The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Dedication 1
TO THE MVCH HONORED LADIES, the Ladie ANNE CLEERE, and the Ladie ANNE PINCH, and the Ladie IONE HERICKE: N. Bifield wisheth all increase of the true grace of Christ, and the blessed fruition of the glory of God in heauen.
Worthie Ladies,
LAmentable are …he ruines, into which the natures of men are generally fallen by their sinnes: which appeares especially by the waies men take in the businesse of their soule. The most men are cleane out of the way to heauen, and walke in by wayes of their owne, which are called in Scripture, The waies of the wicked; The waies of their owne hearts; Peruerse waies; Darke and slipperie wayes; The way of iniquity. All meeting in that broad way that leadeth to destruction, being wholly ignorant of the way of life and peace, yea, the most of them speake euill of the good way of God, and persecute it. Some there are, that are so farre enlightned, as not to like the common roade way of the multitude; and after some enquirie hauehave found them out wayes that seeme good in their owne eyes; and they are wonderfully well pleased with their course, but the issues of these wayes are death too, as well as the former. And the more is this danger increased vponupon men, because the way of life is but one, and it is a narrow way, and hard to find, and may be sought by many, and yet not found. Yet this hope is left vntounto forlorn men, that there is a way to heauen and happines: A way of righteousnesse and peace, a way of mercy and truth, a way of wisedome: A way that men may securely and safely walke in; a way, in which Christ will guide thē, God the Father will keepe them, and the holy Ghost leade them by the hand, and direct them in all the passages thereof. OnelyOnly it concerneth vsus to aske the way, with all importunitie, of God, and to attend vntounto the directions of the Word of God, & apply our hearts, and suffer our selues to bee disposed aright, that our eyes may see the saluation of God. And in particular wee must looke to three things: First, that if the Lord shew vsus that mercy, to direct vsus in the way, we must take heede that wee neglect not, or despise notthe care of walking in the way. Second ly, that with all diligence we auoide going about, and make straight stops to our feet. And thirdly, with all feare watch our selues, that we fal not off with the errors of the wicked, from the good way of God, and so our latter end be worse then our beginning.
I hauehave vndertaken by the assistance of God, and the direction of this, blessed word, to single out the choisest things I could finde in the Scriptures, concerning the entrance into the way of God, and those first path: which are called Holy. Th… substance of these directions I hauehave digested into the Treatise following: which I dedicate vntounto your Ladiships, as a testimonie of my thankfulnesse, for the respect you hauehave shewed vntounto my Ministerie, both in your constant resort vntounto it in the weeke dayes, while you liued in a neighbour Parish; and in that two of you are pleased to come to liue amongst vsus, and so are become a part of my charge. As also to manifest to the world my obseruance of your Ladiships, for the good report you hauehave amongst the godly for the grace of Iesus Christ, and your vnfeigned louelove of the truth. Beseeching your Acceptation, Perusall, and Patronage of these, I take my leaue, and commend your Ladiships to the God of MercieMercy and Truth, who guide, comfort, deliuer, sanctifie, and preserue you all vntounto the day of Iesus Christ.
Your Ladiships to be commanded in Iesus Christ, N. BIFIELD. Febr. 12. 1619.