A20762:3151
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.
§. 5 The third remedy, is to use well our prosperity.
§. 5 The third remedie, is to vse well our prosperitie.
The fourth means is, that we abuse not our prosperity to the nourishing of our security, nor suffer our selves to be abused by it; but if God send it, that we make such holy and right use of it, as that it may increase in us the true fear of God, and make us more diligent and spiritually watchful unto all religious and honest duties. And to this end let us not suffer our judgements to be blinded with a false conceit, that it is an infallible sign of Gods love, and that therefore because we enjoy it, we are highly in his favour, and consequently out of the gun-shot of any either present or future danger, so as we may be secure and fear nothing. For these worldly things are but of an indifferent nature in respect of their use; good or evil, as they are well or ill used, and no sure testimonies of Gods love, seeing these outward things happen alike to all, as the Wise-man speaketh Yea, in regard 1that (by reason of our corruption) they are seldom well used, but contrariwise abused to sin, forgetfulness of God, pride, ambition, covetousness, and many other vices, therefore the Lord ordinarily bestoweth them in greatest abundance upon wicked men, as Turks, Infidels, and carnal Christians, that surfeiting of their plenty (as the Psalmist speaketh) their Table may become a snare; and giveth them to his best and dearest children with a sparing hand; or if liberally, yet he seasoneth and tempereth them with many crosses and afflictions, that their hearts may not be too much set upon them. Which being rightly considered, our prosperity will not nourish security, but rather fear, lest we should be in the greatest and worst number. Secondly, let not our hearts trust in these earthly things, wisdom, strength, riches, friends, or any other thing, wherein men place their worldly happiness, and so be secure, as though they could free us from all danger; for these earthly things are weak and vain, unable to help us in time of trouble, and momentany and mutable, ready to forsake and leave us when we most rely upon them, or though they could do us some pleasure, in being means of our freedom from small perils; yet they will nothing profit us, if we live securely in our sins for the appeasing of Gods wrath, or satisfying his justice; they will do us no good when we shall most need it, namely at the day of death, or the day of Judgement.