A20762:341
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.
§. Sect. 2 That a good conscience witnesseth unto us that we are in all estates blessed.
§. Sect. 2 That a good conscience witnesseth vnto vs that we are in all estates blessed.
Moreover a good conscience testifieth unto us, that we are through Christ in an happy and blessed estate, both in respect of the time present and to come. In respect of the present, a good conscience will make us bear and brook all estates, not only with patience, but also with comfort and joy in the holy Ghost. If we be in prosperity, and abound with Gods blessings, it warranteth unto us the lawful use of them, and witnesseth unto us that we are heirs and right owners, and not thieves and usurpers; that they are Gods talents, which being employed to advantage, for 1the glory of our great Lord, and good of our fellow servants, they shall be doubled and redoubled, when we are called to give account of them; that they are pledges of Gods favour in this life, and earnest-pennies of everlasting joy and happiness in the life to come. If we be in adversity and affliction, a good conscience, like the good Angel, holding us by the hand in this fiery furnace, will secure us that we shall not receive any harm. For it will testify unto us, that these curses in their own nature, are through Gods mercy turned into blessings; that they are testimonies of Gods love, seeing as many as he loveth, he chastiseth, and signs of our 2adoption, for the Lord correcteth every son that he receiveth: and they are 3bastards and no sons whom he correcteth not. That they will not separate Gods love from us, but our love from the world. That they are not poisons to kill us, but medicines to cure us of our spiritual diseases; fans, and files, and fires, to winnow us from our chaff, scour us from our rust, and purify us from the dross of our corruptions. Finally, that whatsoever they seem to flesh and blood, yet they shall work together for the best,