The Power of Godliness, Title page – Dedication
A TREATISE OF THE POWER OF Godlineſſe: Conſiſting of THREE PARTS.
1 Wherein it conſiſts.
2 Cautions againſt, and Diſcoveries of, ſeveral miſtakes and hinderances, moſt common to the people of God.
3 Several means and helps for attaining of it.
By THOMAS WHITE, Preacher of Gods Word in LONDON.
London, Printed by R. I. for Joſeph Cranford, and are to bee ſold at his Shop at the Sign of the Kings Head, in St. Pauls Church-yard, 1658.
White's Power of God lineſs.
To my dearly beloved friends, the Inhabitants of Andrewes Holborn, Grace, Mercy, and Peace.
Dearly beloved in the Lord,
BY the ſpecial, and I doubt not, by the good hand of Providence it was, and is, that God hath appointed me to bee a Co-labourer in this part of his Vineyard, with your reverend Pastor, who it is that bears the burthen and heat of the day; and I bleſs God for that encouragement that I have received from you, in respect of your love, and great appearance, whereby God hath put a great opportunity into my hand of doing good, and I hope my labours have not been in vain in the Lord; I do account you my Crown, and my joy, and I have with much comfort and rejoycing preached amongſt you; and when I have had occaſion ſometimes for one Lords Day (though but for one Lords day) to bee abſent, I have returned with as much ſatisfaction to my ſelf, unto the Congregation, as I have done to ſee my deareſt friends, when I have been a long time from them. Of thoſe ſeveral ſubjects upon which I have preached amongſt you, I have judged this that I have now publiſhed, moſt to edification, being plain and practical; for you can, and mine own conſcience doth bear mee witneſs, that I have not uſed the enticing words of mens wiſdome, but have endeavoured, in ſome meaſure, to Preach in the power and demonſtration of the Spirit, which I account not only fitteſt for thoſe which are, as they call them, of the more ignorant ſort, but even for thoſe which are learnedeſt, wiſeſt, and of greateſt underſtanding; for wee are commanded to Preach as the Oracles of God, and Oracles uſe to bee plain, as to their language, though (it may be) profound, as to their ſenſe; and I account it the hardeſt task of learning, to make the Myſteries of God plain, and that wood to bee fitteſt for building, which is leaſt knotty; therefore I deſire you would not bee offended, but edified by the plain ſtile and matter of this Treatiſe: If by reading of it you bee brought to that which is the title and ſum of it, viz. The Power of Godlineſs, it ſufficeth; when one chooſeth a Sword, not for ornament, but for uſe; one looks not ſo much to the Scabbard, or other curioſities of it, as to the mettle; and therefore wee rather chooſe one, whoſe blade is made of ſteel, than of gold: The two-edged Sword of Gods Word, if it pierceth, and divideth between the joynts and the marrow, it doth the work for which wee uſe it, though it be not ſent forth, and made glittering by humane eloquence: though I deſire in this particular alſo to avoid miſtakes, for though I decry a gariſh, yet I commend, and I deſire to uſe a decent dreſs for Truth to walk abroad in. I remember it is ſaid of a young Painter, who was to draw the picture of a fair woman; Pulchram non potuit, pinxit divitem, he could not paint her fair, but painted her rich, ſo that her picture was rather gaudy, than comely and beautiful; and therefore, though I deſired you would pardon the plainneſs of this Treatiſe and my preaching among you, yet now I do recall that requeſt, accounting it unpardonable, becauſe it is not a crime; but I can adviſe you ſo, that you may commend the Treatiſe, and indeed no other commendation do I deſire of it, viz. practiſe it, and I dare conſidently ſay you will commend it, or rather, that you will bleſs God for the truths and directions that are ſet down in it: Live thoſe holy books that you read, and you will like them, and doubtleſs it is impoſſible to like holineſs, without practiſing of it; for when by reproofs, or practical directions, the conſcience is awakened, it will bee clamorous, if not obeyed; for if it ſleeps not, it will not bee ſilent, it will bee telling of us our duty, which if not performed, our guilt: it is index, judex, vindex, it ſheweth us what wee ſhould do, which if wee do not, it condemns us, and becomes not only our Judge, but our Executioner, for this is that worm that dieth not, but if wee hearken to the whiſpers and teachings of conſcience, guided by the Word of God, it will prove the beſt friend wee have, next to Chriſt; beſides your practiſing what you have heard, and may read in this Treatiſe. I have one thing more to requeſt of you, which is your continual fervent prayers for a bleſſing upon mee, and my labours amongſt you. And it is not eaſie to determine, whether thoſe your prayers will bring greater advantage to your ſelves, or mee; for if by your ſupplications God ſhall enlarge his gifts and graces in mee, I ſhall endeavour to lay them out to your edification, which alſo I deſire you would beg of the Lord for mee, who am
Your Servant for Jeſus ſake. Tho. White.