A Guide to Godliness, Book 5 · Chapter 45
CAP. XLV.
Of foure other mayne priuiledges, wherewith God crowneth the godly, both in this life and the life to come.
§. Sect. 1 The ſixth mayne priuiledge, is, that God beſtoweth vponupon the godly the ſpirit of prayer and ſupplication.
THe ſixth mayne priuiledge which God vouchſafeth to the godly, is, that he beſtoweth vponupon them the Spirit of prayer Zach. 12. 10. Rom. 8. 26, 27.and ſupplication, and both heareth and granteth all the ſuites which they make vntounto him. For hee powreth vponupon the houſe of Dauid, and the inhabitants of Ieruſalem, the Spirit of grace and ſupplication, as he hath promiſed; and whereas naturally we know not how to pray, nor what to pray for as we ought, the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, and maketh interceſsion for vsus with gronings which cannot be vttered. And hee that ſearcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the minde of the Spirit, becauſe he maketh interceſsion for the Saints, according to the will of God. Yea, he not onelyonly by his Spirit teacheth vsus how to pray, and what to aske, but hath alſo bound himſelfe by his gracious and free promiſes, that hee will heare all our ſuites made in the name of his Sonne, and indited by his Spirit, according to that of our Sauiour; Aske, and you ſhall hauehave; ſeeke, and you ſhall Mat. 7 7. Iob. 16. 23. 1. Ioh. 5. 14, 15. Pſal. 50. 15.finde; knocke, and it ſhall bee opened vntounto you. And againe, Verily, verily I ſay vntounto you, whatſoeuer ye ſhall aske the Father in my Name, hee will giuegive it you. Now what an high and holy priuiledge is this, to hauehave alwayes free acceſſe vntounto God in all our wants and neceſſities, who is alone able to helpe vsus, and will alſo doe it becauſe of his promiſe? To hauehave a deare and able friend, into whoſe boſome wee may with boldneſſe and comfort powre out all our complaints, who is ready to pitty and eaſe vsus? To hauehave a key alwayes in our keeping, which through Chriſt will open vntounto vsus the treaſury of Gods graces, where wee may relieue our wants, and ſtore our ſelues with all things needfull for his glory, and our owne ſpirituall good and euerlaſting ſaluation. Finally, to conuerſe with the ſupreme and glorious King of heauen and earth in a familiar manner, and to talke with him, as a man talketh with his friend? For as the Lord ſpeaketh to the Iſraelites, What nation is ſo great, who hath God ſo nigh vntounto them, as the Lord Deut. 4. 7.our God is in all things that we call vponupon him for? But this priuiledge is peculiar vntounto them who ſerue the Lord, by obſeruing his will, according to that of our Sauiour; If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, aske what Iob. 15. 7.you will, and it ſhall be done vntounto you; and not vntounto wicked men, who turne Pro. 15. 8.away their eare from hearing the Law, and neglect the duties of Gods ſeruice, whoſe ſacrifices and prayers are abominable (as before I hauehave ſhewed) & 28. 9.and ſhall not bee heard or granted of God, as hee telleth the rebellious Iewes; When you ſpread foorth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you, yea, Pſa. 1. 15. Pro. 1. 28. Zach. 7. 11, 12, 13.when you make many prayers, I will not heare. And therefore let this alſo effectually mooue vsus to ſerue the Lord in the duties of a godly life, that wee may be partakers of this rich and royall priuiledge, hauing not onelyonly the Spirit of God as our Counſeller, to draw all our ſuites and Petitions in ſuch manner and forme as is agreeable to Gods will, and Chriſt our Aduocate and Maſter of Requeſts, to preferre them vntounto God in our behalfe, not pleading our deſerts, but his owne merits and his Fathers promiſes; but alſo this high Court of Requeſts night and day open vntounto v…, that in all our neceſſities wee may make our ſuites and ſupplications knowne vntounto God, with confidence and aſſurance that they ſhall bee heard and granted.
§. Sect. 2 The ſeuenth maine priuiledge, is, that God granteth vntounto them the meanes to build them vp in grace vntounto ſaluation.
The ſeuenth priuiledge peculiar to the godly, is, that God granteth vntounto them the meanes to build them vp in grace, and to bring them to ſaluation, with hearts to vſe them, and the inward aſſiſtance of his holy Spirit, whereby they become profitable and effectuall to their ends. The which is to bee vnderſtood, firſt, of the publike meanes, as hearing the Word, Sacraments, and Prayer, which the moſt in the world hauehave not at all, but thoſe onelyonly that liue in the Church, of which the feweſt, and leaſt number inioy them to their vſe and benefit, either becauſe they neglect and contemne them, or vſe them after a cold, careleſſe and formall manner, without any deſire and indeuour to profit by them, wanting in themſelues faith, and a good conſcience, and alſo the inward co-operation of Eſa. 6. 9.Gods holy Spirit, to bleſſe and ſanctifie them to their vſe. By reaſon whereof it commeth to paſſe, that after they hauehave long been partakers of Gods holy …dinances, they are neuer the better, but remaine as ignorant and full of …fidelity, as impenitent and vnprofitable as they were at the firſt; yea in …uth much the worſe, ſeeing for want of faith and preparation, the pr…ching of the Word, which is in it owne nature, Gods ſtrong Math. 11. 21. Rom. 1. 16.power to thei… ſaluation, and the ſauour of life vntounto life, becommeth vntounto them the ſa…ur of death, to their deeper condemnation; and the Sacrament, 2. Cor. 2. 16. 1. Cor. 11. 29.which is the …ale of ſaluation, through their vnworthy receiuing of it, ſealeth vntounto …em iudgement and condemnation; yea euen their prayers themſelues a… turned into ſinne, whileſt they know not how to pray as they ought, …th faith and feruency, in ſpirit and truth, but draw neere vntounto Eſa. 29. 13.God with th…r lips onelyonly, when as their hearts are farre from him: whereas vntounto the god…, they are great and ineſtimable priuiledges, becauſe the Lord by his S…irit ſtirreth vp their appetite to hunger and thirſt after Pſal. 42. 1, 2.them, and giu…th grace to vſe them aright, after that manner as hath before been ſhe…ed, mixing faith with them, whereby they become profitable, Heb. 4. 2.and that …ot onelyonly a iuſtifying faith, without which it is impoſsible to Heb. 11. 6.pleaſe God, but … ſpeciall faith or branch of the other, whereby they vſe Gods holy or…ances without doubting, aſſuring themſelues that hee will, according …o his gracious promiſe, accompany their diligent, carefull Iam. 1. 6.and conſcio…able vſe of the outward meanes, with the inward operation of his holy …pirit, and make them effectuall for the inriching of their ſoules with all …pirituall and ſanctifying graces, and the furthering of their euerlaſting ſaluation. And ſecondly, the godly hauehave this priuiledge more peculiar v…to themſelues, in reſpect of the priuate meanes before ſpoken of; as wat…hfulneſſe, meditation, examination of themſelues, priuate prayer, and t…e reſt, ſeeing ſcarce any but they vſe them; or if they doe, ſlightly, coldly, and to no purpoſe: whereas God giueth them grace to vſe them aright, and with an earneſt deſire to profit by them; the which he alſo ſatisfieth, whileſt by the inward aſſiſtance of his holy Spirit, he maketh them powerfull and effectuall for their ſpirituall nouriſhment, and the inriching of their ſoules with all ſanctifying and ſauing graces. And this alſo may be an effectuall reaſon to moue vsus to godlineſſe, that we may inioy theſe great priuiledges, and not only hauehave and vſe them with others, but alſo hauehave them bleſſed and ſanctified by Gods Spirit, that they may become profitable and effectuall to our ſaluation, without which, our nouriſhment it ſelfe will turne to poyſon, and Gods holy ordinances, which are the meanes of life and happineſſe, being abuſed by vsus for want of grace and godlineſſe, will but harden vsus in our ſinnes, and ſo increaſe our condemnation and puniſhment.
§. Sect. 3 The eighth maine priuiledge i… ▪ that they ſhall perſeuere in the ſtate of grace vntounto ſaluation.
The eighth priuiledge peculiar to the godly, is, that they ſhall perſeuere in the ſtate of grace and ſaluation vntounto the end; and howſoeuer, through the violence of the tentations of their ſpirituall enemies, and their owne frailty and corruption, they hauehave many ſlips and falls, yet they ſhall neuer fall away; and though they erre ſometimes out of the way of righteouſneſſe, into the by-wayes of ſinne, yet they returne into it againe by vnfained repentance, and redeeme this loſt time with more then ordinary diligence in Gods ſeruice. So that though there may bee, and are ſome ill premiſes in their liues which truly feare God, yet they alwayes make a good concluſion; though they hauehave many rubs in the …beay, yet at length they come ſafely to their iourneys end. And though …hey hauehave many faults and failings in their liues, yet they are alwayes ble…d in their death; according to that of the Pſalmiſt; Marke the perfect …n, and behold Pſal. 37. 37.the vpright, for the end of that man is peace: and that of th… Preacher, Though a ſinner doe ill an hundred times, and his dayes be prolong…d, yet ſurely I know, it ſhall be well with them that feare God, which feare befo… him. The which their perſeuerance in the ſtate of grace vntounto the end, … not grounded vponupon themſelues, or the ſtrength of the graces which …ey hauehave receiued (for then it were but a poore priuiledge, which woul… eueryevery day be ſubiect to loſing) but vponupon the power and promiſes of G…d, his Nature and Attributes, the Interceſſion of Chriſt, and the vertu… of his holy Spirit aſſiſting and ſtrengthening them. For, It is God whic… …ſtabliſheth vsus 2. Cor. 1. 21.in Chriſt. It is his ſtrength, whereby we are inabled to ſtand …ſt againſt all Eph. 6. 10, 12.the tentations of our ſpirituall enemies: it is his power, …hereby we are 1. Pet. 1. 4.kept through faith vntounto ſaluation. And though wee are able t… doe nothing of our ſelues, yet we can (with the Apoſtle) doe all things, though the power Col. 3. 3.of Chriſt, which ſtrengtheneth vsus: neither is our ſpirituall lif… in our owne cuſtody, but it is hid with Chriſt in God, as the Apoſtle ſpe…keth. It ſtandeth not vponupon the ſtrength of our owne free will, but of Gods will; and as our Sauiour telleth vsus, This is the Fathers will, that of …ll which hee had Ioh. 6. 39.giuen him, he ſhould not loſe one, but ſhould raiſe it vp at the l…ſt Day. It ſtandeth vponupon, not our reſolution or louelove towards God, but vponupon his vnchangeable counſell and decree, which ſhall ſtand, who hath not appoynted 1. Theſ. 5. 9.vsus to wrath, but to obtaine ſaluation by our Lord Ieſus Chriſt; and vponupon his louelove which is immutable and euerlaſting: for whom he lo…eth, to the end hee Jer. 31. 8.loueth them. Not vponupon our ſtrength, but vponupon the power of God, who is more mighty to ſaue, then all our enemies to hurt and deſtroy vsus; ſo that Joh. 13. 1.though we be weake, and vnable to hold out, yet we ſhall bee eſtabliſhed; for Rom. 14▪ 4. 2. Tim. 1. 12.God is able to make vsus ſtand, and to keepe that which wee hauehave committed vntounto him, againſt that great Day of Chriſts appearing; for, he is greater then all, and Ioh. 10. 28.none is able to pull vsus out of his hand. Finally, it reſteth not vponupon the truth of our promiſes made to God, but of his promiſes made to vsus, who is a faithfull and true witneſſe, and all his promiſes in Chriſt, Yea and Amen. For the Apoc. 1. 5. 2. Cor. 1. 20.Lord hath made his couenant with vsus, and promiſed, that hee will put his Ier. 31. 31. and 33. 33. Eſa. 59. 21. Ier. 32. 40.Law in our inward parts, and write it in our hearts, and will be our God, and wee ſhall be his people. That he will forgiue our iniquity, and remember our ſinnes no more: that he will put his Spirit vponupon vsus, and that his words which hee hath put into our mouthes, ſhall not depart out of them, from henceforth euen for euer: and that he will make an euerlaſting Couenant with vsus, and not turne away from vsus to doe vsus good, but will put his feare into our hearts, ſo as we ſhall not depart from him. That though we fall, we ſhall not be caſt off, becauſe the Lord putteth Pſal. 37. 24. Pſal. 112. 6, 9.vnderunder his hand. That our righteouſneſſe ſhall remaine for euer, and that we ſhall neuer be moued, but ſhall be had in euerlaſting remembrance. The which Couenant and promiſes of God are moſt immutable and vnchangeable. For the Mountaines ſhall depart, and the Hils ſhall be remoued, but Gods kindneſſe ſhall not depart from vsus, neither ſhall the Couenant of his peace be remoued. Eſa. 54. 10.Yea, it is eaſier for heauen and earth to paſſe, then one tittle of his Word to faile. Luk. 16. 17.The which may ſerue as a forcible argument to perſwade vsus to ſerue the Lord in the duties of a godly life; ſeeing when wee are once entred into it, we ſhall be ſure to hold out in our Chriſtian courſe vntounto ſaluation, notwithſtanding our owne frailty and corruption, the many and great difficulties which we find in the way, & the might & malice of all our ſpiritual enemies; for he that hath begun this good worke of grace in vsus, is able and Phil. 1. 6.willing to perfect it vntounto the end. The which argument, taken from the infallibility of Gods counſell, ordaining vsus to ſaluation, the Apoſtle vſeth to with-hold vsus from all ſinne; The foundation of God (ſaith he) ſtandeth ſure, 2. Tim. 2. 19.and the Lord knoweth them that are his. And let eueryevery one that nameth the name of Chriſt, depart from iniquity. Yea, that we might the better bee incouraged to forſake all ſinne, and to ſerue God in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, he hath not kept this royall and ineſtimable priuiledge of our perſeuerance in grace vntounto ſaluation, as a ſecret to himſelfe, but hath ſo plainly reuealed it in his Word, that we may take notice and bee aſſured of it, according to that of the Apoſtle; Theſe things hauehave I written vntounto 1. Joh. 5. 13.you who beleeue on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that hee hath eternall life. To the end that thereby our hearts may bee repleniſhed with gladneſſe, and wee incouraged to hold on in our courſe with ioy, ſeeing though we hauehave many lets and mighty oppoſitions in the way, yet we are ſure that at the laſt we ſhall come ſafely to our iourneys end.
§. Sect. 4 The great and ineſtimable priuiledges wherewith God crowneth a godly life in the world to come.
And theſe, with many other, are the rich and royall priuiledges, wherewith God in this world doth reward and crowne a godly life: which though they be great and ineſtimable, yet are they all little, in compariſon of that glorious happineſſe, which God hath reſerued for thoſe that louelove and ſerue him in the world to come, being all but ſhort preludes to that heauenly harmony, and ſmall earneſt-pennies and firſt-fruits of that maine bargaine, and plentifull harueſt. For there we ſhall, both in our ſoules and bodies, be perfectly freed from all miſeries and euils both of ſinne and puniſhment, and all teares ſhall be cleane wiped from our eyes; and Apoc. 21. 4.there ſhall be no more death, nor ſorrow, nor crying, neither ſhall there bee any more paine, as the holy Ghoſt ſpeaketh. And contrariwiſe, wee ſhall there in ioy ſuch honours, riches and ioyes, as neither the tongue can vtter, nor the heart conceiue. For we ſhall inherit aMat. 25. 34.a Kingdome, an band 7. 31.heauenly Kingdome: yea, the Kingdome cAct. 4. 22.of God, which like himſelfe, becauſe it chiefly conſiſteth in the fruition of himſelfe, is moſt abſolute and infinite in all perfection. There we ſhall be crowned with a dIam. 1 12.Crowne of life, an e1. Cor. 9. 25.vncorruptible Crowne, a f1. Pet. 5. 4.Crowne of glory. There wee ſhall be perpetually feaſted at the great feaſt and gApoc. 19. 9.marriage Supper of the Kings Sonne, where there ſhall be nothing but mirth and gladneſſe, plenty without want, and fulneſſe without ſatiety. There we ſhall reſt from all our labours, and ſanctifie vntounto God a perpetuall Sabbath, continually ſinging praiſes vntounto him, who is the Authour and Fountaine of all our happineſſe. There we ſhall ſwimme in a riuer and torrent of pleaſure, and hauehave fulneſſe of ioy at Gods Pſal. 36. 8. and 16. 11. 1. Cor. 15.right hand for euermore. There we ſhall hauehave ſpirituall bodies, that is, ſuch as ſhall be indued with ſpirituall and excellent qualities; as immortality and agility, ſtrength and impaſſibility, beauty and comelineſſe, brightnes and glory. There our ſoules ſhal be perfectly renewed according to Gods Image, being indued with ſuch wiſdome and vnderſtanding, that wee ſhall know God and his will, our ſelues, and all the ſecrets and myſteries Eph. 5. 27.both of nature and grace; and with ſuch complete holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, that there ſhall be neither ſpot nor wrinkle in them. There we ſhall hauehave the bleſſed and glorious ſocietie of all the holy Saints and bleſſed Angels, and perfectly louing them as our ſelues, we ſhall reioyce in their happineſſe, as much as in our owne, whereby our ioyes ſhall be, according to their innumerable number, multiplied and increaſed. There wee ſhall enioy the company of our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe in his perfect glory; and that which ſhall be the top and perfection of all our happineſſe, we ſhall hauehave the viſion and fruition of God himſelfe, the Father, Sonne and holy Spirit, who being infinite in goodneſſe, glory, beautie, excellencie, wiſdome, power & all perfection, will be the full conſummation of all our ioy and happineſſe; which bleſſed eſtate we ſhall enioy, not for a thouſand, or many thouſand millions of yeeres, but theſe pleaſures ſhall laſt for euermore, Pſal. 16. 11.and of this Kingdome there ſhall be no end. All which points I doe here Ioh. 6. 51. 1. Pet. 1. 4.but briefely touch, hauing intreated of them at large in another place. OnelyOnly let vsus here take notice, that this rich priuiledge and incomparable Chriſtian Warfare. The 2. part. lib. 3. cap. 3. 4, &c. Rom. 6. 23.happineſſe belongeth not to all or the greateſt part of men, but is peculiar to the faithfull, who deſire and indeuour to ſerue and pleaſe God in the duties of a godly life: For though eternall life be the free gift of God, and he may beſtow it where he will, yet he giueth it not vntounto any, whom he doth not firſt fit for it, induing them with grace, before he aduanceth them to glory, and working holineſſe in them whom Heb. 12. 14.he purpoſeth to bring vntounto happineſſe; without which no man ſhall ſee God, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh. Though we are not ſaued and glorified for a godly life, but for the merits and righteouſneſſe of Chriſt applied by faith, yet we are not ſaued without it, ſeeing it is the way which leadeth vsus vntounto this place of heauenly happineſſe, in which if we trauaile not, wee can neuer come to the end of our iourney. It is a free inheritance, but yet giuen to none who hauehave not approued themſelues the children of God, by reſembling their Father in holineſſe, Matth. 25. 34.and righteouſneſſe. It is not Wolues or Goates that muſt feed in this heauenly paſture, but onelyonly the Sheepe of Chriſt, who ſtand at his right Ioh. 10. 27.hand: and none are in this number, but thoſe which heare his voyce and follow him. And therefore the Apoſtle calleth this heauenly happineſſe a Crowne of righteouſneſſe, not only becauſe it was purchaſed by the righteouſnes 2. Tim. 4. 8.and obedience of Chriſt, but alſo becauſe it is giuen to none but the righteous, and their righteouſneſſe (not by merit, but of grace) is crowned with it. So he telleth vsus, that wee muſt firſt be freed from Rom. 6. 22.the ſeruice of ſinne, and become ſeruants to God, bringing forth the fruits of holineſſe, before wee can attaine vntounto that end of euerlaſting life. The which, aboue all other reaſons, ſhould powerfully mooue vsus vntounto the duties of Gods ſeruice in a godly life. For ſeeing, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, we expect to receiue a Kingdome, which cannot be moued, let vsus hauehave Heb. 12. 18.grace, whereby we may ſerue God acceptably with reuerence and godly feare. And ſo I will conclude this part of my Treatiſe, contayning the arguments and reaſons, which may effectually perſwade vsus to the leading of a godly life. And now nothing remayneth, but that I intreate thee (Chriſtian Reader) not ſlightly to paſſe ouer what hath beene ſayd, but that thou conſider and weigh ſeriouſly theſe reaſons which I hauehave produced. And if they conuince thy Iudgements (as they muſt needs, if it be not wilfully blinded) that the godly life is moſt happy and bleſſed; both in reſpect of Gods glory, and thy owne benefit; freedome from euill, and fruition of good; preſent comfort, and future hope; be incouraged to goe forward in this way with more diligence and greater ſpeed, if already thou walkeſt in it; or be perſwaded by them, if thou art not as yet entred into this courſe of Chriſtianity, now to reſolue of a happy beginning, leauing thine eager purſuit of worldly vanities; which, if nothing elſe, yet miſerable experience in the end will teach thee, to be not onelyonly vnprofitable, but (if thou preferre them in thy iudgement, and louelove them in thine heart, before ſpirituall and heauenly excellencies) hurtfull and pernicious, and betaking thy ſelfe vntounto a new courſe, indeuour to ſerue and pleaſe God thorowout the whole remainder of thy daies in the duties of a godly life. For be thou well aſſured, that theſe reaſons ſhall be powerfull and effectuall, either to perſwade thee, or to condemne thee, and ſhall ſerue as euidences of truth to draw thee, vntounto God in the duties of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, or as euidences of terrour to conuince thee before God at the day of Iudgement, for thy wilfull neglect and contempt of all meanes and motiues, which in this acceptable time and day of ſaluation he hath graciouſly granted thee, to draw thee by the way of Grace and godlineſſe, into that his heauenly Kingdome, full of glorie and happineſſe.