The travels of true godliness, from the beginning of the world to this present day in an apt and pleasant allegory ... / by B.K., author of War with the Devil, and Sion in distress.

CHAP. I. (Book 1)

Shewing what true Godliness is, as also his Pedigree, Original, and Antiquity,

TRUE Godliness being of late, as well as in former daies) become so great a stranger to most men, and indeed not known but by a very few in the World; I shall in the first place, before I Treat of his Travels and of the Entertainment he meets with where he comes, give you a description of him, and the rather because many persons I perceive are subject to so great an er∣rour as to take Mortality for him; and others out of ignorance (to say no worse) Rail, and ignominiously

call and abuse him, by the names of Singularity, Stub∣bornness, Pride and Rebellion, as if he were not fit to live or have a being in the World, he being ren∣dered a make-bate, a seditious and common distur∣ber of all Kingdoms, Cities, Towns, and Villages wheresoever he comes and is entertained: Yea, such a factious and quarrelsome companion, that he is in∣deed the only cause and stirrer up of all those unhap∣py differences, divisions, troubles and miseries that are this day in the world, This being so, I conclude nothing is more necessary, than to take off that ugly Mask or Visard, which his implacable enemies have put upon him, and clear him of all those soul and unjust slanders and cursed reproaches of the Sons of Belial; that so he may appear in his own original, primitive and spotless Innocency, that none may be afraid of him, or be unwilling to entertain him, nor ashamed to own him, and make him their bosome-companion.

Know ye therefore in the first place,* 1.1 That Godliness consists in the true and right knowledg of Divine Truths, or fundamental principles of the Gospel; which all men ought to know and be established in, that would be saved without Controversie, great is the mystery of Godliness: God manifested in the flesh, justi∣fied in the Spirit, seen of Angels, preached unto the Gen∣tiles, believed on in the World, and received up to Glo∣ry. * 1.2 These great Truths of the Chri∣stian Religion are called Godliness; many men conclude 'tis no matter what faith or principle they hold and cleave to, pro∣vided they do but live a sober and honest life, doing to all men as they would be done unto, supposing that the whole of Religion and Godliness consists in these things; but alass, they are greatly mistaken; Godli∣ness

is another kind of thing than they imagine; it is impossible to receive or entertain True Godliness, whilst we shut out of doors the Essentials of the Christian Religion; and instead thereof imbrace Superstition, Errour and Heresie, there being damning princi∣ples as well as damning practices, 2 Pet. 1.2, 3.

Now should any demand further, to hear more particularly what those principles of divine truths, or fundamentals of Christian Faith be, which are the Essentials of True Godliness.

1. I answer the Doctrine of the Blessed Trinity, or the three distinct Subsistances in the Glorious Dei∣ty.

2. The Unity of the two natures in the person of Christ, viz. that he is really God and man, in one person David's Lord, and yet David's Son; David's Root, and yet David's Off-spring.

3. The Doctrine of Attonement, or that plenary satisfaction and reconcilliation the Lord Jesus hath made by his glorious understaning on man's behalf.

4. The Doctrine of Justification by Faith alone, or the imputation of Christs Righteousnes to those who do believe.

5. The Doctrine of Regeneration, Resurrection, Judgment, the World to come, &c. Now I say in the true knowledg of these and such like principles of divine truths, and being truly established in the sted∣fast belief thereof, does True Godliness in part consist. But secondly, Godliness, as to his inward and more hidden parts and power, is a holy conformity to these sacred and divine principles which natural men may understand Religion by; but True Godliness consists in the light of supernatural truths and life of Grace, God manifesting himself in the light of those glori∣ous principles, and working the life of supernatural grace in the soul by the Holy Ghost, it consists in the

saving and experimental knowledg of God and Jesus Christ, in having all the evil qualities of the Soul re∣moved, and heavenly habits infused in their room, or in a gracious conformity, disposition and affections of the heart to God, cleaving to all truths made known to us, to find the powerful influences of the Gospel and Spirit of Christ upon us, whereby our Souls are brought into the Image and likeness of his death and resurrection; this is True Godliness, 'tis not a bare living up to the natural principles of morality, nor a simple knowledg of the letter of the word, or an historical, notional, or dogmatical knowledg of the sacred Gospel, and the precepts thereof, but in a faithful living up to the supernatural principles of Grace and the Gospel, discharging our duties with as much readiness and faithfulness towards God as to∣wards man, so that our conscience may be kept void of offence towards both. * 1.3 It consists in forsaking of every sin, and not only to leave it, but to loath it as the greatest evil, and to cleave to God in sincerity of heart, valuing him above all who is the chiefest good, and from a principle of divine love, willingly subjecting to all his Laws and appointments; Godli∣ness makes a man say with the Psalmist, whom have I in Heaven but thee? * 1.4 &c. Non amat Christum, amat aliquid plus quam Chri∣stum, saith Austin, he loves not Christ at all, that loves him not above all: He that entertains True Godliness, is as much for the Work of Religi∣on, as for the wages of Religion: Some there be who serve God, that they may serve themselves upon God, but a true Christian desires grace, not only that God would glorifie him in Heaven, but that he may glo∣rifie God on Earth: He cries, Lord, rather let me have a good heart than a great Estate; though he

loves many things besides God, yet he loves nothing above God. This man fears sin more than suffering, and therefore he will suffer rather than sin: He is like a Palm-Tree, he alwaies flourishes best when he is prest down most. This may serve in the second place, to discover what the inward life and power of True Godliness is.

Thirdly, That you may have a compleat and per∣fect knowledg of him, it may not be amiss if I de∣scribe or give you the character of his form and ex∣ternal parts, together with the very fashion he con∣tinually wares or goes in.

First, Then know ye that the form or external parts of True Godliness are very comely and beauti∣ful, and no marvel it is so, seeing he was form'd and fashioned by the wisdom of the only wise God our Saviour; the works of whose hands being all glori∣ous; but this (viz.) the formation of Godliness be∣ing one of the chiefest, highest and most admirable contrivances of his eternal wisdom, must of necessi∣ty excel in glory, sweet odour and amiableness; his form and external beauty therefore is such, that he needs no humane artifice to paint or adorn him, or any waies to illustrate or set off his beauty and sweet comeliness of his countenance; for there is nothing defective as to his Evangelical and Apostolical form, as he came out of his great Creators hands; and as there is nothing from head to foot that is superflu∣ous, more than needs or might be spared, so every line and lineament, Veins, Nerves and Sinews of him are in such an exact and admirable order placed, that is to his beauty there can be no addition: Every one therefore that goes about to take from, add to, or alter any thing, touching the form of True Godli∣ness, mars instead of making, and defiles instead of beautifying; besides God hath strictly forbid any

thing of this nature to be done, no man is to set up his Post by the Lor'ds Post. Add thou not unto his Word, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar, * 1.5 viz. by fathering that upon God which is none of his; do not the Papists call those superstitious and vain Ce∣remonies, us'd in their Church, by the name of God's Worship, and what is this less than the putting a lye upon him; besides it reflects upon the wisdom of God; to attempt to change or alter any thing of the form of Godliness, as if he did not know best how, and in what way, or after what manner he himself would be worshipped: But must be beholding to man for his help, wisdom and rare contrivances, touch∣ing many things that are by the Papists called decent and necessary; also doth it not reflect upon the care and faithfulness of God, insomuch, that he should not himself take care to lay down in his blessed word many things, which are very necessary to be added to the form of Godliness, which man's care and wis∣dom is fain to supply.

Therefore from hence all may perceive, that True Godliness never alters his Physiognomy, nor changes his countenance, he is the very same and not altred in the least from what he was in the Primitive Time; nay, and there is indeed nothing in the world he hates more than those pompous Garbs, superstitious Vestments, and other Fooleries that are used in the Popish Church; as Crossings, Crysoms, Salt, Spit∣tle, Oyl, and Holy Water, with divers other ridi∣culuous Cereremonies, which are so numerous, they are too tedious here to reckon up, therefore take heed you do not take the counterfeit form of Godline∣ness, for the true Form; for as there is a counterfeit Godliness, so there is a counterfeit form of Godliness which the counterfeit or false Godliness alwaies wares;

it is also needful to note one thing more, lest you are deceived, viz. you must be sure to receive the pow∣er of Godliness, with his form; for his form without his inward life and power will do you no good; 'tis but as the Body without the Soul, or the Shell with∣out the Kirnel, or the Cabinet without the Jewel; neither ought any to slight his form, for you may re∣member what the Apostle speaks of the form of Do∣ctrine, * 1.6 and of the form of sound Words; for as the true faith must be held fast, so must the profession of it also,* 1.7 you may 'tis true meet with a Shell with∣out the Kirnel, but it is rare to meet with a Kirnel without the Shell.

Having thus briefly given you the description both of the inside,* 1.8 and outside power and form of True God∣liness; We shall proceed to Treat of his Pedigree, and shew you whose Off-spring he is, you by his name may easily read from whence he descends, and learn what a Noble Patronage he is of, he is indeed High-born, the great and glorious Off∣spring of the Lord Jehovah, the Almighty Prince of Heaven and Earth, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, the universal Monarch of the World, whose Kingdom ruleth over all; and as this is his Noble Extract and renowned Descent, so likewise he is al∣waies in high esteem and favour with his glorious Prince, for there is none, no not one in Heaven or Earth that he loves and takes more delight in, than in True Godliness; nor is there any indeed more like him, or does more lively represent him in all the Earth; for he bears his express, sweet and Heaven∣ly Image; yea, and such a venerable respect and gra∣cious esteem hath he of him, that those who love him, he loves; those who hate him, he hates;

those who receive him he receives; and those who reject him he rejects; where he comes to dwell, there God, Christ and the Holy Ghost dwells.

Godliness is of great Antiquity;* 1.9 nay according to the description we gave you of him: In the first place, we may well say he is without beginning of daies, for Truth (for some times he bears that name) dwelt in God from Everlasting, though in time manifest or made known to men, and that in divers waies and manners, according as God in wis∣dom saw good. But if we speak of his Antiquity, in respect of his dwelling here below, the first man that knew him was Adam, who whilst he stood in the state of Innocency enjoyed some part of his sweet Company but by the malice of a great and potent Enemy he was abused, and his Image so defaced and marr'd, that he forsook his Habitation, which was the ruine and utter undoing of our first Parents and their whole Posterity: and had not the Father of True Godliness, the King of Heaven and Earth, found out through his infinite wisdom, a way to recover Man from his lost Estate Godliness had made his abode no longer in this World, for by means of Corruption of Nature there was begotten and brought forth a cursed Monster of ugly shape, whose Name was Vice, alias Lust, who found so much favour with Adam's Children, that Godliness was utterly discountenanced; and though he was the Off-spring of Heaven (as you heard before) and the only delight of Jehovah (and unto man the greatest friend and chief Benefactor in all the World, striving to enrich him, chear his heart, and to make him truly Noble and Renowned on Earth, and bring him back into his former Primitive Glory, and thereby at last make him eternally hap∣py in Heaven) yet he was neglected and lamentably

slighted, that there was but only one of Adam's Off∣spring cared for him at that time, and he too for en∣tertaining of him with that just and good respect he deserved, was by his Brother, whose Name was Cain, basely murdered; so that Godliness by this perceived very early what kind of usage and entertainment a∣mongst the Children of men he was like to meet with∣al; and truly never was there any one so nobly de∣scended, and of such an excellent, peaceable and sweet a nature and behaviour, generally so dealt with as Godliness hath been, from the beginning to this ve∣ry day; (except the Prince of Godliness himself) yet he found some friends after Abel was slain, who en∣tertained him kindly, and though they were reproa∣ched, hated, and persecuted for shewing favour to him, yet they never lost anything by him, but con∣trarywise were infinite gainers, for he never came empty handed to any mans house, but alwaies brought plenty of good things along with him, yea, such things, the worth and value whereof no mortal is able to compute; (as I'll shew hereafter, God assisting) nay, so great a friend he was to the next man, which I find eminently embraced him, that he saved him from the Grave, he sent him to Heaven without calling at the Gate of Death; his name as I remem∣ber, was Enoch, and 'tis not to be thought what sweet and Heavenly Communion, true Joy and Felicity this good man had with Godliness, for the space of three hundred years, for so long they abode together on Earth, and now dwell together with the Father of true Godliness, and his only begotten Son in Heaven. Some time after this great Prince (for so they are all made who entetain True Godliness) was carried to Heaven, a sad disaster besell the World (I mean the Enemies of Godliness) for so it was, that cursed Monster and Off-spring of Hell (viz.) Vice, finding such great

your with the men of the Generation, they delight∣ing in nothing more than in sin and wickedness, ha∣ting God and his true and lovely Off-spring Godliness, it provoked him to take vengeance upon them, and utterly to destroy them from off the Earth; and this was done by a fearful and amazing Flood of Water: Now, this heavy Judgment was brought, I say, up∣on the men of that Generation for their slighting, neglecting, and basely contemning of Godliness, and sad it was to consider how generally men were at that time out of love with him, for there was not one in ten thousand but hated him, and loved vice and ungodliness far better than he; nay, to tell you plain∣ly, there was but one man in all the World who was an eminent Lover of this Noble and High Born Prince, Godliness, whose name was Noah, though 'tis not to be doubted but his Wife and Sons, especially two of them, were in some measure Favourites of him like∣wise: But mark how at that time it fared with this Holy Man and his Family, who were Friends to Godliness, never a one of them were destroyed by that Flood; we may well say, Godliness is profitable unto all things, and Blessed are all they who love and kindly entertain him; for had it not been for Godli∣ness, Noah had doubtless perished as well as others.

But to proceed in this brief History of the Anti∣quity of Godliness, it would not be amiss if we speak a little of the next man after Noah who entertained him, and how he was blessed in so doing; his Name at first was Abram, but afterwards he was called A∣braham: This man lived for some time amongst a Blind, Heathenish, and Idolotrous People, and was ignorant of True Godliness; but when he became ac∣quainted with him, few men ever loved him better, for he made him his Bosom Companion, and chiefest 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 Cattel, Men-servants, Camels and Asses, so that he became very great) he was blessed with all spiritual Blessings; (viz.) he had sweet fellowship and communion with God, aboun∣ding 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 Nati∣ons of the Earth should be blessed; for he having re∣ceived Godliness as his choicest Companion, and chie∣fest 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, a∣bounding in all manner of horrible wickedness, who for this very reason were destroyed with their Cities by Fire and Brimstone from Heaven; yet neverthe∣less, 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 there was but one man who shewed 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 de∣fence to him, the Angel could do nothing till he was gone forth: Sodom could not take Fire whilst righte∣ous Lot was in it.

I might proceed further, and shew you who they were that entertained Godliness in the succeeding A∣ges, for the space of more than two Thousand Years, and what great blessings he brought unto them, and what they suffered for his sake; but I can but give a brief hint or two upon this account; 'tis known to all what Joseph suffered for him by his envious Brethren, and how Godliness advanced him for his Integrity to him at last. Moreover the Children of Israel after Joseph was dead, were through that love they bore to him, grievously oppressed by the mighty King of Egypt, but it proved his own utter Ruine in the end. David, for the love he bare to him, was for many Years together greatly persecu∣ted, but afterwards Godliness raised him to great honour, and made him very ich, and sat a Crown upon his Head; All along I might shew you in An∣cient daies he was very much hated and persecuted; nay, and some of his true Friends and Favourites, were for his sake cast into a fiery Furnace, and a∣nother into a Lions Den, yet they never lost any thing by him, nor did they ever repent the En∣tertainment they gave him. If we should come lower into the Times of the Gospel, 'tis well known what usage he met with in our Lord and Saviour Jesus and his Blessed Apostles; afterwards also by the Heathen Emperours, he was most abominably hated and persecuted, and all those who entertain∣ed him were put to all manner of cruel Deaths and Torments imaginable. Lastly, we might also shew you what hard usage he met with by counterfeit Godliness, I mean Papistry, for near 1200 Years, how many of his dear Children and Servants have for the sake of him been burn'd to Death, and other∣waies tormented in most Nations of Europe, but let what hath been said suffice, touching the Antiquity, gray Hairs, and usage of True Godliness in former days.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Godliness de∣scribed.
• * 1.2

  Tim. 3.16.
• * 1.3

  Acts 24.16.
• * 1.4

  Psal. 73.25.
• * 1.5

  Pro, 30.6.
• * 1.6

  Rom. 6.17.
• * 1.7

  2 Tim. 1.13.
• * 1.8

  The Pedegree of Godliness.
• * 1.9

  The Antiquity of Godliness.