A20762:3113
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.
§. 1 That carnal security depriveth of Gods favour and protection, and despoileth us of all spiritual grace.
§. 1 That carnall securitie depriueth of Gods fauour and protection, and dispoyleth vs of all spirituall grace.
But that we may be moved to pursue this Vice with more deadly hatred, and more carefully use all good means to be armed against it, let us now further consider, that as it is the evil of sin, and the cause thereof, as hath been showed; so also it is the cause of the evil of punishment; yea, it self is also a punishment of other sins. Concerning the former: This security exposeth us to many evils both privative and positive. For it depriveth us of Gods assistance in the day of tentation, whilst it blindeth our eyes, that we cannot see the want of his help, hardeneth our hearts that we cannot desire it, and shutteth our mouths that we cannot crave it by our fervent prayers. It despoileth us of the rich furniture of Gods saving graces, by causing us to neglect, or formally and coldly to use the means whereby they should be nourished and increased, as hearing the Word, Reading, Meditating, Prayer, and the rest, presuming that we are well enough, safe, and in good estate without them; whereupon must needs follow their languishing and decaying, if this security be still cherished in us. For the strongest bodies will wax faint and weak, if they be deprived of their food whereby they should be nourished. The greatest flame and fire will soon go out, if it be not fed with a new supply of fuel and kept in by blowing. The greatest state will soon be consumed, if men lavishly spend upon the stock, and use no means to add unto it. The best Vines will grow wild, and bring unripe and sour Grapes, if they be neglected and be not pruned and well ordered. The most fruitful ground, will in stead of good Grain, bring forth weeds, Thorns and Thistles, if it be not husbanded and manured. And thus it fareth with us in our spiritual estate, our strength of grace will turn unto weakness, if in our security we think our selves so strong, that we need not to cherish them with the spiritual Manna, and means of grace and salvation. The fire of the Spirit will be extinguished, if we cast upon it this cold water of security, and do not continually re-enlive it by blowing upon it, and stir up the gifts and graces of God in us, as Paul exhorteth Timothy.