The Godly Man's Picture

4 If you would persist in godliness, enter upon it purely, out of choice, Psa. 119. 30. I have chosen the way of truth: espouse godliness for its own worth; he that would persevere, must rather choose godliness with reproach, than sin with all its worldly pomp; he who takes up religion for fear, will lay it down again for fear; he who embraceth godliness for gain, will desert it when the •ewels of preferment are pulled off; be not godly out of a worldly design, but a religious choice.

4 If you would persist in godliness, enter upon it purely, out of choice, Psa. 119. 30. I have chosen the way of truth: espouse godliness for its own worth; he that would persevere, must rather choose godliness with reproach, than sin with all its worldly pomp; he who takes up religion for fear, will lay it down again for fear; he who imbraceth godliness for gain, will desert it when the •ewels of preferment are pulled off; be not godly out of a wordly design, but a religious choice.

5 If you would persevere in godliness, labour after integrity; this will be a golden pillar to support you; a tree that is hollow, must needs be blown down; the hypocrite sets up in the trade of religion, but he will soon break, Psa. 78. 37. Their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast: Judas was first a sly hypocrite, and then a Traitor; if a piece of copper be gilded, the gilding will wash off, nothing will hold out but sincerity, Psa. 25. 21. Let integrity preserve me: How many storms was Job in? not only Satan, but God himself set against him, Job 7. 20. which was enough to have made him desist from being godly, yet Job stood fast, because he stood upright,