The Beginning of the Doctrine of Christ, Title page – Dedication
THE BEGINNING OF THE DOCTRINE of CHRIST. OR A Catalogue of ſinnes, ſhewing how a Chriſtian may finde out the euils hee muſt take notice of in his Repentance.
With Rules, that ſhew a courſe, how any Chriſtian may be deliuered from the guilt and power of all his ſinnes.
By N. BIFIELD Preacher of Gods Word, at Iſleworth in Middleſex.
LAM. 3. 40.
Let vsus ſearch and try our wayes, and turne againe vntounto the Lord.
LONDON, Printed by G. P. for R. Rounthwaite, and are to be ſold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard, at the ſigne of the Flower de-luce and Crowne. 1619.
TO THE MVCH Honoured Ladies, the Lady ANNE GLEERE, and the Ladie ANNE FINCH, and the Ladie IONE HERICK, N. Bifield wiſheth all increaſe of the true grace of Chriſt, and the bleſſed fruition of the glory of God in Heauen.
Worthy Ladies,
LAmentable are the 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-waies of their owne, which are called in Scripture, the wayes of the wicked; the wayes of their owne hearts; Peruerſe wayes; Darke and ſlipperie wayes; The way of iniquitie: 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 inlightned, as not to like the common roadeway of the multitude; and after ſome inquiry 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 finde, and may bee ſought by many, and yet not found: Yet this hope is left vntounto forlorne men, that there is a way to heauen and happineſſe: A way of righteouſneſſe and peace, a way of mercy and truth, of wiſedome: A way that men may ſecurely and ſafely walke in; a way, in which Chriſt will guide them, 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 importunity, of God, and to attend vntounto the directions of the word of God, and apply our hearts, and ſuffer our ſelues to bee diſpoſed aright, that our eyes may ſee the ſaluation of God: and in particular we muſt look to three things: Firſt, that if the Lord ſhew vsus that mercy to direct vsus in the way, wee muſt take heed that wee neglect not, or deſpiſe not the care of walking in the way: Secondly, that with all diligence we auoide going about, and make ſtraight ſteps to our feet: and thirdly, with all feare watch our ſelues, that wee fall not off with the errours of the wicked, from the good way of God, and ſo our latter end bee worſe then our beginning.
I hauehave vndertaken by the aſſiſtance of God, and the directions of his bleſſed Word, to ſingle out the choiſeſt things I could finde in the Scriptures, concerning the entrance into this way of God, and thoſe firſt pathes which are called holy. The ſubſtance of theſe directions I hauehave digeſted into the Treatiſe following, which I dedicate vntounto your Ladiſhips, as a teſtimony of my thankfulneſſe, for the reſpect you hauehave ſhewed vntounto my Miniſterie, both in your conſtant reſort vntounto it in the weeke daies, 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 vnfaigned louelove of the truth: Beſeeching your Acceptation, Peruſall, and Patronage of theſe, I take my leaue, and commend your Ladiſhips to the God of mercy and truth, who guide, comfort, deliuer, ſanctifie, and preſerue you all vntounto the Day of Ieſus Chriſt.
Your Ladiſhips to bee commanded in Chriſt Ieſus, N. BIFIELD. Febr. 12. 1619.