qualities of the Soul removed and heavenly habits infused in their room or in a gracious conformity disposition and affections of the heart to God cleaving to all truths made known to us to find the powerful influences of the Gospel and Spirit of Christ upon us whereby our Souls are brought into the Image and likeness of his death and resurrection this is True Godliness 't is not a bare living up to the natural principles of morality nor a simple knowledg of the letter of the word or an historical notional or dogmatical knowledg of the sacred Gospel and the precepts thereof but in a faithful living up to the supernatural principles of Grace and the Gospel discharging our duties with as much readiness and faithfulness towards God as towards man so that our conscience may be kept void of offence towards both It consists in forsaking of every sin and not only to leave it but to loath it as the greatest evil and to cleave to God in sincerity of heart valuing him above all who is the chiefest good and from a principle of divine love willingly subjecting to all his Laws and appointments Godliness makes a man say with the Psalmist whom have I in Heaven but thee c. Non amat Christum amat aliquid plus quam Christum saith Austin he loves not Christ at all that loves him not above all He that entertains True Godliness is as much for the Work of Religion as for the wages of Religion Some there be who serve God that they may serve themselves upon God but a true Christian desires grace not only that God would glorifie him in Heaven but that he may glorifie God on Earth He cries Lord rather let me have a good heart than a great Estate though he loves many things besides God yet he loves nothing above God This man fears sin more than suffering and therefore he will suffer rather than sin He is like a Palm-Tree he alwaies flourishes best when he is prest down most This may serve in the second place to discover what the inward life and power of True Godliness is Thirdly That you may have a compleat and perfect knowledg of him it may not be amiss if I describe or give you the character of his form and external parts together with the very fashion he continually wares or goes in First Then know ye that the form or external parts of True Godliness are very comely and beautiful and no marvel it is so seeing he was form'd and fashioned by the wisdom of the only wise God our Saviour the works of whose hands being all glorious but this viz. the formation of Godliness being one of the chiefest highest and most admirable contrivances of his eternal wisdom must of necessity excel in glory sweet odour and amiableness his form and external beauty therefore is such that he needs no humane artifice to paint or adorn him or any waies to illustrate or set off his beauty and sweet comeliness of his countenance for there is nothing defective as to his Evangelical and Apostolical form as he came out of his great Creators hands and as there is nothing from head to foot that is superfluous more than needs or might be spared so every line and lineament Veins Nerves and Sinews of him are in such an exact and admirable order placed that is to his beauty there can be no addition Every one therefore that goes about to take from add to or alter any thing touching the form of True Godliness mars instead of making and defiles instead of beautifying besides God hath strictly forbid any thing of this nature to be done no man is to set up his Post by the Lor'ds Post Add thou not unto his Word lest he reprove thee and thou be found a liar viz. by fathering that upon God which is none of his do not the Papists call those superstitious and vain Ceremonies us'd in their Church by the name of God's Worship and what is this less than the putting a lye upon him besides it reflects upon the wisdom of God to attempt to change or alter any thing of the form of Godliness as if he did not know best how and in what way or after what manner he himself would be worshipped But must be beholding to man for his help wisdom and rare contrivances touching many things that are by the Papists called decent and necessary also doth it not reflect upon the care and faithfulness of God insomuch that he should not himself take care to lay down in his blessed word many things which are very necessary to be added to the form of Godliness which man's care and wisdom is fain to supply Therefore from hence all may perceive that True Godliness never alters his Physiognomy nor changes his countenance he is the very same and not altred in the least from what he was in the Primitive Time nay and there is indeed nothing in the world he hates more than those pompous Garbs superstitious Vestments and other Fooleries that are used in the Popish Church as Crossings Crysoms Salt Spittle Oyl and Holy Water with divers other ridiculuous Cereremonies which are so numerous they are too tedious here to reckon up therefore take heed you do not take the counterfeit form of Godlineness for the true Form for as there is a counterfeit Godliness so there is a counterfeit form of Godliness which the counterfeit or false Godliness alwaies wares it is also needful to note one thing more lest you are deceived viz. you must be sure to receive the power of Godliness with his form for his form without his inward life and power will do you no good 't is but as the Body without the Soul or the Shell without the Kirnel or the Cabinet without the Jewel neither ought any to slight his form for you may remember what the Apostle speaks of the form of Doctrine and of the form of sound Words for as the true faith must be held fast so must the profession of it also you may 't is true meet with a Shell without the Kirnel but it is rare to meet with a Kirnel without the Shell Having thus briefly given you the description both of the inside and outside power and form of True Godliness We shall proceed to Treat of his Pedigree and shew you whose Off-spring he is you by his name may easily read from whence he descends and learn what a Noble Patronage he is of he is indeed High-born the great and glorious Off-spring of the Lord Jehovah the Almighty Prince of Heaven and Earth the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the universal Monarch of the World whose Kingdom ruleth over all and as this is his Noble Extract and renowned Descent so likewise he is alwaies in high esteem and favour with his glorious Prince for there is none no not one in Heaven or Earth that he loves and takes more delight in than in True Godliness
GOdliness had no sooner left Formalist's door and gone a little further into the Town Religion but he espied a great number of People hasting out as fast as they could go nay he observed some of them ran though others of them went very softly At first he wondred what the matter was because the Town was a little before look'd upon to be a very safe and honourable place to dwell in as any in all the Countrey and had as great and glorious Priviledges belonging to it but upon enquiry he was told there was a number of Lions Evening-Wolves and other evil Beasts who had for a long time been shut up in their Dens a getting out and they having a great while been kept without prey they were afraid they should be torn in pieces But he observing which way they went was the more amazed for he perceived plainly they all steer'd their course directly towards the great City Babylon which he saw likewise a falling and was sure would suddenly in one hour be utterly dstroy'd True Godliness at this seemed so mightily concerned that he could not let them all pass without speaking to them and minding one of them to look like a sober man though he hung down his head as if he had been ashamed resolved to have a little Discourse with him to whom he spake after this manner Godli Sir What is the matter you leave this Town and haste away so fast When you first took up your dwelling here did you not intend to abide in it as long as you liv'd Apostate for that it seems was his Name truly Sir I did intend it I had a great love for this poor Town but I must remove out and be gone now Godli Why must you Is there a necessity laid upon you to acquit this place this honourable Town Religion Apostate Sir I shall be destroyed else for the Walls of late are much gone to decay I do not see that safety to reside here as formerly Besides they say there are a great number of Lions Romish Wolves and other Beasts of Prey a breaking out upon us and I am afraid if I should escape with my life yet having a few Sheep and Lambs they will devour them Truly Sir I do it to save what I have yet I wish very well to the place Godli 'T is very like you speak the truth in this but Sir pray whither are you going Apost I am a going towards the Confines of Babylon that great City Godli I am heartily sorry for you let me perswade you to return back and rest in this Town Sir do not fear those Lions you speak of for God hath said he will break the teeth of the Lions the old Lion and the Lions whelps but what though they should destroy your substance is not your Soul worth more than all the world Come go back again with me and I will dwell with you and be a sure defence to you so that you will not be hurt let Lions Woolfs and Devils too do what they can My name is True Godliness Sir I have saved many thousands from ruin in as great danger as you can be in Apost Sir there will be no safe living for me I must acquit the place the Town is besieged Godli What though it is besieged God is able to defend it and will be a wall of fire about it but why Sir do you chuse that great City you speak of for your Habitation I perceive you intend to go far enough Apost Sir don't mistake me I do not intend to go so far but to return again when the danger is over at present I will go but a little way out of the town Godli Sir you shew your self to be a naughty and trayterous and hypocritical person will you leave this Town in its distress if the danger be great which attends it you had the more need to abide in it to strengthen and encourage the poor Inhabitants Pray Sir do not shew so base and cowardly a Spirit What is this less than to betray rhe Town to the enemies Is not the strength of any place the People Besides your flying mightily encourages the Adversaries for by this means they may think to frighten all out and then with much ease take the Town and utterly destroy it Also you weaken the hands and sadly grieve the hearts of all true Protestants whose chief Treasure lies in the Town and cannot be removed out and it being also their Spiritual Native place they resolve to abide in it to the last let what will come You say you intend to return again when the danger is over What dangers you see above others to move you to acquit the Town I know not but let me tell you few who leave this Town out of fear of humane loss or danger do return again You say you intend to go but a little way alas you can't tell where you shall stop when once you leave the True Religion you desert Gods gracious protection you may not only cleave to Papistry but Atheism or any thing Come go back let me save you from a fall Why will you leave that Religion you have been so long established in Apost Sir I retain the same Principles that I formerly held and my love is the same to the Town as it was Godli Poor wretch you own the Principles of the True Religion and yet cleave to Idolatry and Superstition The three Worthies of old by your example might have retained Faith and right Principles in their hearts of the true God and yet have bowed down to the Golden Image and so needed not to have exposed themselves to a hot fiery Furnace Nay by this Doctrine who needs suffer Persecution Besides it renders all the Martyrs of old to be meer fools and madmen What do you say will you return my company one would think might allure you Apostate No Sir I have formerly had your company and I don't find you so pleasant a Companion besides the Town is sadly divided amongst themselves those who love you do not agree Godli Nay Sir now you are out for you and I never dwelt together yet for if I had ever took up my dwelling with you I would have kept you from this great Fall you will prove your self a meer Hypocrite one that never loved God nor this Town Religion in your heart Sir Uprightness and Sincerity of heart preserves from Apostacy and what though the Town is divided it is my great grief to see it but you had the more need to abide in it to do what you can to perswade them to love and Union however to unite in Affection Come humble your self before God for this great Sin and let us dwell together now and thou shalt abide secure notwithstanding the Divisions within and Troubles without and have most sweet peace and inward joy yea such as thou never hadst in all thy Life What dost say Apost Sir hold your peace and say
although he trusteth thus to his own Righteousness yet I could pick many holes in his Coat for he is a very worldly proud and passionate person nay and he himself confesseth he is a Sinner and yet would be justified by the Law whereas you know the least Sins Lusts of the Heart and evil Thoughts are a breach of it and the smallest breach is Death and eternal Wrath without a compensation made to offended Justice and none was able to do this but Jesus Christ and none have the blessing of his undertaking but such only who do believe Godli You seem to have a good understanding and can talk well but how comes it about you let me stand all this time at your door is this your kindness to me what signifies your knowledg and parts except you entertain True Godliness Legal I have opened you may perceive to you already you are in my affections and I will further open to you pray come in Godli Nay do not mistake your self you have opened to me in one respect but not in another you seem to like my form but not my power my external Rites but not my internal Life I am indeed received into your Head but not into your Heart I may be in your Judgment worth embracing but your will consents not to receive me you like my Garb but love not my Person you are I know a Professor of me but not a Possessor of me The truth is I Suspect you Formal Suspect me Sir for what Godli That you have one or two implacable Enemies of mine hid secretly in your House Formal Who I Sir God forbid I should hide any cursed Enemies of True Godliness Who are they pray tell me their Names Godli Old-Man Carnal Affections and Hypocrisie Formal As touching the Old-Man there is no Christian you know can be quite rid of him but God forbid I should shew him any countenance And as to Carnal Affections in this you do mistake for my Affections are spiritual But why should you think I harbour Hypocrisie in my House I will assure you there is none in all the world I hate more than this base Fellow for I know God abhors him and shall I shew countenance to him Lord far be it from me Godli Nay Formalist be not too confident 't is not your bare denial of it which is sufficient to acquit you of the suspicion I have of you upon this account but since you deny it I will see if I cannot find him out for you have a certain Officer in your House whom I am sure can make a righteous decision if he be not basely corrupted and blinded by your pretending so much Love and Zeal to seeming Holiness I know he will not flatter any man but speak according to his Light and Knowledg impartially at all times Sir I will appeal unto him Formal What is his Name Godli His Name is Conscience Vpon this Conscience was called and enquired of after this manner Godli Conscience I do require you in the fear of God to answer me a question or two concerning your Master Doth he nor secretly lodg and hide one in his house called Hypocrisie for I very much suspect him herein to be guilty What do you say Conscience Sir if you please to give me his Character or give me some certain signs of his behaviour and proprities whereby I may know him I will faithfully discover all that I understand as touching this matter Godli Conscience I thank you you speak like an honest man and indeed I have alwaies found you impartial according to your Light I will then give you such a Description of this subtil and deceitful Enemy of mine that you cannot well mistake and this I shall do by propounding a few questions to you Sir was he ever throughly wounded in the sense of sin as 't is sin being convinced of the ugly and abominable Nature thereof there being nothing in all the world more hateful to God than that not only convinced of the evil which does attend it or is the fruit of it but also of that cursed evil there is in it it being utterly contrary to the holy and pure Nature of God a breach of his Law and that which hath made a breach between God and Man and basely defaced the Image of God in him and is the absolute cause of all that abominable enmity that is in his heart against God and Me his Blessed Offspring and also makes man in love with the waies of the Devil nay to be like the Devil conformable to him and to do his will Secondly Is there no one Sin that secretly he loves and lives in the evil habit never being broken have you nor found him now and then telling Lie for his advantage sake or in telling of tales or stories adding to them to please the company or to excuse himself when accused of this or that that so he may gain credit Is he not sometimes overtaken by Drunkenness Is he not proud minding more the Honour praise and applause of men in what he doth in Religion than the praise of God Is he not Covetous Doth he give according to his Ability to the poor Doth he not rob God to serve the World I mean neglect hearing of Gods Word and other indispensable Duties for worldly Profit sake and so prefer the World above the Word Doth he never in Trading offend you in speaking better of his Commodities than they deserve Is not the World more in his love and affections than God and Jesus Christ Does he alwaies give good and just weight and measure and not take unlawful profit Doth he not make gain of Godliness and use Religion as a Cloak to cover his secret sins Doth he concern himself for the interest of the Gospel and by his open-heartedness shew upon that account he loves Christ above Son or Daughter Is he resolved to part with all rather than to sin against God and to offend you his poor Conscience Doth he see more evil in the least Sin than in the greatest Suffering Thirdly Doth he desire as much to have his Sins mortified as pardoned to be made holy here as well as happy hereafter Is he as much in love with the work of holiness as with the wages of holiness Doth he love the word of God because of the purity of it Is he willing to bear the Cross as well as wear the Crown to be with Christ in his Temptations here as well as with Christ in his Exaltations hereafter to live to God on earth as well as to live with God in heaven Fourthly Is he the same in private as in publick Doth he not rest satisfied upon the bare performance of Duty not minding whether he hath met with God or not Doth he pray in private as if men saw him and in publick as knowing God sees him Doth not his satisfaction more lie in his asking of God than in his receiving from God Does he not seek more
Person and the nature of his Operations by which he soon understood it was the Holy Ghost upon this he was not a little glad but presently cryed out as one whose life is in danger to God to send the Holy Spirit to assist him O Lord the Spirit the holy Spirit now Lord thus he cry'd and presently there was strange struglings indeed yea such a conflict that he never met with in all his life Judgment in the combate behaved himself bravely Consideration was not wanting Conscience laid on home blows being back'd with Endeavour alias Laborious but at last in the middle of the battel in comes the Holy Spirit and with him Faith and some other of Godliness's Attendants and the door flew open and Old Man immediately went to the walls crying out quarter pleading his great Age but had no mercy shewed him Wilful-will straitway subjected himself that Scripture being made good My people shall be willing in the day of my power and became Thoughtful's very good Servant Carnal Affections changed their minds and were made heavenly and so they abode to his great joy until his dying day True Godliness being now entred into his House with his Attendance Thoughtful was not a little comforted Now Godlinsss's Retinue who came immediately in with him were these following some of which you had an account of before viz. Heavenly New-man true-True-love Innocency Humility Sobriety Sincerity Temperance Self-clearing Faithful Excellent Knowledge Blessed Experience Godly Zeal Filial Fear Precious Promises Holy Revenge Vehement Desire Constant Supplication Spiritual Indignation Christian Courage Sincere Aim and Ends Careful Patience Hospitality Stability Charity Liberality Chastity Purity Holy Sympathy Wake-man Watch-well Peaceable Harmless Gentleness Brotherly-kindness and Love-all besides several others of like quality and by reason these as I formerly told you were all great Nobles or Persons highly descended being the Off-spring of Heaven they had I perceiv'd also a most glorious Attendance to accompany them and to the end you may know what a happy man poor Thoughtful is now become and with him every true Christian I shall let you know who they were The first I saw was the Father of true Godliness for he alwayes dwells where he dwells and abides with this his glorious and heavenly Attendance Secondly the Lord Jesus Christ which brought that word to my remembrance If any man loves me he will keep my Words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him Also the other word I will come in to him and Sup with him and he with me 3. The Holy Spirit for he also is said to dwell in us and besides these there was 4. Justification 5. Reconciliation 6. Acceptation 7. Vnion and 8. Communion with the Father and Son 9. Adoption 10. Pardon of Sin 11. The Image of God 12. Peace of Conscience 13. And Joy in the Holy Ghost 14. Free access to the Throne of Grace 15. A place in the heavenly Family 16. Fellowship with Saints 17. The earnest and sealings of the Spirit 18. Increase of Grace 19. The Attendance of an innumerable company of Angels 20. Divine Protection or sure Refuge in God 21. A full assurance of Heaven but was a great while before he could see him he lay hid it appears though he came in with the rest 22 Lastly Final Perseverance But lo I looked and beheld a good way off I espied another glorious Train followed In the midst of which I plainly discerned amongst others whose Glory was so great I could not behold them these following Immortality Incorruption Perfection Glorious Victory Heavenly Triumph the Beatifical Vision Rivers of Pleasures The Tree of Life the King in his Beauty a white Throne Mansions of Glory the Holy City New Jerusalem the Streets whereof were all pav'd with pure Gold a Crown of Righteousness which so glistered that it dazled mine eyes in such a sort that could notlook downwards like some men ever since moreover I saw Millions of Millions of Glorified Saints coming amongst the Holy Cherubims and Seraphims and all the Host of Heaven with Palms and Harps in their hands singing Allelujah to God and the Lamb they made such Melody that it was enough to ravish ones Soul in such a manner as to leave no heart nor spirit in us to the empty things of this World Now the two first glorious Companies who attend True Godliness here these entred in with him immediately and the other Glories Thoughtful was sure of possessing after a few daies so that he was wonderfully fortified against all Domestick Commotions or foreign approaching dangers whatsoever for he could not but expect that new Troubles would be raised against him both from within and without And so indeed it suddenly came to pass for Apollyon the cursed Prince of Darkness first raised up all his scattered forces which still remained within who lurked in holes and secure corners of his house for particularly Old-man though he was dangerously wounded his head broke and laid a bleeding yet it appears he was not quite dead yet was committed close prisoner under the charge of one of Godliness his Servants called Holy Revenge and though he had a strict Command to kill him yet he saw he could not presently do it by which means it fell out that in a little time he seemed to revive again and poor Thoughtful thereby was continually plagu'd with Indwelling Sin to his dying day which was a great grief to him and an hindrance also to True Godliness at all times and the worst of all was this inward Corruption alias Old-man alias Body of sin getting too great power by the treachery of Mrs. Heart and Apollyon the Prince of Darkness for they laying before him his manifold evils and remisness in holy Duties perswaded him that he harboured in his house an Enemy of True Godliness called Hypocrisie and that he was like upon that account to lose all his hopes here and that happiness which Godliness assured him of hereafter and had not Sincerety come in with Godliness he had been utterly undone but as God would have it Self-clearing by the help of poor Conscience made it appear to him that Hypocrisie was not hid in his house nor in the least countenanced by him for first they made it out he had a general hatred of all iniquity and did not allow of nor connive at any sin whatsoever by the aid of Spiritual Indignation And secondly That there was no one duty which he was convinced of but he readily subjected to it by the help of New Obedience Thirdly That he was mighty careful of and had alwaies by the help of Christian Watchwel kept a strict eye over Mrs. Heart whom he most of all mistrusted and had great Jealousie of Fourthly That he rested not upon the external performance of any Duty but did all he did to the praise and glory of God by the help of true love Fifthly that he was the same
nor is there any indeed more like him or does more lively represent him in all the Earth for he bears his express sweet and Heavenly Image yea and such a venerable respect and gracious esteem hath he of him that those who love him he loves those who hate him he hates those who receive him he receives and those who reject him he rejects where he comes to dwell there God Christ and the Holy Ghost dwells Godliness is of great Antiquity nay according to the description we gave you of him In the first place we may well say he is without beginning of daies for Truth for some times he bears that name dwelt in God from Everlasting though in time manifest or made known to men and that in divers waies and manners according as God in wisdom saw good But if we speak of his Antiquity in respect of his dwelling here below the first man that knew him was Adam who whilst he stood in the state of Innocency enjoyed some part of his sweet Company but by the malice of a great and potent Enemy he was abused and his Image so defaced and marr'd that he forsook his Habitation which was the ruine and utter undoing of our first Parents and their whole Posterity and had not the Father of True Godliness the King of Heaven and Earth found out through his infinite wisdom a way to recover Man from his lost Estate Godliness had made his abode no longer in this World for by means of Corruption of Nature there was begotten and brought forth a cursed Monster of ugly shape whose Name was Vice alias Lust who found so much favour with Adam's Children that Godliness was utterly discountenanced and though he was the Off-spring of Heaven as you heard before and the only delight of Jehovah and unto man the greatest friend and chief Benefactor in all the World striving to enrich him chear his heart and to make him truly Noble and Renowned on Earth and bring him back into his former Primitive Glory and thereby at last make him eternally happy in Heaven yet he was neglected and lamentably slighted that there was but only one of Adam's Off-spring cared for him at that time and he too for entertaining of him with that just and good respect he deserved was by his Brother whose Name was Cain basely murdered so that Godliness by this perceived very early what kind of usage and entertainment amongst the Children of men he was like to meet withal and truly never was there any one so nobly descended and of such an excellent peaceable and sweet a nature and behaviour generally so dealt with as Godliness hath been from the beginning to this very day except the Prince of Godliness himself yet he found some friends after Abel was slain who entertained him kindly and though they were reproached hated and persecuted for shewing favour to him yet they never lost anything by him but contrarywise were infinite gainers for he never came empty handed to any mans house but alwaies brought plenty of good things along with him yea such things the worth and value whereof no mortal is able to compute as I 'll shew hereafter God assisting nay so great a friend he was to the next man which I find eminently embraced him that he saved him from the Grave he sent him to Heaven without calling at the Gate of Death his name as I remember was Enoch and 't is not to be thought what sweet and Heavenly Communion true Joy and Felicity this good man had with Godliness for the space of three hundred years for so long they abode together on Earth and now dwell together with the Father of true Godliness and his only begotten Son in Heaven Some time after this great Prince for so they are all made who entetain True Godliness was carried to Heaven a sad disaster besell the World I mean the Enemies of Godliness for so it was that cursed Monster and Off-spring of Hell viz. Vice finding such great your with the men of the Generation they delighting in nothing more than in sin and wickedness hating God and his true and lovely Off-spring Godliness it provoked him to take vengeance upon them and utterly to destroy them from off the Earth and this was done by a fearful and amazing Flood of Water Now this heavy Judgment was brought I say upon the men of that Generation for their slighting neglecting and basely contemning of Godliness and sad it was to consider how generally men were at that time out of love with him for there was not one in ten thousand but hated him and loved vice and ungodliness far better than he nay to tell you plainly there was but one man in all the World who was an eminent Lover of this Noble and High Born Prince Godliness whose name was Noah though 't is not to be doubted but his Wife and Sons especially two of them were in some measure Favourites of him likewise But mark how at that time it fared with this Holy Man and his Family who were Friends to Godliness never a one of them were destroyed by that Flood we may well say Godliness is profitable unto all things and Blessed are all they who love and kindly entertain him for had it not been for Godliness Noah had doubtless perished as well as others But to proceed in this brief History of the Antiquity of Godliness it would not be amiss if we speak a little of the next man after Noah who entertained him and how he was blessed in so doing his Name at first was Abram but afterwards he was called Abraham This man lived for some time amongst a Blind Heathenish and Idolotrous People and was ignorant of True Godliness but when he became acquainted with him few men ever loved him better for he made him his Bosom Companion and chiefest delight and so indeed must every one that entertains him and hereby he became great and his Glory and Renown was spread abroad nay he was by this means so honoured that he was called the Friend of God and the Father of all true Lovers of Godliness and besides the outward Blessings this faithful man reaped as the fruit or donation of Godliness which were many for he had much Cattel Men-servants Camels and Asses so that he became very great he was blessed with all spiritual Blessings viz. he had sweet fellowship and communion with God abounding in Faith Love and Joy in the Holy Ghost the Covenant of Grace was also renewed to him with a gracious Promise that in his Seed all the Nations of the Earth should be blessed for he having received Godliness as his choicest Companion and chiefest Delight Godliness brought along with him the Promises of this Life and that which is a thousand times better viz. the Life which is to come But now near where this faithful man dwelt there was a City nay more than one whose Inhabitants were utter enemies to Godliness and lovers of that ugly
you to Beggery so that from the whole you may perceive will not be for your Interest to open to him Riches I must confess thou hast said enough to make me sot ever out of Love with True Godliness I cannot bear the thoughts of entertaining such a Guest as this in my House but what shall I do with my bawling Steward Conscience for he every now and then tells me I must give away to him and stirs up Mr. Fearful my Lodger one that I hate but cann't be rid of let me do what I can to terrifie me with the thoughts of Hell and Damnation for without Holiness I must confess I have read no man shall see the Lord and 't is said too Whoever will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer Persecution Covet Why truly Sir I see no Remedy but you must resolve to stitle him for I perceive he is the chief cause of all the disturbance and trouble that is in your House and not only so but in part of all the Confusions and Divisions which are this day in the World but which way this shall be done I must refer you to that worthy Gentleman and understanding Servant of yours Dr. Self-love for in this Case I am not fit to give Counsel being not brought up in Learning but he and Sir Worldly Wiseman being both able Divines will be sure to find out a ready way to do it so that you shall not be troubled with him any more and this I will assure you if I can be any ways helpful to them in the business I will be at your Command as long as you please to entertain me Dr. Self-love and Sir Worldly Wiseman being at hand Riches called for them to whom he addressed himself after this manner Riches Gentlemen you having both great Learning and Experience in the Laws both Divine and Humane I pray be pleased to give me a little of your Counsel my Case is this There is one who calls himself True Godliness at my Door and presses hard for Entertainment but by means of a Description I have lately had of his Manners and Attendance I perceive it will be dangerous at this time for me to receive him or shew him the least kindness But I having a troublesome Steward in House whom I cannot be rid of Now he here of late too much adheres to him and is ready very often to give way to open the Door so that by his means and one Mr. Fearful a Timorous Fellow whom he stirs up I have of late had but very little quiet Now what will you advise me to do in this sad Condition Dr. Self-love You must not give way to him for I know him well enough his Name is Conscience Sir if you follow his Dictates and embrace this Godliness you will be undone and your Wife and Children soon will be brought to a piece of Bread notwithstanding your great Estate But alas he is grown Old and is in his Dotage and for want of good Eye-sight errs exceedingly nay is so erroneous that you do well to advise with us come doubt not but we shall inform him better Sir your great fault have been this I perceive it clearly you have read too much of late why should you concern your self with the Bible I think it had been well if it had never been Translated into our Mother Tongue this hath given him Opportunity to disturb your Mind come give over this in the first place The Cause you know of a Distemper must be first removed or no effectual Cure can be expected 't is enough for you to mind your Secular Affairs things of Religion belong to Religious Men and when Conscience for any Sin gripes you divert your self amongst the brave Heroes you used to keep Company with get to the Tavern or to some Play-House but be sure at no time you read any Book besides your Books of Accompts and Romances or such like And for Religion can any suit better with you than the Old Roman Catholick Religion And it may come into Fashion again too for all this I do not say you should not be Religious at all no God forbid I should give you such Counsel but there is no need to entertain strict Godliness because you may be saved without it else Lord what will become of the greatest part of the World go to Church and hear Prayers but be sure forbear to go to such Churches where any bawling Preacher endeavours to reach your Conscience but be sure what times so ever happen do not expose your self to suffer any thing for Religion you must do whatsoever your superiours require Can any man perswade me his soul cannot be saved unless he venture the loss of his Estate and so bring distress and ruine upon his body is not each man to provide for his Family and he that doth it not is worse than an Infidel and hath denied the Faith Sir Worldly Wiseman Mr. Riches the counsel which my Brother hath given is very good be sure you are never led by the dictates of your Steward Conscience to expose your self to any loss or danger for Religion you hear you may be nay ought to be Religious and what is Religion but to live an honest and sober life to fear God honour the King say our Prayers and pay our Debts But the truth is would it be amiss if you did adhere to the good old Religion that Religion which your Fore-fathers before Luther's time were of for you having store of Money may have a pardon there at any time for all your sins But I will leave you to your liberty because I remember 't is dangerous to perswade any to cleave to that Religion But I have just now thought of a way that will do you having a great Estate you shall get another Servant into ' your House pray keep a Reader in your Family this done you will find all will be well and you will hear no more complaints from within nor without for you will be taken by all your Servants and others too for a godly man Riches Having thanked them for their good Counsel with a great deal of joy retires himself being very well satisfied with the advice Dr. self-Self-love and Sir Worldly Wiseman had given him and indeed this is the misery of most rich men viz. if they lie under any convictions of sin from that little light Conscience hath at any time got then presently being stirr'd up thereto by Covetousness they consult with flesh and blood and then Dr. Self-love and Sir Worldly Wiseman are their great Counsellers But to proceed Riches got now a Reader and instead of opening to True Godliness he opens to counterfeit Godliness which was occasioned through Ignorance and those other foolish Counsellers he hearkened to Now this Reader as it appears proved a sad Fellow for though he was a Scholar being brought up in some Foreign University yet he never car'd to read the Bible but as some say
but they having an implacable hatred against him because they know he is an utter enemy to all Treasons Idolatries Superstitions Murthers Fornications Witch-crafts and all other horrible Crimes and cursed Abominations of their unchast defiled and bloody Mistress in a clandestine way endeavoured to bring True Godliness and many of his Friends and Favourites into Contempt and thereby set all the Inhabitants of the Isle against him which Designs of theirs was managed divers manner of waies and though some of their Stratagems were happily discovered yet some others of them too far prevailed amongst the generality of People who God knows Naturally are adverse to him having as you have heard grievous Enmity in their Hearts against him Now True Godliness perceiving how the Inhabitants of the said Island were Corrupted partly by these Babylonians and partly by other evil Impostors and Seducers whose Errors greatly prevailed and how generally People of all sorts were drawn away by the subtilty of Appollyon and the Pollution and Treachery of their own Hearts to all manner of Vice and Ungodliness he being by this means brought into great Contempt began to be very sad considering what a brave Isle for Grace and Holiness it had formerly been nay and that which added to his Trouble was those great Divisions and Animosities that were amongst those who Professed themselves to be his chiefest Friends together with the consideration of the great Evils and Enormities of their Lives for it was come to such a pass that it was hard to discern the Professor as they were called from the Profane Pride Covetousness want of love and zeal to him abounding wonderfully amongst the generalty of them so that he evidently saw that he was grievously slighted disowned and neglected almost by all sorts whatsoever and that the favour and countenance which most people shewed him was but from the teeth outwards and that they not heartily and cordially love and delight in him Moreover he perceived also that there was a grand Conspiracy carrying on by Apollyon and his Emissaries in many Countryes where he had been formerly countenanced and that the Babylonians were in great hopes to get counterfeit Godliness set up in his stead began to make a grievous lamentation after this manner Godliness's Lamentation HOW shall I express my grief or utter my complaint O the sorrow that seizes on my Soul I that am the noble Off-spring of the universal Monarch of the whole World the true Favourite of Heaven the true interest of all Nations Kingdoms and Common-wealths a fit companion for Princes and all the noble ones of the Earth the only benefactor of all Mortals that continually seeks the good and eternal felicity of their Souls who strives to deliver them from Wrath and Judgment and to stop the destroying Angel from executing vengeance Should this day be thus slighted villified censured and stigmatized and have all manner of cursed and detestable evils and abominations laid to my charge Foâ— First I am charged with Heresie an horrible crime indeed but 't is no other than I was of old times accused with But what is the Heresie What my Doctrine is is shewed in the first chapter of this Book to which I refer the reader but I may say with St. Paul After that way which they call Heresie so I teach men to worship the God of their Fathers and not to believe any thing but what is written in the Old and New Testament Counterfeit Godliness 't is true may be justly charged upon this account whose errors are capital as hath been evinced again and again by many worthy Protestants Secondly I am accused to be a common Disturber a meer Make-bate setting one man against another the Father against the Son and the Son against the Father the Mother-in-law against the Daughter-in-law and the Daughter-in-law against the Mother-in-law dividing Cities Towns and Villages setting Neighbour against Neighbour O how doth this wound my heart Was ever any dealt with as I am Shall such things as these be fathered upon me I do this day protest and declare before God and all the World I am abused and unjustly charged for I am for Peace Unity and Concord and alwayes do teach it I abhor Strife and Contention and every evil work and have endeavoured to bring all men to live in love one with another but if it fall out at any time where I am received that the Father is set against the Son and the Son against the Father or one Neighbour against another 't is not I that am the cause of it but that cursed enemy Pride Vnbelief and Sensuality that is in the hearts of the adverse party they having espoused the interest of Apollyon my grand Enemy and alas it will be so unless I could connive at or bear with those cursed evils which are in the hearts of men But can it be supposed that Virtue should wink at or side with filthy Vice or True Godliness allow of and indulge men in Ungodliness or Truth joyn or close in with Error Alas should I do this I should lose my very being and be no more what I am for as 't is impossible for Light to have fellowship with Darkness or Christ to have concord with Belial so 't is for me to allow of or bear with any of the evil enormities of the children of men should my Children do it they would at that very instant cease to be my Children therefore let all the World bear me witness this day that I clear my self of those foul crimes and calumnies that I am charged with And further to vindicate my self I call in my old friend Saint James pray hear what he hath to say about the horrible charge brought against me St. James pray speak to this great case from whence come that Strife Wars and Contention that is in the World Am I the cause of it James From whence come wars and fighting among men Come they not hence even of their lusts that war in their members Ye lust and have not ye kill and desire to have and cannot obtain c. If you have bitter envyings and strife in your hearts glory not lie not against the truth mark that this wisdom descendeth not from above but is earthly sensual devillish O blessed St. James thou hast cleared me for I True Godliness am the Truth whosoever receives me receives the Truth the Doctrine of Truth and the Truth of Grace But pray St. James go on Where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work But the wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle easie to be entreated full of mercy and good fruits without wrangling and without hypocrisie It is enough I alwayes teach men and women who embrace me to be holy peaceable gentle and easie to be entreated full of mercy to hate hypocrisie and all the deeds of the flesh Therefore take notice if any who are called by my name or profess love
will help you to be holy and not to depend upon it to be righteous but not to trust in it I will lead you to say In the Lord have I righteousness and that he is made unto us of God righteousness c. I tell you plainly I cannot speak peace to you but if I come into you you must turn out of your house those helpless and unprofitable servants you have got Legal What Servants would you have me turn out Godli Why you must turn Moses out Do you not read he was not to abide in the house for ever Mr. Missbelief and Good Opinion and Self-righteousness you must turn out Nay in a word you must also remove your Dwelling further off from Mount Sinai for look about you be gone quickly for I see dreadful Flashes of Lightning the Mountain seems to be all on fire and heark don 't you hear it Thunder Legalist God is angry with you Sir there is no seeing of his face but through a Mediator Legalist What must I turn holy Moses out of doors Godli I Sir that you must don't you remember that those who said they were Moses's Disciples cast out the poor blind man that received my dear Master 'T is not Moses nor Elias but Jesus only that must dwell with you Nay and you must cast out Blind Zeal Ignorance and Legal Heart too for these are dangerous Fellows and in their room I will place True Zeal Right Faith Broken Heart and Good Vnderstanding Nay Sir and let me tell you if you do not and that quickly expel these out of your Tabernacle you will be undone and perish in your sins for notwithstanding your great hopes of Heaven they will soon thrust you down to Hell for Publicans and Harlots go into Heaven before you Upon this he began to be very angry and gave True Godliness hard words calling him Libertine and Antinomian one that True Godliness does as little love as he Moreover Mr. Legalist told him that he was sure that he whom he had already received into his house was True Godliness and saieth he you are but an Impostor and in a great rage bid him be gone from his door Upon this Godliness perceiving Mr. Legalist was so wedded to his own Opinion that there was no hopes of getting entertainment in his House he left him and travelled a little further into the Town being told one Mr. Formalist lived not far off whereupon he resolved to go directly to his House Sad case most Noble Prince what travel still From place to place and yet is there none will Thee embrace what not in such a Town Doth Legalist thus basely tread thee down Nay of all men I see there 's cause to fear He never will Blest Prince to thee adhear What slighted by Professor and Prophane Where 's then the man who will thee entertain Some men are blind and therefore perish do And those who think they see these perish too CHAP. IX Shewing how Godliness came to one Mr. Formalist's Door who bid him very welcome but he suspecting his Integrity and that he harboured divers grand Enemies of his particularly one Hypocrisie refused to go in also How Hypocrisie came to be discovered wherein you have his Character or a clear and compendious Discription of him shewing likewise how Mr. Formalist at last refused to entertain True Godliness GOdliness being as I told you informed that there was another great Professor living in this Village or Town of Religion he tought it was convenient for him to see whether he might not get a Lodging in his House because he was a man whom all the Neighbourhood said had a great Love to True Godliness nay many verily thought he had for a long time taken up his Lodging with him and wondered when they heard him ask for his House for by that means they perceived he was a stranger to him but it was a considerable time before he could find where he dwelt For it appeared he was called by another Name viz. Devotion but at last coming by one man's door and by another he heard a man at Prayer and he spoke so loud that all who walked along the Street with much ease might hear him he then presently concluded it was very probable he might dwell there and to his door he came and knock'd as he us'd to do and was soon heard Formal Who 's there Godli My Name Sir is True Godliness Formal True Godliness Pray Sir come in there is none in all the World I love more dearly the best Room in all my house is at your Service pray where have you been and what News do you hear Are the Imperialists and Turks yet come to engage how goes things in the World How doth it fare with our poor Protestant Brethren in France What News from Scotland when will the Times be better I hear the Penal Laws are prosecuted severely against Dissenters Many such Questions he asked and professed abundance of Respect to True Godliness and as you heard bid him come in but never went about to open the door Godliness was grieved to find him so full of words but more especially because he took up his time and troubled his head so much to enquire after News nay and that too when he should open to True Godliness and just upon ending his Devotion for it appears he had newly done Prayer yet nevertheless Godliness very coolly answered him to this purpose Godli Sir As to your first Question I answer being willing to inform you where I have been I have wandred about from place to place to seek entertainment I mean a fit and convenient Lodging for a little time for it will not be long e'er I have done travelling but I am fallen into such an evil and perilous time that scarcely any body will shew me the favour as to take me in and make me welcome Riches Poverty Youth and Old-age have all refused me and shut their doors most basely upon me and since I came into these parts and particularly to your Town where every one concluded I should be most kindly embraced the very first man I came to hath denied me entertainment nay and not only so but also called me at his pleasure Formal What man 's that for God's sake Godli Friend don't take God's Name in vain I cannot bear it but to answer your Question the man is called Legalist Formal O Sir there is not a man in all this Town more haughty proud and conceited than he he concludes I warrant you that he hath Godliness enough already he makes in truth the whole of Religion to consist in Principles of Morality I have heard him say that if a man do lead or square his Life but as near as he can according to the Law of the Ten Commandments not being guilty of gross Sins or wilfully breaks any Precepts of the Two Tables he shall be saved Now he never considers all the while the necessity of Faith and Regeneration and
for suitable words in Prayer than for a suitable heart Doth not he study more for acute expressions to affect the hearts of others than to meet with powerful impressions upon his own Doth he not lengthen his Prayers before others and hurry them over in private Doth he as much endeavour after what he needs from God as that which he seeks of God Fifthly Can he bear reproofs kindly for his faults and take them patiently nay and esteem him his greatest friend who deals most cordially with him is he ready to take shame to himself and give glory to God Can he be contented in the waies of God though he meets with little sensible comfort from God nor outward respect from Saints Sixthly Doth he as much desire to have his heart filled with Grace as his head with knowledge Doth he take as much care to make the Glory of God his end in what he doth as the Command of God his ground in what he doth Seventhly Is he not more severe in pressing the lesser concerns of Religion than in urging the greater Doth he not require those Duties of others which he himself is loth to practice Is he not more curious to know other mens conditions than his own Eighthly Hath he received a whole Christ with a whole heart First A whole Christ comprehends all his Offices and a whole heart comprehends all his Faculties Hath he received Christ not only as a Priest to die for him but also as a Prince to rule over him Doth he obey all God's Precepts as well as believe all God's Promises 2. As to his Faculties his understanding may be somewhat enlightned but his affections may be carnal and his will oppose me being averse to True Godliness Is not his Heart divided Come Conscience I do now command you in the presence of the great and dreadful God who searches all hearts to make a righteous decision tell me plainly Is my Enemy Hypocrisie here or no By these brief Hints you may easily know him Conscience Sir I must confess Hypocrisie is here now I have found him out nay Sir and he hath hid him secretly in his House ever since he came to live in this Town Religion he is seemingly holy but really wicked he loves the Face of Holiness but is without the Grace of Holiness his greatest care has been to wash the outside of the Platter if he can but keep his name from being reproach'd by men he cares not though his Heart be grievously defiled before God Should I tell you of all those Lusts which he harbours in his heart and what favour he shews to that Old-Man you mentioned before I should quite shame him he is a Saint indeed abroad but a Heathen to say no worse at home he prays hears and reads but 't is to keep up his Credit Name and Esteem amongst many Christian men of this Town for I have often found him very weary of these Duties God knows it as well as I Nay Sir he would seldom pray at all were it not to quiet me for he doth not love my lashes besides he performs them with a sad cold dead carnal and lifeless spirit he is much for the lesser things of Religion as you minded he keeps a mighty stir about Mint Anise and Cummin but quite neglects the greater and more weighty things nay there is one thing more I will tell you as he does not love strict Godliness himself so his heart is ready to rise against all such who outdo him Sir he is a meer Dissembler yet he would be thought as religious a man as any in the Town I find him also much abroad finding of faults in others or spying the more that is in his Brothers eye but never minds the beam that is in his own nay and he is ready to fall out with many good Christians because they will not follow him in Habit Mode and Gesture c. In a word most of all those black Marks of this deceitful Villain Hypocrisie you hinted at I find in him also Godli Conscience say no more I see was not mistaken and now Formalist are not you a wretch to pretend kindness to me and secretly thus to entertain one of my worst Enemies Sir 't is you who have brought so great a reptoach upon this poor Town* and on all its Inhabitants Nay and 't is through your means I am so basely villifi'd and condemned by that blind Fellow Ignorance for he is ready to conclude that all my Friends and true Fovourites are such as your self viz. meer loose and Formal Hypocrites Besides you are like to be undone and perish for ever unless you do the sooner turn this vile Enemy of mine out of doors for I expect no other but that you will in a little time fall into Apostacy but should you die first yet assure your self you will be damned for Hell is indeed prepared for such as you are you are poor Creature in the worst condition of all men for the wicked hate you because you pretend so much love to Religion and Godliness God also and all good men hate you because you are not real but only pretend love to them being not sincere and upright in your Profession Formalist At this began to be very angry being greatly offended at True Godliness for he could not endure to see his State ript open nor did he like to hear of his present nor future misery being perswaded by Mr. Vain-hope Vnbelief and Good-Opinion to think his condition for all this might be safe enough however Vain-hope told him though at present his state might be doubtful yet he should have many daies on earth and that he might repent and set all things at rights before he died whose word and promise he adventur'd to take and so bid True Godliness be gone at this great grief seem'd to seize upon True Godliness and and no mans state in all his Travels he did indeed more lament and his Soul being almost overwhelmed with sorrow he broke out to this purpose and departed Passion o'reflows why melt I thus with grief For him whose trayt'rous Heart denies relief But what could I expect false wretch from thee Who harbour'st in thy House Hypocrisie A feigned Friend's worse than an open Foe And unto me oft-times more wrong does do Of all to whom I am by Jesus sent O're thee O Formalist I do lament I know there 's cause were things consider'd well Thou suffer'st here and yet must go to hell Hated of God and man what can be worse Than th' wrath of man and great Jehovah's Curse Farewel poor Soul is this thy love to me Must I begone adieu adieu to thee CHAP. X. Shewing how Godliness travelling further into the Town called Religion saw abundance of People who had been great Professors getting away out of the Town as fast as they could Shewing also what Discourse he had with one of them wherein the Nature and Danger of Apostasie is plainly opened
continually in private which he was in publick by the assistance of filial fear Sixthly and that also he gave according to his ability at all times to Theology Christs Minister and to the poor Saints the one by the aid of New Obedience Bounty Liberality and Godly Zeal and the other by the help of Christian Charity Seventhly that he did nothing to be seen of men or for vain glory sake by the directions of Holy Ends and Aims Eighthly That there was done by the power of Heavenly New man Ninthly and that he was alwaies constant in his love to and his esteem of True Godliness being as much for the work of Godliness as for the wages by the assistances of Faithful Tenthly That he did not inordinately love nor set his affections upon the things of this life by the help of temperance and sobriety Eleventhly that he laboured to live a spotless Life being taught so to do by sweet Purity and harmless Innocency Twelfthly that he bore up bravely in the profession of the Gospel not being ashamed nor afraid to own Jesus Christ before men by the means of stability and Christian Courage Thirteenthly and that he did not faint under afflictions and tryals by the help of blessed experience patience and precious promises Fourteenthly That he was not corrupt in principle nor led into errour by the means of excellent knowledg Now Conscience and self-clearing having thus freed Thoughtful from the false Charge about harbouring Hypocrisie he came to perceive what excellent advantage he had and should receive by Godlinesses noble and heavenly Retinue and hereupon he fell so in love with them that he never would go any where nor do any work without their company which Apollyon perceiving knew it was in vain to assault him any more in that sort but being filled with hellish rage and malice against him he raised up mighty forces and powers upon him from without for first he stirr'd up abundance of base Fellows of the worser sort to abuse him amongst which were these following Hate-good Time-server Pride Toss-pot Outside Ryot Ignorance Belly-god Hard-heart Scoffer Please-all Love-lust Make-bate Giddy-head Pick-thank Rob-Saint Temporizer Idolater Opposer Avarice Shameless Rash Highminded Lofty Sear'd-Conscience and many more of like sort like Bees compassed him about miscalled and abused him in a cruel and unmerciful manner which made him wonder what the cause should be but at last he perceived the ground and reason of it was only because he had received True Godliness Remembring that word of Jesus Christ Marvel not if the World hated you And that word They shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my Name sake with the saying of the Apostle And all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer Persecution At this he was somewhat troubled and cast down in his spirits seeing nothing could be expected but that these Fellows would utterly undo him as touching the things of this world and tho' by the help he had by Godlinesses glorious Retinue he was supported and established in the waies of Grace and true Holiness yet he was somewhat disquieted in his mind which Godliness soon perceiving begun to consider what the cause of it should be but he quickly found out the reason of it for upon enquiry he understood amongst all the good Company Thoughtful had got in his house yet there was one whom Godliness dearly loved and Thoughtful could not be without was wanting whose name it seems was Christian Contentment and also it appeared that this noble high born Hero Content had been a long time a wandring about in the wilderness of this world and to seek a fit companion to co-habit or dwell with but could find not one CHAP. XIII Shewing how Thoughtful meeting with his dear Friend Contentment finding now nothing wanting in order to the making his Life sweet and comfortable here and eternally happy hereafter fell a singing Allelujahs Hymns of Praise and Thanksgiving to God and the Lamb. THoughtful Christian for so now we must call him notwithstanding all the high and unutterable Blessings Riches and Honour he had arrived at by his late embracing True Godliness remained very sad and melancholy being attended with many desponding Cogitations by perceiving not only the great Distresses and Troubles which his Wife and Children were like to meet with in this world but also what sad unsettled and unhappy daies he was fallen into and of the abounding Evils and horrible Blasphemies which star'd him in the face where-ever he came together with the low and deplorable condition the Church of Christ and True Religion was in in this dismal hour which Godliness perceiving told him of one Contentment whom he saw he had not yet found and that if he could but obtain that favour to perswade him to dwell with him his mind would remain sweetly settled and composed and that he would enjoy all calmness and serenity of Soul imaginable being delivered from all Anxious Thoughts about all present and future Events of things and undergo all Crosses and harshest Accidents with equanimity and acquiescence of Spirit wholly submitting unto and being fully satisfied with the Divine Disposal Now this glorious noble and Renowned Prince Contentment had been it seems travelling from place to place like a poor Pilgrim as True Godliness had done seeking a fit resting place but could find none for he had been to visit Riches but no dwelling there and Poverty also but found no lodging there with Youth he could find no abode and Old Age was a stranger to him Pleasure could give him no entertainment Honours were forc'd to say I know him not he was not lodged in the Princes Palace nor in the Pesants Cottage the unmarried sought him but could not find him ' and the married wisht for him but there was no abiding for him neither for none of all these States and simple Conditions of men could yield perfect Peace Content and Serenity of Mind but Thoughtful hearing Godliness speaking of him that he was used to dwell with him or where he took up his Lodging sent presently his old Friend Consideration to seek out for him and by the providence of God it was not long before he found him yet for the information of my thinking Reader I shall shew the way how Consideration by the assistance of Faith met with him and brought him home to his dear Master Thoughtful Christian and fixt Companion viz. First Consideration led him forth to ponder upon the Divine Attributes Providences and Promises of God he caused him to consult infinite Power Wisdom Omniciency Holiness Mercy Goodness Truth and Faithfulness c. Secondly He also stirred him up to seek for Contentment by pondering upon his present state and condition What saith he hath God done for thee Thou wast in the gall of bitterness and bond of Iniquity and God hath brought thee out and yet not Content Thou wast a a Child of Wrath and now art a child of God yet not
especially as professed by the Church of England in two Parts the one containing the Doctrine of Faith the other the form of Worship Quarto's ☞ A Continuation of Morning Exercise Questions and Cases of Conscience practically Resolving by 31 Divines in the City of London the one and thirty following Cases of Conscience viz. 1. How is the adherent Vanity of every Condition most effectually abated by serious Godliness 2. How may we Experience it in our selves and Evidence it to others that serious Godliness is more than a Fancy 3. How is God his Peoples great Reward 4. What may most hopefully be attempted to allay Animosities amongst Protestants that our Divisions may not be our Ruine 5. How ought we to bewail the Sins of the Place where we live 6. What must we do to keep our selves in the Love of God 7. What may Gracious Parents best do for the Conversion of those Children whose Wickedness is occasioned by their sinful Severity or Indulgence 8. How may we best cure the Love of being flattered 9. By what means may Ministers best win Souls 10 How is the Practical Love of Truth the best Preservative against Popery 11. What are the best preservatives against Melancholy and overmuch Sorrow 12. How may we grow in the Knowledge Estimation and making use of Jesus Christ 13. How may our Belief of Gods governing the World support us in all worldly Distractions 14. What are the hindrances of and helps to a good Memory in Spiritual things 15. What are the Signs and Symptoms whereby we know we Love the Children of God 16. What must we do to prevent and cure spiritual Pride 17. Wherein is a middle worldly Condition most eligible 18. How may we Graciously improve those Doctrines and Providences which transcend our Understandings 19. How ought we to do our Duties towards others though they do not do theirs towards us 20. How may the well discharge of our present Duty give us an assurance of help from God for the well discharge of all Future Duties 21. What distance ought we to keep in following the strange Fashions in Apparel which came up in the days wherein we live 22. How may Child-bearing Women be most encouraged and supported against in and under the hazard of their Travel 23. How may we best know the worth of the Soul 24. How may we get experience what it is to be led by the Spirit of God 25. What Advantage may we expect from Christs prayer for Union with himself and the Blessings relating to it 26. How should we eye Eternity that it may have its due influence upon us in all we do 27. How may we most certainly get and maintain the most interrupted Communion with God 28. What is the best way to prepare to meet God in the way of his Judgments or Mercies 29. How may a Gracious person from whom God hides his Face trust in the Lord as his God 30. How are the Religious of a Nation the strength of it 31. Whether it be expedient and how the Congregation may say Amen in Publick Worship A Supplement to the Mornâ—â—â— Exercise at Cripplegate being several more Cases of Conscience practically resolved by sundry Ministers Dr. Jacomb on the eight of the Romans being Sermons preached on the 1 2 3 and 4 verses of of that Chapter Flavels Fountain of life or a display of Christ in his Essential and Mediatorial Glory wherein the interpretation of our Redemption by Jesus Christ is unfolded as it was begun carried on and finished by his mysterious Incarnation Dr. Bates his Harmony of the Divine Attributes in the contrivance and Accomplishment of mans Redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ or Discourses wherein is shewed how the Wisdom Mercy Justice Holiness Power and Truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed Work Smiths Select Discourses with a Sermon at the Authors Funeral By S. Patrick D. D. Also an Account of his Life Baxters Life of Faith in three parts The first a Sermon on Heb. 11.1 formerly preached before His Majesty with another added for the fuller explication The Second Instructions for confirming Believers in the Christian Faith The third Directions how to live by Faith Cradocks Knowledge and Practice being a plain Discourse of the chief things necessary to be known believed and practised in order to Salvation Durham on the Canticles being an Exposition of the Song of Solomon with a Preface by D. Owen Cases Mount Pisgah or a Prospect of Heaven being an Exposition on the Fourth Chapter of the first Epistle to the Thessalonians from Verse 13. to the End A Practical Discourse of Gods Sovereignty with other material Points deriving thence viz. Election Redemption effâ—ctual Calling Perseverance their inseparable Connexion and absolute dependance upon the good Pleasure of God Swinnocks Door of Salvation being a Discourse about Regeneration Burroughs his Gospel-Remission Dr. Littletons Dictionary in four Parts containing 1. An English-Latin 2. A Latin Classical 3. A Latin Proper 4. A Latin Barbarous Dr. Tuckny's Praelectiones Theologicae omnia fideliter ex Autoris Autographo descripta Mr. Glanvill's Discourses Sermons and Remains Collected into one Volume and Published by Dr. Horneck Dr. Owen Of Justification by Faith through the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ Explained Confirmed and Vindicated Capt. Yarranton's Englands Improvement by Sea and Land to out-do the Dutch without fighting and to pay Debts without Moneys in two Volumes Bishop Barlow's Brutum Fulmen or the Bull of Pope Pius the Fifth ☞ Mr. Jaye's Sermon Occasioned by the late Earl of Shaftsbury's Imprisonment and miraculous Deliverance ☞ Mr. Sâ—ower's Sermon Preach'd upon the Death of a young Gentlewoman Mrs. Anna Barnardiston Daughter of Nathanael Barnardiston Esquire late of Hackney who departed this Life at the Age of 17 with an Account of her Life and Death ☞ Mr. Rogers's Sermon Preach'd upon the Death of a young Gentleman Entituled Early Religion or the way for a young man to remember his Creator with an impartial Account of the young Gentlemans Life and Death Burroughs on Contentment Destruction of Troy ☞ Poems upon the Ministers Sons late Splendid Feast that they made at Merchant-Taylors Hall Dec. 7. Dr. Manton's twenty Sermons Preach'd upon several Occasions ☞ Poems upon the Death of that great Minister of State Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury Mr. Richard Baxter's Saiâ—ts Everlasting Rest in a thick Quarto Mr. Flavell's Husbandry Spiritualiz'd with many useful Meditations Brooks his Cabinet of Jewels Brooks his Londons Lamentation being a serious Discourse upon the late fiery Dispensation with Advice to them that escaped those consuming Flames Culverwels Light of Nature Firmins Real Christian or a Treatise of effectual Calling wherein the Work of God in drawing the Soul to Christ is opened with a few words added concerning SOCINIANISM Phelps his Needful Counsel or Considerations of some part of the Message sent to the Angel of the Church of Laodicea Brook his Riches of Christ being 22 Sermons upon Ephes 3.8 Scanderots