A20762:2985
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.
§. 2 Of carnal security which is affected and voluntary.
§. 2 Of carnall securitie which is affected and voluntarie.
The carnal security which is affected and voluntary, is when as men purposely use all means to harden their hearts against Gods fear, and to stop their ears, that they may not hear any thing which may awaken them of their pleasing sleep of sin, that so they may without any disturbance commit all manner of wickedness with delight and greediness, whereby they much strengthen and increase their natural security, until by custom it becometh habitual. They add Art to Nature, and thinking that they cannot sleep soundly enough, and without fear of disturbance in their natural slumber of security, they stupefy their senses (as it were with opium) till they are brought into an unrecoverable Lethargy and sleep of death. They do not only draw over their already hard hearts and seared consciences, a callum or thick skin, which will not be pierced with the prick of a pin, but (as one saith) even a treble plated armour, 1which is high proof against the Sword of Gods Spirit, the Word of God; yea, even the Musket shot of his Judgements and Punishments. They do not only quench all good motions of Gods Spirit restraining them from sin, but quite put out those small sparks of the light of Nature, which remain in them. They do not alone stop the voice and cry of their consciences, with the louder clamour of their tumultuous lusts and passions; but put to silence all that would admonish them of their wicked courses, with their impudency in sinning. They harden their fore-heads against all reproofs, and fly in their faces who reprehend their wickedness. They shut their 2eyes that they may not see Gods Judgements, and stop their ears that they may not hear of them, either as they are threatened in the ministry of the Word, or inflicted on impenitent sinners like unto themselves; yea, they stupefy their senses, that they have no feeling of them, but can out-face their own punishments, and even laugh, when they are lashed with Gods whip. And though all these outward Sconces were battered and beaten down, so as sin dare no longer abide in the countenance, Words and external Actions, yet they have an inward Fort, unto which, being impregnable, it may safely retire, even an heart of Rocky and Adamant hardness, whereas it may sleep in great security, there being no engine or shot which will batter this Hold.