A20762:761
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. 3 Of the means whereby we may be strengthened against sin.
§. Sect. 3 Of the meanes whereby we may be strengthened against sinne.
And when by these meditations we have wrought our hearts unto a true hatred of all sin; there are other means to be used of us, that we may be strongly armed against it. As first, that we do throughout the whole day entertain and nourish good and holy desires, and firm and constant resolutions, that we will resist and withstand it, in what manner or form so ever it shall set upon us. For nothing will bring more easy and assured victory, then Christian courage and resolution, to fight and strive against it, grounded not on our own strength, but upon the power and promises of God, and that we will let pass no good means unassayed whereby we may overcome. Secondly, we must keep a daily and continual 1watch over our selves, and especially over our hearts, that we be not surprised on a sudden, nor hardened or heartened in any wicked course, through the deceitfulness of sin; of which, we shall have occasion to speak more fully hereafter. Thirdly, we must be no less careful in flying all occasions, inducements, and provocations unto sin, then the sinful acts themselves; for if we wilfully cast our selves into these tentations, it is just with God to deliver us unto evil. Fourthly, we must make conscience of committing of the least sins, which being admitted, will make room for the greatest; and withstand sins in the first degrees, as soon as they are suggested by the devil, the world, or our own flesh; casting out this hellish wild-fire, before it hath by the least abode inflamed our concupiscence, or before this seed of impiety hath gotten any warmth or growth. Fifthly, we must be so bold and valorous in Gods assistance, as that in the mean time we be suspicious and fearful, in respect of our own weakness and frailty, and the might and malice of our innumerable