A20762:1459
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. 2 Reasons which may move us to this cheerfulness.
§. Sect. 2 Reasons which may mooue vs to this cheerefulnesse.
Now that we may thus serve God with alacrity and cheerfulness, let these reasons persuade us. First, because it is most acceptable unto God, and in much more high price with him, then the work and duty it self, be it never so excellent in outward appearance. For if even mortal men, who need the duties and service of others, are much more delighted with the kindness and love of the giver, then with the gift it self: And if Parents and Masters are better pleased with the willing cheerfulness of their children and servants, then with their duties which they perform, ⟨p. 424⟩being done with grudging and repining: then much more is the Lord delighted with our alacrity and readiness in the duties of his service, rather then with the outward works and actions, seeing we can in nothing be profitable unto him; yea, as we have showed before, he esteemeth no bodily service which is not en-lived with this soul of cheerfulness; whereas contrariwise though our duties of his service be full of manifold imperfections and corruptions, yet if they be performed with ready and cheerful hearts, he doth accept of them for perfect obedience. For he accepteth in the service of his children the will for the deed, and if there be 1a willing mind, a man is accepted, according to that he hath, and that power of performance which God hath given, and not according to that he hath not, as the Apostle speaketh. Secondly, this cheerfulness and alacrity maketh our otherwise unperfect service, like unto that which is performed by the blessed Angels, who are always ready, as soon as they hear Gods