A20762:3258
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.
§. 5 The fifth means is, to labour to be endued with those peciall saving graces, which are the causes of, first, knowledge and remembrance of God and his Attributes. Secondly, A lively Faith.
§. 5 The fift means is, to labour to be indued with those peciall sauing graces, which are the causes of, first, knowledge and remembrance of God and his Attributes. Secondly, A liuely Faith.
More especially if we would use the means, whereby we may in ⟨p. 100⟩joy this Christian security, we must labour to know, acknowledge and remember Gods saving Attributes, as he exerciseth them towards us for our good, as his Wisdom, Power, All-sufficiency, Mercy, Goodness, Truth and the Rest. For these are the foundation and ground of this security, upon which it is built and resteth; of which if we are ignorant or forgetful, it is no more possible for this Fort of security to be erected in us; then to set up a goodly building without a foundation, or to make it durable, if it be seated without other support, upon the Moors or Sands. In the second place, let us labour after a lively and justifying Faith, which is the condition of the Covenant, upon which alone all our safety and security resteth and relieth; the alone instrument which uniteth us unto Christ, and the only hand by which we receive all Gods promises, and the fruits and benefits which do accompany them. Finally, that impenetrable shield which repelleth all the fiery darts of Satan, and maketh us undanted and without fear; when we are encountered with his tentations. And therefore if we be endued with Faith, there is cause enough why we should be secure, seeing we are in Covenant with God, and by virtue thereof, under his protection, the members of Christ who is so armed with power, that all the malice of the Devil and power of Hell, are not able to vanquish or do us any hurt; and have all our vital parts covered with a shield of proof, which cannot be pierced with all the Darts of Satan's tentations. Thirdly, let us use all good means, to 1