A20762:3231
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.
§. 4 The second cause, a lively Faith in Christ.
§. 4 The second cause, a liuely Faith in Christ.
The second cause which produceth this spiritual security, as the fruit and effect of it, is a lively faith in Christ, and firm affiance and 1confidence in God. For being justified by Faith, we have peace with God, and peace of Conscience, and with them inward security and spiritual joy, even in afflictions and tribulations. So being by Faith ingrafted into Christ, and become members of his body, we may be secure in his power and protection, assuring our selves that he will preserve his own members from all evil, provide for them all necessaries, and defend them from the malice and power of all Enemies, so as they shall not be able to hurt and destroy them, which were to suffer a maim in his own blessed Body. If we by Faith rely our selves upon this Rock of strength, then though the Rain descend, and the Floods come, and the Winds blow and beat upon us, yet we are secure 2from all danger, because we cannot sink or fall being founded upon a Rock. If we believe Gods Promises of preservation and protection, there is no cause of fear in the greatest extremities, because we are sure of help and deliverance, which is certainly promised to all the faithful, according to the saying of Jehoshaphat; Believe 3in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established, believe his Prophets and ye shall prosper. If believing in God we put our affiance in him, and cast our selves wholly upon his providence and protection, this will work in us this spiritual security. For he that dwelleth in the secret of 4the most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. He that maketh the Lord his refuge, fortress and trust, shall be delivered from the snare of the Fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He will cover him with his feathers, and under his wings shall he trust, his Truth shall be his shield and buckler. He shall not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day, &c. because he hath made the Lord his refuge, and the most high his habitation. There shall no evil befall him, neither shall any plague come near his dwelling. For he will give his Angels charge over him, to keep him in all his ways, &c. If with David we put our trust in the Lord, we shall not need to fear what