N30392:125
The travels of true godliness. From the beginning of the world to this present…
The travels of true godliness. From the beginning of the world to this present day, in an apt and pleasant allegory: showing, what true godliness is; also the troubles, oppositions, reproaches, and persecutions he hath met with in every age. : Together with the danger and sad declining state he is in at this present time, by errors, heresies, and ungodliness, or open profaneness. / By Benjamin Keach, author of a book called War with the devil, and Zion in distress, and The travels of ungodliness.The travels of true godliness. From the beginning of the world to this present day, in an apt and pleasant allegory: shewing, what true godliness is; also the troubles, oppositions, reproaches, and persecutions he hath met with in every age. : Together with the danger and sad declining state he is in at this present time, by errors, heresies, and ungodliness, or open prophaneness. / By Benjamin Keach, author of a book call'd War with the devil, and Sion in distress, and The travels of ungodliness.
Boston: printed by B. Green and Company for D. Gookin over against the Old South Meeting-House, 1745
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.
Come, Poverty, these Things are thine, (as sure as God is in Heaven, if thou wilt but let me in) poor Lazarus understood them, and experienced the Sweetness of them, and shall to all Eternity. And then lastly, have you no need of these good Things of mine, because they may not so directly answer your outward Necessities? Are not the Necessities of your Soul more to be minded, than to get Store of Meat, Drink, Clothes, Silver and Gold? What are all these Things to the Love and Favour of God, an Interest in Christ, and to have a Right to the Kingdom of Heaven? How soon, alas, may your Life be gone? And what ⟨p. 51⟩Good will those Things do you? Do you not see they perish in the using? And as you are corruptible, so likewise they can never satisfy nor fill the Desires of your Soul, nor do they suit the Necessities thereof. Consider, Can any of these Things make thy Soul happy? Can Gold and Silver enrich it? Or the rarest worldly Dainties feed it? Or Wine cheer it? No, Poverty, if thou hadst the Things of the World in never so great Abundance, yet till thou lettest me in, and makest me thy chief Companion, thy Soul will be miserable. What is it to have Plenty of all good Things, and no GOD, no Christ, no Pardon, no Peace, but contrary-wise, the curse of God, horror of Conscience, and Hell at last? Thou wilt, Poverty, become more happy if thou dost open the Door to me, and thou and I dwell together, than the proudest and haughtiest Monarch in the World; thy Comforts, inward Peace, and Joy will excel their's, and thy Riches be more abundant in Quantity, besides the rare and excellent Quality of them; nay, and thy Glory will be far more transcendent; and besides will abide with thee to all Eternity. As for Carping-care, he hath almost broke thy Heart already; he will not let thee Sleep in the Night; but by telling thee thy Wants and necessities, sadly disturbs thy Mind, but never helps thee to a Farthing, and why shouldst thou hearken to him any longer, he is thy utter Enemy, as well as mine: Hear what the Lord Christ saith, Who by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? Mat. 6.27. He has even eaten up thy very Spirits, and weakened thy Body, marred thy Senses, especially the Spiritual Senses of thy Soul, so that thou canst not think one serious Thought for him;
Come, Poverty, these Things are thine, (as sure as God is in Heaven, if thou wilt but let me in) poor Lazarus understood them, and experienced the Sweetness of them, and shall to all Eternity. And then lastly, have you no need of these good Things of mine, because they may not so directly answer your outward Necessities? Are not the Necessities of your Soul more to be minded, than to get Store of Meat, Drink, Cloaths, Silver and Gold? What are all these Things to the Love and Favour of God, an Interest in Christ, and to have a Right to the Kingdom of Heaven? How soon, alas, may your Life be gone? And what