The Beauty of Holiness, Chapter 8

The Beauty of Holiness · Chapter 8

p. 146CHAP. VIII.

I Am come now unto the Motives: There is a great indisposition in ou… natures to purity, and therefore we had need of all incitements that possibly may be, to quicken us to it.

1. The first Motive is drawn from the necessity of it; Holinesse is absolutely 1. Motive.necessary to salvation; a man may be saved without riches, honour, &c. Bu… no man can be saved without holiness▪

2. It is necessary Necessitate praecepti, it is no indifferent thing; it is not actu… elicitus, sed imperatus; it is no free and voluntary action of our own, but a duty commanded and enjoyned by Go… under severest penalties, and therefor… we are necessarily bound to the …ractice p. 147of it. This is the will of God, even our sanctification, 1 Thess. 4. 3. It is his will Iacienda sunt nobis quaecunq… Deus praecipit; etsi non statim videamus quorsum …vasura sunt; clausis tamen oculis debemus eum ducem sequi Roll. in Ioh.emphatically (i.) it is that which God doth more especially require of us, and therefore it must be done intuitae voluntatis, simply because he commands it; we must not stand questioning Gods commands, but obey them; when once we understand what is that acceptable will of God, we must presently do it. This is motive sufficient to a gratious soul, if there were no more, as the Lord said to Ioshua (1. 9,) Be strong & of good courage; h…ve not I commanded thee? q. d. This is ground sufficient to make thee couragious, because I have commanded thee to be so: so this is sufficient to make us f…y sin, & study purity, because our God commands that it should be so.

2. Necessitate medii. Holinesse is the way to happinesse; it is via ad regnum, the way to the Kingdom, though not V…a caelo, v…a sanctitatis▪ Isa. …5. 8.Isa 5:8the cause of reigning; it's necessary as a qualification, though not as a meritorious cause of heaven: No unclean thing Licet non si… causa merito… gloriae, est tamen causa dispositiva, qu â idoneiredd imur ad gloriam recipiendam. Alsted.can come there. If the earth groan under prophane wretches, and the Land be ready to spue them out, Levit. 18. 28▪ … Iob thought the wicked unfit to p. 148sit with the dogs of his flock, & if God See Harsnet, on Rep. p. 42. to 50. & p. 308. &c.abhorre their persons, prayers and praises here; can we think that he will receive such into his Kingdom? and if the Virgins that stood before the Persian Monarchs must first be perfumed and prepared before they come into their presence, Hest. 5. 1. surely then the Kings daughter must be gloriously arraied before she be brought into the presence of the King of Kings, Psal. 45 13. 14. Such as wait on Princes, must be arraied accordingly, Mat. 11. 8. else they disparage their Master, when they follow him with loathsome rags. How oft hath the Lord told us that there is no enjoying the beatificall vision of his face in glory, without this? See D. Preston on the New Covenant. Ser. 20. p 313. Deus Se ip…um vidend… … in verbo s…o in …c vita, et visio…e gloriasâ i… futura. Rivet.Psal. 24. 3. 4. Matth. 5. 8. Heb. 12. 14. without holinesse no man shal see God to his comfort. Sinne draws a vail over our hearts and eyes, so that we cannot see God in his word, nor see him in his works; we cannot discern the mysteries of Religion here, no… obtain the fruition of the glorious vision of his face for ever. So that hol… nesse and happinesse fall both under Decre; …he whom God hath decree… to p. 149salvation as the end, he hath decreed to holinesse leading to that end, 2 Thes. 2. 13. The Kingdom of Grace is the suburbs to the Kingdom of Glory; and he that will not go thorow the suburbs, shall never come into the City of the New Ierusalem; it is an holy Mount which none but holy ones can ascend: it is only he that hath his fruits in holinesse, whose end shal be everlasting life, Rom. 6. 22. 'tis onelyonly such as walk in white here, that shall be cloathed with white hereafter, Revel 19. 8. Sanctity is the path-way to glory; they differ only in degree; the one is the seed, the other is the flower. Grace is glory militant, and glory is grace triumphant: Hence it is called glory, 2 Cor. 3. 18. Sanctificatio id …itur glorificatio inchoati…e, quatenus futura glorificationis est praelu…ium. We…leb.Rom. 8. 30. whom he justified, them he glorified; but where is sanctification? it is included in glorification, for sanctification is glory begun, and glorification is sanctification consummate.

3. There is a necessity of sanctification in respect of Christ our Head, who Ubi sanctificatio? includitur in …ne. Paraeus.is called by way of eminency The holy and the just one, Mark 1. 24. Isa. 54. 5. Revel. 7. Cant. 5. 10. Christ is white …or holinesse, and red in respect of his p. 150wounds & sufferings. Now all beleevers Debet tantae …obilitutis ad quā nos extulit, cogitatio sanctimoniae ac puritatis studiū in nobis acu…re. Calvin.have …ear communion with Christ, they are made one with him, flesh of his flesh, Heb. 2. 11. Both he that sanctifies (i.) Christ, and they that are sanctified (i.) the servants of Christ, are all one; hence the Church is called Christ. 1 Cor. 12. 12. Now Christ was every way holy and undefiled, Heb. 7. 26. and we must in some measure be conformable to him in sanctification, as well as in suffering, Rom 8. 29. For if the Head be of gold, the menbers must not be of brasse; an holy Head and unholy members will never agree.

4. In respect of the Church and people of God to whom we are united, See Randal on the Church, lect. 4. p. 62. Sancti, non sanct…tate inna…â, sed sanctitate don…tâ,they are holy.

1. The Church triumphant in heaven, to whom we are allied, is holy▪ they are a company of just men, whose spirits are made perfect, Heb. 12. 22.

2. The Church Militant is an holy Nist vitae sanctimoni… Christianum …e ostendas, … s…re quide… in …cclesia poteris, sed ex …atamen non eris. Calv.society; hence they are called holy Brethren, Heb. 3. 1. and an holy Nation, 1 Pet. 2. 9. Saints of the most high, Dan. 7. 18, 21, 22. and the People of his holinesse, Isa. 63▪ 18. Men may make p. 157shews, & be outward members of the Church, but they shal never be true and sound members of it without holinesse.

5. The work to which we are called, cals for holinesse.

1. Our prayers must be holy, and must come from holy persons, Psal. 66. 18. God hears not sinners, Ioh. 9. 31. we must lift up pure hands in prayer.

2. Before we hear, there must be purging, 1 Pet. 2. 1, 2. Iames 1. 21. The vessel must be pure, or it will marre the liquor Sincerum est nifi vas.that is put into it.

3. The Sacraments call for holy ones. Sancta sanctis, Holy things must be given to holy ones. It is to the pure only that all things are pure, Titus 1. ult. when all the duties of religion without it are but as the cutting off of a dogs neck, Isa. 66. 3.

6. Our sanctification is one speciall evidence of our Title to all the favours of God.Non q. …ramus sed ut essemus. Nullum electionis evi… dentius foreign.

1. It is an evidence of our election. God hàth chosen us, not because we were, but that we might be holy, E…es. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 2. All the elect of God are holy, Colos. 3. 12. His electing p. 152includes, but never excludes purity or good works; and therefore they that Electio non excludit, sed includit sanctitatem & studium bo…orum operum tanqu… effectum & infallibile signum. Alst.would be sure of their election, must begin at sanctification, and by wor… of holinesse make their calling and election sure; 2 Pet. 1. 10. The devi… separates the means from the end, and would perswade men that if they be elected, they shall be saved, let them live as they list; but all those whom God hath elected to happinesse as the end, he hath also elected to holinesse as the way to that end.

2. 'Tis an evidence of our vocation. Whom God cals by his word and Spirit, he cals to holinesse and not to sin, 1 Thes. 4. 7. 2. Cor. 1. 1. 2. Ro… ▪ 1. 7.

3. 'Tis the end and evidence of our redemption. Christ gave himsel… for us, That he might redee… u… from a… iniquity, and purifie to himself a peculia… people …ealous of good works, Titus 2. 14▪ Luke 1. 74, 75. Ephes. 5. 26. Col. … 21, 22. Iohn 17. 19. 1 Pet. 2. 24.

4. By this we shall have a comfortable evidence of our justification for all those whom God justifies, th… … ever sanctifies; thou … not … p. 153doubt of thy justification, if thou finde the fruit of it, which is sanctification; this is alwayes an inseparable property of a childe of God, yea it is essential to him, that it is impossible to be Gods childe without it. In the Apostles times there were some that boafted of their faith, and of their justification, and yet neglected sanctification; to whom both Iames and Iohn reply, and bid them make it apparent by their works of holinesse and obedience; else they were but lyars and deceivers, Iames 2. 1 Iohn. 2. 3. 4. yea Christ himself (who was no legall Preacher) sheweth us what persons have title to blessednesse, even such as shew their justification by the fruits of sanctification (viz.) Poverty of spirit, mourning, meeknesse, purity, mercy, peace, &c.

Away then with Saltmarsh and all Saltmarsh Free Grace, p. 97. to 190. See him confuted by M. Gataker.the rabble of Antinomians, who cry down all acts of Preparation, Qualification and evidence of works; they cry down all sense of sin and humiliation for it as legall, and tell us of short work; it is but beleeve and be saved; it is but looking on Christ, and salvation p. 154is in thy soul. This is quickly said indeed, but it is not so quickly done: It is easie to say I can build a house, it is but laying the foundations, rearing the wals, and covering it with aroof, and the house is made: but he that will build indeed, shall find much hewing, squaring, cost and labour, &c. And if it be such easie work to be saved, why are we commanded to Ask, seek, knock, strive, wrastle, run and workout our salvation with fear and trembling, denying our selves, and taking up our crosse daily &c. Those are so fully confuted by the leaned Gellaspy Miscellan. ch. 21. p. 246. &cScotchman, that I shall onelyonly send you to him for fuller satifaction.

7. The life of A seventh Motive.holinesse is

1 An honourable life.

2. A comfortable life.

3. An easie life.

4. A peaceable life.

5. A safe life.

6. A gainfull life.

7, An excellent life.

First, 'Tis an honourable life. Such Deo servire est regnare.do not live but reign; they are spirituall Kings, and reign not only over men and devils, but also over their own corruptions, which is the highest p. 155and hardest conquest, Prov 16. 32. It is the honour of mens honours; let Omnibus ornatibus ornamen o est, sin… quâ nihil tam ornatum es… quod ornare possit. Salv. Ecclesiae se membrum esse, magis quâm in terris regnare gaudebat. Aug. deCivit. Dei, l. 5. c. 26 Regum purpuras & ardentes diadematum gemmas pietas condecorat.them be Gentlement, Lords, Kings, &c. yet if they be holy men, and men fearing God, this title is far beyond all the rest; and therefore Theodosius rejoyced more in that he was a member of the Church, then head of the Empire. This doth not take away, but adde to our Honours; if a man be a Lord, this makes him a Lord indeed; if a Gentleman, this makes him more then a Gentleman, as Paul said of Onesimus, Philemon 16. receive him now as a Servant, yea above a Servant; whilst he was carnall he was a Servant: but now he is a Convert he is more then a Servant, even a Spirituall King. These are the truly Honourable and Right Worshipful of the world; all wicked men (how **Tanta est miseria hujus temporis, ut nullus habeatur mag… nobilis quam qui est plurimum dives, Salv, de Gub. l. 3. Bonus etiamsi serviat, liber est; malus autē etiamsi regnet, servus est, nec unius bominis, sed quod gravius est, tot dominorū quot vitiorū. Aug. de Civitate. Deil. 4 Chap 3.rich or great soever) are but drosse and dung in Gods esteem, Psal. 119. 119. as witches children, the seed of the adulteresse and the whore, Isa. 57. 3. He lookes on them as brasse, iron, lead, reprobate silver, Ier, 6. 28. 30. vile persons, Psal. 15. 4. Dan. 11. 21. children of the devil, Iohn 8. 44. p. 156Tis piety that brings praise both in Loq. non de genere, sed de virtute àc pietate. Beza. Ille verè nobilis qui dedignatur servire vitiis. Chrysost. Nobilisgenere, Sanctitate nobilior, as Jerom said of Paul.the sight of God and man, Isa 43. 4. This made the Bereans more noble foreign generosiores, better born & bred, of a more generous disposition, because they received the Word with all readinesse of minde. This made Jabez more honourable then his brethrtn, 1 Chron. 4. 9, 10. These are Gods Segullah, his choice and chief treasure, Exod. 19. 5. his peculiar people, Titus 2. 14. of the blood Royall, nobly descended, sons and daughters of the most high God, heirs of glory; their memorials shall be blessed, and their names flourish, when the names of Hinc foreign, quasi foreign veneranuus, à Lap. The pious man is the only foreign. See more in that excellent Treatise of Mr. Burgess, called the Saints Treasury, on Ex. 15. 11. p. 24. &c.Exod 15:11all wicked prophane wretches (who have purchased Titles with their purses, and not by their vertues) shall rot and perish. It is not riches, pedegree, fine houses, fine clothes, &c. that can make men honourable; that is but a begging of fame; but piety commands esteem even in the consciences of those that cannot practice it themselves; The intemperate man cannot but approve and reverence the temperate; the cruell worldling commends the mercifull, p. 157liberall man; and the time-serving Polititian cannot but admire the Ea vis est verae virtutis, ut etiam regibus sit formidabi…is. Eras.constant persevering Christian, &c. Holinesse is a beautifull thing; it carries a majesty in the face of it; even those that oppose it, cannot but admire it; These are they that honour God, and therefore he will honour them; God hath more honour from one holy man, then from ten thousand others; hence they are called his glory, Isa. 4. 5. they put a lustre on Religion, and will either convert men, as Iustin Martyr confesseth, That the pious lives of the Primitive Christians were a means to win him Ut nibilma li de …obis nis… mentiendo loquantur. Hieron.to Christiany: or else convince them, that they shall have nothing justly to speak against them. What hath made the godly so famous in their generations but their godlinesse? Doubtlesse we had never heard of Ioseph, Moses, Iob, Samuel, David, Hezekiah, Iosiah, Ruth, Abigail, Hester, &c. had it not been for their pie…y. It can be no disparagement theu for great men to be good men; many thinke it a debasement to pray in their families, to go to lectures, to delight in the society p. 158of humble Christians. &c. such Si quis ex nobilibus con verti ad Dec um caeperit, statim hono rem nobilitatis amittit. Salvian, de Gub. l. 4. p. 113, &c. Omnes pari sorte nascimur, solâ virtute distinguimur. Min. Felix.must know, were they greater then they be, that piety, is no debasement, but an ornament, not only our duty, but our glory, farre excelling any naturall birth or descent whatsoever, and that in four particulars. 1. That is but carnall, this is spirituall. 2. That is but mortall, this is immortall. 3. That is but earthly, this is heavenly. 4. A man may be loaded with such honours, and yet go to hell, as Esau, Saul, Ahab, Iezabel, &c. but whosoever is Nihil pretiosius vel magnificentius sanctitate in qua relucet spiritûs Dei claritas. Riv.truly sanctified, shall truly be saved, 1. Pet. 1. 3. 4. If Holinesse be our glory in Heaven, why should any esteem it a dishonour to them on earth? & if it be the Glory of our Creator, must it not needs be the honour and happinesse of the Creature?

2. This fits men for honourabe employment; no man is fit for Government till he have grace. A filthy unclean vessell, is fit sor nor use till it be cleansed; a man must first purge himself from his youthfull sins, from education sins, customary sins, beloved sins, &c. then and never till then shall he be a vessell of honour, sanctified p. 159and fit for the masters use, and prepared for every good work; then they can fast or feast, pray and praise God, do and suffer, be abased and abound, &c. Now they are fitted, not for one, but for every good work, 2. Tim. 2. 21. 22.

Such are fit for Goverment

Magisteriall.

Ministeriall.

Martiall, & Domesticall.

1. This qualifies men for Magistracy See 9. reas. why great men should be good men. Bur. Gratious spi. ch. 11. p. 200, &c.; he must be one that fears God, and hates sin in himself, or he can never with a good conscience punish it in another. How can he punish another for swearing, drunkennesse, Sabbath-prophaning, &c. that is guilty of those sins himself? The holiest men ever make the happiest Governours: it is observed that the best times that ever Israel had, were under their wisest and holiest Kings, as David, Hezechiah, &c.

2. It fits men for the Ministry; first a man must be sanctified, and then he shall be a vessell of honour fit for the Masters use. God loves to do p. 160his worke by instruments that are like himself; he can make wicked men to do him service; but the most holy delights especially to do his work by holy men; then it prospers and goes on to purpose. God will be sanctified of all his nigh ones, Levit. 10. 3. Now Sanctitatem meä demonstrabo puniendo illos propter peccata. Piscat.Ministers of all men draw nearest to God, and therefore they must sanctifie themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them, Exod. 19. 22. They must be clean that bear the vessels of the Lord, Isa. 52. 11. Levit. 21. 6. 23. 'Tis their office to tell Iabob of his sins; but with what face can that Minister Medicus ulceribus scatens, haud idoneus aliis curdn…is. Bowles.reprove another for covetousnesse, malice, drunkennesse, &c. when himsell is guilty of those very crimes? or if he should reprove them, can a reproof coming from such a man be prevailing? will they not say, Physitian, cure thy self. He that will pull the moat out of his brothers eye, had need to have no beam in his own.

Most young Ministers are all for Learning, Arts, Sciences, Languages, &c. 'Tis true these are excellent ornaments, very needfull and usefull in their proper places; but sanctity is p. 161farre beyond them all; for a man may be saved **See Downams Warfar. p. 394. & 398, &c.without Learning, but no man can be saved without sanctification; this is that one thing necessary, without which no man shall see How much better is it to be a good Christian, then a good Philosopher! though both may well stand together if they be rightly ranked. Prideaux Ser. Luke 7. 35. p. 11.Luke 7:35God. The devil is a great schollar, and hath great abilities, but because they be not sanctified to him, he is still a devil and damned spirit. Learning in a wicked man is like a pearl in a toads head, like wine in a poysoned vessell, like sugar in a dunghill, or like a sword in a mad mans hand, with which he doth abundance of mischief. A dram of holinesse is Eruditio in malo homine male habitat. See M. Ant. Burgess Ser. 105. p. 611. Surgunt indecti & raipunt caelum, & nos cum nostris doctrinis detru dimur in gehennā. Aug. See Bròoks Remed. ag. Sat. &c. p. 358, &c.better then a world of learning; the poorest, unlettered holy man, is in a farre better condition then the greatest Bellarmine, or dissolute schollar whatsoever: these will arise and get heaven, when thou with all thy learning shalt be thrown to hell; as Austin said of his mother & other good women, Mulier oulaeist aelachrymis suis caelum nobis praeripiunt; when we have done all we can which our learning, these women with their Tears will get heaven before us. Two sins there are which are more directy opposite to holinesse; p. 162drunkennesse and fornication; these See Brooks Remed ag. Sat. &c. p. 358. &c.are odious in any, but most abominable in a Minister; such as are given up to them, seldom repent; they are Peccata maximae adhaerentiae, sinnes that stick close, and are hardly left; they besot men and take away their hearts. Hos. 4. 11. These bring reproach on Religion, and make it stink in the nostrils of men; as Jacob complained of Simeon and Levi, Gen. 34. 30. Ye have troubled me & made me stink amongst the inhabitants of the Land. This makes so many Ministers to erre, Isa. 28. 7. and therefore the Lord did forbid the Priests and Levites the use of wine and strong drink upon pain of death, when they were to come into the Congregation to execute their office. V. Bowels Pastor Evangel. l. i. c. 7. p. 42, 43.Levit. 10. 9, 10, 11. The Nazarites by their profession were to study the Law of God; to this end they must abstain from wine and strong drink which might trouble their brain, S. Austin spends a whole book in exhorting Ministers to chastity. Aug. l. de Singularitate Clericorum.stirre up lust, or any way unfit them for so sacred imployment, Numb. 6. 3. And the Apostle makes this one ingredient of a good Minister, he must be temperate, sober, not given to drink p. 163wine, 1 Tim. 3. 3. 4. 5. Titus 1. 7. Of all sorts of scandalous Ministers none like the drunkard and the whoremonger; who ever is spared, yet let these be cast out as unsavoury salt. Adams in vita Luth. p. 151.This made Luther so seriously to exhort the Students of the University of Wittemberg to fly fornication; otherwise he professeth he would fly from them.

3. Holinesse qualifies a man for Military imployment. No man can Estote mundi, ut sitis intropidi. Aug.be truly valourours, but he that is truly Religious. The guilt of sinne will daunt the stoutest spirit in the day of battell; it makes men timerous, and fly at the shaking of a leaf, Levit 26. 36. Of all men souldiers had need to be pious men (though usually they are the most **Grotius de Iur. Belli, &c. Prolog. p. 1.impious.) They that carry their lives in their hands, had need to carry holinesse in their hearts, that so they may be assured of a better life before they leave this. Hence the Lord commands the Camp should be holy, that he might see no uncleaness there, **See an excellent Ser. of M. Reynerson that Text.Deut. 23, 9, to 15. Warre is an execution of Gods wrath upon p. 164men for sinne; and how can he punish Cum bellū sit vindicta publica, minimè decet eos qui hanc suscipiunt, esse iis qui castipentur indigniores. Wol phius.another, when himselfe is guilty of the same sinne? Non prosperè pugnant adversus malos qui ipsi sunt mali: He that is wicked himself, can expect no successe in fighting against the wicked.

4. It qualifies a man for domesticall imployment, it fits him for the government of a family. Holy David will not only see to the Common-wealth, but he hath also a care of his family, Psal. 101. He walks not only in Gods house, but in his own house with a perfect heart; he prayes there, and praiseth God there. 2 Sam. 6. 20. Ioshua (24. 15.) will not serve God alone, but he and his house will serve the Lord. He can never be truly tender of the souls of his wife, children, servants, &c. that is carelesse Morbido capite, nihil sanum est, neque ullum omninò membrum officio suo fungitur, ubi quod est principale non constat. Salv.of his own; and therefore it concerns Governous to be holy, that they may teach their children and servants the way of the Lord, as Abraham did, Gen. 18. 19. The great prophanesse that is in the Land, springs principally from the prophane Governours of families; for they usually swear, and their children learn of them to swear; p. 165they be enemies to the power of godlines, & their childrē are like thē. When Diogenes saw a child offending, he ran and beat the father: the fathers and mothers of our time would be beaten for most of the offences of their children, they being one way or another accessary unto them. O that all Governours Infans tibi est? ne ansā & occasionē arripiat improbitas; ab infantia Sanctitate imbuatur, ab ipsis unguiculis Spiritui con…retur. Nazian. Orat. 40.then would labour for grace, and teach it to others! how might they propagate piety to posterity for many generations for if thou teach thy children the way of the Lord, then they will teach their children, and so on. As Timothy's grand-mother taught his mother, and his mother taught him, and he taught the Church, &c.

Secondly, A holy life is a comfortable life. When all earthly comforts are dead and gone, yet this is the singular comfort of a godly man that Bonae menli calamitas omnis occasio est virtutis, nec malum putat, sed exercitium patientiae, et pro eo Deo gratias agit. Drexel.he hath a God to go to. Iob 16. 20. Are his friends dead? yet the Lord lives, Psal. 18. 46. Hath he lost his riches? yet the Lord will be to him instead of gold, and he shall have plenty of silver. Iob, 22, 25, Doth his head fail, and heart fail? yet the Lord will be p. 166the strength of his heart, & his portion forever. Psal. 73. 26. In a word, if he be in any want, 'tis but going to his father and make it known to him, and it is supplied. Phil. 4. 6. 7. In nothing be carefull, with a care of diffidence; an excessive, unbeleeving, vexing, tormenting care, when mens hearts are rent in sunder with cares; this is forbidden, foreign, tear not your hearts in peices with care: But a care of diligence we may use, a moderate, wise, providentiall care, when we are industrious in those callings wherein God hath set us, 2. Cor 2. 14. 1 Tim. 5. 8. Our great work is to pray for what we want, and to give thanks Quoties impetimur aliquâ tentatione, statim ad orationē, tanquā ad sacrū asylū refugiamus. Calvin.for what we enjoy, and then in nothing to be carefull; but if our enemies encompasse us, it is but making our requests to God, as David did, Psal. 86. 2. Preserve me Lord, for I am holy. Lo this is the priviledge of those holy ones whom God will honour! This honour have all & only his Saints: As for the wicked, it is not so with them; when they fall into trouble, they are the most uncomfortable men in the world, when the good man is most p. 167comfortable, like those foul which are fattest in frosty weather; he sees a good hand of providence turning all to his good; what ever befals him or what ever he lose, yet say to the righteous, Nihil accidere bono viro mali potest; adversi aliquid fateor, nihil mali. Sen.it shall be well with him, Isa. 3. 10. We all desire comfortable lives; lo this is the way, Fly from sin, and fight the good fight: for godly actions are seeds of joy, and godly people are the most comfortable people in the See more Gross Inducements to Christ. Chap. 25. Bolton in his Epist. Dedicat. to true Happiness in the End of it.world, and have the greatest grounds of comfort, as having a sweet possession, and a large Reversion.

Thirdly, 'Tis an easie life. True, to a carnall heart, and to a wicked unwilling spirit, no life so tedious; they esteem holy humble walking with God a bondage, not a priviledge: but to a regenerate man, whose nature is changed, it is very pleasant. Rom. 7. 22. It is as naturall to him to pray, believe Suave jugū jugū Christi. See more Hildersham on Psal. 51. Lect. 47. P. 235.Ps 51obey &c. as to a wicked man to swear, drink, whore, &c. Christs yoke is easie to an humbled meekned soul, Matth. 11. 28. 29. The yoke of Christs Doctrine, his yoke of Discipline and Affliction are all easie, sweet and pleasant; the yoke of the devil, and the p. 168yoke of the world are iron yokes, unreasonable, cruell, tyrannicall yokes, they binde heavie burthens, and grievous to be born. Matth. 23. 4. But Christs yoke of holinesse and obedience is easie, in five respects.

1. Comparatively, in comparison of the devils yoke, and the slavery of sin; no work so toilsome as the devils drudgery, to lie drinking night & day, to lie tumbling in their own vomit and filth, to quarell, fight, cut and kill one another &c. none undergo such pains, no thresher toyles like these slaves of the devil. But Christs yoke is easie, compared with this; For it is more easie and pleasant to live soberly in the use of the creatures, and so enjoy our selves, our friends and comforts, then to lie drunken and be fit for nothing. Is it not more easie and delightfull to follow those vocations and callings wherein God hath set us, and so to improve our times and talents for our Masters honour, then thus sinfully to mispend our precious time and those talents of health, wealth, peace, &c. and so destroy both body, soul, goods, and good name?

p. 1692. It is easie to such as have been accustomed to it; to a young beginner at first these waies may seem hard and harsh, till he have been habituated and accustomed to them, as David could not go in Sauls armour, because he was unaccustomed to it. A trade at first seems irksome to a young beginner, but after he hath learnt the Art and Mystery of it, it is pleasant; when holy waies are become natural, they are no burdens: for what we do naturally, we do delightfully and easily; he now doth good as freely and readily as as once he did sin.

3. It is easie, because we have Iugum dicitur quod duo jumenta juncta sub…unt à Lap.Gods Spirit to help us in the work: A yoke carried by two is easie. Christ draws in this yoke with us, and bears the heavier part of the yoke for us, and by his Spirit strengthens us to bear it.

4. It is easie to such as have an eye to Nihil Christi iugo gloriosius.the recompence of reward. Great honours and great rewards make hard things light & easie. What is all our obedience or sufferings to that eternall weight of glory? 2 Cor. 4. 17.

p. 1705. It is easie to such as love Gods waies. Love makes hard things easie; it is oyl to the joynts, it adds wings Am …nti nihil est diff cile, amatori fervido ju…um estleviss…mū.to the soul and makes it speedily to fly the way of Gods commands; they are not grievous, 1 John 5. 3. Abraham loved God, and he is ready to sacrifice his son at his command. Jacob loved Rachel, and therefore his seven hard years of labours and servitude seemed to him but as a few daies.

Fourthly, It is a peaceable life. Purity breeds peace, as sin doth troubles. When the conscience is once **See Sheffield on Conscience, chap. 3. &c.purified, usually it is pacified. Hence peace is called the quiet fruit of righteousnesse, Heb. 12. 11. This is a never fading, well-grounded peace, a peace that shall never be taken from them, Iohn 14. 27. It may for a time be eclipsed by **Quo quis est sanctior, hoc plerunque afflictior.tentations, afflictions, desertions, but never totally lost: They shall have perfect peace, Isa. 26. 3. They shall have Peace Peace, Heb. (i.) a Rarae immuvitatis est à nemine turbari, à nemine laedi posse.constant peace; and abundance of peace, all manner of peace; peace externall, peace internall, peace eternall. This is heaven upon earth, the p. 171singular priviledge of all the godly, to Arcem quietiss…mam …, quisquis se totum ad divinam voluntatem con…ormat. Caelum extra caelum repe…sti, Drexel. Heliotrop.enjoy a sweet serenity and calm within, when all the world about them is in an uproar, Psal. 46. Prov. 1. ult. They are gotten into that upper region, where no storms nor tempests breed.

Fifthly, it is a safe life, he thatwalks holily and uprightly, walks safely, Prov. 10. 19. They receive the truth in love, and therefore God will not give them up to the errors of the time; they walk humbly with him, and therefore he will reveal his secrets to them; they have an Unction (i) the holy Spirit of God, which shall teachthem all things, & shall lead them into all truth. Astor unsanctified hypocrites, they may fall totally and finally; there is no sin so vile but they may run into it, no error so damnable but they may swallow it; they have no foundation, and therefore they know not when or wherethey shall stay. The best preservative that I know against the errors of the times, is, to be not Almost but Altogether thorow Christians, following the Lord fully, professing Religion in the power of it, and then we have Gods promise that we shall never be moved. Psal. 15. ult.

p. 172Sixthly, 'Tis a gainfull life, This is argumentum cogens, a prevailing argument. Piety saies to us as Balak did to Balaam, Num. 22. 37. See Bifeilas Marrow, p. 403, &cNum 22:37Men are all for gain, yet care not for godlinesse which is the greatest gain. What is said of Homer, That he by his learning had given more men their living, then either Sylla, Caesar or Augustus ever did, notwithstanding their great gifts, is most true of piety; How many hath it raised from the dust to great dignity and honour? as Joseph, David, Hester, &c. Hence the Apostle cals godlinesse 1. Pietas est quaestus. 2. Ingens quaestus. 3. Talis quaestus quipart ex se foreign. Scultet. Amiserunt Sancti omnia quaehabebant; Nunquid fidem…? nunquid pietatem? nunquid interioris hominis b…na? hae sunt opes Christianorū, pietas quaestus ingens. Aug.[in the power of it, not in the fo…m] great gain, 1 Tim. 6. 6. (i) no gain like it. Bodily exercise may do something (if rightly used) toward the preserving of the health, and taming of the flesh, but godlinesse is profitable to all things, 1 Tim, 4. 8. nothing to be compared unto it; it brings with it contentment, joy, peace, pardon of sin, power against sin, boldnesse at the throne of grace, and freedome from condemnation. All the gain and riches in the world cannot purchase one of these. Piety hath the promise of all things, both temporall, spirituall and eternall; it procures p. 173the blessing and gives us a true Right to it also, and that doubles the mercy; for a wicked man may have good things, but they are not good to him, because he hath but a civil right to them, when the godly have a sanctified right; the blessing of the Lord makes them rich, and he adds no sorrow with it, **God giveth to his, wealth without wo, store without sore, gold without guilt. Trapp in loc.Prov. 10. 22. They have no sting of conscience with their riches. We should therefore plead for piety and make apologies for it: What bringsmen gain, they will plead for that, and cannot endure that it should be spoken against, Acts 19. 24. 25. Demetrius made shrines for Diana; these brought no small gain to the craftsmen, by it they got their wealth. Paul opposed their silver Trade; but how were they affected with it? the Text tels us, v. 28. 34. they were 1. Full of wrath, 2. They cried out. 3. Not one or two, but all of them. 4. Not dividedly but unanimously, with one voice. 5. Not for a moment, but for the space of two hours, they cry, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. If these were so violent for false and base gain, how zealous should we be for the true gain? If they p. 174plead and cry out so as they will hear See the gain of Godliness more fully set forth, M. Gataker Ser. in Folio. p. 127.nothing against their Diana; much more should we plead for piety which only brings true profit, and in defence of it out-cry all the out-cries in the world against it.The more Pure and refined any thing is, the better it is. Refined gold, Silver, Wine &c. is prized by all. The Heathen saw some excellency in this, which made them so much to praise Moral virtue, which hath some shadow of holinesse. Hol nesse is the most admirable of all things in the world, as far surpassing wit and learning and riches, and otherearthly vanities as learning surpasseth ignorance, and wealth beggery, Whatly New birth, p. 22.

Seventhly, It is the most excellent life. Piety makes men to excell their wicked and prophane neighbours, Prov. 12. 26. What makes Gods people more excellent then the men os the world? it is not riches, strength, outward beauty, &c. it is only their piety. The wicked live the life of nature, but these live the life of grace; they have grace to direct them, grace to renew them, grace to strengthen and comfort them; so that there is no life like theirs: For as the life of a man excels the life of a Beast, so the life of a gracious man excels the life of a naturall man, &c. See more fully Topsals Preface to the Book of Ruth; and Master Baxters Saints Rest, 4. Part Sect 4. p. 56.

Now lay all these Motives together, and then put the question to your selves, as Saul did to the people in another case, 1 Sam. 21. 7. Can the son of p. 175Jesse give you fields and vineyards, and Ratione homines iumentis, religione homines bominibus antestant, Boet. See more Will. Burton Serm. on Prov. 7. 1. p. 372. &c,Prov 7:1made you all Captains of Thousands, and Captains of Hundreds? So say I, Can the world give you peace, joy, contentment in all conditions? Can your riches, houses, carnall friends, &c. give you comfort when you come to die, or will they not rather like false friends then leave you and forsake you? But holinesse like a faithfull friend will never leave you nor forsake you, but in the very pangs of death will yeild you comfort. Isa. 38. 1. 3. and at last Vestite vos seri… p…obitatis, byssino sanctitatis, purpurâ pudicitiae, &c. Tertul. de cultu faem. c. 9bring you to everlasting happinesse. Oh then let us cloath our selves with the silk of honesty, with the lawn of sanctity, and the purple of chastity, Et taliter pigmentatae Deum habebitis amatorem, So shall the King of Kings See twelve Motives more in Bifield on 1 Pet. 1. 15. p. 123.1 Pet 1:15take pleasure in our beauty, and we shall be lovely in his eye for ever.