The Profit of Godliness, Sermon 5 – Title page 2
Serm. 5. Preached Decemb. 1. 1661.
CHAP. XIII. The Ʋses of both the Doctrines.
SECT. 1.
Use 1 THese Doctrines may convince the worldling, that is drowned in Atheism, that it is not in vain to serve God; there is profit in praying to the Almighty; Religion is not a broken Cistern, a barren wilderness: Dost thou believe the Scriptures? then hear what the Scripture saith, viz. That Godliness is profitable unto all things. Tell me thou that servest Mammon more than God; Is there any thing in the whole world that is thus profitable? all these things are but profitable to thy belly, to thy back, but not to thy soul, as thou shalt see when they shall take away thy soul. There is nothing can profit thee dying but Godliness: What said they to Judas, when in horrour of conscience he cryed, I have s…nned in betraying innocent blood! see thou to that, said they: So when the ungodly worldling shall cry to his worldly profits, I have sinned in neglecting the duties of Godliness, What is that to us, will they cry, see thou to it; If thou didst mind thy soul, which shortly must be in misery, or happiness, thou wouldest say, That Godliness is profitable: If God, Christ, Heaven and Salvation were esteemed great gain, thou wouldest confess Godliness is profitable.
Use 2 This may inform us in what esteem Godliness is with God, in that he makes all the promises to it: there are the flowings of his grace, love, mercy, good will upon Godliness; for what are the promises but th… free manifestations of his good will, grac… and favour? all are made to Godliness, an… to nothing else: how doth God love th… which is so hateful to the world!
SECT. 2.
Use 3 LEt this perswade us to look after an… labour for Godliness more than ever… let worldlings cumber themselves wit… other things, let us all make choice of th… better part which shall never be taken fro… us: let Godliness be our one thing necess… ry: This or nothing; yea, let us mind … affect and care for nothing but Godlines… When a great Counsellor and States-ma… of France was leaving the Court by reaso… of his age; the King gave him a sheet o… Paper, requesting him to write down som… advice for his direction in government; th… Counsellor took the Paper, and wrote o… the top of the Paper, Modus, in the midd… Modus, and in the end of it Modus, M… deration, and so delivered it to the King … So if you would have men and Angels t… write down in a Paper their advice to yo… for your good, …hey would write in the to of it, Labour after Godliness; in the middl… Labour after Godliness; in the end, Labour after Godliness. In prosecution of this Use, I will first give you some helps and means to be godly; secondly, some Motives thereunto.
Means 1 1. Means to get Godliness are these:
Be convinced of the want of Godliness; nothing makes men more industrious than sense of want: It is pinching hunger that makes men labour for food; it is the sense of pain that makes men seek for ease; it is fear of poverty that makes men labour and toyl for profit; it is he, and none but he that knows the misery of being ungodly, that labours day and night for Godliness; how doth he pray with groans unutterable for Godliness! how doth the want of it make him sigh! how doth his soul pant …fter it! Oh that I were godly! Oh that … could believe! Oh that I had Christ! this …s the cause why the generality of men look not after Godliness, because they think …hemselves to be godly, and have Godliness enough to carry them to Heaven, as …f this hour were the last of their dayes; this ignorance of their danger makes many men go dancing to Hell: millions are now suffering Hell-torments for their self-conceitedness about Godl…ness. Blessed i… the man that is sensible of his want o… Godliness. Primus gradus ad salutem es… videre nullam salutem, the first step t… Godliness, is conviction of ungodliness.
Means 2 Inform your selves what is true Godl… ness: this is one great cause of the misca… riage of many a precious soul; they li… and dye in an ungodly state; they ta… that to be Godliness which is not God… ness; no mistake more pernitious th… mistaken Godliness; such mistakes do fla… ter men into Hell.
1. Some do miserably mistake bod… exercise for Godliness: if they do absta… from meat for certain dayes, he upon t… ground, beat their breasts, whip and cre… themselves, and deny themselves the la… ful comforts of this life; they take this f… Godliness of the greatest magnitude; yo… their devotion is much admired by othe… my Text tells us, this is not Godliness, t… will not profit us: Let a man set him… upon the highest Pinnacle of such devotio… yet he is as far from Godliness, as he th… stands in the valley of prophaneness, a… wallows in it; this is superstition, and … Godliness; this is but the doctrines of … and not Godliness.
2. Some mistake Civility for Godliness: if they do live orderly and unblameably before men; if they are no Drunkards, no Adulterers, they think they are godly; there is a shew of Godliness in this, but Godliness it is not: Pharisaical Godliness is an abomination in the sight of God; it is but Philosophical, and not Scriptural Godliness.
3. Some mistake their good meanings, their good intentions, their good duties, their good Church-priviledges for Godliness. Rom. 2. He is not a Jew which is one outwardly; that is baptized, cometh to Church, partaketh of outward priviledges, …nd performeth outward worship; this is not Godliness: the true Godliness and godly men are not without these things: it …s folly to take the cloaths of a man for the man himself. Oh therefore inform your …elves that Godliness consisteth in renova…ion of heart, in abhorring all sin, inward …nd outward, and an application of your …elves to all duties and works of Godliness: …his is gain, and all o…her things are but …oss; this is gold, and all things else but …ung, when the tryal of Godliness shall …e made.
Means 3 Beware of such opinions and practices, as are destructive to Godliness: St. Pau… exhorts us, 2 Tim. 2.16. To shun prophan… and vain bablings, which make increase unto more ungodliness; noting there are op… nions and answerable practices in th… world (what shew of reason and devotio… soever they may have) yet are in themselves prophane and vain, and tend to th… increase of ungodliness, if once it g… place.
Means 4 Labour to convince your selves of yo… own impotency to attain to Godliness b… your own power: Who can bring a cl… thing out of an unclean? Who can brin… Godliness out of an unclean and unrenewe… heart? It is called Godliness, because it from God; it is the divine nature, it is gift from above; it is not a plant springin… from a root in nature: this conviction … necessary; men do neglect to follow aft… Godliness, because they perswade the… selves they can be godly when they wi… which makes men to delay their repenta… and conversion unto God.
Means 5 Be diligent in attending on all Gods O… dinances, in the use of which God worke… Godliness; these are the golden Pip… through which this golden Oyl runs it … every Virgins Lamp; in them we conve… with God; and converse with him, begets conformity to him: Children by co…versing with their Parents, learn to imitate them. Moses conversed with God a while, and his face shone: No men are such shining Christians as they who most converse with God in holy Ordinances.
Means 6 Study the knowledge of the Word of God; his Will is the Rule of Godliness; it is therefore called the doctrine according to Godliness. Titus 1.1. Godliness is nothing else but our conform…ty to the Will of God revealed in his Word.
Means 7 Resolve upon that course of life, let what will come, or can come, if you will live godly in Christ Jesus, expect much opposition and contradiction from the world: nothing is more hated than Godliness; holy resolution is as necessary as the profession of Godliness: he that is not resolved to follow Godliness against all oppositions of the world, will soon stumble and fall into ungodliness at every stone of offence lying in the way.
Means 8 Beware of conversing with such as are enemies to Godliness, that are scoffers at it; no greater hinderers to Godliness, and tempters to ungodliness than such persons: such as these said, Do any of the Pharisees believe on Christ? they were enemies to Christ, and endeavoured that none should follow him: with the froward thou wilt learn frowardness: Therefore David cryes out, Away from me all ye wicked, I will keep the Commandments of my God: He that will walk in the wayes of God, must keep himself from the society of the ungodly: ill examples are more efficacious that good Rules and Precepts.
Means 9 See that ye come to Christ who is full of grace; it is the very purchase of Jesus Christ, who dyed not only to purchase our souls, but grace also; not only to redeem us from Hell, but also from our ungodly conversations; come therefore to him as the fountain of all holiness: All the wise Virgins in Heaven and Earth cannot give you one drop of Godliness; they may command it, exhort and perswade you to Godliness; but none but Christ can infus… Godliness into your souls.
SECT. 3. Motives to get Godliness.
Motive 1 COnsider that Motive in the Text: … is profitable: there is not a ma… living, but is for profit; it is that you desire; it is that you labour for, that you contract and bargain for: you sometimes labour and bargain for vain things that bring in no profit: there is need of arguments to perswade men to get profit: Say but this bargain, or that thing, is very profitable for you, you say enough; now here the Apostle tells us, that Godliness is profitable to all intents and purposes: it is gain in every thing.
Motive 2 It is the greatest profit for quantity; it is, and it will be found to be greater profit than the gain of the whole world; God and Christ are the gain thereof. God saith to Abraham, I will be thy exceeding great reward. Gen. 15.1. One said of truth; The least things of truth are precious; so say I of Godliness, Quisquiliae pietatis sunt pretiosae; the least things of Godliness are exceeding great profit: the promises are called great promises; what great gain will be the performance of them? the gain of Godliness is compared to a treasure, because of the abundant riches thereof.
Motive 3 It is stable and permanent gain: durable riches, Prov. 8.18. other profits take their wings and flee away; this gain will never fly from us: other riches melt like Snow before the Sun, and Wax before the Fire; but the profit of Godliness doth not so: therefore it is called The sure mercies of David: sure for performance, and sure for continuance: once possess them, and alwayes possess them: it is called Treasures laid up in Heaven, where neither moth, nor rust, nor thieves can come to spoil us of the profit of Godliness.
Motive 4 It is a profit that will continue with us till death, and after death; which, no worldly profit can; that may last ti…l death, but then it parteth from us; we shall carry nothing out of this world: but Godliness will go out of this world into the world to come. Blessed are they that dye in the Lord, for their works follow them. Rev. 4.13.
Motive 5 It is everlasting profit: it endureth a… long as Heaven endureth, as long as Go… is, and eternity shall last: It is usually sai… in Sales of Land, To them and their Heir for ever: when afterward it may be th… Heir prodigally wasteth and selleth wh… the Father purchased: but it is most infallibly true, that the profit of Godliness … to thee and to thy soul for ever.
Motive 6 No interest in the promises, unless yo… be godly; they are but offered and tendered to you, whiles ungodly; but the… are not yours till you be godly. What need I say more, seeing he that is godly is rich in Earth, rich in Heaven, rich in temporals, rich in spirituals, hath an Heaven on Earth, and shall have Heaven in Heaven! the day is coming wherein all men shall say, No profit like to Godliness, and will give away all for Godliness, if they could purchase it; the day of death and judgment will make all say, that which men will not now believe when told them, viz. that Godliness is profitable unto all things.
CHAP. XIV.
Use 4 THis should encourage such as are godly, to go on the wayes of Godliness. 2 Cor. 7.1. Having these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God: Having these promises, we should study Godliness; we cannot be too godly: so many promises, so many motives to Godliness: let others follow after the world, follow their lusts, let us follow Godliness: go on still, and leave the ninety nine things of the world, and duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page seek this Pearl of great price: Apply your selves to the constant pract…ce of all the duties of Godliness, because every du…y of Godliness hath many promises: Prayer hath many rich promises made to it, so hath hearing of the Word, receiving the Sacrament, repenting, believing; not one work of piety but hath his promise: The wicked shall repent of their seeking and following after their lusts, but you shall never repent of your follow ng after Godliness: the worldling shall repent of all his gain; he shall wish, Oh that I had never been so rich! but no godly man shall say, Oh that I had never been so godly! They shall leave all, and lose all; they shall leave houses, lands and living, and lose God, Christ, and Heaven too: but you that are godly, shall leave the world, because it is not worth the having and keeping, and shall enjoy God, Christ, and Heaven for ever: Oh therefore go on in an eager pursuit of Godliness, and tell the foolish world wondring at thy diligence in all godly exercises, what promises thou hast. Doth any one ask, What alls thee, that thou art so much in praying, hearing, and such like religiou… exercises? tell them, I have the promises of Heaven and Earth which shall be performed. Do any ask of thee, Why art thou so strict, so precise, so shy of sin, and dost not as the most do? tell them thou hast great and precious promises of Heaven and Earth. Tell all the world that it is thy shame and grief that thou art no more godly, that thou dost not do more for God than thou dost; that it is thy desire, and it shall be thy endeavour to be more godly. When thou findest thy own heart fearful because of the worlds opposition of Godliness; say to thy self, Shall such a man as I fear, who have such great and precious promises? — When thou findest thy heart dull, slothful, negligent in the work of Godline…s, say to thy self, Oh my soul! remember what precious promises are made to me: Shall I be negligent having such promises made to me! nothing should more quicken us to our duty, than the promises of God.
CHAP. XV.
SECT. 1.
Use THis may serve as an Use of Admonition to the godly; you see that you have an interest in all the promises of the present and future life; then be admonished to beware of these evils.
1. Of discontentedness with the present allotment of divine providence: Having the promises of this life, murmure not because you have not such a large portion of the good things of this life, as others have; content your selves with the promise of these things: he that murmureth at Gods providences disposing of outward things, dishonoureth the faithfulness of God in his promises, as if he were either unwilling or unable to make good his Word to us: rejoyce as much in having the promises, as you would in the performance of them. One said of Queen Elizabeth, That a Courtier might make a better meal of one good look from her, than of a good gift from some other King. More truly may we say of the promises of God, a Christian might make a better meal in a gracious promise, than on a large gift of his common providence.
Quest. How may a Christian in his wants draw contentment from the promise of this life?
Resp. 1 Consider that you have an interest in the promise: your present happiness lies more in promises, than in performances; in reversion, than in possession.
2. Consider that the promise is made good in some measure for the present, so far as the wisdom of God judgeth expedient for your greater good: what we have for the present, is best for the present: for the promises distill goodness, as the clouds distill Rain, according to Gods ordering: when showers are best for us, the promises come down in showers; when drops are more expedient for us, the promises, like clouds, do let fall some drops, and are blown over for the present.
3. That such is Gods love and power in effecting the promise, that he can and will in due time perform his word of promise to us; let things go as they list, let all things seem impossible, improbable, yet God can make his word good, and will in due time: it was improbable, yea impossible (as to nature) that Abraham should have a child in his old age; yet Rom. 4.18. He believed in hope against hope; the reason given is, because he was fully perswaded, that what God had promised, he was able to perform: God can make his promises break thorow all difficulties; he will make mountains to become vallies before his promises: it is an Atheistical question of unbelievers, Can God prepare a Table in the wilderness? God can, God did: it was Moses's great sin of unbelief, when he said; Must I fetch water out of this Rock? yet Moses, through the power of God, made rivers of water to gush out of a dry Rock: live then by faith in th…m, till God perform his promises: saith will transubstantiate promise; into the very mercies themselves; it w…l… turn want into fulness, poverty into rich…s.
4. Consider much the wisdom of God in taking the fittest times and seasons to perform his promise: as a word spoken i… season, so a promise performed in season, is like Apples of gold in pictures of silver; G…d knoweth the fittest season, we do not; he is optimus opportunitatis arbiter, the only and best Judge of times and seasons.
5. Wait on God till he doth make good his p…omise: it is the proper…y of faith to wait. He that believeth will not make hast: Isa. 28 16. will not outrun Gods determinate time, but waiteth till the appointe… time; it will earnestly expect, but patiently wait: it is confident, because God hath promised; but will wait, though i… …arry till the appointed time.
6. By sticking to Gods promise, an… holding to this conclusion; Oh I shall no… want what is good: Though I want what I would have, I shall have that which is best: though I have not that which is most, it will make a man say with David, The Lord is my Shepherd, therefore I shall not want. Psal. 23.1. and with Paul, He will not leave me, nor forsake me in my wants. Heb. 13.5.
7. By meditating seriously and frequently on the promises of God: As the Mariner at Sea in the night time casteth his eye after the Pole-star to direct him in his passage; so believers in their distress, do cast their thoughts on the promise of God for support: Meditation on the promise will stay the soul up, and make it to hold up its head above the troubled waters; meditation will suck comfort from the promise, when a man sucks not out all the mercy in the promise.
SECT. 2.
2. HAving such promises, oh let the godly beware of fretting at Gods bounty toward the wicked in this life: Gods liberal hand to the wicked is an eye-sore to good hearts; many times their eye is evil, because his eye is good; and they are apt to murmure, because God giveth to them the penny; as they in the Parable did. Mat. 2… Oh beware of this evil, seeing you have th… promise of th…e things, and better prom… ses too. Y…r k…ow how the Prodiga… Brothe… …mured at his Father, becau… he killed the s…ed Calf, and called for th… Robe and Ring for his Son that was to turned home: What said his Father … him? Son, remember thou art ever with m… and all that I have it thine, Luk. 15.30. S… God saith to his people: Fret not, ce… from murmuring, when you see God g… ving the Ring and the Robe, and the … ted Calf to wicked men: Son, thou art … with me, and all that I have is thine; Gra… and glory is thine, and every good thi… is thine. Oh therefore, when thy heart begins to murmure at the prosperity … wicked men, think what full, what precio… promises thou hast, remember them, a… think that they are thine, and it will cal… the tempests in thy heart. How ill did th… Lord resent the Israelites murmuring th… the Egyptians had Leeks, Onions, Fles… pots, and they in want! he had promis… them a Land flowing with M lk and Hon… they should not envy nor lust after th… Egyptian Flesh pots: God having pr… mised Heaven and all the good things of the life to come; 'tis a sore provocation to fret at the wickeds having the things of this life.
Having such promises, it should teach every godly man to walk comfortably and chearfully in the world in every state and condition; let the world see there is much in Gods promises; let the world see that you believe them, that you count them rich possessions; let the world see that a godly man can live as comfortably on the promises of God, as the wicked can on all their delicate fare.
CHAP. XVI.
Use 6 HEnce we may see in what a sad condition all ungodly men are; let them sl ght, oppose, scoff at Godliness in others; let them take their fill of this worlds profits and pleasures, and live as gloriously every day, as the Sun shineth; yet they are the men of Gods curse; they have all the threatnings of the life that now is, and of the death which is to come: however the long-sufferance and goodness of God may for a while hold off the execution of all the tempora… judgments threatned against them; ye… let them know, that the day is coming … wherein all the threatnings shall be mad… good; all the curses and woes shall ligh… on them; all the plagues of the might… God shall fall upon them; and what evi… God hath laid up in the treasury of b… wrath, in Hell, shall be their portio… for ever: As all promises shall be fu… filled, so all threatnings: God … true in both, faithful in both, just … both, and powerful to perform bot… What will wicked men do? Where w… the ungodly man appear in the day o… executing threatnings! he hath not promise of mercy; and having no pr… mise, he hath no hope of mercy; havi… no promise, he shall never obtain a… mercy at all.
Use 7 Admire then the blessed state of go… men, because they are sure of every go… thing in th…s life; this is not the one b… of their happiness; they are sure of He… ven; as sure …s Heaven is, they are sure … it; for they have the promises of it, a… all Gods promises are most sure and c… tain, and shall he fulfill…d: Godly me… their worst condition, are better … the greatest wicked man on earth. What if they have nothing but hunger and nakedness, famine, contempt and reproach, yet they have the sure promise of Heaven; they are rich in poverty, happy in misery; they are honourable in contempt and reproaches; they are happy living, happy dying, happy dead because of these promises; O fortunati bona fi sua norint! O happy Saints, did you know your goods, the end of your wealth! none but God knoweth how rich, how happy you are.
THE Unprofitableness OF WORLDLY GAIN: AND THE Loss of Losses, Set forth in four Sermons on MARK 8.36, 37.
By that Eminent and Learned Divine, Mr. Thomas Byrdall, M. A. late Minister of the Word, and Preacher at Walsall, in the County of Stafford.
LONDON, Printed Anno Dom. 1666.
THE Unprofitableness OF WORLDLY GAIN.
MARK 8.36.
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37. Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?