II. projects will be lamentably disappointed, whoever SERM. fancieth any true profit without piety: he never can attain to be so much as wealthy; but drudge and plod what he can, must be a beggar, and a forlorn wretch. For how can he be any wise rich, who doth want all the best things, the only valuable things in the world, which any man may have, which any good man doth possess? How can he be rich, who is destitute of the most needful accommodations of life; who constantly feedeth on the coarsest and most sordid fare, (the dust of pelf, the dung of sensuality ;) who hath no faithful or constant friends, (nothing earthly can be such;) who is master of nothing but dirt, or chaff, or smoke? Whereas also riches do consist, not in what one enjoyeth at present, (for that can be little,) but in a presumed ability to enjoy afterward what he may come to need or desire; or in well-grounded hopes that he shall never fall into want or distress. How can that man be rich, who hath not any confidence in God, any interest in him, any reason to expect his blessing? yea, who hath much ground to fear the displeasure of him, in whose hand all things are, and who arbitrarily disposeth of all? Piety therefore is the only profitable thing, according to just esteem. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things Prov. iii. 15. we can desire are not to be compared to her. Upon this account it is most true, what the Psalmist affirmeth, A little that the righteous hath is better Ps. xxxvii. than great riches of the ungodly. IV. That commendation is not to be omitted, which is nearest at hand, and suggested by St. Paul himself to back this assertion concerning the uni 16. II. SERM. versal profitableness of piety; For, saith he, it hath the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come: that is, God hath promised to reward it with blessings appertaining to this mortal life, and with those which concern the future eternal state. Prov. x. 6. xxviii. 8. Eccles. viii. 12. As for the blessings of this life, although God hath not promised to load the godly man with affluence of worldly things, not to put him into a splendid and pompous garb, not to dispense to him that which may serve for pampering the flesh, or gratifying wanton fancy, not to exempt him from all the inconveniences to which human nature and this worldly state are subject; yet hath he promised to furnish him with whatever is needful or convenient for him, in due measure and season, the which he doth best understand. There is no good thing which a man naturally desireth, or reasonably can wish for, which is not in express terms proposed as a reward, or a result of piety. In general, it is declared, that Blessings are upon the head of the just; that, No good thing God will withhold from them that walk uprightly; that, whatever otherwise doth fall out, it assuredly shall be well with them that fear God; that, Blessed is Ps. cxxviii. every one that feareth the Lord, that walketh in (Prov. viii. his ways:-happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee; that, There shall no evil happen to the just; that, All things work together for good to them that love God. Isa. iii. 10. I, 2. 35.) Prov. xii. Prov. x. 3. xiii. 25. Particularly, there are promised to the pious man, A supply of all wants. The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish. Ps. xxxiv. eateth to the satisfying of his soul. The righteous 9, 10. II. want to them that fear God. The young lions do SERM. lack, and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. xxxiii. 19. xxxvii. 3, 19. 18. cxii. 7. evil xxxvii. 28. A protection in all dangers. The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in Ps. xxxiii. his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to xxxiv. 20. keep them alive in famine. There shall no befall thee, neither shall any plague come thy dwelling: He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. nigh xci. 10, II. Guidance in all his undertakings and proceedings. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord Ps. xxxvii. none of his steps shall slide. 23, &c. In all thy Prov. iii. 6. ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 3.5. xvi. 3.) 5. 28. Success and prosperity in his designs. Commit Ps. xxxvii. thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.Whatsoever he doeth, it ps. i. 3. shall prosper.— Thou shalt decree a thing, and Job xxii. it shall be established; and the light shall shine upon thy ways. The Lord shall command a bless-Deut. ing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto. Thine expectation Prov. xxiii. shall not be cut off. Comfortable enjoying the fruits of his industry.Thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands. xxviii. 8. 12. 18. Ps. cxxviii. 2. Prov. x. 24. Satisfaction of all reasonable desires. The desire. of the righteous shall be granted. Delight thyself Ps. xxxvii. in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. He will fulfil the desire of them cxlv. 19. that fear him: he will hear their cry, and will save them. Firm peace and quiet. The work of righteous- Isa. xxxii. 17. SERM. ness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever. II. Great Psal. cxix. peace have they which love thy law. The fruit of James iii. righteousness is sowed in peace. 165. 18. Psal. xcvii. 11. Prov. xxix. 6. Ps.cxlvii.3. Joy and alacrity. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare : but the righteous doth sing and rejoice. Support and comfort in afflictions. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. Psal. xxxi. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. 24. xxvii. 14. Ps. xxxiv. 19, 20. xxxvii. 39. Deliverance from trouble. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones, not one of them is broken. Preservation and recovery from mishaps or misPs. xxxvii. carriages. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. 24. 34. 4. Ps. cxii. 1. Preferment of all sorts, to honour and dignity, to Ps. xxxvii. wealth and prosperity. Wait upon the Lord, and keep his way; and he shall exalt thee to inherit Prov. xxii. the land. By humility and fear of the Lord are riches and honour. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord- -wealth and riches are in his house. The upright shall have good things in possession. (Job xxxvi. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their Job xxxvi. days in prosperity, and their years in pleasure. The tabernacle of the righteous shall flourish. 3. Prov. xxviii. 10. II. Prov. xiv. II. Long life. The fear of the Lord prolongeth Prov. x. 27 days. By me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. Let thine ix. II. iii. 1. 2. 16. II. heart keep my commandments: for length of days, SERM. and long life, and peace, shall they add unto thee. A good name enduring after death. The memory Prov. x. 7. of the just is blessed. 25. 26. cxii. 2. Blessings entailed on posterity. His seed shall Ps. xxxvii. be mighty upon earth; the generation of the up- (Exod. xx. 6.) right shall be blessed. The root of the righteous Prov. xii. 3. shall not be moved. Deut. vii. 12. xi. 13. Thus is a liberal dispensation even of temporal goods annexed by God's infallible word unto the practice of piety. It is indeed more frequently, abundantly, and explicitly promised unto God's an- Prov.xi. 31. cient people, as being a conditional ingredient of the xxviii. 1. covenant made with them, exhibited in that as a recompense of their external performance of religious works prescribed in their law. The gospel doth not so clearly propound it, or so much insist upon it, as not principally belonging to the evangelical covenant, the which, in reward to the performance of its conditions by us, peculiarly doth offer blessings spiritual, and relating to the future state; as also scarce 2 Cor. iv. deserving to be mentioned in comparison to those Rom. viii. superior blessings. Yet as the celestial benefits, although not openly tendered in the Jewish law, were yet mystically couched therein, and closely designed for the spiritual and hearty practisers of religion; so is the collation of temporal accommodations to be understood to belong to all pious Christians there is a codicil, as it were, annexed to the New Testament, in which God signifieth his intention to furnish his children with all that is needful or convenient for them. His providence hath not ceased to watch over us, his bounty doth not fail 17. 18. |