A20762:1480
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 this diligence in all Christian duties is in many respects most necessary.
Thirdly, the necessity of this diligence in holy duties may move us to ⟨p. 430⟩embrace and use it. For if in civill and worldly things no great matter is achieved without pains and diligence, how much less in spiritual and heavenly, which are so high above our reach, so excellent above all other things, and so contrary to our corrupt nature and disposition. And if no man can reasonably hope to attain unto riches of his own purchase, who gathereth with one hand, and scattereth with the other, or playeth the good husband at some times, and at another neglecteth his business, and wastefully misspendeth his time and substance; nor unto any great learning, if he be slothful and negligent in his studies; or to get the glory of famous victories and glorious triumphs, if he lye idly in the Garrison, and never exercise himself in feats of arms, nor make any attempt against his enemies; but all these things must be purchased and achieved by labour and diligence: then how shall we think ever to enrich our souls with the unvaluable treasures of Gods graces, to attain unto that high and supernatural learning, which teacheth unto us the knowledge of God, and of our selves, our Saviour Christ and his will and truth, or to get the victory over the spiritual enemies of our salvation, which shall be rewarded with a Crown of glory and triumph, seeing they are so many, mighty, and malicious; if we do not shake off all sloth, and with all study and diligence use all good means whereby we may overcome all difficulties, and compass these things so much to be desired, and so hardly obtained? Neither must we think it an easy matter to serve the Lord in the duties of a godly life, and so slight it over as requiring no pains; seeing they are things of such high excellency, that they are far above our natural reach; and seeing also we cannot proceed in them, but against the violent streams of mighty opposition. For the spiritual enemies of our salvation are always ready to stop and hinder us in our course of Christianity, and we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against 1