The Practice of Piety, Title page – To the reader
THE PRACTICE OF PIETY: Directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God.
Amplified by the Author.
Piety hath the Promise.
1 Tim. 4. 8.
London, Printed for Edward Brewster, 1695.
Lately Printed a very usefull Book: To be sold by Edward Brewster, at the Crane in St. Paul's Church-Yard. viz.
THE Mirror of Martyrs, First and Second Part, lively Expressing (in a short view) the force of their Faith, the fervency of their Love, the wisdom of their Sayings, the patience of their Sufferings, &c. with their Prayers and Preparation for their last farewell;
As also,
Exercitations and Meditations &c. wherein the chief Duties of the Christian Religion are opened and apply'd; By Samuel Tompson. M. A. late of Magdalen-Hall, Oxon.
TO THE High and Mighty Prince CHARLES, Prince of WALES.
CHrist Jesus, the*1 Tim. 6. 15. Prince of Princes, bless your Highness with length of Days,Rev. 12. 13. and an increase of all Graces; which may make you truly prosperous in this life, and eternally happy in that which is to come.
Jonathan shot †1 Sam. 20. 20.three Arrows, to drive David further off from Saul's fury: And this is the third Epistle which I have written to draw your Highness nearer to God's favour, by directing your heart to begin (like Josiah) in your*2 Chron. 34. 3. youth to seek after the God David, (and of Jacob) your Father. Not but that I know, that your Highness doth this without mine admonition; but because I *Qui monet ut facias, quod jam facis, ipse mone… do Laudat, & hortatu comprobat acta suo. 2 Cor. 8. 7.would with the Apostle have you to abound in every grace, in faith and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to Gods Service and true Religion. Never was there more need of plain and unfeigned admonition: for the Comick, in that saying, seems but to have prophesied of our times, Obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit. And no marvel, seeing that we are fallen into the dregs of Time, which being the last, must needs be the worst days. And how can there be worse, seeing Vanity knows not how to be vainer, nor Wickedness how to be more wicked? And whereas heretofore those have been counted most holy, who have shewed themselves most zealous in their Religion;Matth. 15. 1. they are now reputed most discreet, who can make the least profession of their Faith.2. Tim. 2. 4. And that these are the last days, appears evidently; because the security of mens eternal state hath so overwhelmed (as Christ foretold it should) all sorts: that most who now live, are become lovers of pleasures, more than lovers of God: and of those who pretend to love God, O God! what sanctified heart can but bleed, to behold how seldom they come to prayers? how irreverently they hear God's Word? what strangers they are at the Lord's Table: what assiduous spectators they are at Stage-plays? where (being Christians) they can sport themselves to hear the Vassals of the*Exemplum accidit▪ mulieris, Domino teste, quae Theatrum adiit, & inde cum daemonio …diit. Ita que in exorcismo cùm oneraretur immundus spiritus quod ausus est fidelem aggredi: constanter & justissimè quidem (inquit) feci: In meo eam inveni. Tert. de spect▪ lib. cap. 26. Therefore Tert. in cap. 6. calls the Stage, Diaboli Ecclesiam, & Cathedram postilentiarum. Devil scoffing religion, and blasphemously abusing Phrases of holy Scripture on their Stages, as familiarly as they use their Tobacco-pipes in their bibing-houses. So that he who would now …days seek in most Christians for the power, shall scarce almost find the very shew of godliness. Never was there more sinning, never less remorse for sin. Never was the Judge †Jam. 5. 9. Rev. 11. 20.nearer to come, never was there so little preparation for his coming. And if the Bridegroom should now come, how many (who think them selves wise enough, and full of all knowledge) would be found foolish Virgins,Matth 25. 8. without one drop of the Oil of saving Faith in their Lamps? For the greatest Wisdom of most Men in this Age, consists in being wise; first, to deceive others, and in the end to deceive themselves.
And if sometimes some good Book haps into their hands, or some good motion cometh into their heads, whereby they are put in mind to consider the uncertainty of this life present; or how weak assurance they have of eternal life if this were ended: and how they have some secret sins, for which they must needs repent here, or be punished for them in Hell hereafter; Security then forthwith whispers the Hypocrite in the Ear, that though it be fit to think of these things, yet, It is not yet time; and that he is yet young enough (though he cannot but know, that many millions as young as himself are already in Hell, for want of timely repentance.) Presumption warranteth him in the other Ear, that he may have time hereafter, at his leisure, to repent: and that howsoever others die, yet he is far enough from death, and therefore may boldly take yet a longer time, to enjoy his sweet pleasures, and to encrease his wealth and greatness: And hereupon (like Solomon's sluggard) he yields himself to a little more sleep, Prov. 6. 10.a little more slumber, a little more folding of the hands to sleep, in his former sins; till at last Despair (Security's ugly hand maid) comes in unlooked for, and shews him his Hour-glass; dolefully telling him, that his time is past: and that nothing now remains but to die, and …e damned. Let not this seem strange to any, for too many have found it too true; and more with out more grace, are like to be thus sooth'd to their end; and in the end, snared to their endless perdition.
In my desire therefore of the common salvation; Jude ver. 3.but especially of your Highness's everlasting welfare, I have endeavoured to extract (out of the chaos of endless controversies) the old Practice of true Piety, which flourished before these Controversies were hatched: which my poor labours (in a short while) come now forth again, the 42. time, under the gracious protection of your Highness's favour; and by their entertainment seem not to be altogether unwelcome to the Church of Christ. If to be pious, hath in all ages been held the truest honour: how much more honourable is it, in so impious an age, to be the true Patron and Pattern of Piety? Piety made David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, Ezechias, Josias, Zerubbabel, Constantine, Theodosius, Edward the VI. Queen Elizabeth, Prince Henry, and other religious Princes to be so honoured, Eccles. 7. 1.that their Names (since their deaths) smell in the Church of God like a precious oynment, Eccles. 4. 21.and their remembrances sweet as honey in all mouths, and as Musick at a Banquet of Wine: when as the lips of others who have been godless and irreligious Princes, do …ot and stink in the memory of God's People. And what honour is it for great Men to have great Titles on Earth, when God counts their names unworthy to be*Luk. 10. 20. written in his Book of life in Heaven?Rev. 17. 8.
It is Piety that embalms a Prince his good name, and makes his face to shine before Men, and glorifies his soul among Angels. For as Moses his face, by often talking with God, shined in the eyes of the People, Exod. 34. 29, 30.so by frequent praying (which is our talking with God) and hearing the Word, (which is God's speaking unto us) we shall be changed from glory to glory,2 Cor. 3. 18. by the Spirit of the Lord, to the Image of the Lord. And seeing this life is uncertain to all, (especially to Princes) what argument is more fit, both for Princes and People to study, than that which …eacheth sinful man to deny himself by mortifying his corruption▪ …hat he may enjoy Christ, the Author of his salvation: to renounce these false and momentary pleasures of the world; that he may attain to the true and eternal joys of heaven: And to make them truly honourable before God in Piety, who are now only honourable before Men in vanity? What charges soever we spend in earthly vanities; for the most part, they either die before us, or we shortly die after them: But what we spend like *Matth. 26. 13.Mary in the Practice of Piety, shall remain our true memorial for ever. For, †1 Tim. 4. 8.Piety hath the promise of this life, and of that which shall never end. But*Principibus ad salutem sola satìs vera est pietas, absque illâ verò nihil est vel exercitus, vel Imperato…is fortitudo, vel apparatus reliquus Zozom. Eccles. Hist. lib. 9. c. 1. without Piety there is no internal comfort to be found in Conscience, no… external Peace to be looked for in the World, nor any eternal happiness to be hoped for in Heaven. How can Piety but promise to her self … zealous Patron of your Highness being the sole Son and Heir of … gracious and great a Monarch who is not only the Defender of the Faith by title, but also a Defende… of the Faith in truth, as the Christian World hath taken notice by hi… learned confuting of Bellarmine ever spreading Heresies, and his suppressing in the blade of Vorstius's Athean blasphemies? and …ow easie is it for your Highness to equal (if not exceed) all that were before you in Grace and Greatness? if you do but set your heart to seek, and to serve God, considering how religiously your Highness hath been educated by godly and vertuous *The Honourable Sir Robert Cary Knight, and the religi…s Lady Cary his Wife. Mr. Thomas Murray▪ Sir James Full…rton.Governours and Tutors: as also that you live in such a time, wherein God's Providence, and the King's Religious Care have placed over this Church (to the unspeakable comfort thereof) another venerable Jehoiada▪ †2 Chron. 24. 16 The gracious Archbishop… of Cant ….that doth good in our Israel both towards God and towards his House: of whom your Highness at all times in all doubts may learn the sincerity of Religion, for the Salvation of your inward Soul; and the wisest counsel for the direction of your outward state: And to excite you the rather, to the zealo…s Practice of divine Piety; often suppose with your self, that your Highness hears your Religious Father James, speaking unto you, as sometimes holy David spake to his Son Solomon:1 Chr. 28. 9. And thou Charles my Son, know thou the God of thy Father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: i… thou seek him, he will be found of thee: but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
To help you the better to seek and serve this God Almighty, who must be your chief Protector in life, and only comfort in death: I here once again, on my bended knees, offer my old Mite new stampt into your Highness's… hands: daily for your Highness offering up unto the most High, my humblest prayers; that as you grow in age and stature, so you may (like your Master Christ) increase in wisdom and favour with God and all good men. This suit will I never cease: in all other matters I will ever rest,
Your Highness humble Servant, during life to be commanded, LEWES BAILY
AD CAROLUM PRINCIPEM.
Tolle Malos, extolle Pious, cognosce Teipsum;
Sacra tene, Paci consule, disce pati.
ADVERTISEMENT.
This Book being now exactly Corrected, and purged from many Thousand Faults, which have escaped former Impressions, is now also printed in a fair large Roman Character, for the Use and Benefit of Aged Persons; and to be sold by Edward Brewster, at the Crane in St. Paul's Church-yard. 1695.
The 42. Edition.
TO THE Devout Reader.
I Had not purposed to enlarge the last Edition, save that the importunity of many devoutly disposed, prevailed with me, to add some points, and to amplifie others. To satisfie whose godly requests, I have done my best endeavour, and withal finished all that I intend in this argument. If thou shalt hereby reap any more profit, give God the more praise: And remember him in thy Prayers, who hath vowed both his life and his labours, to further thy Salvation as his own. Farewell in the Lord JESUS.