A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse…

the way of holiness is the eldest way, the way of holiness is grey-headed, and of ancientest institution, all other ways are but of yesterday, they are but new ways to the ways of holiness. The stamp of Antiquity upon many things is a praise and an honour to them, as old gold, old friends, old manuscripts, old monuments, old scars, and old holiness; the stamp of Antiquity upon the ways of holiness, is the praise and honour of the ways of holiness. 7. Into paths of righteousness, Psalm 23. 3. He lead• me in paths of righteousness for his names sake; or in plain, smooth, easy paths, or in sheeps tracts, wherein I may walk unweariedly and unblamably; herein he alludes to the Shepherds care in leading his sheep gently, in fair and and plain ways, and not through deep mire, brambles, and briars, or over craggy ways, that must needs be hard and troublesome for them to go in: The word here used is Metaphorical; sometimes respecting the blind, who cannot walk without a guide; sometimes little or weak children, who cannot go without a leader; and here the weak and wandering sheep, which stand in need of the Shepherd, to go in and out before them. 8. Into paths of Salvation, Acts 16. 17. Th•se men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. 9. Into ways of truth, 2 Petr. 2. 2. And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken off. [The way of truth] that is the true Christian Religion revealed from heaven, which shows the way to true happiness, to Eternal salvation. 10. Into ways of uprightness, Prov. 2. 13. Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk-in the way of darkness. Now when the People of God are in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most ⟨p. 32⟩deadly dangers, the Lord by leading them 1. Into supernatural ways. 2. Into good ways. 3. Into strict and straight ways. 4. Into pleasant ways. 5. Into right ways. 6. Into old and ancient ways. 7. Into righteous ways. 8. Into ways of salvation. 9. Into ways of truth; and 10. Into ways of uprightness does gloriously manifest his favourable, his signal, and his eminent presence with them. There is nothing below a mighty presence of God, that can enable a Christian (especially when he is under great troubles, and in deep distresses, and most deadly dangers) to do these five things: 1.