A20762:2651
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 Christian fortitude overcometh all difficulties, and maketh a godly life easy.
§. Sect. 6 That Christian fortitude ouercommeth all difficulties, and maketh a godly life easy.
Sixthly, Christian fortitude and magnanimous resolution will exceedingly help us to overcome all oppositions, the which is not to be grounded upon our own strength, nor upon the virtues and graces which are inherent in us, but upon the power and promises of almighty God, the mediation and intercession of Jesus Christ, and our union and communion with him, and finally upon the help and assistance of the holy Spirit, which in our greatest weakness are allsufficient to strengthen us against all impediments that hinder us in Christian duties. For if we be armed with this fortitude and Christian courage, we shall be the better able to withstand the tentations of Satan and the world, and subdue our own corrupt lusts and violent passions, which will not easily be mastered and overcome, if we weakly & fearfully set upon them. For as Nettles lightly and gently touched, retain their venom and vigour, and sting the hand, but hurt not at all, if we roughly grasp and gripe them in fast hold; And as the fire, if we resolutely ⟨p. 831⟩rush upon it and trample it under foot, is easily extinguished, but if it be gently handled, burneth that which toucheth it; and if there be plenty of combustible matter, increaseth to a great flame: so our corrupt flesh and tumultuous passions, if they be handled gently, and (as it were) with a fearful touch, will but the more sting and burn us, but if they be assaulted with undaunted courage, and nought-dreading valour, they will soon be subdued, and give us the comfort of an easy victory. Besides, howsoever we have many helps from God, & sweet comforts of his Spirit, which may sufficiently encourage us in our Christian courses, against all oppositions, yet it cannot be denied, but that we shall meet with so many difficulties, in respect of the corruption of our nature, and encounters of our spiritual enemies, that we had great need of courage and resolution for the overcoming of them. The palace of virtue is not seated upon the plain, but upon a rock and steep hill, which we cannot mount without some pains, nor continue this pains without resolved courage. We must travail, like painful pilgrims, before we can take our rest in our own country.