A20762:1245
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. 4 That our afflictions tend to the setting forth of Gods glory.
§. Sect. 4 That our afflictions tend to the setting foorth of Gods glory.
Fifthly, let us also consider the ends of our afflictions, which God propoundeth unto them, wherein his great love shineth and appeareth. The first and chief whereof, is his own glory, seeing he manifesteth his power and goodness, by assisting us in our afflictions, and by taking occasion thereby to show and try his spiritual graces which he hath bestowed upon us; the which should comfort us in all our troubles, seeing God hereby vouchsafeth us this high privilege to be instruments of his glory. The second end, is the good both of our neighbours and our selves. They receive much good by our afflictions; seeing they learn by our example to fear God in his judgements, and are restrained from the same sins which they see corrected in us. Secondly, as we are ensamples of Gods graces shining in this fiery trial, and also through our infirmities of humane frailty, that seeing Gods perfection in our imperfections, and his power and wisdom in our folly and weakness, they may take occasion to glorify him. Thirdly, because by our afflictions we are made more compassionate and more able and ready to comfort others, with those ⟨p. 361⟩consolations wherewith our selves have been comforted. The which also should make us patient in our troubles, yea even to be thankful, and greatly to rejoice, in that God useth us as means and instruments of our neighbours good, whom we ought to love as our selves, and as much as in us lieth, to help them in all things which may further their salvation.