A20762:1554
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. 8 That all our duties must arise from the fundamental graces of a godly life.
§. Sect. 8 That all our duties must arise from the fundamentall graces of a godly life.
The fourth rule is, that all the duties of a godly life, do not only arise and spring from those inward and fundamental graces, saving knowledge, a lively faith, purity of heart, a good conscience, and fervent love, as I have already showed at large in the beginning of this Treatise, but also that they be joined and accompanied with other Christian and internal virtues, and principally Christian prudence, zeal and humility, without which they cannot be acceptable unto God. Christian prudence is most necessary to the well performing of all good duties, because it guideth and directeth us in all particular actions, that they may be done aright, both in respect of the matter, and the manner, the substance and circumstances, of which if we fail, or of any one of them, our works, otherwise commendable, do lose all their grace and excellency. For though they be never so good in the matter, yet if they be done in an ill manner, and though for their substance they seem never so glorious, yet if we fail in the circumstances, not observing due time, place, or persons, that which is generally good in the Thesi and Theory, ceaseth to be so in the Hypothesi, and in respect of the particular act, as it is done by us; neither can we safely pass through all these narrow straits and difficult passages, unless Christian prudence sit at the Helm, and direct us in all our courses. Besides, this prudence is necessary for the guiding and tempering of our zeal, which is a good Soldier in the Christian warfare, but an ill Commander, as being fit for execution, but not to give directions; and if it be not under the conduct of prudence, it becometh blind and preposterous, rash and wilful, like a headstrong horse, full of courage, which being well backed, may do good service, but if he be ill managed, carrieth his rider into headlong danger. But zeal, joined with prudence, is most necessary for our well proceeding in all virtuous actions, seeing (like the spirits in the body) it giveth to our souls lively heat, whereby they are moved in the course of godliness, and are made active in all Christian duties, laboriously using all good means whereby they may be furthered, and courageously opposing and removing all lets and impediments which cross us in our way.