A20762:2417
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. 5 Satan's tentations, whereby he seeketh to hinder us from entering into the ways of godliness, or from proceeding in them.
§. Sect. 5 Satans tentations, whereby he seeketh to hinder vs from entring into the wayes of godlinesse, or from proceeding in them.
In respect of the godly life it self, Satan raiseth against us many lets and impediments, either to hinder us from entering into the course of Christianity, or to make us perform the duties required in it superficially and unprofitably. In respect of the former, he useth many devices, to stop our entrance into the ways of godliness. And first, he laboureth to keep our eyes blinded with ignorance, that we may not see the ways of godliness wherein we should walk; or if they be discovered by the light of the Gospel shining unto us, he will endeavour to keep us from seeing the profit and necessity of walking in them. The former whereof we may avoid, by remembering and considering, that saving knowledge is one of the chief grounds of a godly life, without which, it is no more possible that we should perform the duties of Christianity, then to walk in difficult ways, having no eyes to guide us, nor light to direct us in them. And therefore we must not content our selves with our good meaning and ignorant devotion, which can bring forth no better fruits, then blind superstition and will-worship, which are odious unto God, but use all good means, whereby our minds may be enlightened with the saving knowledge of Gods truth, and carefully inquire after the good and old 1ways (as the Prophet speaketh) that we may walk therein, and find rest to our souls. And for the avoiding of the other, we must know and remember, that nothing in the world is so profitable and necessary, as to walk in the ways of godliness, after that by the light of truth they are discovered unto us, seeing this alone, though all worldly things be wanting, will make us happy and blessed in this life and the life to come;