Chapter 8: Godliness at the Door of Mr. Legalist

Showing how True Godliness, after this, traveled towards the City Jerusalem, near to which was a small village, called Religion, in which dwelt one Mr. Legalist, at whose door he knocked; showing the cause also why he did not entertain him.

Godliness having hitherto happily escaped with his life, thought it now full time to leave those parts where he had traveled up and down a great while, and suffered many hardships, being generally basely slighted and contemned by all wherever he came, and to travel into some other country, among people (if he could find such) who were not so abominably wicked, however, not such visible and open enemies to him as others were: And he thought within himself, it might be his best way to bend his course towards Jerusalem, for here he has wandered up and down the confines of Assyria, Edwna, Spiritual Sodom and Egypt, but so it fell out, before he entered into the Salem, he perceived a village lying near the city, and the name of that town he understood was Religion, a place much frequented by all true Zioners (for so the inhabitants of the City Jerusalem are called). Now, he presently made up there, and being informed that one Mr. Legalist lived at the town's end, near Mount Sinai, he resolved to give him a visit, and immediately came to his door, where with great earnestness he knocked, and he being within, spoke to this purpose.

Legal: Who is at my door?

Godli: Sir, a stranger to you, though your very good friend, and one who would gladly have a lodging in your house.

Legal: What is your name?

Godli: Sir, my name is True Godliness.

Legal: I wonder much you should say you are a stranger to me, whereas I have been so long time acquainted with you, and know you so well.

Godli: Sir, 'tis your great mistake, for I am sure you know me not, nor were you ever yet acquainted with me.

Legal: What, do I not know True Godliness, this is strange; do not you and I converse together every day?

Godli: Sir, I am not the person you take me for, there is one or two more who go sometimes by my name, and 'tis very probable you may be acquainted with one of them; pray what are his manners; what doctrine I mean, does he teach you, for by that I shall know who it is.

Legal: Why, Sir, he teaches me to keep the commandments of God, to lead a righteous life, to do to all men as I would they should do to me.

O, Sir, that is my friend and honest neighbor Morality, one that I love very well, and I am sure 'tis your great ignorance to take him for me; he will not say his name is True Godliness, for though in some things we are a little alike, I teaching the same doctrine you mention, yet we differ exceedingly in many things. First, we herein agree; he says, you must keep God's commands — I say so too. 2. He says, you must be righteous, I say the like. And 3. That you must do to all men as you would have them do to you, I say the very same, it being my Master's own doctrine.

Legal: Why, wherein then, Sir, pray do you differ?

Godli: He teaches you to seek for justification by doing, but I only by believing; he by keeping the law, or by living a sober and honest life, I by God's free grace, through the merits of Christ.

Legal: What is that friend you say, are we not required to keep the law of God?

Godli: No, Sir, you ought to keep it as far as you are able, though not as it is the law of works, but as 'tis the law of Christ; but you must not look for righteousness and justification, by your keeping this law in any sense (it was on this very block the Jews of old stumbled, and were broken in pieces) because you have sinned, and daily do break the law; and the least transgression thereof, exposes you to the wrath and curse of God.

Legal: I know I cannot perfectly keep the law? but I will do (by the help of God) what I can; and wherein I through weakness do transgress, the Lord is merciful, and I trust he will forgive me.

Godli: Forgive you! Why he has said, he will in no wise clear the guilty, moreover, what the law says, it says to them that are under the law, that all mouths may be stopped, and the whole world become guilty before God.

Legal: What do you say? will not God forgive me who am a penitent person? O what a horrible doctrine is this! I believe he will not forgive the impenitent, and they are such guilty ones only that the Scripture speaks of.

Godli: Mistake not Sir, all are guilty, all have broke the law, all are under sin and wrath; 'tis not your repentance will do; God will not forgive any man, let him be who he will, except he believes in Jesus Christ, and takes hold of the merits of his blood, for as by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified, so God will not pardon your sins, notwithstanding your repentance, as a simple act of his mercy, unless you fly to him through Christ, who has satisfied his justice; for what you say renders Christ's glorious undertakings void and unnecessary; and so does cast a great reflection upon the wisdom of God in sending his Son into the world.

Legal: How do you make that appear?

Godli: Do you not say you'll do what you can to keep the law; and wherein you transgress, God will through his mercy forgive you; now if God does accept of your obedience in keeping the law, and forgive all your deviations, as a simple act of his mercy, and that hereby you are justified and accepted by him, why then did he send Jesus Christ into the world to die the cursed death of the cross? For if by this way righteousness and salvation is attainable, it is evident Christ is dead in vain; for could not God have done all this if Christ had never come? You are a wretched creature, and therefore look to Christ, or you are undone.

Legal: Why do you tell me of Christ? do you take me to be a sinner like other men? Am I as this publican? I have all my days lived a holy and blameless life, and therefore shall be justified.

Godli: I am ashamed of you; you have 'tis evident a slight esteem of Christ.

Legal: No Sir, do not mistake me neither; I do not think my righteousness justifies me any otherwise, than through the merits of Christ.

Godliness: Sir, you err exceedingly; it's not your personal righteousness, no, not through Christ's merits, that does justify, but the personal righteousness of Christ, received by faith alone. Alas, now you discover indeed what a great stranger you are to me; you are one of those just men it seems that never went astray, or righteous ones that Christ came not to call. Alas, I always do declare and testify that all men must perish without faith in Christ. Does not the text positively say, "He that believes not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16)? "He who has the Son, has life; and he who has not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him" (John 3:33). Sir, "there is no other name given under heaven whereby men can be saved" (Acts 4:12). "Another foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3). Come let me into your house, and I will expel these dark clouds, and teach you another kind of doctrine; I will help you to be holy, and not to depend upon it; to be righteous, but not to trust in it; I will lead you to say, "In the Lord have I righteousness"; and that he is made to us of God righteousness, etc. I tell you plainly I cannot speak peace to you; but if I come into you, you must turn out of your house those helpless and unprofitable servants you have got.

Legalist: What servants would you have me turn out?

Godliness: Why, you must turn Moses out. Do you not read, he was not to abide in the house forever? Mr. Misbelief, and Good Opinion, and Self-righteousness you must turn out. Nay, in a word, you must also remove your dwelling further off from Mount Sinai; for look about you, be gone quickly, for I see dreadful flashes of lightning, the mountain seems to be all on fire; and hark, don't you hear it thunder, Legalist? God is angry with you, sir, there is no seeing of his face, but through a mediator.

Legalist: What, must I turn holy Moses out of doors?

Godliness: Yes, sir, that you must; don't you remember, that those who said they were Moses's disciples, cast out the poor blind man that received my dear Master? It is not Moses nor Elijah, but Jesus only that must dwell with you: Nay, and you must cast out Blind Zeal, Ignorance, and Legal Heart too, for these are dangerous fellows! And in their room I will place: True Zeal, Right Faith, Broken Heart and Good Understanding. Nay, sir, and let me tell you, if you do not, and that quickly, expel these out of your tabernacle, you will be undone, and perish in your sins; for notwithstanding your great hopes of heaven, they will soon thrust you down to hell; for publicans and harlots go into heaven before you. Upon this he began to be very angry, and gave True Godliness hard words, calling him Libertine and Antinomian, one that True Godliness does as little love as he. Moreover, Mr. Legalist told him, that he was sure that he whom he had already received into his house was True Godliness; and, says he, you are but an impostor, and in a great rage bid him be gone from his door. Upon this, Godliness perceiving Mr. Legalist was so wedded to his own opinion, that there was no hopes of getting entertainment in his house, he left him, and travelled a little further into the town; being told one Mr. Formalist lived not far off: whereupon he resolved to go directly to his house.

Sad case, most Noble Prince! what travel still From place to place, and yet is there none will You embrace? what, not in such a town? Does Legalist thus basely tread you down? Nay of all men I see there's cause to fear, He never will, Blest Prince! to you adhere: What, slighted by Professor and Profane! Where's then the man who will you entertain? Some men are blind, and therefore perish do; And those who think they see, these perish too.