A20762:902
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. 2 That we must be regenerate, before we can serve God acceptably in our callings.
§. Sect. 2 That we must be regenerate, before we can serue God acceptably in our callings.
But it is not sufficient that we be settled in a lawful calling, and that we painfully perform the duties that are required in it (for this a mere worldling may do out of carnal and earthly respects, either for his own pleasure, credit, or profit) but that we so carry and demean our selves in it, as that we may by our labours and endeavours glorify God, further our own salvation, and advance the good of the Church & Common wealth. Unto which, divers things are required, some whereof respect our persons, and some the actions and duties which we perform. Unto our persons there is required, that we be regenerate and sanctified. For our persons must be accepted, before any of our works can please God, and be holy and righteous, before we can bring forth the fruits of holiness and righteousness. ⟨p. 245⟩For as unto the pure all things are pure: so unto them that are defiled and unbelieving, 1is nothing pure, but even their mind and conscience is defiled. And if the sacrifices of the wicked are abominable, and their very prayers are turned into sin; how much more are the ordinary works of their callings sinful and odious in Gods sight? Neither can such as are unsanctified expect any blessing of God upon their labour, or that they should prosper 2in any thing which they do or take in hand, seeing by Gods promise, this privilege is limited unto the righteous and such as fear him.