A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.

IT is the duty (Christian Reader) of all who desire to approve themselves faithful subjects and servants to our great Lord and Sovereign, that they consecrate themselves wholly unto his service, not only in the spiritual Warfare, by fighting his battles, even unto the death, against the many and mighty enemies of his glory and our salvation; but also in the time of peace, by doing his will, and performing all holy duties of his service, which in his Word he requireth of them. And therefore as I have endeavoured heretofore (according to the measure of grace received) to prepare and fit all those who vouchsafe to peruse my poor labours, that they may perform the duties of valiant Soldiers, in my Books of the Christian Warfare: so perceiving that those my pains have much above their worth found good acceptance with all those that fear God; I have now also been encouraged to undertake the other, and not only to describe the duties of a godly life, in which we ought to serve our Lord and Master, but also to show the means whereby we may be enabled hereunto, and how we may remove the impediments which otherwise might hinder us from entering into, or proceeding in the ways of godliness. The which my labours, if they prove as profitable to those that read them, as they have been painful unto me in framing and composing them, I shall think my self abundantly recompensed, and much more rejoice when I see the harvest of my hopes, then ever I had cause to sigh and groan, through weariness in my laborious seed-time. Of which, though I should fail (as I hope I shall not) yet, as it is said of Virtue, that it always bringeth a reward with it, so may I truly say of these my labours; out of which, so much profit, comfort, and contentment have accrued unto my self, that I should have no just cause to repent for the scantness of my reward, although no other fruit should spring from them. But if I be not deceived (as we are apt to be no less blinded in judging of our spiritual and mental, then of our natural and corporal births) these my present labours will prove no less profitable unto all that peruse them, then any of the former.

IT is the duty (Christian Reader) of all who desire to approoue themselues faithfull subiects and seruants to our great Lord and Soueraigne, that they consecrate themselues wholly vnto his seruice, not only in the spirituall Warfare, by fighting his battels, euen vnto the death, against the many and mighty enemies of his glory and our saluation; but also in the time of peace, by doing his will, and performing all holy duties of his seruice, which in his Word he requireth of them. And therefore as I haue indeuoured heretofore (according to the measure of grace receiued) to prepare and fit all those who vouchsafe to peruse my poore labours, that they may performe the duties of valiant Souldiers, in my Bookes of the Christian Warfare: so perceiuing that those my paines haue much aboue their worth found good acceptance with all those that feare God; I haue now also beene incouraged to vndertake the other, and not only to describe the duties of a godly life, in which we ought to serue our Lord and Master, but also to shew the meanes wherby we may be inabled hereunto, and how we may remoue the impediments which otherwise might hinder vs from entring into, or proceeding in the wayes of godlinesse. The which my labours, if they prooue as profitable to those that reade them, as they haue beene painefull vnto me in framing and composing them, I shall thinke my selfe abundantly recompenced, and much more reioyce when I see the haruest of my hopes, then euer I had cause to sigh and grone, through wearinesse in my laborious seed-time. Of which, though I should faile (as I hope I shall not) yet, as it is said of Vertue, that it alwayes bringeth a reward with it, so may I truely say of these my labours; out of which, so much profit, comfort, and contentment haue accrewed vnto my selfe, that I should haue no iust cause to repent for the scantnesse of my reward, although no other fruit should spring from them. But if I be not deceiued (as we are apt to be no lesse blinded in iudging of our spirituall and mentall, then of our naturall and corporall births) these my present labours will proue no lesse profitable vnto all that peruse them, then any of the former.