A Guide to Godliness, Book 5 · Chapter 41
CAP. XLI.
Other reaſons taken from our owne profit, and the manifold benefits of a godly life.
§. Sect. 1 That godlines is the chiefeſt gaine.
BVt among all other arguments which reſpect our ſelues, none are more effectuall to preuaile with vsus, then thoſe Pſal. 4. 6. 1. Tim. 6. 6.which are drawne from our owne profit, ſeeing, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh, eueryevery man is ready to inquire, who will ſhew them any good. And therefore if I ſhall plainly ſhew that godlineſſe is the greateſt gaine, and nothing in the world ſo profitable and beneficiall to all vſes and purpoſes, as the practice of holy and righteous duties, belonging to a Chriſtian life; I hope it will be effectuall to perſwade all, who wel waigh and conſider the ineſtimable gaine and profit which they ſhall aſſuredly reape vntounto themſelues, that conſtantly goe on in the wayes of godlineſſe, to ſpend their time and chiefe ſtrength and indeuours in that, whereby they may receiue ſo great aduantage; and to neglect the pleaſures of ſinne, and the eager purſuit of worldly vanities, which profit not, as bringing in compariſon, no true good, ſound comfort, or ſolid contentment for the preſent; and when they bee taken from vsus, or we from them (one of which muſt needs happen, and we know not how ſoone) leaue nothing behind them, but woe and miſery. Doe not therefore (I beſeech thee Chriſtian Reader) as thou tendreſt the euerlaſting ſaluation of thy precious ſoule, O doe not ſuffer thine eyes to bee blinded and dazeled with the ſudden flaſhes of worldly vanities, which like lightening paſſe ſwiftly away, and leaue nothing behind but blacke darkneſſe, ſo as thou canſt not diſcerne the beauty and brightneſſe of ſpirituall graces and heauenly excellencies. Doe not content thy ſelfe with a ſlight and ſuperficiall view of theſe following reaſons, which perſwade thee for thine owne good, vntounto the duties of a godly life, nor to hauehave read them ouer with a curious eye, rather to ſee what may bee ſaid, then with a purpoſe to make vſe of them for thy practice of holineſſe, if thou be thorowly conuinced by euidence of truth ſhining in them: but ponder them ſeriouſly with thy ſelfe, and if thou finde them to beare any waight, be perſwaded by them to neglect no longer thine owne good, nor to deferre and put off the ſeruing of God in the duties of a godly life, but ſeeke firſt his Kingdome and righteouſneſſe, when as thou ſhalt plainly diſcerne, Deut. 6. 24.that his glory, and thy good, are through his mercy ſo matched together, that thou canſt not ſeeke the one, but thou ſhalt aſſuredly finde the other.
§. Sect. 2 That by leading of a godly life, we are aſſured of freedome from all our ſins, both in reſpect of their guilt, puniſhment, and corruption.
Now the good things which accompany the duties of a godly life, are either the benefits, which as fruits and effects, attend vponupon it; or thoſe ſpeciall and rich priuiledges, wherewith God of his free mercy is pleaſed to crowne his owne graces, and to reward, as with rich wages, that poore ſeruice which we performe vntounto him. The benefits which follow a godly life, are either priuatiue, conſiſting in our freedome from euill; or poſitiue, in the fruition of good, and both of them either temporall or eternall. The priuatiue benefits of this life are many, according to the multitude of euils vntounto which it is liable, both in reſpect of ſinne and puniſhment, from which, in the greateſt and worſt part, we are by the benefit of a godly life freed and deliuered. For firſt, if wee leade a godly life, it will be a meanes to aſſure vsus of our freedome from the guilt of all our ſinnes, by ſole vertue of Chriſts death and blood-ſhed, applyed vntounto vsus by faith, both in regard that theſe holy duties of a godly life are the vndoubted fruits of a liuely faith, approuing it to bee ſincere and vnfained; and as fruits of our Sanctification, aſſuring vsus, that the ſame vertue of Chriſts death and Reſurrection, which wee finde effectuall for the mortifying of our ſinnes, and our ſpirituall quickening vntounto holineſſe and newneſſe of life, hath been already alike effectuall vntounto vsus, for the freeing of vsus from the guilt of ſinne in our Iuſtification, of which the other are but fruits and effects. And ſecondly, wee ſhall hereby be freed, in the greateſt part, from our fleſhly corruption, and innumerable actuall ſinnes; ſeeing thoſe Pſal. 119. 9, 10, 11.that are carefull to pleaſe God in the duties of a godly life, doe bend their whole force in the vſe of all good meanes, for the ſubduing of their carnall luſts, that though they dwell, yet they may not rule and raigne in them; reſiſt, as much as in them lyeth, all the tentations of their ſpirituall enemies, alluring and drawing them into ſinne, and keepe a conſcionable and diligent watch ouer themſelues, that they may not wittingly and willingly commit any thing which Gods Law hath forbidden and condemned. Whereof it commeth to paſſe, that howſoeuer they are ſometime (and it may be not ſeldome) ouertaken through humane frailty and infirmity, and ſo, contrary to their purpoſe and reſolution, are led captiue into ſinne, yet are they, by this care and circumſpection, preſerued from falling into any knowne tranſgreſſion, for the moſt part, and from hainous and grieuous ſinnes, which wound and waſte the conſcience, and like the hectique feuer, conſume the graces of God (as it were) the vitall ſpirits, which preſerue the ſpirituall life; into which, worldly and carnall men, who neglect the duties of a Godly life, doe ordinarily fall, and make them (as it were) their ordinary trade. Or if through violence of tentation, and neglect of keeping their watch, they hauehave been ſurpriſed vponupon a ſudden, and ouertaken of ſuch ſinnes, yet hauing this care to pleaſe God in the duties of a godly life, this will but very rarely happen; and when it doth, yet they doe not like wicked men, multiply their tranſgreſſions, by committing often the ſame hainous ſinne; nor impenitently continue in it from day to day, and yeere to yeere, but being through frailty falne, they doe not lye ſtill, but labour to come out of it by vnfained repentance. Now how ineſtimable this benefit is, which accompanyeth a godly life, whereby, in the greateſt part, we get victory ouer our corruptions, by which, others are conquered, and as ſlaues held captiue, and preſerued from falling into innumerable, and thoſe the moſt hainous ſinnes; it will eaſily appeare, if we conſider the greatneſſe of the euill from which we are hereby deliuered, namely, from ſinne, which, aboue all things in the world is moſt odious vntounto God, and moſt pernicious vntounto our ſoules and bodies, as being the root and fountaine of all thoſe miſchiefes and miſeries, vntounto which men are lyable, both in this life, and the life to come.
§. Sect. 3 That by leading a godly life, wee are freed from the puniſhment of our ſinnes.
The which alſo may be a ſecond motiue to perſwade vsus vntounto a godly life, in that being thereby in the greateſt part freed from our ſinnes in reſpect Prow. 19. 23.of their corruption and ſinfull acts, and wholly in aſſurance of faith from the guilt of them, by vertue of Chriſts death and obedience applyed vntounto vsus, we doe alſo hereby eſcape the puniſhments which are due vntounto them. Of both which the ſaying of Salomon is verified; The feare of the Lord tendeth to life, and he that hath it ſhall abide ſatisfied; he ſhall not be viſited with euill; to wit, either of ſinne and puniſhment. And againe, The Prou. 14. 27.feare of the Lord is a fountaine of life, to make vsus depart from the ſnares of death. For firſt, the faithfull which walke in the waies of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, are wholly freed by the death and ſufferings of Chriſt, from all puniſhments properly ſo called, which are inflicted to ſatisfie Gods Iuſtice, ſeeing Chriſt hath made full ſatisfaction for all their ſinnes; and therfore as it would not ſtand with the Iuſtice of God, to let them goe vnpuniſhed, ſo neither that they ſhould be twice puniſhed, once in our ſurety, and the ſecond time in our ſelues, as I hauehave proued at large in another place. Chriſtian Warfare, the third part.Whereas thoſe who make no conſcience of their wayes, and neglect the duties of a godly life, being out of Chriſt, doe beare the puniſhment of their ſinnes themſelues, both in this world and the world to come. Secondly, by leading of a godly life, they alſo eſcape many temporary Heb. 6. 6, 7, 8.iudgements, and ſharpe afflictions, whereby God, like a gracious and wiſe Father, doth correct his children, when they neglect their dutie, and ſinne againſt him, which differ nothing from the puniſhments that are in this life inflicted vponupon the wicked, in their matter, and oftentimes very little in the quantity and ſharpneſſe of the ſtripes, but onelyonly in the cauſes from which they proceed, which is the louelove of a gracious Father towards the one, and the anger of a iuſt and ſeuere Iudge towards the other, & alſo their diuers ends; the chaſtizements of the Faithfull, being intended for their good and amendment, that they may not, being iudged, be condemned with the world, but 1. Cor. 11. 32.the puniſhments of the wicked, for the ſatisfying of Gods Iuſtice, by inflicting on them deſerued puniſhments. But howſoeuer, the ſinnes of the Faithfull cannot moue the Lord to reiect them, or cauſe his louelove to depart from them, ſeeing it is one branch of the couenant made in Chriſt, that he will louelove them with an euerlaſting louelove, and pardon all their ſinnes; yet they doe moue him to correct them with the rod of men, and Ier. 31. 3, 31, 33, 34. 2. Sam. 7. 14. Pſal. 89. 31, 32. Heb. 12. 6. Apoc. 3. 19.the ſtripes of the children of men; for he chaſtizeth eueryevery ſonne whom he loueth and receiueth, that being pulled out of their ſinnes by ſtrong hand, which they would not flee and forſake out of meere louelove, they may, by their vnfained repentance and amendment, eſcape eternall condemnation; as wee ſee in the example of Dauid, the Corinthians and many others. The which his iuſt, yet gracious ſeuerity, there is no poſſible 1. Cor. 11. 31, 32, 33.meanes to eſcape, no not though Noah, Daniel and Iob ſhould intercede for vsus, or any other who are moſt highly in his fauour, vnleſſe Ezek. 14. 13.we preuent theſe ſharpe corrections, by leading a godly life, and fleeing from ſinne, which is the cauſe of them; or ſtay Gods hand, by turning from our ſinnes by vnfained repentance. Which courſe if wee take, wee ſhall be freed not onelyonly from eternall puniſhments, but alſo from temporary afflictions, which our ſinnes doe bring vponupon vsus, vnleſſe it be ſuch as the Lord inflicteth for the triall of his graces in vsus, that being approued, they may be crowned with an anſwerable meaſure of ioy and heauenly happineſſe. According to that of Salomon; A prudent man foreſeeth the euill, and hideth himſelfe; but the ſimple paſſe on, and are puniſhed. Or if by our ſins we hauehave brought them vponupon Pro. 22. 3.vsus, yet repenting of them, and returning into the waies of righteouſneſſe, we ſhall, when we crie vntounto God, obtaine helpe and deliuerance, according to that of the Pſalmiſt; The righteous crie, and the Lord heareth, Pſal. 34. 17.and deliuereth them out of all their troubles. Seeing then no chaſtening for the preſent ſeemeth ioyous, but grieuous, what a ſtrong motiue ſhould Heb. 12. 11.this be, to perſwade vsus to forſake all our ſinnes, and to ſerue the Lord in the duties of a godly life, ſeeing wee hauehave hereby this ſingular benefit, of being freed from temporary afflictions, which are ſo ſharpe and bitter vntounto vsus? A third benefit which will redound vntounto vsus by leading of a godly life, is, that being vnblameable, & giuing vntounto none any iuſt cauſe of offence, we ſhall hereby ſtop the mouthes of wicked men, ſo as they ſhall not be able to reproch vsus, nor blemiſh our good name by their calumnies & ſlanders, with any ſhadow or colour of truth. And this was a ſtrong reaſon to moue the Apoſtle to walke in a godly & vnblameable life, that by exerciſing himſelf herein, he might hauehave alwaies a conſcience voyd of offence towards God & towards men. And this Act. 23. 1. & 24. 16. Tit. 2. 7, 8.argument he vſeth, to perſwade Titus to ſhew himſelfe in all things a patterne of good workes, that he who was of the contrary part might be aſhamed, hauing no euill thing to ſay of him. Thus the Apoſtle Peter exhorteth vsus to ſanctifie the Lord in our hearts, and to hauehave a good conſcience in all things, 1. Pet. 3. 15, 16.that whereas wicked men ſpeake euill of vsus, as of euill doers, they may be aſhamed, that falſely accuſe our good conuerſation in Chriſt. And perſwadeth the Faithfull to abſtaine from fleſhly luſts, and to hauehave their conuerſation honeſt 1. Pet. 2. 11, 12.among the Gentiles, that whereas they ſpake euill of them, as of euill doers, they might by their good workes which they ſhould behold, glorifie God in the day of viſitation. And thus he moueth ſubiects to ſhew all obedience to Magiſtrates, becauſe it is the will of God, that by wel-doing, Verſ. 15.they ſhould put to ſilence the ignorance of fooliſh men. Or if wee cannot thus farre preuaile with them by our holy conuerſation, in reſpect of their maliciouſneſſe, but that they will ſeeke to diſgrace vsus by their vniuſt ſlanders and reproches, yet may wee in the confidence, and peaceable cleereneſſe of a good conſcience, ſtand out againſt them as a brazen wall, beating backe their falſe calumnies vponupon their owne heads, and like immoueable rockes, returne their fome and froth vponupon themſelues, when as all that heare them, ſhall condemne their malice and falſ-hood; Yea, they ſhall by their ſlanders but giuegive occaſion vntounto all men to ſpeake of our innocencie, in which reſpect (as Iob ſpeaketh) though they ſhould write a booke againſt vsus, Iob 31. 35, 36.wee might take it vponupon our ſhoulders, and binde it as a crowne vntounto vsus; and that not onelyonly a Crowne of Fame in this life, but of Glorie alſo in the life to come; according to that of our Sauiour; Bleſſed are Matth. 5. 11, 12.yee when men ſhall reuile you, and perſecute you, and ſhall ſay all manner of euill againſt you falſely for my ſake. Reioyce and bee exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heauen. And that of the Apoſtle Peter: If yee be reproched for the Name of Chriſt, happie are yee, for the 1. Pet. 4. 14.Spirit of Glorie, and of God reſteth vponupon you. Now what a ſtrong reaſon this ſhould bee, to mooue vsus to walke vnblameably in the duties of a Godly life, it may hereby appeare, if wee conſider how precious and excellent a good name is, ſeeing as the Wiſeman ſpeaketh; A Good name is rather to be choſen then great Riches, Pro. 22. 1.and louing fauour rather then Siluer and Gold. And is to be preferred before the moſt precious oyntment, ſeeing it ſmelleth moſt ſweetly, both to our ſelues and others which are neere and farre off.Eccl. 7. 1.
§. Sect. 4 That a godly life doth much ſtrengthen vsus againſt Satans tentations.
A fourth benefit of a godly life is, that it much ſtrengtheneth vsus againſt the aſſaults of Satan, and ſo armeth vsus againſt all his tentations, that they ſhall not be able to doe vsus any hurt. For whereas thoſe who liue in their ſinnes, and neglect the duties of a godly life, doe giuegive vntounto him all aduantage againſt them, and by leauing off the breſtplate of Righteouſneſſe, doe lie open to his poyſonous darts; ſo as he may eaſily perſwade them, that they are ſubiect to Gods wrath and the curſe of the Law, ſeeing they continue in their ſinnes: that they are not ingrafted into Chriſt, ſeeing they bring forth no fruits of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe; that they are out of Gods fauour, ſeeing they hauehave no care to pleaſe him, by performing ſuch duties as are acceptable in his ſight; and finally, that they are not the children of God, becauſe they are nothing like him, nor reformed according to his image; nor heires of heauenly happineſſe, ſeeing they hauehave not purged themſelues, as it becommeth thoſe who hauehave this hope. Contrariwiſe, when we keepe this breſtplate of Righteouſneſſe faſt buckled vntounto vsus, wee may without danger repell all his fiery darts, ſeeing we are aſſured that we are in Gods fauour, whileſt wee labour in all things to pleaſe him; that wee are in Chriſt, ſeeing without him wee could doe nothing; that we are Gods children, ſeeing we reſemble him Ioh. 15. 5.in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, and labour after perfection, as he is perfect. That we are freed from the curſe of the Law, and the guilt and puniſhment of all our ſinnes, ſeeing we feele the vertue of Chriſts death effectuall in vsus, for the mortifying and ſubduing of our corruptions. And finally, that maugre all the malice of our ſpirituall enemies, we ſhall attaine vntounto heauenly happineſſe, ſeeing our mercifull God hath graciouſly promiſed, that he will reward our temporary ſeruice with this ineſtimable and eternall wages, and crowne his owne graces in vsus, and the fruits which wee hauehave brought forth of them in the Chriſtian duties of a godly life, with endleſſe ioy and immortalitie.
§. Sect. 5 That by a godly life we are prepared againſt the day of death.
The fourth benefit of a godly life is, that thereby wee are continually prepared againſt the day of death, ſo that the manifold euils Heb. 9. 27.which accompany it cannot hurt vsus, nor the dreadfull terrours thereof daunt and diſmay vsus. For howſoeuer it is appointed that all muſt die, and this ſentence, like the lawes of the Medes and Perſians, is irreuocable, yet to thoſe that walke in the waies of godlineſſe, the nature of death is quite changed, and the ſting thereof taken away. For of the laſt and greateſt euil, it is made vntounto them, a preparatiue to the chiefeſt good; of an enemy, it is become a friend; of a Sargeant to arreſt vsus and impriſon vsus in hell, it is become a ioyfull meſſenger ſent of God, to deliuer vsus out of all worldly miſeries, and to bring vsus into the ioyes of heauen. In which regard the Wiſe man ſaith, that howſoeuer Pro. 14. 32.the wicked is driuen away in his wickedneſſe, yet the righteous hath hope in his death. And that riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteouſneſſe deliuereth Chap. 11. 4.from death, that is, from the ſting of death, and all the euils that doe accompany it. And the Spirit of God pronounceth them Bleſſed, Apoc. 14. 13.that die in the Lord; for they reſt from their labours, and their workes follow them; Namely, that they may be crowned with ioy and immortality. The which if it were well weighed, might iuſtly, not onelyonly free the faithfull from the immoderate feare of death, but alſo make it appeare precious in their eyes, as it is in the ſight of God, and moue them Pſal. 116. 15. Phil. 1. 21, 23. Auguſt. in 1. Epiſt. Ioan.with the Apoſtle, to deſire to be diſſolued and to be with Chriſt, ſeeing that is beſt of all; and (as one ſaith) not to die patiently, but to liue with patience, and to die with ioy. For who reioyceth not, when after a weariſome pilgrimage, hee approcheth neere vntounto his owne Country; when after a dangerous paſſage, wherein hee hath beene toſſed and turmoiled with aduerſe windes and tempeſtuous ſtormes, hee is ready to arriue ſafely in the long expected hauen; when after his dayes labour, hee commeth to receiue liberall wages; and when after a dangerous and doubtful fight, hauing conquered all his enemies, hee is to be preſented by the holy Angels before his Soueraigne King, that hee may receiue the Crowne of victory? And howſoeuer death hath many terrours which doe accompany it, yet to thoſe that hauehave ſerued God in the duties of a godly life, they need not ſeeme terrible, ſeeing againſt eueryevery blow they hauehave their ward, againſt eueryevery poyſon their ſoueraigne antidote. They muſt leaue the world; but they muſt goe to heauen; forgoe their riches, but for them enioy heauenly treaſures; bee depriued of momentanie delights, but that they may attaine vntounto euerlaſting ioyes; loſe the comfort of all their friends, but in lieu of it, ſhall hauehave the ſweete ſociety of the Saints and Angels, yea, the fruition of God himſelfe, and his Chriſt and holy Spirit, whom to enioy, is to bee perfectly happy. Yea, but it is a grieuous ſight to behold our friends mourning for our departure: but this is recompenced with the hope of our happie meeting; and the preſent ioyes of our heauenly entertaynement, by the reſt of our friends that are gone before vsus. Yea, but death is a ſtraight and paynefull paſſage; but it bringeth vsus to a ſpacious and glorious Palace. In our bodies wee are afflicted with many griefes of ſickneſſe; but theſe are eaſed with the inward peace of conſcience, and comfort of the Spirit. Wee are in eueryevery part of our bodies racked with paine; but they are onelyonly the throwes, that goe before our heauenly birth, whereby we are borne to euerlaſting and immortall glory. Our bodies muſt be buried and corrupt in the earth; but being ſowne in corruption, they ſhall ariſe incorruptible, and our mortall ſhall 1. Cor. 15. 42, 43put on immortality, our weakneſſe, ſtrength; and our baſeneſſe, glory. Finally, if liuing in Gods feare, wee dye in his fauour, wee may bee ſtrongly armed againſt all the terrours of death, and expect it at all times with a ioyfull countenance.
§. Sect. 6 That by leading of a godly life we are aſſured to be freed from iudgement & condemnation.
Laſtly, by leading of a godly life, wee may be aſſured, that wee ſhall bee freed from Iudgement, and condemnation in the world to come. For if we liue here in the feare of God, our ſinnes ſhall not come into Iudgement, becauſe they are already iudged in Chriſt, who hath ſatiſfied Gods Iuſtice for them, and payed our debt to the vttermoſt farthing. If wee hauehave beene carefull here to play the good Stewards, and dayly keeping our reckonings ſtraight, receiue our acquittance and diſcharge before wee ſleepe, ſealed with the blood of Chriſt, applied vntounto vsus by a liuely and renewed faith, wee ſhall hauehave nothing to account for at the Day of Iudgement. If wee hauehave beene faithfull and diligent in our Maſters ſeruice, wee ſhall hauehave nothing to doe then, but to receiue with ioy our reward and wages. If wee walke not after the fleſh, but after Rom. 8. 1.the Spirit, wee are in Ieſus Christ, and there is no condemnation due vntounto vsus; for hee was condemned, that wee might bee acquitted, and ſuffered the puniſhment of our ſinnes, that Gods Iuſtice being ſatiſfied, and wrath appeaſed, wee might bee freed from hell and death. If wee bee partakers of the firſt Reſurrection, from the death Apoc. 20. 6.of ſinne, to the life of righteouſneſſe, the ſecond death ſhall hauehave no power ouer vsus. Now what ſtronger motiues can there bee vntounto a godly life, then to bee thereby aſſured of deliuerance from theſe greateſt euils? For how terrible a thing is it to fall into the hands Heb. 10. 31.of the euer-liuing God? and to bee called to account before his Iudgement Seate, who ſearcheth the heart and reines, and will call vsus to a reckoning for eueryevery idle word? Whoſe iuſtice is ſo perfect, and his examination ſo ſtrict, that though wee were as Matth. 12. 33.iuſt as Iob, yet wee ſhould not bee able to anſwere one of a thouſand. Iob 9. 2, 3.Though wee were as holy as Dauid, yet had wee neede to pray with him, Enter not into Iudgement with thy Seruant, O Lord: for Pſal. 143. 2.in thy ſight ſhall no man liuing bee iustified. How fearefull and intolerable, endleſſe and eaſeleſſe, are thoſe helliſh torments which they muſt indure, who are not in this life acquitted from them? And conſequently, how ineſtimable is this benefit, and worthy to bee valued more then ten thouſand worlds, to bee fully aſſured, that wee hauehave through Chriſt eſcaped this ſeuere Iudgement, helliſh condemnation, and euerlaſting torments with the deuill and his angels? which aſſurance wee can no otherwiſe attaine vntounto, then by ſeruing God in the duties of a godly life, and bringing forth the fruits of our faith in repentance and new obedience. But I ſhall not neede to preſſe theſe points any further, although much more might bee ſaid of them, as being moſt effectuall motiues to perſwade vsus to flee all ſinne, and to practiſe all Chriſtian duties in the whole courſe of our liues, ſeeing they are much beaten vponupon, and largely handled by many others, there beeing ſcarce any that omit them, who write of and perſwade vntounto Chriſtian reſolution.