A20762:2784
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 Their objection answered, who pretend, that it is not safe to be more forward then other men.
§. Sect. 6 Their obiection answered, who pretend, that it is not safe to be more forward then other men.
Finally, men mis-led by carnal corruption, are ready to excuse themselves, for not entering into the course of Christianity, though their judgements are convinced of this truth, that it is above all others most excellent, profitable and necessary, by objecting, that it is neither good nor safe to make greater profession then other men, or to be more strict in our lives, then ordinary Christians; because we are not sure that we shall be able to hold out in our sincerity, and holy practice, and if we should relapse, our latter end would be worse then our beginning. Neither can we tell, in respect of humane frailty, whether we may not fall into some grievous and heinous sins, or at least such as ⟨p. 877⟩are contrary to our strict profession; which if we do, our faults will be more observed in us, though they would be little regarded in ordinary men, and more bitterly censured and condemned; yea, we our selves shall be a wonderment to all that know us, and both shame our selves and our profession. To which I answer, first, that none can make any greater profession of strict performing all Christian duties, then that which we all make at our Baptism, when we enter into covenant with God, that we will renounce the service of sin and Satan, the world and our own sinful lusts, and betake our selves wholly to the service of God, in all duties of holiness and righteousness. Which if we do not all still make, and renew upon all occasions, what do we but disgrace our selves, by casting off our Lords livery, denying and renouncing our promise and profession, and returning into the ancient servitude of sin and Satan? Yea, what do we else but daily play the hypocrites, when as praying that we may do Gods will in earth, in that purity and perfection, which the Saints and holy Angels do it in heaven, and that we may serve God in holiness, righteousness and sobriety all the days of our lives, we are notwithstanding so far from desiring, or going about it, that we are ashamed to profess that we have any such meaning? Secondly, I answer, that we are all bound, one as well as another, to make this profession of holiness and sincerity;