A20762:1766
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. 4 That by this watch we are made constant in the course of Christianity.
Secondly, this watch is exceeding profitable, not only as it preserveth us from all sinful ways, and fitteth us to walk in the ways of godliness, but also as it enableth us to be constant in this course, and to persevere in it even to the end. Seeing hereby we are strengthened against all discouragements, avoid or leap over all impediments, that like stumbling blocks are cast into our way, and are prepared and armed against all the assaults of our spiritual enemies, and all other oppositions which might encounter us in our Christian course. Thirdly, it is a notable means of Christian security, so as keeping this watch, we may with David, grow so confident, that though we should walk through the vale of the shadow of 1death, yet we will fear no evil, because God also watcheth over them, who thus watch over themselves, so as having once set their watch, they may lay them down securely and take their rest, because the Lord maketh them to 2dwell in safety. So also upon the same grounds it causeth unto us inward peace, even peace with God, and the peace of a good conscience, when as by help of this watch we carry our selves so in all things, as that we and our works are accepted of him, and pleasing in his sight. The which peace cannot be impeached with the malice and might of all our enemies; for if God be with us, who can be against us? If he speak peace unto our consciences, 3though all the world should proclaim war, it needs not to dismay us, for though thousands fall on one side, and ten thousand on the other, it shall not hurt us or disturb our peace; for either the Lord will be a wall of defence, and tower of strength to preserve us from all danger, and to make us shot-free even at the Canons mouth; or else we shall be, with Josiah, taken away in peace, although we fall by the hands of our enemies. 4