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 strenuously1 asserted. If any shall ask, who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? The answer is, He that hath clean hands, […] a pure (Psal. 2. 4) heart. To describe such […] person, is the work of this ensuing treatise: 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: Godliness consists in an exact harmony, between 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 sublime is Godliness, that it cannot be delineated in its perfect radiancy and lustre, though an Angel should take […] Pensil: Godliness is our2 wisdom[…] Job 28. 28. The fear of the Lord, th[…] is wisdome. Policy without Piety, profound madness: Godliness is a Spiritual Queen, which whosoever Marries, is sure of a large Dowry with […] 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is, and that which is to come. Godliness give (Isai. 32. 17) assurance, yea holy triumph in God and how sweet is3 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 instamped 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 little 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 Christian affection, Thomas Watson. Feb. 26. 1666.