A20762:2524
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
Book 6 › Chapter 9 › Section 2: §. Sect. 2 That ignorance is a great impediment to a godly life.
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 ignorance is a great impediment to a godly life.
The special impediments which the flesh useth, to hinder us in the duties of a godly life, arise either from the corruptions of nature, or from those manifold objections, whereby it discourageth us from entering into, or proceeding in it. The impediments of the former kind are internal in the soul, or external in our works and actions. Concerning the first; the soul is so generally corrupted in all the powers and faculties of it, that it wholly disableth us unto all the duties of a godly life. The which corruptions are either in the mind and understanding, or in the heart and affections. The mind and understanding do hinder us in the practice of all Christian duties, both by ignorance, which hindereth and disableth us from knowing those things which are necessary to salvation, and to the practice of all holy duties, and by curiosity, which maketh us to affect the knowledge of such things as are needless and unprofitable. For first, we are hindered in the duties of a godly life, by our natural ignorance of God, who is to be worshipped and served by them, especially when we do not understand and know his saving attributes; as that he is omniscient to take notice of all our thoughts, words and actions; and omnipotent to reward them, if they be good; or to punish them, if they be evil; that he is just, and will call all we do, to account; and merciful, to pardon our infirmities and imperfections, if we labour and endeavour to do unto him the best service we are able; that he is all-sufficient and infinite in all goodness, most bountiful and gracious, and a rich rewarder ⟨p. 786⟩of all those who seek and serve him. All which being singular motives and encouragements unto all Christian duties, the ignorance of them must needs be a notable impediment to hinder us in them. For who can with cheerfulness serve such a master as he knoweth not? or be faithful and diligent in his duty, when as he cannot, upon any well-grounded knowledge, be assured that his service is accepted, or shall be rewarded? Who can perform duties agreeable to Gods nature, when he understandeth not what it is, or perform any spiritual service, if he know not that he is spiritual unto whom it is performed? Thus also we are hindered in the duties of a godly life, by being ignorant of Gods revealed will;