N30392:313
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.
Apost. Sir, don't mistake me, I do not intend to go so far, but to return again when the Danger is over; at present I will go but a little Way out of Town.
Godly. Sir, you show your self to be a naughty, a traitorous, and hypocritical Person, will you leave this Town in its Distress? If the danger be great which attends it, you had the more need to abide in it, to strengthen and encourage the poor Inhabitants. Pray, Sir, do not show so base and cowardly a spirit: What is this less, than to betray the Town to the Enemies? Is not the strength of any Place the People? Besides, your flying mightily encourages the Adversaries; for by this means they may think to frighten all out, and then with much ease take the Town, and utterly destroy it: Also you weaken the Hands, and sadly grieve the Hearts of all true Protestants, whose chief Treasure lies in the Town, and cannot be removed out; and it being also their spiritual Native Place, they resolve to abide in it to the last, let what will come. You say you intend to return again when the Danger is over. What Dangers you see above others, to move you to quit the Town, I know not; but let me tell you, few who leave this Town, out of fear of human Loss or Danger, do Return again. ⟨p. 106⟩You say you intend to go but a little Way; alas! you cannot tell where you shall stop; when once you leave the true Religion, you desert God's gracious Protection; you may not only cleave to Papistry, but Atheism, or any Thing: Come go back, let me save you from a fall: Why will you leave that Religion you have been so long established in?
Godli. Sir, you shew your self to be a naughty, a traiterous, and hypocritical Person, will you leave this Town in its Distress? If the danger be great which attends it, you had the more need to abide in it, to strengthen and encourage the poor Inhabitants. Pray, Sir, do not shew so base and cowardly a spirit: What is this less, than to betray the Town to the Enemies? Is not the strength of any Place the People? Besides, your flying mightily encourages the Adversaries; for by this means they may think to frighten all out, and then with much ease take the Town, and utterly destroy it: Also you weaken the Hands, and sadly grieve the Hearts of all true Protestants, whose chief Treasure lies in the Town, and cannot be removed out; and it being also their spiritual Native Place, they resolve to abide in it to the last, let what will come. You say you intend to return again when the Danger is over. What Dangers you see above others, to move you to quit the Town, I know not; but let me tell you, few who leave this Town, out of fear of human Loss or Danger, do Return again.