I answer; that in any of these Treatises the way is not made harder then is required, or in the doctrine of the Church manifested, but rather things are made more plain, and so more easy. Besides, thou knowest already, that the ⟨p. 14⟩way to heaven is a narrow, and straight way, and few find it. But especially thou shouldst weigh with thy self the great encouragements and motives to abide the hardship & difficulties of any godly and necessary course. Though the way to Canaan (with the Israelites) were through a solitary wilderness, yet it should comfort thee, that it is but a way of three days, as they said, being about to get out of Egypt. God will keep thee at work but a little time, and therefore thou shouldest not think much of thy pains. And ⟨p. 15⟩further think of it, that this is a course of wonderful comfort and safety: when a Christian follows the evident directions of Gods word in these most weighty things, he walks safely: He is in the good way, the way of life, the way of peace; he is sure to see the salvation of God: to follow these directions soundly, is to keep our souls: all Gods ways will be mercy and truth to us: God will cause us to hear his loving kindness in the morning; our way will be full of refreshing: Gods ways are ways of pleasure, and if any man set himself ⟨p. 16⟩exactly to take notice of Gods will in these things, and will be at the pains to store his heart distinctly in such solid Truths: It is certain, the Lord will recompense his way upon him, God will not cast away the exact man, till he fill his mouth with laughter, as it is said, Job. 8. 19. 20. Sure it is, that in the study of these things lieth the way of eternity, and though thou think the way to be hard and narrow, yet this may somewhat ease thee; it is a plain way. For the simple may profit by it, as is avouched ⟨p. 17⟩to be true of all the courses, which God by his Word so expressly required, Psalm 119. Isaiah 35. 8. & 42. 16. Pro. 8. and besides thou hast many helps; the Word of God will not only show thee what to do, but it will beget in thee a secret power to do it, God will teach thee to profit, and the Spirit of God will help thy infirmities; and God will send his Angels to guide thee in thy way: Christ will be the Way and the Life to thee, & thou hast good company: for this is the old way, the way of all Gods servants in the substance of the course.
I answer; that in any of these Treatises the way is not made harder then is required, or in the doctrine of the Church manifested, but rather things are made more plaine, and so more easie. Besides, thou knowest already, that the ⟨p. 14⟩way to heauen is a narrow, and straight way, and few finde it. But especially thou shouldst wey with thy selfe the great encouragements and motiues to abide the hardship & difficulties of any godly and necessary course. Though the way to Canaan (with the Israelites) were through a solitary wildernesse, yet it should comfort thee, that it is but a way of three daies, as they said, beeing about to get out of Egypt. God will keep thee at worke but a little time, and therefore thou shouldest not thinke much of thy paines. And ⟨p. 15⟩further think of it, that this is a course of wonderfull comfort and safety: when a Christian followes the euident directions of Gods word in these most weighty things, he walkes safely: Hee is in the good way, the way of life, the way of peace; he is sure to see the saluation of God: to follow these directions soundly, is to keep our soules: all Gods waies will bee mercy and truth to vs: God will cause vs to heare his louing kindnesse in the morning; our way will be full of refreshing: Gods waies are waies of pleasure, and if any man set himselfe ⟨p. 16⟩exactly to take notice of Gods will in these things, and will bee at the paines to store his heart distinctly in such solid Trueths: It is certaine, the Lord will recompence his way vpon him, God will not cast away the exact man, till hee fill his mouth with laùghter, as it is said, Iob. 8. 19. 20. Sure it is, that in the study of these things lyeth the way of eternity, and though thou thinke the way to bee hard and narrow, yet this may somewhat ease thee; it is a plain way. For the simple may profit by it, as is auouched ⟨p. 17⟩to be true of al the courses, which God by his Word so expresly required, Psalm 119. Isaiah 35. 8. & 42. 16. Pro. 8. and besides thou hast many helps; the Word of God will not onely shew thee what to do, but it will beget in thee a secret power to doe it, God will teach thee to profit, and the Spirit of God will helpe thy infirmities; and God will send his Angels to guide thee in thy way: Christ will be the Way and the Life to thee, & thou hast good company: for this is the olde way, the way of all Gods seruants in the substance of the course.
