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

The third cause of carnal Security, is self Confidence, arising from an erroneous opinion of our own power and sufficiency, for the fruition of our desires, and freedom from all dangers. For therefore are men secure, because they think themselves so wise, that they can with their policy either prevent all dangers, or quit themselves out of them, if they be fallen into them. Because they have an opinion of their own strength, as though thereby they were able to protect themselves from all evils, to withstand all enemies which may attempt the disturbing of their peace, and to safe-guard both their own persons, and all that belong unto them, from all perils; and that by ⟨p. 10⟩their own absolute power, or by the aide of their friends, or the situation ¹of their Country far remote from Enemies, or environed with the Sea, or the strength of their Fortifications, which they think ²impregnable, or their Munition and warlike preparations, wherein they excel all their neighbour Nations. So also this carnal security ariseth in many from confidence in those spiritual privileges, wherein they are preferred before others, as that they are members of the true Church, and enjoy the Word, the Sacraments, and the rest of Gods holy Ordinances, as we see in the example of the Israelites, who went on in their sins with great security, because they had the