A20762:316
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.
CAP. XIIII.
Of the actions and effects of a good Conscience; of the peace which it truly speaketh; and how it differeth from the false peace of secure worldlings.
§. Sect. 1 That a good conscience speaketh goodness and peace only.
§. Sect. 1 That a good conscience speaketh goodnesse and peace only.
And so much of the causes of a good conscience, both principal and instrumental. The next point to be considered, is the actions and effects of it, which are to speak peace, and to testify unto us truly, and according to the Scriptures, good and comfortable things; as a Judge acquitting and absolving us; as an advocate pleading for us; as a witness excusing and giving evidence on our side; and as a sure and faithful friend, admonishing us that we may not fall; or rebuking us being fallen, that we may rise again by unfeigned repentance. Where we are to consider, what the conscience witnesseth; and secondly the rule, according to which it giveth testimony. The things which the good conscience speaketh and witnesseth, are goodness and peace only; neither is it the action of a good conscience properly, to accuse and terrify us for sin; but to speak peace unto us, and to justify us as righteous; not in our own natural righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ applied by faith, which is most pure and perfect; and in our sanctification and inherent righteousness wrought in us by the renewing of the holy Ghost, which is but begun, spotted, and imperfect in this life, but yet is growing towards purity and perfection, and in the mean while hath the imperfections covered with Christs perfect righteousness, and the spots and stains of it washed away in his blood. So that the good conscience is the peaceable conscience only, which witnesseth good things unto us, as most nearly resembling the conscience of Adam in the first Creation, whilst he remained in the state of innocency, which only justified him and his actions, and thereby comforted and strengthened him in Gods service; and never accused or terrified