A20762:3143
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 The second remedy, is to consider and meditate often on Gods attributes.
§. 2 The second remedie, is to consider and meditate often on Gods attributes.
The second means and remedy against security, is not only to know God and his attributes, but also often to meditate and consider of them. As still to think and remember, that he who seeth all things, seeth and beholdeth our most secret actions, yea, searcheth our very hearts and reins, discerning every turning and winding in this Labyrinth, much better then we our selves. So Solomon, The ⟨p. 64⟩eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Proverb. 15. 3. And Job, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be with-holden from thee. Job 42. 2. And therefore David setteth God continually before him. I have (saith he) set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psal. 16. 8. and Psal. 119. 168. Yea, athat he looketh not thus upon us afar off, he being in heaven and we on earth, but being in all bplaces alike, is present with us, and standeth by to see how in all things we carry our selves; and not as an idle speculator, only to gaze on our actions with either liking or dislike of them, but as our cJudge, who will either acquit and reward us if we do well, or condemn and punish us if we do evil. And not such a corrupt Judge who may be blinded with rewards, and taketh more care to weigh the bribe then the cause, or a respectre of persons, who may easily be mis-led by favour or friendship; or one so weak in authority, or confined in his jurisdiction to such narrow limits, or of such small power and strength, that we may appeal from his sentence to an higher Court, flee out of his dominions, or by our own wisdom and strength, or help of our friends, deliver our selves from his just doom, by main force. But let us remember, that the Judge who standeth by and looketh upon our actions, is most upright and unpartial, who accepteth no mans person, and so all-sufficient in himself that he needeth no rewards, and supreme Lord of all, so that we cannot give him any thing which is not his own already. That his dominion lasteth unto all ages, and extendeth unto all creatures, and his presence filleth all places, so that, If we could ascend into heaven, he is there; if we should