A20762:1561
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. 10 That we must use all helps and means which may enable us unto godliness.
§. Sect. 10 That we must vse all helpes and meanes which may inable vs vnto godlinesse.
The sixth rule is, that as we desire spiritual graces, and to express them outwardly in the duties of a godly life, so also that we use all good means and helps whereby we may obtain the one, and practise the other. For the means and the end do inseparably go together in all ordinary courses of proceeding, & they who neglect the one, in vain profess either their love and desire, or their hope, that by their idle wishes the other ⟨p. 460⟩may be obtained. Neither is it more possible, that we should obtain any saving graces, or perform the duties of a godly life, if we neglect the means which enable us unto them; then it is for a man to live without meat and drink, or come to his journeys end, and never travel in the way that leadeth unto it. Contrariwise, with no less care and diligence we are to avoid or overcome all lets and impediments, which stop and hinder us in our Christian course, of which, I shall have occasion to speak at large in the following discourse. Here let it suffice to name one or two, as examples of all the rest. First, evil company, which will taint and infect us with the poison of their breath, and by their evil examples and corrupt communication, will first bring us to a neglecting, and then to a loathing and utter forsaking of all virtue and Christian duties. Among these, we must shun with greatest care those dangerous tame beasts, clawing flatterers, which are (as one calleth them) the pestilence of the soul, and the poisoners of good mens minds and manners. 1For so powerful are their cunning insinuations, being assisted with our pride and self-love, that we are ready to give more credit to their false praises, then to the unpartial testimony of our own consciences, and to think our selves (because they say so) such proficients in all virtue