A20762:390
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. 1 That a godly life consisteth in doing all those duties which God hath commanded.
WE have entreated the more largely of the main grounds of a godly life, because when the foundation is laid large and deep, the building which is erected upon it, is more firm and durable. And now we are come to show, first, wherein it consisteth: and secondly, what are the properties of it, and of all the duties required in it. A godly life consisteth in the conformity of our whole carriage unto Gods revealed will, both in fleeing and forsaking all that is evil, and in embracing and practising that which is good; in leaving undone that which he hath forbidden, and in doing that which he hath commanded: And is generally required in many places of holy Scriptures. Depart from evil, and do good; cease to do evil, and learn to do well. Put ye off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt, according 1to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the Spirit of your mind, and put on that new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. So Hierome to this purpose saith, That there are two kinds of Gods 2Commandments, in which, all Justice is comprehended. The one forbiddeth, the other commandeth; for as evils are prohibited, so good things are enjoined. There cessation and rest worketh, here study and endeavour. There the mind is restrained, here incited. Here it is a fault to 3do, there not to have done. And therefore to the leading of a godly life, it sufficeth not (as many think) to be harmless and innocent, unless we also be diligent and constant, in doing of all holy and just actions, but we must as he addeth, upon the foundation of innocency, erect the building of righteousness. Yea, in truth a godly life more principally