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

WE have showed divers kinds of carnal security, as they are distinguished by their divers Subjects and Degrees. Now, because those who are possessed with these divers kinds, are apt to mistake the one for the other, the Regenerate being ready, especially in the time of tentation, to make their state worse, and the Unregenerate better then it is; It is necessary in the next place, that we set down the differences, whereby the one may be known from the other, for the comfort of the godly, and humiliation of such as are lifted up in their own conceits. The which, I confess, is a thing hard to do, if we consider the security of the Faithful, as it is in them in the highest degree, and that which is in the Unregenerate, somewhat abated and weakened with the accusations of conscience, and the common motions of Gods restraining Spirit, stirred up in them at sometimes by the ministry of the Word and afflictions; especially if in this case we judge according to present sense and feeling. For they are for the time both alike destitute of the operations of the spiritual Life of grace, and so both alike dead in outward appearance. Both alike without the virtue and vigour of the saving Knowledge, Remembrance, and consideration of those saving Attributes, which work in our hearts the true fear of God, both taken up alike with self-confidence, and drunken with worldly prosperity. Both usually sinning, and abusing Gods Patience and Mercy, unto presumption and deferring of repentance, and both alike neglecting, yea, loathing the means of salvation. Both neglecting to apply by Faith, or miss-applying the Word which they hear preached unto them; and delighting rather in a flattering Ministry which will soothe them, then in a faithful Ministry which will reprove and check them in their evil courses. Both abusing as well