The travels of true godliness, from the beginning of the world to this present…

Faint-heart and Fear-man presented to him the danger he would be in upon any consideration, if True Godliness were entertained

For first, they told him how contemptible Real Godliness was grown at this present time, being of very little credit or esteem amongst any sort and degrees of men in the world, by reason of Vice, which which was never more rampant; insomuch that True Godliness was like to be driven out of the world, and forced to fly into some hole or corner of the Earth to hide himself. Mr. Riches, who is the Lord of the Manor hath beat him away from his door, and hateth him with a perfect hatred? now if you entertain him, he will soon hear of it, and so will become your deadly Enemy, and pull down your Cottage, or warn you out, or be sure, not let you have a farthing of the Poor's Money, nor never set you to work any more; and what will become then of thy poor Wife and Children? Nay, said they, we will tell you more; Do you not hear what cruel Edicts the Prince of the Ancient Gauls Country hath made against True Godliness?¹ and how many of the Protestant Churches he hath pulled down and utterly demolished? and how he is persecuted almost every where? Come, ⟨p. 46⟩say they, 'tis that pleasant and lovely Form of Counterfeit Godliness,² that will in little time be generally embraced, and those who entertain True Godliness, must expect to be reproached and basely reviled. Moreover, do you not hear how many Thousands in France, and in other places, who have for a long time entertained him, have turned him out of doors; they are weary of him, or afraid to own him: and is this a time for you to think of embracing him, Poverty? (said they) pity your self, and have more wit, you are poor enough already, and this is the way to make you more miserable: If Riches will not entertain him, who hath many advantages to relieve and help himself in distressing Times, and sad exigencies, over what Poverty hath, or can promise himself, there is no ground of encouragement for you to open to him.