A20762:2955
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.
§. 4 The fourth cause, abuse of worldly prosperity.
§. 4 The fourth cause, abuse of worldly prosperitie.
The fourth cause of carnal Security, is worldly Prosperity, which maketh men believe that it is a sure Friend, and will never leave them, though in truth it is but a fawning Flatterer, which is as unconstant as the Moon, the Wind, or April weather. It promiseth that they shall still drink their delicious pleasures out of a full Cup, that their Tables shall over-flow with dainties, and their Riches long continue, 1of which when they have spent their fill, there will be enough to leave unto their Children. And as it promiseth unto them the long continuance of all their worldly good, so also protection from all dangers, causing them to fear no evil, because they feel none. It blindeth also their eyes with folly, and so puffeth up their hearts with pride, that they cannot see their sins, with those fearful judgements which do attend them, but maketh them think their vices virtues, and their outrageous wickedness, small slips and humane frailties. It maketh them to forget God, and to remove his Judgements far out of 2their sight, and to presume that he either seeth them not, or if he do, 3is not displeased with their wicked courses. To this purpose the Psalmist speaketh: The wicked (saith he) through pride of his countenance 4will not seek after God; God is not in all his thoughts. His ways are always grievous; thy judgements are far above out of his sight; as for his enemies, he puffeth at them. He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved, for I shall never be in adversity. Yea, this worldly prosperity maketh men to forget God, not only through infirmity, but also wilfully to banish all remembrance of him out of their minds. So Job