VeR. 1.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 177
manner, but 5^ou do not obtain the end. Shall I tell you by a plain enumeration what I intend ? The knowledge of God is necessary to rectify the world ; there it beginnetli. The belief of what we know is also necessary to beget true religion, for knowledge without faith leaveth us but convinced infidels : Heb. xi. 6, ' But without faith it is impossible to please God ; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.' But doth it rest there ? No ; we must esteem what we do believe. David calleth God his ' exceeding joy,' Ps. xliii. 4. And what further ? We must pi'aise what we esteem : Ps. Ixiii. 3, ' Be- cause thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.' But must we rest there in worshipping and praising hira ? No ; all this leadeth to a further end, that there may be a likeness and resem- blance between God and us, that we be holy as he is holy, and merciful as he is merciful ; otherwise our knowledge is but a cold form, our faith but a dead opinion, our esteem is but a naked approbation, our praise is but an empty compliment ; for how can we glorify God heartily for such perfections as we like not, or have no mind unto our- selves, and of which we are capable, and should seek after ?
[5.] My last reason is, because we are appointed for this end, and ■serve for this use, that wherever we come, we may call God to mind, and bring him into remembrance with all those with whom we do con- verse. All creatures serve for this use, that they may represent God to the thoughts of men by that life and being which they have. But because this is a common thing, and not very apt in itself to awaken the stupid world to any reverence and regard of God, as children cannot be said to call their parents to the minds of others by eating and drink- ing, which are acts common to them, and the children of all other parents, but by some special properties, wherein they resemble their progenitors ; so though all creatures in their kind may represent God, and awaken the thoughts of the drowsy world to remember him, yet because this is generally overlooked, or doth very im])erfectly discover God, therefore he hath chosen out some among mankind that may more expressly show forth his divine excellencies and perfections to the world. And for this use serve the saints, who are his witnesses to declare the truth and excellency of his being, and to alarm the con- sciences of a godless and wicked generation to remember God : 1 Peter ii. 9, * But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.' What we read in the text ' the praises,' is in the margin Ta<; apera?, the virtues of God. Now the virtues and praises of God are his divine attributes, especially such as are communicable to men, as his wisdom, justice, truth, holiness, mercy, goodness. Christians should show these forth, and keep the world in awe of God by the majesty and beauty of their conversations. Alas ! if we should speak well of God, it would do the world little good as to the cure of their atheism and infidelity, unless our deeds confess him as well as our words. What will the world say ? They speak at a higher rate than we do ; but what is there worthy, noble, and godlike in their conversations more than we express ? Therefore you do not discharge your duty, and effectually
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178 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. I.
represent God to the world, till you are followers of liim ; nay, rather you give them cause to doubt that all is sophistry and pretence, while you pretend to a greater nearness to God, and show forth nothing like him or worthy of him.
Use. Is to persuade us to be followers or imitators of God. Shall God give us his word and works, and shall the Son of God come in the likeness of men, and live under the same law we are bound to, and shall not men make it their design to be every day more like God, and to be such in the world as the Son of God was in the world ? Ahis ! how uncomfortably else will you live, and with little honour to God, yea, apparently to his disgrace, when you are his children by profession, and give an ill character of him to the world ! Now to this end —
1. Get a due conception of God. Some have not a due apprehension of the mercy of God, and entertain needless jealousies of him, as one that watcheth all opportunities to destroy us, and will be severe to his creatures. This is a blasphemy against his holy and gracious nature. No ; Micah vii. 18, ' Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage ? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.' Others conceit ill of his holiness, and so live securely in their sins : Ps. 1. 21, ' Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself.' The gods of the heathen taught sin by their own example ; their impure lives, recorded by the poets, were a great means to debauch the world. Augustine ad Nect. telleth us of a young man that was enticed to wantonness by seeing a picture of Jupiter on the wall committing adultery. Men could not sin so freely if they did believe the holiness of God's nature, and his resolved displeasure against sin and sinners. We think God like ourselves, and that he is more indulgent to the impurities of men than is commonly believed, and so transform God into an idol of our own fanc}^ These propagate their ill conceits of God, while they pretend to be God's people, and yet walk loosely. As the heathen gods are represented to be lascivious as goats, drunken like swine, revengeful and furious like wolves and bears, and so are a stain to the godhead, and lessened man's natural reverence of the divine power and majesty ; so do evil christians, if they be so, pollute his name : Ezek. xxxvi. 20, ' And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went out, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of the land.'