not bee super-abundantly recompenced what is heaven worth what is a sight of God worth was not Jesus Christ zealous for you he sweat drops of blood hee conflicted with his Fathers wrath how zealous was hee for your redemption and have you no zeal for him is there any thing you your selves hate more than dulness and slothfulness in your servants you are weary of such servants do you dislike a dull temper in others and not in your selves what are all your duties without zeal but non entia meer fancies and nullities Do you know what a glorious thing zeal is it is the lustre that sparkles from grace it is the flame of love it resembles the Holy Ghost Act. 2. 2. There appeared cloven tongues like fire which sat upon them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost Tongues of fire were an Emblem to represent that fire of zeal which the spirit powred upon them Zeal makes all our religious performances prevalent with God When the iron is red hot it enters best and when our services are red hot with zeal they soonest pierce heaven SECT XVI 16. A godly man is a patient man Iam. 5. 11. Ye have heard of the patience of Iob. Patience is a star which shines in a dark night There is a twofold patience 1. Patience in waiting 2. Patience in bearing 1. Patience in waiting A godly man if he hath not his desire presently he will wait till the mercy be ripe Psa. 130. 6. My soul waiteth for the Lord. Good reason God should have the Timing of our mercies Isa. 60. 22. I the Lord will hasten it in his time Deliverance may tarry beyond our time but it will not tarry beyond Gods time Why should not we wait patiently upon God 1. We are servants it becomes servants to be in a waiting posture 2. We wait upon every thing else we wait upon the fire till it burns we wait upon the seed till it grows Iam. 5. 7. Why cannot we wait upon God 3. God hath waited upon us Did not he wait for our repentance How often did he come year after year before he found fruit Did God wait upon us and cannot we wait upon him A godly man is content to stay Gods leisure though the Vision tarry he will wait for
we are here we are complaining of our wants weeping over our sins but there we shall be praising God How will the Birds of Paradise chirp when they are in that Caelestial Country There the Morning Stars will sing together and all the Saints of God shout for joy O what should we aspire after but this Country above Such as have their eyes opened will see that it doth infinitely excel An ignorant man looks upon a Star and it appears to him as a little silver spot but the Astronomer who hath his Instrument to judge of the dimension of a Star knows it to be many degrees bigger than the earth So a natural man hears of the heavenly Country that it is very glorious but it is at a great distance and because he hath not a spirit of discerning the world looks bigger in his eye but such as are Spiritual Artists who have the Instrument of Faith to judge of Heaven will say it is far the better Country and thither will they hasten with the Sails of desire SECT XV. 15. A godly man is a zealous man grace turns a Saint into a Seraphim it makes him burn in holy zeal zeal is a mixed affection a compound of love and anger it carries forth our love to God and anger against sin in the most intense manner Zeal is the flame of the affections a godly man hath a double baptism of water and fire he is baptized with a spirit of zeal hee is zealous for Gods honour truth worship Psal. 119. 139. my zeal hath consumed me it was a crown set on Phineas his head hee was zealous for his God Numb 25. 13. Moses being touched with a coal from Gods altar in his zeal hee breaks the Tables Exod. 32. 19. our blessed Saviour in his zeal whips the buyers and sellers out of the Temple Ioh. 2. 17. the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up But there is a Praeternatural heat something looking like zeal which is not a Comet looks like a Star I shall therefore show some differences between a true and a false zeal 1 A false zeal is a blinde zeal Rom. 10. 2. They have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge this is not the fire of the spirit but wild-fire The Athenians were very devout and zealous but they knew not for what Acts 17. 23. I found an Altar with this Inscription 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the unknown God Thus the Papists are zealous in their way but they have taken away the key of knowledge 2 A false zeal is a self-seeking zeal Iehu cries come see my zeal for the Lord 2 King 10. 16. but it was not zeal but ambition he was fishing for a Crown Demetrius pleads for the Goddess Diana but it was not her Temple but her Silver shrines he was zealous for Such zealots Ignatius complains of in his time that they made a Trade of Christ and Religion thereby to enrich themselves 'T is probable many in King Henry the eights time were forward to pull down the Abbies not out of any zeal against Popery but that they might build their own houses upon the ruines of those Abbies like Eagles which fly aloft but their eyes are down upon their prey If blind zeal be punished seven fold hypocritical zeal shall bee punished seventy and seven fold 3 A false praeposterous zeal is a misguided zeal it runs out most in things which are not commanded It is the sign of an hypocrite to be zealous for traditions and careless of institutions The Pharisees were more zealous about washing of their cups than their hearts 4 A false zeal is fired with passion Iames and Iohn when they would call for fire from heaven were rebuked by our Saviour Luk. 9. 54. Yee know not what spirit yee are off it was not zeal but choller many have espoused the cause of Religion rather out of faction and humour than out of zeal to the truth But the zeal of a godly man is a true and holy zeal which evidenceth it self in the effects of it 1 True zeal cannot bear an injury done to God zeal makes the blood rise when Gods honour is impeached Rev. 2. 2. I know thy works and thy labour and patience and how thou canst not bear them which are evil hee who zealously affects his friend cannot hear him spoken against and be silent 2 True zeal will encounter with the greatest difficulties when the world holds out a Gorgons head of danger to discourage us zeal casts out fear it is quickned by opposition Zeal doth not say there is a Lyon in the way zeal will charge through an Army of dangers it will march in the face of death Let news be brought to Paul that he was way-laid in every City bonds and imprisonment did abide him this sets a keener edge upon his zeal Acts 21. 13. I am ready not only to bee bound but to dye for the name of the Lord Iesus as sharp frosts do by an antiparistasis make the fire burn hotter so sharp oppositions do but inflame zeal the more 3 True zeal as it hath knowledge to go before it so it hath sanctity to follow after it Wisdome leads the van of zeal and holiness brings up the rear an hypocrite seems to be zealous but he is vitious the godly man is white and ruddy white in purity as well as ruddy in zeal Christs zeal was hotter than the fire and his holiness purer than the sun 4 Zeal that is genuine loves truth when it is despised and opposed Psal. 119. 126. They have made void thy law therefore I love thy commandements above gold the more others deride holiness the more we love it what is Religion the worse for others disgracing it doth a Diamond sparkle the less because a blinde man disparageth it the more outragious the wicked are against the truth the more couragious the godly are for it When Mical scoffed at Davids religious dancing before the Ark if saith he this be to be vile I will yet be more vile 2 Sam. 6. 22. 5 True zeal causeth fervency in duty Rom. 12. 11. fervent in spirit Zeal makes us hear with reverence pray with affection love with ardency God kindled Moses his sacrifice from heaven Lev. 9. 24. There came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed upon the Altar the burnt offering when we are zealous in devotion and our heart waxeth hot within us here is a fire from heaven kindling our sacrifice how odious is it for a man to be all fire when he is sinning and all yâ—e when he is praying A pious heart like water seething hot boils over in holy affections 6. True zeal is never out of breath though it be violent 't is perpetual no waters can quench the flame of zeal it is torrid in the frigid zone The heat of zeal is like the natural heat coming from the heart which lasts as long as life That zeal which is not constant was
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
among the damned 2. How sweet is it to have it 1. The pardoned soul is out of the gun-shot of Hell Rom. 8. 33. Satan may accuse but Christ will show a discharge 2. The pardoned soul may goe to God with boldness in prayer Guilt clips the wings of prayer that it cannot flye to the Throne of Grace but forgiveness breeds confidence He who hath his pardon may look his Prince in the face with comfort This great mercy of pardon David had obtained as appears vers 5. Thou forgavest me And because he had found God a God of pardons therefore he encourageth others to seek God in the words of the Text For this cause shall every one that is godly pray unto thee CHAP. II. Opening the Nature of Godliness Every one that is godly IT will first be enquired What Godliness is I answer in general Godliness is the sacred impression and workmanship of God in a man whereby of carnal he is made spiritual When Godliness is wrought in a person he doth not receive a new soul but he hath another spirit Numb 14. 24. The faculties are not new but the qualities the Strings are the same but the Tune is mended Concerning Godliness I shall lay down these seven Maxims or Positions 1. Godliness is a Real thing it is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Godliness is not the feaverish conceit of a sick brain a Christian is no Enthusiast one whose Religion is made up all of Fancy Godliness hath Truth for its foundation it is called the way of Truth Psal. 119. 30. godliness is a ray and beam that shines from God if God be true then godliness is true 2. Godliness is an intrinsecal thing it lies chiefly in the heart Rom. 2. 29. Circumcision is that of the heart The dew lies on the leaf the sap is hid in the root The Moralists Religion is all in the leaf it consists only in Externals but godliness is an holy sap which is radicated in the soul. Psal. 51. 6. in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom The Chalde expounds it In the close place of the heart 3 Godliness is a supernatural thing by nature we inherit nothing but evil Rom. 7. 5. When we were in the flesh the motions of sin did work in our members we did suck in sin as naturally as our Mothers milk but godliness is the wisdom from above Jam. 3. 17. it is breathed in from heaven God must light up the Lamp of Grace in the heart Weeds grow of themselves flowers are planted Godliness is a Coelestial Plant that comes from the New Hierusalem Therefore it is called a fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. A man hath no more power to change himself than to create himself 4. Godliness is an extensive thing it is a sacred leaven that spreads it self into the whole soul. 1 Thess. 5. 23. The God of peace sanctifie you wholly There is light in the understanding order in the affections pliableness in the will exemplariness in the life We do not call a Blackamore white because he hath white teeth he is not godly who is good only in some part Grace is called the new man Col. 3. 10. not a new eye or tongue but a new man he who is godly is good all over though he be regenerate but in part yet it is in every part 5. Godliness is an intense thing it doth not lye in a dead formality and indifferency but is vigorous and flaming Rom. 12. 11. Fervent in spirit We call water hot when it is so in the third or fourth degree He is godly whose devotion is inflamed and his heart boyls over in holy affections 6. Godliness is a glorious thing As the Jewel to the Ring so is Piety to the Soul bespangling it in Gods eyes Reason makes us Men Godliness makes us earthly Angels by it we partake of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. Godliness is neer a kin to Glory 2 Pet. 1. 3. Glory and Vertue Godliness is glory in the â—eed and glory is godliness in the flower 7. Godliness is a permanent thing Aristotle saith denominations are given from the habit We do not call him sanguine that blusheth but who is of a ruddy complexion A blush of godliness is not enough to denominate a Christian but godliness must be the temper and complexion of the soul. Godliness is a fixed thing There is a great deal of difference between a Stake in the Hedge and a Tree in the Garden a stake rots and moulders but a tree having life in it abides and flourisheth When godliness hath taken root in the soul it abides to eternity 1 Ioh. 3. 9. his seed remaineth in him Godliness being engraven in the heart by the Holy Ghost as with the point of a Diamond can never be raced out CHAP. III. A Reproof to such as are but Pretenders to Godliness Use. HEre is a sharp Reprehension to such as are Alchimy Christians who do only make a show of godliness like Michal who put an Image in the bed and so deceived Sauls Messengers 1 Sam. 19. 16. these our Saviour calls whited Sepulchres They do not Virtutem colere but colorare In ancient times a third part of the Inhabitants of this Island were called Picts which signifies painted 't is to be feared they still retain their old name How many are painted only with the Vermilion of a Profession whose seeming lustre dazles the eyes of beholders but within there is nothing but putrefaction Hypocrites are like the Swan which hath white feathers but a black skin or like the Lilly which hath a fair colour but a bad sent Rev. 1. 3. Thou hast a name to live but thou art dead These the Apostle Iude compares to clouds without water vers 12. they pretend to be full of the Spirit but they are empty clouds their goodness is but a Religious Cheat. Quest. But why do persons content themselves with a show of godliness Answ. This helps to keep up their fame 1 Sam. 15. 30. Honour me before the people Men are ambitious of credit and would gain repute in the world therefore they will dress themselves in the garb and mode of Religion that others may write them down for Saints But alas what is one the better to have others commend him and his Conscience condemn him What good will it do a man when he is in Hell that others think he is gone to Heaven O beware of this Counterfeit piety is double iniquity 1. To have only a show of godliness is a God-enraging sin he who is a pretender to Saint-ship but his heart tells him he hath nothing but the Name he carries Christ in his Bible but not in his Heart some politick design spurs him on in the wayes of God he makes Religion a Lacquey to his carnal Interest What is this but to abuse God to his
leaves the heart always in a better tune 2. The danger of doing duties in an unspiritual manner they are as if they had not been done for what the heart doth not do is not done Duties slubbered over turn Ordinances into Judgements Therefore many though they are often in duty they go away worse from duty If Physick be not well made and the ingredients rightly tempered it is as bad as poyson for the body So if duties are not well performed they leave the heart more hard and sinful than before Duties unspiritual oft create Judgements temporal 1 Chron. 15. 13. The Lord our God made a breach upon us for that we sought him not after the due order Therefore God makes breaches in Families and Relations because persons worship him not in that manner and due order which he requires 3. If we would have our duties spiritual we must get our hearts spiritual an earthly heart cannot be spiritual in duty Let us beg of God a spiritual pallat to relish a sweetness in holy things for want of spiritual hearts we come to duty without delight and go away without profit If a man would have the wheels of his Watch move regularly he must mend the Spring Christian if thou wouldst move more spiritually in duty get the Spring of thy heart mended SECT XXII 22. A godly man is thorow-paced in Religion he obeys every Command of God Act. 13. 22. I have found David a man after mine own heart which shall fulfill all my will In the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all my wills A godly man labours to walk according to the full bredth and latitude of Gods Law Every Command hath the same stamp of Divine Authority upon it and he who is godly will obey one Command as well as another Psal. 119. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect to all thy Commandments A godly man goes through all the Body of Religion as the Sun through all the Signs of the Zodiack He that is to play upon a ten-stringed Instrument must strike upon every string or he spoils all the Musick The ten Commandments may be compared to a ten-stringed Instrument we must obey every Commandment strike upon every string or we can make no sweet Musick in Religion True obedience is filâ—al it is fit the Childe should obey the Parent in all just and sober commands Gods Laws are like the Curtains of the Tabernacle which were looped together they are like a Chain of Gold where all the links are coupled A conscientious man will not willingly break one Link of this Chain if one Command be violated the whole Chain is broken Iam. 2. 10. Whosoever shall keep the whole Law yet offend in one point is guilty of all A voluntary breach of one of Gods Laws involves a man in the guilt and exposeth him to the curse of the whole Law True obedience is intire and uniform A good heart like the Needle points that way which the Load-stone draws This is a grand difference between a Childe of God and an hypocrite the hypocrite doth pick and chuse in Religion some duties he will perform which are more facil and do gratifie his pride or interest but other duties he makes no reckoning of Mat. 23. 23. Ye pay tithe of Mint and Annis and have omitted the weightier matters of the Law Iudgment Mercy and Faith To sweat in some duties of Religion and freeze in other is the symptom of a distempered Christian. Iehu was zealous in destroying the Idolatry of Baal but let the golden Calves of Jeroboam stand 2 Kin. 10. 30. This shows men are not good in truth when they are good by halves If your servant should do some of your work you set him about and leave the rest undone how would you like that The Lord saith Walk before me and be perfect Gen. 17. 1. How are our hearts perfect with God when we prevaricate with him Some things we will do and other things we leave undone he is good who is good universally Pater adsum impera quid vis There are ten duties God calls for which a godly man will conscientiously perform and indeed these Duties may serve as so many other Characters and Touch-stones to try our godliness by 1 A godly man will be often calling his heart to account he takes the candle of the word and searcheth his inward parts Psa. 77. 6. I commune with my own heart and my spirit made diligent search a gracious soul searcheth whether there be any duty omitted any sin cherished he examines his evidences for heaven as hee will not take his gold upon trust so neither his grace he is a spiritual Merchant hee casts up the estate of his soul to see what he is worth he sets his house in order often reckonings keep God and conscience friends a carnal person cannot abide this heart-work he is ignorant how the affairs go in 〈◊〉 soul he is like a man who is well acquainted in forraign parts but a stranger in his own country ut nemo insese tentat descendere nemo 2 A godly man is much in closet-prayer he keeps his hours for private devotion Iacob when he was left alone wrestled with God Gen. 32. 24. So when a gracious heart is alone it wrestles in prayer and will not leave God till it hath a blessing a devout Christian exerciseth eyes of faith and knees of prayer Hypocrites who have nothing of religion besides the frontispiece love to bee seen Christ hath Characterized them Mat. 6. 5. They love to pray in the corners of the streets that they may be seen The hypocrite is devout in the Temple there all will gaze on him but he is a stranger to secret communion with God he is in the Church a Saint but in his closet an Atheist a good Christian holds secret intelligence with heaven ille dolet verè qui sine teste dolet Private prayer keeps up the trade of godliness when closet-holiness is laid aside there is a stab given to the hearâ— of religion 3 A godly man is diligent in his calling he takes care to provide for his family the Church must not exclude the shop 'T is a speech of Mr. Perkins though a man be endued with excellent gifts and hear the word with reverence and receive the sacrament yet if he practise not the duties of his calling all is but hypocrisie religion did never grant a pattent for idleness 2 Thess. 2. 11 12. There are some which walk among you disorderly working not at all them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Iesus that with quietness they work and eat their own bread That bread eats most sweet which is got with most sweat a godly man had rather fast than eat the bread of idleness Vain professors talk of living by faith but do not live in a calling they are like the Lillies of the field they toyl not neither do they spin an
our felicity And thus I have shown the Marks and Characters of a godly man If a person thus described be reputed a Phanatick then Abraham and Moses and David and Paul were Phanaticks which I think none will dare to affirm but Atheists CHAP. V. Containing two Conclusions COncerning the Characteristical signs afore-mentioned I shall lay down two Conclusions 1 These Characters are a Christians box of evidences for as an impenitent sinner hath the signs of reprobation upon him whereby as by so many spots and tokens he may know he shall dye so he who can shew these happy signs of a godly man may see the Symptomes of Salvation in his Soul and may know he is passed from death to life he is as sure to go to heaven as if he were in heaven already such a person is undoubtedly a member of Christ and if he should perish then something of Christ might perish These blessed Characters may comfort a Christian under all worldly dejections and Diabolical suggestions Satan tempts a Childe of God with this that he is an hypocrite and hath no title to the Land of promise a Christian may pull out these evidences and put the Devil to prove that ever any wicked man or hypocrite had such a fair Certificate to shew for heaven Satan may sooner prove himself a lyar than the Saint an hypocrite 2 He who hath one of these Characters in truth hath seminally all he who hath one link of a Chain hath the whole Chain Object But may a Childe of God say either I have not all these Characters or they are so weakly wrought in me that I cannot discern them Answ. To satisfie this scruple you must diligently observe the distinctions the Scripture gives of Christians it casts them into several classes and orders some are infantuli little children who are but newly laid to the breast of the Gospel others are adulti Young men who are grown up to more maturity of Grace others are patres Fathers who are ready to take their degree of Glory 1 Iohn 2. 12. 13 4. Now you who are but in the first rank or classis yet you may have the vitals of Godliness as well as those who have arrived at an higher stature in Christ the Scripture speaks of the Cedar and the bruised Reed the last of which is as true a Plant of the heavenly Paradise as the other so that the weakest ought not to be discouraged all have not these characters of godliness written in Text-Letters if they be but dimly stamped upon their souls God can read the work of his spirit there Though the seal be but weakly set upon the wax it ratifies the will and gives a real conveyance of an estate If there be found but some good thing towards the Lord as it was said of Abijah God will accept it CHAP. VI. Containing the first Vse Exhorting all to become Godly Use 1 FRom all that hath been said I would draw three great Uses First Such as are still in their natural estate who never yet did relish any sweetness in the things of God let me beseech them in the bowels of Christ that they would labour to get these Characters of the Godly engraven upon their hearts though godliness be the object of the worlds scorn and haâ—ed as in Tertullians daies the name of a Christian was a crime yet be not ashamed to espouse godliness know that persecuted godliness is better than prosperous wickedness what will all the world avail a man without godliness To be learned and ungodly is like a Devil transformed into an Angel of light to be beautiful and ungodly is like a fair picture hung in an infected room to be honourable in the world and ungodly is like an Ape in purple or like that Image which had an head of gold upon feet of clay 't is godliness that en-nobles and consecrates the heart making God and Angels fall in love with it Labour for the reality of godliness rest not in the common workings of Gods spirit think not that it is enough to be intelligent and discurive a man may discourse of Religion to the admiration of others yet not feel the sweetness of those things in his own Soul the Lute gives a melodious sound to others but is not at all sensible of the sound it self Iudas could make an elegant discourse of Christ but did not feel vertue from him Rest not in having your affections a little stirred an hypocrite may have affections of sorrow as Ahab affections of desire as Balaam these are sleight and flashy and do not amount to real godliness Oh I labour to be as the Kings daughter glorious within Psa. 45. 13. That I may perswade the sons of men to become godly I shall lay down some forcible Motives and Arguments and the Lord make them as nails fastened by his spirit 1 Let men seriously weigh their misery while they remain in a state of ungodliness which may make them hasten out of this Sodome the misery of ungodly men appears in nine particulars 1 They are in a state of death Eph. 2. 1. dead in Trespasses dead they must needs be who are cut off from Christ the principle of life for as the body without the soul is dead so is the soul without Christ. This spiritual death is visible in the effect it bereaves men of their senses sinners have no sense of God in them Ephe. 4. 19. who being without feeling all their moral endowments are but strewing flowers upon a dead corpse and what is hell but a sepulchre to bury the dead in 2 Their offerings are polluted not only the Ploughing but the praying of the wicked is sin Prov. 15. 8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord If the water be foul in the well it cannot be clean in the bucket if the heart be full of sin the duties cannot be pure In what a strait is every ungodly person if he doth not come to the Ordinance he is a contemner of it if he doth come hee is a defiler of it 3. Such as live and die ungodly have no right to the Covenant of Grace Eph. 2. 12. At that time ye were without Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strangers from the Covenants of Promise And to be without Covenant is to be like one in the old World without an Ark. The Covenant is the Gospel-Charter which is enriched with many glorious priviledges but who may plead the benefit of this Covenant Surely only such whose hearts are in-laid with grace Read the Charter Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart will I give you and I will put my spirit within you Then it follows ver 28. I will be your God A person dying in his ungodliness hath no more to do with the New Covenant than a Ploughman hath to do with the priviledges of a Corporation Gods Writing is always before his Seal 2 Cor. 3. 3. Ye are
so desirable at death why should we not pursue after it now godliness is as needful now and would bee more feasible 5 There are but few godly they are as the gleanings after vintage most receive the Mark of the Beast Rev. 13. 17. The Devil keeps open house for all comers and hee is never without ghuests this may prevail with us to be godly if the number of the Saints be so small how should we labour to be found among these pearls Rom. 9. 27. but a remnant shall be saved it is better going to Heaven with a few than to Hell in the crowd 6 Consider how vain and contemptible other things are about which persons void of godliness busie themselves men are taken up about the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things of this life and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind Eccles. 5. 16. can the winde fill what is gold but dust Amos 2. 8. which will sooner choak than satisfie pull off the mask of the most beautiful thing under the Sun and look what is within there is care and vexation and the greatest care is yet behinde and that is account The things of the world are but as a bubble in the water or a Meteor in the air But godliness hath a real worth in it if you speak of true honour it is to be born of God if of true valour it is to fight the good fight of faith if of true delight it is to have joy in the Holy ghost Oh then espouse godliness here is reallity to be had of other things we may say as Zac. 10. 2. They comfort in vain CHAP. VII Prescribing some helps to Godliness Quest. But what shall we do that we may be godly Answ. I shall briefly lay down some rules or helps to godliness 1 Be diligent in the use of all means that may promote godliness Luke 13. 24. strive to enter in at the straight gate what is purpose without pursuit when you have made your estimate of godliness prosecute those mediums which are most expedient for obtaining it 2 If you would be godly take heed of the world 't is hard for a clod of dust to become a star 1 Ioh. 2. 15. love not the world many would be godly but the honours and profits of the world divert them where the world fills both head and heart there is no room for Christ he whose minde is rooted in the earth is likely enough to deride godliness when our Saviour was preaching against sin the Pharisees who were covetous derided him Luk. 16. 14. The world eats out the heart of godliness as the lvy eats out the heart of the Oak the world kills with her silver darts 3 Inure your selves to holy thoughts serious meditation represents every thing in its native colour it shews an evil in sin and a lustre in grace By holy thoughts the head grows clearer and the heart better Psa. 119. 59. I thought on my waies and turned my feet unto thy testimonies Did men step aside a little out of the noise and hurry of business and spend but half an hour every day in thinking upon their souls and eternity it would produce a wonderful alteration in them and tend very much to a real and blessed conversion 4 Watch your hearts it was Christs watch-word to his Disciples Mat. 24. 42. Watch therefore the heart will praecipitate us to sin before we are aware a subtil heart needs a watchful eye watch your thoughts your affections the heart hath a thousand doors to run out at O keep close sentinel in your souls stand continually upon your Watch-tower Hab. 2. 1. when you have prayed against sin watch against tentation most wickedness in the world is committed for want of watchfulness watchfulness maintains godliness it is the selvedge which keeps religion from ravelling out 5 Make Conscience of spending your time Eph. 5. 16. redeeming the time Many persons fool away their time some in idle visits others in recreations and pleasures which secretly bewitch the heart and take it off from better things What are our golden hours for but to mind our souls Time mis-improved is not time lived but time lost Time is a precious commodity a peece of wax in it self is not much worth but as it is affixed to the label of a Will and conveyes an estate so it is of great value Thus time simply in it self is not so considerable but as salvation is to be wrought out in it and a conveyance of heaven depends upon the well improvement of it so it is of infinite concernment 6 Think of your short stay in the world 1 Chron. 29. 15. Our daies on the Earth are as a shaddow and there is none abiding There is but a span between the Cradle and the Grave Solomon saith there is a time to bee born and a time to dye Eccles. 3. 2. but mentions no time of living as if that were so short it were not worth naming and time when it is once gone cannot be recalled the Scripture compares time to a flying Eagle Io◠9. 6. yet herein time differs from the Eagle the Eagle flies forward and then back again but time hath wings only to fly forward it never returns back fugit irrevocabile tempus The serious thoughts of our short abode here would be a great means to promote godliness what if death should come before we are ready what if our life should breathe out before Gods spirit hath breathed in he that considers how flitting and winged his life is will hasten his repentance when God is about to make a short work he will not make a long work 7 Possess your selves with this maxim that godliness is the end of your Creation God never sent men into the world only to eat and drink and put on fine cloathes but that they might serve him in righteousness and holiness Luk. 1. 75. God made the world only as an attiring room to dress our souls in he sent us hither upon the grand errand of godliness should nothing but the body the bruitish part bee looked after this were basely to degenerate yea to invert and frustrate the very end of our being 8. Be often among the godly they are the salt of the earth and will help to season you Their counsels may direct their prayers may quicken Such holy sparks may be thrown into your breasts as may inkindle devotion in you It is good to be among the Saints to learn the trade of godliness Pro. 13. 20. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise CHAP. VIII Exhorting such as have made a Profession of Godliness to persevere Use 2. MY next Use is to exhort those who wear the Mantle and in the judgement of others are looked upon as godly that they would persevere Heb. 10. 23. Let us hold fast the profession of our Faith This is a seasonable Exhortation in these times
profession The Samaritans sometimes sided with the Iews when they were in favour afterwards they disclaimed all kindred with the Iews when they were persecuted by Antiochus and no wonder they did shuffle so in their religion if you consider what Christ saith of the Samaritans Ioh. 4. 22. Ye worship ye know not what they were inveloped with ignorance blinde men are apt to fall so are they who are blinded in their mindes 4 If you would persist in godliness enter upon it purely out of choice Psa. 119. 30. I have chosen the way of truth espouse godliness for its own worth he that would persevere must rather choose godliness with reproach than sin with all its worldly pomp he who takes up religion for fear will lay it down again for fear he who imbraceth godliness for gain will desert it when the â—ewels of preferment are pulled off be not godly out of a wordly design but a religious choice 5 If you would persevere in godliness labour after integrity this will be a golden pillar to support you a tree that is hollow must needs be blown down the hypocrite sets up in the trade of religion but he will soon break Psa. 78. 37. Their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast Iudas was first a sly hypocrite and then a Traitor if a peece of copper be guilded the guilding will wash off nothing will hold out but sincerity Psa. 25. 21. Let integrity preserve me How many storms was Iob in not only Satan but God himself set against him Iob 7. 20. which was enough to have made him desist from being godly yet Iob stood fast because he stood upright Iob 27. 6. My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live those colours hold best which are laid in oyle if we would have our profession hold its colour it must be laid in the oyl of sincerity 6 If you would hold out in godliness hold up the life and fervour of duty Rom. 12. 1. 1. Fervent in spirit serving the Lord We put coals to the fire to keep it from going out when Christians grow into a dull formality they begin to be dis-spirited and by degrees abate in their godliness none so fit to make an Apostate as a lukewarm professour 7 If you would persevere in godliness be much in the exercise of self-denial Mat. 16. 24. let him deny himself self-ease self-ends whatever comes in competition with or stands in opposition to Christs glory and interest must be denied Self is the great snare self-love undermines the power of godliness The young man in the Gospel might have followed Christ but that something of self hindered Mat. 19. 20 22. Self-love is self hatred he will never get to heaven that cannot get beyond himself 8 If you would hold on in godliness preserve an holy jealousie over your hearts Rom. 11. 20. Be not high-minded but fear he that hath Gun powder in his house fears lest it should catch fire sin in the heart is like Gun-powder it may make us fear lest a sparkle of temptation falling upon us should blow us up There are two things may make us alwaies jealous of our hearts the deceits of our hearts and the lusts of our hearts When Peter was afraid hee should sink and cried to Christ Lord save me then Christ took him by the hand and helped him Mat. 14. 31. but when Peter grew confident and thought he could stand alone then Christ suffered him to fall Oh let us be suspitious of our selves and in an holy sense cloathe our selves with trembling Eze. 26. 16. 9 If you would continue your progress in godliness labour for assurance 2 Pet. 1. 10. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure He who is sure God is his God is like a Castle built upon a rock all the powers of Hell cannot shake him How can he be constant in religion who is at a loss about his spiritual estate and knows not whether he hath grace or no it will be a difficult matter for him to dye for Christ who doth not know that Christ hath died for him assurance establisheth a Christian in shaking times he is the likeliest to bear witness to the truth who hath the spirit of God bearing witness to his heart Rom. 8. 16. Oh give diligence be much in prayer reading holy conference these are the oyle without which the lamp of assurance will not shine 10 If you would hold out in godliness lay hold of Gods strength God is called the strength of Israel 1 Sam. 15. 29. It is in his strength we stand more than our own the childe is safest in the Nurses hands it is not our holding God but his holding us preserves us a little pinnace tyed fast to a rock is safe so are we when we are tyed to the rock of ages CHAP. IX Motives to persevere in Godliness THat I may excite Christians to persevere in the profession of Godliness I shall propose these four considerations 1 It is the glory and Crown of a Christian to be gray-headed in godliness Act. 21. 16. Mnason of Cyprus an old Disciple What an honour is it to see a Christians garments red with blood yet his conscience puâ—e white and his graces green and flourishing 2 How do sinners persevere in their sins they are setled on their lees Zeph. 1. 12. The judgements of God will not deter or remove them they say to their sin as Ruth to Naomi Ruth 1. 16. Where thou goest I will go the Lord do so to me and more if ought but death part thee and me so nothing shall part between men and their sins Oh! what a shame is it that the wicked should be fixed in evil and we unfixed in good that they should be more constant in the Devils service than we are in Christs 3 Our perseverance in godliness may be a means to confirm others Cyprians hearers followed him to the place of his suffering and seeing his stedfastness in the faith cryed out Let us also dye with our holy Pastor Phil. 4. 14. Many of the Brethren waxing confident by my Bonds are much more bold to speak the Word St. Paul's zeal and constancy did animate the beholders his Prison-chain made converts in Neroes Court and two of those Converts were afterwards Martyrs as History relates 4 Wee shall lose nothing by our perseverance in Godliness There are eight glorious Promises which God hath intailed upon the persevering Saints The first is Rev. 2. 10. Be thou constant to the death and I will give thee a Crown of life Christian thou mayest lose the breath of life but not the Crown of life The second promise is Revel 2. 7. To him that â—vercometh will I give to eat of the tree of life This Tree of life is the Lord Jesus This tree infuseth life and prevents death in the day we eat of this tree