A Guide to Godliness, Book 4 · Chapter 3
CAP. III.
That we muſt ioyne with inward integrity, the ſeruice of the body and the outward man.
§. Sect. 1 That God requireth outward ſeruice to be ioyned with the inward.
BVt howſoeuer the Lord doth chiefly require and delight in the inward ſeruice of the ſoule, and the integrity and ſincerity of the heart; yet doth he not reſt in it alone, but requireth alſo the ſeruice of the body and outward man, and that we ſhould at all times, and vponupon all occaſions, expreſſe and approoue our inward piety in our externall practice, and the vprightneſſe of our hearts, which is onelyonly knowne to him, by our holineſſe and righteouſneſſe ſhining in the whole courſe of our liues and conuerſation, which is ſubiect to mans view, that thereby we may be iuſtified, that is, declared righteous before them, as by the other we are knowne vntounto our ſelues to be iuſtified by faith before God, of which, that inward holineſſe and obedience is a principall fruit. And becauſe eueryevery one would be ready to boaſt of the ſincerity of the heart which cannot be diſcerned, God would hauehave vsus to approoue and make it knowne, by bringing foorth the fruits of it in our outward and bodily ſeruice. So the Apoſtle exhorteth vsus, not to let ſin raigne in our bodies, that we ſhould obey it in the lusts thereof; neither yeeld our Rom. 6. 12, 13.members as inſtruments of vnrighteouſneſſe vntounto ſinne, but yeeld our ſelues vntounto God, as thoſe that are aliue from the dead, and our members as instruments of righteouſneſſe vntounto God. And as we hauehave yeelded our members ſeruants to vncleanneſſe and to iniquity, ſo we ſhould now yeeld our members ſeruants to righteouſneſſe Verſ. 19.vntounto holineſſe. That we ſhould preſent, not onelyonly our ſoules, but our bodies likewiſe, a liuing ſacrifice, holy, acceptable vntounto God, which is our reaſonable Rom. 12. 1. 1. Theſ. 4. 3.ſeruice, that we ſhould poſſeſſe our veſſels in purity and honour, and preſerue our bodies from all defilement, as it becommeth the Temples of the 1. Cor. 3. 16.holy Ghoſt. For God, who hath created, redeemed, and doth continually preſerue both ſoule and body, will bee ſerued and glorified by them both, and as he is in theſe reſpects, Lord and owner of the whole man; ſo hee will hauehave the whole to ſerue him, according to that of the Apoſtle: Ye are bought with a price, therefore glorifie God in your body and in your ſpirits 1. Cor. 6. 20.which are Gods. The inward ſeruice of the heart therefore is not ſufficient, vnleſſe it be expreſſed in the outward ſeruice of the body, but wee muſt be ſanctified thorowout, and our whole Spirit, and ſoule and body, muſt be preſerued blameleſſe vntounto the comming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. 1. Theſ. 5. 23.And we muſt clenſe our ſelues from all filthineſſe, as well of the fleſh as of the Spirit, and perfect our holineſſe in the feare of God. We muſt with the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 7. 1. Act. 24. 16. Heb. 13. 18. Rom. 12. 17. Inter Chriſtianum & gentilem non fides tantùm debet, ſed etiam vita diſtinguere, & diuerſam religionem per diuerſa opera monſtrare. Hier. ad Celant.exerciſe our ſelues to hauehave our conſciences voyde of offence, both towards God and towards men; and labour not onelyonly to hauehave in all things a good conſcience before him, but alſo to liue honestly in the view of the world; and prouide things honeſt in the ſight of all men, as well as thoſe which are holy and religious in the ſight of God. For as one ſaith, Not onelyonly faith ought to diſtinguiſh betweene a Chriſtian and an heathen, but the life alſo; and our diuers religions ought to bee demonſtrated and ſhewed by our diuers workes. Yea in truth, theſe will alwayes neceſſarily and inſeparably goe together; neither is it poſſibly for a man to hauehave a ſincere and vpright heart, but it will ſhew it ſelfe in the outward conuerſation, words, and actions, ſeeing it is the fountaine and roote from which they flow and ſpring; and ſuch as it is, either good or euill, cleane or polluted, ſuch will they be alſo. For if the heart be the Inditer of a good matter, the tongue will Pſal. 45. 1. & 108. 1.be the pen of a ready Writer; If the heart be prepared, ſo will the tongue alſo, and both ioyning together, will ſing and giuegive praiſe; whereof it is that the Apoſtle Iames concludeth, that if any man ſeeme religious, and bridleth not Iam. 1. 26, 27.his tongue, this mans religion is vaine. And alſo, that pure Religion and vndefiled before God, will ſhew it ſelfe in the workes of mercy and Chriſtian charity before men: for as in the bodily, ſo in the ſpirituall eſtate, the health and welfare of the heart is beſt diſcerned by the pulſe in the hand, neither can there be an vpright heart, where the actions are vniuſt. And therefore the Pſalmiſt deſcribing a true Citizen of Heauen, doth ioyne heart, hand, and tongue all together; He that hath cleane hands and a pure heart, ſpeaketh Pſal. 24. 4. & 15. 2.the truth from it, and hath not lift vp his ſoule vntounto vanity, nor ſworne deceitfully.
§. Sect. 2 Reaſons mouing vsus to performe outward ſeruice.
Now the reaſons which may mooue vsus to ioyne outward practice with inward integrity, reſpect God, our neighbours, or our ſelues. In reſpect Mat. 5. 16.of God, firſt, becauſe he commandeth that we hauehave not only in our ſelues the oyle of Grace, but that we alſo cauſe the light of it to ſhine outwardly before men. He would hauehave vsus inwardly to repent with vnfained contrition in our hearts, but withall, that we bring forth fruits meete for repentance in Mat. 3. 8.our liues. He deſireth aboue all that we ſhould louelove him with all our hearts Ioh. 14. 15. & 15. 12.and ſoules, but he would hauehave vsus alſo to approoue the ſincerity of our affection, by keeping his Commandements; eſpecially, by louing one another as Chriſt hath loued vsus. Secondly, we muſt bring foorth the fruits of our inward ſincerity in our outward practice, that men ſeeing the light of our Mat. 5. 16. 1. Pet. 2. 12.godly liues, may take occaſion thereby to glorifie our heauenly Father, for heerein he is glorified, if wee bring foorth much fruit; the which, being Ioh. 15. 8.the maine and ſupreme end of all things, we are, in whatſoeuer wee doe, chiefly to aime at it, as the Apoſtle exhorteth. Thirdly, wee muſt ioyne 1. Cor. 10. 31.outward conformity vntounto our inward ſincerity, to teſtifie our thankefulneſſe vntounto God for his innumerable benefits both ſpirituall and corporall, without which we ſhall fall into the vice of vngratitude, which is ſo odious both to God and men. In reſpect of our neighbours alſo, wee muſt approoue our inward piety by our outward practice, that wee may edifie them by our good example; for if our lights ſhine before them, they will glorifie our Father which is in heauen; if we hauehave our conuerſation honest among Mat. 5. 16. 1. Pet. 2. 12.vnbeleeuers, they will giuegive glory to God in the day of their viſitation. Secondly, to auoyd offence which they are ready to take, when they ſee our conuerſation 2. Cor. 6. 3.contrary to our profeſſion. Now we muſt giuegive no offence in any thing, becauſe there is a fearefull woe denounced againſt thoſe by whom offences Mat. 18. 7.come, and that iuſtly, becauſe, as much as in them lyeth, they deſtroy thoſe for whom Chriſt hath died. Thirdly, that we may hereby gaine them 1. Cor. 8. 11.to Chriſt, when they ſee our holy conuerſation coupled with feare. Wherein we are to follow the Apoſtles example, who pleaſed all men in all things, not 1. Pet. 3. 1, 2.ſeeking his owne profit, but of many that they might be ſaued. In reſpect of our ſelues, we are to approue our ſincerity by our outward practice in an holy conuerſation, that heereby we may be aſſured that our hearts are vpright before God, ſeeing the goodneſſe of the tree can no otherwiſe be knowne, Mat. 7. 17. Iam. 2. 27.then by the good fruits which it beareth, nor the life of Grace diſcerned, but by the breath of holy and righteous words and actions. Secondly, becauſe we can no otherwiſe hauehave the peace of a good conſcience, in the aſſurance of our election and ſaluation, vnleſſe we bring foorth in our liues the 2. Pet. 1. 10.fruits of ſanctification. Thirdly, becauſe by our outward obedience our inward graces are exerciſed, and by exerciſe increaſed, which otherwiſe will faint and languiſh. Neither will God giuegive vsus the Talents of his graces, vnleſſe we will put them out to vſe, that he may be glorified, and our brethren aduantaged by their increaſe. Whereas if like good Vines we be fruitfull in the duties of piety and righteouſneſſe, he will purge and prune vsus, that Joh. 15. 2.we may bring forth more fruit. Fourthly, that we may adorne our profeſsion, when as we walke worthy that high calling whereunto we are called, and approoue Eph. 4. 1. Mat. 5. 48.our ſelues to be the children of God, and heires of heauen, by reſembling our heauenly Father in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe; according to that of the Apoſtle; As he that hath called you, is holy, ſo bee ye holy in all 1. Pet. 1. 15, 16, 17.manner of conuerſation; Becauſe it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy. And if ye call him Father, who without reſpect of perſons iudgeth according to eueryevery mans worke, paſſe the time of your ſoiourning heere in feare.
§. Sect. 3 That Chriſtian apologie and outward profeſſion of the Truth is required.
Now as wee are to exerciſe the wholy body in the outward practice of obedience, and the duties of a godly life, as our eyes in ſeeing, our eares in hearing, &c. ſo eſpecially muſt we approoue our practice of piety, both by our words and workes. By our words, both by Chriſtian profeſsion and holy communication. For if our hearts bee vpright before God, and ſerue him in ſincerity and truth, then will wee make an outward profeſsion of what wee inwardly beleeue, namely, that God is our God, and we his Children and ſeruants, and that wee imbrace his truth of Religion, and will in all things conforme our ſelues vntounto his reuealed will So the Apoſtle ſaith, that, as with the heart man beleeueth vntounto righteouſneſſe, Rom. 10. 10.ſo with the mouth hee confeſſeth to ſaluation. And the Pſalmiſt; I beleeued, Pſal. 116. 10.and therefore I ſpake; the which, as it was his owne practice, as appeareth in thoſe words, I will declare thy Name vntounto my brethren, in the Pſal. 22. 22, 23.middeſt of the Congregation will I praiſe thee: ſo in the next words hee telleth vsus, that it is generally the practice of all that feare God; Yee that feare the Lord, praiſe him, all yee the ſeede of Iacob, glorifie him. The which profeſsion of our faith ought not to bee forced and conſtrained, but free and liberall, as oft as wee hauehave any hope thereby to glorifie God, or edifie thoſe that heare vsus; according to that of the Apoſtle Peter; Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts, and bee ready alwayes to giuegive an 1. Pet. 3. 15.anſwere to eueryevery man that asketh you a reaſon of the hope that is in you, with meekeneſſe and feare. For otherwiſe, if our profeſsion is likely to tend to Gods diſhonour, by expoſing his Truth to skorne and blaſphemy, and our perſons to the rage and violence of prophane miſcreants, our Sauiours rule muſt take place, Caſt not that which is holy vntounto Dogs, nor pearles Mat. 7.before Swine, &c. And as wee are to bee free and cheerefull in our profeſsion; ſo alſo to bee bold and couragious, not fearing the face of man, nor denying or ſuppreſſing the truth, for feare or fauour, either to pleaſe men, or to auoyd our owne trouble, according to the example of Dauid; who profeſſeth that hee would ſpeake of Gods Teſtimonies Pſal. 119. 46.before Kings, and would not bee aſhamed; and the Apoſtle Paul, who profeſſed before the Gouernour, that after that way which was called Act. 24. 14.hereſie, by the enemies of Gods Trueth, hee worſhipped the God of his Fathers, beleeuing all that was written in the Law and the Prophets. To which purpoſe, wee are alwayes to remember that ſaying of our Sauiour Chriſt; Whoſoeuer ſhall confeſſe mee before men, him will I confeſſe alſo before Mat. 10. 32, 33.my Father which is in heauen. But whoſoeuer ſhall deny mee before men, him will I alſo deny before my Father which is in heauen. Secondly, vvee muſt teſtifie our integrity of heart by our holy communication, the principall ſcope whereof muſt bee, the glory of God, according to the example of Dauid, who profeſſeth that hee had not hid Gods righteouſneſſe Pſal. 40. 10.within his heart, but had declared his faithfulneſſe and ſaluation, and had not concealed his louing kindneſſe from the great Congregation. And next vntounto it, our ſpeech muſt tend to the furthering of our owne ſaluation, and edification of our brethren. For if our hearts bee ſincere and holy, ſuch alſo will our conferences bee, as before wee hauehave ſhewed more at large.
§. Sect. 4 That we muſt practiſe what we know, in our works and actions.
Secondly, with our words and outward profeſſion, wee muſt ioyne alſo our workes and actions, in doing ſeruice vntounto God, without which wee cannot approoue our hearts to bee vpright before him. Neither is it ſufficient to make vsus accepted of God, that wee ſpeake religiouſly, and make a glorious profeſſion of the Truth, vnleſſe our practice be ſutable in the works of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe. It is not enough (as our Sauiour hath taught vsus) to cry, Lord, Lord, for entring into Gods Kingdom, vnleſſe we Mat. 7. 21, 23.do the wil of his Father which is in heauen; no nor yet that we hauehave prophecied and preached in his Name; ſeeing we ſhal be excluded & depart from him, if we be workers of iniquity. For not the hearers and talkers of the Law, but the Rom. 2. 13.doers therof ſhall be iuſtified. Neither will God render vntounto vsus according to our outward profeſſion, but according to our deeds, & we ſhal receiue at Chriſts Rom. 2. 6. 2. Cor. 5. 10. Tit. 1. 16.appearing to Iudgement, not according to our words and ſhewes, but according to that we hauehave done, whether it be good or bad. Yea in truth, bare profeſſion without practice, doth make vsus the more odious in Gods ſight. And if we deny God in our works, whō we profeſſe to know with our words, we become abominable hypocrits, who diſhonour him more by their ſins then any other. In which regard, the Lord would hauehave none to make profeſſion of Religion, who do not indeuour to practiſe what they know in their liues. What haſt thou to doe to declare my Statutes, or that thou ſhouldeſt take my Couenant Pſal. 50. 16.into thy mouth; ſeeing thou hateſt inſtruction, and caſteſt my words behind thee? And ſuch our Sauiour reprooueth; Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and doe Luk. 6. 46.not the things which I ſay? Before therefore we compaſſe Gods Altar, to offer vntounto him with our tongues the ſacrifice of praiſe, wee muſt firſt with Dauid, waſh our hands in innocencie. If we would approoue the ſincerity of Pſal. 26. 6.our faith, & outward confeſſion of the Truth, we muſt with thoſe beleeuers in the Acts of the Apoſtles, ſhew it by our deeds. If we would make it manifeſt Act. 19. 18.that our harts are inwardly inflamed with the louelove of God, we muſt ſhew it by our actions rather then by our words; according to that of our Sauiour; If ye louelove me, keepe my Commandements: And againe, He that hath my John. 14. 15, 21.Commandements and keepeth them, is he that loueth me. Yee are my friends, if ye doe whatſoeuer I command you.Iohn 15. 14.
§. Sect. 5 Diuers reaſons perſwading vsus to good workes.
By all which it appeareth, that vntounto the duties of a godly life, there is required reall practice in our workes, as well as verball profeſſion with our mouthes, neither doth an holy profeſſion alone make any man holy, but only bindeth him to the duties of holineſſe. The which, though it bee acknowledged of all men, yet becauſe it fareth with the moſt, as with men grieuouſly ſicke, who hauing loſt their appetite, approoue good meate in their iudgment and diſcourſe, but when they are mooued to eate of it, put it by, becauſe it is lothſome to their corrupted ſtomacks; therefore it will not be amiſſe that we inforce this point a little further, that I may ſet an edge on their appetite, and as the Apoſtle requireth, may prouoke them vntounto Heb. 10. 24.louelove and good workes. Firſt therefore let vsus conſider, that as the Lord requireth an vpright heart and holy profeſſion, ſo alſo the fruits of them both in good workes. For he would hauehave vsus, not onelyonly hearers of his Word, but alſo doers of it; and chargeth vsus to doe good vntounto all, to be rich in good workes, Iam. 1. 22. Gal. 6. 10. 1. Tim. 6. 17, 18. 2. Theſ. 3. 13. Tit. 2. 14. Luk. 1. 74, 75. 1. Tim. 2. 10.and neuer weary of well-doing. Secondly, that he hath created vsus vntounto good workes, that we ſhould walke in them, and redeemed vsus, that wee ſhould not onelyonly doe good workes, but alſo bee zealous in doing of them. Thirdly, that they are the chiefe ornaments of Chriſtians, which much more decke and beautifie them in the ſight of God and all good men, then all Iewels, gold, and gorgeous apparell. Fourthly, let vsus conſider the exceeding profit of them, ſeeing God doth richly reward them, both in this life and the life to come. Fifthly, that they are notable and ſingular meanes to aſſure vsus of all Gods graces in this life, and eternal happineſſe in the life to come; whereby we attaine vntounto ſpirituall comfort, peace of conſcience, and ioy in the holy Ghoſt. For they are the aſſured ſignes of our election and effectuall calling, ſeeing if we doe theſe things, we ſhall neuer fall. They are the 2. Pet. 1. 10.fruits of our regeneration and new birth, whereby wee are aſſured of our ſpirituall life, euen as the naturall life is knowne by action and motion; and that we are trees of righteouſneſſe, which Gods owne hand hath planted; for the tree is knowne by the fruits, ſeeing a good tree cannot bring foorth Math. 7. 17. & 12. 33.thoſe which are euill; nor an euill thoſe which are good. They aſſure vsus of our iuſtification: for he that doth righteouſneſſe, is righteous, as the Apoſtle Iohn 1. Job. 3. 7. Rom. 2. 13.telleth vsus. They are ſignes of our adoption and ſpirituall kindred with Chriſt: for they that heare the Word and doe it, are his brethren and ſiſters. By them we may be aſſured that our wiſedome is ſpirituall and heauenly; according Mat. 12. 50.to that of the Apoſtle Iames; Who is a wiſe man and endued with knowledge amongst you? Let him ſhew out of a good conuerſation his workes with Iam. 3. 13.meekeneſſe of wiſedome. That our faith alſo is liuely and iuſtifying. For they, and they onelyonly doe truely beleeue in God, who are carefull to maintaine good workes; ſeeing as it inwardly purifieth the heart, ſo alſo it worketh outwardly Tit. 3. 8. Act. 15. 9. Gal. 5. 6. Iam. 2. 14. 17. 26.by louelove. And therefore the Apoſtle Iames concludeth, that ſuch a faith as bringeth not forth theſe fruits, doth nothing profit vsus for our iuſtification and ſaluation; becauſe it is dead, and not a liuing body, but a dead carkaſſe which breatheth not. So that though workes doe not iuſtifie vsus, but faith onelyonly (for wee are firſt made righteous, before wee can bring foorth the fruits of righteouſneſſe) yet that faith which is alone, doth not iuſtifie vsus, becauſe it is a dead faith, and therefore cannot apply vntounto vsus Chriſt our Righteouſneſſe. Though they doe not iuſtifie vsus before God, yet they iuſtifie vsus before men, that is, declare that we are iuſtified. Though they be not cauſes, yet they are neceſſary and inſeparable effects of our iuſtification. Though they are not required vntounto the act of iuſtification, but faith onelyonly vniting vsus vntounto Chriſt our Righteouſneſſe, yet vntounto the party iuſtified: for as hee that doth righteouſneſſe, is righteous, ſo hee that is righteous, 1. Ioh. 3. 7.doth righteouſneſſe, the cauſe and effect alwayes concurring and going together. Finally, though they bee not meritorious cauſes of ſaluation, which is Gods free gift; an inheritance, and not a purchaſe made by our ſelues, yet they are the meanes which aſſure vsus of it; and though they be not the cauſe of our raigning, yet they are the way to the Kingdome. Finally, they are the vndoubted ſignes, and (as the Apoſtle calleth them) the proofe of our louelove, whereby we may try whether it be vnfained or hypocriticall; Ioh. 14. 15.for if we louelove God, we will keepe his Commandements: and alſo of the truth and ſincerity of our Religion, which is not ſo well knowne from that Iam. 1. 27.which is falſe by an outward profeſſion, as by the holy practice of it in the workes of piety, iuſtice, mercy and Chriſtian charity.
§. Sect. 6 Of the rewards of good works.
Laſtly, let vsus conſider, that the Lord will richly of his free grace reward theſe workes with glory and happineſſe in his Kingdome. For though the ſtrength of our title ſtand vponupon Gods free gift, yet wee are entred into the poſſeſſion of it by the workes of mercy, as being infallible ſignes that wee are the true and lawfull heires vntounto whom this heauenly patrimony doth belong, by right of Couenant: according to that of our Sauiour, Come ye Mat. 25. 34, 35.bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and ye gaue me meate; I was thirſty, and ye gaue me drinke, &c. So the Apoſtle ſaith, that at the day of Iudgement, Chriſt will render to eueryevery man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance Rom. 2. 7, 8.in well-doing ſeeke for glory honour, and immortality, eternall life, but to them that are contentious and doe not obey the truth, but obey vnrighteouſneſſe, indignation and wrath, &c. Whereby it appeareth, that if euer we meane to attaine vntounto euerlaſting happineſſe, we muſt not content our ſelues with an opinion of our inward piety and ſincerity, nor with an outward profeſſion of Religion, but we muſt bring foorth the fruits of them, both in the workes of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe; For not eueryevery one that ſaith, Lord, Mat. 7. 21, 22. Luk. 11. 28. Ioh. 13. 17. Apoc. 1. 3.Lord, ſhall enter into Gods Kingdome, but they that doe his will. And they only are pronounced happy, who heare the Word of God and keep it. As for thoſe who pleaſe themſelues with the profeſsion of piety, & neglect the practice in the fruits of obedience, and duties of a godly life, they are preſently in danger to be cut off like hypocrits & dead branches with Gods iudgemēts, according to that of Iohn the Baptiſt; Now is the axe laid to the root of the trees; Mat. 3. 10. Ioh. 15. 2.Therefore eueryevery tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewne downe & caſt into the fire: And in the World to come ſhall be excluded from Gods preſence, and hauehave their portion in euerlaſting fire, prepared for the deuill and his Mat. 7. 23. & 25. 41.angels, not only as workers of iniquity, but alſo as neglecters of the workes of mercy and Chriſtian charity, to the poore members of Ieſus Chriſt.