A20762:3252
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 fourth means is, to labour to have the causes of it in us. As, first, the Spirit of adoption, and the chain of saving graces.
§. 4 The fourth meanes is, to labour to haue the causes of it in vs. As, first, the Spirit of adoption, and the chayne of sauing graces.
Fourthly, if we would have spiritual security, we must endeavour by all means to have those causes of it in our selves, of which I have spoken. As first, the Spirit of adoption, whereby being assured that we are Gods children through Christ, we may securely rest upon the providence and promises of our heavenly Father, for the providing of all things necessary, for the supplying of all our wants, preservation from all dangers, and protection from all enemies. For if earthly Parents, according to their power, perform all these things to their children, so as they are secure and without fear, when they are in the sight and presence of their able friends; how much more will our heavenly Father, who infinitely exceeds them in power and love? For if he be so infinitely gracious, that he preserveth those which are strangers unto him, how much more those who are of his own Family? if he doth good unto all, how much more those who are of the 1house-hold of Faith? if he provideth for the young Lions and Ravens that call upon them, and richly clotheth the Lilies and Flowers of 2the Field, how much more will he defend and preserve, feed and clothe his own Children, whom he hath loved so dearly, that he 3hath not spared to give his best beloved and only begotten Son to the death for their redemption and salvation? So also we must labour after the gifts and graces of the Spirit, which have the promises of Gods protection made unto them; so that if we have them, we may be secure in his help and assistance, because if he be with us, it mattereth