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.

Seeing that none can bee saued, but they that are first iustified; and seeing none can be iustified,* 1.1 but they that haue a true, liuing, and a working faith, it behoueth all men to haue principall care to haue the assurance of this faith that so they may be sure to be iustified,* 1.2 and may be sure that they shal be saued,

and because that all men are natural∣ly prone to deceiue themselues,* 1.3 with flattery and fauourable opinion of thē∣selues, and their owne actions, because Saint Iames (and so the scripture in ma∣ny places) hath vtterly disinabled an idle,* 1.4 dead, and a fruitles faith from the office of iustification; it therefore near∣ly concerneth all men, seriously and without priuate respect to examine their faith, to compare theyr faith and workes together, their workes being good, those workes may iustifie theyr faith to bee a liuing and a sauing faith. And that they content not themselues with a commo•• historicall faith, the which the Diuell and damned soules may haue,* 1.5 but that theyr fayth may be approued good, by a sufficient testimo∣ny of good workes, without which it cannot bee good. For as the Tree is knowne by his fruit,* 1.6 & as it is impossi∣ble to gather grapes of thornes; or figs of thistles: so is our faith iudged by our workes, & so it is impossible that good workes should proceede from an euill faith, or that a good faith should not

produce good works, good workes be∣ing a most necessary dependance vp∣on good faith. This ought to prouoke all men to an emulation of godly exer∣cise, and to contend to exceede in ho∣ly actions,* 1.7 to square and fashion all their workes by their faith, and to make euery act of theirs a testimony that they are truely faithfull. For hee that is not with vs, is against vs; and those workes of ours; that witnesse not for vs, will bee witnesses against vs, and will condemne vs in the sight of all men, that our faith is eyther not good, or not at all: and that therefore wee are not iustified,* 1.8 neyther can bee sa∣ued. And this may iudge all those ac∣tions of men, that disproportion a good Faith, and a good Conscience. For though men flatter themselues, and promise peace to their soules, and thinke to bee iustified and saued by a bare acknowledgement of God, and theyr common historicall faith; yet (in a time they thinke not on) theyr vngod∣ly workes will make warre vpon theyr soules, and bring vpon them a sure and

a sudden destruction.

Secondly,* 1.9 seeing such choyce parti∣culars onely are iustified, as were be∣fore in Gods election preordained to saluation: this ought to moue all men to a thankefull acknowledgement of Gods infinite loue,* 1.10 who onely is the principall and first mouing cause in e∣uery circumstance of our saluation, and that wee acknowledge our selues in great humility to be altogether defec∣tiue and vnable in the worke of our owne saluation,* 1.11 that euery grace in vs, is both caused and continued in vs by the power of God: our selues beeing meerely passiue, and moued to diuine exercise, by the direction of the Holy Ghost onely. And that therefore wee ascribe the honour of euery good acti∣on to God,* 1.12 by whom it is caused; and disgrace our selues in our owne esti∣mation, because Gods first decree doth leade euery man to euery particular ac∣tion of goodnesse.

Thirdly,* 1.13 seeing by faith in Christ, God doth both cancell our sinnes, and repute vs righteous in his presence, it

doth remember all men the admirable degree of Gods fauour,* 1.14 and the power∣full operation of faith. First Gods fa∣uour, hee being pleased to forgiue the deserts of condemnation; and to giue and impute the most absolute rghte∣ousnesse of his Sonne Christ Iesus to all men, vpon this easie condition of faith, that such, who haue a true faith to apprehend him, shall be accepted in his fauour as sonnes; & shall appeare in Gods presence equally as righteous, as if themselues had actually performed righteousnesse in their owne particular persons.

Secondly, we are taught the power∣full operation of true faith,* 1.15 that it is able to enter heauen, and to apprehend and apply Christ and his righteousnesse to reconcile the fauour of God; and to satisfie his displeasure, to wash off the spots and leprosie of sinne, and to put on the garment of righteousnesse, euen Iesus Christ the Son of God, by whom wee are iustified in the sight of GOD, and by whom (also) wee shall be saued, Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The vse.
• * 1.2

  The neces∣sity of faith.
• * 1.3

  The nature of men.
• * 1.4

  The Scrip∣tures disa∣ble an idle and dead faith.
• * 1.5

  The diuels faith.
• * 1.6

  Workes the fruit of faith.
• * 1.7

  A prouoca∣tion to godly acti∣on.
• * 1.8

  Note.
• * 1.9

  Secondly,
• * 1.10

  A duty of thanks to God, and why,
• * 1.11

  All men are vnable in their owne saluation.
• * 1.12

  God must haue the ho∣nour of all our actions.
• * 1.13

  Thirdly.
• * 1.14

  Gods favor.
• * 1.15

  The power of faith.