A20762:2279
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 reason taken from that dignity unto which God hath called us.
§. Sect. 1 The first reason taken from that dignity vnto which God hath called vs.
IN respect of our selves, there are also many effectual arguments and reasons, which may move and persuade us unto all duties of a godly life. As first, that high and heavenly dignity, unto which, God of his free grace and goodness hath called us, out of a most miserable and wretched condition, which should effectually move us to walk worthy this high and excellent 1calling, as the Apostle exhorteth us. For we were in darkness and in the shadow of death, but the Lord hath called us into a marvellous light, revealing clearly unto us the knowledge of himself and his will, the great mystery of salvation by Jesus Christ, and the means whereby we may be made partakers of the fruits and benefits of it; in which respect it becometh us to walk as children of light, circumspectly, not as fools, 2but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. He hath called and separated us from the world, which lieth still dead in sin, and hath made us his own peculiar people, who are made partakers of all the privileges of his Kingdom, to the end that we should no longer fashion our selves to the world, but that we should walk worthy of God, who hath called us unto 3his Kingdom and glory, and serve him as it becometh his subjects, being zealous of good works; and be no more earthly-minded, but have our 4conversation in heaven, whereof we are Citizens, and mind those things which are above. He hath justified us, and forgiven us all our sins, that being freed from sin, we should become servants of righteousness. He hath made us a chosen generation, a royal Priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;