A20762:216
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. 5 Of justifying faith, what it is, and what are the things required unto it.
§. Sect. 5 Of iustifying faith, what it is, and what are the things required vnto it.
The special faith, which is the main ground of a godly life, is a true, lively, and justifying faith, which is a sanctifying grace infused by Gods holy Spirit, whereby we do firmly and effectually believe, and assent unto the promises of the Gospel, especially those which offer Christ and his benefits unto us, and also them particularly unto our selves, with assurance that they all do belong unto us; and so rest wholly upon them ⟨p. 44⟩for our justification and salvation; whereby it appeareth, that there are four things required unto justifying faith. First, knowledge of Gods Word, especially the gracious promise of Christ and all his benefits, to all that will receive him as their Saviour, and rest upon him for their salvation. For first we must know the promises, before we can believe them, according to that of the Apostle, How shall they believe in him, of whom they 1have not heard? namely, by the preaching of the Gospel: for as faith cometh by hearing, so this hearing is only of the Word of God. Secondly, assent to the truth of the Scriptures, especially the promises of the Gospel; for after that our minds are enlightened with the knowledge of Gods truth, (by which is revealed unto us, first, our sin and misery, and that we cannot by our selves, nor the help of any creature come out of it, to the end that we may be humbled and despair of our own strength; and secondly, the infinite love of God, and his free mercies in Jesus Christ, together with the gracious promises of the Gospel made in him, whereby is offered unto us, mercy, reconciliation, the forgiveness of our sins, and the salvation of our souls, to all that believe, and will receive them by the hand of faith, bringing forth the fruits thereof, in hearty repentance and new obedience) then doth Gods holy Spirit, by his secret operation, make the Ministry of the Word effectual, to work in us a firm assent to this truth of God, respecting our salvation; not so much in respect of the clear evidence hereof in it self, or the forcibleness of the arguments which are brought to convince and persuade natural reason; as in regard of Gods authority, who is most infallible in his truth, infinite in his goodness, and almighty, to perform whatsoever he hath promised.