A Vindication of Godliness, Sermon 2 · Part 5
V. Head concerning the excellency, bleſſedneſſe, and necesſity of a Godly Life.
Direct. 1. COnſider what the Scriptures ſpeak concerning,
The
Entrance
Nature
Bleſſedneſs
Neceſſity
of a godly Life,
1. Concerning the Entrance of a godly Life, or the way by which we come to be godly; that is expreſt, by being born of God, John 3. by being converted to God, Acts 3. 19. Repent therefore and be converted; by having Chriſt formed upon our hearts, Gal. 4. 19 My little children, of whom I travel in birth again, until Chriſt be formed in you. A new birth muſt go before a new life, converſion before an holy converſation.
2. Concerning the Nature of a Godly Life; which the Scripture ſets forth in theſe and ſuch like expreſſions: Walking with God, walking in the fear of God, and the Comforts of the Holy Ghoſt, living by Faith, having our Converſation in Heaven, and as it becometh the Goſpel, being holy, harmleſs; the Sons of God without rebuke, in the midſt of a crooked Generation, ſhining forth as lights in the world, denying all ungodlineſs, and worldly luſts, living righteouſly, ſoberly, and godly; keeping our ſelves unſpotted from the world: walking circumſpectly, keeping a good Conſcience, &c. By all which expreſſions, and many ſuch like, it appears, that there is more required to a true godly life than is ordinarily imagined.
3. Of the Bleſſedneſs of a Godly life, Pſal. 1. 1, 2. Bleſſed is the man that walketh not in the way of ſinners, but his delight is in the Law of the Lord, Pſal. 4. 4. The Lord hath ſet apart him that is godly for himſelf, hath taken him out from the reſt of the world, to be his own peculiar poſſeſſion, his Favourite, his Servant, his Child, on whom he intends to beſtow himſelf for an Inheritance.
Direct. 2. Ask thy heart,
Queſt. 1. Am I converted to God?
Is there any ſupernatural change wrought upon me? Is this change a thorough change? Converſion is not a ſlight, but a great and marvellous change. Am I become a new Creature? Is there a new light ſet up in me, a new life begotten in my heart? Am I become a man of quite another conſtitution, temper, diſpoſition, then formerly I was? Am I born from above, and is my heart now ſet upon things above?
Queſt. 2. Is my life a godly life?
Do I think in my Conſcience, that the courſe of life which I live, is that which the Scriptures mean by walking with God, living by Faith; having the converſation in Heaven, keeping a good Conſcience, walking circumſpectly, &c. Can this fleſhly, idle, eaſie, trifling, life which I live, be poſſibly accounted a truly godly life?
Queſt. 3. Is a godly life neceſſary?
Can I be ſaved without it? Do not the Scriptures entail everlaſting bleſſedneſs in the life to come, on godlineſs of life here?
Queſt. 4. Can I be too godly?
Can I have too much likeneſs to God? too much care of my ways? too much fear of ſin▪ Can I be too ſure that God is mine? Can I have too much peace, too much joy, and inward comfort? I may be too rich to be happy, too great to be good, too merry to be wiſe, but I cannot be too gracious, too humble, too watchful, too circumſpect! Let me ask of dying, perſons, whether they have taken more care then needs? whether they have more grace then needs? Let me ask of thoſe who when they come at laſt to be weighed in the ballance, are found wanting, whether there were any fear of making too ſure, or being too buſie, and diligent, and painful about the work of their Souls?
Queſt. 5. Shall I now, without any longer delay, ſet upon a godly Life?
If it be neceſſary to take up this holy courſe, When ſhall I begin? Shall I this day reſolve upon it? Can I begin too ſoon? Can I look after God too ſoon? I may defer too long, till it be too late, and what if I ſhould? What if I ſhould ſtay ſo long in Sodome, till it be too late to eſcape to Zoar? What if I ſhould dwell in the Tabernacles of Wickedneſs, till it be too late to return into the way of Righteouſneſs? Awake, O my Soul, awake from thy worldineſs, and ſenſuality; away from thy careleſneſs. To day, to day, if thou wilt hear his voice, give thy ſelf to God, give thy ſelf up to the power of his Spirit, and government of his Word. Hitherto I have been a fool, hitherto I have been a Servant of Sin and the World. Oh, that from henceforth I might yield my ſelf to God, as one made alive from the dead.