A20762:368
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. 8 That a good conscience may be known by the integrity and constancy of it.
§. Sect. 8 That a good conscience may be known by the integrity and constancie of it.
Finally, a good conscience may be known by the integrity and constancy of it. For it laboureth to approve it self before God and men, in all things, and at all times. It respects the whole Law of God, and showeth it self in every commandment, as well as in any, due order and proportion being observed in the weight and excellency of every duty. It joineth piety and holiness with honesty and righteousness, and faith with good works; and so giveth place and precedency to the chief duties, as that it doth not thrust out of doors the least and meanest with careless neglect. As we see in the example of David, who had respect to all 1Gods Commandments, and of Paul, who kept a good conscience in all things. So 2also a good conscience is known by our constancy in holy and righteous duties, and may justly take to it self that Motto or word of our late renowned Queen, of happy memory, Semper eadem. It is the same in all places, and in all companies, at home as well as in the Church, alone as in company, among the godly and sincere, as the godless and profane. It changeth upon no occasion, but keepeth a just and equal tenor in the performance of the duties of holiness and righteousness, whether honour 3or dishonour, good report or evil report, gain or loss, prosperity or adversity attend upon them. Which integrity and constancy, if we find in us, it will give unto us this comfortable evidence, that we have a good conscience. But if contrariwise we share stakes between God and the world, and in some things (like Herod) hear and obey his Word willingly, and willingly in other things stop our ears, and neglecting his revealed will, give our selves over to be ruled by our own carnal lusts; If like civill worldlings, we only make conscience of the duties of Justice and honesty, and neglect the duties of Religion and piety; or if with hypocrites,