A20762:460
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 Of obedience unto God, what it is, and wherein it consisteth; and of the properties of true obedience.
§. Sect. 5 Of obedience vnto God, what it is, and wherein it consisteth; and of the properties of true obedience.
The fourth and last virtue arising from the love of God, is obedience; which is a fruit of our love, and thankfulness, whereby in all things we submit our selves, our wills and actions, wholly unto Gods good will and pleasure, both in doing all that he requireth, and in patient suffering whatsoever he imposeth. So that this obedience is of two kinds. First, our active obedience to Gods Law, whereby we conform our whole man unto the revealed will of God. The which is an inseparable fruit of our love towards God, and an infallible note whereby we may discern that which is sound and sincere, from that which is false and counterfeit; for if we love God, we will keep his Commandments; And this is the love of God, if we keep his Commandments, and his Commandments are not grievous. The 1properties of this obedience are these: First, that it be absolute unto whatsoever 2God requireth, and admit of no discourse of reason when we know his will; but whether profit or disprofit, honour or disgrace, the favour or displeasure of men do follow upon it, we are to do the things that he 3enjoineth. Secondly, it must be total, both in respect of the object and subject. In respect of the object, we must obey God in all his Commandments at all times, neither adding nor detracting, nor declining therefrom 4