A20762:2513
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 The second scandal arising from judgement deferred.
§. Sect. 2 The second scandall arising from iudgement deferred.
The second scandal and offence, is that delay which God seemeth to make in the administration of his Judgements, and dispensation of his benefits and rewards. For first, when wicked men multiply their sins, and yet escape deserved punishment, they begin to doubt whether there be any providence, and so let the reins loose to all manner of wickedness: According to that of the Preacher, Because 1sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily; therefore the hearts of the children of men are fully set in them to do evil. And Gods children likewise stumble at this stone of offence, being tempted to think that there is no gain in godliness, and little profit in being more diligent then others in the duties of Gods service, when as they observe that there is, in respect of outward things, no assurance of love or hatred, nor any difference between one and another, seeing all things come ⟨p. 780⟩2alike to all, and there is one event to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean, to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not. As is the good, so is the sinner, and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. But this tentation & stumbling block I have before removed; only let us remember, that Gods Judgements like himself are eternal, & that he giveth such rewards to the godly, & inflicteth such punishments upon the wicked as are endless and everlasting. In which respect, a thousand years are with God but as one day, as the Apostle 3speaketh; and the benefits and afflictions of the longest liver, nothing in comparison of future joys and miseries. And therefore the greatest prosperity of wicked men should not encourage any to follow their sinful courses, seeing it shall soon have an end, and bring with it endless punishments. Neither should the longest and greatest afflictions discourage us in the duties of a godly life, seeing they are but light and momentany, in respect of that eternal weight of Glory, which they shall