A20762:235
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 Of that special faith whereby we apply Christ for our sanctification.
And so much concerning justifying faith, which is the ground and foundation of a godly life. Besides which generally considered, there is a special faith, or rather a branch of the other, which is very profitable and necessary to uphold and further us in our course of Christianity; namely, when as we do by faith apply Christ, not only for salvation; but also for sanctification, and apprehend the promises, both for justification and life eternal, and also for the subduing of our corruptions, and renovation unto newness of life in this World. In which respect also it may be truly said, that the just do live by their faith, and that they cannot lead their 1lives in holiness and righteousness without it. For there are so many mighty enemies that encounter us in this way, so many difficulties and dangers which we must overcome, so many duties contrary to our corrupt nature to be necessarily performed, and so many strange corruptions to be mortified and subdued in us, that if we respect our own strength, it will plainly appear to be utterly impossible to go forward in the course of godliness, or to attain unto any measure of that sanctification which we labour after; whereas contrariwise, if we renounce our selves, and our own strength, and by a lively faith rest upon the power and promises of God, for the beginning, continuing and perfecting of this work, then need we not to be discouraged by our wants and weaknesses, from undertaking or proceeding in it, nor by the malice and might of our spiritual enemies, or any other difficulties which meet us in the way; seeing we are assured that the Lord our God is all-sufficient to remove all impediments, to give us strength against all opposition, to make things in themselves impossible, to become possible and easy unto us; and not only able, but also willing to bring us on in the ways of godliness, and to perfect that good work of grace in us which he hath begun.