SerniCLI. thePotter ofGordlinefs. 3;3 3 notwithftanding all their pretences to godlinefs, allowed themfelves in feveralVi- ces, and Lufts, and Paillons, and were deftitute of the Virtues ofa good life, they were felfifh, and covetous, and vain- glorious, and proud, evil-fpeakers, difo,bedi- ent to Parents, unthankful to their Benefadors, filthy and impure, treacherous, heady, conceited,' andáoluptuous; fo that whatever appearance ofgodlinefs they made, they were almoft as bad as could be imagined ; there is hardly a fuller Catalogue of fins to be met with in the Bible :- betides that allthefe Videsare fuch as are plain and evident'in the lives of Men. So that upon the whole matter, it is very clear wherein the Apoftle mainly places the power of Godlinefs, namely, in the real effects of Religion, fuch as are the mortifying our hafts, and fubduing of our palions, the government of our tongues, and the feveral virtues of a good life, I. In the mortifying of our lulls, the tufts of intemperance and uncleannefs, covetoufnefs, and ambition. He that is a Slave to any ofthefe, his Religion is but a form, how gloriousa Chew foever it may make. Fle(hly luluwar againfl the Soul, and will finally ruin it. Covetoufnefsand Pride are enmity to God. God refills the proudafar off; and the covetous man the Lord abhors. 2. In the fubduing of our paffions, wrath, hatred, malice, envy and revenge. They are the very nature and properties of theDevil, and difpofitions as contra- ry to God, as light is to darknefs; therefore whoever allows himfelf in thefe, whatever pretences he makes to Religion, is really a bad Man. This St. john tells us is a plain cafe, a yohn 3. to. Whofoever cloth not righteoufnefs, is not ofGod, neither he that loveth not his Brother. Jam. 3. 13, 14. But ifye have bitter envy- ing and firife in your hearts, glory not, and ÿe not againfl the truth, that is, do not pretend to be religious ; this wifdom defcendeth notfrom above, but is earthly, fen- fual, devilifh. 3. In the government ofour Tongues. This is a great effeft of Religion, to keep our tongues from fpeaking evil, from backbiting, and flandering, and cenfuring, and reviling, from prophanefwearing and cuffing, lewd and filthy talking. When mens tongues run out into thefe diforders, it is a fign that they are not under the go- vernment of Religion, and that the fear of God bath not feized upon their hearts; for ant of the abundance of the heart the mouth fpeaketb. So St: fames tells us, Chap. I.26. If any man amongyou feem to be religious, and bridleth nothis tongue, hint. deceiveth his own heart ; this man's religion is vain. And on the contrary, it is a good fign that Religion bath force power over Men, when it reftrains them in this kind. Sa the faine Apoftle tells us, Chap. 3. 2. If any man offend not in word, thefacie -is a perfe£í man. 4. In the feveral Virtues of a good life, in oppofition to thefe and all .other Vices ; fuch as are truth and juftice, humilityand meeknefs, patience and contented- nefs with our condition, peaceablenefs and charity to thofe that are in want and neceffity, a readinefs to forgive our Enemies, and an univerfal love and kindnefs to all Men. I have not time to recommend thefe particularly to you, the Scri- pture does it frequently and fully, telling us that thefe are the will of God, and the divine nature, thenew creature, pure Religion and undefiled, the wifdom that is from above, the fruits of the fpirit, the proper and genuine effects of true Piety, the fenfible and fubftantial evidences of our love to God, the things wherein the KingdomofGod confi fls, and that he that in thefe thingsferveth Chrifl, is accepted ofGod, and approved of men; but he that neglects thefe, whatever Form ofGodli- nefs he puts on, is a denier ofthe power of it. In this the children ofGod are ma- nifefl, and the children of the Devil, He that doth not righteoufnefs is not ofGod. I hus I have done with the fecond thing I propounded to fpeak to, namely, wherein the power of Godlinefe confifts. There are two other particulars remain- ing, which I (hall referve to a farther opportunity. SER-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=