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
to the Tavern and by chance be drunk and let now and then an Oath flye but you would stir up my Steward Conscience to fall upon me and beat me unmercifully but I praise God I am rid of him nay and if I should not give to the poor according to your humour I should soon be censured and condemned by you as a wicked Person yea and every sweet pleasant and beloved Lust which I value as my Life you say must be mortified no my dearest Darling must not be spared I perceive what a fool you would make me be gone from my door or I will call one of my servants who shall drive you out of the Town his Name is Malice alias Envy before whom you will not be able to stand and upon this he struck at him with all his might which did no sooner his Chaplain Mr. Reader perceive but he came into his assistance with cruel rage being stirred up by Envy and fell upon Godliness in a most base and inhumane manner calling him all the vilest Names he could devise enough to make any ignorant and unthinking man conclude True Holidess was as hateful a companion as any in the world and before all things to be eschewed and discountenanced His Chaplain also would needs challenge to dispute withhim and confute Godliness by Scripture producing that Text be not righteous overmuch neither make thy self overwise why shouldest thou destroy thy self Eccl. 7.16 He thought with this one Weapon to have knock'd True Godliness down and have spoiled his Travelling for ever But he soon answered and said That no man could be truly righteous overmuch nor have too much of that pure wisdom that is from above but that a man might he told him under pretence of Righteousness do more than God required of him and so be righteous overmuch as the Papists and others are and thereby destroy himself sith will-worship was of such an abominable nature and that a man also might be overwise in his own conceit At this answer the Dispute ended and Riches perceived his Chaplain was worsted envied True Godliness much more and raised all the Rabble of the Town upon him amongst which were these following viz. Pride Ignorance Wilful Hate-good Toss-pot Outsides Riot Wastful Hard-Heart Belly-God Giddy-head Pickthank Rob-Saint and more of such like Rustical and ill-bred Fellows and moreover he swore if he would not be gone the sooner he would send for the two Constables Oppression and Cruelty to lay him fast enough at which poor Godliness was fain to get away and hide himself or else for certain he had been knock'd ot'h ' head or basely put to death but he being out of their reach by the providence of God escaped without any hurt to himself but many of his poor friends were sadly abused who-stood up to spake on his behalf and put into Prison Godliness being thus forc'd to leave Riches Door Vice and Vngodliness took the full possession of his House and Godliness went on his way wandring up and down to look entertainment with a sad heart being grieved to see how he had hitherto been slighted and traiterously abused notwithstanding his high Birth Noble Descent and Pedigree Doth Godliness thus wander to and fro For want of Friends must he a begging go 'T is not to seek relief as if that he Himself was poor and in necessity But 't is to make poor Mortals happy who By Sin are brought to Sorrow Grief and Woe But Riches him rejects with hate and scorn Though by Christ sent a Prince and Noble born Riches are good when sanctifi'd they are But otherwise a Curse a Plague a Snare Rich men do much mistake who only measure True Happiness by having worldly Treasure An Angel hath no Gold nor Flocks nor Land And yet is mighty rich his wealth doth stand In better things although the just man's store Is small he hath enough a rush for more God doth Himself instead of Wealth impart Vnto that Child of his O covetous Heart What wouldst have more or can there be Ought else dear Soul than what 's possest by thee Happy 's the poor in whom the Lord doth dwell The Rich by craving all get nought but Hell Be not in love with Gold a Golden Purse Without a part in God is but a Curse Give me not Riches Lord nor make me poor Since Riches against thee does shut his Door CHAP. IV. Shewing how Godliness in his Travels came to a poor Cottage where dwelt one call'd Poverty with whom he earnestly desired to make his Abode and how he was shamefully denied Entertainment there also GOdliness finding how basely he had been served by Riches and that he could not with all the strongest Arguments and Motives imaginable get any Entertainment with him travelled further and as he wandred up and down in the Wilderness of this World at last he chanced to come to a small Village at the furthermost end of which upon the Common he espied a little Cottage a poor old ruinous thing it was the Windows being all broke only they had cramm'd into the holes some old Rags to keep out the Cold and by the propping it up it seemed as if it was ready to fall but however he remembring what his blessed Lord and Master said The Poor receive the Gospel resolved to go thither and see whether he might not meet with Entertainment there for he is no respector of Persons he is as willing to be Guest to the poor as to the rich and to dwell with the Peasant as with the Prince or to make his Abode in a Cottage as in a Palace And being come up to the Door he understood the poor man's name who dwelt there was Poverty Now Godliness knocked five or six times before he could have any manner of Answer for it seems he was asleep in Bed with his Wife but at last being between sleeping and waking he asked though very faintly Who 's there who 's at the Door Godliness I am here pray arise and let me in Godliness listned but he could not hear what Poverty said by reason of the noise that was within for he having many Children it happened that by this time they were wak'd and fell into a fit of crying some wanted Victuals and some of them cried for other things which he had not to give them which made him one while to weep and another while to fret and storm at the poor Children so that Godliness could have no answer till he knock'd again which he did and that pretty hard Pov. Who is at my Door Godli A Friend my Name is True Godliness Pov. Godliness Pray what business have you here Godli I want a Lodging Pov. From whence come you sir I doubt you have lost your way Is this a likely House to afford Entertainment to a Traveller Godli I came last from a great man's House not far off whose Name is Riches Pov. Well! had he no Lodging for you that you are
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
ground have you to build your hope upon The Hypocrites hope shall perish whose hope shall be cut off and whose trust shall be as a Spiders Web Job 18.13 14. Ah Sir what will your hope avail you though you have gain'd the World when God taketh away your Soul Job 27.8 Sixthly and Lastly as touching your sweet Darling Covetousness he is made up with Idolatry and what can be more detestable to Jehovah so long as you Entertain and love him you adore an Idol he is indeed the Ring-leader to almost all manner of Wickedness nay there is scarcely a viler and more abominable Wretch breathing on Gods Earth therefore justly called The Root of all Evil. he hath taught many to play the Thief others to commit Treason and others to Murther Innocents for their Inheritance he is guilty of Bribery Vsary Extorttion and Oppression It was he as made poor Achan lose his sweet Life he also contrived the death of Naboth and his Sons and more than all he tempted Judas to Sell and basely to betray my dear Lord and Master Jesus Christ for Thirty pieces of Silver Do not blame me therefore if I bear so hard against him moreover I can scarcely ever get one Foot into any rich mans House through his means 't is he and his Companions who keep me out he hath through his hard-heartedness almost famished to death all the Poor both in City and Countrey and hath also of late very near betrayed my whole interest that I have in the world into the Enemies hands he hath also grievously corrupted many who profess kindness to me by incumbring their minds so with the Affairs of this Life that they cannot find the way to the Church when they should be hearing of God's Word he forces them to abide in their Shops nor will he suffer many of them to take a little time to pray in their Families nor in their Closets He has also exposed many of my poor Ministers to many great straits and necessities by which means their heads have been so filled with the cares of this Life that they have been out of capacity to preach the Gospel as they ought to preach it nor can they get such helps that are necessary and all long of him Nay he hath almost undone every Nation Kingdom and Commonwealth First by corrupting the Law and subverting Justice causing Judges to judg for Reward and Lawyers to plead more for Fees than Equity And then secondly by spoiling Commerce for he hath Monopolized Trades and Commodities so into his own hands and inhanced the prizes of things that many men have been undone by him I cann't Sir reckon up all his horrible Crimes and is this he you so dearly love and must I be slighted and disregarded by you through love you bear to him Alas Sir he will bring your Soul if you follow him to destruction Pray what became of Achan who harboured him mentioned before also what became of Ananias and Sapphira whom he forced to tell a lie to the Holy Ghost Acts 5.1 2 3 4. Who was it that caused the Young Man in the Gospel to fall short of Heaven and to go away from Jesus Christ very sorrowful and Demas to turn Apostate and to embrace this present evil World was it not Coveetousness Ah Sir take heed of this abominable Miscreant for tho' some wicked ones of the Earth may bless you yet he caused God to hate you See what David saith The Wicked boasteth of his hearts desire and blesseth the Covetous whom the Lord abhorreth Psal 10.3 Consider of these things and be perswaded to put away all these deceitful and Hell-bred Companions which you have a long time nourished in your House or it will be worse with you I do assure you O that you would now at last before I leave you hearken to my Counsel and receive me into your House and renounce that Monster you have lately embrac'd who calls himself by my Name What do you say Riches Rich. Do you think I am such a Fool to give Entertainment to you and lose all my great Honour and Credit amongst the brave Heroes of the Earth Godli Why Sir is not the Honour that comes from God better than all the vain honour poor mortals can give you you have I am sure a rare Example of one to follow in this great Case Remember Moses and the Renowned Galeacius the famous Marquess of Italy he was not of your mind Some rich and noble Men have for my sake denied themselves of all the glory of this World and accounted the Reproaches of Christ greater Riches than Earthly Honours and Pleasures of Sin which are but for a season Rich. If others were such Fools to disgrace and undo themselves what is that to me I know what I have to do Godli Sir I perceive your condition is miserable for you seem to be hardened and whilst you have had gracious means afforded you to bring you to Repentance you are grown worse and worse however let me tell you if you die before you have embraced and received me into your House you will perish in your sins and Hell will be your Portion for ever those who reject me reject God and Jesus Christ also and to tell you the truth all this time that I have been at your door the Lord Jesus hath stood waiting at your door with me likewise Rich. Leave your Canting you are a bold and impudent piece do you begin to threaten me Am I not my own Master Would you Lord it over me I perceive you what you aim at you would have me entertain you that so your poor despised Off-spring might have a good fleece out of me I could find in in my heart to be revenged on you and set all the Rabble of the Town upon you Sirrah I have considered of the business and have had advice what to do from two able Counsellors Dr. self-Self-love and Sir Worldly Wiseman Godli Sir St. Paul did not take advice of those two shallow depraved degraded disherited Counsellors he consulted not with flesh and bloud Rich. Will you not leave your prating you would undo me you are called Godlidess but that is not your Name you are I understand a factious Fellow and your Name is Stubbornness alias Singularity alias Sedition one may know what you are by the many Names you go by know ye therefore Friend that I have received the true Godliness already and him I will keep he is indeed an honourale Person one whom great men love and is in favour with the Princes of the Earth But as for you I see no encouragement for any body to respect you for as most People in all Nations speak against you and hate you so you would I know soon spoil all my joyes and bring nothing but sorrow and fear along with you should I entertain you I should not so much as tell a lie for my advantage but you would threaten me with Hell and Damnation nor go
to me are unholy quarrelsome given to strife debate and contention falling out with their Neighbours making causeless disturbance in the Town Place or House where they dwell I do this day disown them and indeed I fear 't is they who have in part exposed me to reproach and contempt in these evil dayes I am accused also with Sedition and Faction and for being the chief ring-leader of Sects c. But I may well say with my old friend St. Paul who was accused by Tertullus in like sort being called a pestelent Fellow and a mover of Sedition c. Acts 24.5 I am clear from this evil Charge neither can they prove this Accusation against me I have been travelling up and down in most parts of the earth for almost six thousand years and 't is strange were I really guilty that none should come forth and prove it against me Therefore know ye that the Doctrine I True Godliness the Off-spring of Jehovah the darling of Heaven do and ever did teach upon this account is this viz. That Husbands ought to love their Wives Wives to obey their Husbands Children to honour their Parents and Parents to carry it wisely towards their Children and to bring them up in the fear and nurture of the Lord. Servants to obey their Masters and Masters to carry it well towards their Servants and Neighbours to live in love one with another and Subjects to obey their Prince Did I not ever teach this Doctrine viz. That all Men ought to be subject to Principalities to obey Magistrates and to be ready to every good work Tit. 3.1 And if Christians at any time are by their Superiors required to do such things that they conceive are contrary to the Word and Will of God then I bid them patiently to suffer and not to resist but to learn of my blessed Master who when he was reviled reviled not again and when he suffered he threatned not But palpable 't is if men are bound to submit to their Superiors in all things in Divine matters whatsoever then the Apostles were faulty who in spiritual things cry'd out Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken to you rather than God judg ye Besides this would cause Persecution for ever to cease and charge all the Martyrs in every Age of the World not only with disobedience but also with folly and then also it would follow whatsoever Religion in any Nation the chief Magistrate thereof does set up must be subjected to which sure no wise man will say ought to be done therefore I am for rendring to Caesar the things which are Caesars and unto God the things that are Gods Mark 12.17 But these things are not the whole cause of my Lamentation but there are many other reasons Alas I am not only abused and laid under reproach and infamy by my open enemies but also basely slighted by many of those who pretend love and respect to me most indeed now a dayes do but complement me they speak me fair to my face but their hearts are not with me Was there ever more Godliness professed and less practised and more without doors and less within Did ever Pride Covetousness Vain-glory self-Self-love Slavish-fear Carnality and Luke warmness attend any People who called themselves Christians Saints and Members of Christ as in these days There are some who profess love to me that I am ashamed of they do me more wrong than the open profane I may cry alas and call long enough upon many in these dayes nay beg as it were upon my bare knees to be entertained by them and all in vain for they will not mind me nor take me in I meet indeed with nothing but feigned promises from the most of people I will open to you Sir I intend to let you in I am resolved to embrace you hereafter c. And thus I am put off and slighted from day to day O How long have I waited at the doors of some of these deceived Souls even till they are grown old and all to no purpose for I have seen death often seize and carry them away before I could get into their houses that so I might save them from Hell where now 't is to be feared they are O with what unkind dealings do I meet withal Is it not sad that Vice and Vngodliness should be by many so countenanced and I hated resisted and contemned in every place almost by every body for Riches contemns me Poverty dislikes me Youth derides me Old Age will not know me Legalist miscalls me and Formality playes the hypocrite with me and the Babylonians seek to take away my life I have a multitude of enemies and but a few friends But in the midst of my Lamentation the thoughts of those glorious promises of God concerning what he hath said of me in the latter dayes does revive my heart for though I have few to plead my cause or to clear my innocency and am like to be run down by Apollyon and his spurious Off-spring Lust and Vngodliness yet I see my day is a coming when sin shall be ashamed and iniquity stop her mouth Psal 107.42 When the Holy of the Lord shall be esteemed honourable and it shall be a reproach to be wicked Though I am now slighted I shall then be prized Jehovah will make my Glory to shine forth In the midst of all Nations and my Children shall flourish in every place and in that day none shall dare to open their ungodly mouths against me nor shall I need to travel up and down to seek for entertainment For the knowledg of the Glory of the Lord shall cover the Earth as the Waters do the Sea In that day there shall be upon the Bells of the Horses Holiness unto the Lord and the Pots in the Lords House shall be like the Bowls before the Altar Yea every Pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be Holiness unto the Lord of Host and all they that Sacrifice shall come and take of them and seeth therein and in that day there shall be no more a Canaanite in the House of the Lord of Hosts Zach. 14.20.21 Nay and this also adds to my joy in the midst of my sorrow this longed-for-day is near and hastens greatly 't is but a little while and there will be a great alteration in the World the Angel who enlightens the Earth with his Glory will suddenly cry Babylon the Great is fallen is fallen Rev. 18.13 2. CHAP. VIII Shewing how True Godliness after this Travelled towards the City Jerusalem near to which was a small Village called Religion in which dwelt one Mr. Legalist at whose Door he knocked shewing the Cause also why he did not entertain him GOdliness having hitherto happily escaped with his Life thought it now full time to leave those Parts where he had Travelled up and down a great while and suffered many hardships being generally baseâ—y slighted and contemned by all wheresoever he came and
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
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-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
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