A17410:7
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.
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 ⟨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