A Vindication of Godliness, Sermon 2 · Mark 2
2. Mark.
2. Whereſoever there is true grace, there is a preferring in the eſteem and choice of a ſtrict and ſincere godly life, above any other life in the world.
A godly man loves all godlineſs, and he loves it above all. Pſal. 19. 9, 10. The fear of the Lord is clean, and endureth for ever, the Judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether; more to be deſired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold, ſweeter alſo than the honey and the honey-comb; that is, than all the world: more to be deſired are they; that is, the fear of the Lord, and the Judgements of God deſerve more reſpect from men, are of more value, more worth the deſiring and looking after, than gold or honey; Here are all the advantages of a worldly life put together in two words; The profits of it, and the pleaſures of it; and the fear of the Lord preferr'd before them all. (Than Gold) Gold is all things; Gold, much gold hath greatneſs following it: Gold hath glory, all the glory of the world attending it: Lands, and livings, and honours, and friends, and all things that a carnal heart can deſire, are hidden in the golden Mines. Honey notes all the ſweetneſs, pleaſures, and delights of a worldly life. Now, ſaith the Pſalmiſt: put all this together, all the revenues, and incomes of a worldly life, together with all it's pleaſures and delights, and the fear of the Lord will weigh them down all. Though this fooliſh world run a madding after money, and pleaſure, ſpend their dayes, waſte their lives, proſtitute their conſciences, throw away their ſouls upon theſe things, yet one dram of godlineſs, one day ſpent in the fear of the Lord, is better than all this: this the Pſalmiſt gives as his Judgment.
Let us next conſider what his Choice is: Pſal. 4. 6. There be many that ſay, who will ſhew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us; thou haſt put gladneſs in mine heart, more than in the time when their corn and wine encreaſed. Pſal. 17. 14, 15. The men of the world have their portion in this life, their bellies thou filleſt with thy hid treaſure; they are full of Children, and leave the reſt of their ſubſtance to their babes: but as for me, I will behold thy face in Righteouſneſs. The men of this world; as they ſeek, ſo they have their portion in this life, they have a glorious and a gallant time of it here, great portions, great poſſeſſions, great proſperity; their bellies full of pleaſure, enough to ſpend upon themſelves, and to leave to their Children after them; this they have, and much good may it do them: Let me but behold the face of God in Righteouſneſs, walk before the Lord in my integrity, keep a good conſcience, live in the obedience of his Will, and in the light of his Countenance, and then let them take the corn, and wine, and what elſe they can get: let the Lord be mine, and I ſhall never envy them their portion: Pſal. 84. 10. I had rather be a door-keeper in the Houſe of the Lord, than to dwell in the Tents of Wickedneſs. The meaneſt condition of thoſe that live in the preſence and favour of God, I more deſire, and would rather have, than the higheſt condition of others. Let me be a door-keeper among the Saints, rather than a dweller with the wicked. So Moſes, Heb. 11. 25. Chuſing rather to ſuffer Affliction with the People of God, than to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon; eſteeming the Reproaches of Chriſt greater Riches than the Treaſures of Egypt. Pſal. 119. 30. 111. I have choſen the way of Truth, &c. Thy testimonies have I taken as mine heritage for ever. Where obſerve,
1. How he came into the way of Truth: that is, not by chance, but by choice; I have choſen the way of truth. There are ſome that ſtumble in upon Religion, who being caſt into ſuch places or ſocieties, where Godlineſs is in faſhion and credit, joyn in to do as others do, and yet their hearts have never choſen Religion: but I have choſen the way of truth, ſaith the Pſalmiſt.
2. What it is he choſe of Religion; The way of Truth, the Teſtimonies or Precepts of the Lord. Some there are that have choſen the wages of Righteouſneſs, but not the way of Righteouſneſs, the Promiſes, but not the Precepts of the Lord; as much as you will of the ſweet, but none of the ſweat of Religion: But I (ſaith he) have choſen the way of Truth.
3. What account he hath of what he hath choſen; He accounts it as his heritage. There be ſome that chooſe Religion, but it is only for a covering, or a cloak to hid their wickedneſs, making the ſame uſe of it, which a Whore doth of her paint, to hide the deformity that is under. Others take up Religion for their laſt Refuge; ſomething they muſt have, to which they may have recourſe at laſt; but they will not have much to do with it, nor take much pleaſure in it at preſent: But he chooſes it, not only as his Refuge, bur as his Riches, not only to be the ground of his future hopes, but to be the matter of his preſent joy.
From all theſe Scriptures, obſerve,
1. That a godly mans ſettled Judgment is, That a godly life is the beſt and happieſt life.
2. That a godly mans choice is according to his Judgment. He eſteems the fear of the Lord above Gold, and he chooſes it before gold; He is better pleaſed, and doth rather take up with the meaneſt, and moſt afflicted condition, in a way of holineſs, than with the moſt plentiful, and proſperous eſtate, in a way of ſin; he prefers the poverty of Chriſt, before the riches of the World.
3. Godly men and worldly men are diſtinguiſhed, and may be known the one from the other, by their choice they make for themſelves. He that makes a worldly choice, is a worldly man; and he is a godly man that makes a godly choice. Take Godlineſs with all its inconveniencies, with all its difficulties and diſtreſſes, when it is moſt under a cloud of reproach and contempt, and take a worldly life with all its advantages, preferments, pleaſures, in its greateſt Sun-ſhine of outward proſperity and glory: And he is not a godly man, he is not of the Pſalmiſt's Spirit, that is not able to ſay, Give me this poor deſpiſed, godly life, before the moſt flouriſhing life of worldlings.