A20762:110
A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties
A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helps enabling & the reasons persuading unto it the impediments hindering the practise of it, and the best means to remove them whereunto are added divers prayers and a treatise of carnal security by John Douname Bachelor in Divinity and minister of Gods Word.A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.
London: printed by Felix Kingstone and William Stansby for Ed, 1622
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§. Sect. 1 That we can no otherwise please God, then by framing our lives according to his will.
§. Sect. 1 That wee can no otherwise please God, then by framing our liues according to his will.
What the person must be that is to lead a godly life, and how he ought to be qualified that must offer unto God any acceptable service, we have showed in the former Chapter. And now it remaineth that we entreat of the latter part of the description, wherein the actions which in this life are to be performed, are generally expressed. And here two things are to be considered, first, the matter of this godly life, or the main duties which are to be performed; and secondly, the form and manner how they ought to be done. The matter is either general, or more special. Generally, it is required, that we please God in all things, conforming our wills and actions, our thoughts, words, and works, in all holy obedience to his will, leaving and forsaking whatsoever is displeasing unto him, and repugnant to his holy will and commandment, and contrariwise embracing and practising whatsoever is acceptable in his sight; for his will is the perfect rule of righteousness, and whatsoever agreeth with it, is just and good, but whatsoever swerveth from it, either on the right hand o• the left, is crooked, evil, and wicked, and consequently odious and displeasing in his sight. And therefore if we would please God, we must in the first place deny our selves and our own wills, saying with our Saviour, Not my will, but thine be done; neither must we ask counsel of carnal reason, nor when we know Gods will, dispute with flesh and blood, whether it be fit or unfit, profitable or unprofitable, reasonable or against reason, to do that which God commandeth, but we must yield unto it absolute obedience, doing Gods will, as the Saints and Angels do it in heaven, cheerfully and readily, without gainsaying, doubting, or replying. For if earthly Princes will not endure to have subjects scan their Laws, nor examine their Proclamations, to see with what reason they command, but require absolute obedience in all things not repugnant to the Law of God, and will not be served according to their subjects best intentions, but will have their obedience squared by their Laws: If every master in a family will be served according to his own pleasure, and will not for matter or manner leave it to his servants choice, to perform what service best sorteth with their own humour and liking;