shall not stand in judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the just;" Psal. i. 5.

And besides the marks expressed in the description, let me offer you some from the plain words of the text, that you may see what God accounteth Godliness, and consequently how to judge yourselves.

1. In John iii. 3. 5, 6. it is written, "Verily, except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new ;" 2 Cor. v. 17. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, the same is none of his ;" Rom. viii. 9.

From these texts you may see, that a heart and life made new by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, is absolutely necessary to true Godliness.

2. "O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes ;" Psal. cxix. 5. "To will is present with me;" Rom. vii. 18. "Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none on earth, &c.;" Psal. lxxiii. 25. "The desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee;" Isa. xxvi. 8.

From these and such like texts it is evident, that the principal desires of a godly man, and the choice of his will is to be what God would have him be.

3. "His delight is in the law of the Lord, and therein doth he meditate day and night;" Psal. i. 2. “As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby;" 1 Pet. ii. 2.

From these and such like texts it is manifest, That all the godly do love the word of God, as the food of their souls, and the director of their lives.

4. "Lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, &c. For where your treasure is, there will your hearts be also. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness;" Matt. vi. 20, 21.33. "Enter in at the strait gate-strive to enter in-for many shall seek and shall not be able ;" chap. vii. 13. Luke xxiv. "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure;" 2 Pet. i. 10.

From these and such texts you may discern, that Godliness consisteth in such diligence for salvation, as to seek it before any earthly things, and not think the labour of a holy life too much for it.

5. Rom. viii. 1.5.6-8.13. Gal. v. 18, 19. Read them, and you will see that Godliness consisteth in living after the Spirit, and not after the flesh, and in mortifying the deeds of the body by the Spirit, living not by sensuality, but by faith.

6. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light," &c. John iii. 19, 20. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord. But I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the King say so;" 1 Kings xxii. 7,8.

From these and such like texts you see, that the godly love the discovering light, and the most certain, faithful preacher; but the ungodly cannot endure the light which sheweth them their sins, nor love the preachers that tell them their sin and misery.

7. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you love one another;" 1 Cor. xiii. John xiii. 35. "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren;" 1 John iii. 14. "In whose eyes a vile person is contemned, but he honoureth them that fear the Lord;" Psal. xv. 4.

From these and such like texts it is evident, that all that are truly godly, have a special love to those that are godly. They love and honour Christ in his image of saints.

8. Acts ii. 42. and iv. 32. You may see, that the godly love the communion of saints, to join with them in holy doctrine, fellowship, and prayers.

9. "Pray continually;" 1 Thess. v. 17. "Christ spake a parable to them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to wax faint;" Luke xviii. 1. "Behold he prayeth;" Acts ix. 11. "I will pour out-the spirit of prayer and supplication-;" Zech. xii. 10. "The Spirit helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what to pray for as we ought," &c. Rom. viii. 26.

From all these and such like it is evident, that prayer is the breath of a godly man. He is a man of prayer. When he wanteth words, he hath desires with tears or groans.

10. "This people draweth near me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me-;" Matt. xv. 8, 9. "God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth;" John iv. 23, 24.

From such texts it is evident, that every godly man doth make the inward exercise of his soul the principal part of his worship unto God, and doth not stick in bodily exercise, or lip service.

11. "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord;" Josh. xxiv. 15. So Deut. vi. and xi. and 1'Pét.ii. 17, 18. and iii. 10. and Eph. v. and vi.

From many such texts it is evident, that godly men desire the sanctification of others, and make conscience of the duties of their relations, and would have their households or friends to serve the Lord as well as they.

12. Luke xiv. 26. 33. xviii. 22. Matt. x. 37. Rom, viii. 17, 18.

From these and other texts it is evident, that all things are below Christ and heaven in the practical esteem of a godly man, and that he will forsake them all rather than he will forsake him. All these are Scripture marks of Godli

ness.

Having hastily run over these things to help you in the trial, I will add some directions to help you in the practice, and therein yet more fully to acquaint you, Wherein true Godliness doth consist.

.

Briefly to lay down before you first the mere enumeration of the chief points wherein sound Godliness doth consist, to help your memories, while you see them close together. 1. Sound Godliness consisteth in a solid understanding of the substantial points of religion. 2. In a sound belief of the truth of God's word, and the reality of the unseen things. 3. In an adhering to the holy Scriptures as the divine rule of faith and life. 4. In the love of God in Jesus Christ, excited by the belief of his love revealed by Jesus Christ. 5, In true humility, and low thoughts of ourselves, and low expectation from others. 6. In a heavenly mind that most regardeth the things above, and seeketh them as our only felicity at home. 7. In self-denial, and mortification, and temperance, and victory over the desires of the flesh. When we can deny our own conceits, and interests, and wills for

God; and are dead to the world, and are not servants to our fleshly appetites or senses, or to the things below. 8. In thankfulness for received mercies, and praising the glorious name of God. 9. In the willing and diligent use of the means that God hath appointed us for salvation. 10. In charity or love to all men, even our enemies; and a special love to true believers. 11. In a love to the holy communion of saints, especially in public worship. 12. In a tender desire of the unity of the saints, and their concord and increase of charity; and a trouble at their discord and divisions. 13. In dealing justly in our places with all men, and carefully avoiding all that may be injurious to any. 14. In studying to do all the good we can, and doing it to our power; especially to the household of faith. 15. In a conscionable discharge of the duties of our relations, as rulers, teachers, parents, masters, subjects, and inferiors. 16. In watchfulness against temptations, and avoiding occasions of sin. 17. In serious preparations for sufferings and death, and patient bearing them when they come. These are the things that Godliness doth consist in.

And now out of all I will draw up ten practical directions, which in a special manner I would entreat you to practise, if you would be solidly godly, and not be deceived with names or counterfeits.

Direct. 1. Be sure to live upon the substantials of religion, and let them receive no detriment by a pretence of zeal for lesser points: lay not your religion in uneffectual opinions; and let lower truths and duties keep their places, and not be set above the higher.

Direct. 2. See that your religion be principally seated in the heart. Understand it as well as you can (lest it be taken from you); but never think it is savingly your own while it is but in the brain. So much you believe indeed as you love, and as hath imprinted the image of God upon your hearts. Ever see that your wills be resolved for God and holiness; and that you be able truly to say, I would be perfect; and I would fain be better than I am.

Direct. 3. Be sure you take up with God alone, as your whole felicity, and think not that there is a necessity of the approbation of men, or of liberty, plenty, life, or any thing besides God. Do not only think that there is a God, and a life of glory for you, but live upon them, and be moved

and actuated by them; trust to them, and take them for your part. Live by faith, and not by sight.

Direct. 4. Live daily upon Christ as the only Mediator, without whom we have no access to God, acceptance with him, or receivings from him. Look for all that you have from God to come by him; live on him for reconciliation, for teaching, for preservation, for communication, for consolation, and for salvation. Let Christ make your thoughts of God more familiar, as now reconciled and condescending

to us.

Direct. 5. Obey the sanctifying motions of the Spirit and if you have disobeyed, repent; not despairing, but returning to obedience; but see that you live not in any known sin, which a sanctified will can enable you to avoid. Resist sins of passion; but most carefully take heed of sins of interest, deliberately chosen, and kept up as necessary or good.

Direct. 6. Make it the principal work of your religion and your lives, to inflame your hearts with the love of God, as he is presented amiable in his wonderful grace in Jesus Christ. Strive no further to affect your hearts with fears or griefs, or other troubling passions, than as tendeth to the work of love, or is a just expression of it. Go daily to promises, and mercies, and Christ, and heaven, of purpose for fuel to kindle love: be much therefore in thankfulness and praise, which are works of love. All goeth on sweetly, and easily, and acceptably that is carried on by love. That is the best soul, and most like to God, that hath most of love to God and godliness. And that is the best service, and most like to the work of heaven, that hath most of love. Let the principal striving and pleading with your hearts be to kindle love; and your principal complaints, for the want of it.

Direct. 7. Keep up charity to all, even unto enemies; and special love to all the godly. And therefore hate backbiting and slandering, and making the worst of other men's actions take them as thieves that come to rob you of your charity. He that speaks evil of another, persuadeth you so far to hate him, (unless it be in charity, persuading you to seek his cure.) Hear the reproacher and backbiter understandingly, as if he said in words, as he doth in sense, I pray you hate such a man, or abate your love to him.' As