June 24

The godly. - 2 Peter 2:9.

WE have a peculiar character to describe:-“The godly.” Who are they? There are none such by nature; but, blessed be God, there are such by grace; and this grace is perpetually producing a change in the hearts of many,-according to the promise in Isaiah:-“Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the brier, the myrtle-tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, and an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

Therefore, in an ungodly world there are some who may be denominated godly men. The word is often used as a term of reproach and censure. Thus, when professors of religion walk unworthy the name by which they are called, their miscarriages lead the enemies of God to blaspheme. “Ah,” say they, “these are some of the godly.” “Woe to the world,” says the Saviour, “because of offences; for it must needs be that offences come; but woe unto him by whom the offence cometh.” Let us beware, therefore, how we cast a stumblingblock in the way of the blind, or prove a distress to the strong; for in either case the world can and will distinguish between reality and pretension.

Yea, sometimes they infer reality from pretensions, and conclude there is such a thing as true religion, from the attempt to counterfeit it. But what is godliness? It is not superstition. It means, indeed, a serving God “with reverence and godly fear;” but this fear is not that which hath torment in it. It is not a slavish fear, but a filial fear. “We have not received the spirit of bondage again, to fear; but the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father,” and “have boldness and access with confidence, by the faith of him.” It is not enthusiasm. Though it leads us to set our affections on things above, and induces us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” it does not forbid the common enjoyments of life; neither does it draw us away from the concerns of the life that now is. It does not erect religion upon the destruction of humanity. It is zeal that warms the blood, but does not burn up the brains.

Godliness is more than morality. We do not depreciate morality; godliness provides for it, and includes it. The apostle, in addition to our living soberly and righteously, adds, “and godly in this present world.” It is not profession: it is more than profession. A man may have a name to live while he is dead, and wear the form of godliness while he denies the power thereof. A godly man may be contrasted with a worldly man: a man of this world is one who makes the world his portion, is governed by its maxims, worships its god, obeys its prince, and walks according to the course of it; the world is every thing to him. So with regard to a godly man. He derives his character entirely from God, and God to him is all in all.

Now, such a man as this is with God on the Sabbath, but then he does not leave him through the week; he is in the fear of the Lord all the day long, and every day. This godliness leads him to the sanctuary, and he loves the place where God’s honour dwells. But it leads him also into the closet, where he prays to his Father who seeth in secret. It rules him also in his family, and he says, with Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” He has there an altar for God, on which he offers the morning and evening sacrifices of prayer and praise; he walks by the rule of God’s word. Yes, his godliness is not merely a habit: ’tis a nature; ’tis a life; ’tis a divine nature: it is the life of God in the soul of man. Such a man is concerned, “whether he eats or drinks, or whatever he does, to do all to the glory of God.”

Now, as to the degree of godliness to which we have already attained: we may judge very much of it by this one thing,-by the pleasure we feel in divine things; we are godly in proportion as our duties become our privileges, and in proportion as we hold communion and habitual intercourse with God. He must abound in godliness who is able to say, “My meditation of him shall be sweet.” “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate upon thee in the night-watches.”