A20762:411
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. 5 The fourth reason persuading us to piety, which is the consideration of Gods manifold mercies, and of Christs coming to Judgement.
§. Sect. 5 The fourth reason perswading vs to piety, which is the consideration of Gods manifold mercies, and of Christs comming to Iudgement.
Unto these reasons we may add the consideration of Gods manifold mercies in Jesus Christ, which ought to be notable inducements to move us to the embracing and practising of piety. For what greater encouragement can we have to make us zealous and cheerful in the duties of Gods service, then to consider how gracious and good, God hath been unto us in our creation, redemption and continual preservation; in giving unto us his Son, and pardoning our sins, in freeing us out of the cruel bondage of all our spiritual enemies, and in multiplying his blessings upon us, both in spiritual and corporal things? And this argument the Apostle useth to this purpose; I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable ⟨p. 99⟩1to God, which is your reasonable service. And as the fruition of Gods present favours ought to make us forward in his service, so also the consideration of his gracious promises concerning better and more excellent things in time to come, even the full fruition of his glorious presence, and eternal blessedness in his everlasting Kingdom. And this reason also the Apostle useth to this end: Having therefore these promises (dearly beloved) let us 2cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting our holiness in the fear of God. Finally, the consideration of Christs coming to Judgement should persuade us unto holiness, when as the heavens being on fire, shall be dissolved and pass away with a noise, the elements melt with fervent heat, and the earth with all the works thereof shall be burnt up. For then only they shall be happy who have been holy, and reign with God in glory, who have faithfully served him in holiness and righteousness in the Kingdom of grace. And thus the Apostle Peter reasoneth, Seeing then (saith he) that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be, in all holy conversation and godliness? But I shall