A20762:2271
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 The fourth reason is, that we may adorn the Gospel of God which we profess.
§. Sect. 4 The fourth reason is, that we may adorne the Gospell of God which we professe.
The last motive respecting our duty towards God, which may persuade us to serve him by a godly life, is, that hereby we may adorn 1the Gospel of God, and of Jesus Christ which we profess; and cause it to be well spoken of by all that see the fruits of it in our unblameable and holy conversation. And this argument the Lord useth to persuade his people to observe his Commandments, because hereby they should not only get honour unto themselves amongst the Nations, but move them likewise to speak well of his Laws and statutes, when as they should see the fruits of them in their obedience. And thus the Apostle persuadeth Christians in divers callings to perform their duties in them, that they might not cause the Word of God to be blasphemed; 2seeing it is the common custom of worldly and wicked men, to to lay the faults of Professors upon their profession, and to impute their scandalous sins, to their much going to Church and hearing of the Word, as though their profession and hearing were the cause of their wicked and unlawful courses, whereas in truth, they would (if they abused them not) be as strong cables to draw them from all impiety and unrighteous dealing. And contrariwise, he would have them to live in an holy conversation, that they might adorn the doctrine 3