N30392:77
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.
Godliness. Well, Riches, I see now very plainly, you did but flatter me when you began to hearken to your poor Steward Conscience, in order to the letting me into your House; for evident it is, you are grown far worse than before, and have blinded his Eyes, by entertaining another, who calls himself by my Name instead of me; but before I do depart, I will show you the great danger you are in, and the Cause of it; the Truth is, you have got such a Crew of loose, base and deceitful Servants, that they will utterly undo you, and bring upon you the eternal Ruin of your poor Soul, which I designed by my coming to you, to save and make happy for ever; for indeed (whether you believe it or no) there was never any who entertained these graceless Villains and Enemies of God, but were for ever ruined by them at last; nay, not only eternally hereafter in the World to come, but many times externally here in this World; therefore I advise you to do what you can to get rid of them, and I will help you ⟨p. 29⟩to far better Servants in their stead. For first of all, can you think it will be safe for you to keep Presumption still in your House, since there is scarce a more deceitful and bloody Wretch in the World? How many thousands of poor Souls hath he impudently destroyed, by causing them to presume on the Mercy of God, and the death of Christ, and yet live in Sin, Pride, and Covetousness, and in a vile Manner hating and contemning me, that is to say, True Godliness? Doth not God say, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven, and yet you are persuaded by him, to think it is an easy thing? And doth not the Scriptures say, Except your righteousness do exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of God? Mat. 5.20. And yet he tells you that by doing a few good Deeds, or by giving a little of your great abundance to the Poor, your State is good enough; whereas many of the Pharisees did as to acts of Charity, exceedingly out do you; nay, doth not St Paul say, though he gave all his goods to feed the poor, and his body to be burned, yet without Charity, (that is to say, true love to Godliness) he was nothing, 1 Cor. 13.3. and yet you, tho' you flight and contemn God and Godliness, are taught to presume on God's Mercy, who hath notwithstanding positively said concerning you, and such as you are;