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. II. (Book 2)

Shewing who the chief Enemies of Godli∣ness are.

HAving given you a brief Account of the Pe∣digree, Original, and Antiquity of True God∣liness, wherein occasionally hath been hinted some of those great Abuses he met withal in Ancient times I judg it may not be amiss (before I come to treat of his Travels and Entertainment in these latter daies, and how it fares with him at this present juncture, to give a Description of some of his chiefest Adver∣saries, to the end the true lover, of Godliness may be aware of them, and those who have a mind to be accquainted with him, and are hindred from receiving him into their * 1.1 Houses, may know the Cause and Reason of it now.

1. One of the chiefest Enemies of this great Prince and Favourite of Heaven is the Devil; nor is there any one that hates him more.

2. Sin, alias Vice, alias Lust.

3. The Flesh.

4. The World.

But because this general and common descripti∣on is not sufficient to discover the great danger Men and Women are in,* 1.2 by certain other secret and do∣mestick Enemies, who are the cur∣sed Agents and Servants of those

grand Adversaries of True Godliness, some of which many are ready to entertain as Friends, not suspect∣ing the fatal danger they are in thereby; I shall upon this therefore give you an account of a few of them, and tell you their Names. The First I shall begin with is Ʋnbelief, a very dangerous Fellow. 2. Pride. 3. Vain-glory. 4. Formality. 5. Hypo∣crisie. 6. Oppression. 7. Heresie. 8. Superstition. 9. Idolatry, alias Papistry. 10. Prosperity. 11. Per∣secution. 12. Ignorance. 13. Blind Zeal. 14. Vain Hope. 15. Sloth, alias Idleness. 16. Covetousness. 17. Old Custom. 18. Evil Example. 19. Self-Righteousness. 20. Presumption. 21. Despair. 22. Slavish Fear. 23. A Sensual Pleasure. And 24. Apostacy, with many other of like quality, too te∣dious here to reckon up; but by mentioning the Names of these, you may easily discern who and what the others are, who with their Attendance are all implacable Enemies to True Godliness, and as much as lies in them endeavour to hinder his being entertained wheresoever he comes, as you will find in the ensuing History of his Travels: Now, the Reason why True Godliness hath so many Enemies, I had thought to have shewed in this place, but be∣cause I will not hinder you from the main scope and design of this Treatise, I shall reserve them for a more convenient place.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Their Hearts.
• * 1.2

  Who the Ene∣mies of Godli∣ness are.