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.

§. Sect. 9 Of wearinesse in well-doing, arising from the auersenesse of our wils vn∣to good duties.

The second cause is internall, which is the ill disposition of the minde and will, being auerse vnto all good duties and vertuous actions, and prone vnto all euill; delighting in worldly vanities, and pleasures of sinne, and dis-affecting and lothing spirituall exercises, as being weari∣some and tedious, difficult and troublesome to our corrupted nature. The which is a notable impediment to our well proceeding in the wayes of godlinesse; for either this vnwillingnesse causeth such wearinesse, that it will make vs either not to enter into the Christian course, or soone desist and returne againe into our former wayes of wickednes & sensual delights, or else it will make vs vnsettled and vnconstant in all good duties, doing them onely by fits and flashes, when the good mood of deuotion com∣meth vpon vs, and neglecting them, when other things which better please vs come in the way; or finally, it quencheth our zeale and feruour of loue vnto the duties of Gods seruice, so that wee performe them weakely and wearily, coldly and formally, with much dulnesse and spirituall deadnesse. The which impediments, if wee would auoyd, wee must la∣bour and striue against this wearinesse and faintnesse in well-doing, and indeuour all wee may, to take away both these causes and effects of it. And first wee must rowze vp our spirits, and stirre vp Gods graces in vs, as the Apostle exhorteth, that wee may not bee weary of well-doing, by

considering the waight and worth, the profit and necessity of Chri∣stian and religious duties, in comparison whereof, all worldly things ought to be neglected as vaine and of no value. Let vs remember, that all the promises of grace, life and saluation shall be assured vnto vs, if we faint not; whereas we shall haue no part or interest in them, though we haue made neuer so good beginnings or proceedings, if we doe not still goe forward and hold out vnto the end. For if we indure to the end, we shall be saued: if we fight vnto the death, we shall receiue the Crowne of Life. But if wee lay our hand vpon the Plough, and looke backe, we shall not be though worthy of the Kingdome of heauen. Finally, let vs dayly re∣nue the meanes of Spirituall life and strength, that so they also may be renued and repayred, as hearing, reading, meditation, prayer, watch∣fulnesse, holy conferences and the rest, without which the soule will grow faint and languish, like the body which is depriued of corpo∣rall food; but especially when we feele our faintnesse, and languish∣ing wearinesse, let vs vnite all the powers of our soules in prayer vnto Almighty God, desiring him by the inward operation of his holy Spirit, to quicken our deadnesse, and strengthen our weakenesse, that we may not waxe wearie of well doing, but continue constant vnto the end. Now concerning the effects of this slothfull wearinesse, which are also great impediments to a godly life, as hindring vs from entring into it, or proceeding in it; inconstancie and vnsettled∣nesse in performing Christian duties, and want of feruencie in our loue and zeale in doing of them; I shall not neede to adde any thing here for the remoouing of them, seeing I haue spoken before of perseuerance, and constancie in the dayly performance of all Chri∣stian duties, and of that feruour of loue and zeale, which ought to be vsed in doing of them. And therefore thus much shall suffice to haue spoken of those impediments which arise from the flesh and corrup∣tion of our nature, and also of the helpes and meanes whereby wee may remoue them.

Notes

• 2. Tim. 1. 6.
• 2. Thes. 3. 13.
• Matth. 24. 13.
• Apoc. 2. 10.
• Luk. 9. 62.