A20762:442
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. 4 Of the means of hope.
§. Sect. 4 Of the meanes of hope.
Which that we may labour after, let us consider, that it is most profitable and necessary unto all that will lead a godly and Christian life. For it is not only a part thereof, as being one of the three principal virtues which the Apostle commendeth unto us, but a notable means, whereby 1we are moved and enabled to labour after all other virtues, and to put in practice all other duties, because we are assured of the fruit of our labour, and hopefully expect the obtaining of it; without which hope we would be utterly discouraged, sit still and do nothing. Again, this hope maketh us not to be ashamed, in middest of all reproaches and disgraces which we suffer for Christs sake, and causeth us with him to run with patience 2the race which is set before us, in expectation of that joy which is set before us. It maketh us not only patient, but joyful in afflictions, yea even to glory 3in our rejoicing, in hope of the glory of God, in all our tribulations. It confirmeth our faith from which it springeth, and maketh us cheerful in all Christian duties. It quickeneth and rejoiceth our drooping hearts, and not only maketh the way of godliness delightful unto us, but us also pleasing and accepted of God. It is an helmet of salvation, to defend us 4against our spiritual enemies, yea it self saveth us, as the Apostle speaketh, 5