Section 24

24 He who is godly, labors to be an instrument of making others godly. He is not content to go to heaven alone, but would bring others there. Spiders work only for themselves, but Bees work for others. A godly man is both a Diamond and a Loadstone; a Diamond for the sparkling luster of grace, and a Loadstone for his attractiveness, he is ever drawing others to the embracing of Piety. Living things have a propagating virtue; where Religion lives in the heart, there will be an endeavor to propagate the life of grace, in those we converse with, Philemon verse 10. My son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds. Though God be the fountain of grace, yet the Saints are pipes to transmit living streams to others. This thirsty endeavor after the conversion of souls, proceeds,

1 From the nature of Godliness. It is like fire, which assimilates and turns everything into its own nature. Where there is the fire of grace in the heart, it will endeavor to inflame others. Grace is a holy leaven, which will be seasoning and leavening others with divine principles. Paul would fain have converted Agrippa. How did he court him with Rhetoric? Acts 26 verse 27. King Agrippa, believest thou the Prophets? I know that thou believest: his Zeal and Eloquence had almost captivated the King, verse 28. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

2 A godly man attempts the conversion of others, out of a spirit of compassion. Grace makes the heart tender. A godly man cannot choose but pity such as are in the gall of bitterness. He sees what a deadly cup is brewing for the wicked. They must without repentance, be bound over to God's wrath. The fire which rained on Sodom, was but a painted fire, in comparison of hell-fire. This is a fire with a vengeance, Jude 7. Suffering the Vengeance of eternal fire. Now, a godly man seeing captive Sinners ready to be damned, labors to convert them from the error of their way, 2 Corinthians 5 verse 11. Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.

3 A godly man endeavors the good of others, out of a holy zeal he bears to Christ's glory. The glory of Christ is dear to him, as his own salvation. Therefore that this may be promoted, he labors Summo conatu, to bring in souls to Christ.

'Tis a glory to Christ, when multitudes are born to him. Every star adds a luster to the sky, every convert, is a member added to Christ's body, and a jewel adorning his Crown. Though Christ's glory cannot be increased, as he is God, yet as he is Mediator, it may. The more are saved, the more Christ is exalted. Why else should the Angels rejoice at the Conversion of a Sinner? But because now Christ's glory shines the more.

Use 1. This excludes them from the number of godly, who are spiritual Eunuchs, they labor not to promote the Salvation of others. Nascitur indignè per quem non nascitur alter.—

Did men love Christ, they would endeavor to draw as many as they could to him. He who loves his Captain, will persuade others to come under his Banner. This unmasks the hypocrite. Though an hypocrite may make a show of Grace himself, yet he never minds the procuring Grace in others. He is without bowels. I may allude to that, Zechariah 11 verse 9. That which dies, let it die, and that which is cut off, let it be cut off. Let souls go to the Devil, he cares not.

2. How far are they from being godly, who instead of endeavoring Grace in others, labor to destroy all hopeful beginnings of Grace in them? Instead of drawing them to Christ, they draw them from Christ. Their work is to poison and mischief souls. This mischieving of souls is three ways.

1. By evil Edicts: So Jeroboam made Israel sin, 1 Kings 17 verse 26. He forced them to Idolatry.

2. By evil Examples: Examples speak louder than Precepts; but principally the examples of great ones are influential. Men placed on high, are like the Pillar of Cloud, when that went, Israel went. If great ones move irregularly, others will follow after.

3. By evil Company; the breath of sinners is infectious. They are like the Dragon which cast a flood out of his mouth, Revelation 12 verse 15. They cast a flood of oaths out of their mouth. Wicked tongues are set on fire of Hell, James 3 verse 6. The sinner finds Match and Powder, and the Devil finds fire. The wicked are ever setting snares, and temptations before others; as the Prophet speaks in another sense, Jeremiah 35 verse 5. I set pots full of wine, and cups, and said unto them drink. So the wicked set pots of Wine before others, and make them drink till Reason be stupefied, and Lust inflamed. These are prodigiously wicked, who make men Proselytes to the Devil. How sad will their doom be, who besides their own sins, have the blood of others to answer for?

3. If it be the sign of a godly man to promote Grace in others, then much more ought he to promote it in his near Relations. A godly man will be careful that his Children should know God. He would be sorry that any of his flesh should burn in hell. He labors to see Christ formed in them, who are himself in another Edition. Augustine saith, That his Mother Monica travailed with greater care and pain for his Spiritual Birth, than for his Natural.

The time of Childhood is the fittest time to be sowing seeds of Religion in our Children, Isaiah 28 verse 9. Whom shall he make understand Doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, that are drawn from the breasts. The Wax, while it is soft and tender, will take any impression. Children while they are young will fear a reproof, when they are old they will hate it.

1. It is pleasing to God that our Children should know him betimes. When you come into a garden, you love to pluck the young bud, and smell to it. God loves a Saint in the bud. Of all the Trees the Lord made choice of in a Prophetical Vision, it was the Almond Tree, which blossoms one of the first of the Trees. Such an Almond Tree is an early Convert.

2. By endeavoring to bring up our Children in the fear of the Lord, we shall provide for God's glory when we are dead. A godly man should not only honor God while he lives, but do something that may promote God's glory when he is dead. Our Children being seasoned with gracious Principles, will stand up in our room, when we are gone, and will glorify God in their generation. A good piece of ground doth not only bear a fore-crop, but an after-crop. He that is godly, doth not only bear God a crop of obedience himself while he lives, but by principling his Child with Religion, he bears God an after-crop when he is dead.

Use 2. Let all who have God's Name named upon them, do what in them lies to advance Piety in others. A Knife touched with a Loadstone will draw the Needle. He whose heart is divinely touched with the Loadstone of God's Spirit, will endeavor to draw those who are near him to Christ. The Heathen could say, We are not born for ourselves only. The more excellent anything is, the more communicative. In the body every member is diffusive, the eye conveys light, the head spirits, the liver blood. A Christian must not move altogether within his own circle, but endeavor the welfare of others. To be diffusively good, makes us resemble God, whose sacred influence is universal.

And surely it will be no grief of heart, when Conscience can witness for us, that we have brought glory to God in this manner, by laboring to fill heaven.

Not that this is any ways Meritorious, or hath any causal influence upon our Salvation. Christ's blood is the cause. But our promoting God's glory in the Conversion of others, is a signal evidence of our Salvation. As the Rainbow is not a cause why God will not drown the World, but it is a sign that he will not drown it. Or as Rahab's Scarlet thread she hung out of the window, was not a cause why she was exempted from destruction, but it was a sign of her being exempted. So our building up others in the Faith, is not a cause why we are saved, but it is a Symbol of our Piety, and a presage of our felicity.

And thus I have shown the Marks and Characters of a godly man. If a person thus described be reputed a Fanatic, then Abraham, and Moses, and David, and Paul, were Fanatics, which I think none will dare to affirm, but Atheists.

24. A godly man works to make others godly. He is not content to go to heaven alone but wants to bring others with him. Spiders work only for themselves, but bees work for others. A godly man is both a diamond and a magnet — a diamond for the sparkling brilliance of grace, and a magnet for his drawing power. He is always working to draw others toward embracing true godliness. Living things have the power to reproduce. Where religion truly lives in the heart, there will be an effort to pass that life of grace on to others. Philemon 10: My son Onesimus, whom I have fathered while here in prison. Though God is the fountain of grace, the saints are the channels that carry living water to others. This passionate desire for the conversion of souls comes from —

1. The nature of godliness itself. Godliness is like fire, which transforms everything it touches into its own nature. Where the fire of grace burns in the heart, it will seek to kindle others. Grace is a holy leaven that works to season and transform those nearby with divine truth. Paul longed to convert King Agrippa. How earnestly he pressed him! Acts 26:27: King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe. His zeal and eloquence nearly won the king. Acts 26:28: And Agrippa said to Paul, In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?

2. A godly man labors for the conversion of others out of compassion. Grace makes the heart tender. A godly man cannot help but pity those who are trapped in the bitterness of sin. He sees what a deadly cup is being prepared for the wicked. Without repentance, they will be delivered over to God's wrath. The fire that rained on Sodom was only a picture of hell — what seemed terrible then was nothing compared to what awaits. This is a fire of true and final punishment. Jude 7: Suffering the punishment of eternal fire. Seeing sinners bound for destruction, a godly man works to turn them from the error of their ways. 2 Corinthians 5:11: Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.

3. A godly man works for the good of others out of holy zeal for Christ's glory. The glory of Christ is as dear to him as his own salvation. For that reason, he labors with all his strength to bring souls to Christ.

It is a glory to Christ when multitudes are born to Him. Every star adds brightness to the sky. Every new convert is a member added to Christ's body — a jewel adorning His crown. Though Christ's glory cannot be added to as God, as mediator it can be expressed and displayed more fully. The more who are saved, the more Christ is honored. Why else would the angels rejoice at the conversion of a sinner? Because Christ's glory shines all the more.

Application 1: This mark excludes from the number of the godly those who never work to promote the salvation of others. As one has said: a person who does not bring others to spiritual birth is poorly born indeed.

If people truly loved Christ, they would work to draw as many as possible to Him. A person who loves his captain will persuade others to serve under his banner. This exposes the hypocrite. Though a hypocrite may put on a display of grace himself, he never thinks about bringing grace to others. He is without compassion. I may apply to him the words of Zechariah 11:9: Let what is dying die, and what is cut off be cut off. Let souls go to the devil — he does not care.

2. How far from godliness are those who, instead of working to stir up grace in others, actively destroy every hopeful beginning of grace. Instead of drawing people toward Christ, they draw them away. Their work is to poison and damage souls. This damage is done in three ways.

First, by unjust commands. Jeroboam made Israel sin, as 1 Kings 17:26 says. He compelled them to idolatry.

Second, by corrupt examples. Examples speak louder than words. The example of those in high positions is especially powerful. People in elevated places are like a pillar of cloud — when it moved, Israel followed. When those in authority live carelessly, others will follow their lead.

Third, by wicked company. The breath of sinners is contagious. They are like the dragon who poured a flood from his mouth, as Revelation 12:15 says. They pour a flood of profanity from their mouths. Evil tongues are set on fire by hell, as James 3:6 says. The sinner provides the fuel and powder, and the devil supplies the flame. The wicked are constantly setting traps and temptations before others. As the prophet says in a different context, Jeremiah 35:5: I set bowls of wine and cups before them and said, Drink. In the same way, the wicked set cups of wine before others and make them drink until reason is clouded and lust is inflamed. These people are profoundly wicked — they make converts to the devil. How terrible will their judgment be — for they must answer not only for their own sins but for the souls of all they destroyed.

3. If working for grace in others is a mark of a godly man, then how much more must he work for it in those closest to him. A godly man will care deeply that his children come to know God. He would be grieved to think that any of his own flesh might burn in hell. He labors to see Christ formed in those who are, in a sense, another edition of himself. Augustine wrote that his mother Monica labored in greater pain and care for his spiritual birth than for his natural birth.

Childhood is the most fitting time to sow seeds of religion in our children. Isaiah 28:9: To whom will He teach knowledge, and to whom will He explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those just taken from the breast. Wax, while it is soft and warm, will take any impression. Children will fear a rebuke when they are young; when they are old they will resent it.

First, it pleases God greatly when our children come to know Him early. When you walk into a garden, you love to pick a fresh bud and smell its fragrance. God loves a saint in the bud. Of all the trees mentioned in prophetic vision, the Lord chose the almond tree — which blossoms among the very first. Such an almond tree is the person who comes to faith early in life.

Second, by working to raise our children in the fear of the Lord, we will provide for God's glory long after we are dead. A godly man should not only honor God while he lives but leave something that will promote God's glory after he is gone. Children who have been shaped by godly principles will stand in our place when we leave, and will glorify God in their own generation. Good ground does not only produce a first harvest but an after-harvest. A godly man does not only bring God a crop of obedience during his own life — by grounding his child in faith, he brings God a second harvest after he has gone.

Application 2: Let all who bear God's name do everything in their power to promote godliness in others. A knife touched to a magnet will itself be able to attract a needle. A person whose heart has been touched by the Spirit of God will naturally work to draw those near him toward Christ. Even the pagans could say: We are not born for ourselves alone. The more excellent something is, the more freely it shares itself. In the body, every member gives to others — the eye provides light, the head sends out vital spirits, the liver supplies blood. A Christian must not live entirely within his own circle but must work for the good of those around him. To share grace generously makes us like God, whose influence extends to all.

And surely it will bring no grief to the heart when conscience can bear witness that we brought glory to God in this way — by laboring to fill heaven.

Not that this is in any way meritorious or contributes to our salvation as a cause. Christ's blood is the cause. But our working for God's glory in the conversion of others is a clear evidence of our salvation. The rainbow is not the reason God will not flood the world — it is the sign that He will not. Rahab's scarlet thread hung from her window was not the reason she was spared from destruction — it was the sign that she would be spared. In the same way, our building others up in the faith is not the cause of our salvation — it is a symbol of our godliness and a sign of our coming joy.

And so I have now set out the marks and characteristics of a godly man. If someone described in this way is called a fanatic, then Abraham, Moses, David, and Paul were fanatics — which, I believe, no one but an atheist would dare to say.