A20762:465
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. 6 Of the means of obedience, whereby we may be enabled to perform it.
§. Sect. 6 Of the meanes of obedience, whereby we may be enabled to performe it.
Now the means which may move and enable us to yield this obedience, are these; first, we must consider that the Lord hath created us to this 1end, that we should serve him, and to the same purpose, when we were by sin utterly lost, hath redeemed us with the inestimable price of his Sons most precious blood, that we should worship him in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives, that being freed from sin, we should become the servants of righteousness; and from the slavery of Satan, that we should spend our days in Gods service. Secondly, let us meditate on the riches of reward, and that liberal wages which the Lord hath freely promised to give unto those who faithfully serve him; in which respect we may justly say of our active obedience, as the Apostle of our passive, that all our service in this present world, is not worthy the glory 2which shall be revealed; for it is slight, short and imperfect, but shall cause unto us a far more excellent and eternal weight of Glory. Thirdly, let us consider, that though our best service be mingled with many imperfections, and stained with our corruptions, yet God in Christ will accept of it, and not only pardon our wants, but reward our wills and works. For he will 3spare us, as a man spareth his son that serveth him, accepting of our will for the deed, and of our sincere affections, as of perfect actions. Fourthly, let us consider, that hereby we shall be assured of all Gods promises: for Godliness is profitable for all things, having the promises of this life, and of that 4which is to come. Neither doth God require our obedience for his own sake; (for he is most absolute in perfection, and our righteousness doth not