A20762:2557
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. 1 That carnal hopes are great impediments to goodness.
§. Sect. 1 That carnall hopes are great impediments to goodnesse.
IN respect of our carnal and corrupt affections, there are also many and strong impediments which hinder us in the duties of a godly life. For whilst they remain unmortified and unsubdued, they lust against the Spirit, powerful drawing us from the practice and performance of Christian duties, and violently carrying us into sinful courses. In which regard, the affections are called the feet of the soul, because they carry us whither they incline and lead us, either into the ways of godliness, if they be sanctified, or of sin and wickedness, if they continue carnal and corrupt. The first unsanctified affection, is carnal hope of escaping Gods heavy judgements and punishments denounced against sin; and of the long continuance of our lives, by benefit whereof we may safely enjoy the pleasures of sin, and need not to trouble our selves by entering into any strict course of godliness, seeing after we have long enjoyed the world, we shall have time enough afterwards to think of such a course, as may fit and prepare us for the joys of life eternal. The which is a notable hindrance to keep men from leading of a godly life. For whereas if men had learned rightly to number their days, they would apply their hearts ⟨p. 798⟩1unto wisdom; and if they were thoroughly persuaded that our lives are so momentany and uncertain, that death may seize upon them suddenly, to day before to morrow, it were not possible that they should so slightly put off a matter of such great importance, as the everlasting salvation of their souls, unto after and uncertain times, but rather would instantly