A20762:3262
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.
§. 7 The seventh means to keep our hearts upright, and our consciences pure.
§. 7 The seuenth meanes to keepe our hearts vpright, and our consciences pure.
The fifth means of spiritual security is, to keep our hearts upright, and our consciences pure and undefiled from sin; especially from such sins as are committed, not through ignorance and infirmity, but against knowledge and conscience. Or if we have fallen into any such, our second care must be to arise out of them and forsake them, and to purge our consciences by bathing them in the blood of Christ by Faith, and in the tears of unfeigned repentance. For the 1conscience is of the nature of the eye, it must be kept clean, and then it will be cheerful and quiet; but if we nourish in it willingly the least sins (as it were little Motes in our sight) it will smart and rage, and never be quiet till they be cast out. And so long as we do thus preserve the peace of a good conscience, we may be secure and without 2fear, because we have also peace with God, For if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards. God (as the Apostle speaketh) and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his Commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight. But if our heart condemn us (then will not God acquit us) for he is greater then our heart, and knoweth all things. So that only the pure conscience can be the secure conscience; for sin is the only cause of fear, and therefore if i• be purged away, there is no place for fear to lodge in. But if sin remain and defile the heart and conscience, there is no