A20762:741
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 several parts of the Christian armour.
§. Sect. 1 Of the seuerall parts of the Christian armour.
WE have entreated the more largely of that main duty of seeking God, as being not only the chief and principal of all that are to be performed in the daily exercise, but even the root and fountain, sum and substance of all the rest from which they spring, and in which they are comprised. In which respect the other that remain to be spoken of, may be passed over with greater brevity, as being all but special branches of the former duty, and streams that will readily & naturally flow from that fountain. The third main duty then in this daily exercise, is, that we put on the whole armour of God, which is, that we look continually unto our selves, that we be throughly furnished, and as it were, armed at all points with the main, fundamental, sanctifying and saving graces of Gods holy Spirit, whereby we may be enabled to stand in the day of trial, and to resist those daily tentations wherewith we are assaulted by our spiritual enemies. The chief & principal whereof, the Apostle hath in the Epistle to the Ephesians 1prescribed unto us. The first is, the girdle of verity; whereby is meant, that we should not only embrace the truth of Religion, and frame our judgements, affections and actions according to the sincere and pure Word of God; but also that our knowledge, profession and practice, be in truth and sincerity of heart, carrying our selves in all things uprightly, and in the integrity of a good conscience. The second is, the breastplate of righteousness, whereby we understand true sanctification and godliness, consisting in an earnest desire, a firm resolution, and constant endeavour of conforming our whole lives according to Gods revealed will, that we may please him in all things, and have both our persons and actions accepted in his sight. The third is, that our feet be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace: that is, as soldiers that have good shoes and leg-harness, are thereby enabled to hold on their march in stony and rough ways, and through the midst of briers and thorns; whereas if they were barefooted, or ill shod, they would be pricked and galled, and soon tire and faint in the way: