A20762:2627
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. 6 That a godly life, in it own nature is not difficult and tedious, but sweet and delightful.
§. Sect. 6 That a godly life, in it owne nature is not difficult and tedious, but sweet and delightfull.
Neither in truth are the duties of a godly life unpleasant and burdensome, tedious and troublesome unto the spiritual and regenerate part, 1but sweet and delightful, easy and full of comfort. For Gods Commandments are not grievous, as the Apostle John speaketh; and our Saviour telleth us, that his yoke is easy, and his burden light; and that they who will take them upon them, shall find rest to their souls. Upon which words Chrysostom speaketh excellently to our present purpose. If (saith he) hearing of a yoke and a burden, thou art afraid and shrinkest back, thou must attribute this fear, not to the nature of the things themselves, but to thine own sloth; for if thou art prepared, and not sluggishly effeminate, all shall seem unto thee easy and light. And therefore Christ, that he might teach us with what care we ought to watch, hath neither concealed the burden, nor the sweetness; but joining both together, he hath said, that it is a yoke, and also that it is sweet. He calleth it a burden; but addeth, that it is light; that thou shouldest not shun it, as being too laborious, nor contemn it, as being too easy. But if after all this, virtue seemeth unto thee hard and difficult, consider how much more vice and sin, which Christ intimateth, in that before he said any thing of his yoke, he crieth out, Come unto me all, ye that labour and are heavy laden. Thereby showing, how great labour, and what an intolerable burden sin imposeth: for he saith, not only all ye that labour, but also, who are heavy laden. The which the Psalmist expresseth more plainly, and describeth the nature of sin, saying, Mine iniquities are gone over mine head, as 2an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. And Zechariah likewise, where he calleth it a talent of lead. For experience will teach us, that the soul is oppressed