A Guide to Godliness, Book 4 · Chapter 1
CAP. I.
That all duties vniuerſally of a godly life, muſt be performed in ſincerity and integrity of heart.
§. Sect. 1 Of that vniuerſall and totall obedience which is required.
HAuing ſhewed what the godly life is, and the duties which are required vntounto it generally in the whole courſe of our conuerſation, and more ſpecially thoſe which belong vntounto eueryevery day, it now followeth, according to that order which we hauehave propounded, that we intreate of the properties of this Chriſtian life, and the duties belonging to it, which may ſerue as markes and ſignes, whereby wee may know them, and alſo diſtinguiſh them from all other which are falſe and counterfeit. All which may be referred to two heads, the firſt ſort, reſpecting the duties themſelues, the other our manner of doing them, and that both in reſpect of the action, and alſo the time of their continuance. The firſt property reſpecting the duties themſelues, or the matter and forme of them, is Vniuerſality; for God being the vniuerſall Creator, preſeruer, and Soueraigne Lord of all things, will hauehave vsus wholly taken vp in performing of all duties of his ſeruice, and requireth of vsus vniuerſall and totall obedience, both in reſpect of the ſubiect and obiect of it. In reſpect of the ſubiect or perſon that performeth it, the Lord requireth the obedience, not of ſome few or many parts alone, but of the whole man, internally in the ſoule, and all the faculties of it, eſpecially the heart and will; and externally, in all the powers and parts of the body, and chiefly our tongues and ſpeeches, and our workes and actions. Internally, God inioyneth vsus to ſerue him in the duties of a godly life, with all our hearts and ſoules, which is that wherein he chiefly delighteth, and without which, all outward actions, be they neuer ſo formall and glorious, are vaine and worthleſſe, yea lothſome and odious in his ſight. And heereunto there are two things required, which are ſo like and neere in nature, that they are commonly taken the one for the other, but yet (as I take it) they may be diſtinguiſhed, though neuer ſeuered.
§. Sect. 2 Of integrity and ſincerity.
The firſt is integrity, whereby we ſerue the Lord in all Chriſtian duties with our whole hearts, according to Gods Commandement; Thou Deut. 10 12. and 6. 5. and 26. 16. Math. 22. 37. Pſal. 119. 10.ſhalt feare the Lord thy God, to walke in all his wayes, and to louelove him, and to ſerue the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy ſoule. The which Dauid performed, as he profeſſeth: With my whole heart hauehave I ſought thee; O let me not wander from thy Commandements. VntoUnto which is oppoſed, ſeruing God by the halues, lamely and haltingly, diuiding our hearts betweene him and his enemies, the diuell, Idols, and the earthly Mammon; 1 King. 18. 21.like the Iſraelites which halted betweene God and Baal, the true Iehouah, 2. King. 17. 33.and Idols of the Heathens, and the Samaritans, who feared the Lord, and ſerued their owne gods. And of ſuch the Prophet Hoſea complaineth; Their heart (ſaith he) is diuided; namely, betweene the true Iehouah, and Hoſ. 10. 2.their Idols. And the Apoſtle Iames calleth them double-minded, who Iam. 1. 8.are vnſtable in all their wayes, one while offering vntounto God ſome formall ſeruice, and another while ſeruing the world, and their owne luſts. And as they hauehave double hearts, ſo alſo double tongues, ſpeaking vanity Pſal. 12. 2.to their neighbours with flattering lips, and with an heart and an heart, or a double heart. The ſecond is ſincerity and vprightneſſe of heart, without any mixture of guile and falſhood, when as wee worſhip God in ſimplicity, truth, and ſingleneſſe of heart, and in performing the duties of his ſeruice, doe lay aſide all carnall, worldly and by-reſpects, and doe them onelyonly in conſcience of his Commandement, and out of a deſire to glorifie him by our obedience to his holy will, ſeeking him therein with our whole hearts, and not our ſelues and our owne worldly ends, like ſeruile mercenaries, who ſerue their maſters, not out of any louelove they beare him, but onelyonly for their owne gaine and aduantage. VntoUnto which is oppoſed diſſimulation and hypocriſie; which maketh men to content themſelues with outward ſhewes, which hauehave no ſubſtance; with outward profeſſion, without all ſound practice; with a dead carcaſe of Religion, without the ſoule of ſincerity, or any vertue and vigour appearing in their actions; and with a formall, falſe and counterfeit ſeruice in the outward man, without any ſubſtance or truth in the inward parts.
§. Sect. 3 Reaſons mouing vsus to imbrace integrity and ſincerity. 1. Becauſe the Lord chiefly loveth and delighteth in it.
Now becauſe theſe two are neuer ſeuered, neither in the ſubiect, nor in our practice, I will not diſioyne them in my diſcourſe; but will ſhew, firſt, the reaſons which may moue vsus to performe all our ſeruice vntounto God, and the duties of a godly life with integrity and ſincerity; and then the meanes whereby we may attaine vntounto it. For the former, wee are to imbrace this integrity and ſincerity, truth and vprightneſſe of heart in all duties of a godly life, becauſe the Lord chiefly loueth and delighteth in them, preferring them much before all outward duties, ſeeme they neuer ſo glorious. For he loueth truth in the inward parts, and eſteemeth it farre Pſa. 51. 6, 16, 17aboue all legall ſacrifices, and therefore after all they are abrogated and aboliſhed, retaineth it ſtill in all duties of his ſeruice. And as Dauid alſo 1. Chron. 29. 17.ſpeaketh in another place; He tryeth the heart, and hath pleaſure in vprightneſſe. Neither doth he ſee as man ſeeth; for man looketh to the outward appearance; 1. Sam. 16. 7.but the Lord looketh vponupon the heart. Whereof it is, that hee chiefly requireth this integrity and ſincerity in all his ſeruice; Thou ſhalt keepe his Statutes and Iudgements with all thine heart, and with all thy ſoule. So Ioſhuah: Deut. 26. 16.Feare the Lord, and ſerue him in ſincerity and truth. And Samuel; Feare the Joſh. 24. 14. 1. Sam. 12. 24.Lord, and ſerue him in truth, and with all your heart. And this God requireth of Abraham, Walke before me, and be vpright: And Dauid of his ſonne Gen. 17. 1. 1. Chron. 28. 9.Salomon; Know thou the God of thy father, and ſerue him with a perfect heart, and with a willing minde. And finally, our Sauiour faith, that hee requireth it of all who offer to doe him any ſeruice, that as he is a Spirit, ſo alſo they Iohn 4. 24.ſhould worſhip in ſpirit and in truth. And as we muſt generally obſerue it in all Gods worſhip, ſo in all the parts and duties of it: For we muſt call vponupon Pſal. 145. 18.God in ſincerity and truth, if wee deſire that hee ſhould heare vsus; wee muſt with Dauid, Praiſe God with vprightneſſe of heart; and, in ſinging Pſal. 119. 9.Pſalmes, and hymnes, and ſpirituall ſongs, we muſt not chiefly reſpect the vocall tune, but make melody vntounto the Lord with our hearts, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh. Col. 3. 16. 1. Cor. 5. 8.We muſt keepe vntounto God the ſpirituall Paſſeouer, not with the old leauen of malice and wickednes, but with the vnleauened bread of ſincerity and truth. We muſt doe the workes of mercy, and giuegive our almes with our hearts, as well as with our hands, for the Lord loueth a cheerfull giuer: And 2. Cor. 9. 7. Col. 3. 23.in a word, whatſoeuer duty we performe vntounto others, we muſt doe it heartily, as vntounto the Lord, and not vntounto men. On the other ſide, he condemneth diſſimulation and hypocriſie, as vices which are moſt lothſome and odious vntounto him: yea ſo much doth the Lord abhorre it, that in the Law hee Exod. 12. 15. 1. Cor. 5. 8. Leuit. 22. 19. Deut. 22. 9, 10.forbiddeth the very ſignes and ſhewes of it. He would hauehave no leauen in his Paſſeouer, nor their garments made of linſey-woolſey, nor their fields plowed with an Oxe and an Aſſe, nor ſowne with ſeeds of diuers kinds; not that God cared for theſe things, but to ſhew, vnderunder theſe types and ſhadowes, how much he deteſteth all hypocriſie and double-dealing.
§. Sect. 4 That our imperfect obedience is accepted of God, if if it be done in ſincerity and integrity.
Secondly, this may mooue vsus to imbrace integrity and ſincerity, becauſe the Lord ſo highly eſteemeth it, that he accepteth of our obedience as perfect which ſpringeth from it, though it bee ſtained with much corruption, and ioyned with many imperfections. Whereof it is, that in the Scriptures integrity and perfection are promiſcuouſly put the one for the other; and thoſe are ſaid to hauehave been perfect before God, who in ſimplicity and vprightneſſe of heart laboured after perfection, and ſerued God in ſincerity and truth; as Noah, Abraham, Iob, Dauid, Aſa, Zachary and Elizabeth, though they had many corruptions and imperfections, which in the Scriptures are recorded of them. And contrariwiſe the beſt graces, or rather the moſt glorious ſhewes of them, and the moſt reſplendent and formall actions which are not ioyned with it, are no better at the beſt then glorious ſinnes in Gods ſight: whereof it is that the Lord ſpecially Iam. 3. 17. 1. Tim. 1. 5. Joel 2. 12, 13.requireth in all our graces and vertuous actions, that they bee in ſincerity and truth, without diſſimulation and hypocriſie. So that wiſedome which is from aboue, is without hypocriſie and diſſimulation, though carnall men thinke them moſt wiſe who moſt excell in it. Our faith muſt bee vnfained, and ſo muſt our repentance alſo, and with our whole heart; and not like Ahabs, in outward ſhew onelyonly, diſſembled and diſguized. Our louelove muſt not be in ſpeech and tongue onelyonly, but in deed and truth: we muſt call 1. Iohn 3. 18.vponupon God in truth and ſincerity, or elſe our prayers will be but meere liplabour, which God will not heare or regard. And therefore Dauid vſeth his ſincerity in praying, as an argument to perſwade the Lord to giuegive him audience; GiueGive eare (ſaith he) vntounto my prayers, which goe not out of fained lips. And Ezechias his integrity of life, as a reaſon to moue him for therepealing Pſalm. 145. Eſa. 29. 13.of the ſentence of death, and prolonging of his dayes. Remember now, O Lord, (ſaith he) I beſeech thee, how I hauehave walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, &c. Finally, our preaching muſt not bee deceitfull, like thoſe which make Marchandize of the Word; but as of ſincerity, of God, and 2. Cor. 2. 17. Act. 10. 33. 1. Theſ. 2. 13.in the ſight of God. And our hearing likewiſe of the Word, muſt be in ſincerity, as in Gods preſence, and as thoſe that heare the Word, not of man, but of God. For otherwiſe our ſeeming graces and vertuous actions, like beautifull pictures which want life, ſpirit and motion, are not ſubſtantiall in Gods ſight, but ſhewes and ſhadowes onelyonly, if integrity and ſincerity be wanting, not looking vntounto Gods glory, or ſhewing any louelove and obedience vntounto him, but onelyonly vntounto our worldly and carnall ends and by-reſpects of our owne pleaſure, profit or preferment.
§. Sect. 5 That the ſoundneſſe of all graces and holy duties conſiſteth in the ſincerity of them.
Thirdly, we muſt performe all holy duties of a godly life in ſincerity and integrity, becauſe otherwiſe wee cannot approue our ſelues for ſound Rom. 2. 28, 29.Chriſtians accepted of God, what outward ſhew ſoeuer wee make; nor our badges and ſignes of Chriſtianity ſuch, as will giuegive vntounto vsus any aſſurance that we are in the Couenant of grace: for as the Apoſtle ſaith, Hee is not a Iew which is one outwardly, neither is that Circumciſion which is outward in the fleſh; But he is a Iew which is one inwardly, and Circumciſion is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter, whoſe praiſe is not of men but of God. And though ſuch duties as are done in hypocriſie, may get the applauſe of men, and gaine their praiſes, cauſing them who doe them to be magnified and extolled; yet God no further regardeth them, then to vilifie, condemne and puniſh them; For hee ſeeth not as man ſeeth, for man 1. Sam. 16. 7.looketh but to the outward appearance; but God looketh vntounto the heart: In which regard, that which is highly eſteemed amongst men, is abomination in the ſight Luk. 16. 15.of God, as our Sauiour ſpeaketh.
§. Sect. 6 Of the rewards of ſincerity and integrity.
Fourthly, becauſe the Lord doth richly reward this integrity and ſincerity, with the bleſſings of this life, and that which is to come: For the Pſalm. 84. 11.Lord is a Sunne and a Shield, he will giuegive grace and glory; and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke vprightly. In this life hee multiplyeth all his fauours vponupon them who ſerue him in ſincerity and truth. For, he is good vntounto them which are cleane in heart. And to ſuch he limiteth all his gracious Pſal. 73. 1.promiſes, which he performeth vntounto them vponupon this condition only. So he promiſeth vntounto the Kings of Iſrael and Iudah, that hee will confirme 1. King. 2. 4. and 3. 6. and 9. 4, 5.their Kingdome vntounto them, and their poſterity after them, if they would walke before him in truth, with all their heart, and with all their ſoule. Whereof it is that Salomon affirmeth, that the Lord kept Couenant, 2. Chron. 6. 14.and ſhewed mercy vntounto his ſeruants that walked before him with all their hearts. And therefore Ezechias intreateth God to performe this promiſe vntounto Eſa. 38. 3.him and his poſterity, grounding his faith on his obſeruing this condition, ſeeing hee had walked before God in truth, and with a perfect heart. So God is neere vntounto them that call vponupon him, to all that call vponupon him in truth; Pſal. 145. 18.and will ſaue and deliuer them from all perils and dangers, and out of the hands of all their enemies: For he ſaueth the vpright in heart, as Dauid affirmeth. Pſal. 7. 10.And ſo Salomon ſaith, that the righteouſneſſe of the vpright ſhall deliuer Prou. 11. 6. and 28. 1.them; which maketh them bold and confident as Lions in perillous times, as elſewhere he ſpeaketh. In the life to come, God alſo crowneth the Pſal. 84. 11.ſincere and vpright ſeruice of the faithfull with ioy and happineſſe: for he giueth not onelyonly grace in this life, but glory alſo in the life to come, to thoſe that walke vprightly. And ſuch ſhall here dwell in his Tabernacle, and Pſal. 15. 2. Prou. 28. 18. Pſal. 32. 2. and 119. 1. Math. 5. 8.hereafter in the Mountaine of his holineſſe. So Salomon ſaith, that he who walketh vprightly, ſhall be ſaued: and Dauid affirmeth, that the vpright ſhall dwell in Gods preſence: and our Sauiour Chriſt ſaith, that they ſhall bee bleſſed in the viſion and fruition of God, which is the height and perfection of our heauenly happineſſe. And therefore ſeeing this integrity and ſincerity is ſuch a precious treaſure, as maketh vsus both happy and bleſſed here, and in the world to come; it is no maruell if the faithfull hauehave alwayes eſteemed it as their chiefeſt and choyceſt Iewell, preferring it before all earthly things, yea euen life it ſelfe; as we ſee in the example of Iob, who patiently ſuffered himſelfe to be ſtripped of all his worldly ſubſtance, but claſped ſo faſt to his integrity, when his wife and friends would hauehave pulled it from him, that he would not leaue his hold to the very death; God forbid (ſaith he) that I ſhould iuſtifie you, (to wit, whileſt you goe about Iob 27. 5, 6.to cenſure and condemne me of diſſimulation and hypocriſie) till I dye, I will not remoue mine integrity from me. My righteouſneſſe I hold faſt, and will not let it goe, my heart ſhall not reproch me, ſo long as I liue. If then we delight in that wherein God chiefly delighteth, and will doe that which he requireth, and flee from that which he abhorreth; if wee would hauehave our ſelues and our ſeruice accepted of him as perfect, which notwithſtanding are full of imperfections and corruptions: If we would hauehave any true ſauing grace, or performe any Chriſtian duty pleaſing vntounto God; if we would be numbred amongſt ſound Chriſtians, or would inioy any of Gods bleſſings in this world, or in the world to come, then let vsus labour daily in the vſe of all good meanes whereby we may attaine vntounto this ſincerity and integrity of heart, and performe all the duties of Gods ſeruice and of a godly life in vprightneſſe and truth.