A20762:406
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
Book 2 › Chapter 1 › Section 3: §. Sect. 3 The second reason is taken from the profit of Piety.
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 The second reason is taken from the profit of Piety.
The second reason is taken from the profit of piety, which may much induce us to the embracing of it. For if mens hearts are set chiefly upon 1gain, and are ready to enquire after it upon all occasions, according to that of the Psalmist, There be many that say, Who will show us any good? And if their affections and desires are inflamed and enlarged, according to the greatness of the profit which they pursue; then when our judgements are convinced, and persuaded that there is most gain in godliness, there is great reason why our hearts should be set upon it as our chiefest treasure. But the Apostle telleth us, that godliness is gain, yea, 2great gain with contentation; where he maketh not the gain of godliness to depend upon the condition of our contentment, as though there were no profit in it, unless we be contented with it; but that it is the effect, and an inseparable companion of godliness, to make us contented with all estates, and therefore not gain only, if it be joined with content, but because it always bringeth with it contentation. Even as the Sun is said to be comfortable, not if it give light, but because it giveth light, it doth bring us comfort with his beams and brightness. Now this profit of piety, is incomparably greater then the gain of the whole world; for this is profitable but for some purposes, but the other for all things; that only for the present, but this also for eternity, according to that of the Apostle; Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that 3now is, and of that which is to come. In this life it assureth us of Gods grace and favour, that we are his children and heirs of his promises, who are continually under his protection, and thereby safe from all danger, that though we have but little, yet there is cause of great contentment, seeing our small pittance is better then the riches of many wicked, it being a pledge