A Vindication of Godliness, Title page – Dedication
Vindiciae Pietatis: OR, A VINDICATION OF Godlineſs
In the greateſt Strictneſs and Spiritualit… of it From the Imputations of FOLLY & FANCY.
Together with Several Directions for the Attaining and Maintaining of a Godly Life.
By R. A.
London, Printed in the Year, 1665.
To my dearly Beloved in Chriſt, the inhabitants of the Pariſh of B. in the County of S.
My dearly beloved Brethren,
THe enſuing Sermons, as they had their Birth for your ſakes, ſo are they now offered into your hands; and they come unto you, upon the ſame important errand, upon which their Authour hath been ſent among you, viz. to ſhew you the Path of life, and to bring you into, and eſtablish you in, that holy ſtate and way that leads to everlaſting Bleſſedneſs.
The chief hindrances of Sinners eternal Happineſs (next to that innate enmity againſt God and Godleneſs, which is rooted in their hearts) are, their prejudices againſt, and their ignorance of the good wayes of the Lord.
Sathan and his Inſtruments have made it their buſineſſe, by thoſe vollies of reproaches and unreaſonable calumnies, which they are continually diſcharging againſt holineſſe, to render it in the judgement of the World, an empty and contemptible thing.
Two things there are, amongſt many others, which they lay to the reproach of it. The one that it is folly; whatever there may be in this Godlineſſe, yet it is attended with ſo many difficulties, dangers, and hazards, and will be ſuch an unſufferable prejudice to all that will have much to do with it, that it is a fooliſh thing, upon ſuch hazards and diſadvantages to adventure upon it. If this will not do, but the conſciences of Men, whilſt they apprehend the real worth and excellency of it, ſtand convinced, that it is not Folly but wiſdom, to adventure on any difficulties, to run any hazards, for ſo glorious a prize: then comes in the ſecond reproach, That it is but a device, a ſpecious contrivance, to take up eager heads, to amuſe and divert the buſie, and keep in awe weak ſouls, when if it be enquired into, notwithſtanding its glorious pretences, it will be found nothing elſe but imagination, meer fancy, and no reality at all in the heart of it.
Theſe impreſſions I have endeavoured, according to my might, to wipe away from your hearts; and the hearts of ſuch as read, what you have heard, in the enſuing diſcourſes; where, I hope, you will ſee, both ſufficient reaſon, whence to put to ſilence the ignorance of foolish men, to eſtablish your hearts in the firm belief, and reſolved embracing of it: and abundant encouragement, to hold on your holy courſe to the end.
The other hindrance of a Godly Life, is mens ignorance; They walk not in the way of the Lord, becauſe they know not the way of the Lord; ſome rude and dark notions of Religion poſſibly they may have, but wherein the Spirit and life of Godlineſs ſtands, and how to ſet upon an holy and heavenly courſe they cannot tell. This hindrance I have in part prevented in that Deſcription I have given of a godly man, and more fully removed in thoſe Directions which I have ſubjoyned, for the obtaining and carrying on a godly Life.
Brethren, my hearts deſire and Prayer for you is, that what I have done may be ſucceſsful to your ſouls; that you may be ſaved, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks; that you may be brought into, and eſtabliſhed in the way of truth, and may be found walking in the way of Righteouſneſs. And if the Lord ſhall be pleaſed ſo to follow theſe my endeavours with his Bleſſing, that they may contribute any thing to this end; if the Lord shall ſo animate theſe (otherwiſe) dead words, by his quickening Spirit, that any ſouls of them that are without may be added to the Church, that any cubits may be added to the ſtature of thoſe that are within, it shall be a Crown to me, and exceeding Cauſe of rejoycing. Let the Lord Almighty have the praiſe for ever, as from all ſuch who shall reap any benefit hereby; So from the ſoul of
Your Servant in the Goſpel, R. A.