A20762:2387
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 sixth main privilege, is, that God bestoweth upon the godly the spirit of prayer and supplication.
§. Sect. 1 The sixth mayne priuiledge, is, that God bestoweth vpon the godly the spirit of prayer and supplication.
The sixth main privilege which God vouchsafeth to the godly, is, that he bestoweth upon them the Spirit of prayer 1and supplication, and both heareth and granteth all the suites which they make unto him. For he poureth upon the house of David, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and supplication, as he hath promised; and whereas naturally we know not how to pray, nor what to pray for as we ought, the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, and maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the Saints, according to the will of God. Yea, he not only by his Spirit teacheth us how to pray, and what to ask, but hath also bound himself by his gracious and free promises, that he will hear ⟨p. 736⟩all our suites made in the name of his Son, and indited by his Spirit, according to that of our Saviour; Ask, and you shall have; seek, and you shall 2find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. And again, Verily, verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name, he will give it you. Now what an high and holy privilege is this, to have always free access unto God in all our wants and necessities, who is alone able to help us, and will also do it because of his promise? To have a dear and able friend, into whose bosom we may with boldness and comfort pour out all our complaints, who is ready to pity and ease us? To have a key always in our keeping, which through Christ will open unto us the treasury of Gods graces, where we may relieve our wants, and store our selves with all things needful for his glory, and our own spiritual good and everlasting salvation. Finally, to converse with the supreme and glorious King of heaven and earth in a familiar manner, and to talk with him, as a man talketh with his friend? For as the Lord speaketh to the Israelites, What nation is so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord