The Godly Man's Picture

1 By way of Caution, that they do not blur these Characters of grace in their souls; though Gods children cannot quite deface their graces, yet they may disfigure them; too much carnal liberty, may weaken their evidences, and so dim their lustre, that they cannot be read: These Characters of the godly are precious things, the gold and crystal cannot be compared with them. O keep ⟨p. 316⟩them fair written in your hearts! and they will be so many living comforts in a dying hour; it will not affright a Christian, to have all the signs of death in his body, when he can see all the signs of grace in his soul, he will say as Simeon, Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.

1 By way of Caution, that they do not blur these Characters of grace in their souls; though Gods children cannot quite deface their graces, yet they may disfigure them; too much carnal liberty, may weaken their evidences, and so dim their lustre, that they cannot bee read: These Characters of the godly are precious things, the gold and christal cannot be compared with them. O keep ⟨p. 316⟩them fair written in your hearts! and they will be so many living comforts in a dying hour; it will not affright a Christian, to have all the signs of death in his body, when he can see all the signs of grace in his soul, he will say as Simeon, Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.

2 By way of Counsel, you who are enriched with the treasures of godliness, bless God for it: This flower doth not grow in natures garden; when you had listed your selves under the Devil, and taken pay on his side, fighting against your own happiness, that then God should come with converting grace, and put forth a [Greek or Hebrew], a loving and gentle violence, causing you to espouse his quarrel against Satan; when you had lain many years soaking in wickedness, as if you had been par-boiled for Hell, that then God should lay you a steeping in Christs blood, and breathe holiness into your heart, O what cause have you to write your selves eternal debtors to free grace. He denies God to be the Author of his Grace, who doth not give him the praise of it;