The Godly Man's Picture

6 If you would hold out in godliness, hold up the life and fervour of duty, Rom. 12. 1. 1. Fervent in spirit, serving the Lord: We put coals to the fire to keep it from going out, when Christians grow into a dull formality, they begin to be dis-spirited, and by degrees abate in their godliness; none so fit to make ⟨p. 307⟩an Apostate, as a lukewarm professor.

6 If you would hold out in godliness, hold up the life and fervour of duty, Rom. 12. 1. 1. Fervent in spirit, serving the Lord: We put coals to the fire to keep it from going out, when Christians grow into a dull formality, they begin to be dis-spirited, and by degrees abate in their godliness; none so fit to make ⟨p. 307⟩an Apostate, as a lukewarm professour.

7 If you would persevere in godliness, be much in the exercise of self-denial, Mat. 16. 24. let him deny himself, self-ease,^* self-ends; whatever comes in competition with, or stands in opposition to Christs glory and interest, must be denied; Self is the great snare, self-love undermines the power of godliness. The young man in the Gospel, might have followed Christ, but that something of self ^*hindered, Mat. 19. 20, 22. Self-love, is self hatred, he will never get to heaven, that cannot get beyond himself.