A20762:2498
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. 4 That worldly persecutions cannot greatly hurt us.
§. Sect. 4 That worldly persecutions cannot greatly hurt vs.
Thirdly, let us encourage our selves against these persecutions, because they cannot greatly hurt us; for first, they are either light and easy, if they be long and tedious; or short and momentany, if they be sharp and grievous. For God hath graciously so composed and framed our natures, that their frailty and weakness cannot hold out to bear any heavy burdens, and hath made them mortal and of such short continuance, that their afflictions and grievances must needs be short and momentany. Secondly, the greatest persecutions which rage and malice can raise against us, can but reach unto the body, and only extend to the time of this life; but cannot at all hurt the soul, nor hinder our happiness in the life to come. In which respect, our Saviour encourageth us against these persecutions; Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but 1rather fear him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell. Thirdly, these persecutions cannot much hurt us, because our gracious God keepeth and preserveth us, so as we cannot faint and fall, and pulleth out their sting, so as they shall never be able to give unto us any mortal wounds. And therefore as the Apostle Peter exhorteth, Let them that suffer according 2to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator. Fourthly, because in our sharpest persecutions we are so inwardly comforted with the consolation of Gods Spirit, that in our greatest sufferings our joy may well exceed our grief. For as the 3