A20762:2922
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.
§. 2 That it is the nature of sin and corruption to turn all into evil.
§. 2 That it is the nature of sinne and corruption to turne all into euill.
Of the other we have lamentable experience, not only in Satan, but principally in our own sinful corruptions, which make us apt and ready to abuse all things unto sin, and out of the best premises to infer the worst conclusions. And thus our wicked flesh abuseth Gods saving attributes unto sin, as his infinite mercy which should cause us to fear him, to move us thereby to go on in our wicked courses, more sinning that grace may more abound. His Patience and long suffering, which should lead us to repentance, to work in us hardness of heart, and by deferring our repentance to treasure up wrath against the day of wrath. His Justice and righteous Judgements, which should above all things make us afraid to displease him, because he is a consuming fire, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, the flesh abuseth to make men to despair of 1all grace or future good, and therefore to lay hold of the present delights of sin, saying with the Epicures, Let us eat and drink, for to 2morrow we shall die. But especially and most ordinarily our sinful corruption abuseth Gods temporal benefits unto evil, which being originally good, are unto us in respect of their use of an indifferent nature; good to those who use them well; and evil unto those that abuse them unto sin. And of this kind is worldly prosperity, with all earthly benefits which do accompany it, as health, wealth, peace, plenty, immunity from dangers, and such like; the which our sinful flesh abuseth, for the robbing of our souls of all grace, and the replenishing of them with all vice and sin, as forgetfulness of God, pride, profaneness, neglect of Religion, and contempt of Gods Ordinances, tyranny, oppression, cruelty, with innumerable others of this