A Guide to Godliness, Book 5 · Chapter 39
CAP. XXXIX.
Other motiues ariſing from thoſe duties which we owe vntounto God and our neighbours.
§. Sect. 1 The firſt reaſon, taken from that thankefulneſſe which we owe vntounto God.
ANd theſe are the reaſons and arguments, reſpecting Gods workes and benefits towards vsus, which may perſwade vsus to performe all the duties of a godly life with diligence & cheerefulneſſe. Beſides which, there are diuers other motiues, ariſing from thoſe duties which we owe vntounto God, in lieu of ſo many great & ineſtimable benefits, that are alſo effectuall to the ſame purpoſe. As firſt, our vnfained thankefulneſſe towards God, which we are bound to teſtifie and approue, by performing ſeruice vntounto him in the duties of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe. For we Rom. 8. 12.are not debters vntounto the fleſh, that wee ſhould liue according to the luſts thereof; but ſo infinitely indebted vntounto God for his innumerable mercies, that we are neuer able in the leaſt part to diſcharge it, and are therefore bound euer to remaine thankefull debters, and to teſtifie our thankefulneſſe by magnifying his grace and holy Name, and by ſtriuing and indeuouring, as much as we are able, to doe his will, and performe all ſuch duties as are acceptable in his ſight, acknowledging when we hauehave done the beſt we can, that wee are ſtill vnprofitable ſeruants, who Luk. 17. 10.come farre ſhort of that dutie which wee owe vntounto him. His grace ſhining vntounto vsus when wee were in darkeneſſe and ſhadow of death, requireth at our hands that wee ſhould no more doe the workes of darkeneſſe, but that we ſhould now walke as it becommeth children of the Eph. 5. 8, 10, 15, 16.light, proouing what is acceptable vntounto the Lord, and by more then ordinary diligence and circumſpection, redeeming our loſt time, which we hauehave miſſpent in the ſeruice of ſinne and Satan. The great worke of Redemption alſo wrought by Chriſt, whereby he hath ſaued and deliuered vsus out of that miſerable bondage of ſinne and Satan, and purchaſed vsus vntounto himſelfe, as his owne peculiar people, ſhould make vsus zealous Tit. 2. 14.of good workes, and in thankefulneſſe for ſo great a benefit, moſt carefull to ſerue our Lord and Redeemer, in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe all the daies of our liues; and ſeeing he hath reconciled vsus vntounto God his Father, by paying for our ranſome, not ſiluer or gold, or any corruptible, Luk. 1. 74, 75.thing, but that precious price of himſelfe, and his blood ſhed for our 1. Pet. 1. 18. Col. 1. 21, 22.ſinnes, that ſo he might preſent vsus holy, vnblameable and vnreprouable in his ſight; let not vsus vngratefully fruſtrate his end, by defyling our ſelues with ſinne, but let vsus offer our bodies and ſoules a liuing ſacrifice, holy and acceptable Rom. 12. 1.vntounto God, which is our reaſonable ſeruice, as the Apoſtle exhorteth. He hath incorporated vsus into his owne body, and ſo made vsus partakers of himſelfe and all his benefits, the ſonnes of God by adoption and grace, and coheires with him in glory and happineſſe, and therefore let vsus bring forth fruits worthy ſo holy and happie a communion, and in all things ſubmit our ſelues to be ruled and gouerned by ſo gracious and good an Head. The Holy Ghoſt alſo hath applied vntounto vsus by his vertue and efficacie Chriſts merits and obedience; and though heauen, and the heauens of heauens are not ſufficient to containe him, 1. King. 8. 27.nor the infiniteneſſe of his Glory and Maieſty; yet he is content to dwell with vsus, yea in vsus, yea in vsus, as in his Temples: and therefore let vsus not prophane 1. Cor. 6. 19.that which he hath ſanctified with his preſence, and ſo vex and grieue this Holy Spirit, but labour to preſeure our bodies and ſoules in purity and honour, that being fit for his habitation, he may dwell in vsus with pleaſure and delight.
§. Sect. 2 The 2. reaſon taken from that deſire which ſhould be in vsus to glorifie God.
Secondly, Gods manifold and rich mercies ſhould moue vsus in thankefulneſſe to glorifie him, who hath beene ſo good and gracious Luk. 1. 74. 1. Cor. 6. 20.vntounto vsus, which is the maine end why the Lord hath beſtowed all his bleſſings and benefits vponupon vsus. For therefore he hath created vsus, that we ſhould glorifie him by our ſeruice; and for this end he hath redeemed vsus, that we ſhould worſhip and ſerue him in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, and that being no longer our owne, but his, wee ſhould (as the Apoſtle exhorteth vsus) glorifie him in our ſoules and bodies. Therefore hath he called vsus to be a choſen generation, a Royall Prieſthood, an holy 1. Pet. 1. 9.nation, a peculiar people, that we ſhould ſhew forth the prayſes of him, who hath called vsus out of darkeneſſe into his maruailous light. And this is the end why the Apoſtle prayeth ſo earneſtly for the Theſſalonians, that he would count them worthy of their calling, and fulfill in them all the 2. Theſ. 1. 11, 12good pleaſure of his goodneſſe, and the worke of Faith and power; to wit, that the name of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt might be glorified in them, and they in him. Now we thus glorifie God, not by adding any thing to his glory, but as we are inſtruments of manifeſting it; or giuegive occaſion vntounto others of glorifying him. And thus wee glorifie him in our regeneration and New birth, when as his infinite wiſdome, power and goodneſſe doe more wonderfully ſhine to his glorie, in that maruailous change of our nature from death to life, from ſinnefull vncleanneſſe, to purity and holineſſe; and of our ſtate from the deepeſt miſery, to the higheſt happineſſe, then in our firſt creation. Thus alſo we glorifie him by our fruits of new obedience, according to that of our Sauiour, Hereby is Joh. 15. 8.your heauenly Father glorified, if you bring much fruit. Seeing we make it manifeſt vntounto the world, that the God whom we ſerue, is himſelfe holy, pure, and iuſt, ſeeing he is ſo much delighted in the purity, holineſſe and righteouſneſſe of his ſeruants, and cannot indure ſinne and Leuit. 10. 2.wickedneſſe in thoſe that draw neere vntounto him. And this argument our Sauiour vſeth to perſwade vsus vntounto an holy conuerſation; Let your Matth. 5. 16.light (ſaith he) ſo ſhine before men, that ſeeing your good workes, they may glorifie your Father which is in heauen. And the Apoſtle Peter vſeth the ſame reaſon: HaueHave your conuerſation honeſt among the Gentiles, that whereas 1. Pet. 2. 12.they ſpeake againſt you as euill doers, they may by your good workes which they ſhall behold, glorifie God in the day of viſitation. Finally, wee glorifie him by our godly liues, when as by our outward ſeruice, wee approue and teſtifie, that inwardly we louelove, feare, reuerence, and depend vponupon him, as being omniſcient, who taketh notice of our workes, omnipotent and al-ſufficient to reward our wel-doing, and of infallible truth in all his promiſes, made vntounto all thoſe that feare and ſerue him. Now what ſtronger motiue can there be to perſwade vsus vntounto all the duties of a godly life, then to conſider, that God, infinite in Glory and Maieſty, doth vouchſafe vntounto vsus this honour to make vsus, who are ſo baſe and contemptible, inſtruments of his glory, and that not becauſe he needeth our helpe, but that he may take occaſion hereby to glorifie 1. Sam. 2. 30.vsus, and to crowne our workes with glory and happineſſe?
§. Sect. 3 The third reaſon taken from the will of God, that we ſhould thus ſerue him.
Finally, it may be an effectuall reaſon to moue vsus, to imbrace holineſſe, and to bring forth the fruites of it in a godly life, becauſe it is 1. Theſ. 4. 3. 2 Pet. 3. 9. Matth. 26. 39.the will of God, that we ſhould ſo doe, according to that of the Apoſtle, This is the will of God, euen your ſanctification. For the will of God is the perfect rule of all Iuſtice and goodneſſe, according to which we muſt frame all our actions, which that we may fulfill, we muſt vtterly renounce our ſelues and our owne pleaſure, ſaying with our Sauiour, Not my will, but thine be done: & with him eſteeming it our meat & drinke, to doe the will of our heauenly Father. And this is that we daily aske in the Lords Prayer, that the wil of God may be done in earth as it is heauen; that is, Ioh. 4. 34.that we may obey it with that ſpeed and diligence, cheerefulneſſe and delight, as the holy Angels. And therefore vnleſſe wee pray in hypocriſie, we muſt labour and indeuour, that wee may in our practice attaine vntounto that, which wee craue at Gods hands in our daily prayers. Now that it is the will of God, that we ſhould ſerue him in keeping his Law, and performing all the holy duties of a godly life required in it, it is cleere and euident by his Word, wherein he hath reuealed his will, and by innumerable precepts and exhortations, by which we are preſſed and perſwaded to ſanctification and new obedience. So the Apoſtle exhorteth vsus as Gods Ambaſſadour, to aEph. 4. 23, 24. & 5. 14, 15.be renued in the ſpirit of our mindes, and to put on the new man which after God is created in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe. And againe; b2. Cor. 5. 17.If any man be in Chriſt, let him be a new creature. cRom. 12. 2. & 13. 14.And be not conformed to the world, but be ye transformed by the renuing of your mindes, that ye may proue what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God. d1. Cor. 15. 34. Col. …1, 3.Awake to righteouſneſſe and ſinne not; e2. Tim. 2. 22. Heb. 12. 1.Fly alſo youthfull luſts; but follow Righteouſneſſe, Faith, Charity, Peace, &c. Thus the Lord exhorteth by the Prophet Eſay: fEſa. 1. 16, 17. Eccle. 12. 13. Matth. 22. 37.Ceaſe to doe euill, learne to do well, ſeeke iudgement, relieue the oppreſſed, &c. And finally, the Wiſeman after a long diſcourſe concludeth with this, as the ſumme of all which either he could teach, or any other, Feare God and keepe his Commandement, for this is the whole duty of man. And therefore ſeeing the Lord, who hath abſolute authority ouer vsus, and full right vntounto vsus, doth in theſe and innumerable other places command and exhort vsus to performe the duties of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, and thereby to ſerue him in the whole courſe of our liues, who is our Creator, Preſeruer, & Redeemer, we muſt carefully indeuour to yeeld our obedience, vnleſſe we would rather ſhew our ſelues ſtubbornely rebellious, and enemies both to his glory and our owne ſaluation. And that we may be incouraged to ſerue God in all Chriſtian duties with more diligence and cheerefulneſſe, let vsus remember that if we doe our beſt indeuour, we and our ſeruice ſhall be accepted, though it be full of imperfections and ſtained with many corruptions. For he doth not deale with Mal. 3. 17. 2. Cor. 8. 12.vsus as a ſeuere Iudge according to the rigour of the Law, but like a gracious Father, he paſſeth by our infirmities, and accepteth the will for the worke. And though nothing as it is ſtained and imperfect, can be pleaſing vntounto God, whoſe exact Iuſtice and pure eye can indure no blemiſh; yet the duties which we performe vntounto him, reſpectiuely doe pleaſe him, and moue him alſo to delight in vsus. For they pleaſe him not as they are tainted with the corruption of our will, but as by them we doe his will, who hath commanded vsus to doe them. Not as they are done by vsus who are defiled with ſinne, for how can any thing Joh. 14. 4. Math. 3. 17. & 17. 5.cleane, come out of vsus that are vncleane? But as they are done in Chriſt, in whom he is well pleaſed, and fruits of this Vine which we beare, being ingrafted in him by a true and liuely faith. Not as they are imperfect and ſtained, but as their imperfections are couered with Chriſts perfect righteouſneſſe, and their corruption waſhed away by his blood. Not as they are done by vsus, but as they are the fruits and effects of his owne holy Spirit, working in, and by vsus. They doe not pleaſe him in their owne worth, but becauſe our perſons are accepted and pleaſe him, being iuſtified by faith in Ieſus Chriſt, reconciled vntounto him, and children by adoption and grace, whoſe poore indeuours are accepted of our gracious Father for perfect obedience; and the rather, becauſe howſoeuer we faile through weakneſſe and infirmitie, yet the mayne end which we propound in them vntounto our ſelues is, that we may, by performing our duty, glorify our heauenly Father; and becauſe, though our workes be vnperfect, yet they are done with perfect hearts, that is, in vprightneſſe and ſincerity, which maketh vsus doe the beſt we can, and to bewaile our imperfections, becauſe wee can doe no better. Finally, they pleaſe God, not that hee hath any pleaſure in vnrighteouſneſſe or imperfect righteouſnes, but becauſe we doing them out of louelove and filial obedience, he alſo loueth vsus, & ſo is well pleaſed with our workes of piety & righteouſnes, becauſe they tend to our good, to whom in his louelove he wiſheth ſo wel, as being the way which will bring vsus vntounto eternall life and happineſſe.
§. Sect. 4 The fourth reaſon is, that we may adorne the Goſpell of God which we profeſſe.
The laſt motiue reſpecting our duty towards God, which may perſwade vsus to ſerue him by a godly life, is, that hereby we may adorne Deut. 4. 6, 7, 8.the Goſpell of God, and of Ieſus Chriſt which we profeſſe; and cauſe it to bee well ſpoken of by all that ſee the fruits of it in our vnblameable and holy conuerſation. And this argument the Lord vſeth to perſwade his people to obſerue his Commandements, becauſe hereby they ſhould not onelyonly get honour vntounto themſelues amongſt the Nations, but moue them likewiſe to ſpeake well of his Lawes and ſtatutes, when as they ſhould ſee the fruits of them in their obedience. And thus the Apoſtle perſwadeth Chriſtians in diuers callings to performe their duties in them, that they might not cauſe the Word of God to be blaſphemed; 1. Tim. 6. 1. Tit. 2. 5.ſeeing it is the common cuſtome of worldly and wicked men, to to lay the faults of Profeſſours vponupon their profeſſion, and to impute their ſcandalous ſinnes, to their much going to Church and hearing of the Word, as though their profeſſion and hearing were the cauſe of their wicked and vnlawfull courſes, whereas in truth, they would (if they abuſed them not) bee as ſtrong cables to draw them from all impiety and vnrighteous dealing. And contrariwiſe, he would hauehave them to liue in an holy conuerſation, that they might adorne the doctrine Tit. 2. 10.of God our Sauiour in all things. For men are apt to ſpeake of the Religion and truth which wee profeſſe, either in the better or worſer part, according to the fruits which we bring forth of it in our liues; thinking our Religion to bee pure and good, if we approue our ſelues to bee ſo, by our holy and Chriſtian practice and conuerſation; but contrariwiſe, if (like thoſe of whom the Apoſtle ſpeaketh) wee hauehave onelyonly a forme of Godlineſſe, and in our liues deny the power there of, or profeſſe 2. Tim. 3. 5.that we know God, but in our workes diſclaime him, being abominable and Tit. 1. 16.diſobedient, and vntounto eueryevery good worke reprobate; wee ſhall open their mouthes, not onelyonly againſt vsus, but alſo againſt all Profeſſours of Gods true Religion, yea euen againſt the Religion and Doctrine of truth it ſelfe which we profeſſe. For if euer Dauid himſelfe fall into foule ſinnes, it will not onelyonly tend to his owne diſhonour, but alſo giuegive occaſion to the enemies of the Lord to blaſpheme, as though he were 2. Sam. 12. 14.a patrone or approuer of ſuch crimes.
§. Sect. 5 The 1. reaſon, that we may auoid giuing of offence.
And ſo much of thoſe reaſons which reſpect God. The ſecond ſort reſpect our neighbours, from whom alſo wee may draw diuers arguments 1. Cor. 10. 32.to perſwade vsus to an holy conuerſation. And firſt, becauſe we ſhall, being vnblameable, auoid giuing vntounto them any iuſt offence, eitherby laying ſtumbling blockes in their way, whereby they ſhould be hindred from the profeſſing of the true Religion, when as they are able to take exceptions to the liues of Profeſſours; or if they bee religious, bee grieued in their righteous ſoules, when they ſee our liues full of blots and blemiſhes; or make the weake fall by our ill 2. Pet. 2. 7, 8.example. The which we muſt carefully auoid, becauſe our Sauiour Matth. 18. 7.pronounceth a fearefull woe againſt thoſe by whom ſuch offences come; and contrariwiſe, labour with the Apoſtle, to exerciſe our ſelues Acts 24. 16.dayly in this, that wee may hauehave alwaies a conſcience void of offence towards God and towards men. Secondly, we may be moued to the practice The ſecond reaſon.of al holy duties of a godly life, that we may gaine thoſe that are without, to Chriſt, & to imbrace that true Religion which we profeſſe. For if we hauehave our conuerſation honeſt among the Gentiles, they ſeeing our good 1. Pet. 2. 12.workes, will glorifie God in the day of their viſitation. And this argument the Apoſtle Peter vſeth to perſwade wiues vntounto their dutie, that they which 1. Pet. 3. 1.obeied not the Word, might without the Word be won with their Chriſtiā conuerſation. The which ſo much preuailed with the Apoſtle Paul, that he vtterly denied himſelfe and his owne will, and became all things to all men, that he might gaine ſome to Chriſt, and was content to pleaſe all 1. Cor. 9. 19, 22. & Chap. 10. 33.men in all things, not ſeeking his owne profit, but the profit of many, that they might bee ſaued. And how much more then ſhould we with all willingneſſe walke in ſuch a courſe of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, which in gayning others, will profit our ſelues, and not onelyonly ſaue them by gayning them to Chriſt, through our good example, but aſſure our ſelues alſo of our ſaluation? Finally, wee may be perſwaded vntounto all The third reaſon.holy and Chriſtian duties, becauſe they ſo much tend to the good and profit of our brethren, who are in the ſame holy communion with vsus. Firſt, becauſe by the light of our godly liues, we ſhall moue them, together with vsus, to glorifie our heauenly Father, who is the Author Matth 5. 16.and Fountaine of all good things which they ſee in vsus. Secondly, becauſe we ſhall edifie them by our good example, and moue them to imitate thoſe good things they ſhall ſee in vsus, and by our communion and fellowſhip with them (like kindled coales on the ſame heape) wee ſhall inflame their zeale, and by an holy emulation make them ſtriue to match vsus in their Chriſtian duties; as the Apoſtle ſheweth in the example of the Corinthians, whoſe zeale in Chriſtian beneficence, 2. Cor. 9. 2.had (as hee ſaith) prouoked many. And thus hee perſwadeth Timothy to bee an example vntounto beleeuers, in word, in conuerſation, in charity, 1. Tim. 4. 12.in ſpirit, in ſaith, in puritie: And exhorteth vsus all to conſider one Heb. 10. 24.another, to prouoke vntounto louelove and to good workes. To which purpoſe nothing can bee more effectuall then good examples, when as we ſee thoſe duties conſtantly performed by our brethren with much comfort and delight, which wee feared as tedious, troubleſome and almoſt impoſſible, and in this regard durſt not vndertake them. Finally, wee ſhall doe good to our brethren euen in the duties themſelues, both of piety, by teaching, admoniſhing, exhorting, comforting, and counſelling them that neede our helpe; and alſo of mercy, by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, viſiting the ſicke, and ſuch like workes of Chriſtian charity, whereby wee miniſter vntounto their neceſſities.