Section 5
5. A godly man is very exact and curious about the Worship of God; the Greek word for godly signifies a right Worshipper of God. A godly man does reverence Divine Institutions, and is more for the Purity of Worship than the Pomp: Mixture in sacred things is like a dash in the wine, which though it gives it a color, yet does but adulterate it. The Lord would have Moses make the Tabernacle according to the pattern in the Mount, Exodus 25. 40. If Moses had left out anything in the pattern, or added anything to it, it would have been very provoking. The Lord has always given testimonies of his displeasure against such as have corrupted his Worship: Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire, (other than God had sanctified on the Altar) and fire went out from the Lord, and devoured them, Leviticus 10. 1. Whatsoever is not of God's own appointment in his Worship, that he looks upon as strange fire; and no wonder he is so highly incensed at it; for as if God were not wise enough to appoint the manner how he will be served. Men will go to prescribe him, and as if the rules for his Worship were defective, they will attempt to mend the Copy, and superadd their inventions.
A godly man dares not vary from the Pattern which God has shown him in the Scripture; and probably this might not be the least reason, why David was called a man after God's own heart, because he kept the springs of God's Worship pure, and in matters sacred, did not superinduce anything of his own devising.
Use. By this Character we may try ourselves, whether we are godly: Are we tender about the things of God? Do we observe that mode of worship, which has the stamp of Divine Authority upon it? It is of dangerous consequence to make a medley in Religion.
1. Those who will add to one part of God's Worship, will be as ready to take away from another, Mark 7. 8. Laying aside the Commandment of God, ye hold the Traditions of men. They who will bring in a Tradition, will in time lay aside a Command; This the Papists are highly guilty of; they bring in Altars and Crucifixes, and lay aside the second Commandment: They bring in Oil and Cream in Baptism, and leave out the Cup in the Lord's Supper; they bring in praying for the dead, and lay aside reading the Scriptures intelligibly to the living: They who will introduce that into God's Worship which he has not commanded, will be as ready to blot out that which he has commanded.
2. Those who are for outward commixtures in God's Worship, are usually regardless of the Vitals of Religion; living by Faith, leading a strict mortified life, these things are less minded by them: Wasps have their Combs, but no honey in them; the Religion of many may be likened to those ears which run all into straw.
3. Superstition and Profaneness kiss each other: Has it not been known that those who have kneeled at a Pillar, have reeled against a Post.
4. Such as are devoted to Superstition, are seldom or never converted, Matthew 21. 31. Publicans and Harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you: It was spoken to the Chief Priests, who were high Formalists; and the reason why such persons are seldom wrought upon savingly, is, because they have a secret antipathy against the power of godliness. The Snake is of a fine color, but it has a sting; so outwardly men may look zealous and devout, but retain a sting of hatred in their hearts against goodness. Hence it is, that they who have been most hot for superstition, have been most hot for persecution. The Church of Rome wears white linen, (an Emblem of Innocence) but the Spirit of God paints her out in Scarlet, Revelation 17. 4. Whence is this? Not only because she puts on a scarlet robe, but because her body is of a scarlet dye, having embrued her hands in the blood of the Saints, Revelation 17. 6.
Let us then, as we would demonstrate ourselves godly, keep close to the rule of Worship, and in the things of Jehovah, go no further than we can say, it is written.
5. A godly man is very careful and precise about how he worships God. The Greek word for godly literally means a right worshiper of God. A godly man honors God's ordained ways of worship, and values purity of worship over pomp. Adding human inventions to sacred worship is like diluting wine — it may give it a color, but it only corrupts it. God commanded Moses to build the tabernacle according to the pattern shown on the mountain, as Exodus 25:40 says. If Moses had left anything out or added anything to that pattern, it would have been a grave offense. The Lord has always shown His displeasure against those who corrupt His worship. Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire — fire other than what God had consecrated on the altar — and fire came out from the Lord and consumed them, as Leviticus 10:1 records. Whatever is not appointed by God in His worship, He regards as strange fire. No wonder He is so deeply offended — as though He were not wise enough to determine how He will be served. Yet people presume to prescribe to Him, and as though the rules for His worship were lacking, they attempt to improve on God's design and add their own inventions.
A godly man dares not depart from the pattern God has shown him in Scripture. This may well have been one reason why David was called a man after God's own heart — because he kept the springs of God's worship pure and did not introduce anything of his own invention into sacred matters.
Application: This characteristic can help us test ourselves as to whether we are truly godly. Are we careful about the things of God? Do we practice that form of worship which carries God's own authority? It is a dangerous thing to mix and blend in matters of religion.
1. Those who will add to one part of God's worship will be just as ready to remove from another. Mark 7:8: Setting aside the commandment of God, you hold to the traditions of men. Those who bring in a human tradition will in time set aside a divine command. This is exactly what the Roman Catholics are deeply guilty of — they bring in altars and crucifixes and set aside the second commandment. They introduce oil and cream into baptism, then leave out the cup in the Lord's Supper. They bring in prayers for the dead and remove the intelligible reading of Scripture to the living. Those who will insert into God's worship what He has not commanded will be just as ready to erase what He has commanded.
2. Those who favor adding outward human inventions to God's worship are usually indifferent to the heart of religion. Living by faith, living a disciplined and self-denying life — these things receive little attention from them. Wasps build their combs but have no honey in them. The religion of many people is like grain that runs all to stalk with no fruit.
3. Superstition and ungodliness tend to go hand in hand. It has been observed that those who have been most devout at religious pillars have often been found reeling against the wall in drunkenness.
4. Those devoted to superstition are seldom if ever truly converted. Matthew 21:31: Tax collectors and prostitutes enter the kingdom of God before you. This was spoken to the chief priests, who were the most rigid practitioners of formal religion. The reason such people are rarely brought to saving grace is that they harbor a secret hatred toward the power of true godliness. A snake may be beautifully colored, but it carries a sting — in the same way, people may appear outwardly zealous and devout while harboring a sting of hatred in their hearts against genuine goodness. This is why those who have been most passionate for superstition have also been most eager for persecution. The Church of Rome wears white linen — a symbol of innocence — but the Spirit of God paints her in scarlet, as Revelation 17:4 says. Why? Not only because she dresses in scarlet, but because her very nature is scarlet-dyed, having stained her hands with the blood of the saints, as Revelation 17:6 shows.
Let us then, if we would show ourselves godly, keep close to the rule of worship, and in the things of God, go no further than we can say, it is written.
