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

Having spoken of the causes of carnal Security, it now followeth that we show the kinds thereof. And first it may be distinguished by the divers degrees of it. In which respect carnal security is either natural, or affected and voluntary. Natural, is that which every one bringeth into the World with him, and is a fruit or branch of original corruption, and one kind of hardness of heart, whereby forgetting Gods Power and Providence, his Justice and hatred of Sin, and not observing his fearful Judgements executed upon the wicked, nor his Mercies extended towards those that serve him, mens hearts are emptied of the true fear of God, and so without check and remorse of conscience, or grief of heart, quietly and securely go on in their sinful courses to their eternal destruction. And this is naturally bred and borne in all men alike without exception, although nourished and increased diversly by those causes of security before spoken of, according to that predominancy which they severally have, in one more then in another. And continueth and wholly possesseth all the powers and faculties of Heart and Mind, as it were a spiritual Lethargy, till the Lord awakeneth them out of it; as he doth even the wicked sometimes, by the thundering threatenings of the Law and sense of his heavy Judgements for their sins, striking horror and despair into their minds, hearts and consciences, whereby it cometh to pass, that they who slept securely and never awaked, can now take no rest at all. And the godly always whom he first rouseth out of this dead sleep, partly by Legal comminations, and partly by some sharp Afflictions, so as like the Jailer suddenly awakened, they cry out to Gods Ministers; Men and Brethren, what shall we do that we may be saved? and