A20762:2667
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 though a godly life were sad and sorrowful, yet this should not discourage from it.
§. Sect. 1 That though a godly life were sad and sorrowfull, yet this should not discourage from it.
A Third objection which the flesh maketh against a godly life, to discourage and hinder us from entering into, or proceeding in it, is, that it is harsh and unpleasant, mopish and melancholic, depriving us of all joy and delight, which is the very life of our life, and which being taken from us, it becometh irksome and tedious. The which objection of the flesh, the devil and the world labour all they may, with their utmost policy and skill, to confirm and strengthen; and ⟨p. 837⟩knowing that men naturally are affected with nothing more then with pleasure and joy, and do shun above all things sorrow and sadness, they use all their Art to blind and delude us; by offering to our view all the pleasures of carnal and corrupt courses, and hiding from us the griefs and mischiefs which always attend upon them, and like a bitter tang or loathsome after-taste, do utterly spoil these sinful and fleshly delicacies. And contrariwise, they offer to our consideration all the sorrow and smart, losses and worldly inconveniences, which they must undergo who resolve to please God, in the strict and constant performance of the duties belonging to a godly life, concealing in the mean while the manifold comforts which do accompany them, and the inestimable joys, and everlasting happiness, unto which they attain that continue in them unto the end. For the answering of which objection, we are first to know, that though there were as much sadness, and as little joy for the present time in the godly life, as is pretended by our spiritual enemies, yet this should not discourage us from choosing and embracing it; seeing both the pleasures and pains, solace and sorrows of this life are but short and momentany, whereas both the joys and griefs which shall immediately succeed them, are endless and everlasting. In which regard, we are to account that mirth miserable, which ends in perpetual mourning, and that sorrow and sadness sweet and comfortable, which is attended with eternal and heavenly joys. So our Saviour, Blessed are they that mourn,