A20762:2566
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. 3 Of the means to remove the former impediment.
§. Sect. 3 Of the meanes to remoue the former impediment.
Now if we would avoid these impediments, let us know and consider first, that this is a shameful and horrible abuse of Gods mercy and goodness, which he will never let go unpunished, to take occasion thereby, the more to offend and displease him by wilful continuing in sin, and neglecting the duties of his service. To provoke God to wrath, because he is patient and long-suffering, and to sin against him, because he is good and gracious, and ready to forgive. And finally, to neglect all duties of his service, because he is such a bountiful Master, that he giveth of his free grace and mercy, rich wages and rewards, without all merit and desert. For these should rather be arguments to inflame our love towards him, and to make us so much the more zealous of his glory, and fearful to offend so gracious a God; according to that of the Psalmist; There is mercy or forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. Or if through 1frailty and infirmity, we have, contrary to our purpose and resolution, been overtaken of any sin; this patience and love of God should be a strong motive, to make us to rise out of it by unfeigned repentance; according to that of the Apostle, Despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Secondly, let us consider, that as the Lord is infinite in mercy and compassion, so he is no less infinite in justice and truth; that as he is merciful 2and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, to ansgression, and sin: so also he is just in all his ways, and holy in all his works, and will by no means clear the 3guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation: that as he is a merciful Saviour, so also a just God, and