A20762:1615
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. 3 That except we grow in grace, we can have no sound comfort in our estate.
§. Sect. 3 That except we grow in grace, we can haue no sound comfort in our estate.
And therefore when there is no growth in grace, nor in the practice of holy duties, we can take little comfort in such a state: but as it is a grief to parents, when as their children grow in age, and not in wisdom; and an ill sign that nature is out of frame, and hindered in her course, when as in their bodies they stand at a stay, and though they eat, and drink, and sleep, yet do not grow at all in their stature: so have we more just cause to grieve, when after many years we remain children in knowledge, and weaklings in all saving grace; and may take it as an ill sign, that there is little grace in us, or some notable impediment which doth stop and hinder it in its operations, when as having enjoyed for a long time, the spiritual food of the Word and Sacraments, we grow not up thereby, nor any whit increase in our strength and stature. We are pilgrims and travellers (as we profess) towards our heavenly home, who are still going on, and every day dispatch some part of the way; but if we stand at a stay, and after many years spent, are no more forward in our journey, then we were at our first setting forth, it showeth plainly that we are no true travellers, but loiterers, that lazily lye lurking in our Inn, or that we have not gone in the right way that leadeth to our Country. We would be counted soldiers in the Christian warfare, and profess that we fight against the spiritual enemies of our salvation: but if Satan in every tentation prevaileth with us; if the world hath so allured us by her bewitching baits, that we are in league and love with it, if after many years we have got no conquest over our corruptions, pride, covetousness, voluptuousness, malice, envy, and such like; but that they still reign and rule in us as in former times, it is a sign that we either are none of Gods▪ Soldiers, seeing we have made a peace with his enemies, or that we are notable cowards, who justly deserve to be cashiered, and that there is little grace or goodness in us, seeing so long time, and large means have so little improved and increased it. Doubtless (saith one) he is not good, who will