A20762:248
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. 2 That all true fruits of godliness spring from a pure heart.
§. Sect. 2 That all true fruits of godlinesse spring from a pure heart.
And this is that pure heart which is necessary to a godly life, as being a chief pillar that supporteth it, and a lively fountain, from which all good and virtuous actions do spring and flow. For if the heart be pure, ⟨p. 53⟩it will purify all our words and actions: but if it be defiled, we can expect no pure streams from a polluted fountain; according to that of our Saviour, Those things which proceed out of the mouth, come forth of the heart, 1and they defile the man: for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, &c. And therefore as it is in vain to purge the streams when the fountain is defiled, because it will soon again pollute them, whereas if the spring be clear, it will soon cleanse the streams, though much defiled, that issue from it; so is it with the fountain of the heart, and the words and actions, which from it, as streams do spring and flow. The heart is the root and tree, and the words and works are the fruits it beareth, which discover what it is; for a good tree bringeth forth good fruits, 2and a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruits; neither can a good tree bring forth evil fruit, nor a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit, as our Saviour hath taught us. It is the treasury of all our thoughts, speeches and actions. And a good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth 3that which is good; and an evil man, out of the evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is evil, for of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. It is the King and Monarch in the little world of man, which giveth laws to all the other members, reigning and ruling over them as it seemeth good unto it. It is the primum mobile, and first mover, which giveth motion to all other parts as inferior spheres; and as it were the first wheel of the clock, whose motion all the rest follow, standing still when it standeth, and going as it goeth. So that if the heart be an inditer