A20762:1501
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 constancy is an inseparable companion of integrity.
§. Sect. 1 That constancie is an inseparable companion of integrity.
And thus we see what that constancy which is required in the duties of a godly life, and the vices which we are to shun as opposite unto it. The arguments which may move us to this constancy, are many, some whereof I will briefly touch. The first reason is, because it is an inseparable companion of integrity and uprightness of heart; For if in sincerity and truth we perform service unto God, out of our love and obedience to his will, then these motives always remaining, will make us constant in doing of it. Whereas if in hypocrisy we formally perform any duties, being moved thereunto by worldly respects, then doth our obedience last no longer then they last, and as they are variable and subject to many changes, so shall we likewise change with them; according to that of the Apostle James; A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Secondly, if we be 1not constant in the duties of a godly life, all the pains which we take by fits will be spent in vain; seeing we shall undo that one day which we did the day before, and like foolish builders, one while setting up, and another while pulling down, we shall not be edified in our faith and sanctification, and after much time spent, be never the nearer the finishing of our work. For though at some times we row never so strongly against the tide and stream of our corruption, yet when we intermit our labour, and give our selves to sloth and negligence, they will carry us down again as far from the Haven of our hopes, as we were at the beginning. Of which, we have lamentable experience in many ancient professors, who through this inconstancy in religious duties, stand at a stay (like dwarfs, ⟨p. 439⟩