The Godly Mans Journey to Heaven, Title page – Treatise 1
THE GODLY MANS IOVRNEY TO HEAVEN: CONTAINING TEN SEVERALL TREATISES.
Viz.
1. An Heauenly Chariot the first part.
2. An Heauenly Chariot the second part.
3. The blessed Chariots man.
4. The Lanthorne for the Chariot.
5. The skilfull Chariot Driuer.
6. The gard of the Chariot.
7. The sixe Robbers of the Chariot.
8. The three Rocks layd in the way.
9. The onelyonly Inne Gods babes aime at.
10. The Guests of the Inne.
By Maister DAVID LINDSEY Minister of Gods word at Leith.
HEB. 13. 14. For here we hauehave no continuing Citie, but we seeke one to come.
COL. 3. 1. If ye be risen with Christ, seeke the things which are aboue, &c.
LONDON, Printed by R. F. for Robert Bird, and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Bible in Cheapside. 1625.
TO THE TRVLY RELIGIOVS AND right noble Ladie ANNA CARR, Ladie BALMERINOTH, Grace, merciemercy, and peace through Iesus Christ our Lord and onelyonly Sauiour.
SEeing in this last and most dead age of the world (most noble Ladie) there be not a few, liuing not onelyonly vnderunder the blinding darknesse and corrupting superstition of abhominable Poperie: but also vnderunder the shining Lanterne of that sauing Gospell, which leadeth men directly towards that bright morning Starre Christ Iesus, blessed for euermore, who holding this earth for their home do neuer dreame that they must be remoued frō it: & so who cannot be moued so much as to begin to thinke vponupon another habitation; but passe by to fit themselues for it. Notwithstanding that nonesparing sword of death killing daily, without respect of persons, men of all rankes, in eueryevery place may sensibly cleare vntounto them the truth of that golden sentence:Heb 13. 14. Here we hauehave no continuall citie. I the meanest in all respect, my Lord and Maister hath imployed about the building of his tabernacle, longing now to be dissolued and to be with him whom my soule loueth; hauehave out of the affection which I carrie to all such as call vponupon his name, bene bold (ouercomming at length manie difficulties) to offer these few lines vntounto the view of others; that if it were possible some one simple soule or two might be moued by them (God being happily with them) to loose their affections from things here beneath, and to set them on things which are aboue. I hauehave dedicated them vntounto your Honor whom God hath so happily weaned from the deceitfull milke of all things earthly, and so graciously married vntounto his blessed Sonne; that now your Honor can wisely account of nothing but in so far as it leadeth vntounto him, who out of louelove gaue himselfe for you. Accept these lines Madame as a testimonie of that louelove & reuerence which I must carrie to that speciall grace of God bestowed happily vponupon you, and vponupon your religious worthy Lord, set among many yong Noble men, and shining as a most bright light aboue so many, if pietie, prudence, veritie, grauitie, chastitie, …emperance, may make a yong Lord shine. For the continuance and encrease whereof, I shall neuer ceasse to put vp my simple prayers vntounto that God who is readie to heare all men, who call to him in truth, and able to keepe your Honor with your truly honorable Lord vntounto his euerlasting kingdome.
Your Ladiships in our blessed Sauiour, D. L.
THE CONTENTS OF the first part containing thirtie meditations.
1. LEt man behold that vnspeakable louelove wherewith God loued him, and that rare accompt his God maketh of him in that shining glasse of the creation of the world. pag. 1.
2. That holy vse man dearely beloloued and farre honoured of God should make of that wise order kept by God in bringing forth the worke of creation. pag. 3.
3. Let man remember how he was made to the Image of God, after deliberation as it were, and let him not forget what his God would teach him thereby. pag. 6.
4. That rare heauenly felicitie and more then royall magnificence of man, made in Adam, and standing in Adam by his God; and with this, mans wofull condition, an… …ore then slauish pouertie, falling in Adam and with Adam, from God. pag. 10.
5. Sinne is a monstrous foule thing defiling euerie thing it toucheth, so that our holy God can vponupon no condition ioyne with it. pag. 16.
6. Let man consider the fearefulnesse of the dogge of sinne; and if he would not be destroyed by him, let him not sleepe till he hauehave throwne him out, if he be in; and keepe him out, if he be not entered within his house. pag. 26.
7. Let the sense of that death which is the wages of sinne, and of that shame which is the reward of sinne, make man to shunne sinne. pag. 33.
8. The bitter temporall and eternall fruite of sinne; with the sweetest temporall and eternall fruite of righteousnes. pag. 38.
9. Let not man thinke shame to shame himselfe (as men speake) for his sinnes in time, by confessing and forsaking them; if he would eschue that endlesse shame shall lye on him for sinne in eternitie. pag. 42.
10. Let man learne to accuse himselfe before God for his sinnes to his conuersion, lest that accuser of Christs brethren, accuse him vntounto God to his condemnation. pag. 44.
11. Let none beside thy God teaching thee by his written word, be thy Master and leader on earth, if thou wouldst walke here before him, and walke hereafter with him. pag. 47.
12. Let all sicke in foule because of sinne, to whose eares the sound of the sweete name of that great Physitian Iesus is come, by the meanes of the Gospell seeke to him for medicine, whom they cannot find but in his word. pag. 51.
13. That white shining lilie Iesus is not to be found, but among pricking thornes. pag. 57.
14. Sweet, wise, Iesus will crosse thee first, if he be to crowne thee afterward. pag. 61.
15. Euerie Christian will confesse that the Crosse belongeth to him, and yet euen the best Christians when the Crosse commeth neare them, and lieth on them, are both affraid thereof and murmure vnderunder it. pag. 66.
16. While thou liuest here, desire not to liue, but to that God and for that God, who made thee, and sent thee hither. pag. 76.
17. Long not for death, but to the end that thou may ceasse to sin and to be with Christ. If thou wouldest not after the first death die that second death also. pag. 77.
18. Let man studie before he die to know of whom he holdeth his life, lest after death he repent, albeit out of time that euer he liued. pag. 80.
19. Let man consider how dearely sweete Iesus hath loued him. pag. 83.
20. Let no man giuegive sleepe to his eyes, till he be certified that Iesus, the louelove of Gods elect, loueth him. p. 88.
21. Seeing no sinne is committed behinde his backe, but in his face, who knoweth the thoughts of man a farre off, let no man attempt to commit sinne vppon hope of secrecie. pag. 92.
22. Sinne and euill hauehave euer bene ioyned together, albeit none be hurt by sinne besides man who commits it. p. 101.
23. Let man grauely consider that fearefull haruest of most bitter sheaues, which the poysoning seede of sinne bringeth forth. pag. 103.
24. Sinne is onelyonly committed against God, and therefore euerie sinner who findeth not Gods merciemercy pardoning him his sinne; shall find Gods Maiestie, his partie, and aduersarie for sinne. p. 111.
25. Let no man communicate with sinne or sinners, who would not be made partaker of that punishment which is due vntounto sinne and sinners. p. 115.
26. Let Satan vent sinne as he pleaseth, let men couer sinne as they can, sonne is a monstrous cruell thing, therefore beware to commit it, to continue in it. p. 120.
27 …, precious, and forcible beyond measure is that cleane and cleansing bloud of Iesus, blessed for euermore. p. 132.
28. Cleane …osus will not wash thee in … cleane clean…ing bloo…, to the end that thou mayest proue a swine, but a swanne, a fithie dogge, but a cleane turtle louelove and … not a bond slaue to sinne and Satan, but a free king to God his … father. p. 134.
29. Louing, and liberall …sus communicates all his riches, and priviledges to all his kingly, and cleane members. p. 136.
30. H… whom blessed …osus hath … unto God, to serue his Maiestie for a while; shall also be made by …esus a King unto God to reig…e … him for euer.