THE ARGUMENT.
1. This first book, Christian reader, contains an ample exhortation to virtue, that is, to the keeping of God's commandments, wherein true virtue consists. It is divided into three principal parts. The first is, a persuasive to virtue; to this purpose, making use of all those arguments holy authors, for the most part, have brought upon this subject, which are our infinite obligations to Almighty God, as well in regard of what he is himself, as what he is to us, on account of his inestimable benefits, as also of what great consequence virtue itself is to us, which is sufficiently expressed by the four last things relating to the end of man, death, judgement, hell and heaven, which is the subject of this first part.
2. The second is, to persuade the same thing, but by other arguments, viz., the advantages of grace promised to virtue in this life: and here are set down twelve singular privileges belonging to it, every one of which is particularly discoursed of. Though holy authors sometimes briefly hint at these privileges, speaking of the peace, inward light, true liberty, comfort of a good conscience, and consolation of the Holy Ghost, enjoyed by the just, and the usual concomitants of virtue, yet I have not met with one that has handled this subject at large, and in due order. This has caused me more laborious research, in selecting and putting together all these matters out of several parts of the Holy Scriptures, giving them their proper names, placing them in order, and expounding and supporting them with several other texts of Scripture, and of the writings of the holy fathers: which method was very requisite to be used, to the end, that those who are not excited to the love of virtue by the hope of blessings to come, as believing them too remote, may at least be moved by the inestimable value of the advantages which at present attend it.
3. But because it is not sufficient to adduce those arguments that make for a cause, without confuting those that may be alleged against it, therefore, we have formed the third part of this book, in which all the excuses vicious men plead for avoiding virtue are answered and confuted.
4. Now, that the reader may not be confounded, he is to understand, that this first book answers to the first of The Memorial of
a Christian Life, which, as well as this, contains and exhortation to
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