By Thomas Watson
Continued
We spoke, by way of Introduction, last time about this incomprehensible blessing God has given to us, and the Truth that it lays a foundation for all other mercies. We want to continue by talking about…
The Nature of Godliness
It will first be enquired, “What is godliness?” I answer in general,
“Godliness is the sacred impression and workmanship of God in a man, whereby from being carnal he is made spiritual.”
When godliness is wrought in a person, he does not receive a new soul - but he has “another spirit” (Num. 14:24).
“But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.”
The faculties are not new - but the qualities are; the strings are the same - but the tune is corrected. Concerning godliness, I shall lay down these seven maxims or propositions:
1. Godliness is a REAL thing
It is not a fantasy, but a fact. Godliness is not the feverish fantasy of a sick brain; a Christian is no enthusiast, one whose religion is all made up of theory. Godliness has truth for its foundation; it is called
“…the way of truth” (Psalm 119:30).
Godliness is a ray and beam that shines from God. If God is true, then godliness is true.
2. Godliness is an INTRINSIC thing
It lies chiefly in the heart:
“…circumcision is that of the heart”
(Romans 2:29).
The dew lies on the leaf, the sap is hidden in the root. The moralist's religion is all in the leaf; it consists only in externals - but godliness is a holy sap which is rooted in the soul:
“Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place” (Psalm 51:6).
3. Godliness is a SUPERNATURAL thing
By nature we inherit nothing but evil.
“When we were in the flesh, the motions of sins did work in our members” (Romans 7:5).
We sucked in sin as naturally as our mother's milk; but godliness is the “wisdom from above” (Jas. 3:17). It is breathed in from heaven. God must light up the lamp of grace in the heart. Weeds grow by themselves; flowers are planted. Godliness is a celestial plant which comes from the New Jerusalem. Therefore it is called a “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22). A man has no more power to make himself godly, than to create himself.
4. Godliness is an EXTENSIVE thing
It is a sacred leaven which spreads itself into the whole soul:
“May the God of peace sanctify you wholly” (1 Thess. 5:23).
There is
· A Light in the understanding,
· An Order in the affections,
· A Pliableness in the will, and
· An Exemplariness in the life.
We do not call a black man white, because he has white teeth. He who is good only in some part is not godly. What Grace creates is called “the new man” (Col. 3:10), not a new eye, or tongue - but a new man. He who is godly is good all over; though he is regenerate only in part - yet it is in every part.
5. Godliness is an INTENSE thing
It does not lie in a dead formality and indifference - but is vigorous and flaming: “fervent in spirit” (Romans 12:11). We call water hot when it is so in the third or fourth degree. He whose devotion is inflamed is godly, and his heart boils over in holy affections.
6. Godliness is a GLORIOUS thing
As the jewel to the ring, so is piety to the soul, bespangling it in God's eyes. [And that is a significant distinction - in God’s eyes and not merely in ours! It is His judgment that determines what is Godly and what is not, not our own subjective decision, for our own determination might alter from time to time…and for various and very shady reasons! That makes it necessary for there to be a sure and dependable standard for Godliness; and so there is - His Word as put forth in the pages of the Scripture] - Reason makes us men; godliness makes us earthly angels; by it we “partake of the divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:4). Godliness is near akin to glory: “glory and virtue” (2 Pet. 1:3). Godliness is glory in the seed, and glory is godliness in the flower.
7. Godliness is a PERMANENT thing
Aristotle says,
“Names are given from the habit”.
We do not call the one who blushes ruddy - but the one who is of a ruddy complexion (1 Sam. 17:42).
“And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking.”
A blush of godliness is not enough to distinguish a Christian - but godliness must be the temper and complexion of the soul.
Godliness is a fixed thing. There is a great deal of difference between a stake in the hedge - and a tree in the garden. A stake rots and molders - but a tree, having life in it, abides and flourishes. When godliness has taken root in the soul, it abides to eternity:
“…his seed remains in him” (1 John 3:9).
Godliness being engraved in the heart by the Holy Spirit, as with the point of a diamond, can never be erased.
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