A20762:2441
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. 6 Of the public impediments which respect the people.
§. Sect. 6 Of the publike impediments which respect the people.
The common impediments of a godly life which respect the people, are also divers. As first, when they content themselves with a form of profession and Religion, without any desire to find in themselves the power, efficacy and fruit thereof, for the sanctifying of their hearts, and reforming of their lives. As when they profess Religion, because the State establisheth it; go to the Church and hear the Word, because the Law requireth it; pray in the Congregation, and go to the Communion, because it is the custom of the Country, and other of their neighbours do it as well as they. But this is to rest in a shadow without a substance, and in a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Which if we would avoid, our care must 1be to serve God in obedience to his Commandments, to worship him in Spirit and truth, and to join the inward service of the heart and soul, with the outward service of the body; and finally, that in all these duties we propound unto our selves right ends, namely, to profit by them in knowledge, faith, and the practice of all holy duties of a godly life, that we may glorify God in the further assurance of our salvation. The second impediment respecting 2the people, is the neglect and contempt of the Preaching of Gods Word, as a thing unnecessary for their salvation. For howsoever they suppose, that there is some use of it for their conversion unto God, the enlightening of their minds with some knowledge of the truth, and the working of faith in some first degrees; yet they hold it a needless task to be continually tied to these religious exercises, and that it is sufficient to use them sometimes at their best leisure. Which impediment if we would shun, we must remember, that as the Word and the ministry thereof, is the immortal seed which begetteth us to God, so it is the spiritual food of our