A20762:355
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. 3 That a good conscience is known by the effects of it.
§. Sect. 3 That a good conscience is knowne by the effects of it.
Thirdly, a good conscience is known by the effects; for it excuseth and acquitteth us before God of all sin, and speaketh peace unto our hearts, assuring us that we are reconciled, and in Gods favour: and grounding this testimony upon the infallible truth of holy Scriptures; It maketh ⟨p. 82⟩us bold in all dangers, and like armour of proof, it contemneth the gun-shot of any worldly perils. It makes us courageous in the performance of all good duties, and not greatly to care who liketh or misliketh them, because we carry our warrant in our bosoms, which will justify our actions before God, what censure soever men pass of them. It maketh us like good servants, to come often into our Masters presence, because it witnesseth unto us, that we are in his favour, and that he accepteth of us and our service. It maketh us often to examine the book of our accounts, even in the presence of our Lord, and to desire him to survey our reckonings, because it testifieth unto us that we have dealt faithfully with him. So David, Examine me, O Lord, and prove me, try my reins and my heart. After 1which Audit, it will justify us in respect of our integrity, as it did him. Thou hast proved mine heart, thou hast visited me in the night, thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing: Not in respect of the perfection of our performance, 2which is full of wants and weaknesses, but of our desire and resolution, as he expoundeth himself in the next words: For I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. If therefore our consciences produce these 3effects in us, it is an evident sign that they are pure and peaceable. But if contrariwise they accuse and terrify us, or excuse and acquit us without the warrant of Gods Word; If we are bold and valiant in our peace and prosperity, fearing no evil, but cowardly timorous when we are encountered with any danger; If we are so courageous in evil, that we are not ashamed, though men hear us talk wantonly and vainly, or see us in our actions imitate the greatest number, though unlawful and without warrant: but are ready to blush if a good speech hath slipped from us in bad company, or if we be overtaken at unawares in performing some religious duty, by such as are ready to flout us for it;