A17410:4
The rules of a holy life. Or A treatise containing the holy order of…
The rules of a holy life. Or A treatise containing the holy order of our lives, prescribed in the Scripture concerning our carriage: towards God, towards men, towards our selves. With general rules of preparation, that concern either the helps, or the manner of a holy conversation. By N. Bifield preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.The rules of a holy life. Or A treatise containing the holy order of our liues, prescribed in the Scripture concerning our carriage: towards God, towards men, towards our selues. With generall rules of preparation, that concerne either the helps, or the maner of a holy conuersation. By N. Bifield preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.
London: printed by George for Ralph Rounthwaite, 1619
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
❧ TO THE NOBLE AND Religious Lady, the Lady MARY VERE, increase of joy and peace in Believing.
❧ TO THE NOBLE AND Religious Lady, the Lady MARIE VERE, increase of ioy and peace in Beleeuing.
MADAM,
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