Use 2. To press you to exercise yourself to godliness.
1. It is the aim of the gospel Tlie gospel is called, 1 Tim. vi. 3, * The doctrine which is according to godliness,' invented on purpose to maintain and keep godliness alive. So Titus i. 1 , ' The truth which is after godliness,' which preserveth the true worship of the true God, and right thoughts of God. Here in the gospel the way to eternal life is discovered.
2. It is the aim of providence. All God's dispensations seem to put us in mind of God, and to draw us the nearer to him ; afflictions to increase our reverence and watchfulness, and mercies to engage our
VeR. 12.] SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14. 163
love and trust. God complains of Israel that lie had inflicted many judgrments on them, and ' yet ye have not turned unto me, saith the Lord,' Amos iv. 8-11. So he complains of their abuse of mercies: Hosea ii. 8, ' She did not know that I gave her corn and wine and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold which she prepared for Baal.' The mercies of God should be cords and bands of love to draw us to God.
3. Consider how God hath deserved it. We are God's. You that have servants expect they should work for you, their strength and time is yours : Eom. xiv. 8, 'For whether we live, we live unto the Lord ; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord : whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord's.' A christian is not master of anything ; his affections, his interests, his time his care, his strength, all is the Lord's.
4. Consider God hath given us sufficient grace to live godly : 2 Peter i. 3, ' According as his divine wisdom hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.' We cannot complain, as the Israelites did of Pharaoh, that he required brick where he gave no straw ; or as the servant did of his master, that he expected to reap where he never sowed : the divine power is engaged to help us. How much do we walk beneath that divine power which he is ready to afibrd us ! Do not say, I shall never be godly if this be to be godly ; I am but flesh and blood, what would you have me do ?
5. Consider the worth of godliness : it is our chief duty. First we must show our respects to the first table, because there are the great commandments: Mat. xxii. 37, 38, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind : this is the first and great commandment.' De loco modum, de ordine statum, de confinio meritum ciijusque iwcecepti cognosces, says Tertul- lian. It is the first table, and therefore most worthy ; the object is greater ; God is greater than man ; by the breach hereof we do more immediately sin against God. He that wrongeth his neighbour sinneth against God : 1 Cor. viii. 12, ' But when ye sin against the brethren, and wound their weak consciences, ye sin against Christ : ' but not so immediately. Godliness directeth honesty, which is otherwise but a civil action, proceeding from interest and self-love. This is the great commandment ; without it all other graces are worth nothing : 2 Peter i. 5, 6, 'Add to yom' faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patienco godliness.' Civility is nothing, temperance is nothing, abstinence from pleasures is nothing without godliness. Many virtues are reckoned up, as patience, knowledge, temperance ; all these things the Lord requires, not without godliness, therefore add godliness. God requires nothing but that which draweth the creature to himself; this bringeth us to the well-head.
6. Consider the profit of godliness. I mention this to counterbalance the discouragements which you would meet with in the ways of godli- ness. It will cost you trouble : 2 Tim. iii. 12, ' Tea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.' Mark, if they will live godly, not civilly only ; if they are zealous for Christ's institutions. A Gallic will escape well enough ; but you have encouragements : 1 Tim. iv. 8, ' Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the pro- mise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.' They have
164 SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14. [SeR. XI.
an interest in botli, but the promises of this life are subservient to that which is to come. If the things of this life hinder our progress to heaven, grace should be content to be without them. There is much comfort with a little ; 1 Tim. vi. 6, ' Godliness with contentment is great gain.'
: SEEMON XL
In this -present world. — Titus il 12.
Having shown you the substance of the lesson, let me now speak of the season of it, when this is to be performed ; and that is, in this pre- sent loorld.
Doct. That our abode in the present world is the only time wherein we are to discharge the duty of our heavenly calling. I shall — (1.) Draw forth the force of the expression ; (2.) Give you the reasons of it.