The holy pilgrime, leading the way to heaven. Or, a diuine direction in the way of life, containing a familiar exposition of such secrets in diuinity, as may direct the simple in the way of their Christian pilgrimage In two books. The first declaring what man is in the mistery of himselfe. The second, what man is in the happines of Christ. Written by C.L.

The generall Vse.

First, this doth generally remember

all men the admirable degree of Gods fauour to mankind; that notwithstan∣ding our apostacy from the seruice of God, & our continual trade of sinning which might incēce the iustice of God to destroy vs at once, and for euer; yet doth he continue himselfe in his owne kind, a God & a father most compassi∣onat;* 1.1 who inclineth rather to pitty then to punish our infirmities. And there∣fore did almighty God take from man the burthensome condition of the law, and promise him euerlasting life, vpon much more easie Couenante: the which grace doth challenge from all men a dutifull thankes to GOD,* 1.2 who hath taken from theyr necks the vnsupportable burthen of the Law, gi∣uing a greater liberty and ease in the worke of their saluation. Secondly,* 1.3 it doth admonish all men carefully to apprehend the grace of the Gospell, and not to neglect the present and the precious opportunity that GOD hath giuen them;* 1.4 because hee that shal breake this couenant of grace, shall doubtlesse forfeyte the estate of his

body and soule vnto eternall damna∣tion. For this new couenant of the gos∣pell, as it is the greatest of all the fa∣uours of God, so it is the last; and tha•• being neglected, there is not another to hope for.

Thirdly, seeing the Gospell doth not destroy the substance of the Law,* 1.5 but onely mitigate, and sweeten the seuerity thereof, by a gracious dispen∣sation from the extremity of iustice; it behoueth all men bee (equally) as care∣full in the performance of the duties of the law, as if there were no other co∣uenant but the law to iudge vs. For there is no man fit for the grace of the Gospell,* 1.6 but hee that is first schooled in the law of Gods commādements. And therefore is the Law sayd to be a School∣master to bring vs vnto Christ, because it doth humble vs in the knowledge of our own infirmities.

Fourthly,* 1.7 seeing the purpose of the Gospell is the saluation of men, it beho∣ueth all men to respect the Gospell as they would their saluation; and to la∣bour by all meanes (not onely to ad∣uance

the prosperity thereof,* 1.8 but also to auoyde euery cause that may occasi∣on the slāder or disgrace to that sacred profession,

Fiftly,* 1.9 seeing the matter of the Gos∣pell, is the story of the words & workes of Iesus Christ our Sauiour, while hee was vpon earth, it doth binde euerie mans conscience to haue a reuerend and a confident opinion of the truth thereof; and that all men labour by all conuenient meanes to maintaine the memory and reputation of those sa∣cred writings, the which are onely able to guide vs without errour in the way of our saluation.

Sixtly,* 1.10 seeing that God of his owne fauour did without desert, nay without hate, enter this couenant of grace, bin∣ding himselfe in the suerty of his Word to giue saluation vpon the easie condi∣tion of the Gospell: and that seeing that Christ Iesus the Son of God, did please to appoint himselfe, and to des∣cend his maiesty in great humility, to establish our saluation in the merites of his holy workes: what manner of men

ought all of vs to be in thanks and god∣ly conuersation?

Seuenthly,* 1.11 seeing the officers ap∣pointed and chosen by Christ, for the ministration of the Gospell, were the holy Apostles, and after them the reue∣rend Martyrs in the primitiue Church, by whose diligence the Gospell spread it selfe ouer all the knowne World;* 1.12 this doth admonish all them that ey∣ther are Ministers of the Gospell, or that haue power to make them, what choyse there is to be made of their vp∣rightnesse and godly conuersation, and what diligence is required in their spirituall trauels; all which ought to fashion themselues as neare as they can to the example of the holy Apostles.* 1.13 Lastly, seeing the promises of the Gos∣pell belong to the faithfull onely, that are industrious in the seruice of the law; this ought to prouoke all men to contend in godly exercise to exceede one another, and to stir vp theyr dead desires with the hope and promise of the Gospell, and that they thinke not the law burthensome, being now made

easie by the grace of the Gospell, and therefore to trauell in the duties of the law with alacrity and spiritual comfort, hauing their confidence & eyes of faith vpon the promise of the Gospell.* 1.14 Thus if men dispose themselues and theyr affections, they shall finde the happie difference betwixt mount Sinai, and mount Sion, the law and the Gospell; in both which the gracious may find com∣fort, but with great inequality.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pitty in God is most naturall.
• * 1.2

  The duty of thanks due to God.
• * 1.3

  Secondly.
• * 1.4

  The danger of forfey∣ting the co∣venant of grace.
• * 1.5

  The gospell doth not destroy the law.
• * 1.6

  The law doth fit vs for the Gospell. Gal. 3. 24.
• * 1.7

  Fourthly.
• * 1.8

  Our duty of respect to the Gos∣pell.
• * 1.9

  Fiftly, A reuerence to the story of the Gos∣pell.
• * 1.10

  Sixtly.
• * 1.11

  Seventhly
• * 1.12

  A remem∣brance to the Mini∣sters of these times.
• * 1.13

  Eightly. The promi∣ses of the Gospell belong to the faithfull onely.
• * 1.14

  The diffe∣rence be∣tweene Sinai▪ and mount Sion.