IT was most truly said by the Apostle of the Gentiles: godliness is great gain; Importing thereby, ⟨image 3⟩that if man would be incited to the care to get any thing, for the profit might come thereby, it should be godliness: No skill in the world being comparable to that skill of being able to lead a godly life, for the sure, and speedy, & matchless gain it will bring unto a man: for besides that it only hath the promise of a better life, godliness were to be desired, and with all possible diligence to be sought after, for the very gain of it in this life: For to omit the consideration of the favour it breeds with God, & the unspeakable ⟨image 3⟩treasures of the grace of Christ, which always go with it, it were to be desired for the immediate effects it works upon men in it self. For if men love themselves, what should they desire more then that which tends to make themselves perfect? What should it advantage a man to have all things good about him, if himself be ill and vile? If men, that were only guided by the light of Nature, could (some of them) see clearly, that nothing was so good for a man as to live well (when yet they knew ⟨image 4⟩no other living well, then what was prescribed in their naked and natural Ethics) then how much more happy must it be for a man to live a religious life, by which he is brought more nearer to God, himself, and far above the condition of any natural man? Yea, if there were no more to be had by it, but the peace and rest it brings unto a mans heart, it were above all outward things to be desired: for no man walks safely, that walks not religiously, nor can any actions of men produce any sound tranquillity ⟨image 4⟩and rest of heart, but such actions as are prescribed by true Religion. What shall I say? If for none of these, yet for it self were a godly life to be had in singular request: for if men, with much expense of outward things, seek but the skill of divers, natural, and artificial knowledges, and think it worth their cost but to be able to attain these Skills? how much more ought man to be at the pains, yea and cost too (if it were required) to get this admirable skill to live a religious life? This most gainful Subject ⟨image 5⟩is entreated of in this little Volume;
IT was most truely said by the Apostle of the Gentiles: godlines is great gaine; Importing thereby, ⟨image 3⟩that if man would be incited to the care to get any thing, for the profit might come thereby, it should be godlinesse: No skill in the world being c̄oparable to that skill of being able to leade a godly life, for the sure, and speedy, & matchlesse gain it will bring vnto a man: for besides that it onely hath the promise of a better life, godlinesse were to bee desired, and with all possible diligence to bee sought after, for the very gaine of it in this life: For to omit the consideration of the fauor it breeds with God, & the vnspeakable ⟨image 3⟩treasures of the grace of Christ, which alwayes go with it, it were to bee desired for the immediate effects it workes vpon men in it selfe. For if men loue themselues, what should they desire more then that which tends to make themselues perfect? What should it aduantage a man to haue all things good about him, if himselfe bee ill and vile? If men, that were onely guided by the light of Nature, could (some of them) see cleerely, that nothing was so good for a man as to liue well (when yet they knew ⟨image 4⟩no other liuing well, then what was prescribed in their naked and naturall Ethickes) then how much more happy must it be for a man to liue a religious life, by which he is brought more neerer to God, himselfe, and farre aboue the condition of any naturall man? Yea, if there were no more to bee had by it, but the peace and rest it brings vnto a mans heart, it were aboue all outward things to bee desired: for no man walkes safely, that walkes not religiously, nor can any actions of men produce any sound tranquillity ⟨image 4⟩and rest of heart, but such actions as are prescribed by true Religion. What shall I say? If for none of these, yet for it self were a godly life to be had in singular request: for if men, with much expence of outward things, seeke but the skill of diuers, naturall, and artificiall knowledges, and thinke it worth their cost but to bee able to attaine these Skils? how much more ought man to be at the paines, yea and cost too (if it were required) to get this admirable skill to liue a religious life? This most gainefull Subiect ⟨image 5⟩is intreated of in this little Volume;
