I shall show,

J. What is implied in God's setting apart the godly from the rest of the world.

II. That he has set them apart for his own use.

III. That this is of importance to be known.

I. Let us consider what is implied in the Lord's setting apart the godly from the rest of the world. Here it may be observed, 1. That this implies that God always intended to set them apart from the world. He never does anything but what he always intended to do. "He worketh all things after the counsel of his own will;" and this counsel was formed from eternity. He must, therefore, have designed to set apart all the godly, whom he will finally set apart from the world, before the world began. Accordingly, the Bible represents all the godly as chosen to their character and condition from eternity. The doctrine of eternal election is clearly and abundantly taught by the sacred writers. It may be sufficient, however, to mention one passage in Paul's epistle to the Ephesians. "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." The apostle here means to include all the godly from the beginning to the end of time. God knew exactly how many of the human race he should have occasion to employ in his service, and just so many he predestinated to bear his image, or to become godly, before he laid the foundation of the world. All these were set apart from the rest of mankind, in the divine purpose, from eternity. They were then chosen out of the world, or from the general mass of mankind, to be holy, useful, and happy forever.

2. God's setting apart the godly from the rest of the world implies that they were, before they were set apart, just like other men, ungodly. All men are by nature children of wrath, and dead in trespasses and sins. There is no moral difference between the elect and non-elect, before the elect become godly. If they were all by nature godly, there could be no occasion of God's setting apart one rather than another for himself. But since they are all by nature unholy and unfit for his service, he may see good reason to set apart some to be godly and fitted for his service. This leads me to observe,

3. That God's setting apart the godly from the rest of the world, implies that he gives them a heart after his own heart, or makes them godly. This is the general representation of scripture. The godly are the workmanship of God. He takes away their stony hearts, and gives them hearts of flesh. He translates them out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom

of his dear Son. They "are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." "They are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath foreordained that they should walk in them." When God enstamps his moral image on the elect, and sheds abroad his love in their hearts, he makes them godly, and actually separates them from the world. From that time, they are crucified unto the world, and the world to them. They do in their feelings come out from the world, and take the part of God against the world. They feel as God feels, and pursue what God pursues. They choose to be on the Lord's side, and sincerely desire to promote his glory. I may add,

4. The Lord's setting apart the godly further implies his fixing their situations in life. Thus God set apart Abram. He called him from the place of his nativity, from his relations and friends, and carried him where he had occasion for him. God set apart Isaac, and Jacob, and Joseph, from the rest of the world, in the same manner. But it is needless to mention particular instances in this case, since it is always true, that he determines the situations and circumstances of all the godly, so as best to answer the design of their separation from the world. He actually determines when and where, every godly person shall live and die. And though the godly cannot comprehend his wise and holy purposes in their various situations, yet they will finally see that they have reason to rejoice in all his disposals. For every godly person will actually be, some way or other, instrumental in carrying into execution the great and good designs of God. He views the situations of the godly as of vastly more importance than they do themselves. He knows why he takes one here and another there, and makes him godly and fixes the bounds of his habitation in one place, rather than another. This leads me to show,

II. That God has set apart the godly from the rest of the world for his own use.

The godly are prepared for the active service of God; and he has always employed them in his active service. As he makes them godly for his use, so he uses them to carry on his great and gracious designs in the world. There are many ways in which he can employ them to advantage; and he does employ them in all the ways in which they can be the most useful. In particular,

1. God has set apart the godly for keeping up his worship in the world. Ever since men became enemies to God, they have been averse to paying him that religious homage which is his due. They have not liked to retain God in their knowl

edge, and in order to forget him, have designedly neglected to call on his name. This has been the case in all ages. But God has meant to preserve his worship in this world, notwithstanding all the efforts of wicked men and evil spirits to destroy it. And for this purpose he has formed and set apart the godly from the rest of the world. The godly love to worship God, and take pleasure in drawing near to him, and pouring out their hearts before him, and doing honor to his great and holy , name. They are fitted and disposed to keep up the worship of the one living and true God in a world that lies in wickedness. Accordingly, God has used them as instruments of maintaining his worship from age to age. Noah kept up the worship of God in the midst of the ungodly world. Abraham kept up the worship of God amidst an idolatrous world, and so did Isaac and Jacob. The Jewish nation maintained the worship of God, whilst all other nations walked after their vain imaginations and forsook the God that made them. In Babylon, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and other godly men, maintained the worship of the God of Israel. And since the gospel day, the godly have done the same service for God in the world. Had it not been for the godly, the worship of God would have long since ceased from one end of the earth to the other. But he has set apart a sufficient number of the godly in various places, to keep up the worship of himself, and to be instrumental in leading others humbly and devoutly to acknowledge their Creator.

2. God has set apart the godly to preserve pure and entire his religious institutions. Besides prayer, God has appointed other religious duties. Before the apostasy, he instituted the Sabbath, or set apart one day in seven, to be kept holy unto himself. After the apostasy, he appointed sacrifices. After sacrifices, he appointed circumcision. After circumcision, he appointed the passover. After the passover, he appointed baptism, and the Lord's supper. These positive institutions it has been the appropriate business of the godly to maintain. Adam and his family kept the Sabbath, and offered sacrifices. All the pious patriarchs till Noah offered sacrifices. Noah both before and after the flood offered sacrifices. When mankind were dispersed, and had lost the knowledge, and neglected the institutions of God, he set apart Abraham to keep them up; and this he did with singular faith, fortitude, and perseverance. His godly seed continued the practice, and walked in the steps of their father Abraham, until Christ appeared in the flesh. Then his sincere followers named his name, and supported his holy institutions. And ever since the spread of the gospel, the

godly have kept up the ordinances of Christ, which will be their proper business to the end of the world. The ordinances of the gospel are to continue to the second coming of Christ, amidst all the revolutions of nations, and all the revivals and declensions of religion, till the whole number of the godly are called in, and the great scheme of man's redemption completed. To maintain these institutions is one purpose, for which God is here and there setting apart the godly from the world and for himself.

3. God sets apart the godly to be keepers of his sacred Oracles. These are not agreeable to the corrupt hearts of men; and they would have been long since destroyed, had it not been for the care and faithfulness of the godly in preserving the sacred books of divine inspiration. These were first intrusted to the care of God's ancient people, who, amidst all their other departures from God, never gave up his written. Revelation. It was their peculiar privilege to enjoy and preserve the sacred writings. The apostle demands, "What advantage hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." This sacred deposit the Jewish church handed down to the Christian. And the Christian church have been the happy means of preserving the sacred volume to the present day. It is still the duty and privilege of the godly to keep the word of God for him, until its contents have completely answered all the purposes for which they were designed. The Bible will never be safe in any other hands but those of the godly. And they may yet find it extremely difficult to keep it uninjured from the hands of those who wish to corrupt and destroy it. But since God is able to raise up guardians of his holy word, we may confidently expect that he will, somewhere or another, set apart the godly to perform this important service for him. If the godly should cease in one place or nation, yet they shall continue in some other place or nation; and as long as they continue, it will be their duty and privilege to keep sacred the sacred books of divine inspiration.

4. God has set apart the godly, to exhibit the beauty and reality of true religion before the eyes of all mankind. God means to teach men by example as well as precept. And he raises up the godly, gives them his own spirit, and adorns them with the beauties of holiness, to show the world of the ungodly the excellency of that religion, which he has revealed, and required them to embrace and practise. God does not, however, set apart the godly as perfect examples. He has told

the world, that "there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not." But yet he hath set apart many, who have exhibited the most amiable, instructive, and commanding examples. Noah condemned the ungodly world, by his holy and exemplary life. Abraham displayed a shining example of faith and self-denial. Moses was a pattern of meekness. Job was an illustrious instance of patience and submission. Mordecai and Daniel were eminent for their wisdom, firmness, and zeal. The prophets and apostles, and primitive Christians, acted out pure love to God and man under the severest trials. Indeed, all godly persons do, more or less, manifest the truth and importance of vital piety. And this is one purpose for which they are made godly and set apart from the rest of the world. Accordingly, the apostle exhorts Christians to follow the example of the prophets. "Take, my brethren, the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience." Christ said to his followers, "Ye are the light of the world;" and then added, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Peter exhorts Christians to be examples to the world. "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people that ye should show forth the praises"-or as it is in the margin, the virtues-" of him, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." He subjoins, "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." Paul exhorts Christians to "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called ;" and to "adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things." And to the godly at Philippi he says, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings; that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." The exemplary conduct of the primitive Christians excited the admiration of the heathen world, and extorted confessions from them highly honorable to Christianity. Their example often proved the means of awakening and converting infidels to the Christian religion. And the bright example of the godly still tends to produce the same happy effects.

5. God sets apart the godly to promote his cause in the world. He makes use of instruments for this purpose, and the godly are his only proper, free, voluntary instruments. Other men are only passive, undesigning instruments; but the godly