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

§. 10 The ninth remedy is, to hear the Word with faith.

§. 10 The ninth remedie is, to heare the Word with faith.

The ninth means is, that we receive the Word with faith, without which it cannot profit us for the shaking off this carnal security. For, as ungracious Children and Servants proceed in their evil courses, though they hear their Parents and Governors encouraging them to obedience by many promises, and endeavouring to terrify them by threatening punishment, if they give no credit to their word; so unless we believe Gods gracious promises, made to those that fear him, and his threatenings against those who securely neglect him, his mercies and judgements; we will neither entertain this fear, nor banish security out of our hearts. Whereas contrariwise, if we give credit to the things we hear, namely, that there is a just God who beholdeth all our works, who will call all that we do to judgement, even our unknown actions and secret thoughts, either to crown them with everlasting rewards, or to punish them with intolerable and endless torments, it is not possible that we should be secure. For if no man can live in security who is persuaded, that being liable to the Law, his neck is daily in danger of the halter, or that a sword hangeth over his head in a weak thread; though these are but temporal evils, which when they have done their worst, do but hasten that death, with nature would bring unto us, with a little slower pace; much less could they be secure, if they thought themselves indeed endangered to hellish torments, and everlasting death, and condemnation.

The ninth meanes is, that we receiue the Word with faith, without which it cannot profit vs for the shaking off this carnall securitie. For, as vngratious Children and Seruants proceed in their euill courses, though they heare their Parents and Gouernours encouraging them to obedience by many promises, and indeauouring to terrifie them by threatning punishment, if they giue no credite to their word; so vnlesse we beleeue Gods gratious promises, made to those that feare him, and his threatnings against those who securely neglect him, his mercies and judgements; wee will neither entertaine this feare, nor banish securitie out of our hearts. Whereas contrariwise, if wee giue credite to the things wee heare, namely, that thete is a just God who beholdeth all our workes, who will call all that we doe to judgement, euen our vnknowne actions and secret thoughts, either to crowne them with euerlasting rewards, or to punish them with intolerable and endlesse torments, it is not possible that we should be secure. For if no man can liue in securitie who is perswaded, that being liable to the Law, his necke is daily in danger of the halter, or that a sword hangeth ouer his head in a weake thread; though these are but temporall euils, which when they haue done their worst, doe but hasten that death, with nature would bring vnto vs, with a little slower pace; much lesse could they bee secure, if they thought themselues indeed endangered to hellish torments, and euerlasting death, and condemnation.