Quest. But what shall we do that we may be godly?
Answ. I shall briefly lay down some rules or helps to godliness.
Rule 1. 1 Be diligent in the use of all means, that may promote godliness, Luke 13. 24. strive to enter in at the straight gate: what is purpose without pursuit? when you have made your estimate of godliness, prosecute those mediums which are most expedient for obtaining it.
Rule 2. 2 If you would be godly, take heed of the world; ‘tis hard for a clod of dust to become a star, 1 Ioh. 2. 15. love not the world: many would be godly, but the honours and profits of the world divert them; where the world fills both head and heart, there is no room for Christ; he whose minde is rooted in the earth, is likely enough to deride godliness; when our Saviour was preaching against sin, the Pharisees, who were covetous, derided him, Luk. 16. 14. The world eats out the heart of godliness, as the lvy eats out the heart of the Oak; the world kills with her silver darts.
Rule 3. 3 Inure your selves to holy thoughts; serious meditation, represents every thing in its native colour; it shews an evil in sin, and a lustre in grace. By holy thoughts, the head grows clearer, and the heart better, Psa. 119. 59. I thought on my waies, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies: Did men step aside a little out of the noise and hurry of business, and spend but half an hour every day, in thinking upon their souls, and eternity, it would produce a wonderful alteration in them, and tend very much to a real and blessed conversion.
Rule 4. 4 Watch your hearts; it was Christs watch-word to his Disciples, Mat. 24. 42. Watch therefore; the heart will praecipitate us to sin, before we are aware; a subtil heart, needs a watchful eye; watch your thoughts, your affections; the heart hath a thousand doors to run out at: O keep close sentinel in your souls! stand continually upon your Watch-tower, Hab. 2. 1. when you have prayed against sin, watch against1 tentation; most wickedness in the world, is committed for want of watchfulness; watchfulness maintains godliness, it is the selvedge which keeps religion from ravelling out.
Rule 5. 5 Make Conscience of spending your time, Eph. 5. 16. redeeming the time: Many persons fool away their2 time; some in idle visits, others in recreations and pleasures, which secretly bewitch the heart, and take it off from better things: What are our golden hours for but to mind our souls? Time mis-improved, is not time lived, but time lost. Time is a precious commodity; a peece of wax in it self, is not much worth, but as it is affixed to the label of a Will, and conveyes an estate, so it is of great value: Thus time, simply in it self, is not so considerable, but as salvation is to be wrought out in it, and a conveyance of heaven depends upon the well improvement of it, so it is of infinite concernment.
Rule 6. 6 Think of your short stay in the world, 1 Chron. 29. 15. Our daies on the Earth are as a shaddow, and there is none abiding. There is but a span between the Cradle and the Grave: Solomon saith, there is a time to bee born, and a time to dye, Eccles. 3. 2. but mentions no time of living, as if that were so short, it were not worth naming; and time, when it is once gone, cannot be recalled; the Scripture compares time to a flying Eagle, Io[…] 9. 6.—yet, herein time differs from the Eagle, the Eagle flies forward, and then back again, but time hath wings only to fly forward, it never returns back. —fugit irrevocabile tempus—
The serious thoughts of our short abode here, would be a great means to promote godliness; what if death should come before we are ready? what if our life should breathe out, before Gods spirit hath breathed in? he that considers how flitting and winged his life is, will hasten his repentance; when God is about to make a short work, he will not make a long work.
Rule 7. 7 Possess your selves with this maxim, that godliness is the end of your Creation; God never sent men into the world, only to eat and drink· and put on fine cloathes, but that they might serve him in righteousness and holiness, Luk. 1. 75. God made the world only as an attiring room, to dress our souls in; he sent us hither upon the grand errand of godliness; should nothing but the body (the bruitish part) bee looked after, this were basely to degenerate, yea, to invert and frustrate the very end of our being.
Rule 8. 8. Be often among the godly; they are the salt of the earth, and will help to season3you. Their counsels may direct their prayers may quicken: Such holy sparks may be thrown into your breasts, as may inkindle devotion in you: It is good to be among the Saints to learn the trade of godliness, Pro. 13. 20. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise.