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

And thus we see, how we may generally encourage our selves in the duties of a godly life, against those impediments which arise from the nature of this grand enemy, who opposeth us in them. Many others there are which are cast in our way by his tentations, which either respect our faith, or the fruits of it in a godly life. Concerning the former; this wily and experienced enemy mainly bendeth ⟨p. 746⟩all his forces and engines of battery against our faith, because he well knoweth, that if he can destroy the root, the branches and fruits which spring from it, will wither and fail of their own accord. And therefore sometime taking advantage of our wants and unworthiness, our falls, frailties, and infirmities, he persuadeth us that we have no faith at all, when as we have it; and sometimes laboureth to make us neglect all means of getting faith when it is wanting, by causing us to rest upon that show and shadow of it, carnal security and fond presumption. Yea, he assaulteth our faith diversly, in respect of all the causes and means of our salvation, that so he may hinder us in the ways of godliness. For first, he moveth us either falsely to believe, that all men are beloved of God, and so we among the rest, because we enjoy testimonies of his favour in worldly prosperity, though these outward gifts are given in common to the good and bad; or to doubt of Gods love, in respect of our afflictions, and so to neglect all duties of his service, because we know not whether we or our works are accepted of him. Secondly, he persuadeth us either to think that all are elected to salvation, and so we among others, live as we list; or if some be elected, and some reprobated, that this Decree is unchangeable; and therefore if we be elected, we shall be saved, though we take our pleasure and neglect all good duties; or if we be rejected, we shall be condemned, though we take never so much pains in the ways of godliness. Finally, that we can have no assurance that we are elected, and therefore it is in vain to labour after it, but rather, that it is our wisest course to leave it to the venture, and take the benefit of present pleasures. Thirdly, he will tell us that all are redeemed by Christ, and we with others, and therefore we may live in our sins, seeing he hath satisfied for them;