N30392:39
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.
But to proceed in this brief History of the Antiquity of Godliness, it would not be amiss if we speak a little of the next renowned Man after Noah, who entertained him, and how he was blessed in so doing; his Name at first was Abram, but afterwards Abraham: This Man lived for some Time amongst a blind, heathenish, and idolatrous People, and was ignorant of True Godliness; but when he became acquainted with him, sew Men ever loved him ⟨p. 12⟩Delight, (and so indeed must every one that entertains him) and hereby he became great, and his Glory and Renown was spread abroad; nay, he was by this Means so honoured,, that he was called the Friend of God, and the Father of all true Lovers of Godliness; and besides the outward Blessings this faithful Man reaped, as the Fruit or Donation of Godliness, (which were many, for he had much Cattle, Men-servants, Camels, and Asses, so that he became very great) and he was blessed also with all spiritual Blessings, viz. He had sweet Fellowship and Communion with God, abounding in Faith, Love, and Joy in the Holy Ghost; the Covenant of Grace was also renewed to him, with a gracious Promise, That in his Seed all the Nations of the Earth should be blessed; for he having received Godliness as his choicest Companion and chiefest Delight, Godliness brought along with him the Promises of this Life, and that which is a thousand Times better, viz. the Life which is to come.
But now, near where this faithful Man dwelt, there was a City; nay, more than one, whose Inhabitants were utter Enemies to Godliness, and Lovers of that ugly and base-born Monster and Spawn of the Devil, Vice, abounding in all Manner of horrible Wickedness, who for this very Reason were destroyed with their Cities, by fire and Brimstone from Heaven; yet nevertheless, before they were consumed (so great a Lover is Jehovah of Godliness) that he told Abraham, if there were but Ten righteous Persons in that City, viz. such who had entertained Godliness, and were true Lovers of him, he would spare the City for their sakes; but it appeared that there was but one Man, especially who showed him Countenance, and was in love with him. And yet, before the City was burned, the Angels bid him haste and be gone, for Godliness was such a sure Defence to him the Aels could do