A20762:1630
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 it is the ordinary means of our new birth, and of working Gods graces in us.
§. Sect. 3 That it is the ordinary meanes of our new birth, and of working Gods graces in vs.
Secondly, as the ministry of the Word is the ordinary means of our new birth, and of beginning in us Gods spiritual graces, whereby we are 1enabled to move in the duties of a godly life; so also of our spiritual growth from strength to strength, and of increasing Gods graces where they are begun; according to that of the Apostle Peter; As new borne babes desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby. Neither are we to think that the Word read, either by our selves or others, is ordinarily sufficient to work in us grace and godliness; for if faith (as I have showed) cometh by hearing the Word preached, then also the life of faith, and fruits of sanctification which spring from it, all which are nourished and increased by the same means whereby they were first begun in us. Neither are we to dispute of the excellency and power of other means in themselves, or compared with this, seeing neither this, nor any other ⟨p. 483⟩work by any inherent virtue in themselves, but as they are Gods ordinances, which by his blessing attain to their ends, and are made powerful and effectual by the inward operation of his holy Spirit, to work and increase grace and sanctification in us. And therefore seeing the Lord hath ordained in all ages, not only that his Word should be read for the edification of his people, but also that it should be expounded to their understanding, and applied to their particular use, (as we see in the example of the Priests in the days of Nehemiah, who caused the people to understand