1 Tim. iv. 8, 9. Godliness is profitable unto all tilings, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation.
AS in the natural man there is a total alienation of heart from God, so, after that he has been in some measure awakened to a sense of his duty, there is in him a constant proneness to turn aside from God, and to rest in something short of a total surrender of the soul to him. This appears from the numerous
controversies which were agitated in the apostolic age. Christians even in that day were not contented with receiving the truth as it is in Jesus, but laboured to blend with it some favourite notions, either of Jewish superstition or Gentile philosophy ; by means of which they drew away the minds of many from the simplicity of the Gospel, and from that practical regard to it which constitutes our highest duty. It is observable, too, that persons addicted to this habit always lay a very undue stress on their own pecu- liarities, and display more zeal in the propagation of them than in the diffusion of the Gospel itself. It is in reference to such practices that the Apostle is speaking in the words before us. He is cautioning Timothy against being led astray by them, or giving any countenance to them in his ministrations, which should rather be directed to the inculcating and enforcing of vital godliness : " Refuse profane and old wives' fables," says he ; " and exercise thyself unto godliness : for bodily exercise, that is, a carnal atten- tion to such things, profiteth little : but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come. This (this character of godliness, as deserving and demand- ing our exclusive regards) is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation."
In confirmation of this saying, I will endeavour to shew, I. The profitableness of true godliness —
" Godliness" here stands in opposition to all that superstitious or contentious men would place in its stead. It is to be understood as comprehending a surrender of ourselves to God, as his redeemed peo- ple, and a life of entire devotedness to his service. Now this is profitable,
1. In relation to the present life —
[What is it that has deluged the whole world with misery? What but sin ? The world would still have been a paradise, if man had continued to retain his primitive holiness : and, so far as divine grace pi-evails to restore holiness to man, the world is again restored to its paradisiacal state of happiness. True it