A20762:269
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. 2 Of the outward signs of a pure heart.
§. Sect. 2 Of the outward signes of a pure heart.
The outward signs of a pure heart, are the fruits of sanctification and holiness: for the tree is known by the fruits, and the fountain by the 1streams that flow from it, whether they be good or evil, for a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, nor an evil tree good fruit, as our Saviour hath taught us. If therefore the fruits we bear be pure and holy, it is an evident sign that our hearts be purified and sanctified; if the streams be clear and sweet, such also is the fountain from which they spring; and if the coin we outwardly spend and use in our Christian trading one with another, be currant, of pure metal, and the right stamp, then is the treasury of our hearts good, out of which we bring it. More especially, the purity of our hearts appeareth in the purity of our words, when as we delight in the language of Canaan, and cheerfully entertain one another 2with holy conferences; and when as our speech is powdered with the salt 3of wisdom, and ministereth grace unto the hearers, edifying one another in our most holy faith. So also pure hands are a sign of a pure heart, being inseparable companions, that always go together, and both infallible notes of a Citizen of heaven; and the works of holiness and 4righteousness are signs of an holy and righteous heart, even as clear streams are a sign that the fountain is pure from which they spring. Whereas if the hands be full of blood, cruelty, and oppression, bribery and extortion, fraud and deceit, it is more then manifest, that our hearts remain still polluted with fleshly lusts, whatsoever profession we make of purity and sincerity.