The Godly Man's Picture

3 A godly man knows that secret sins shall not escape Gods Justice; a Judge on the Bench can punish no offence but what is proved by Witness; he cannot punish the Treason of the heart: but the sins of the heart are as visible to God, as if they were written ⟨p. 209⟩upon the fore-head. As God will reward secret duties, so he will revenge secret sins.

3 A godly man knows that secret sins shal not escape Gods Justice; a Judge on the Bench can punish no offence but what is proved by Witness; he cannot punish the Treason of the heart: but the sins of the heart are as visible to God, as if they were written ⟨p. 209⟩upon the fore-head. As God will reward secret duties, so he will revenge secret sins.

2 A godly man will not allow himself in gainful sins. Gain is the golden bait, with which Satan fisheth for souls. —dulcis odour lucri—

2 A godly man will not allow himself in gainful sins. Gain is the golden bait, with which Satan fisheth for souls. —dulcis odor lucri—

This was the last temptation he used to Christ, Mat. 4. 9. All this will I give thee. But Christ saw the hook under the bait. Many who have escaped gross sins, yet are caught in a golden Net: To gain the world, they will use indirect courses. A godly man dares not travel for riches through the Devils high-way. Those are sad gains, that make a man lose peace of conscience, and heaven at last. He who getteth an estate by injustice, stuffs his pillow with thorns, and his head will lye very uneasy when he comes to dye.