A20762:2978
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.
§. 12 The last cause, is a flattering Ministry.
§. 12 The last cause, is a flattering Ministerie.
The last cause of this carnal security, is a soothing and flattering ministry, and when those who are sent as Gods Ambassadors, to denounce his Judgements against impenitent sinners, either for fear or favour, for hope of gain or avoiding of displeasure, do their message unfaithfully, proclaiming peace to them, against whom God ⟨p. 17⟩hath denounced war, and applying unto them the gracious promises of the Gospel, to whom nothing belongeth, but the terrible threatenings of the Law. Of such Prophets the Lord often complaineth. They say still (saith he) unto them that despise me; The Lord hath said, 1ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one, that walketh after the imagination of his own heart; No evil shall come upon you. And again, They have healed the hurt of the Daughter of my People slightly, 2saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. Of such the Prophet Ezekiel speaketh thus from the Lord. They have seduced my people, 3saying, Peace, and there was no peace; and one built up a Wall, and lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar. If the pride of great Ones will display it self in its colours, and in wearing garments of strange and even unnatural fashions, they encourage them in it, because these things being of an indifferent nature, are left to their free choice, and there is no difference to be made between Yellow and Blew, French and English. Yea (if they will so have it) whether being Men or Women, they disguise themselves in the habit of the contrary Sex. If being their Benefactors, they live upon usury, that they may be more bountiful towards them in their mind, and more able in their purse; they soothe them in this sin, by telling them that whatsoever is spoken of it in the Scriptures, to show how heinous it is in Gods sight, is to be understood only of biting usury, and of that which is exacted of those who are miserably poor. If they have a mind to enrich themselves with bribes, they secure them in their course as being a matter full of equity, that those who do good unto others, should again receive from them answerable gratuities. If Naboths Vineyard so please them, that by right or wrong they will wring him out of it; they hold them excused, if they desire it on a price;