A Guide to Godliness, To the reader
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
IT is the duty (Chriſtian Reader) of all who deſire to approoue themſelues faithfull ſubiects and ſeruants to our great Lord and Soueraigne, that they conſecrate themſelues wholly vntounto his ſeruice, not only in the ſpirituall Warfare, by fighting his battels, euen vntounto the death, againſt the many and mighty enemies of his glory and our ſaluation; but alſo in the time of peace, by doing his will, and performing all holy duties of his ſeruice, which in his Word he requireth of them. And therefore as I hauehave indeuoured heretofore (according to the meaſure of grace receiued) to prepare and fit all thoſe who vouchſafe to peruſe my poore labours, that they may performe the duties of valiant Souldiers, in my Bookes of the Christian Warfare: ſo perceiuing that thoſe my paines hauehave much aboue their worth found good acceptance with all thoſe that feare God; I hauehave now alſo beene incouraged to vndertake the other, and not only to deſcribe the duties of a godly life, in which we ought to ſerue our Lord and Maſter, but alſo to ſhew the meanes wherby we may be inabled hereunto, and how we may remoue the impediments which otherwiſe might hinder vsus from entring into, or proceeding in the wayes of godlineſſe. The which my labours, if they prooue as profitable to thoſe that reade them, as they hauehave beene painefull vntounto me in framing and compoſing them, I ſhall thinke my ſelfe abundantly recompenced, and much more reioyce when I ſee the haruest of my hopes, then euer I had cauſe to ſigh and grone, through wearineſſe in my laborious ſeed-time. Of which, though I ſhould faile (as I hope I ſhall not) yet, as it is ſaid of Vertue, that it alwayes bringeth a reward with it, ſo may I truely ſay of theſe my labours; out of which, ſo much profit, comfort, and contentment hauehave accrewed vntounto my ſelfe, that I ſhould hauehave no iuſt cauſe to repent for the ſcantneſſe of my reward, although no other fruit ſhould ſpring from them. But if I be not deceiued (as we are apt to be no leſſe blinded in iudging of our ſpirituall and mentall, then of our naturall and corporall births) theſe my preſent labours will proue no leſſe profitable vntounto all that peruſe them, then any of the former. Yea, if my affection corrupting my iudgment, doth not cauſe me to looke vponupon them (like Fathers, vponupon the children of their old age) with an ouer-partiall eye, they are in ſome reſpects to be preferred before any of the other, both becauſe the ſubiect on which they intreate, hath the priuiledge of excellency and neceſsity, as being the maine duties of Chriſtianity, which are to be performed thorowout the whole courſe of our liues; and alſo becauſe they generally concerne all ſorts of men, who thinke themſelues bound to doe God any ſeruice, or to carry themſelues ſo, as that their works and wayes may be accepted of him. If any man ſhall thinke that I hauehave deſcribed the duties of a godly life with more ſtrictneſſe, and in greater perfection, then any can attaine vntounto in this ſtate of imperfection, and ſo hauehave required more of others, then I can any wayes be able to performe my ſelfe; let him know, that the worke muſt be fitted to the rule, and not the rule to the worke, and that this muſt be ſtraight and perfect, although by reaſon of the crookedneſſe of the matter or ſtuffe, no worke-man is able to frame it ſo, but that it will in many places decline and ſwarue from it. And though the marke of perfection be ſo ſmall, and ſo farre out of our reach, that none in this life can hit it; yet muſt it be ſet before vsus, and we muſt ſtriue to ſhoot at it, as neere as w…; ſeeing they are more likely to hauehave the prize of the beſt game, who aime at it, then thoſe who looke another way. For my ſelfe, none can accuſe me of ſo many and great imperfections in my courſe and practice of theſe duties, as I am ready to charge my ſelfe within the court of mine own conſcience; & yet if I would not belie the grace of God in me, I muſt profeſſe, that I doe labour to performe that my ſelfe which I propound vntounto others; and though I cannot attaine to the goale of perfection, as I hauehave here deſcribed it out of Gods Word, yet bewayling my ſtiffeneſſe and lameneſſe in running the Race, I indeuour and preſſe (in ſome meaſure) towards Phil. 3. 13, 14.the marke, for the price of the high calling of God in Ieſus Chriſt; and no more then this doe I require of others. Now, becauſe wee cannot grow in grace and godlineſſe, without the aſsiſtance of Gods Spirit, and this cannot be had, vnleſſe we ſue and ſeeke for it; and becauſe alſo godlineſſe in a great part conſiſteth in powring forth our ſoules before God in humble and hearty, frequent and feruent prayers, therefore leſt any thing which is neceſſary, ſhould be wanting to this Treatiſe, I hauehave in the end of it ſet downe diuers formes, which may ſerue either for the vſe of weake Chriſtians, who cannot fit themſelues with better, or for ſome direction to guide them in compoſing or conceiuing others, according to their owne particular occaſions. If any man thinke them ouer-long and tedious, to him, I confeſſe, they are ſo, (though there is ſcarce two amongst them that may not be treatably vttered in a quarter of an houre) and therefore I would not torture his deuotion, by perſwading him to racke and ſtretch it aboue its due length and ſtrength; but rather I would aduiſe, if hee meet not with ſhorter Prayers, which better pleaſe him, that hee deuide both the Confeſsions and Petitions, with ſome marke of a Pen, ſo as he may vſe one halfe at one time, and the reſt at another. And ſo (Chriſtian Reader) I leaue thee to the Lord, and his good bleſsing vponupon all thy ſtudies and indeuours, only requeſting theſe two things at thine hands; Firſt, that as I hauehave laboured much in giuing thee directions for the leading of a Chriſtian life; ſo thou wilt alſo ſtriue with all thine indeuour, to walke in this way reuealed vntounto thee. And ſecondly, that if thou reape any fruit of my paines (as I doubt not thou wilt, if thou reade to profit by them, conſtantly vntounto the end, and not heere and there, by fits and ſnatches) thou wilt be pleaſed to affoord me the benefit of thy Prayers, that together with thy ſelfe, I may continue and hold out vntounto the end, in the profeſsion and practice of all Chriſtian and holy duties; vntill hauing finiſhed our courſe with ioy, we doe both of vsus receiue the Crowne of righteouſneſſe, which God of his free grace hath laid vp for vsus, and for all thoſe who louelove his appearing.
Octob. the 16. 1622. Thine in the Lord Ieſus our Head and Sauiour, I. D.