A20762:2232
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 The fifth reason taken from the benefit of our preservation.
§. Sect. 5 The fifth reason taken from the benefit of our preseruation.
The benefit of our preservation and government, doth also justly challenge this service at our hands; because being created, we have 1no power to subsist of our selves, but wholly depend upon God for the continuance of us in our life and good estate; for (as the Apostle saith) In him we live, & move, and have our being; so that if he withdraw his assisting power, we perish and return unto our dust. By his all-ruling providence we are every day in the year, every hour in the day, and every minute and moment in the hour, preserved from innumerable dangers, which otherwise would seize upon us, from the assaults of our many and mighty enemies, and especially of that roaring and devouring 2Lyon, who is always ready to destroy us, if we were not preserved under the wings of the Almighty from his rage and malice. By it we are governed and directed in all our ways, so as we cannot stir a foot, nor move a hand, nor open our eyes or ears, nor speak a ⟨p. 685⟩word, if we had not strength from him. By it all the creatures become serviceable unto us, and work together for our good, which otherwise would be our bane. From God we have all the benefits which we enjoy, the Sun which giveth us light and vital heat, the air which we breathe, the earth which sustaineth us, the meat which feedeth us, the apparel which covereth our nakedness, and keepeth us warm; our health and wealth, our peace, plenty and prosperity, and all other blessings, fit both for necessity, and for our comfort and delight. And not only the things themselves, but all their virtue and vigour, whereby they become profitable to those ends for which we use them, do come from him, and do as means and instruments serve his Providence for the deriving of all good unto us; himself still remaining the chief and principal cause which worketh by them, or can derive unto us all things needful without them, if they be wanting. For it is he who feedeth us by our meat, by our clothes keepeth us warm, by our friends doth comfort and relieve us, for which uses they would be uneffectuall, yea produce the clean contrary effects, if they had not from his blessing their power and efficacy.