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.

Speciall application.

I will therefore carefully endeuour my selfe in a constant exercise of all godly action;* 1.1 not that I repose my iustification in the vertue of my owne workes, but that by the Testimony of good works I may approue my selfe to be faithfull, and that my faith is more then a general or a common faith; euen a liuing and a sauing faith, which is (& must be) the onely means of my appre∣hending Christ,* 1.2 who is the sufficient & onely matter of my iustification. And this shall be the glory and onely pride I will haue of well doing; that this wit∣nesse of Workes shall gaine me the re∣putation of Gods seruant, and that Gods faithfull children here on earth shall repute mee one of their fellow-brethren, then which I shall neuer desire a greater cause of boasting.* 1.3 And this iudgement of good men. must

needes rise from the testimony of good workes, because there is an ineuitable necessity of consequence, and necessa∣ry dependance betweene Faith and Workes, they being as inseparable as heate from fire, and as necessarily de∣pending as the body & the soule. And this shall prouoke me to a zealous for∣wardnesse in all godly action, because thereby I shall conclude the assurance of my iustifying Faith,* 1.4 and thereby sa∣tisfie the desire of my owne Soule, and that doubt which otherwise might iustly bee had of mee in the common opinion. For from this argument must needes follow this conclusion: That seeing I haue the fruites of Faith (good Workes,) therefore I haue also the cause of Workes, true Faith: And that therefore this Faith thus working,* 1.5 is a tree of Gods owne planting which aduersitie may well shake, but neuer pe∣rish.

This is that vse, that comfort, and consolation, which I will vnder∣stand in the nature of my best deser∣uing works. Thus I will esteeme them,* 1.6

and but this. I will therefore auoid that daungerous opinion of meriting▪ by workes: because it is better to want ho∣nour then to force it from God by vio∣lence,* 1.7 nay I will rather disgrace my selfe then disinable my Sauiour Iesus. For if righteousnesse be from our selues, it is nor from him onely, and then would follow that absurde and blasphemous conclusion,* 1.8 that hee is not the onelie Sauiour, neyther hath perfected the worke of mans saluation, I will therfore doe all the good I can, but I will repute my deed (though good) to be the effect and not the cause of goodnesse in me: I will also confidently holde, that no∣thing is able to merite saluation,* 1.9 but the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ onely. I will therfore disclaime my selfe, and my owne power, which is nothing but weakenesse) and ascribe all power, all vertue to my Sauiour. For it is safer to giue him honour, then to take it from him; and it will better become my Christian modesty to acknowledge my infirmities, then proudly to aduaunce my selfe aboue my deserts. If God ther∣fore

(by the mouing of his holy Spi∣rit) mee faith,* 1.10 he will also giue me a de∣sire▪ and a power in godly exercise: (which) when it maketh mee growe plentifull in the demonstrations of ho∣linesse, I will ascribe the glory to God, to whome it is onely due, and acknow∣ledge my selfe to bee that instrument onely, whereby his holy hand of grace is pleased to worke. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Speciall ap∣plication.
• * 1.2

  Faith the only means of appren∣ding Ch••ist
• * 1.3

  A true canse of boasting.
• * 1.4

  How to as∣sure our iu∣stification.
• * 1.5

  A tree of Gods owne planting.
• * 1.6

  How to e∣steeme our works mo∣destly.
• * 1.7

  It is better to want ho∣nor then to steale it frō God.
• * 1.8

  A blasphe∣mous con∣clusion.
• * 1.9

  Nothing but Christ can merit saluation.
• * 1.10

  All must be acknowled∣ged as Gods gifts: