A20762:468
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. 7 Of passive obedience, and patience in afflictions.
§. Sect. 7 Of passiue obedience, and patience in afflictions.
The second kind of obedience is passive, and is called patience, which is a fruit of our love and thankfulness towards God, whereby we submit our selves meekly and constantly to bear all those crosses and afflictions, 1which it shall please God to lay upon us. The causes of which patience are divers; the first and principal is the Spirit of God, of which it is a fruit. Secondly, a lively faith, which not only apprehendeth the promise of eternal happiness, with which our temporary afflictions are not to be compared, but Gods special promises of strength to endure all trials, and of help and deliverance in Gods due time. Thirdly, trust and affiance in God, who hath promised to be with us in all our afflictions, and never leave us to our own weakness, or to the malice and fury of our enemies, upon which we conclude, that though he kill us, yet we will trust in 2him. But the love of God is the next and immediate cause of our patience, which maketh us meekly to suffer whatsoever he imposeth, who so loveth us, and whom we so love. For love endureth all things, and the greatest difficulties are not hard unto it. It is stronger then death, the waters 3of afflictions cannot quench it, and the floods of calamities cannot drown it. The object of this patience is afflictions, which the Lord imposeth for the trial or correction of his children; for all, whom he loveth, he chastiseth: and whosoever will be Christs Disciple, must deny himself, take up 4his Cross, and follow him, that is, that cross and measure of afflictions which God himself imposeth upon him: Neither are we to take upon us burdens of our own making, but such only as the Lord allotteth unto us; which are those alone that we cannot by lawful means avoid, or without falling into sin. The manner how we are to bear these afflictions, is first voluntarily, with a meek, quiet and contented mind, as being sent of God for our good, yea cheerfully and joyfully, as they are signs and seals of our adoption, and special means to further and assure our everlasting salvation. Secondly, we must bear them constantly, so long as it shall please God to continue them upon us, that is, till he giveth us honest