Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending…

2. From whence Man is obliged to acknowledge God, in these Relations,¹ whether Naturally or Supernaturally made known; and to consent to them; and to love and honour him as God, (though it be not perfectly, which is now above his strength, yet must it be) sincerely, even comparatively and superlatively above any Creature whatsoever. He that doth thus, is a Godly man, that is, a man that doth sincerely believe in God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and is devoted to God.

1. 1Quid est Pic. tas, nisi Dei cultus? & unde il•e colitur, nisi Charitate? Aug. Epist. 29

Besides this principal sense, there are some others common, both in the defect, and in the excess; 1. Among Heathens he is called Pious, 1. who is a devout honourer of their Gods, though Idols; 2. or who is merciful to people in misery; 3. or who is an Honourer of Parents and Superiors, or who is conscientious according to their insufficient light. 2. Among ⟨p. 250⟩Christians, 1. Some call any man Godly, that is, zealous in Religious matters, though so unsound in the fundamentals, that he worshippeth he knows not what, or so ignorant about Gods very nature and his relations to him, that it is not God indeed as God that he worshippeth: and though he be actually incapable of true Love and Devotedness to God, for want of right conceivings of him, even in those respects that are essential to the Object of the Christian faith. 2. Some call a man Godly that makes a sound Confession, and knows the Christian Doctrine, and saith he believeth it, though he notoriously manifest that his Will doth not consent, that the God whom he confesseth shall be his God, (his Ruler and Felicity,) nor the Christ whom he confesseth, shall be his Saviour on his own terms; nor the Holy Ghost his Guide and Sanctifier. 3. On the other side, Many will call no Man Godly, that is not noted for some eminent difference, in Parts and Zeal, from others that live about him. If they see him neglect some Duties that he is bound to, as not to come to some private Meetings that are used regularly and to Edification, or not to Read, or Hear so frequently or diligently as he should, or not to Pray in his family (which in some Cases its possible a Godly man may neglect), or if he commit some sins, which yet its possible a Godly man may commit, they account him ungodly, though possibly it may be otherwise in the main so that no man is by them esteemed Godly, unless he go beyond the weakest sort of true Christians. As for them that call none Godly but their own parties, or sect-fellows, I will pass them, as not worthy our further mention.