A20762:3248
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 means is, to labour to be in the number of Christ Disciples, and of his flock.
§. 2 The second meanes is, to labour to be in the number of Christ Disciples, and of his flocke.
Secondly, if we would have this Legacy of spiritual security which Christ hath left us, we must labour to be in the number of his Disciples, unto whom alone it is bequeathed; to be sheep of his flock and fold, over whom he watcheth and taketh care, to protect them from all enemies, and to preserve them from all dangers; and then we may be secure, seeing we have his promise, that he will give unto us eternal life, that we shall never perish, and that no man shall 1pluck us out of his hand. And if we have the Lord for our shepherd, then may we with David rest securely upon his providence, assuring 2our selves that if we live at his finding, we shall want nothing. Then may we safely lie down in the green pastures, and be led by him by those still waters of peace and security; yea, though he lead us into places of fear and danger, even through the valley of the shadow of death, yet may we be secure and fear no evil, seeing he is with us, and with his rod and staff doth comfort us. Yea, we must labour after a nearer union with Christ, and to be espoused unto him, and then we being his Spouse, and he being our Bridegroom, we may rest securely under his powerful protection, seeing by the institution and law of marriage, he is bound both to defend and provide for us; and because he that toucheth us, toucheth him; he that offereth any injury unto us, doth offer it (as it were) to his own person: then may