A20762:2924
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.
§. 3 That fleshly corruption abuseth prosperity, to the be getting in us carnal security. Psal. 111. 10. Pro. 1. 7.
§. 3 That fleshly corruption abuseth prosperitie, to the be getting in vs carnall securitie. Psal. 111. 10. Pro. 1. 7.
But especially among and above the rest, doth our fleshly corruption ⟨p. 3⟩abuse this worldly prosperity, as a means to beget in us carnal security, which is the Mother and Nurse of all other wickedness; whereby mens hearts being emptied of all fear of God, which is the head and beginning of true wisdom, are made capable and fit to receive all manner of wickedness, and to run in a head-long course into all kinds of horrible and hellish impieties. Of which we have too lamentable experience in these our days; wherein few make conscience of any sin, not punishable by humane Laws, which offereth unto them either pleasure or profit; as neglect of Religion, and duties of Gods Service, bitter Cursing, blasphemous Swearing, profanation of Gods Sabbaths, Cruelty, Oppression, Bribery, Extortion, Whoredom, Drunkenness, Fraud, Usury, deceitful Dealing, and matchless Pride, showed especially in shameless and monstrous fashions of Apparel, whereby Women are transformed into Men, and Men into Women. And what is the cause of all these mischiefs, but carnal security? whereby Men bless themselves in their wicked courses, and put far from them the Judgements of God and the evil Day, and together with them their Repentance and amendment of life? And from whence doth this security arise and spring, but from our abundance of Gods temporal Blessings, long Prosperity, Peace and Plenty, abused by our carnal corruption, which maketh Men to forget God, because they find no need of him; to neglect and contemn his fearful Judgements, because they have not felt the smart of them; and because they have long escaped punishment in their evil courses, they continue still securely in them, promising impunity unto themselves, upon their former experience, for the time to come, and also the continuance of all their worldly prosperity, concluding, that tomorrow will be like this day, and much more abundant, as the Prophet