A20762:472
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. 1 Of the fear of God, what it is, and the causes of it.
§. Sect. 1 Of the feare of God, what it is, and the causes of it.
The fourth and last main virtue required in this Commandment, is the fear of God; whereby I understand, not that servile and slavish fear which is in wicked men, and the very devils themselves, in the apprehension of his justice, wrath, and power, in punishing sin; but that filial and son-like fear, whereby knowing, believing, and remembering not only Gods Justice, truth, majesty, power and dominion our all creatures, but also his infinite love, goodness, and mercy towards us in Jesus Christ, we fear his displeasure, who is so glorious and gracious, as the greatest evil. In which description is expressed the grounds and causes of the true fear of God, namely, the knowledge, belief, and remembrance of Gods attributes; As first, that he is a just God, and will not let sin go unpunished; with which consideration 1our Saviour inciteth us to Gods fear, because he justly casteth into hell those that sin against him. Secondly, that he is true of his Word, in his promises to those that serve and please him, and his threatenings against 2those that displease and sin against him. Thirdly, his majesty and glory, in that he is the supreme Lord, and most glorious King of heaven and earth, which is alone sufficient to strike an awful fear of God in the hearts of all creatures. Fourthly, that he is a most powerful and mighty God, and so able to execute all his judgements, and not only to kill the body, but also to cast both body and soul into the everlasting fire of hell, as our Saviour speaketh. Lastly, his dominion over all creatures, whereby