A20762:1498
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 constancy in all Christian duties is strictly required in Gods Word.
§. Sect. 4 That constancie in all Christian duties is strictly required in Gods Word.
But let us not please our selves with this state of imperfection, but labour and strive daily after more perfection; and seeing how unsettled we are even in the state of regeneration, in all Christian courses, let us, bewailing our unstayednesse, endeavour to attain unto more constancy in the embracing and practising of all good duties. For God requireth at our hands, that we should serve him, not by fits and flashes, but constantly in all our courses, and not only that we do well, but that we continue in well-doing. Thus Samuel chargeth the people, that they should take heed 1(not of forsaking the Lord, and renouncing his service, but) that they should not turn aside after vain things which would not profit, nor deliver them from danger. So the Wise man requireth, that we should continue in the fear of 2the Lord all the day long; and the Apostle, that we should never be weary of 3well doing; seeing in due season we shall reap, if we faint not: and exhorteth us to be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, 4because we are sure that we shall not labour in vain. And this constancy we 5must show both in choosing and holding us to the right way, and also in walking in it; In professing constantly the truth of Religion, and living accordingly in our holy practice. For the first, we must be constant in embracing and professing of Gods Truth, and not by fits only, when it will best stand with our worldly advantage. So the Apostle exhorteth; Watch ye,