The Practice of Piety

Jonathan shot ^bthree Arrows to drive David further off from Sauls fury: and this is the third Epistle which I have written to draw your Highness nearer to Gods favour, by directing your heart to begin (like Josiah) in your ^cyouth to seek after the GOD of DAVID (and of JACOB) your Father: Not, but that I know, that your Highness doth this without mine admonition; but because ⟨image 3⟩I ^*would with the Apostle, have you, to ^dabound 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 Admonitions: for the Comic 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 ⟨image 4⟩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 showed themselves most zealous in their Religion: they are now reputed most discreet, who can make the least profession of their Faith. And that these are the last days, appears evidently; because that Security of mens eternal state hath so overwhelmed (as CHRIST fore-told it should) all sorts:⁵ that most who now live,⁶ are become lovers of pleasures ⟨image 4⟩more then lovers of God. And of those who pretend to love GOD. O GOD, what sanctified hart can but bleed to behold how seldom they come to prayers? how irreverently they hear Gods Word? what strangers they are at the Lords Table? what assiduous spectators they are at Stage-plays? where being Christians, they can sport themselves to hear the Vassals of the