A20762:2349
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. 3 That even in this life God endoweth the Godly with many singular and peculiar privileges, and first, that he loveth them above all other his creatures.
§. Sect. 3 That euen in this life God endoweth the Godly with many singular and peculiar priuiledges, and first, that hee loueth them aboue all other his creatures.
Yet, that secure worldlings may not be proud of their present preferments, nor pleasing themselves with their portion, neglect to do God better service, because they think he hath no better wages then the temporary pay of worldly benefits; and that Gods faithful Servants may not be discouraged in holy and Christian duties, because all their estate standeth in hopes, and little in fruition; let us consider in the next place, that even in this life the faithful have many rich and royal privileges, as the present pay and earnest of their heavenly happiness, for their better encouragement in all Christian duties, of which, wicked worldlings that utterly neglect them, are wholly destitute. Whereof we are to take the better notice, because howsoever they generally belong to all Gods children, yet many take little comfort by them, either by reason of their ignorance, which causeth them not to know them; or their carelessness, which will not let them seriously consider of them; or their earthly-mindedness, which maketh them, with Lots wife, more to look back upon the pleasures of Sodom, then upon those privileges which lye before them, as they are going on in the ways of godliness, and to cast their eyes so much upon the false splendour and brightness of worldly vanities, that being dazzled therewith, they are not able to discern spiritual and heavenly excellencies; or finally, because they are so negligent in the duties of Gods service, and weaken their faith with so many slips and falls, wants & imperfections, that they are not able to make use of their privileges, nor to apply them unto themselves with any comfort & assurance. ⟨p. 724⟩And to speak nothing of that reward which virtue and holy duties bring with them, in their own excellency, and in the conscience of well-doing;