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- Herausgeber: Charles River Editors
- Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
- Sprache: Englisch
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Seitenzahl: 203
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018
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THE GREAT GAIN OF GODLINESS
Thomas Watson
KYPROS PRESS
Thank you for reading. In the event that you appreciate this book, please consider sharing the good word(s) by leaving a review, or connect with the author.
This book is a work of nonfiction and is intended to be factually accurate.
All rights reserved. Aside from brief quotations for media coverage and reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form without the author’s permission. Thank you for supporting authors and a diverse, creative culture by purchasing this book and complying with copyright laws.
Copyright © 2016 by Thomas Watson
Interior design by Pronoun
Distribution by Pronoun
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Great Gain of Godliness
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
THE GREAT GAIN OF GODLINESS
PART 1
Christian Reader,
“Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.” Ecclesiastes 12:12. Books are the “children of the brain”. In this writing age, when they are brought forth ad nauseam, I intended that my pen should have been silent—but the variety and weightiness of this subject, as also the desire of some friends, did prevail with me to publish it. The main design of this excellent Scripture, is to encourage solid piety, and confute the atheists of the world, who imagine there is no gain in godliness. It was the speech of King Saul to his servants, “Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards?” (1 Samuel 22:7). Will the world or men’s lusts give them such noble recompenses of reward—as God bestows upon his followers! Surely, it is holiness which carries away the garland!
As for this treatise, it comes abroad in a plain dress: truth like a diamond—shines brightest in its native luster! Paul did not come to the Corinthians with excellency of speech, or the pride of oratory—his study was not to court—but convert. It is an unhappiness that, in these luxuriant times, religion should for the most part run either into notion or ceremony; the spirits of true religion are evaporated. When knowledge is turned into soul food, and digested into practice—then it is saving. That God would accompany these few imperfect lines with the operation and benediction of his Holy Spirit, and make them edifying—is the prayer of him who is
Yours in all Christian service,
Thomas Watson, London, November 22, 1681
“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and thought upon His name. “They will be mine,” says the Lord Almighty, “in the day when I make up My jewels! I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” Malachi 3:16-18
The “scripture of truth” is the ground of faith. This portion of Scripture which now presents itself to our view, has its sacred elegancies, and is all glorious within. It was composed by Malachi, whose name means “messenger”. He came as an ambassador from the God of heaven. This prophet was so famous that Origen and others injudiciously supposed him to be an angel. He lived after the building of the second temple, and was contemporary with Haggai and Zechariah.
This blessed prophet lifted up his voice like a trumpet, and told the Jewish nation of their sins. He was the last trumpet that sounded in the Old Testament. In the words of the text are these parts:
Part I. The character of the Godly
1. In general, they were fearers of God: “those who feared the Lord.”
2. In particular—
a. They spoke often one to another.
b. They thought upon God’s Name.
Part II. The Great Gain of their Godliness
1. The Lord regarded it—"the Lord listened and heard.”
2. The Lord recorded it—"a book of remembrance was written.
3. The Lord rewarded it. This reward consisted in three things:
a. God’s owning them: “They will be mine.”
b. God’s honoring them: “In the day when I make up my jewels.”
c. God’s sparing them: “I will spare them.”
Before I come to the several parts distinctly, note the connective word standing at the beginning of the text which may not be omitted, namely, the word THEN. “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other . . .” Then, that is, after Israel’s return from the Babylonian captivity; then, when the major part of the people grew corrupt, and came out of the furnace worse than they went in! In this bad juncture of time, then those who feared the Lord spoke often one to another.
Hence observe—that the profaneness of the times should not slacken our zeal—but heighten it. The looser others are—the stricter we should be. In those degenerate times when men were arrived at the peak and height of impudence, and dared to speak treason against heaven—then those who feared the Lord spoke often one to another. When others were plaintiffs—these were defendants; when others spoke against God—these spoke for God.
In Noah’s days all flesh had corrupted itself (the old world was drowned in sin—before it was drowned in water). Now at this time, Noah was perfect in his generation, and Noah walked with God (Gen. 6:9). He was the phoenix of his age. Athanasius stood up in the defense of the truth when the world had turned Arian. The more outrageous others are in sin—the more courageous we should be for truth! When the atheists said, “It is vain to serve God,” then those who feared the Lord spoke often one to another.
Why should we be holiest in evil times?
1. Because of the divine injunction. God charges us to be singular (Matt. 5:47), to be circumspect (Eph. 5:15), to be separate from idolaters (2 Cor. 6:17), to shine as lights in the dark world (Phil. 2:15). He forbids us to join together with sinners, or do as they do. The way to hell is a well-trodden road, and the Lord calls to us to turn out of the road: “You shall not follow a multitude to do evil” (Exod. 23:2). This is sufficient reason to keep ourselves pure in a time of common infection. As God’s Word is our rule—so his will is our warrant.
2. To be holiest in evil times, is an indication of the truth of grace. To profess religion when the times favor it, is no great matter. Almost all will court the Gospel Queen when she is hung with jewels. But to own the ways of God when they are decried and maligned, to love a persecuted truth—this evidences a vital principle of goodness. Dead fish swim down the stream—living fish swim against it. To swim against the common stream of evil, shows grace to be alive. The prophet Elijah continuing zealous for the Lord Almighty, when they had dug down God’s altars—showed his heart and lips had been touched with a coal from the altar.
Use 1. See hence how unworthy they are of the name of Christians, who use sinful compliance, and cut the garment of their religion according to the mode and fashion of the times. They do not consult what is best—but what is safest. Complying spirits can truckle to the desires of others; they can bow either to the East or to the West; they prefer a whole skin before a pure conscience. They can, with the planet Mercury, vary their motion; they can, as the mariner, shift their sail with every wind and, as the mongrel Israelites, speak the language of both Canaan and Ashdod. These are like the Samaritans of whom Josephus says, when the Jews flourished they pretended to he akin to them—but when the Jews were persecuted, they disclaimed kindred with them. The old serpent has taught men crooked windings, and to be for that religion which does not have truth on its side—but worldly power.
Use 2. Let us keep up the vigor of our zeal, in degenerate times. We should by a holy contrariness—burn hotter in a frozen age. We live in the dregs of time; sin is grown common and impudent. It is excellent to walk contrary to the world, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world!” (Romans 12:2). Let us be as lilies and roses among the briars. Sin is never the better, because it is in fashion! Nor will this plea hold at the last day—that we did as the most did. God will say, Seeing you sinned with the multitude—you shall go to hell with the multitude! Oh, let us keep pure among the dregs; let us be like fish that retain their freshness in salt waters; and as that lamp which shone in the smoking furnace (Gen. 15:17).
1. Consider—To be holy in times of general defection, is that with which God is greatly pleased. The Lord was much delighted with the holy conferences and dialogues of these saints in the text. When others were inveighing against God, that there should be a remnant of holy souls speaking of glory and the life to come—their words were music in God’s ears!
2. Consider—To keep up a spirit in holiness in an adulterous generation is a Christian’s honor. This was the glory of the church of Pergamum, that she held fast Christ’s name—even where Satan’s seat was (Rev. 2:13). The impiety of the times, is a foil to set off grace all the more, and give it a greater luster. Then a Christian is most lovely, when he is (as Ambrose says) like the cypress, which keeps its verdure and freshness in the winter season. “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright” (Psalm 37:37). An upright man is always worth beholding—but then he is most to be admired when like a bright star, he shines in the dark, and having lost all, he holds fast his integrity.
3. Consider—To be godly in a profligate age does much to animate weak beginners; it strengthens feeble knees(Isaiah 35:3) and shores up those temples of the Holy Spirit which are ready to fall. One man’s zeal is a burning torch for others to catch fire at. How did the constancy of the martyrs inflame the love of many to the truth! Though only Christ’s blood saves—yet the blood of martyrs may strengthen. Paul’s prison chain made converts in Nero’s court, two of whom were afterwards martyrs, as history relates. Mr. Bradford’s holy advice and example, so confirmed Bishop Ferrar, that he would not touch the Roman pollution.
4. Consider—How sad will it be for professors to fall off from their former profession, and espouse a novel religion. Julian bathed himself in the blood of beasts offered in sacrifice to the heathen gods, and so as much as lay in him washed off his former baptism. In the time of Julius Caesar this astonishing thing happened: after a plentiful vintage, wild grapes appeared upon their vines, which was looked upon as an ominous sign. When men seemed to bring forth the fruits of righteousness, and afterwards bring forth the wild grapes of impiety—it is a sad omen and prognostic of their ruin! “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment (2 Pet. 2:21). Let all this make us maintain the power of holiness in the worst times. Though others wonder we do not sin after the rate that they do—yet remember, it is better to go to heaven with a few than to hell in the crowd. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.
Question: How may we keep up the briskness and fervor of grace, in times of apostasy?
Answer 1. Let us beware of having our hearts too much linked to the world. The world damps zeal—as earth chokes the fire. We are bid to love our enemies; but the world is such an enemy as we must not love, “Do not love the world or anything in the world.” (1 John 2:15). The world bewitches with her blandishments, and kills with her silver darts! He who is a Demas—will be a Judas! A lover of the world will, for a piece of money, betray a holy cause, and make shipwreck of a good conscience.
Answer 2. Let us be volunteers in piety; that is, choose God’s service; “I have chosen the way of truth” (Psalm 119:30). It is one thing to be good, with a holy end in view. Hypocrites are good only out of worldly design. They embrace the gospel for secular advantage, and these will in time, fall away. It is fabled that the Chelidonian stone keeps its virtue no longer than it is enclosed in gold; take it out of the gold, and it loses its virtue. False hearts are good no longer than they are enclosed in golden prosperity; take them out of the gold and they lose all their seeming goodness. But if we would retain our sanctity in backsliding times we must serve God purely out of choice. He who is godly out of choice, loves holiness for its beauty, and adheres to the gospel, when all the jewels of preferment are pulled off.
Answer 3. Let us be inlaid with sincerity. If a piece of timber begins to bend, it is because it is not sound. Why do any bend and comply against their conscience—but because their hearts are not sound. “Their hearts were insincere toward Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant.” (Psalm 78:37). Sincerity causes stability. When the apostle exhorts to stand fast in the evil day, among the rest of the Christian armor, he bids them put on the belt of truth, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” (Eph. 6:14). The belt of truth is nothing else but sincerity.
Answer 4. Let us get love to Christ. Love is a holy fuel. It fires the affections, steels the courage, and carries a Christian above the love of life, and the fear of death. Many waters cannot quench love (Song of Solomon 8:7). Love made Christ suffer for us. If anyone asks what Christ died of, it may be answered, “He died of love!” If we love Christ—we will own him in the worst times, and be like that virgin of whom Basil speaks who, not accepting deliverance upon sinful terms, cried out, “Let life and money go! Welcome Christ!”
Answer 5. If we would keep up the sprightly vigor of grace in evil times, let us harden our hearts against the taunts and reproaches of the wicked. David was the song of the drunkards (Psalm 69:12). A Christian is never the worse for reproach. The stars are not the less glorious, though they have ugly names given them, the Bear, the Dragon, etc. Reproaches are but splinters of the cross. How will he endure the stake—who cannot bear a scoff? Reproaches for Christ, are ensigns of honor, and badges of adoption (1 Peter 4:14). Let Christians bind these reproaches, as a crown about their head. Better have men reproach you for being godly—than have God damn you for being wicked! Be not laughed out of your religion. If a lame man laughs at you for walking upright—will you therefore limp?
Answer 6. If we would keep up the vigor of devotion during evil times, let us beg God for confirming grace.Habitual grace may flag; Peter had habitual grace—yet was foiled; he lost a single battle, though not the victory. We need exciting, assisting, sustaining grace; not only grace in us—but grace with us (1 Cor. 15:10). Sustaining grace (which is a fresh gale of the Spirit) will carry us undauntedly through the world’s blustering storms. Thus shall we be able to keep up our heroic zeal in corrupt times, and be as Mount Zion—which cannot be moved.
Part I. The character of the Godly
Having done with the frontispiece of the text, I begin, in the first place, with the character in general of the godly: they are fearers of God, “Those who feared the Lord”. What fear is meant here? Considered negatively:
1. It is not meant of a natural fear, which is a tremor or palpitation of heart, occasioned by the approach of some imminent danger. “They are afraid of dangers on the road” (Eccles. 12:5).
2. It is not meant of a sinful fear, which is twofold:
A superstitious fear. A black cat crossing the path, is by some more dreaded than a harlot lying in the bed.
A carnal fear. This is the fever of the soul which sets it a shaking. He who is timorous, will be treacherous; he will decoy his friend, and deny his God. Three times in one chapter Christ cautions us against the fear of men, (Matthew 10:26-31). Aristotle says that the reason why the chameleon turns into so many colors, is through excessive fear. Fear makes men change their religion as the chameleon does her colors!
A carnal fear is EXCRUCIATING, “fear has torment in it.” (1 John 4:18).The Greek word for torment is sometimes put for hell (Matt. 25:46). Fear has hell in it.
A carnal fear is PERNICIOUS. It indisposes for duty. The disciples, under the power of fear, were fitter to flee than to pray, (Matthew 26:56), and it puts men upon sinful means to save themselves: “The fear of man brings a snare!” (Proverbs 29:25). What made Peter deny Christ, and Origen sprinkle incense before the idol—but fear?
Considered positively, the fear meant in the text is a divine fear, which is the reverencing and adoring of God’s holiness, and the setting of ourselves always under his sacred inspection. The infinite distance between God and us causes this fear.
When God’s glory began to shine out upon the Mount, Moses said, “I exceedingly fear and quake!” (Heb. 12:21). Such as approach God’s presence with light feathery hearts, and worship him in a crude, careless manner—have none of this fear.
“Those who feared the Lord”. In the words are two parts.
1. The Act—fear.
2. The Object—the Lord.
“Those who feared the Lord”. The fear of God is the sum of all true true religion. “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13 ). Fear is the leading grace, the first seed which God sows in the heart. When a Christian can say little of faith, and perhaps nothing of assurance, yet he dares not deny that he fears God (Neh. 1:11). God is so great—that the Christian is afraid of displeasing him; and so good—that he is afraid of losing him.
Doctrine: It is an indispensable duty incumbent on Christians, to be fearers of God. “Fear God!” (Eccles. 5:7). “That you may fear the glorious and awesome name of the Lord your God!” (Deut. 28:58). This fear of God, is the very foundation of a saint. One can no more act as a Christian without the fear of God—than he can act as a man without reason. This holy fear is the fixed temper and complexion of the soul; this fear is not servile—but filial. There is a difference between fearing God, and being afraid of God. The godly fear God as a child does his father; the wicked are afraid of God as the prisoner is of the judge! This divine fear will appear admirable if you consider how it is mixed and interwoven with several of the graces.
1. The fear of God is mixed with LOVE (Psalm 145:19, 20)
The chaste spouse fears to displease her husband, because she loves him. There is a necessity that fear and love should be in conjunction. Love is as the sails to make swift the soul’s motion; and fear is as the ballast to keep it steady in true religion. Love will be apt to grow wanton, unless it is counter-balanced with fear.
2. The fear of God is mixed with FAITH. “By faith Noah, moved with holy fear, prepared an ark” (Hebrews 11:7). When the soul looks either to God’s holiness, or its own sinfulness—it fears. But it is a fear mixed with faith in Christ’s merits; the soul trembles—yet trusts. Like a ship which lies at anchor, though it shakes with the wind, yet it is fixed at anchor. God in great wisdom couples these two graces of faith and fear. Fear preserves seriousness, faith preserves cheerfulness. Fear is as lead to the net—to keep a Christian from floating in presumption; and faith is as cork to the net—to keep him from sinking in despair.
3. The fear of God is mixed with PRUDENCE. He who fears God has the serpent’s eye in the dove’s head. He foresees and avoids those rocks upon which others run. “A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” (Proverbs 22:3). Though divine fear does not make a person cowardly—it makes him cautious.
4. The fear of God is mixed with HOPE. “The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love” (Psalm 33:18). One would think that fear would destroy hope—but it nourishes it. Fear is to hope, as the oil to the lamp—it keeps it burning. The more we fear God’s justice—the more we may hope in his mercy. Indeed, such as have no fear of God do sometimes hope—but it is not “good hope through grace” (2 Thess. 5:26). Sinners pretend to have the “helmet of hope” (1 Thess. 5:8)—but lack the “breastplate of righteousness” (Eph. 6:14).
5. The fear of God is mixed with INDUSTRY. “Noah, moved with holy fear, prepared an ark” (Hebrews 11:7). There is a carnal fear, which represents God as a severe Judge. This takes the soul off from duty, “I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground” (Matthew 25:25).
But there is also a fear of diligence. A Christian fears—and prays; fears—and repents. Fear quickens industry. The spouse, fearing lest the bridegroom should come before she is dressed, hastens and puts on her jewels, that she may be ready to meet him. Fear causes a watchful eye—and a working hand. Fear banishes sloth out of its diocese. “The greatest labor in true religion,” says holy fear, “is far less than the least pain the damned feel in hell.” There is no greater spur in the heavenly race—than the fear of God.
The REASONS enforcing this holy fear of God, include the following:
1. God’s eye is always upon us. He who is under the eye of his earthly prince, will he careful of doing anything which would offend him. “Does He not see my ways and number all my steps?” (Job 31:4). God sees in the dark: “Even the darkness is not dark to You. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to You” (Psalm 139:12). The night is no curtain, the clouds are no canopy—to hinder or intercept God’s sight. God sees the heart. An earthly judge can judge of the fact—but God judges of the heart. “I, the Lord, examine the mind, I test the heart!” (Jeremiah 17:10). He is like Ezekiel’s wheels, “full of eyes.” God is all eye! Should not this make us walk with fear and circumspection? We cannot sin—but our judge looks on!
2. God interprets our not fearing of Him—as a slighting of Him. As not to praise God is to wrong him—so not to fear God is to slight him. Of all things, a person can least endure to he slighted: “Why has the wicked despised God?” (Psalm 10:13). For a worm to slight its Maker causes the fury to rise up in God’s face! “My fury will flare up!” (Ezekiel 38:18).
3. God has power to destroy us. “Fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell!” (Matthew 10:28). God can look
