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. 4 That the dif∣culty of a god∣life must not discourage vs from it.

In all which respects it cannot be denyed, but that there is some dif∣ficulty in leading of a godly life, and much paines and labour requi∣red for the right performance of the duties which belong vnto it. Notwithstanding this must bee no impediment to hinder vs from en∣tring into, and proceeding in the course of Christianity. Yea rather, because this aboue all things is most excellent, profitable and necessa∣ry, as concerning vs, no lesse then the euerlasting saluation or condem∣nation both of our bodies and soules, the difficulties which we finde in this way, should bee so farre from discouraging and making vs sit still, or turne backe againe to inioy our sinfull pleasures; that they should rather inflame our disires, whet and confirme our resolutions, and make vs much more painefull and diligent in our indeuours, that wee may attaine vnto it, seeing though the difficulty were much greater, yet the excellency, profit, and necessity of leading such a life doe farre ex∣ceede it. And this vse our Sauiour Christ maketh of it; For from the consideration of the small number which shall be saued, and the diffi∣cultie of attayning vnto heauenly happinesse, hee enforceth this ex∣hortation; Striue to enter in at the straight gate, for many, I say vnto you, * 1.1 will seeke to enter in, and shall not bee able: Because straight is the gate, and nar∣row is the way which leadeth vnto life, and few there bee that finde it. So he telleth vs else-where, that the Kingdome of God suffereth violence, and the * 1.2 violent take it by force. And the Apostle Peter hauing said, that the righte∣ous shall scarcely be saued, that is, not without much difficulty and labori∣ous * 1.3 diligence, taketh thereupon occasion to perswade all, both to pa∣tient

suffering what God imposeth, and diligent doing that which hee in∣ioyneth. And surely if we had hereby no other benefit, but the escaping of the euerlasting torments of hell fire, which are easelesse and endlesse, it were me thinks a motiue strong enough to make vs arme our resolution against all difficulties, and to spare for no labour, that we may secure our selues from this dreadfull condemnation. He that is in danger of drow∣ning, doth not dispute of the great paines which he must take before hee can come to land, but thinking that his strength can bee no wayes better spent, then in sauing his life, he vseth all diligence, and laboureth euen to extreme wearinesse, to secure his safety, yea euen then when hee is doubt∣full of the successe. And shall we thinke all labour little, to preserue a mo∣mentany and miserable life, from a naturall death: and can wee thinke any too much for the escaping of those euerlasting torments of hell fire? O that our fore-wit were as good as our after-wit! and that we could be as wise by instruction and discourse of reason, as wee are by feeling and experience! O that we could consider with our selues, when we stumble at small difficulties, and are discouraged from performing the duties of a godly life with a little labour; how much lesse we shall be able to indure those intolerable and endlesse torments, which are prepared for those who neglect Gods seruice, and are slaues to Satan, and their owne sinfull flesh, to obey it in the lusts thereof! If the easie paines of a godly life bee not to be indured of these nice and worldly wantons, which are also of such short continuance, how intolerable will those torments bee vnto them which shall neuer haue end? If the damned spirits might haue li∣berty to resume their bodies, and liue vpon the earth againe for a further triall, that amending their liues, they might bee saued, or returning vnto their former sinfull courses, they might be cast backe againe into hell fire: O how would they melt, and be euen resolued into teares of hearty repen∣tance for those sinnes which haue made them obnoxious to such fearfull condemnation! How would they labour and spend their strength in the exercises of mortification, and make their throats hoarce with prayers and strong cryes, that they might obtaine mercy and forgiuenesse? How diligent would they be in hearing, reading, and meditating in the Word, that they might attaine vnto a liuely faith, and thereby apply vnto them∣selues Christ Iesus and his righteousnesse, for their iustification and salua∣tion? How fruitfull would they be in good workes; and how liberall and bountifull in almes-deeds, and in relieuing the poore members of Iesus Christ? And yet most certaine it is, that their case shall be ours, if wee run on in the same courses which they haue gone before vs, seeing God is no respecter of persons, but is alike iust and true to all. Our punishments shall be as great, if we neglect Gods seruice, and liue in our sinnes; our too late repentance as desperate and comfortlesse, if wee abuse Gods patience and long-suffering, and let passe the acceptable time and day of salua∣tion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Luke 13. 24. Matth. 7. 13, 14
• * 1.2

  Matth. 11. 12.
• * 1.3

  1. Pet. 4. 18, 19.