The Godly Man’s Picture Chapter 4 (Part 9)

Mike Leake 1 Comment

The Canvas:

All I can really say after reading this section is wow, ouch, and Lord, break me! In this section Watson discusses the eleventh characteristic of a godly man: humility. This is not a section on being humbled, nor of a mere outward humility. The type of humility that Watson is talking about is an inward, true, soul humility. We are given ten marks of a humble soul:

  1. A humble soul is emptied of all swelling thoughts of himself
  2. A humble soul thinks better of others than of himself
  3. A humble soul has a low esteem of his duties
  4. A humble soul is always preferring bills of indictment against himself (“He complains, not of his condition, but of his heart”)
  5. A humble soul justifies God in an afflicted condition
  6. A humble soul is a Christ-magnifier
  7. A humble soul is willing to take a reproof for sin
  8. A humble soul is willing to have his name and gifts eclipsed, so that God’s glory may be increased
  9. A humble soul likes that condition which God sees best for him.
  10. A humble Christian will stoop to the meanest person and the lowest office

Even after reading these there will be some that are prideful. As Watson says, “this bastard of pride is born but none are willing to father it.” He then determines to ask a few probing questions to try to drive pride out of the heart: Are not those who are given to boasting proud? Are not those who have a high opinion of their own excellencies proud? Are not those who despise others proud? Are not those who trumpet their own praise proud? Are not those who take the glory due to God to themselves proud? Are not those who are never pleased with their condition proud?

We must strive to be humble, says Watson. And there are many reasons for us to be humble. Humility is very valuable. It is valuable because God loves a humble soul. The times in which we live (true in our day as it was in Watson’s) are times of humbling. Consider what a horrid sin pride is. Those that love Christ cannot be comfortable with the idolatry of pride. We must flee from it because it is the “breakneck of souls”. If this is not enough motivation Watson appeals (it seems) to our innate sense of pride; humility raises one’s esteem in the eyes of others. At this point I was pleading with advice on pursuing humility. Watson delivers.

  • Look at Christ
  • Study God’s immensity and purity; a sight of glory humbles
  • Study thyself (our dark side, and our light side)

When we are doing these things we must consider the means of grace we have received and how disproportionate that is to our level of godliness. Consider that even the grace we have is not of our own growth. Look at how far short we come of others (could a prideful man even see this). Remember that even our beauty is spotted. And lastly, as we look at ourselves remember that we are but dust. Ought dust to be proud? A reality of death ought to humble.

Discussion:

How do you battle pride and cultivate humility in your life?

Do you think Watson should have appealed to the prideful man’s hope of being esteemed in the eyes of others?

In a discussion on prideful attire Watson mentions, “black spots, gaudy attire, and naked breasts”. Does anyone have any clue what the “black spots” are?

Strokes of Genius:

“A humble man has lower thoughts of himself than others can have of him.” (p78)

“A humble man values others at a higher rate than himself, and the reason is because he can see his own heart better than he can another’s.” (p79)

“The more knowledge a humble Christian has, the more he complains of ignorance; the more faith, the more he bewails his unbelief.”

“A humble man…is content to be outshone by others in gifts and esteem, so that the crown of Christ may shine the brighter.” (p81)

“A proud man complains that he has no more; a humble man wonders that he has so much…” (p81)

“An angel is a knowledgeable creature, but take away humility from an angel, and he is a devil.” (p82)

“A sight of glory humbles.” (p86)

(Concerning graces received) “Do not be proud of what you have, but be humble for what you lack”. (p86)

“The thoughts of the grave should bury our pride.” (p87)

On to Part 10…

Borrowed Light: Today in Blogworld 04/08-04/12

Mike Leake

Timmy Brister has a short and succinct post on how to be a missionary at work.

I am pleased to inform you that the Reformed Mafia is back up and running. Not only that, but they have recruited a new writer: The Highland Host. Check out his first post on Monkeying with the Bible.

Last week Challies encouraged us to be accountable. Today he is encourging against being anonymous.

Phil Johnson continues discussing Acts 17 and contextualization.

John MacArthur lists eight ways that parents can provoke their children.

Carolyn and CJ Mahaney give practical advices to pastor’s wives on how to deal with criticism of your husband.

On the heels of Together for the Gospel, Josh Harris, writing for New Attitude, delivers a great article on Unity in the Cross.

I have to get this CD:

(HT: Thinklings)

The Godly Man’s Picture Chapter 4 (Part 8)

Mike Leake

The Canvas:

Today we will discuss the tenth characteristic of a godly man: he has the Spirit of God residing in him. Watson starts this section by dismissing the heresy of Montanus and instead proposing that rather than taking upon His essence he flow to us in measure. He reveals himself in us, Watson says by his motions and by his virtues. We are then given seven virtues of the Spirit of God:

  1. Teaching
  2. Sanctifying
  3. Vivifying (giving of life)
  4. Jurisdictive (ruling and governing)
  5. Mollifying (softening)
  6. Corroborating (confirming, making certain)
  7. Comforting

Watson then discusses how the Spirit comforts. The Spirit comforts, says Watson, by showing us that we are in a state of grace, by helping us apprehend the love of God, by take us to the blood of Christ, by enabling our conscience to comfort, and through the divine ordinances.

Our author then considers whether or not the wicked may partake of the Holy Spirit. His argument is simple. The wicked only partake, the godly are indwelt. The unregenerate merely taste, the godly feast.

What are the uses of these doctrines? For one, it marks those that do and do not have the Spirit. If a man does not have the Spirit then we know he is not a godly man. Furthermore it marks off those that not only do not possess the Spirit but also deride Him. It admonishes those that do have the Spirit to acknowledge God’s distinguishing love and not to grieve the Spirit.

The second use is for those that are godly to strive for the blessed indwelling of the Spirit. We ought to consider how necessary the Spirit is. We cannot pray without Him. We cannot resist temptation without him. We cannot be fruitful without Him. The ordinances will not be effectual without him. Therefore, we must strive to attain more of the Spirit.

Discussion:

Do you agree with Watson’s counsel concerning whether or not we are laboring in our strength or God’s? Would you add anything, or do you find his three answers sufficient? (His answers are that when we minister humbly, when our aims are pure, and when we glorify God in everything we can know it is through His power and not ours).

As a Southern Baptist I have noticed that the Puritans put more stock in the ordinances than we typically do. Perhaps we labor with such fervor to make certain that people understand them as “only symbols” that we forget they are symbols that display grace. In as much as they preach the Word they can be effectual as conduits of grace. Thoughts?

Do you agree with this quote: “The Spirit is the soul of the Word without which it is but a dead letter”?

What about this one? “The blood of God is not enough without the breath of God.”

On page 75 Watson urges those that are godly to “strive for the blessed indwelling of the Spirit”. I do not understand his view of the indwelling of the Spirit. Is he simply saying we ought to strive for more of the Spirit (as in “be filled with the Spirit”). If so, then I agree. Does he believe that a believer is saved and then indwelt later? Does anyone have any insight into this?

Strokes of Genius:

“The motions of the Spirit are always consonant with the Word.” (p68)

“The Spirit gives not only a sufficiency of strength, but a redundance” (p70)

“The Spirit applies whatever Christ has purchased; he shows us that our sins are done away in Christ, and though we are spotted in ourselves, we are undefiled in our Head.” (p72)

“Ordinances are the conduit pipes of grace, but the Spirit is the spring.” (p76)

“The blood of God is not enough without the breath of God.” (p76)

“If we check the motions of the Spirit, we shall lose the comforts of the Spirit.” (p77)

On to Part 9…

The Godly Man’s Picture Chapter 4 (Part 7)

Mike Leake

The Canvas:

Today we consider the ninth characteristic of a godly man: a godly man is a lover of the Word. A godly man loves the Word written, and he loves it because of the efficacy that it has had upon him. He loves all of the Word, not merely a part. He loves the counseling parts, the threatening parts, and the consolatory parts. All of it. But how, you ask, does one know whether he loves the word or not? Watson gives eight ways a godly man shows his love to the Word:

  1. By diligently reading it
  2. By frequently meditating on it
  3. By delighting in it
  4. By hiding it
  5. By defending it
  6. By preferring it above things most precious
  7. By talking about it
  8. By conforming to it

The godly man does these things because of the excellence of the Word. He understands that it is the pillar of fire to guide us and a spiritual mirror to display our hearts, he embraces the word as a sovereign comfort in distress. He loves it because of its efficacy upon his heart. He not only loves the Word written, but also the Word preached.

Let us then, test whether or not we are godly by this characteristic: are we lovers of the Word? Do we love the Word written? Do we love the Word preached? We will know that we love the Word written and preached when we desire to sit under its heart-searching ministry, when we pray it may meet with our sins, and when we are thankful for this reproof. Do we love the Word?

Discussion:

Do you agree with Watson that many “hide the Word in their memory, but not in their heart”?

Keeping in mind that Watson is not saying this is the purpose of preaching…do you agree with his assessment that “the Word is preached to beat down sin and advance holiness”?

Since Watson says that a “godly man does not choose to sit under a ministry that will not work upon his conscience”, do you think he is saying he ought to leave? What if the problem is with the person and not the preacher? Or does Watson have a belief in the efficacy of the Word that perhaps we do not in our day? Is Watson saying, if your conscience is not pierced then the Word is not preached?

Strokes of Genius:

“Those who will not be taught by the Word shall be judged by the Word”. (p61)

“How can those who are seldom conversant with the Scriptures say they love them?” (p65)

“The two testaments are hung up like rusty armor which is seldom or never made use of.” (p65)

On to Part 8…