A Perfect Pathway to Felicity, Title page – To the reader
A perfect Pathway to Felicitie, Conteining godly Meditations, and praiers, fit for all times, and necessarie to be practized of all good Christians.
Imprinted at London by Richard Yardly for Humfrey Lownes. 1592.
To the right worshipfull, vertuous, and godly Gentlewoman mistresse Katherine Milward, most faithfull spouse to the no lesse worshipfull, wise and religious Gentleman, master William Milward, esquire, P. S. wisheth all hapie successe in this life, with increase of worship, and in the life to come, eternall felicitie in the heauenlie Hierarchie by Iesus Christ.
TWo things per aduenture (right worshipfull) may be maruailed at, concerning this litle booke, as namely, first why I hauehave published it, considering the great number of bookes, either of the same, or verie like argument, extant in these dayes. Secondly, wherfore I hauehave dedicated it rather vntounto you, then to anie other. For the first, I protest before God, who knoweth the secrets of all hearts, I hauehave not published it, either for vainglory, lucre, or gaines, nor yet for any other priuate respect of my owne whatsoeuer, but at the instant request, and earnest desire of one of my verie good friends, and alliance also, who yet being liuing, and the onelyonly man that hath borne the whole charges of the impression thereof, both can, and I know will (if need should require) iustifie the same, against any that should auerre the contrarie. And for the second, when I considered with myselfe, howe much b und I hauehave alwaies beene to your worship, euer since the time that I was first acquainted with you, for your good opinion you hauehave euer cōceiued of me, & sundrie other your courtesies shewed towards me, far beyond my deserts or expectation: As also when I called to remembrance your feruent zeale …hich you hauehave euer borne to the word of God, & holy religion, your exquisite knowledge therein, your carefull indeuour to put the same in practise, and to frame your life therafter. Briefly, when I remembred your maruailous humilitie and lowlinesse of mind, your wonderfull modestie, gentlenesse and affabilitie, your rare continencie and integritie of life, with infinite the like vertues and graces, wherewith God hath beautified & adorned your worship aboue manie others, I say, when I remembred these things, with many mo, I could do no lesse (hauing so fit an occasion giuen me, by reason of my friends importunacie) then to dedicate these my labors to your worship, though not as a guerdon answerable to your deserts, yet as an infallible testimonie, pledge and token of my thankful good wil and gratefull heart towards you. And albe it that in respect of the form or methode of the booke (for herein I hauehave not studied to be curious) it may seeme to be base and contemptible, and such as is farre vnworthie to be exhibited, to so wise, so discreet, so godly and religious a gentlewoman, yet in regard of the matter, which is heauenlie and diuine, I most humbly beseech you to accept therof, and to permit the same to go forth to the view of the worlde vnderunder the gard of your protection, and to patronize both the author & the booke against the poysoned tongues of railing Phormions, and flouting Momusses, to whom all good things are had in disdaine. And in so doing, both God shall bee glorified by you, the church & Saints shall praise God in you, and I my selfe besides that I will not rest vnthankfull to you to the death, will not cease also to pray to God for you. And t…us I most humblie take my leaue. From my Chamber, this present 10. of April. 1592.
Your worships in the Lord. Philip ….
To the curteous Reader, grace, merciemercy, and peace
GEntle Reader,
I hauehave beene constrayned …horowe the importunacie of my friend to publish this little treatise or manuel of praiers & meditations, praying thee in brotherly louelove & christian charitie (which as Paul saith couereth the multitude of sinnes) that if any thing hauehave passed my penne, either thorow lack of due cōsideration, or the presse thorow want of diligent attention, thou wilt yet, either friendly amend it with thy pen, or else silently passe it ouer. And if any thing seem harsh, rough or vnfiled, thinke that in this kind of argument I hauehave not studied to be curious & besides, impute the cause thereof to straitnesse of time, which would not suffer mee so much as to write out my copy twise, nor being once writ, scarce to read it ouer againe. Thus friendly Reader I cōmit thee to God, praying thee to censure al things to ye best, and to helpe mee with thy praiers that both thou and I, and all the elect of God, in his good time appointed, may come to the full fruition, and possession of all the ioyes and glorie of heauen, which God the father hath promised vntounto vsus, thorow his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and Siuio…r.
Thine in the Lord. P. S.