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

§. 8 The eight cause, the neglect or contempt of the means of grace and salvation.

§. 8 The eight cause, the neglect or contempt of the meanes of grace and saluation.

The eighth cause, is the neglect or contempt of the means of spiritual grace and eternal salvation, as of hearing the Word, the use of the Sacraments, Meditation, Prayer, holy Conferences, and such like. For as these are the means of working our hearts to the true fear of God, repentance and spiritual watchfulness; so the neglect of them causeth carnal security, hardness of heart, and boldness in sinning. And as all other Vices get head and strength, by forsaking the use of the means, whereby the contrary Virtues are wrought, because they are the privation of them, and therefore the removal of the one from that subject, which is capable of them, is the placing of the other, as we see Light succeed Darkness; and Darkness, Light; Rest Labour, and Labour Rest: so is it in these, the putting away of the fear of God, by neglecting the means whereby it is bred and nourished in us, is the cause of entertaining carnal security. And so likewise, as all other Vices, being admitted, do mutually strengthen one another, that they may keep firmer and surer possession against the Virtues which they oppose; so is it between these, for the more we neglect the Word, Sacraments, and the rest, the more secure we shall be in all sinful courses; and the more strong we grow in carnal security, the more negligent we wax in those holy Exercises. And therefore the Prophet joineth them together, as mutual causes of one another: They stopped their ears that they should not hear, and made ¹their hearts as an Adamant stone.

The eighth cause, is the neglect or contempt of the meanes of spirituall grace and eternall saluation, as of hearing the Word, the vse of the Sacraments, Meditation, Prayer, holy Conferences, and such like. For as these are the meanes of working our hearts to the true feare of God, repentance and spirituall watchfulnesse; so the neglect of them causeth carnall securitie, hardnesse of heart, and boldnesse in sinning. And as all other Vices get head and strength, by forsaking the vse of the meanes, whereby the contrarie Vertues are wrought, because they are the priuation of them, and therefore the remouall of the one from that subiect, which is capable of them, is the placing of the other, as wee see Light succeed Darknesse; and Darknesse, Light; Rest Labour, and Labour Rest: so is it in these, the putting away of the feare of God, by neglecting the meanes whereby it is bred and nourished in vs, is the cause of entertayning carnall securitie. And so likewise, as all other Vices, being admitted, doe mutually strengthen one another, that they may keepe firmer and surer possession against the Vertues which they oppose; so is it betweene these, for the more we neglect the Word, Sacraments, and the rest, the more secure wee shall be in all sinfull courses; and the more strong wee grow in carnall securitie, the more negligent wee waxe in those holy Exercises. And therefore the Prophet ioyneth them together, as mutuall causes of one another: They stopped their eares that they should not heare, and made