A20762:2965
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.
§. 7 The seventh cause, presumption on Gods mercy.
§. 7 The seuenth cause, presumption on Gods mercy.
The seventh cause of carnal security, is presumption on Gods mercy, whereby men conceive, that though they live as they list, and daily provoke his wrath against them, by wilful sins committed against knowledge and conscience, yet he is so pitiful and tender in compassion, that he will not at all, or but very slightly punish them for their wickedness, or though they do make them liable to his displeasure by their sins, yet they may continue in them for a time, and not deprive themselves of the pleasure and profit of them, seeing whensoever they repent, they shall have pardon, and be received to Grace and Mercy. The which they may do time enough hereafter, when God beginneth to execute judgement; which if he defer to do until the hour of their death, even then it will be time enough to repent, seeing he offereth his Grace to all whatsoever, at all times whensoever, that forsake their sins and call upon him for mercy and forgiveness. And thus do wicked ⟨p. 14⟩men make an Idol of a mercy, in God falsely fancied, unto themselves, whilst they sever it from his Justice, which will not let the sins of such presumptuous wretches go unpunished; and from his Truth which hath denounced fearful Judgements against them, who securely abuse his patience and long suffering, which should lead them to repentance, and make them sorry and ashamed, that they should offend so gracious and merciful a God, as an encouragement to hearten them on in their course of wickedness, and to make them contemn his Judgements and Threatenings.
The seuenth cause of carnall securitie, is presumption on Gods mercy, whereby men conceiue, that though they liue as they list, and daily prouoke his wrath against them, by wilfull sinnes committed against knowledge and conscience, yet hee is so pittifull and tender in compassion, that hee will not at all, or but very slightly punish them for their wickednesse, or though they doe make them lyable to his displeasure by their sinnes, yet they may continue in them for a time, and not depriue themselues of the pleasure and profit of them, seeing whensoeuer they repent, they shall haue pardon, and bee receiued to Grace and Mercy. The which they may doe time enough hereafter, when God beginneth to execute iudgement; which if hee deferre to doe vntill the houre of their death, euen then it will bee time enough to repent, seeing hee offereth his Grace to all whatsoeuer, at all times whensoeuer, that forsake their sinnes and call vpon him for mercy and forgiuenesse. And thus doe wicked