The Travels of True Godliness

In the words of Benjamin Keach, godliness has “become a great stranger to most men, and indeed is known by a very few in the world.” Several centuries later, his words still ring true. In The Travels of True Godliness, Keach allegorically portrays Godliness as he journeys throughout the earth, searching for a home in the hearts of men—only to be turned away time and time again. I have long commended this work for its ingenuity, yet its antiquated language has often made me hesitant to recommend it to modern readers. That hesitation is now gone as this edition has made Benjamin Keach accessible and, Lord willing, profitable for our day.

Benjamin Keach was arguably the greatest theologian among the second generation of the Particular Baptists. In The Travels of True Godliness, Keach portrays godliness as a noble, heaven-born prince, who journeys through every condition of life only to meet with rejection, temptation, and persecution at nearly every turn. With pastoral wisdom, Keach exposes the enemies that hinder every believer's pursuit of true holiness, including legalism, formality, hypocrisy, worldly cares, all springing up from the remnants of the old sinful nature. This book is an allegory that will stir the believer's the soul to pursue the one thing needful and to count everything as loss for the surpassing value of knowing Christ. Matthew Hartline has provided a gift to the church by bringing this long-out-of-print classic into clear modern English while preserving Keach’s original voice. In a time marked by superficial religion, doctrinal confusion, and declining zeal, The Travels of True Godliness calls believers to examine themselves, persevere, and to devote themselves fully to Christ. It belongs on the shelf of every serious Christian and deserves to be read, pondered, and lived. I warmly commend it to all.