The godly mans picture drawn with a scripture-pensil, or, Some characteristical notes of a man that shall go to heaven by Thomas Watson ...

To the Reader.

Christian Reader,

THe Soul being so precious, and Salvation so glorious, it is the highest point of Prudence, to make preparations for another world: That there is an Inheritance in Light, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 beyond all dispute, and that there must be an Idoneity and meetness for it, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Sacred Writ most strenuously* 1.1 as∣••••rted. If any shall ask, who shall ••scend into the hill of the Lord? The ••nswer is, He that hath clean hands, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a pure* 1.2 heart. To describe such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 person, is the work of this ensuing ••••reatise: Here you have the godly ••ans Effigies, and see him pourtrayed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his full Lineaments: What a rare ••••ing is godliness! 'tis not airy and

flatulent, but solid, and such as will take up the heart and spirits: Godli∣ness consists in an exact harmony, be∣tween holy Principles and Practises: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that all into whose hands this Book shall providentially come, may be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 enamoured with Piety, as to fall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the hearty imbracing of it: So sublim•• is Godliness, that it cannot be del••••∣neated in its perfect radiancy and lu∣stre, though an Angel should take 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pensil: Godliness is our* 1.3 wisdom•• Job 28. 28. The fear of the Lord, th•••• is wisdome. Policy without Piety, profound madness: Godliness is a Sp••∣ritual Queen, which whosoever Ma••∣ries, is sure of a large Dowry with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godliness hath the pr••∣mise of the life that now is, and that which is to come. Godliness giv•• * 1.4assurance, yea holy triumph in Go•• and how sweet is† 1.5 that? It was 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Latimers Speech, when sometimes I sit alone, and have a setled assurance of the state of my Soul, and know that God is my God, I can laugh at all troubles, and nothing can daunt me: Godliness puts a man in heaven before his time. Christian, aspire after Piety, it is a lawful Ambition: Look upon the Saints Characters here, and never leave till thou hast gotten them in∣stamped upon thy own Soul. This is the grand business that should swallow up your time and thoughts: Other Speculations, and Quaint Notions, are nothing to the Soul: They are like Wafers which have fine works printed upon them, and are curiously damasked to the eye, but are thin, and yield lit∣tle nourishment. But I will not stay you longer in the Porch; should I have inlarged upon any one Character of the Godly Man, it would have required a

Volume, but designing to go over many, I have contracted my Sails, and given you only a brief Summary of things: If this Piece (how indigested soever) may conduce to the good of Souls, I have my Option; which that the God of Grace will effectually accomplish, shall be the Prayer of him who is

Thine in all Chri∣stian affection, Thomas Watson.

Feb. 26. 1666.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Colos•• 1. 12.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 2. 4.
• * 1.3

  Vera est 〈…〉〈…〉 cam He∣brai ele∣••anter ap∣pellant 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (i. e.) es∣se••tiam. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 3. ••1
• * 1.4

  Isai. 32. 17.
• † 1.5

  Omni melle dul∣cior, omni luce clari∣or. Aug.