Chapter 7

Question. But what shall we do that we may be godly?

Answer. I shall briefly lay down some rules or helps to godliness.

1. Be diligent in the use of all means, that may promote godliness, Luke 13:24: Strive to enter in at the strait gate: What is purpose without pursuit? When you have made your estimate of godliness, prosecute those mediums which are most expedient for obtaining it.

2. If you would be godly, take heed of the world; it is hard for a clod of dust to become a star, 1 John 2:15: Love not the world. Many would be godly, but the honors and profits of the world divert them. Where the world fills both head and heart, there is no room for Christ. He whose mind is rooted in the earth, is likely enough to deride godliness. When our Savior was preaching against sin, the Pharisees, who were covetous, derided him, Luke 16:14. The world eats out the heart of godliness, as the Ivy eats out the heart of the Oak; the world kills with her silver darts.

3. Inure yourselves to holy thoughts. Serious meditation represents everything in its native color; it shows an evil in sin, and a luster in grace. By holy thoughts, the head grows clearer, and the heart better, Psalm 119:59: I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. Did men step aside a little out of the noise and hurry of business, and spend but half an hour every day, in thinking upon their souls, and eternity, it would produce a wonderful alteration in them, and tend very much to a real and blessed conversion.

4. Watch your hearts. It was Christ's watchword to his Disciples, Matthew 24:42: Watch therefore. The heart will precipitate us to sin, before we are aware; a subtle heart needs a watchful eye. Watch your thoughts, your affections. The heart has a thousand doors to run out at: O keep close sentinel in your souls! Stand continually upon your Watchtower, Habakkuk 2:1. When you have prayed against sin, watch against temptation. Most wickedness in the world, is committed for want of watchfulness. Watchfulness maintains godliness; it is the selvedge which keeps religion from raveling out.

5. Make Conscience of spending your time, Ephesians 5:16: Redeeming the time. Many persons fool away their time; some in idle visits, others in recreations and pleasures, which secretly bewitch the heart, and take it off from better things: What are our golden hours for but to mind our souls? Time misimproved, is not time lived, but time lost. Time is a precious commodity; a piece of wax in itself, is not much worth, but as it is affixed to the label of a Will, and conveys an estate, so it is of great value. Thus time, simply in itself, is not so considerable, but as salvation is to be wrought out in it, and a conveyance of heaven depends upon the well improvement of it, so it is of infinite concernment.

6. Think of your short stay in the world, 1 Chronicles 29:15: Our days on the Earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. There is but a span between the Cradle and the Grave. Solomon says, there is a time to be born, and a time to die, Ecclesiastes 3:2; but mentions no time of living, as if that were so short, it were not worth naming. And time, when it is once gone, cannot be recalled. The Scripture compares time to a flying Eagle, Job 9:6. Yet, herein time differs from the Eagle; the Eagle flies forward, and then back again, but time has wings only to fly forward, it never returns back. —Fugit irrevocabile tempus—

The serious thoughts of our short abode here, would be a great means to promote godliness. What if death should come before we are ready? What if our life should breathe out, before God's Spirit has breathed in? He that considers how flitting and winged his life is, will hasten his repentance. When God is about to make a short work, he will not make a long work.

7. Possess yourselves with this maxim, that godliness is the end of your Creation. God never sent men into the world, only to eat and drink, and put on fine clothes, but that they might serve him in righteousness and holiness, Luke 1:75. God made the world only as an attiring room, to dress our souls in. He sent us hither upon the grand errand of godliness. Should nothing but the body (the brutish part) be looked after, this were basely to degenerate, yea, to invert and frustrate the very end of our being.

8. Be often among the godly; they are the salt of the earth, and will help to season you. Their counsels may direct, their prayers may quicken. Such holy sparks may be thrown into your breasts, as may enkindle devotion in you. It is good to be among the Saints to learn the trade of godliness, Proverbs 13:20: He that walketh with wise men shall be wise.

Question: What must we do in order to become godly?

Answer: Let me briefly lay out some rules and helps toward godliness.

1. Be diligent in using every means that promotes godliness. Luke 13:24: Strive to enter through the narrow gate. What is intention without action? Once you have assessed the value of godliness, pursue the steps most likely to help you obtain it.

2. If you want to be godly, beware of the world. It is hard for a clod of earth to become a star. 1 John 2:15: Do not love the world. Many people want to be godly, but worldly honors and profits pull them away. Where the world fills both head and heart, there is no room for Christ. The person whose mind is rooted in the earth is likely to mock godliness. When Jesus was preaching against sin, the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, laughed at Him, as Luke 16:14 records. The world eats out the heart of godliness as ivy eats out the heart of an oak. The world kills with silver weapons.

3. Train yourself in holy thinking. Serious meditation shows everything in its true color. It reveals the ugliness of sin and the beauty of grace. Through holy thinking, the mind grows clearer and the heart grows better. Psalm 119:59: I considered my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies. If people would step away from the noise and rush of daily life and spend even half an hour each day thinking about their souls and eternity, it would produce a remarkable change in them and move them toward genuine and lasting conversion.

4. Watch your heart. This was Christ's charge to His disciples. Matthew 24:42: Watch therefore. The heart will rush us into sin before we realize what is happening. A deceitful heart needs a watchful eye. Watch your thoughts. Watch your desires. The heart has a thousand ways to escape. Keep close watch over your soul! Stand continually at your watchtower, as Habakkuk 2:1 says. After you have prayed against sin, stay alert against temptation. Most of the wickedness in the world happens because people fail to keep watch. Watchfulness sustains godliness. It is the edge that keeps religion from unraveling.

5. Be careful about how you spend your time. Ephesians 5:16: Making the most of every opportunity. Many people waste their time — some in pointless socializing, others in entertainment and pleasures that quietly steal the heart away from better things. What are our best hours for, if not the care of our souls? Time wasted is not time lived, but time lost. Time is a precious thing. A piece of wax in itself is worth very little, but when it seals a will and conveys an estate, it becomes enormously valuable. In the same way, time by itself may not seem significant, but because salvation must be worked out within it, and the inheritance of heaven depends on using it well, time is of the highest importance.

6. Remember how brief your stay in this world is. 1 Chronicles 29:15: Our days on earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. There is only a span between the cradle and the grave. Solomon says there is a time to be born and a time to die, as Ecclesiastes 3:2 says — but he mentions no time of living, as though life were so brief it was not worth naming. And once time is gone, it cannot be called back. Scripture compares time to a flying eagle in Job 9:26. But time differs from the eagle in one way: the eagle flies forward and then returns, but time only flies forward and never comes back. Time, once gone, is gone forever.

Thinking seriously about the shortness of our time here would do much to promote godliness. What if death came before we were ready? What if our last breath left us before God's Spirit had breathed life into us? The person who truly grasps how fleeting life is will hurry to repent. When God is about to do a brief work, He will not give us unlimited time to prepare.

7. Embrace this truth: godliness is the very purpose for which you were created. God did not send people into the world merely to eat, drink, and wear fine clothes, but to serve Him in righteousness and holiness, as Luke 1:75 says. God made the world as a dressing room — a place to prepare our souls. He sent us here on the great mission of godliness. If we care for nothing but the body — the animal part of us — we have shamefully degraded ourselves and betrayed the very reason for our existence.

8. Spend time among godly people. They are the salt of the earth and will help to season you. Their counsel can guide you; their prayers can stir you up. Holy sparks from them may land in your heart and kindle devotion in you. It is good to be among the saints and learn the practice of godliness. Proverbs 13:20: He who walks with wise men will be wise.