(2dly.) Godliness, which hath a distinct notion from holiness, as ap- peareth by 2 Peter iii. 11, ' In all holy conversation and godliness.' The last expression is supposed to add to the former. There is godli- ness in our conversations as well as holiness, when something divine or godlike appeareth in them ; that is, when all our actions have a plain
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respect to God, they are begun and ended in God ; that all our business in the world is either with him or for him ; that his divine grace is your principle, his law is the rule you live by, his glory isthe end you aim at, and you look for all your reward from his promises, and you are inclined and moved in the whole tenor of your lives by these thiugs, and all things else are made to give place to this, your loyalty to God and fidelity to Christ ; you are careful for other things no further than you may please God, and approve yourselves to God : Dan. iii. 16-18, ' 0 king, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter ; our God whom we serve can deliver us,' &c.
(3dly.) Heavenliness ; for God's throne is in heaven ; thither Christ will bring us ; we look for him to this end : Phil. iii. 20, 21, ' Our con- versation is in heaven, whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile bodies,' &c. You verily look to live with Christ. This doth most alarm the consciences of men, who are captivated and mastered by worldly and fleshly lusts, they have a spirit that draweth them downward.
(2d.) The manner. It must not be a thing done now and then, but entirely and universally ; you must glorify God with all your faculties of mind and body : 1 Cor. vi. 20, ' Glorify God in your body and spirit, which are his.' In all your actions and businesses, civil and sacred : Zech. xiv. 20, ' In that day there shall be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness unto the Lord,' &c. In all estates, living and dying, in pain and ease, health and sickness : Eom. xiv. 8, ' Whether we live, we live unto the Lord ; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord : whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord's.' Therefore you must keep a constant reckoning, what honour God hath by your lives in every estate, strength, interests, abilities, capacities.
Secondly, We must show how the work of faith fulfilled with power doth thus glorify Christ. I must remember you that the work of faith is twofold — (1.) Either an undaunted and constant profession of his name in the midst of troubles ; or (2.) All holy conversation and godliness. Christ is glorified by both.
1. By our patience and constancy under troubles and persecutions. That the meek and patient sufferings of christians do much honour Christ, the scripture everywhere manifesteth : John xxi. 19, ' This he spake, signifying by what death he should glorify God.' Mark, not by what death he should die, but by what death he should glorify God. So Phil. i. 21, ' So Christ be magnified in my body, whether by life or death ; ' that is, by preaching if I live, or sealing the truth with my blood if I die.
But how is the name of Christ glorified in us by sufferings, according to the former ways mentioned ?
[1.] By estimation, which is the internal way of glorifying God. They give him the honour becoming the majesty of his person ; they see such an excellency, worth, and all-sufficiency in him, that they count all things but dung and dross, vanity and loss, that they may please him, and be loyal and faithful to him, and may obtain his benefits. Yea, the cross is made valuable for his sake : Phil. iii. 8, 10, ' The fellow- ship of his sufferings, and the conformity of his death.' Not only a communion with him in grace and glory, but submitting to the hardest
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things for his sake ; these they prefer and value, and count all things dung and dross for these things.
[2.] They glorify him at the dearest rates, by open confession and praise, while they cannot hold their peace, but must confess and cry up Christ in the world : 2 Cor. iv. 13, ' We having the same spirit of faith, as it is written, I have believed, and therefore have I spoken ; we also believe, and therefore speak.' As David would profess his hopes when sore afflicted, so they also confess Christ and their faith in him notwithstanding all the afflictions and terrors wherewith they are surrounded. When the spirit of faith cometh on a man, then he is freed from that bashful inconfidence which at other times maketh him shrink and wriggle, and distinguish himself out of his duty ; he is rather encouraged and animated by dangers to make a bold and open profession, which is an honour to Christ : Acts iv. 13, ' When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, they marvelled at them,' as being ele- vated beyond the strain of a natural spirit, or their ordinary education : ver. 20, 'We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard ;' that is, they could not choose but testify of Christ. Other men may put on a boldness when it is safe, but they did it in the face of danger.