The Travels of True Godliness, Chapter 1 – Chapter 2
CHAP. I.
Shewing what true Godlineſs is, as alſo his Pedigree, Original, and Antiquity,
TRUE Godlineſs being of late, as well as in former daies) become ſo great a ſtranger to moſt men, and indeed not known but by a very few in the World; I ſhall in the firſt place, before I Treat of his Travels and of the Entertainment he meets with where he comes, give you a deſcription of him, and the rather becauſe many perſons I perceive are ſubject to ſo great an errour as to take Mortality for him; and others out of ignorance (to ſay no worſe) Rail, and ignominiouſly call and abuſe him, by the names of Singularity, Stubbornneſs, Pride and Rebellion, as if he were not fit to live or have a being in the World, he being rendered a make-bate, a ſeditious and common diſturber of all Kingdoms, Cities, Towns, and Villages whereſoever he comes and is entertained: Yea, ſuch a factious and quarrelſome companion, that he is indeed the only cauſe and ſtirrer up of all thoſe unhappy differences, diviſions, troubles and miſeries that are this day in the world, This being ſo, I conclude nothing is more neceſſary, than to take off that ugly Maſk or Viſard, which his implacable enemies have put upon him, and clear him of all thoſe ſoul and unjuſt ſlanders and curſed reproaches of the Sons of Belial; that ſo he may appear in his own original, primitive and ſpotleſs Innocency, that none may be afraid of him, or be unwilling to entertain him, nor aſhamed to own him, and make him their boſome-companion.
Know ye therefore in the firſt place,Godlineſs deſcribed. That Godlineſs conſiſts in the true and right knowledg of Divine Truths, or fundamental principles of the Goſpel; which all men ought to know and be eſtabliſhed in, that would be ſaved without Controverſie, great is the myſtery of Godlineſs: God manifeſted in the fleſh, juſtified in the Spirit, ſeen of Angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the World, and received up to Glory. *Tim. 3.16.Theſe great Truths of the Chriſtian Religion are called Godlineſs; many men conclude 'tis no matter what faith or principle they hold and cleave to, provided they do but live a ſober and honeſt life, doing to all men as they would be done unto, ſuppoſing that the whole of Religion and Godlineſs conſiſts in theſe things; but alaſs, they are greatly miſtaken; Godlineſs is another kind of thing than they imagine; it is impoſſible to receive or entertain True Godlineſs, whilſt we ſhut out of doors the Eſſentials of the Chriſtian Religion; and inſtead thereof imbrace Superſtition, Errour and Hereſie, there being damning principles as well as damning practices, 2 Pet. 1.2, 3.
Now ſhould any demand further, to hear more particularly what thoſe principles of divine truths, or fundamentals of Chriſtian Faith be, which are the Eſſentials of True Godlineſs.
1. I anſwer the Doctrine of the Bleſſed Trinity, or the three diſtinct Subſiſtances in the Glorious Deity.
2. The Unity of the two natures in the perſon of Chriſt, viz. that he is really God and man, in one perſon David's Lord, and yet David's Son; David's Root, and yet David's Off-ſpring.
3. The Doctrine of Attonement, or that plenary ſatisfaction and reconcilliation the Lord Jeſus hath made by his glorious underſtaning on man's behalf.
4. The Doctrine of Juſtification by Faith alone, or the imputation of Chriſts Righteouſnes to thoſe who do believe.
5. The Doctrine of Regeneration, Reſurrection, Judgment, the World to come, &c. Now I ſay in the true knowledg of theſe and ſuch like principles of divine truths, and being truly eſtabliſhed in the ſtedfaſt belief thereof, does True Godlineſs in part conſiſt. But ſecondly, Godlineſs, as to his inward and more hidden parts and power, is a holy conformity to theſe ſacred and divine principles which natural men may underſtand Religion by; but True Godlineſs conſiſts in the light of ſupernatural truths and life of Grace, God manifeſting himſelf in the light of thoſe glorious principles, and working the life of ſupernatural grace in the ſoul by the Holy Ghoſt, it conſiſts in the ſaving and experimental knowledg of God and Jeſus Chriſt, in having all the evil qualities of the Soul removed, and heavenly habits infuſed in their room, or in a gracious conformity, diſpoſition and affections of the heart to God, cleaving to all truths made known to us, to find the powerful influences of the Goſpel and Spirit of Chriſt upon us, whereby our Souls are brought into the Image and likeneſs of his death and reſurrection; this is True Godlineſs, 'tis not a bare living up to the natural principles of morality, nor a ſimple knowledg of the letter of the word, or an hiſtorical, notional, or dogmatical knowledg of the ſacred Goſpel, and the precepts thereof, but in a faithful living up to the ſupernatural principles of Grace and the Goſpel, diſcharging our duties with as much readineſs and faithfulneſs towards God as towards man, ſo that our conſcience may be kept void of offence towards both. *Acts 24.16.It conſiſts in forſaking of every ſin, and not only to leave it, but to loath it as the greateſt evil, and to cleave to God in ſincerity of heart, valuing him above all who is the chiefeſt good, and from a principle of divine love, willingly ſubjecting to all his Laws and appointments; Godlineſs makes a man ſay with the Pſalmiſt, whom have I in Heaven but thee? *Pſal. 73.25.&c. Non amat Chriſtum, amat aliquid plus quam Chriſtum, ſaith Auſtin, he loves not Chriſt at all, that loves him not above all: He that entertains True Godlineſs, is as much for the Work of Religion, as for the wages of Religion: Some there be who ſerve God, that they may ſerve themſelves upon God, but a true Chriſtian deſires grace, not only that God would glorifie him in Heaven, but that he may glorifie God on Earth: He cries, Lord, rather let me have a good heart than a great Eſtate; though he loves many things beſides God, yet he loves nothing above God. This man fears ſin more than ſuffering, and therefore he will ſuffer rather than ſin: He is like a Palm-Tree, he alwaies flouriſhes beſt when he is preſt down moſt. This may ſerve in the ſecond place, to diſcover what the inward life and power of True Godlineſs is.
Thirdly, That you may have a compleat and perfect knowledg of him, it may not be amiſs if I deſcribe or give you the character of his form and external parts, together with the very faſhion he continually wares or goes in.
Firſt, Then know ye that the form or external parts of True Godlineſs are very comely and beautiful, and no marvel it is ſo, ſeeing he was form'd and faſhioned by the wiſdom of the only wiſe God our Saviour; the works of whoſe hands being all glorious; but this (viz.) the formation of Godlineſs being one of the chiefeſt, higheſt and moſt admirable contrivances of his eternal wiſdom, muſt of neceſſity excel in glory, ſweet odour and amiableneſs; his form and external beauty therefore is ſuch, that he needs no humane artifice to paint or adorn him, or any waies to illuſtrate or ſet off his beauty and ſweet comelineſs of his countenance; for there is nothing defective as to his Evangelical and Apoſtolical form, as he came out of his great Creators hands; and as there is nothing from head to foot that is ſuperfluous, more than needs or might be ſpared, ſo every line and lineament, Veins, Nerves and Sinews of him are in ſuch an exact and admirable order placed, that is to his beauty there can be no addition: Every one therefore that goes about to take from, add to, or alter any thing, touching the form of True Godlineſs, mars inſtead of making, and defiles inſtead of beautifying; beſides God hath ſtrictly forbid any thing of this nature to be done, no man is to ſet up his Poſt by the Lor'ds Poſt. Add thou not unto his Word, leſt he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar, *Pro, 30.6.viz. by fathering that upon God which is none of his; do not the Papiſts call thoſe ſuperſtitious and vain Ceremonies, us'd in their Church, by the name of God's Worſhip, and what is this leſs than the putting a lye upon him; beſides it reflects upon the wiſdom of God; to attempt to change or alter any thing of the form of Godlineſs, as if he did not know beſt how, and in what way, or after what manner he himſelf would be worſhipped: But muſt be beholding to man for his help, wiſdom and rare contrivances, touching many things that are by the Papiſts called decent and neceſſary; alſo doth it not reflect upon the care and faithfulneſs of God, inſomuch, that he ſhould not himſelf take care to lay down in his bleſſed word many things, which are very neceſſary to be added to the form of Godlineſs, which man's care and wiſdom is fain to ſupply.
Therefore from hence all may perceive, that True Godlineſs never alters his Phyſiognomy, nor changes his countenance, he is the very ſame and not altred in the leaſt from what he was in the Primitive Time; nay, and there is indeed nothing in the world he hates more than thoſe pompous Garbs, ſuperſtitious Veſtments, and other Fooleries that are uſed in the Popiſh Church; as Croſſings, Cryſoms, Salt, Spittle, Oyl, and Holy Water, with divers other ridiculuous Cereremonies, which are ſo numerous, they are too tedious here to reckon up, therefore take heed you do not take the counterfeit form of Godlineneſs, for the true Form; for as there is a counterfeit Godlineſs, ſo there is a counterfeit form of Godlineſs which the counterfeit or falſe Godlineſs alwaies wares; it is alſo needful to note one thing more, leſt you are deceived, viz. you muſt be ſure to receive the power of Godlineſs, with his form; for his form without his inward life and power will do you no good; 'tis but as the Body without the Soul, or the Shell without the Kirnel, or the Cabinet without the Jewel; neither ought any to ſlight his form, for you may remember what the Apoſtle ſpeaks of the form of Doctrine, *Rom. 6.17.and of the form of ſound Words; for as the true faith muſt be held faſt, ſo muſt the profeſſion of it alſo,*2 Tim. 1.13. you may 'tis true meet with a Shell without the Kirnel, but it is rare to meet with a Kirnel without the Shell.
Having thus briefly given you the deſcription both of the inſide,The Pedegree of Godlineſs. and outſide power and form of True Godlineſs; We ſhall proceed to Treat of his Pedigree, and ſhew you whoſe Off-ſpring he is, you by his name may eaſily read from whence he deſcends, and learn what a Noble Patronage he is of, he is indeed High-born, the great and glorious Offspring of the Lord Jehovah, the Almighty Prince of Heaven and Earth, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, the univerſal Monarch of the World, whoſe Kingdom ruleth over all; and as this is his Noble Extract and renowned Deſcent, ſo likewiſe he is alwaies in high eſteem and favour with his glorious Prince, for there is none, no not one in Heaven or Earth that he loves and takes more delight in, than in True Godlineſs; nor is there any indeed more like him, or does more lively repreſent him in all the Earth; for he bears his expreſs, ſweet and Heavenly Image; yea, and ſuch a venerable reſpect and gracious eſteem hath he of him, that thoſe who love him, he loves; thoſe who hate him, he hates; thoſe who receive him he receives; and thoſe who reject him he rejects; where he comes to dwell, there God, Chriſt and the Holy Ghoſt dwells.
Godlineſs is of great Antiquity;The Antiquity of Godlineſs. nay according to the deſcription we gave you of him: In the firſt place, we may well ſay he is without beginning of daies, for Truth (for ſome times he bears that name) dwelt in God from Everlaſting, though in time manifeſt or made known to men, and that in divers waies and manners, according as God in wiſdom ſaw good. But if we ſpeak of his Antiquity, in reſpect of his dwelling here below, the firſt man that knew him was Adam, who whilſt he ſtood in the ſtate of Innocency enjoyed ſome part of his ſweet Company but by the malice of a great and potent Enemy he was abuſed, and his Image ſo defaced and marr'd, that he forſook his Habitation, which was the ruine and utter undoing of our firſt Parents and their whole Poſterity: and had not the Father of True Godlineſs, the King of Heaven and Earth, found out through his infinite wiſdom, a way to recover Man from his loſt Eſtate Godlineſs had made his abode no longer in this World, for by means of Corruption of Nature there was begotten and brought forth a curſed Monſter of ugly ſhape, whoſe Name was Vice, alias Luſt, who found ſo much favour with Adam's Children, that Godlineſs was utterly diſcountenanced; and though he was the Off-ſpring of Heaven (as you heard before) and the only delight of Jehovah (and unto man the greateſt friend and chief Benefactor in all the World, ſtriving to enrich him, chear his heart, and to make him truly Noble and Renowned on Earth, and bring him back into his former Primitive Glory, and thereby at laſt make him eternally happy in Heaven) yet he was neglected and lamentably ſlighted, that there was but only one of Adam's Offſpring cared for him at that time, and he too for entertaining of him with that juſt and good reſpect he deſerved, was by his Brother, whoſe Name was Cain, baſely murdered; ſo that Godlineſs by this perceived very early what kind of uſage and entertainment amongſt the Children of men he was like to meet withal; and truly never was there any one ſo nobly deſcended, and of ſuch an excellent, peaceable and ſweet a nature and behaviour, generally ſo dealt with as Godlineſs hath been, from the beginning to this very day; (except the Prince of Godlineſs himſelf) yet he found ſome friends after Abel was ſlain, who entertained him kindly, and though they were reproached, hated, and perſecuted for ſhewing favour to him, yet they never loſt anything by him, but contrarywiſe were infinite gainers, for he never came empty handed to any mans houſe, but alwaies brought plenty of good things along with him, yea, ſuch things, the worth and value whereof no mortal is able to compute; (as I'll ſhew hereafter, God aſſiſting) nay, ſo great a friend he was to the next man, which I find eminently embraced him, that he ſaved him from the Grave, he ſent him to Heaven without calling at the Gate of Death; his name as I remember, was Enoch, and 'tis not to be thought what ſweet and Heavenly Communion, true Joy and Felicity this good man had with Godlineſs, for the ſpace of three hundred years, for ſo long they abode together on Earth, and now dwell together with the Father of true Godlineſs, and his only begotten Son in Heaven. Some time after this great Prince (for ſo they are all made who entetain True Godlineſs) was carried to Heaven, a ſad diſaſter beſell the World (I mean the Enemies of Godlineſs) for ſo it was, that curſed Monſter and Off-ſpring of Hell (viz.) Vice, finding ſuch great your with the men of the Generation, they delighting in nothing more than in ſin and wickedneſs, hating God and his true and lovely Off-ſpring Godlineſs, it provoked him to take vengeance upon them, and utterly to deſtroy them from off the Earth; and this was done by a fearful and amazing Flood of Water: Now, this heavy Judgment was brought, I ſay, upon the men of that Generation for their ſlighting, neglecting, and baſely contemning of Godlineſs, and ſad it was to conſider how generally men were at that time out of love with him, for there was not one in ten thouſand but hated him, and loved vice and ungodlineſs far better than he; nay, to tell you plainly, there was but one man in all the World who was an eminent Lover of this Noble and High Born Prince, Godlineſs, whoſe name was Noah, though 'tis not to be doubted but his Wife and Sons, eſpecially two of them, were in ſome meaſure Favourites of him likewiſe: But mark how at that time it fared with this Holy Man and his Family, who were Friends to Godlineſs, never a one of them were deſtroyed by that Flood; we may well ſay, Godlineſs is profitable unto all things, and Bleſſed are all they who love and kindly entertain him; for had it not been for Godlineſs, Noah had doubtleſs periſhed as well as others.
But to proceed in this brief Hiſtory of the Antiquity of Godlineſs, it would not be amiſs if we ſpeak a little of the next man after Noah who entertained him, and how he was bleſſed in ſo doing; his Name at firſt was Abram, but afterwards he was called Abraham: This man lived for ſome time amongſt a Blind, Heatheniſh, and Idolotrous People, and was ignorant of True Godlineſs; but when he became acquainted with him, few men ever loved him better, for he made him his Boſom Companion, and chiefeſt delight (and ſo indeed muſt every one that entertains him) and hereby he became great, and his Glory and Renown was ſpread abroad; nay he was by this means ſo honoured, that he was called the Friend of God, and the Father of all true Lovers of Godlineſs; and beſides the outward Bleſſings, this faithful man reaped as the fruit or donation of Godlineſs; (which were many, for he had much Cattel, Men-ſervants, Camels and Aſſes, ſo that he became very great) he was bleſſed with all ſpiritual Bleſſings; (viz.) he had ſweet fellowſhip and communion with God, abounding in Faith, Love, and Joy in the Holy Ghoſt; the Covenant of Grace was alſo renewed to him, with a gracious Promiſe, that in his Seed all the Nations of the Earth ſhould be bleſſed; for he having received Godlineſſ as his choiceſt Companion, and chiefeſt Delight, Godlineſs brought along with him the Promiſes of this Life, and that which is a thouſand times better (viz.) the Life which is to come.
But now near where this faithful man dwelt, there was a City, nay more than one, whoſe Inhabitants were utter enemies to Godlineſs, and lovers of that ugly and baſe-born Monſter and Spawn of the Devil, Vice, abounding in all manner of horrible wickedneſs, who for this very reaſon were deſtroyed with their Cities by Fire and Brimſtone from Heaven; yet nevertheleſs, before they were conſumed (ſo great a lover is Jehovah of Godlineſs) that he told Abraham, if there were but ten righteous perſons in that City, viz. ſuch who had entertained Godlineſs, and were true lovers of him, he would ſpare the City for their ſakes; but it appeared there was but one man who ſhewed him countenance, and was in love with him. And yet before the City was burned, the Angels bid him haſte and be gone; for Godlineſs was ſuch a ſure defence to him, the Angel could do nothing till he was gone forth: Sodom could not take Fire whilſt righteous Lot was in it.
I might proceed further, and ſhew you who they were that entertained Godlineſs in the ſucceeding Ages, for the ſpace of more than two Thouſand Years, and what great bleſſings he brought unto them, and what they ſuffered for his ſake; but I can but give a brief hint or two upon this account; 'tis known to all what Joſeph ſuffered for him by his envious Brethren, and how Godlineſs advanced him for his Integrity to him at laſt. Moreover the Children of Iſrael after Joſeph was dead, were through that love they bore to him, grievouſly oppreſſed by the mighty King of Egypt, but it proved his own utter Ruine in the end. David, for the love he bare to him, was for many Years together greatly perſecuted, but afterwards Godlineſs raiſed him to great honour, and made him very ich, and ſat a Crown upon his Head; All along I might ſhew you in Ancient daies he was very much hated and perſecuted; nay, and ſome of his true Friends and Favourites, were for his ſake caſt into a fiery Furnace, and another into a Lions Den, yet they never loſt any thing by him, nor did they ever repent the Entertainment they gave him. If we ſhould come lower into the Times of the Goſpel, 'tis well known what uſage he met with in our Lord and Saviour Jeſus and his Bleſſed Apoſtles; afterwards alſo by the Heathen Emperours, he was moſt abominably hated and perſecuted, and all thoſe who entertained him were put to all manner of cruel Deaths and Torments imaginable. Laſtly, we might alſo ſhew you what hard uſage he met with by counterfeit Godlineſs, I mean Papiſtry, for near 1200 Years, how many of his dear Children and Servants have for the ſake of him been burn'd to Death, and otherwaies tormented in moſt Nations of Europe, but let what hath been ſaid ſuffice, touching the Antiquity, gray Hairs, and uſage of True Godlineſs in former days.
CHAP. II.
Shewing who the chief Enemies of Godlineſs are.
HAving given you a brief Account of the Pedigree, Original, and Antiquity of True Godlineſs, wherein occaſionally hath been hinted ſome of thoſe great Abuſes he met withal in Ancient times I judg it may not be amiſs (before I come to treat of his Travels and Entertainment in theſe latter daies, and how it fares with him at this preſent juncture, to give a Deſcription of ſome of his chiefeſt Adverſaries, to the end the true lover, of Godlineſs may be aware of them, and thoſe who have a mind to be accquainted with him, and are hindred from receiving him into their *Their Hearts.Houſes, may know the Cauſe and Reaſon of it now.
1. One of the chiefeſt Enemies of this great Prince and Favourite of Heaven is the Devil; nor is there any one that hates him more.
2. Sin, alias Vice, alias Luſt.
3. The Fleſh.
4. The World.
But becauſe this general and common deſcription is not ſufficient to diſcover the great danger Men and Women are in,Who the Enemies of Godlineſs are. by certain other ſecret and domeſtick Enemies, who are the curſed Agents and Servants of thoſe grand Adverſaries of True Godlineſs, ſome of which many are ready to entertain as Friends, not ſuſpecting the fatal danger they are in thereby; I ſhall upon this therefore give you an account of a few of them, and tell you their Names. The Firſt I ſhall begin with is Ʋnbelief, a very dangerous Fellow. 2. Pride. 3. Vain-glory. 4. Formality. 5. Hypocriſie. 6. Oppreſſion. 7. Hereſie. 8. Superſtition. 9. Idolatry, alias Papiſtry. 10. Proſperity. 11. Perſecution. 12. Ignorance. 13. Blind Zeal. 14. Vain Hope. 15. Sloth, alias Idleneſs. 16. Covetouſneſs. 17. Old Cuſtom. 18. Evil Example. 19. Self-Righteouſneſs. 20. Preſumption. 21. Deſpair. 22. Slaviſh Fear. 23. A Senſual Pleaſure. And 24. Apoſtacy, with many other of like quality, too tedious here to reckon up; but by mentioning the Names of theſe, you may eaſily diſcern who and what the others are, who with their Attendance are all implacable Enemies to True Godlineſs, and as much as lies in them endeavour to hinder his being entertained whereſoever he comes, as you will find in the enſuing Hiſtory of his Travels: Now, the Reaſon why True Godlineſs hath ſo many Enemies, I had thought to have ſhewed in this place, but becauſe I will not hinder you from the main ſcope and deſign of this Treatiſe, I ſhall reſerve them for a more convenient place.