A20762:2571
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 Of presumption in neglecting the means of holiness.
§. Sect. 4 Of presumption in neglecting the meanes of holinesse.
And thus we see how carnal presumption generally hindereth us, from entering into, or proceeding in a godly life, and how we may remove this impediment. More especially, we are hindered thereby, when as we presume, that we may perform all duties required unto it, notwithstanding, that we neglect all means of sanctification and holiness, which God hath ordained for the working his graces in us (as hearing the Word, receiving the Sacrament, Prayer, and the rest) by the extraordinary operation of his holy Spirit in us. For the removing of which impediment, we are to know, that howsoever God sometimes, to show the infiniteness of his mercy, goodness, and power, which are free, and not tied unto any means, doeth, when we least think of it, and when we have not so much as a desire and endeavour to serve and please him, regenerate and convert us; according to that of the Apostle, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them 1that asked not after me (As we see in the example of those, who coming to hear the Word only for form and fashion sake, without any desire 2to profit by it, are notwithstanding effectually called and truly ⟨p. 803⟩converted by the mighty operation of Gods Spirit working with his own holy ordinance. And though also when greater means are wanting, as in the time of persecution, the Lord giveth an extraordinary blessing to such as are mean and small, causing his servants (like Moses and Elijah) to go on constantly for many days in the ways of godliness, in the strength of one meal; to the end it may appear that the work of conversion and sanctification, is not effected by any virtue inherent in the means, but that it is a gift of his grace, and conveyed unto us by the powerful working of his holy Spirit: yet this is not Gods common course, and ordinary manner of working his graces in us, but ordinarily he will have us to use the means, and sanctify them as his own holy ordinances, that they may be effectual to the ends for which we use them; which if we neglect, we do in a presumptuous manner tempt the Lord;