well doing Namely of working with your hands the thing that is good that ye may have to give to him that needeth Eph. 4. 28. Tit. 3. 8 14. And if any man obey not our word by this Epistle note that man with a Brand of insamy and have no company with him that he may be ashamed c. 2 Thes 3. 6 14 15. And in his first Epistle to the same Believers he gives this command That ye study to be quiet and to do your own Business and to work with your own hands As we commanded you that ye may walk honestly towards them that are without and that ye may have lack of nothing 1 Thes 4. 11 12. with chap. 2. 9 10. And he thus writes unto Titus a Minister of Christ This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be carefull to maintain good works lawful Employments these things are good and profitable unto men And let Ours also learn to maintain good works or profess honest trades for necessary uses namely to supply their own wants and provide for themselves those things which are needfull for the Body to wit Meat Drink Raiment c. And also that they may if they can Administer to the necessities of others That they be not unfruitful Tit. 3. 8 14. By all which it evidently appears that mens diligent following their lawfull calling and Employments to the end they may provide for themselves and be useful and charitable unto others is not the Bodily Exercise here spoken of and opposed to Godliness but such diligence in business is called well-doing and good-works c. And is that which we ought to exercise our selves unto And it is well worthy our observation That when Paul saith ye remember Brethren our Labour and Travel for Labouring night and day because we would not be chargeable unto any of you we preached unto you the Gospel of God He then immediately adds Ye are witnesses and God also how Holily and Justly c. we behaved our selves among you that believe signifying that their Diligence in their worldly vocation was not opposite unto but well consistent with if not included in their holy and pious Behaviour amongst the believers 1 Thes 2. 9 10. And it seems our Lord Jesus the Holy one of God did before he entred into his Prophetick Office exercise himself in the Trade of a Carpenter hence some Jews say concerning him Is not this the Carpenter Mark 6. 3. And it is very probable that our Lord was brought up in the same trade with his supposed Father To which I shall here add no more But the Bodily exercise which the Apostle speaks of and which he speaks so undervaluingly of in the place we are discoursing from and which he doth oppose to Godliness doth mean abstinence from things Lawful upon the command of some Teachers or when they forbid us the use or enjoyment of Lawful things upon a Religious account And that this is here meant by Bodily Exercise appears in the fore-going verses of this Chapter for there the Apostle saith Now the spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some will depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath Created to be received with thanksgiving of them who believe and know the Truth For every Creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving For it is Sanctified by the word of God and prayer If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things thou shalt be a good Minister of Jesus Christ c. But refuse profane and Old Wives Fables And exercise thy self unto godliness for bodily Exercise about these Old Wives Fables profiteth little or is worth nothing as a like Phrase is used by the Wiseman when he saith the heart of the wicked is little worth to wit it is good for nothing Prov. 10. 20. But godliness is profitable unto all things c. And so we may say godliness is not a strict and Consciencious Observance of or Abstinence from indifferent and lawful things at the command of superstitious Teachers and guides or as the Apostle else-where speaketh the Kingdom of God or the Christian Religion is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men Let us therefore follow after the things which make for Peace c. Rom. 14. 17 18 19. To the same purpose also Saint Paul writes to the believing Colossians saying wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world why as though living in the world are ye Subject to Ordinances Touch not taste not handle not which are all to perish with the using after the commandments and ordinances of men which things have indeed a shew of Wisdom in Will-Worship and Humility c. They have a shew of Piety and Religion and nothing of the power thereof in Truth and reality And of such as have their Life in observing or Abstaining from such Indifferent things it may be said They have a form of godliness but deny the Power thereof Col. 2. 20 21 23. with 2 Tim. 3. 1 5. Consciencious Observance of or Abstinence from these Lawful and Indifferent things is not the godliness which is here commended to us and represented to be so advantageous and gainful For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Uncircumcision but a new Creature Gal. 6. 15 16. 1 Cor. 7. 19. The great stress of the Pharisees Religion consisted in unnecessary or lighter matters they made broad their Phylacteries and enlarged the borders of their garments They were very zealous in observing and appearing for the Traditions of the Elders They paid Tithe of Mint and Annise and Cummin But in the mean time they omitted the weightier matters of the Law Judgment Mercy and Faith and while they strained at gntas they swallowed Camels But the heart of these men was far removed from inward and sincere Piety and Purity For though they outwardly apepared righteous unto men yet within they were full of Hypocrisy and Iniquity And against them our Lord denounced many heavy and severe woes Mat. 15. 1 9 20. and chap. 23. 4 5 23 28. And so it is too too much in our Times with very many professed Christians of the reformed Religion some are so very hot and earnest for the Traditions and Impositions of the Elders that they almost or altogether Equalize them unto if not prefer them before the Commandments of the Lord. And some others are so very Superstitiously zealous against them that they therein make little or nothing of disobedience to Civil Magistrates or Ecclesiastical Rulers and Governours and think their Injunction makes Lawful things unlawful But herein both these sorts do not follow or
THE GAIN OF Godliness BEING A Consideration of 1 Tim. 4. 8. By Charles Phelpes Can a Man be profitable unto God as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself Job 22. 2. Riches profit not in the day of Wrath But Righteousness delivereth from Death Prov. 11. 4. Godliness with Contentment is great Gain 1 Tim. 6. 6. LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the three Crowns and Bible at the lower end of Cheap-side 1682. TO THE READER Christian Reader IT is a general and necessary enquiry of the Sons of Men which is mentioned by the Psalmist to wit There be many that say Who will shew us that which is good That which is truly profitable for us Psal 4. 6. We All need to be shewn what is for Benefit and to be Directed thereunto for though Empty Man would be Wise yet Man is Born like a wild Asses Colt to wit most void of Understanding Job 11. 12. with Psal 32. 9. Every Man is brutish by his Knowledge Jer. 10. 14. Aud this doth Evidently appear by their undertakings and pursuits whatever their words and expressions are For generally they are seeking after the World as their chiefest good And their Wisdome which is Earthly directs them so to do It commends unto them and Glorifies before them the Riches Honours and Pleasures of this vain and transitory Life as the most profitable and valuable Things which can be pursued or procured by them and therefore excites and provokes them to Labour only or chiefly for this Meat which perisheth for these Objects which endure not unto everlasting Life For the things which are seen are Temporal 2 Cor. 4. 18. Hence the Wise Man gives this Caution and Dehortation to the Sons of Men Labour not to be Rich cease from thine own Wisdome Wilt thou cause thine Eyes to flee upon that which is not For Riches certainly make themselves Wings they flee like an Eagle toward Heaven Prov. 23. 4 5. And indeed if we could have never so sure and certain an Enjoyment of them while we are here continued in this World which yet we cannot promise to our selves or assure our selves of yet without all peradventure when we leave this World we must leave all the things of it behind us For we brought nothing into this world And it is certain we can carry nothing out 1 Tim. 6. 7. Be not thou fraid when one is made Rich when the Glory of his House is increased For when he Dyeth he shall carry nothing away his Glory shall not descend after him Psal 49. 16 17 20. And Alas What is our Life Is it not even a Vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away Within a few Years or Dayes we shall go the way whence we shall not return Job 16. 22. Yea though we should Live a Thousand Years twice told and yet have not seen or sought after that which is truly eminently and eternally Good What will All then avail us when we go to the Place appointed for all Living Will he esteem thy Riches No not Gold nor all the Forces of strength Job 36. 8 9. What is the hope of the Hypocrite though he hath gained when God taketh away his Soul Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him Job 27. 8 9. What is a Man Advantaged saith our Lord and Saviour if he gain the whole world and lose himself or be cast away Luk. 9. 24 25. The World then and the things thereof are not Profitable for all things They are not the good we should mainly enquire after or exercise our selves to the Attainment of For they are not of the Father 1 Joh. 2. 15 17. Yea indeed the inordinate Love of the World is Enmity with God and hinders from serving and pleasing Him For no Man can serve two Masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other Ye cannot serve God and mammon saith our Lord Jesus Jam. 4. 4. with Mat. 6. 24. But now the only wise God and our Saviour and therefore also the only good and gracious God doth give a satisfactory Answer to that Enquiry of the Many or Multitude before-mentioned in Psal 4. 6. As the Prophet signifieth saying He hath shewed thee O Man what is good what is truly well-pleasing unto him and everlastingly profitable beneficial for thy self and what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to humble thy self in walking with thy God And so to believe in him For Without Faith it is impossible to walk with and please him Mica 6. 8. with Heb. 11. 5 6. and Gen. 5. 22 24. This is that which God doth Require of us for our Good and Benefit Compare Mica 6. 8. with Deut. 10. 12 13. And suitably thereto the Apostle Paul as directed by the Spirit of Truth speaks in the Words which are the Subject of the ensuing Discourse saying Godliness is profitable unto all things c. And could Men but be perswaded and prevailed withal to Believe this with all their Souls How would it Metamorphose and Transform their Hearts and Lives and make them Christ's Disciples not in Name and Profession only but in Truth and Reality But Alas How many Unbelieving Believers are there in the outward Court of the Church and therefore how many Unchrist-like Christians Jer. 9. 25 26. How many are there that stand up at and profess to Assent and Consent to the Belief concerning whom it may be said They are Children in whom is no Faith as Deut. 32. 20. How many call themselves The only true Sons of the Church while they Actually and openly appear to be The Children of this World or Members of a Worldly Sanctuary And such manner of persons may be forward to suspect That they design their prejudice who endeavour to Moderate their Affections unto and pursuits after these low things and to excite and quicken them to exercise themselves unto true Piety and Purity And St. Paul saw it needful to Assure the Believing Corinthians That he intended no hurt to them when he Exhorted them to have their Conversation without Carefulness and Covetousness But that he endeavoured their certain and stable Interest and Advantage For when he had been saying Brethren the time is short It remaineth that they that Weep for any worldly Loss or Deprivation be as though they Wept not and they that Rejoyce for any present Gain or Increase as though they Rejoyced not and they that Buy as though they Possessed not And they that use this world as not abusing it for the Fashion of this world passeth away But I would have you without Carefulness c. He then presently after thus Writeth unto them And this I speak not for your Disadvantage or Detriment but for your own profit not that I may cast a Snare upon you but for that which is Comely And that you may attend upon
the Lord without distraction Signifying That the waiting and attending upon him and so living Piously and Honestly in this World will be more profitable for us than waiting upon and endeavouring to please the World as our Lord and Master will be 1 Cor. 7. 29 32 35. O then Tast and see that the Lord is good Blessed is the Man that trusteth in him Psal 34. 8 10. And as it is very useful and needful for all Persons seriously to consider that Piety is the most profitable thing they can practise and exercise themselves unto So particularly and especially let Young Persons observe That the Apostle excites Timothy in his Youth or younger Years to the pursuit and practise of Godliness as may be seen in 1 Tim. 4. 7 8 12. That they also may embrace and obey that Counsel given to Timothy and given unto him That he might in observing it set a good Example before others And St. Paul charges Titus to Exhort young men to be Sober-minded to wit not to let out their Hearts too much unto or immorderately set their Affections upon those things which are perishing and momentany Intimating That there is a too great proness in them thereto Tit. 2. 6 7. But it is good for such who are entring into the World as some speak to mind That Pure Religion is their greatest and surest Interest and most profitable for them both for this present State and for that which is to come Psal 34. 11 15. When Solomon while he was young and tender had this Liberty given unto him by the Lord to wit Ask what I shall give thee He then begged for Wisdome and Understanding which is the Principal thing Prov. 4. 6 7. and his Choice and Speech did so please the Lord that he had asked an Understanding Heart That he fulfilled the Request of his Lips and Gave him an understanding Heart so that there was none like him before him neither after him should any arise like unto him And not only so but he also gave him other things which are higher desirable and valuable with young Persons As he saith I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked both Riches and Honour c. And if thou wilt walk in my Ways then I will lengthen thy Days 2 King 3. 5 14. Lo here young persons You have an eminent Instance set before you to assure you that it is your highest Interest to get Wisdome which is the most excellent thing For in so doing all other good and needful things shall be added to you But you may say Though we should exercise our selves to true Wisdome and Piety and first seek after that Yet we cannot assure our selves That He will supply us with all needful things from God's so dealing with Solomon To this I Answer That Solomon himself as it were Relating unto God's gracious Dealing with him doth assure us That in our exercising our selves to sincere Piety we shall also receive therewith the three valuable Things promised unto him by way of over-plus so far as they are Profitable for us when he saith By humility and the fear of the Lord are Riches and Honour and Life Prov. 22. 4. Luk. 12. 29 31 32. Now therefore saith Wisdome hearken unto me O ye Children For Blessed are they that keep my Ways both now and to all Eternity Hear Instruction and be Wise and refuse it not Prov. 8. 32 33 35. with ver 17 18 21. I shall hold thee no longer here but refer thee to what followeth And Praying God to Pardon what is Amiss and to bless and succeed what is his I desire to Approve my self March 4th 1632. A Well-Willer of thine and of all Mens Charles Phelpes THE Gian of Godliness 1 Tim. 4. 8. But Godliness is profitable unto all things having Promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come THese words are propounded by the Apostle Paul as a forcible motive to move and engage Timothy to observe and obey that Exhortation and Counsel which he had given him in the fore-going verse namely Exercise thy self unto Godliness ver 7. and to inforce that Exhortation He here sets before him this very Powerful and Efficacious encouragement For Godliness is profitable unto all things c. And though that Exhortation or Command in ver 7. was directly and particularly given by the Apostle to Timothy his own Son in the Faith yet it was so given unto him and was so to be observed by him as that he might be a Pattern in the observance thereof to the Believers generally For so much is signified in what he presently subjoyns to wit in ver 12. where he thus saith Let no man despise thy youth But be thou an example of the Believers in Word in Conversation in Charity in Faith in Spirit in Purity And so it plainly appears that the Counsell and Exhortation given unto Timothy in ver 7. was given to him that he might in the observance of and obedience to it be an Example to the Believers And that all of us might in Imitation of him and other Godly and Holy ones heartily apply our selves unto true and unfeigned Piety and Religion which is profitable and advantageous to all that sincerely exercise themselves thereto Now in the words themselves which we have Propounded to Consider and Discourse of we have as is before observed a Powerful Motive and Enforcement to perswade us and prevail with us to Exercise our selves unto Godliness And this weighty motive is 1. Propounded to us more Generally and Indistinctly namely Godliness is profitable unto Or for All things 2. This motive is more Particularly and Distinctly expressed and laid down and the Truth of the former part evidenced in the following words that is to say Having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come In both which it doth very manifestly appear and is fully evidenced that Godliness is profitable unto all things both here and hereafter now in this present short and frail state and in that future and endless state we must all of us hereafter enter upon 1. I say we have a Powerful and Cogent Motive to enforce that Counsel Exhortation in ver 7. more Generally and Indistinctly laid down and propounded to us to wit Godliness is profitable unto or for all things Now in speaking hereto let us enquire into and Consider 1. The subject-matter here treated of and commended to us and that is Godliness 2. That which is affirmed of it by way of Commendation and for our encouragement to exercise our selves thereto and that is It is profitable unto all things 1. The Subject-matter here treated of and highly commended to us and that is Godliness But what is this Godliness which is so much commended and so greatly and eternally profitable Now to that Enquiry I shall give answer 1. Negatively 2. Affirmatively 1. We shall speak unto the fore-mentioned Enquiry Negatively or shew what is not
meant or intended by Godliness which is so much here commended and so greatly prositable and so we may say 1. Worldly Gain or secular advantage is not Godliness nor Godliness it There were some evil persons and Teachers also it may seem in the Apostles time that did so suppose and so out of a worldly design did make a profession of the Faith of our Lord Jesus and of the Christian Religion of them St. Paul speaks in this Epistle to Timothy saying unto him of some men that they were destitute of the Truth Supposing that gain is Godliness from such withdraw thy self 1 Tim. 6. 5. their Appearing Piety and profession of Godliness was a cloak of Covetousness and an Engine which they made use of to Advance themselves in the World and when their Prosession of the Christian Religion would not conduce or contribute to their worldly design they would then take their leaves of that and embrace another which they imagined would And thus it may justly be feared it is with too too many in our dayes and times in which we live that is the best Religion with them the pure Apostolick worship which tends to Secure them from the Cross of Christ and Afflictions of the Gospel and which in all likelyhood conduces to their secular Advantage and Grandeur in the world They are too much like the Pharisees in our Saviours time who were so zealous for the Traditions of the Elders and so superstitious in observing their groundless and unnecessary Ceremonies and superfluous impositions and under all this their hearts went after and they hotly pursued their covetousness Matt. 15. 1 9. and ch 23. And they derided the Wisdom of God when they heard this Doctrine from him to wit No servant can serve two Masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other ye cannot serve God and mammon Luk. 16. 13 14 15. Thus also some of the Jews when they saw the mighty and stupendious works of our Lord Jesus and rightly concluded from thence that he that effected such wonderful works could if he pleased deliver them from their enemies how Numerous or Potent soever they were and that he could make them the Head of the Nations round about them and exalt them to Glory and Riches in this world and upon this account they would have come and taken him by force to make him their King And when our Lord would by no means comply with them but departed from them when the People therefore saw that Jesus was not there They took shipping and came to Capernaum seeking for Jesus How great pains did this People take to find Christ and what zeal did they express in following him and yet their zeal was as faulty as servent for they still pursued a worldly design under all this appearing love to him and zeal in seeking him as our Saviour also signifies in the Reproof and Counsel which he gives unto them unto whom he saith verily verily I say unto you ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles in which his Power and Pity was expressed and evidenced towards the Children of men But because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life which the son of man will give unto you c. Lo here we may see it exemplified in these Jews That some suppose gain to be Godliness Their aim and design was worldly and ambitious while they appear to have a servent affection to Christ and an earnest desire to follow him Christ was but the way whereby they hoped to arrive at the end of their pursuit to wit worldly Victory Tranquility Grandeur and Domination John 6. 14 15 24 26 27. And how many are there that under pretence of Religion pursue Mammon so did they which caused Divisions and Offences contrary to the doctrine of Christ of whom the Apostle saith They that are such serve not our Lord Jesus but their own Belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Rom. 16. 17 18. Such also were they concerning whom the Apostle thus writes to the Philippians saying For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their Belly whose glory is in their shame who mind earthly things to wit onely or mainly Phil. 3. 18 19. But however too too many do falsely and mistakingly suppose yet Godliness is no worldly design or Artifice 2. Nor is Godliness the Bodily exercise here mentioned by the Apostle But it is opposed thereto in this verse where he saith Bodily exercise profitteth little but Godliness is profitable unto all things c. But before we speak further hereto it may not be amiss but useful for us to consider that by Bodily exercise here the Apostle doth not mean or intend a diligent service of God's providence in any lawfull and honest Calling Trade or Employment nor doth the Apostle any where speak meanly or undervaluingly concerning diligence in and about the Affairs of this life But this is that which is many times commanded and commended to us in the holy Scriptures When Adam was in the state of Innocency God put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it Gen. 2. 15. And if God thought it useful for the First man to have some Employment then much rather is it both usefull and needfull for us now when we have all sinned and are come short of 〈◊〉 glory of God And so by means of Idleness many times persons fall into temptation and their spiritual Enemies prevail against them and lead them captive at their pleasure Ezek. 16. 49. The Apostle speaking of young Widdows saith They learn to be idle wandering from house to house and not onely Idle but Tatlers also and Busy-bodies speaking things which they ought not And so give occasion to the Adversary to speak reproachfully And they themselves or some of them turned after Satan Idleness is their first evill there mentioned and a fruitful one also in them and they proceeded from evill to evill when they did not Bear Children c. They brought forth the Bratts of sin and satan 1 Tim. 5. 13 15. And the same Apostle gives this command to the Believers to withdraw themselves from every Brother that walketh disorderly and not after the Tradition and Example of himself and of his fellow Labourers For saith he even when we were with you this we commanded you that if any would not work neither should he eat for we hear that there are some which walk disorderly among you working not at all but are Busy-bodies Now them that are such we command and Exhort by our Lord Jesus that with quietness they work and eat their own Bread But ye Brethren be not weary of
thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort thou shalt do welt 3. Joh. 5. 6. And so on the other hand they are called ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into Lasciviousness in a general consideration Jud. 4. 2 Pet. 2. 5 6. And very frequently in the book of the Psalmes where in the Translation after the Hebrew we read wicked the Septuagint read ungodly and so doth our Vulgar Translation as we by observation may see And thus as I have said Godliness is to be accepted in this place in such an Extensive and Comprehensive consideration And so taking it and looking upon it we may say 1. That by Godliness here we are to understand the Christian Faith or the Articles thereof which are to be believed by us and the unfeigned belief thereof which this Apostle calls the mystery of godliness when he saith without Controversy or Confessedly great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit seen of Angels Preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world received up into Glory 1 Tim. 3. 16. And of which Truth or mystery the Church of the living God is the ground and Pillar v. 15. And so this mystery of Godliness contains in it the incarnation abasement sufferings death Resurrection Ascension and Exaltation of the Son of God and all the Truths of the Gospel which are therein Preached to us to the end they may be unfeignedly and heartily embraced and entertained by us and which mystery is called the Gospel Thus when the Apostle saith to the Corinthians I declare unto you the Gospel which I Preached unto you which also ye have received c He then more Particularly acquaints them with and re-minds them of the Gospel which he had formerly Proclaimed unto them saying For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and that he was seen of Cephas then of the Twelve c. 1 Cor. 15. 1 4 8. And so this Doctrine of Godliness is called The word of Faith which the Apostles have Preached and delivered Rom. 10. 8. 10 15 17. And the Faith of the Gospel Phil. 1. 27. And the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of Glory Jam. 2. 1. And the Faith which was once delivered to the Saints Jude 3. 4. To which I shall not here particularly speak 2. And by Godliness here we are also to understand the Christian life and practice which is Taught us by the Gospel of Christ as it is now Preached unto us according to the Revelation of the Mystery Hence the Gospel of Christ is called the Doctrine according to Godliness because it doth teach us to serve God acceptably with Reverence and Godly fear to serve him without fear in holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of our life 1 Tim. 6. 3. Heb. 12. 28. As the Apostle Paul saith the grace of God which bringeth Salvation unto all men hath appeared teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present world in this posture looking for the blessed hope c. Tit. 2. 11 12 13. And the same Apostle declaring to the believing Ephesians the sad miscarriage of the Gentiles that knew not God And how they walked in the vanity of their mindes he then saith unto them But ye have not so learned Christ if so be that ye have heard him and been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts And be renewed in the spirit of your mind And that ye put on the New-Man which after God is Created in Righteousness and Holiness of Truth To give us to understand that the word of the Truth of the Gospel of Christ doth Teach us to be pure in heart and Pious in all manner of Demeanour and conversation for which cause also it is called the Truth which is after Godliness Eph. 4. 20 24. With Tit. 1. 1. It gives unto us more perfect Easy and excellent commands and rules then the Law doth however as to the clearness of them It sets before us more excellent and forcible Motives and Arguments on the right hand and on the left to Enforce our Duty It propounds to us the most excellent example of Jesus the Son of God That we might follow his steps and walk as he hath walked And also with it are afforded more abundant and powerful assistances of the grace and spirit of God to work in us both to will and to do of good pleasure That we might do all things without Murmuring and disputings that so we might be blameless and harmless And therefore as our blessed Saviour saith except your Righteousness shall exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees which were the most strait sect of the Jews Religion Act. 26. 5. Ye shall in no Case enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 5. 19 20 47 48. To whom much is given of them much will be required Luk. 12. 47 48. And we therefore being preferred above the Jews ought to exceed them in all Godliness and Goodness 1 Pet. 1. 10 12 13 18. What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and Godliness Be we then diligent that we may be found of him in Peace without Spot and Blameless 1 Pet. 2. 9 10 12. 2 Pet. 3. 12. 14. And so in a few words the Godliness here commended to us doth contain in it an hearty unfeigned and operative belief of the Gospel and a life Practice suitable thereunto to wit in sincere Holiness Righteousness and Sobriety Rom. 6. 17 18 21. And thus according to my weakness I have briefly shewn what is here meant by Godliness 2. Consider we in the next place what is here Affirmed of Godliness by way of its Commendation And for our encouragement to exercise our selves thereto And that is It is profitable for or unto allthings It is that which is of greatest and most general advantage to them that exercise themselves heartily unto it But before we speak any further thereto we may observe that the Apostle here doth not declare unto us the whole excellency of the Christian Faith and Life or give unto us a Compleat Commendation of it for it is pleasant sweet and grateful also it is as delightful as Gainful as pleasurable as profitable as it is said of Wisdome to wit of Sincere Piety her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace Prov. 3. 13 17. Great peace have they that Love thy Law And nothing shall offend them Psal 119. 165. Believing in Christ with Faith unfeigned they rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1 6 8. And such as uprightly exercise
unto God doth plainly appear from what the Apostle speaks to the believing Hebrews saying but without faith it is impossible to please God for he that cometh to God must believe that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 5. 6. As also the Truth hereof doth further appear in those Commands which the Apostles have given by the Lord Jesus to the believers As so run that ye may abtain 1 Cor. 9. 24. Let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not As we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all men c. Gal. 6. 9. 10. And when the Apostle had been saying as before we took notice I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus He then immediately addes thereto let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded c. To wit as he himself was Phil. 3. 14. 15. 1 Tim. 6. 12. 7. And lastly as to this a reward is particularly propounded to us and needful to be respected and expected by us to make us willing to perform those Tasks of Christ which appear to be very difficult chargeable and unpleasant to us as to say that we may patiently and chearfully take up the Cross of Christ and endure affliciton as good Souldiers of his for the Word and way of truth it is doubtless very requisite and needful to have such respect unto the Crown of Glory as that none of the things we suffer may move us and therefore that is proposed to us to strengthen us to suffer adversity and persecution Blessed are ye saith our Saviour when men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their company and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil for the Son of man's sake rejoyce ye in that day and leap for Joy for behold mind and consider this seriously attentively your reward is great in heaven Luk. 6. 22 23 Mat. 5. 10 12. For which things sake we faint not saith the Apostle for our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are not seen are eternal 2 Cor. 4. 16 17 18. and chap. 5. 1. 9. And the Apostle Peter thus admonishes and encourages the believers to partake of the afflictions of the Gospel think it not strange concerning the fiery Tryal as if some strange thing happened unto you but rejoyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christs Sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye also may be glad with exceeding joy 1 Pet. 4. 12 13. It is a faithful saying for if we be dead with him we shall also live with him If we suffer we shall also reign with him Of these things put them namely the believers in Remembrance intimating that the believing remembrance hereof is very proper and profitable for them to strengthen them to all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness in all their Tribulations 2 Tim. 2. 11 14. 2 Cor. 1. 7. Again that we may chearfully and liberally according to our several abilities give to the poor and exercise our selves in works of mercy and charity in administring to the necessities of such as are needy and indigent it is needful and requisite for us to consider the reward set before us to excite us thereto otherwise we shall be back-ward to undertake or continue in this good work And therefore oftentimes the future advantage of this pious work is proposed that we might be forward thereto Thus our Lord saith to the young-man whom he loved if thou wilt be perfect go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven Mat. 19. 21. And to the same purpose our Saviour speaks unto his Disciples also saying sell that ye have and give Almes provide your selves bags which wax not old a Treasure in the heavens that faileth not where no Thief approacheth nor Moth corrupteth Luk. 12. 33 34. And to the end the Apostle Paul might provoke the Corinthians to a liberal distribution toward their poor and necessitous brethren he thus writes unto them he that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully 2 Cor. 9. 6 9. with Psal 1 12. 9. Eccles 12. 1. And he thus Commands Timothy charge them that are rich in this world that they do good that they be rich in good workes ready to distribute willing to communicate and that they might so be he signifies that this would turn to their own future account and advantage in the day of Christ saying laying up in Store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life 1 Tim. 6. 17 19. Once more to the end we may really love our enemies and such as hate and persecute us and may do good to them and be Cordially kind to them according to their needs and our Capacity it is very behoveful and requisite for us to mind and have respect unto the encouragement of a future reward assured to them that exercise themselves in that work of Perfection To this purpose when our Lord gives this command to his disciples namely I say unto you which hear love your enemies do good to them which hate you bless them that curse you and pray for them that despightfully use you and Persecute you he afterwards in the same discourse assures them that their observing and obeying this command would be for their own profit and advantage for he thus saith Love ye your enemies and do good and lend hoping for nothing again and your reward shall be great he not only propounds and promises to them a reward but also a great one that they might perform this difficult and excellent duty and then presently after addes Be ye therefore merciful as your Father also is merciful Luk. 6. 27 28 35 36. Mat. 5. 44 47 48. It may be said of this duty of heartily loving our Enemies as sometimes some said in another Case this is an hard saying who can hear it but that we may hear and obey it our bountiful Lord doth hire us to the performance thereof and so makes it easy Wherefore as the wise man saith if thine Enemy be hungry give him bread to eat and if he be thirsty give him Water to drink for thou shalt heap coales of fire on his head and the Lord shall reward thee Prov. 25. 22 23. And thus we have largely shewed that it is no mercenary or reprovable thing to exercise our selves to godliness out of a respect to and hope of a reward of grace upon our so doing but that which is Lawful Laudable yea and in some sense and Cases requisite and needful so to do and I shall adde no more to this
in being thus wise they shall be wise for themselves and shall lay up for themselves in store a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life Prov. 9. 10 12 1 Tim. 6. 6 19. Dan. 12. 2 3. Others may appear to have more speculative and notionall knowledge and wisdom but these are the onely persons that are really and practically wise and wiser than all other men in that they pursue Godliness and thereby obtain and make sure the favour of him that loveth Piety and righteousness Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding for the Merchandise of it is better than the Merchandise of Silver and the gain thereof than fine Gold she is more precious than Rubies and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her Length of days is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and honour She is a tree of life to all that lay hold on her and happy is every one that retaineth her Prov. 3. 13 18. I love them saith the Wisdom of God that love me and they that seek me early shall find me But what shall they be the better for finding her what advantage will that be of unto them much every way for saith she in the next words Riches and Honour are with me yea durable Riches and Righteousness and these two always go together namely durable Riches and Righteousness I walk and lead in the way of Righteousness in the midst of the paths of Judgment that I may cause them that love me to inherit substance and I will fill their Treasure Prov. 8. 17. 18 21. If therefore we would behave our selves wisely and hopefully and succesfully pursue that which will be really and in truth profitable and advantageous to us Let us follow after righteousness and Godliness for this is our wisdom and our understanding as Deut. 4. 5 6. The ungodly Person is the greatest fool and so he is frequently called by the Wisdom of God in the Book of the Proverbs And he doth appear so to be by his despising the fear of the Lord in doing which he wrongs his own soul and loves death Prov. 1. 7. and chap. 8. 36. But the sincerely pious Person is and is usually called the Wise man because he feareth before God and the reward of Humility and of the Fear of the Lord is Riches and life Prov. 22. 4. When our saviour commends unto his disciples in his parable the unjust Steward not for his unrighteousness but because he had done Wisely he then gives this instruction unto them and I say unto you make to your selves friends of the Mamon of unrighteousness that is be rich and abundant in good and pious works That when ye fail as fail from hence we must all They may receive you into everlasting Habitations or Tabernacles and in so doing we shall deal wisely and prudently for our own souls Luk. 16. 8 9. And this leads us to the last use namely 5. Seeing Piety is profitable unto all things Be we all exhorted perswaded and prevailed withal seriously and constantly to exercise our selves thereto if we would indeed aim at and pursue that which is gainful and beneficial to us Now in this day in exercising our selves thereto God will supply all our wants and give unto us those things that are usefull and needfull for us O taste and see that the Lord is gracious Blessed is the man that trusteth in him O fear the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him Psal 34. 8 9 In thus doing God will be our exceeding great reward Gen. 15. 1. God is not unrighteous saith the Apostle to forget your work and labour of l ve Heb 6. 9. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought Mal. 1. 10. Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water onely in the name of a Disciple saith our Lord Jesus verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward Mat. 10. 42. O let us then intend his service and cast all our cares and concernes upon him for he careth for us let all our Wants lye upon him whose is the earth and the fulness thereof the Cattel upon a thousand hills and who hath given this command and encouragement to us to wit trust in the Lord and do good and thou shalt dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed Psal 37. 3 6. And then hereafter they that now live Godly in Christ Jesus shall have the Fulness and Harvest of all spiritual blessings O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the Sons of men Psal 31. 19. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the Ear neither hath the Eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for thee Isa 64. 4. He that sate upon the Throne said behold I make all things new and he said unto me write for these words are true and faithful he that overcometh to wit his spiritual enemies shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my Son Rev. 21. 5 7. O then Let us abstain from and flee all Ungodliness and worldly lusts and follow after Righteousness Godliness Faith Love Patience Meekness Let us fight the good fight of Faith and so lay hold on eternal life 1 Tim. 6. 11 12. And this leads us unto the following part of the words namely 2. We have the Motive to excite and provoke us to exercise our selves to Piety and Righteousness propounded to us more particularly and distinctly and therein the Truth of the foregoing part of the words opened and evidenced namely having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come of this present momentany state we are now in and of that eternal one we shall enter upon and have an everlasting enjoyment of when we are removed hence and shall be here no more But now before we come to speak unto the Motive and enforcement as it is here more particularly and distinctly exprest and evidenced to us in the latter part of the Text we may a little usefully fore-consider these following things to wit 1. What it is that hath the promise and promises absolutely Annex't unto it and entailed upon it and that is godliness as that signifies the whole duty of man as we have before noted and shewn and so the promises are first of all made unto our Lord Jesus Christ who is Emphatically and most Eminently called God's holy one or godly one Psal 16. 10. Who loved righteousness and hated iniquity therefore God even his God hath anointed him with the oyl of gladness above his fellows because
of them with any fear of amazement the Lord of Hosts is for them the God of Jacob is their refuge Psal 46. And till he gives their enemies permission they cannot Touch an Hair of their heads And of this the grand-Enemy and adversary of the upright-hearted is aware hence he saith to the Lord concerning Job hast thou not made an hedge about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side Job 1. 9 11. And our Lord Jesus thus speaks for the encouragement of his sincere disciples Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father But the very haires of your head are all numbred So that not one of them shall be plucked off until he give that liberty to their enemies And not one of them shall be plucked off but he will miss it Fear ye not therefore ye are of more value then many sparrows Mat. 10. 29 31. Luk. 12. 6 7. with chap. 21. 17 18. And Rulers who are Gods Ministers are not a Terrour to good works but to evil Rom. 13. 3 4. And their hearts are in the hands of the Lord and he will order and over-rule them for the good and protection of those that are upright in their heart and way while it may be for their profit By me saith Wisdom Kings reign and Princes decree Justice By me Princes Rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the earth I Love them that love me and therefore he will order them whom he sets over them in this world as may be for his glory and for their good and benefit Prov. 8. 15 16 17. And in former times he suffered no man to do them harm but rebuked Kings for the sakes of his dearly beloved people when they were few in number yea very few and strangers in the land saying touch not mine anointed and do my Prophets no harm 1 Chron. 16. 19 22. Psal 105. 11 12 15. Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with his benefits even the God of our salvation He that is our God is the God of salvation and unto God the Lord belong the Issues from death Psal 68. 18 19 20. O let us trust in him at all times and pour out our hearts before him for he is a refuge for us Power doth belong unto him and also with him is mercy Psal 59. 16 17. and 62. 8 10 12. 4. Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is even of all that is profitable in this world and therefore when it is useful and needful for them that exercise themselves thereto that they should meet with troubles and Tryals here he will order them unto them these may be profitable for them and their Heavenly Father when he chastens them doth not do so for his own pleasure but for their profit not that they might be rich and great here but that they might be partakers of his holiness Heb. 12. 10 12. Afflictions are for the Health of the Soul and Physick when it is given by this able faithful and skilful Physician is as wholesome as yea may be more wholesome than Food It is good for me saith David that I have been afflicted that is he doth hereby acknowledge that it was useful and profitable for him And again he saith I know O Lord that thy judgments are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me Psal 119. 71 75. Behold happy is the man whom God correcteth therefore despise not thou the Chastening of the Almighty Job 5. 17. Blessed is the man whom thou Chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law Psal 94. 11 12 13. And the Apostle as guided by the infallible spirit of God gives us this assurance to wit All that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 2 Tim. 3. 11 12. And that the afflictions which he is ordering to them especially such as they endure for his names sakes even for the word and way of truth may be useful and profitable for and unto their Souls Therefore 1. He doth promise and assure us upon his faithful word that he will order afflictions and troubles in measure both as to the weight and as to the continuance of them the remainder of man's wrath that would not tend to his praise in the profit of his people he will restrain Psal 76. 10. The Rod of the wicked shall not Rest upon the Lot of the Righteous lest the Righteous put forth their hands to Iniquity Psal 125. 3. In measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it he stayeth his rough-wind in the day of the East-wind By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged c. To wit it shall therefore be purged because God doth in measure debate otherwise it would consume not profitably purge even as a Physician will do more hurt then good if his Physick be over strong and may then purge away the life instead of purging away the Noxious Humours in order to cure and health Isa 27. 8 9. So the Lord promiseth saying I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth for the spirit should fail before me and the souls which I have made c. Isa 57. 16 19. And to the same purpose the Apostle speaketh saying There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man such as is moderate and God is faithful for the future who will not suffer you to be Tempted above that ye are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape or give an Issue that ye may be able to bear it Wherefore my dearly beloved flee from Idolatry Walk not in any crooked path use no indirect or unwarrantable method to save your selves or to prevent or extricate your selves from troubles and afflictions but commit your souls unto God in well doing as unto a faithful Creator 1 Cor. 10. 13 14. with 1 Pet. 4. 19. 2. When he orders Trials and Sufferings unto those that exercise themselves unto true Piety he will keep them from evil from that which would really be evil to them from the evil design of Satan and his instruments namely from sin and from everlasting destruction Evil shall slay the wicked and they that hate the righteous shall be guilty or desolate But the Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants and none of them that trust in him shall be guilty or desolate Psal 34. 19 22. and 91. 9 10. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil he shall preserve thy soul Psal 121. There shall no evil happen to the just Prov. 12. 21. And our Lord Jesus when he addresseth himself to his Father in his last solemne Prayer before his passion though he prays not that God would keep his reall disciples from persecution but supposes they should meet with hatred and trouble from the world yet he thus expresseth himself I
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Rom. 3. 22 25. And he will pour out his spirit unto the truely pious persons and thereby make their souls like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not which will spring up unto everlasting life Isa 58. 6 11. How much more saith our Saviour shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask him Luk. 11. 13. But this is to be understood of the first-fruits thereof the Harvest thereof is still to be waited for as the Apostle saith we our selves also which have the first-fruits of the spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the adoption c. Rom. 8. 23 25. Even as before the children of Israel came into the Land of Canaan they had a first-fruits as it were of that excellent land which was the glory of all lands brought unto them in the wilderness for their encouragement to hold on their way and that from thence they might conceive and conclude that the land of Canaan was a most excellent countrey Numb 13. 23 24 26 27. So now while they are in the wilderness of this world God doth in some beginnings and in a small measure give unto them that live godly in Christ Jesus a Taste of what they shall hereafter compleatly and fully enjoy that they might Hunger and Thirst after righteousness and press toward the mark for the prize which is set before them He is now merciful to their unrighteousness Heb. 8. 12. And doth remember them with his special favour Psal 106. 4. Prov. 8. 17. And gives them grace for seasonable help Psal 84. 11. Heb. 4. 16. And is filling them with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God Isa 61. 3. Joh. 15. 1 8. In taking Christ's yoke upon them and learning of him they shall find rest to their souls while they meet with various afflictions and occasions of sadness as with respect to the outward man their soul shall dwell at case and lodge in Goodness Mat. 11. 28 30 Psal 25. 11 14. God is now filling them with joy and peace in believing in the midst of all the troubles and exercises wherewith they are exercised and is also effecting in them and quickning them unto a lively Hope and well-grounded Expectation which maketh not ashamed of the Harvest and future inheritance and this Hope they have as an Anchor of the Soul both sure that which will not break how highly soever the waves lift up their voice or how fiercely soever the winds bluster and blow yet this Hope will hold firm and it is stedfast it will not slip for it is centred in Christ that Rock of Ages against which the gates of hell shall not prevail nor against those that firmely abide in him Yea this Hope which is the Anchor of the Soul entreth into that within the veil whither the fore-runner is for us entred even Jesus made an High-priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech Heb. 6. 18 20. 1 Joh. 3. 1 2 3. But we shall here add no more as to this first particular in which the Apostle doth evince and evidence to us the great advantageousness and profitableness of true piety holiness and righteousness to the end we may seriously and stedfastly exercise our selves to the unfeigned belief of the mystery of it and also to the sincere practice of it in saying unto us having promise of the life that now is And now God willing we shall proceed on unto the second contained in the last clause namely 2. Godliness is profitable having promise also of the life that is to come to wit after this uncertain and frail life shall have an end In which is intimated to us that though men lead never such pious and good lives though they walk never so holily justly and unblamably in having their conversation as becomes and adornes the Gospel of Christ Jesus yet they shall not live here always but they must depart this life as well as other men It is appointed to men generally once to dye to dye the first death Heb. 9. 27. What man is he that liveth and shall not see death and shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave Psal 89. 48. Nor indeed would it be good for them to live here always in this polluted evil troublesome and dangerous world for while they are at home in the body they are absent from the Lord but when this life is at end they shall then be with Christ and shall enter into the joy of their Lord. And therefore as the present life is theirs while it is continued to them so death is theirs also to them to dye is gain the day of death is better to them than the day of their birth Eccl. 7. 1. To which I shall at this time enlarge no further But though they also must needs dye and depart out of this world yet in unfeignedly exercising themselves to Godliness they have the promise of the life that is to come As things present are theirs so also are things to come All things are theirs and they are Christ's and Christ is God's 1 Cor. 3. 21 22 23. If in or for this life onely they have hope in Christ they are of all men most miserable as 1 Cor. 15. 19. But they have the promise and assurance of a suture and better life and are begotten again to the lively hope of it But now in speaking unto this last clause I shall desire so to do in this following order That is to say 1. Evidence and shew that there is a future life a life to come when this present short and frail life is ended 2. What is meant by and contained in the life to come 3. That Godliness hath the promise thereof 1. I Say we shall give some evidences and shew that there is a future state to be entred upon another life besides this present a life to come when this frail vain and Transitory life is ended and expired and this may appear and be evidenced in these following evidences namely 1. From plain intimations and expressions which are contained in the Scriptures of Truth This was more darkly signified and made known in the holy Scriptures written before the coming of our Lord Jesus in the Flesh Thus those words spoken unto Moses by God in the bush to wit I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob Exod. 3. 6. are made use of by our blessed Saviour to prove a future state after this life For saith he God is not the God of the dead but of the living for all live unto him These Patriarchs though they are dead unto us yet they live unto him and shall be raised again in due season Mat. 22. 31 32. Mark 12. 26 27. Luk. 20. 37 38 Thus also whereas the Prophet saith he will swallow up death in victory and the Lord
c. Luk. 2. 25 26 29. And when the Apostle Paul expresseth the hearty desire of himself and of other believers which we have given some account of and mentioned before not that they might be unclothed but clothed upon that Mortallity might be swallowed up of life He then immediately subjoyns thereto now he that hath wrought us for this self-same thing is God who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit Therefore we are always confident knowing that whilst we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the booy and to be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 4 6 8. But what we have been discoursing of may suffice as to that third Evidence And now proceed we unto a fourth namely 4. That there will be a future state to be entered upon when this present short state is expired appears to be most Reasonable and enlightned Reason it self may convince us of the Truth and certainty thereof for when or how otherwise can there be a clear and full Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God who hath very clearly and plentifully assured us in his word of Truth That he will render unto every man according to his deeds Rom. 2. 5 6. That he will bring every work into Judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be Evil Eccles 12. 13 14. Shall be not render to every man according to his works Prov. 24. 12. Psal 62. 12. Now if there were not a Life to come after this present momentany one is ended when shall many wicked Persons receive the due and deserved reward of their ungodly and unrighteous Deeds And when shall the truly Pious and Righteous ones be made partakers of the gracious recompence of their reward If there be not a future state to be entred upon and an account hereafter to be given unto God many wicked persons would appear to be in the best and most desirable condition and so abide without any remarkable change or alteration all the days of this vain short life and many of the best and most Godly persons would appear to be in the worst condition because they meet with so much Reproach Adversity and Affliction in this world as our Saviour hath fore-told saying In the World ye shall have tribulation Joh. 16. 33. Concerning the Prosperity and Flourishing estate of Evil and Ungodly Persons Job speaks very fully unto his mistaken friends saying Wherefore do the wicked live become old yea are mighty in Power their seed is established in their sight with them and their off-spring before their eyes Their houses are safe from fear neither is the Rod of God upon them Their Bull gendreth and faileth not their Cow Calveth and casteth not her Calf They send forth their little ones like a flock and their Children dance They take the Timbrel and Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ they spend their days in Wealth or in Mirth and in a moment go down into the grave This was the observation of that perfect and upright man Job concerning the un-interrupted prosperity and fulness of some wicked Persons in his time and yet he had not the Advantage of the Holy Scriptures as we have But notwithstanding all this though they did so prosper and rejoyce in this world yet nevertheless He looked upon them to be really in a very bad and sad condition because he believed that there would be a future Judgment and then they would be rewarded according to their deeds and demerits for in the following part of the Chapter before-referred to he saith Have ye not asked them that goe by the way And do ye not know their tokens That the wicked notwithstanding all his present fulness and admirable prosperiry in this world is reserved unto the day of destruction they shall be brought forth out of their graves to the day of wrath Job 21. 5 6 13 29 30. Psal 73. 3 11 12 17 20. O Lord how great are thy works and thy thoughts are very deep A brutish man knoweth not neither doth a fool understand this when the wicked spring as grass and when all the workers of Iniquity do flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for ever Psal 92. 5 6 7. and 37. 1 2 35 36 38. And so on the other hand many righteous ones do now meet with many troubles and afflictions in this world as it is written For thy sake we are killed all the day long we are counted as sheep for the slaughter Rom. 8. 36. They do pass through much Tribulation and exercise in this present state and many times Drink of the Cup of sorrow and grief but without all doubt there will be another and better reward for the righteous because the righteous Lord loveth righteousness Psal 11. 7. Then to wit hereafter ye shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not for behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven and all the proud yea and all that do wickedly shall be stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hosts that it shall leave them neither Root nor Branch but unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings c. Mal. 3. 17 18. and ch 4. 1 2 3. And if it should not thus be how should God judge the world in righteousness when the wisest of mere men to wit Solomon saith And more-over I saw under the Sun the place of judgment that wickedness was there and the place of righteousness that iniquity was there He then makes this rational conclusion or deduction there-from to wit I said in mine heart God shall judge the righteous and the wicked for there is a time there to wit in the world to come for every purpose and for every work And then the evil and unrighteous persons who have judged or acted unjustly against the upright and innocent shall be called to an account and justly condemned for so doing how high soever they have been in Power or Authority here and the righteous shall be acquitted and righted by him who executeth judgment for all that are opporessed Eccles 3. 16 17. with Job 34. 10 11 12. God's righteousness is engaged to render unto all men according to their works and doings and therefore because he doth not do so fully now in this day and world we may safely and certainly conclude that he will do so in the world to come Rom. 2. 5 6 7 10 11. Seeing that it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you and to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord shall be revealed from heaven with the Angels of his power in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe in that day 2 Thes 1. 5 6 7 9 10. 1 Cor. 15. 19 32. 2 Pet. 2. 9 10. 5. And lastly as to this matter another evidence to evince that there is a life to come another state to be entred upon when this is ended and expired as also to assure and confirm the truth of the foregoing and last mentioned evidence is this that even the Gentiles or such as were without the pale of the Church and so such as had not the advantage and instruction of the holy Scriptures had that notwithstanding some dark and obscure apprehensions and knowledge of a future state to be entred upon when this frail and Temporary state was ended even by the light of nature or however some of them had so as is clearly intimated to us and signified in the Scriptures of truth Thus it plainly appears in Job and in the sayings of some of his friends in those obscure times in which he lived Oh saith Job that my words were now written O that they were printed in a book that they were graven with an Iron pen and land in the rock for ever for I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my reins be consumed within me Job 19. 23 24 25 27. And as he very fully and clearly all things considered declares his saith and knowledge concerning his Redeemer and the blessed state he should enjoy after his body and skin and reins were destroyed and consumed so also else-where he very plainly speaks of a future sensible being of evil and wicked persons after their removal out of this world in the words which we have mentioned before upon another account namely Do ye not know their Tokens That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath Even such wicked ones also shall be brought forth to the day of wraths as of whom he had said but a little before They spend their days in wealth and in a moment go down to the grave Job 21. 29 30. with vers 13. And Elihu also speaks to the same purpose saying Far be it from the Almighty that he should commit iniquity for the work of a man shall render unto him and cause every man to find according to his ways And again to the same purpose he saith For his eyes are upon the ways of man and he seeth all his goings There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves Job 34. 10 12 21 23. with Rom. 2. 5 6. So Balaam who was an Heathen and lived in Aram or Syria neer the river Euphrates Numb 23. 7. and chap. 22. 5. he very plainly signifies that there shall be a future state to be entred upon by both good and bad and that the condition of good men would be excellently desirable and therefore he thus breaths out his vote and desire Let me dye the death of the righteous and let my last end or reward be like his Plainly signifying to us thereby that he did believe that the end or reward of the righteous would be better and more to be desired than that of the wicked and yet also that both should dye and after that be rewarded according to their several deeds Numb 23. 10. And it is said concerning Felix who was governour of a Province under the Roman Emperour that as Paul reasoned in his hearing of the Faith in Christ and therein particularly of Righteousness Temperance and the Judgment to come Felix trembled In which is plainly intimated that he did believe what was declared unto him by the Apostle concerning the future judgment though he was an heathen and his guilty conscience at the hearing thereof put him into an uneasy trembling condition because that day of judgment will be the Perdition of ungodly and unrighteous men and such an one it may seem he was Act. 24. 24 25. with Jam. 2. 19. Rom. 2. 14 15. 2 Pet. 3. 7. And so it may seem though the Epicurean Philosophers who denyed all Providence and any future state and counted the delights and pleasures of this life their chiefest good and therefore might oppose the notion of a life and judgment to come Though they I say mocked at the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the dead Yet others at Athens were more serious at the hearing of it and said We will hear thee again of this matter and certain persons there clave unto the Apostle Act. 17. 31 34. with vers 18. And though we might have enlarged hereto yet what hath been discoursed of may sufficiently evidence unto us and assure us of this hugely weighty and important truth namely That there is a life and world to come when this present life and world is ended and expired And therefore I shall at this present however adde no more to the proof and evidence thereof Onely by way of Inference from what hath been said on this Subject I may briefly say that the serious consideration of the certainty of a future state is very useful proper and cogent to provoke us all so to live in this world as those that know we must hereafter give an account of our selves and of our actions unto God the judge of all the earth and then we must receive a just recompence of reward sutable to our former works and doings O then how doth it behoove and concern us all to receive and hold fast grace that we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear For our God is a consuming fire Heb. 12. 28 29. Our Lord Jesus now calls upon all in this day of his Grace and Patience saying Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth For I am God a just God and a Saviour And there is none else And to enforce his call and command and engage all to answer and obey it therefore this is added to the former I have sworn by my self the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness and shall not return that unto me every Knee shall bow every Tongue shall swear surely shall one say in the Lord is righteousness and strength Even unto him shall men come and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory Let us then give diligence while the day of grace is lengthned out and continued to us that we so receive the grace of God to purpose as to fear him and keep his commandements for this is the whole of
Seed be called Rom. 9. 7. yet Faithful Abraham staggered not at the Promise of God but did firmly believe that he was able to perform what he had promised though in obedience to God he did offer up his Son Hence it is said By Faith Abraham when he was tried offered up Isaac And he that had received the Promises offered up his only begotten Son accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead From whence also he received him in a Figure Heb. 11. 17 20. And He is the same God still and is able to do for us exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think according to the Power that worketh in us Eph. 3. 20 21. as St. Paul saith I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day 2 Tim. 1. 12. He is not only able to give us the things which are good and needful for the mortal Body 2 Chron 25 9. but also to raise up this body again when it is dead and laid in the Grave and turned to corruption Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the Dead Acts 26. 8. Indeed it might well be thought a thing incredible and impossible that any mere Creature should effect this great and wonderful work But is any thing impossible unto or too hard for the Lord Cannot he who at the first Created all things of nothing raise up this Body again when it is dissolved and turned to dust and rottenness and reunite it to its proper Soul and Spirit yes without all peradventure he can do it and will do it in due season God hath both raised up the Lord Jesus and will Raise up us also by his own Power 1 Cor. 6. 14. with Ephes 1. 19 20. 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. Though Christ was Crucified through weakness yet he liveth by the Power of God For we also are weak in him But we shall live with him by the Power of God 2 Cor. 13. 4. He is able to change and transform these vile dusty bodies into excellent ones to make these bodies which are corruptible weak dishonourable Natural bodies to become Spiritual Glorious Powerful and Incorruptible bodies 1 Cor. 15. 42 44 48 49 53 54. He shall change our vile Body saith the Apostle that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself Phil. 3. 21. And so he hath power to deliver us from the In-being of sin and from all our spots and Faults and will do so perfectly in the Resurrection from the dead Eph. 5. 25 27. He is able to keep the Believers from falling now in this day and hereafter even in the resurrection of the just To present them faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Jude 24. 25. Yea in short He is able to save them to the uttermost who do sincerely seek and serve him and to make them partakers gloriously of Eternal Life as it is before spoken to and in some weak and imperfect measure opened and explained And he hath given his Son our Lord Jesus Power to give unto them Eternal Life he hath already given us mankind in his Son Eternal Life hence the Apostle John saith He that believeth not God hath made him a liar because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son And this is the record that God hath given to us Eternal life and this life is in his Son 1 John 5. 10 11. And not only hath he so done but he hath also impowred his Son to make them partakers of this Eternal life who hear his voice and diligently and constantly follow him now in a first-fruits by faith and hereafter fully in the glorious enjoyment and fruition of it As our Saviour in his address to his Father signifieth saying Thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him John 17. 2. with chap. 10. 27 28. Now this is a very powerful and forcible encouragement to encourage and strengthen us to expect the performance of the exceeding great and excellent promises which he hath made unto Godliness and so unto us upon our sincerely exercising our selves thereunto and patiently continuing so to do that he who hath promised is a God of infinite and eternal power and so able to accomplish whatever he hath promised If men make promises and intend really to perform them yet there may be and oftentimes is a failure found with them therein because though their wills and purposes be never so strong and firm yet their Hand and Power is very short and weak But it is not so with the Lord our God his Hand is not shortned at all but Power doth belong unto him as well as with him is Mercy Psal 62. 11 12. In thine hand is there not Power and Might so that none is able to withstand thee 2 Chron. 20. 6. He that hath made these Promises to Godliness and unto them that sincerely exercise themselves thereto who walk before him and are perfect is the Lord Almighty Gen. 17. 1 8. 2 Cor. 6. 16 18. with chap. 7. 1. 3. And he who hath entail'd the promise on Godliness is also a God of Righteousness and Truth and who will therefore undoubttedly perform his good word he is abundant in Goodness and Truth Exod. 34. 6. Thus when Moses saith I will publish the Name of the Lord he presently thus proclaims it He is the Rock his work is perfect for all his ways are Judgment a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut 32. 3 4. And he thus speaks unto Israel saying Know therefore that the Lord thy God he is God the faithful God that keepeth Covenant and Mercy with them that love him c. Deut. 7. 9 11. And thus in due season he evidenced himself to be in accomplishing that promise which he made unto his ancient people in bringing them into and poss ssing them of the Typical rest the land of Canaan Hence it is said The Lord gave them rest round about according to all that he swear unto our Fathers there failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel all came to pass Josh 21. 43 45. and chap. 23. 14 15. And now he hath most clearly and comfortably manifested his truth and faithfulness in sending his well-beloved Son into the World that we might live through him and in not sparing his own Son but delivering him up for us all and in lifting him up again from the gates of Death This he promised from the beginning of the World long before the proper season for the actual accomplishment of it came But his promise did not fail for evermore But when the fulness of time was come God sent forth