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

What are the public impediments, which the world casteth in our way, to hinder us from proceeding in the duties of a godly life, we have showed in the former chapter: & now it remaineth that we entreat of those which are more private. And these are either the tentations wherewith the World usually assaulteth us; or certain scandals and offences which it layeth before us, to discourage us in the ways of Godliness. The World tempteth us diversly, both on the right hand with earthly prosperity, and on the left with crosses and afflictions. The more dangerous of these two, are the tentations of prosperity, wherewith the world allureth us (as by her bewitching baits) to make us leave the narrow & afflicted path of righteousness and holiness, and to walk in the broad and easy way that leadeth to destruction. These are those intoxicating cups, whereby it maketh men so drunk, that they have neither list nor power to walk in the path of piety; those false lights, which so dazzle mens eyes, that they cannot discern the excellency of spiritual grace and heavenly glory; those enamouring potions, that make us to love the world, & to dote so on this painted Strumpet, that we think all time lost which is not spent in her service; those waters, which quench in us the love of God, the zeal of his glory, and all fervency of desire in attaining to heavenly happiness; those thorns, which choke in us all good motions of Gods Spirit; and finally, those ⟨p. 758⟩entangling snares which catch and hold us, that we cannot go on in any religious duties or holy actions. Against these tentations, which as strong impediments hinder so many from the profession and practice of godliness, we may best arm our selves, by considering that the love of the