THE Godly Mans Picture Drawn with a Scripture-Pensil OR Some Characteristical Notes of a Man that shall go to Heaven By THOMAS WATSON Minister of the GOSPEL But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is Godly for himself Psalm 4. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clâ—m Alex. LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the three Crowns over against the great Conduâ—t at the lower end of Cheap-side 1666. To the Reader Christian Reader THe Soul being so precious and Salvation so glorious it is the highest point of Prudence to make preparations for another world That there is an Inheritance in Light 〈◊〉 beyond all dispute and that there must be an Idoneity and meetness for it 〈◊〉 in Sacred Writ most strenuously asâ—â—rted If any shall ask who shall â—scend into the hill of the Lord The â—nswer is He that hath clean hands 〈◊〉 a pure heart To describe such 〈◊〉 person is the work of this ensuing â—â—reatise Here you have the godly â—ans Effigies and see him pourtrayed 〈◊〉 his full Lineaments What a rare â—â—ing is godliness 't is not airy and flatulent but solid and such as will take up the heart and spirits Godliness consists in an exact harmony between holy Principles and Practises 〈◊〉 that all into whose hands this Book shall providentially come may be 〈◊〉 enamoured with Piety as to fall 〈◊〉 the hearty imbracing of it So sublimâ— is Godliness that it cannot be delâ—â—neated in its perfect radiancy and lustre though an Angel should take 〈◊〉 Pensil Godliness is our wisdomâ— Job 28. 28. The fear of the Lord thâ—â— is wisdome Policy without Piety profound madness Godliness is a Spâ—ritual Queen which whosoever Maâ—ries is sure of a large Dowry with 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godliness hath the prâ—mise of the life that now is and that which is to come Godliness givâ— assurance yea holy triumph in Goâ— and how sweet is that It was 〈◊〉 Latimers Speech when sometimes I sit alone and have a setled assurance of the state of my Soul and know that God is my God I can laugh at all troubles and nothing can daunt me Godliness puts a man in heaven before his time Christian aspire after Piety it is a lawful Ambition Look upon the Saints Characters here and never leave till thou hast gotten them instamped upon thy own Soul This is the grand business that should swallow up your time and thoughts Other Speculations and Quaint Notions are nothing to the Soul They are like Wafers which have fine works printed upon them and are curiously damasked to the eye but are thin and yield little nourishment But I will not stay you longer in the Porch should I have inlarged upon any one Character of the Godly Man it would have required a Volume but designing to go over many I have contracted my Sails and given you only a brief Summary of things If this Piece how indigested soever may conduce to the good of Souls I have my Option which that the God of Grace will effectually accomplish shall be the Prayer of him who is Thine in all Christian affection Thomas Watson Feb. 26. 1666. THE Character of a Godly Man drawn with a SCRIPTURE-PENSIL PSAL. 32. 6. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee CHAP. I. Containing the Preface or Introduction HOly David in the front of this Psalm shews us wherein true happiness consists not in beauty honour riches the Worlds Trinity but in the forgiveness of sin Vers. 1. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven The Hebrew word to forgive signifies to carry out of sight which well agrees with that Ierem. 50. 20. In those dayes saith the Lord the sins of Judah shall be sought for and they shall not be found This is an incomprehensible blessing and such as layes a foundation for all other mercies I shall but glance at it and lay down these five Assertions about it 1. Forgiveness of sin is an act of Gods Free Grace The Greek word to forgive deciphers the Original of pardon it ariseth not from any thing inherent in us but is the pure result of Free Grace Isa. 43. 25. I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake When a Creditor forgives a Debtor he doth it freely Pardon of sin is a fine thread spun out of the bowels of Free Grace Paul cries out I obtained mercy 1 Tim. 1. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I was be-mercied he who is pardoned is all bestrewed with mercy When the Lord pardons a sinner he doth not pay a Debt but give a Legacy 2. God in forgiving sin remits the guilt and penalty Guilt cries for justice no sooner had Adam eaten the Apple but he saw the flaming sword and heard the Curse but in remission God doth indulge the sinner he seems to say thus to him Though thou art fallen into the hands of my Justice and deservest to die yet I will absolve thee and whatever is charged upon thee shall be discharged 3. Forgiveness of sin is through the blood of Christ. Free grace is the impulsive cause Christs blood is the meritorious Heb. 9. 22 Without shedding of blood is no remission Justice would be revenged either on the sinner or the surety Every pardon is the price of blood 4. Before sin is forgiven it must be repented of Therefore repentance and remission are linked together Luk. 24. 47. That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name Not that repentance doth in a Popish sense merit forgiveness Christs blood must wash our Tears but repentance is a qualification though not a cause He who is humbled for sin will the more value pardoning mercy When there is nothing in the soul but clouds of sorrow and now God brings a pardon which is a setting up a Rainbow in the Cloud to tell the sinner that the flood of wrath shall not overflow him O what joy is there at the sight of this Rainbow The soul that before was steeped in tears now melts in love to God Luk. 7. 38. 47. 5. God having forgiven sin he will call it no more into remembrance Ier. 31. 34. the Lord will make an act of Indempnity he will not upbraid us with former unkindnesses or sue us with a cancelled Bond. Micah 7. 19. he will cast our sins into the depth of the sea Sin shall not be cast in as Cork which riseth up again but as Lead which sinks to the bottom How should we all labour for this Covenant-blessing 1. How sad is it to want it It must needs be ill with the Malefactor who wants his pardon all the Curses of God stand in full force against the unpardoned sinner his very blessings are cursed Mal. 2. 2. Caesar wondred at one of his Souldiers that was so merry when he was in debt Can the sinner be merry who is heir to all Gods Curses and knows not how soon he may take up his Lodgings
into the world 4 Praise is a more distinguishing work by this a Christian excels all the infernall spirits dost thou talk of God so can the Devil hee brought Scripture to Christ dost thou profess religion so can the Devil he transforms himself into an Angel of light dost thou fast he never eats dost thou beleeve the Devils have a faith of assent they believe and tremble Iam. 2. 19. but as Moses wrought such a miracle as none of the Magicians could do the like so here is a work Christians may be doing which none of the Devils can do and that is the work of thanksgiving they blaspheme but do not bless Satan hath his fiery darts but not his harp and viol Use 1 See here the true genius and complexion of a godly man hee is much in doxologies and praises 'T is a saying of Lactantius hee cannot bee a good man who is unthankful to his God A godly man is a God-exalter the Saints are Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 3. 16. where should Gods praises bee sounded but in his Temples a good heart is never weary of praising God Psa. 34. 1. His praise shall continually bee in my mouth Some will be thankful while the memory of the mercy is fresh but afterwards leave off The Carthaginians used at first to send the tenth of their yearly revenue to Hercules but by degrees they grew weary and left off sending David as long as hee drew his breath would chirp forth Gods praise Psa. 146. 2. I will sing praises to my God while I have any being David would not now and then give God a fit of Musick and then the instrument must be hung up but he would continually be celebrating Gods praise A godly man will express his thankfulness in every duty hee mingles thanksgiving with prayer Phil. 4. 6. In every thing by prayer with thanksgiving let your requests bee made known to God Thanksgiving is the more divine part of prayer in our petitions wee express our own necessities in our thanksgivings we declare Gods excellencies Then prayer goes up as incense when it is perfumed with thanksgiving And as a godly man expresseth thankfulness in every duty so in every condition hee will be thankful in adversity as well as prosperity 1 Thes. 5. 18. In every thing giving thanks A gracious soul is thankful and rejoyceth that hee is drawn nearer to God though it be by the cords of affliction when it goes well with him hee praiseth Gods mercy when it goes ill with him he magnifies Gods justice when God hath a rod in his hand a godly man will have a Psalm in his mouth The Devils smiting of Iob was like the striking upon a musical instrument he sounded forth praise The Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord Iob 1. 21. Gods spiritual plants when they are cut and do bleed drop thankfulness the Saints Tears cannot drown their praises 2 If this be the sign of a godly man then the number of the godly will appear to bee very small Few are in the work of praise sinners cut God short of his thank-offering Luk. 17. 17 where are the nine Often Leapers healed there was but one returned to give praise the most of the world are Sepulchres to bury Gods praise you shall hear some swearing and cursing but few that bless God Praise is the yearly rent that men sit at but most are behinde hand with their rent God gave King Hezekiah a famous deliverance but Hezekiah rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him 2 Chron. 32. 25. that But was a blot in his Scutchion some instead of being thankful to God render evil for good they are the worse for mercy Deut. 32. 6. Do yee thus requite the Lord foolish people and unwise This is like the Toad that converts the most wholsome hearb to poyson where shall wee finde a grateful Christian Wee read of the Saints Rev. 5. 8. Having harps in their hand the Emblem of praise many have tears in their eyes and complaints in their mouths but few that have harps in their hand who are blessing and praising the name of God Use 2 Let us put our selves upon a scrutiny and examine by this Character whether we are godly are wee thankful for mercy 't is an hard thing to bee thankful Quest. How may wee know whether wee are rightly thankful Answ. 1 When wee are careful to register Gods mercy 1 Chron. 16. 4. David appointed certain of the Levites to record and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel Physitians say the memory is the first thing that decayes 't is true in spirituals Psal. 106. 13. They soon forgat his works A godly man enters down his mercies as a Physician his receipts into a book that they may not bee lost Mercies are Jewels that should be locked up A childe of God keeps two books alwaies by him one to write his sins in that he may be humble the other to write his mercies in that he may be thankful 2 Then wee are rightly thankful when our hearts are the chief instrument in the musick of praise Psa. 111. 1. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart David would not only put his Viol in tune but his heart if the heart doth not joyn with the tongue there can bee no consort where the heart is wanting the Parrot is as good a Querister as the Christian. 3 Then we are rightly thankful when the favours which we receive endear our love to God the more Davids miraculous preservation from death drew forth his love to God Psa. 116. 1. I love the Lord it is one thing to love our mercies another thing to love the Lord many love their deliverance but not their deliverer God is to bee loved more than his mercies 4 Then we are rightly thankful when in giving our praise to God wee take all worthiness from our selves Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies thou hast shewed unto thy servant as if Iacob had said Lord the worst bit thou carvest me is better than I deserve 2 Sam. 9. 7. Mephibosheth bowed himself and said what is thy Servant that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am So a thankful Christian when he takes a survey of his blessings and sees how much he enjoyes that others better than he want Lord saith he what am I a dead dog that free-grace should look upon me and that thou shouldst crown mee with such loving kindness 5 Then we are rightly thankful when we put Gods mercies out of Use wee turn our injoyments into improvements the Lord gives us health and wee spend and are spent for Christ 2 Cor. 12. 15. hee gives us an estate and wee honour the Lord with our substance Prov. 3. 9. he gives us children and wee dedicate them to God and edugate them for God wee do not
declared to be the Epistle of Christ written not with ink but with the spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone but in fleshy Tables of the heart Here is a golden Epistle the writing is the work of Faith the Table it is written in is the heart the finger that writes it is the spirit Now after the Spirits writing follows the Spirits sealing Ephes. 1. 13. After ye believed ye were sealed with the Spirit that is ye were sealed up to an assurance of glory What have ungodly men to do with the seal of the Covenant who have not the writing 4. The ungodly are spiritual fools Psalm 75. 4. I said to the fools deal not foolishly and to the wicked lift not up the horn If one had a Childe very beautiful yet if he were a fool the Parent would take little joy in him The Scripture hath dressed the Sinner in a Fools Coat and let me tell you better be a fool void of Reason than a fool void of Grace This is the Devils fool Pro. 14. 9. Is not he a fool who refuseth a rich portion God offers Christ and Salvation but the Sinner refuseth this portion Psal. 81. 11. Israel would none of me Is not he a fool who prefers an Annuity before an Inheritance Is not he a fool who tends his mortal part and neglects his Angelical part As if one should paint the wall of his house and let the Timber rot Is not he a fool who will feed the Devil with his Soul As that Emperour who fed his Lion with Feasant Is not he a fool who lays a snare for himself Pro. 1. 18. Who consults his own shame Hab. 2. 10. who loves death Pro. 8. 36. 5. The ungodly are vile persons Nahum â— 14. I will make thy grave for thou art vile 〈…〉 men base it blots their name it taints their bloud Psal. 14. 3. They are altogether become filthy In the Hebrew it is rancidi facti sunt they are become stinking Call wicked men never so bad you cannot call them out of their name they are swine Mat. 7. 6. Vipers Mat. 3. 7. Devils Iohn 6. 70. The wicked are scoria gluma the dross and refuse Psalm 119. 119. And heaven is too pure to have any dross mingle with it 6. Their Temporal Mercies are continued in Judgement The wicked may have health and estate yea more than heart can wish Psa. 73. 7. But their Table is a snare Psa. 69. 2â— Sinners have their mercies with Gods leave but not with his love The people of Israel had better been without their Quails than to have had such sowre sawce The ungodly are Usurpers they want a spiritual Title to what they possess their good things are like cloath taken up at the Drapers which is not paid for death will bring in a sad reckoning at last 7. Their Temporal Judgements are not removed in Mercy Pharaoh had ten Arrows shot at him ten Plagues and all those Plagues were removed but his heart remainiâ—g hard those Plagues were not removed in Mercy it was not a preservation but a reservation God reserved him for a signal Monument of his Justice when he was drowned in the depth of the Sea God may reprieve mens persons when he doth not remit their sins The wicked may have sparing Mercy but not saving Mercy 8. The ungodly while they live are exposed to the wrath of God Ioh. 3. 36. He that believeth not the wrath of God abideth on him He who wants Grace is like one who wants a pardon he is every hour in fear of Execution How can a wicked man rejoyce Over his head the Sword of Gods Justice hangs and under him hell fire burns 9. The ungodly at death must undergo Gods fury and indignation Psal. 9. 17. The wicked shall be turned into hell I have read of a Loadstone in Aethiopia which hath two corners with one it draws the iron to it with the other it puts the iron from it So God hath two hands of Mercy and Justice with the one he will draw the godly to heaven with the other he will thrust the sinner to hell And O how dreadful is that place It is called a fiery lake Rev. 20. 15. A lake to denote the plenty of Torments in hell a fiery lake to show the fierceness of them Fire is the most torturing Element Strabo in his Geography mentions a Lake in Galilee of such a pestiferous nature that it scaldeth off the skin of whatsoever is cast into it But alas that Lake is cool compared with this fiery Lake into which the damned are thrown To demonstrate this fire terrible there are two most pernicious qualities in it 1. It is Sulphureous it is mixed with brimstone Revel 21. 8. which is unsavoury and suffocating 2. It is unextinguishable though the wicked shall be choaked in the flames yet not consumed Revel 20. 10. And the Devil was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the Beast and the False Prophet are and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever Behold the deplorable condition of all ungodly ones in the other world they shall have a life that always dies and a death that always lives May not this affright men out of their sins and make them become godly unless they are resolved to try how hot hell fire is 2. What rare persons the godly are Pro. 12. 26. The righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour As the Flower of the Sun as the Wine of Lebanon as the sparkling upon Aarons Breast-plate such is the Orient splendor of a person imbellished with godliness The exceâ—lency of the persons of the godly appears in seven particulars 1. They are precious therefore they are set apart for God Psal. 4. 3. Know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself We set apart things that are precious the godly are set apart as Gods peculiar treasure Psa. 135. 4. As his garden of delight Cant. 4. 12. As his Royal Diadem Isa. 62. 3. The godly are the excellent of the earth Psa. 16. 2. Comparable to fine gold Lam. 4. 2. Double refined Zach. 13. 9. They are the glory of the Creation Isa. 46. 13. Origen compares the Saints to Saphires and Christal God calls them Iewels Mal. 3. 17. They are so 1. For their value Diamonds saith Pliny were not known a long time but among Princes and were hung upon their Diadem God doth so value his people that he will give Kingdomes for their ransome Isa. 43. 5. He laid his best Jewel to pawn for them Ioh. 3. 6. 2. They are Jewels for their lustre If one Pearl of grace doth shine so bright that it doth delight Christs heart Cant. 4. 9. Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes that is one of thy Graces Then how illustrious are all the Graces met in a Constellation 2. The godly are honourable Isa. 43. 4. Thou
himself By virtue of this Sacrifice the soul may go to God with boldness Lord give me heaven Christ hath purchased it for me he hung upon the Cross that I might sit upon the Throne Christs Bloud and Incense are the two hinges on which our Salvation turns 3. Christs Regal Office is precious Rev. 19. 16. He hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Christ hath a preheminence above all other Kings for Majesty he hath the highest Throne the richest Crown the largest Dominions and the longest possession Heb. 1. 8. Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever Though Christ hath many Assessors Ephes. 2. 6. yet no Successors Christ sets up his Scepter where no other King doth he rules the will and affections his power binds the Conscience The Angels take the oath of Allegiance to him Heb. 1. 6. Christs Kingship is seen in two Royal Acts. 1. In ruling his people 2. In over-ruling his Enemies 1. In ruling his people He rules with Clemency his Regal Rod hath honey at the end of it Christ displays the Ensign of Mercy which makes so many Volunteers run to his Standard Psal. 110. 3. Holiness without Mercy and Justice without Mercy were dreadful but Mercy encourageth poor sinners to trust in him 2. In over-ruling his Enemies He pulls down their pride befools their policy restrains their malice Psalm 76. 10. The remainder of wrath thou shalt restrain Or as it is in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou shalt girdle up That stone cut out of the Moutains without hands which smote the Image Dan. 2. 34. was an Embleme saith Austin of Christs Monarchical power conquering and triumphing over his Enemies 3. Christ is precious in his benefits by Christ all dangers are removed through Christ all mercies are conveyed in his bloud flows Justification Act. 3. 9. Purgation Heb. 9. 14. Fructification Ioh. 1. 16. Pacification Rom. 5. 1. Adoption Gal. 4. 5. Perseverance Heb. 12. 2. Glorification Heb. 9. 12. This will be matter of sublimest joy to Eternity We read that those who had passed over the Sea of Glass stood with their Harps and did sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb Revel 15. 2. So when the Saints of God have passed over the glassie Sea of this world they shall sing Hallelujahs to the Lamb who hath redeemed them from sin and hell and hath translated them into that glorious Paradise where they shall see God for ever and ever 2. The second thing to be illustrated is that every godly man doth set an high value and estimate upon Christ 1 Pet. 2. 7. Unto you therefore who believe he is precious In the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an honour Believers have an honourable esteem of Christ the Psalmist speaks like one captivated with Christs amazing beauty Psalm 73. 25. There is none upon earth that I desire besides thee He did not say he had nothing he had many comforts on earth but he desired none but God as if a wife should say there 's no ones company she prizeth like her husbands How did David prize Christ Psa. 45. 2. Thou art fairer than the children of men The Spouse in the Canticles looked upon Christ as the Coriphoeus the most incomparable one Cant. 5. 10. The chief among ten thousand Christ out-vies all others Cant. 2. 3. As the appletree among the trees of the wood so is my beloved among the sons Christ doth infinitely more excel all the beauties and glories of this visible world than the appletree doth surpass the trees of the wild Forrest So did Paul prize Christ that he made him his chief study 1 Cor. 2. 2. I determined to know nothing among you save Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I judged not any thing else of worth St. Paul did best know Christ 1 Cor. 9. 1. Have I not seen Iesus our Lord He saw him with his bodily eyes in a Vision when he was wrap'd up into the third heaven 2 Cor. 12. 2. and he saw him with the eye of his faith in the blessed Supper therefore he did best know him and behold how he did slight and vili-prize other things in comparison of Christ Phil. 3. 8. I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord. Gain he esteemed loss and gold dung for Christ. Indeed a godly person cannot chuse but set an high valuation upon Christ he sees a fulness of worth in him 1. A fulness in regard of variety Col. 2. 3. In whom are hid all treasures No Country hath all commodities of its own growth but Christ hath all kind of fulness fulness of Merit of Spirit of Love he hath a treasure adequate to all our wants 2. A fulness in regard of degree Christ hath not only a few drops or rays but is more full of goodness than the Sun is of light he hath the fulness of the Godhead Col. 2. 9. 3. A fulness in regard of duration The fulness in the creature like the brooks of Arabia is soon dried up but Christs fulness is inexhaustible 't is a fulness over-flowing and ever-flowing And this fulness is for Believers Christ is Communis Thesaurus as Luther saith a common Treasury or Magazine for the Saints Ioh. 1. 16. Of his fulness have we all received Set a glass under a Still and it receives water out of the Still drop by drop So those who are united to Christ have the dews and drops of his grace distilling upon them Well then may Christ be admired of all them that believe Use 1. Is a godly man an high prizer of Christ then what is to be thought of them who do not put a value upon Christ are they godly or no There are four sorts of persons who do not prize Christ. 1. The Iews They believe not in Christ 2 Cor. 3. 15. Unto this day the vail is upon their heart They expect their saeculum futurum a Messiah yet to come as their own Talmud reports they blaspheme Christ they slight righteousness imputed They despise the Virgin Mary calling her in derision Marah which signifieth bitterness They vilifie the Gospel they deny the Christian Sabbath they have the Christians in abomination they hold it not lawful for a Jew to take physick of a Christian. Schecardus relates of one Bendema a Jew that being stung with a Serpent a Christian came to heal him but he refused his help and chose rather to die than to be healed by a Christian So do the Iews hate Christ and all that wear his Livery 2. The Socinians who acknowledge only Christs Humanity this is to make him below the Angels for the Humane Nature simply considered is inferiour to the Angelical Psa. 8. 5. 3. Proud Professors who do not lay the whole stress of their Salvation upon Christ but would mingle their dross with his gold their duties
godly man loves the Word written Chrysostom compares the Scripture to a garden set with knots and flowers A godly man delights to walk in this garden and sweetly solace himself he loves every branch and parcel of the Word 1. He loves the counselling part of the Word as it is a Directory and Rule of life The Word is the Mercurial Statue which points us to our duty it contains in it credendae and facâ—enda things to be believed and practised A godly man loves the Aphorismes of the Word 2. A godly man loves the Minatory part of the Word The Scripture like the Garden of Eden as it hath a Tree of Life in it so it hath a Flaming Sword at the Gates of it this is the threatning of the Word it flasheth fire in the face of every person that goes on obstinately in wickedness Psal. 68. 21. God shall wound the hairy scalp of such an one as goes on still in his trespasses The Word gives no indulgence to evil it will not let a man halt between God and Sin The true Mother would not let the Childe be divided and God will not have the heart divided The Word thunders out threatnings against the very appearance of evil it is like that flying Roll full of curses Zac. 5. 1. A godly man loves the menaces of the Word he knows there is love in every threatning God would not have us perish therefore doth mercifully threaten us that he may scare us from sin Gods threatnings are as the Sea-mark which shows the Rocks in the Sea and threatneth death to such as come neer the threatning is a curbing bit to check us that we may not run in a full careir to hell there is mercy in every threatning 3. A godly man loves the consolatory part of the Word the Promises he goes feeding upon these as Sampson went on his way eating the honey-comb Iudg. 14. 8. The Promises are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all marrow and sweetness they are our Bezar-stone when we are fainting they are the conduits of the Water of Life Psal. 94. 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my Soul The Promises were Davids Harp to drive away sad thoughts they were the breast which milked out Divine Consolation to him A godly man shows his love to the Word written 1. By diligent reading of it The Noble Bereans did search the Scriptures daily Act. 17. 11. Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures Act. 18. 24. The Word is our Magna Charta for heaven we should be daily reading over this Charter The Word is index sui obliqui it shows what is truth and what is error it is the field where the Pearl of Price is hid How should we dig for this Pearl A godly mans heart is the Library to hold the Word of God it dwells richly in him Col. 3. 16. It is reported of Melancthon that when he was young he carried the Bible always about him and did greedily read in it The Word hath a double work to teach us and to judge us They that will not be taught by the Word shall be judged by the Word Oh let us make the Scripture familiar to us What if it should be as in the â—imes of Dioclesian who commanded by Proclamation the Bible to be burned or as in Queen Maries daies wherein it was death to have a Bible in English by diligent conversing with Scripture we may carry a Bible in our head 2. A godly man shows his love to the Word by frequent meditating in it Psalm 119. 97. It is my meditation all the day A pious Soul meditates of the Verity and Sanctity of the Word he hath not only a few transient thoughts but lays his mind a steeping in the Scripture by meditation he suckâ— from this sweet flower and concocts holy truths in his mind 3. He shows his love to the Word by delighting in it it is his recreation Ier. 15. 16. Thy wordâ— were found and I did eat them and thy Word waâ— unto me the Ioy and rejoycing of my heart Never did a man take such delight in a dish that he loved as the Prophet did in the Word And indeed how can a Saint chuse but take great complacency in the Word because all that ever he hopes to be worth is contained in it Doth not a son take pleasure in reading over his Fathers Will and Testament where he makes a conveyance of his Estate to him 4. He shows his love to the Word by hiding it Psal. 119. 11. Thy Word have I hid in my heart As one hides a treasure that it should not be stoln away The Word is the Jewel the heart is the Cabinet where it must be locked up Many hide the Word in their memory but not in their heart And why would David inclose the Word in his heart That I might be kept from sinning against thee As one would carry an Antidote about him when he comes neer an infected place so a godly man carries the Word in his heart as a spiritual antidote to preserve him from the infection of sin Why have so many been poysoned with error others with moral vice but because they have not hid the Word as an holy antidote in their heart 5. He shows his love to the Word by desending it A wise man will not let his Land be taken from him but will defend his Title David looked upon the Word as his Land of Inheritance Psal. 119. 111. Thy Testimonies have I taken as an Heritage for ever And do you think he would let his Inheritance be wrested out of his hands A godly man will not only dispute for the Word but die for it Rev. 6. 9. I saw under the Altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God 6. He shows his love to the Word by preferring it above things most precious 1. Above food Iob 23. 12. I have â—esteemed the words of his mouth above my necessary food â— Above riches Psal. 119. 72. The Law of thy mouth is better unto me then thousands of gold and silver 3. Above worldly honor Memorable is the story of King Edward the Sixth who upon the day of his Coronation when they presented before him three Swords signifying to him that he was Monarch of three Kingdomes the King said there is yet one Sword wanting being asked what that was he answered the Holy Bible which is the sword of the Spirit and is to be preferred before these Ensigns of Royalty 7. He shows his love to the Word by talking of it Psal. 119. 172. My tongue shall speak of thy Word As a covetous man is talking of his rich purchase so a godly man is speaking of the Word what a treasure it is how full of beauty and suavity they whose mouths the Devil hath gagg'd who never speak of Gods Word it is a sign they never reaped any good by it 8. He shows his