A20762:306
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.
§. Sect. 1 What a good conscience is; and of the cause efficient which works it in us.
§. Sect. 1 What a good conscience is; and of the cause efficient which workes it in vs.
IN which regard, conscience thus corrupted and disabled, cannot be a sufficient ground of a godly life, till after our regeneration, it be renewed and restored in some measure, unto that integrity and perfection which it had in our first creation. And this we call good conscience, which is a main foundation of godliness, guiding and enabling us to the performance of all good duties which God requireth. In speaking whereof, we will first show what it is, and then the causes of it, the effects and fruits which spring from it, the properties and signs whereby we may know it, and the means by which we may obtain it, if it be wanting; or preserve and keep it, if we already have it. Concerning the first; A good conscience is that, which being renewed by Gods Spirit, and a lively faith, applying unto us the virtue of Christs death and obedience, doth speak peace, and truly testify unto us, according to the Scriptures, that we are redeemed out of the hands of all our enemies, reconciled unto God, justified, sanctified, and shall persevere in grace unto salvation, and that all our actions are warranted by the Word, and accepted of God in Jesus Christ, though in themselves imperfect; whereby we are comforted in all things, made cheerful and diligent in Gods service, and willing to do all things which may be pleasing unto him. The causes of a good conscience are divers. The principal efficient is God the Father, Son, and holy Spirit. The Father bestoweth this gift upon us, who as in the beginning he first created, and placed it in us, as an uncorrupted Judge, and unpartial witness between him and us; so it is he alone that doth renew and repair the ruins thereof, contracted through the fall of our first parents, by which, together with all other faculties, conscience was corrupted, and either so deadened, seared, and benumbed, that it had no sense and feeling at all; or when it awakened out of this deadly swoon, did nothing but accuse and terrify us, or unjustly excuse and encourage us in our sinful courses, by presenting unto us false comforts.