A Chain of Graces Drawn Out for Reformation of Manners, Tract · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Of Godlineſſe.
ANd to your patience, Godlineſſe. Becauſe Patience alone is not acceptable, vnleſſe our ſufferings, whereby patience is exerciſed, be directed to the honour of God, which cannot be done without godlineſſe; therfore to Patience, Godlineſſe muſt be added.
The originall word is foreign, which ſignifies to worſhip or honour any ſuperiour, that hath any relation vntounto vsus, whether he be God himſelfe, our Parents, or any other in authoritie ouer vsus, as the vicegerents of God our heauenly Father aAquin. 2.2. q. 101. ar. 1. & 2.2. q. 121. ar. 1.. Pietie flowes from Affinitie, ſaith Gerſon bGerſon. ſuper Magniſic. tract. 5.: becauſe wee worſhip none, whom we conceiue not as ſtanding in ſome relation to vsus, and we to them.
By humane Authors, Pietie is taken diuerſly; but moſt ordinarily for reuerence ſhewed to parents and gouernours, and louelove to brethren and kinred; although ſometimes they take it alſo for that worſhip they performe to their gods cCicer. lib. 1. de Nat. Deorum.. In the holy Scripture we ſhall finde it vſed diuerſly. The ſeuerall acceptations of it therein, being diſtinguiſhed by the obiect about which godlineſſe is exerciſed, may be reduced vntounto foure heads, as Gregory of Valence hath well obſerued dGreg. de Ʋalent tom. 3. in Thom. diſp. 7 quaeſt. 1. punct. 1.. And theſe foure, dicis cauſa, I may terme, Diuine, Naturall, Compaſſionate, and Conuerſatiue.
1. Diuine is that which immediatly reſpecteth God in his worſhip e1 Tim. 6.11.. The exerciſes whereof Paul cals foreign, deuotions, and vſeth the word foreign, to note the worſhip of the Athenians foreign, to the vnknowne God fActs 17.23.. And in this ſenſe, we ſhall finde Godlineſſe taken ſometimes, 1. For the Principall foundation on which the godlineſſe wee performe vntounto God is grounded: and this is called the Myſterie of Godlineſſe. Chriſt Ieſus, God manifeſt in the fleſh, g1 Tim. 3.16.&c. is the ground of the relation betweene God and vsus; and ſo of that worſhip we performe vntounto him. Sometimes it is taken, 2. For the ſubiect matter of godlineſſe contained in the word hTit. 1.1. 1 Tim. 2.10.. And ſometimes, 3. For the act, and exerciſe of godlineſſe in his worſhip iTit. 2.12. 2 Pet. 3.11.. Theſe two latter acceptions may alſo be extended to thoſe other ſorts of godlineſſe that follow, although they be here inſerted, as fitly, and principally appertaining to this part of godlines, which is termed Diuine.
2. Naturall Godlineſſe I call that which we performe vntounto naturall parents, or Gouernours, foraſmuch as they in a ſpeciall manner repreſent vntounto vsus our Father in heauen; vntounto which the Fifth Commandement bindes vsus. This is that which the Schoole-men moſt vſually call Pietie kAquin. 2.3. q. 101. Bonauent. in 3. ſent. diſt. 35. q. 6. alij que .: and by this they diſtinguiſh it from the former performed to God; calling ciuill honour due to ſuperiours and friends, by the name of pietie; and religious worſhip due vntounto God, by the name of Religion, Religioſitatis & Theoſebiae.
3. Compaſſionate God lineſſe I call that which is exerciſed about workes of mercy towards them that be in miſerie. For this Cornelius is ſtiled foreign, a deuout or godly man lAct. 10.2., becauſe he diſtributed much almes to the people. And this is commonly termed Pietie, ſaith Auſtin, mAuguſt. de Ciuit. Dei, lib. 10. cap. 1.; becauſe what men doe to the godly for godlineſſe ſake, God accounts it as done to himſelfe; and becauſe that ſuch workes of mercy are proper acts of Religion nIam. 1.27.; and therefore by a Metonymie of the effect for the cauſe they are termed Pietie.
4. Conuerſatiue Godlineſſe I call that which ſhineth in the whole courſe of our conuerſation by liuing godly; making the word of God the rule of all our cariage, that ſo it may appeare that whatſoeuer we doe, we doe it to the glory of God whom we worſhip, and ſet before our eyes in all our actions; and reſolue to honour him in all things, whatſoeuer troubles, miſeries, or perſecutions may happen o2 Tim. 3.12. 2 Pet. 3.11.. This is the ſame with that in the Old Teſtament ſo often termed The feare of the Lord pPſ. 111.10. Pro. 1.7, &c.; whereby the heart ſtandeth ſo in awe of him and his word, that it feares nothing beſides; but will in all things be ordered by him, what euer become of it qIſai. 8.12, 13..
This is called Godlineſſe in two reſpects: 1. In reſpect of the chiefest and higheſt ends that a godly man aimes at in eueryevery action of his life, which is the glory of God r1 Cor. 10.31.. 2. In reſpect of the rectitude of the worke, which is wrought by the rule and line of the word of God: for pietie or godlineſſe, according to the Greeke Etymologie, ſignifies a right or ſtraight worſhip. foreign, ab foreign rectè, & foreign, colo.
We hauehave ſeene the ſeuerall ſignifications, How godlineſſe is taken here.or rather applications of the word Godlineſſe. We muſt now conſider in what ſenſe it is taken here.
Godlineſſe, in this place, cannot be taken for the immediate worſhip of God, becauſe all the graces here exhorted to, doe not concerne the ſolemne acts of deuotion in the parts of Gods worſhip, but Chriſtian conuerſation in the world. Nor can it be meant of that alone, which we either exhibite to parents, and ſuperiours; or vntounto ſuch as are in diſtreſſe; becauſe we are to adde it vntounto Patience, and therefore it muſt needs be meant of that godlineſſe which muſt be had and exerciſed in all our conuerſation, but eſpecially in the time of affliction, which muſt not only be borne without impatience, but ſo borne, as God may hauehave glory by our godly cariage in it. Whence we are taught:
It is the dutie of Chriſtians not only to get Patience, Obſeru. but Godlineſſe, whereby, what euer they doe or ſuffer, God may be honoured, and themſelues enabled to goe on in holineſſe, notwithſtanding their ſufferings. Patience is an excellent grace, but nothing worth without godlineſſe. A ſtocke or a ſtone can beare more then we, with leſſe complaining: but godlineſſe makes the difference before God, between that ſenſleſneſſe, and the patient bearing of a Chriſtian. Patience is as the bodie, and Godlineſſe as the ſoule, that giues life to this bodie. It doth not giuegive content vntounto God that we be patient ſufferers, vnleſſe we glorifie him by our ſufferings ſ1 Pet. 4.16, and reape ſome benefit vntounto our ſelues alſo; in as much as he doth it to humble vsus, and to doe vsus good, that we might be part akers of his holineſſe tHeb. 12.10: which cannot be done, but by the helpe of godlineſſe to call vponupon God uPſal. 50.15; to bleſſe him for all *Iob 1.21.; and to learne his law xPſ. 119.67.. Godlineſſe is that which keeps vsus from drawing backe in the time of temptation, wherewith our patience is exerciſed yPſal. 4.17, 18, 19, &c.. As a maine ſaile filled with a good gale of winde, driues the ſhip againſt the ſtrongeſt tide; ſo godlineſſe, a Chriſtian againſt the greateſt diſcouragements. Godlineſſe makes all afflictions, not as bridles to take vsus vp, but as ſpurres to mend our pace; whiles we looke not on the things which are ſeene and felt, but on the things which are not ſeene z2 Cor. 4.16, 17, 18.. Yea godlineſſe it is, that helps vsus to all thoſe meditations before laid downe to beget Patience in vsus. It is one of the maine roots of a Chriſtian, ſaith Chryſoſtome, which keeps him ſtanding againſt all windes and tempeſts whatſoeuer. Take away godlineſſe from a Chriſtian, and you ſtocke vp the roots of a tree; which being done, the tree cannot but fall with the next blaſt of winde that bloweth vponupon it.
Vſe 1 What a ſhame is this to the world, which ſets ſo light by Godlineſſe; ſuppoſing Godlineſſe to be only for Diuines, the Church, and the Deathbed! Whereas the want of Godlineſſe is that which hath brought all the plagues which euer came vponupon the world aGen. 5.13., and that are yet to come vponupon it bIude 15.. Therefore let all vngodly men know, that a time will come, wherein the beſt of them all ſhall be as chaffe which the winde driueth away cPſal. 1.4, 5, 6.: that they ſhall not be able to ſtand in the iudgement, which the Lord ſhal bring them vntounto, for all their vngodly deeds which they hauehave vngodly committed, but ſhall vtterly periſh in their owne corruption: and that in the meane time, God eſteemes them no better then filthy ſwine, and vomiting doggs d2 Pet. 2.22; naturall bruit beaſts made and taken to be deſtroyed; veſſels of wrath eRom. 9.22; children of the deuill fIohn 8.44., that ſhall one day goe away into euerlaſting fire, to be tormented with the deuill and his angels for euer.
Let this therefore ſharpen our appetites vntounto Godlineſſe, Vſe 2 and make vsus eſteeme more of it, and rouſe vsus vp to a more eager purſuit of it. It is that we all profeſſe; and therefore are we called godly, becauſe we are, or ſhould be ſo continually. It is that for which the grace of God that bringeth ſaluation hath appeared to vsus gTit. 2.11, 12.. He cannot hauehave ſaluation, who from that grace, learneth not this leſſon. If we conſider the excellencie, commoditie, delight, and ſecuritie of it, we cannot but thinke him a mad man that labours not for it. It muſt needs be excellent, that makes vsus as like God, as any childe to his father. What ſtriuing doe we ſee, to be like the beſt in what men doe affect? and therefore we may well conclude, that moſt men are out of their wits, that they eſteeme ſo little of this. If our mindes were ſet vponupon gaine; is not godlineſſe great gaine, hauing the promiſe of this life, and that which is to come h1 Tim. 6 7, 8.? Looke into the Scriptures, and there we ſhall finde godly men richer in wealth then any others: and ſo men might be now, if they would be as godly. Yea godlineſſe makes a gaine of eueryevery croſſe; whereas vngodlineſſe turnes eueryevery gaine to a loſſe. There is no euill that a godly man ſuffers, but it turnes to his good. There is no good which an vngodly man poſſeſſeth, but it turnes to his euill. If our hearts doe runne vponupon pleaſure; godlineſſe is as pleaſant, as it is profitable. None can be ſo merry at heart, as the godly, becauſe nothing is ſo delightfull as godlineſſe. Earthly delights are either ſinfull, or vaine, or momentanie, that leaue a ſting behinde them at parting: but godlineſſe procures holy, heauenly, continuall pleaſures, wherein a man may lie downe, and tumble himſelfe till hee be rauiſht againe; and yet hauehave no ſinne to anſwer for, by that his exceſſe. This brings vsus to his right hand with whom is fulneſſe of ioy and pleaſures for euermore iPſal. 16.11.. If we could imagine men Stoicks, ſo that none of theſe could affect them; yet there is no Stoick but would be glad to prouide for his ſafetie; let him ſay what he will to the contrarie. The ſecuritie of godlineſſe ſhould moue them to godlineſſe. There is no ſecuritie but in godlineſſe. There is no godlineſſe but it hath ſecuritie; if not from trouble, yet certainly from hurt. Sometimes it prouides a godly man a chamber of reſt in common calamities kIſai. 26.20; or if not this, yet it ſo armeth him to ſuffer, that, in reſpect of auoiding the ſmart, when Gods honour lies at the ſtake, he will not accept deliuerance lHeb. 10.35For he builds vponupon an infallible ground, that God will lay no more vponupon him, then he giues him ſtrength to beare, and will as certainly giuegive him the iſſue, as bring him to the triall m1 Cor. 10.13.. And though all that will liue godly ſhall ſuffer perſecution in one kinde or other; becauſe there is no reaſon the ſeruant ſhould fare better then his Maſter: yet this is an vniuerſall infallible obſeruation, that neuer any godly man ſuffered in a good cauſe, but with much courage, ſtrength, aſſurance, and triumphant ioy.
Looke vponupon the noble armie of Martyrs, going to the ſtake with reioycing, and ſinging, and ſhouting, and rauiſhing conſolations, as if they were going to be crowned; as indeed they be. Their honour among men is wonderfull, but with Chriſt infinitely more. And if there be any degrees in that heauenly Quire, their ſeats are certainly the higheſt. On the other ſide, looke vponupon vngodly malefactors in their ſufferings, and you ſhall ſee them, for the moſt part, eſpecially heretiques, fearing, trembling, quaking, yelling and roaring; as Michael Seruetus nBellar lib. 1. de Chriſto, cap. 1. & Caluin. in Opuſcul., that godleſſe heretique, burnt at Geneua, Anno 1555. for denying the Trinitie, and other doctrines of faith, may ſerue for a ſample: who feeling the fire, could not with patience endure it, but kept a hideous roaring till his life was exhauſted, crying out to the beholders to diſpatch him with a ſword. The like we may remember of Legate, at home.
Here then is an Antidote againſt all thoſe perplexed feares and terrors that doe amaze Chriſtians when they conſider with themſelues; How ſhould we be able to endure a fierie triall? Why: be godly, and I warrant you: the Lord will either prouide for your deliuerance oPſal. 27.5., or be with you in the fire pIſai. 43.2., as he was with the three children in the furnace, with Stephen, and all the godly at their martyrdome. The Lord knowes how to deliuer the godly out of temptations q2 Pet. 2.9.: and as he knowes how, ſo hath he promiſed to all that are godly, becauſe they hauehave kept the word of his patience, he will alſo keepe them from the houre of temptation, which ſhall come vponupon all the world, to try them that dwell vponupon the earth rReu 3.10.. Wherefore let them that ſuffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their ſoules to him in well-doing, as vntounto a faithfull Creator ſ1 Pet. 4.19..
Thus we ſee what great ſecuritie Godlineſſe bringeth. Of which a Heathen Poet hath elegantly ſung: Integer vitae ſceleriſ que purus, tHorat. carm. lib. 1. Od. 22.&c.
Me thinks, that which hath beene ſpoken is enough to incite all men to the acquiſition, and practiſe of Godlineſſe; which, who wanteth, may vſe theſe foure rules to furniſh himſelfe with it.
1. Labour in the word of God, the milke of Godlineſſe, by which we grow u1 Pet. 2.2.. The cauſe of all impietie is neglect of the word *Pſal. 50.17. The word is the rule and ſquare by which we muſt doe eueryevery thing: without this, we can neither be, nor doe godly.
2. Againe to thy prayers. This meanes muſt neuer be left out; this thing to write ouer and ouer againe to me is not tedious, but ſafe. This is that which got Dauid ſo much godlineſſe; and which (as we ſee in his Pſalmes) he would neuer giuegive ouer to his dying day. Reading, and hearing, will doe nothing without this. This is as harrowing or plowing after a ſowing. Of this, Chryſoſtome in his bookes of Praying, giues particular inſtance: Ne que pretioſis pietatis fructibus poterimus eſſe grauidi niſi precibus irrigemur xChryſoſt. de Orand. Deum, lib. 1.: Prayer is as watering a thirſtie ground new ſowne with ſeed, without which we cannot be fruitfull in the fruits of pietie.
3. Labour for humilitie; this is the ſhorteſt cut to pietie. An humble man thriues more in godlineſſe, in one yeere, then a proud man in an age. For God prepareth the heart of the humble yPſal. 10.17: the meeke will he teach his way zPſal. 25.9.: he reſisteth the proud, and giues grace to the humble aIam. 4.6.. When we ſee a man conceited of himſelfe, we may conclude, that man is at his beſt. Pride is like an Eaſt winde that blaſteth timely fruits; and like a Caterpiller that feedeth moſt vponupon the choiſeſt flowers.
4. Get out of vngodly companie, or neuer looke to thriue, but go backward in godlineſſe. Such companions are as froſts, to nip the buds of the Spring; as cankers, that eat to the heart of a tree; like Pharaohs leane kine that deuoured the fat. Yea, which is worſe, they not only hinder our growth in godlineſſe, but proue dangerous corrupters and enticers to ſinne. We cannot touch pitch, but we ſhall be defiled. We can not goe with them, but we ſhall learne their wayes bPro. 1.15, 16.. Which Dauid well ſaw, and therefore tooke an order to baniſh them from his ſocietie cPſal. 119.115., and familie dPſal. 101.7. And ſo muſt eueryevery man elſe, that hath a minde to be godly e2 Theſſ. 3.6. & 14.; and then he ſhall be ſure of godlineſſe, and a fPſal 1.1, 2.bleſſing to boote.