Brief Directions Unto a Godly Life, Title page – Dedication
BRIEFE DIRECTIONS UNTO A GODLY LIFE: Wherein every Chriſtian is furniſhed with moſt neceſſary helps for the furthering of him in a godly courſe here upon Earth, that ſo he may attaine Eternall Happineſſe in Heaven.
Written by Mr. Paul Bayne, Miniſter of Gods Word, to Mr. Nicholas Iordane his Brother.
LONDON, Printed by A. G. for I. N. and are to be ſold by Samuel Enderby at the Starre in Popes head Alley, 1637.
To the RIGHT Worſhipfull, Mr. NICHOLAS IORDANE Eſquire, and one of his Majeſties Iuſtices of the Peace and Quorum, in the County of Suſſex.
SIR,
IT hath beene an ancient cuſtom to reſerve ſome lively repreſentation of worthy friends deceaſed, therby to continue the remembrance of their vertues, perſons, and love. This holy Treatiſe enſuing, hath ſerved you to that purpoſe, and that very fitly; for herein you have a true repreſentation and remembrance of your moſt worthy and loving Brother, eſpecially of the moſt noble and worthy part of him, I meane of his excellent underſtanding in the myſterie of godlineſſe: his moſt zealous and earneſt will and deſire of all mens practice of godlineſſe; And his ſincere love unto you in particular, unto whom hee primarily directed theſe Directions unto a godly life; which as they do lively expreſſe that he had put on the new man, created and renued in knowledge, righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe: ſo is it moſt worthy of our reſervation, both for the remembrance and imitation of him. Yea, I may confidently affirme, that this faithfull remembrancer is moſt worthy and fit alwaies to be carried about us, and daily to be look'd on by us: for it will helpe us well to put on that new man, and to be conformable to our Head Ieſus Chriſt, and to walke before the Lord in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe all the daies of our life. For there is this difference between thoſe former corporall Images of earthly bodies and this, that men with too much love and uſe of them, eaſily fell into ſuperſtitious wickedneſſe; but this the more it is loved and uſed of men, the more will all wickedneſſe be rooted out of their hearts, and the more will they glorifie God by a holy life and converſation. Now having received this holy Treatiſe at your worſhips hands to publiſh it unto the World, I am bold to returne it unto you for ſafegard, both that the World may know unto whom it is obliged for ſo excellent a monument, as alſo for the great benefit that ſhall be reaped thereby. So (Sir) accounting it a wiſe part in him that cannot ſpeake well, to ſay but little; I commend you and this Treatiſe to Gods Grace which is able to build us up further, even to doe wondrouſly above all that wee can aske or thinke.
Your Worſhips humbly at command, N. N.