The Godly Man's Picture

1 None but the godly can praise God aright; as all have not skill to play on the Lute, so every one cannot sound forth the harmonious praises of God; wicked men are bound to praise God, but they are not fit to praise him; none but a living Christian can tune Gods praise; wicked men are dead in sin, how can they lift up Gods praises, that are dead? Isa. 38. 19. The grave cannot praise thee: A wicked man stains and eclipseth Gods praise, if a foul hand work in Damask, or flowered Satin, it will slur the beauty of it; God will say to the sinner, what hast thou to do, to take my name into thy mouth? Psa. 50. 16.

1 None but the godly can praise God aright; as all have not skill to play on the Lute, so every one cannot sound forth the harmonious praises of God; wicked men are bound to praise God, but they are not fit to praise him; none but a living Christian can tune Gods praise; wicked men are dead in sin, how can they lift up Gods praises, that are dead? Isa. 38. 19. The grave cannot praise thee: A wicked man stains and eclipseth Gods praise, if a foul hand work in Damask, or flowred Sattin, it will slur the beauty of it; God will say to the sinner, what hast thou to do, to take my name into thy mouth? Psa. 50. 16.

2 Praise is not comely for any, but the godly, Psa. 33. 1. Praise is comely for the righteous: A profane man stuck with Gods praises, is like a dunghill stuck with flowers; praise in the mouth of a sinner, is like an Oracle in the mouth of a fool; how uncomely is it for him to praise God, whose whole life is a dishonouring of God? it is as undecent for a wicked man to praise God, as it is for an Usurer to talk of living by faith, or for the Devil to quote Scripture; the godly only are fit to be queristers in Gods praises, 'tis called the Garment of praise,