A20762:2218
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. 1 The first sort of reasons taken from Gods nature and attributes.
Hitherto we have entreated of the real and practical means, whereby we may be enabled to lead a godly life. And now it followeth that we propound some reasons and arguments which may effectually persuade us, both to use these means, and also to perform all the duties of holiness and righteousness, unto which by these means we are enabled; seeing it would little avail us to have all the helps of godliness, unless we have also hearts to use them. And because the reasons which might be produced to this purpose, are innumerable, seeing there is scarce any part of Gods Word or works, either of Creation or Government, which doth not yield some motive unto godliness; therefore passing by the most which might be alleged, it shall suffice, as briefly as I can, to touch some of the chief and principal; all which I will reduce unto three heads, either as they respect God, our neighbours, or our selves. The arguments of the first sort, either respect God himself, his nature and attributes, both generally considered, and as he exerciseth them towards us; or that duty which we are bound to perform unto him. Concerning the former, there cannot be any more forcible reasons alleged, for the persuading of us to serve God in duties of a godly life, then a thorough consideration of Gods nature and attributes. For first, he is the only true God, Jehovah, the most absolute Being, who having his Essence in and from himself, giveth being to all things; and therefore to be served by all creatures, and especially by us, seeing in him we live, move, and have our being. He is God, infinite 1in all perfection, and therefore ought in all things, according to his nature, to be served with absolute and perfect obedience. He is infinite, and therefore the actions of all things finite must tend unto him, and be determined in him, as their supreme end. And being infinite, he is but one only God, and therefore requireth our whole service, there being none other to be worshipped and served but he alone. He is an holy Spirit, and therefore must be served, not only outwardly with our bodies, but also with our souls, in spirit and truth. He is in his nature most pure