The Godly Man's Picture

1 It is the glory and Crown of a Christian, to be grey-headed in godliness, Act. 21. 16. Mnason of Cyprus, an old Disciple: What an honour is it to see a Christians garments red with blood, yet his conscience pu•e white, and his graces green and flourishing?

1 It is the glory and Crown of a Christian, to be gray-headed in godliness, Act. 21. 16. Mnason of Cyprus, an old Disciple: What an honour is it to see a Christians garments red with blood, yet his conscience pu•e white, and his graces green and flourishing?

2 How do sinners persevere in their sins, they are settled on their lees, Zeph. 1. 12. The judgements of God will not deter or remove them; they say to their sin, as Ruth to Naomi, Ruth 1. 16. Where thou goest, I will go, the Lord do so to me, and more, if ought but death part thee and me; so nothing shall part between men and their sins; Oh! what a shame is it, that the wicked should be fixed in evil, and we unfixed in good? that they should be more constant in the Devils service ⟨p. 310⟩than we are in Christs.

2 How do sinners persevere in their sins, they are setled on their lees, Zeph. 1. 12. The judgements of God will not deter or remove them; they say to their sin, as Ruth to Naomi, Ruth 1. 16. Where thou goest, I will go, the Lord do so to me, and more, if ought but death part thee and me; so nothing shall part between men and their sins; Oh! what a shame is it, that the wicked should be fixed in evil, and we unfixed in good? that they should be more constant in the Devils service ⟨p. 310⟩than we are in Christs.

3 Our perseverance in godliness, may be a means to confirm others; Cyprian's hearers followed him to the place of his suffering, and seeing his steadfastness in the faith,¹ cried out, Let us also dye with our holy Pastor, Phil. 4. 14. Many of the Brethren waxing confident by my Bonds, are much more bold to speak the Word. St. Paul's zeal and constancy, did animate the beholders; his Prison-chain made converts in Nero's Court; and two of those Converts were afterwards Martyrs, as History relates.

3 Our perseverance in godliness, may be a means to confirm others; Cyprians hearers followed him to the place of his suffering, and seeing his stedfastness in the faith,¹ cryed out, Let us also dye with our holy Pastor, Phil. 4. 14. Many of the Brethren waxing confident by my Bonds, are much more bold to speak the Word. St. Paul's zeal and constancy, did animate the beholders; his Prison-chain made converts in Neroes Court; and two of those Converts were afterwards Martyrs, as History relates.

1. 1••iamur •ul cum •cto Escopo, in •ss. Cypr.

The first is Rev. 2. 10. Be thou constant to the death, and I will give thee a Crown of^* life. Christian, thou mayest lose the breath of life, but not the Crown of life.

1. *Tria amplectitur corona, •uae beatitudini apprime conve•iunt, nimirum tranquilitatem, via corona dat praemium post •ertamen; deinde plenit•dinem, quia corona habet perfectam figuram, utpote circularem; & denique sublimitatem, quandoquidem corona est summi honoris •signe. Brond.Tria amplectitur corona, •uae beatitudini apprime conve•iunt, nimirum tranquilitatem, •uia corona dat praemium post •ertamen; deinde plenit•dinem, quia corona habet perfectam figuram, utpote circularem; & denique sublimitatem, quandoquidem corona est summi honoris •signe. Brond.

The second promise is Revel. 2. 7. To him that • vercometh will I give to eat of the tree of life. This Tree of life is the Lord Jesus. This tree infuseth ⟨p. 311⟩life, and prevents^* death; in the day we eat of this tree, our eyes shall indeed be opened to see God.

1. *Lignum vitae ea virtute est praeditum, ut animi vires roboret, nec senium obrepere unquam patiatur, Alchazar.

The third promise is Rev. 2. 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna,¹ and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it. This Promise consists of three branches.

1. 1Vincere, est peccatum & mundum fide calcare & veritatem nunquam deserere. Muscul.

1 I will give to eat of the hidden Manna, This is mysterious, it signifies the love of God; which is Manna, for its sweetness, and hidden for its rarity.

2 I will give him a white stone; ¹that is absolution, it may be called a precious stone saith Hierom.

1. 1Alb• lap•••• not ar• dicitur qui probatur.

3 And in the stone a new name; That is, Adoption, he shall be reputed an Heir of Heaven, and no man can know it, saving he who hath the privy seal of the spirit to assure him of it.

The fourth promise is, Rev. 3. 5. he that overcometh the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his Angels. The persevering Saint shall be clothed in White; This is an Emblem of joy,^* Eccles. 9. 8. He ⟨p. 312⟩shall put off his mourning, and be clothed in the white robe of glory; and I will not blot his name out of the book of life: God will blot a Believers sins out, but he will not blot his name out; the Book of Gods Decree hath no Erratas in it. But I will confess his Name; he who hath owned Christ on earth, and worn his colours, when it was death to wear them, Christ will not be ashamed of him, but will confess his Name before his Father, and the holy Angels. Oh what a comfort and honour will it be to have a good look from Christ at the last day; nay, to have Christ own us, by Name, and say, these were they who stood up for my truth, and kept their garments pure, in a defiling age; These shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

The fourth promise is, Rev. 3. 5. he that overcometh the same shall bee cloathed in white raiment, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his Angels. The persevering Saint shall bee cloathed in White; This is an Emblem of joy,^* Eccles. 9. 8. He ⟨p. 312⟩shall put off his mourning, and be cloathed in the white robe of glory; and I will not blot his name out of the book of life: God will blot a Believers sins out, but he will not blot his name out; the Book of Gods Decree hath no Errataes in it. But I will confess his Name; he who hath owned Christ on earth, and worn his colours, when it was death to wear them, Christ will not bee ashamed of him, but will confess his Name before his Father, and the holy Angels. Oh what a comfort and honor will it be to have a good look from Christ at the last day; nay, to have Christ own us, by Name, and say, these were they who stood up for my truth, and kept their garments pure, in a defiling age; These shall walk with mee in white, for they are worthy.

1. *Festos Albatus celebret. Horat

The fifth promise is, Rev. 3. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God, and he shall go no more out, and I will write upon him the Name of my God, and the Name of the City of my God. Here are many excellent things couched in this Promise; I will make him a Pillar in the Temple of my God; The Hypocrite is calamus, a Reed shaken with the wind, but the conquering Saint shall be columna, a glorious Pillar; a Pillar for strength, and a Pillar in the Temple, for sanctity; and he shall go no more out; I understand ⟨p. 313⟩this of a glorified state, He shall go no more out; that is, after he hath overcome, he shall go no more out to the Wars; he shall never have sin or temptation more to conflict with, no more noise of Drum, or Cannon shall be heard, but the Believer having won the field, he shall now stay at home, and divide the spoil. And I will write upon him the Name of my God. That is, he shall be openly acknowledged for my Child; as the Son bears his Fathers Name. How honourable must that Saint be who hath Gods own Name written upon him! And I will write upon him, the Name of the City of my God. That is, he shall be enrolled as a Denizen or Citizen of the Jerusalem above, he shall be made free of the Angelical society.

The fifth promise is, Rev. 3. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God, and he shall goe no more out, and I will write upon him the Name of my God, and the Name of the City of my God. Here are many excellent things couched in this Promise; I will make him a Pillar in the Temple of my God; The Hypocrite is calamus, a Reed shaken with the wind, but the conquering Saint shall be columna, a glorious Pillar; a Pillar for strength, and a Pillar in the Temple, for sanctity; and he shall go no more out; I understand ⟨p. 313⟩this of a glorified state, Hee shall go no more out; that is, after he hath overcome, hee shall go no more out to the Wars; hee shall never have sin or temptation more to conflict with, no more noyse of Drum, or Cannon shall bee heard, but the Believer having won the field, hee shall now stay at home, and divide the spoil. And I will write upon him the Name of my God. That is, he shall bee openly acknowledged for my Childe; as the Son bears his Fathers Name. How honourable must that Saint bee who hath Gods own Name written upon him! And I will write upon him, the Name of the City of my God. That is, he shall be enrolled as a Denison or Citizen of the Ierusalem above, hee shall bee made free of the Angelical society.

The sixth promise is, Rev. 2. 26. He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: this may have a double mystery, either it may be understood of the Saints dwelling upon earth; they shall have power over the nations; their zeal and patience shall over-power the adversaries of^* truth, Act. 6. 10. or principally, it may be understood of the Saints triumphing in heaven, they shall have power •ver the nations; they shall share with Christ ⟨p. 314⟩in some of his power; they shall join with him in judging the world at the last day; 1 Cor. 6. 2. Know ye not, that the Saints shall judge the world?

The sixth promise is, Rev. 2. 26. He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: this may have a double mystery, either it may be understood of the Saints dwelling upon earth; they shall have power over the nations; their zeal and patience shall over-power the adversaries of^* truth, Act. 6. 10. or principally, it may be understood of the Saints triumphing in heaven, they shall have power •ver the nations; they shall share with Christ ⟨p. 314⟩in some of his power; they shall joyn with him in judging the world at the last day; 1 Cor. 6. 2. Know ye not, that the Saints shall judge the world?

1. *Necesse est ut Veritati cedat mendacium, Piis impii.

The seventh promise is, Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me upon my throne.

1 Here is first the Saints dignity, they shall sit upon the throne.

2 Their safety, they shall sit with Christ; Christ holds them fast, and none shall pluck them out of his throne; the Saints may be turned out of their houses, but they cannot be turned out of Christs throne; men may as well pluck a star out of the sky, as a Saint out of the throne.