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. 6 That a godly life, in it owne nature is not difficult and tedious, but sweet and de∣lightfull.

Neither in truth are the duties of a godly life vnpleasant and burthen∣some, tedious and troublesome vnto the spirituall and regenerate part, * 1.1 but sweet and delightfull, easie and full of comfort. For Gods Commande∣ments are not grieuous, as the Apostle Iohn speaketh; and our Sauiour tel∣leth vs, that his yoke is easie, and his burthen light; and that they who will take them vpon them, shall finde rest to their soules. Vpon which words Chrysostome speaketh excellently to our present purpose. If (saith hee) hea∣ring of a yoke and a burthen, thou art afraid and shrinkest backe, thou must attribute this feare, not to the nature of the things themselues, but to thine owne sloth; for if thou art prepared, and not sluggishly effemi∣nate, all shall seeme vnto thee easie and light. And therfore Christ, that he might teach vs with what care we ought to watch, hath neither concealed the burthen, nor the sweetnesse; but ioyning both together, he hath said, that it is a yoke, and also that it is sweet. Hee calleth it a burthen; but ad∣deth, that it is light; that thou shouldest not shunne it, as being too la∣borious, nor contemne it, as being too easie. But if after all this, vertue seemeth vnto thee hard and difficult, consider how much more vice and sinne, which Christ intimateth, in that before hee said any thing of his yoke, he cryeth out, Come vnto me all, yee that labour and are heauie loden. Thereby shewing, how great labour, and what an intolerable burthen sinne imposeth: for he saith, not onely all ye that labour, but also, who are heauie loden. The which the Psalmist expresseth more plainly, and descri∣beth the nature of sinne, saying, Mine iniquities are gone ouer mine head, as * 1.2 an heauie burthen they are too heauie for me. And Zachary likewise, where he calleth it a talent of leade. For experience will teach vs, that the soule is op∣pressed * 1.3 with no heauier burthen, then the conscience of an ill spent life, and the remembrance of our sinnes; euen as contrariwise nothing more

exalteth and cheereth the mind, then the possession of iustice and vertue. Yea, that Euangelicall obedience which Christ here calleth his yoke and burthen, is not onely light and easie, but also commodious and exceeding profitable. Which made Dauid, out of good experience, to professe, that the Law of Gods mouth was better vnto him, then thousands of gold and siluer: * 1.4 and that it was more to be desired then gold, yea then much fine gold. And Salo∣mon likewise affirmeth, that wisedome (that is, the sauing knowledge and practice of true godlinesse) is better then Rubies, and all things that may bee desired, are not to be compared vnto it: that riches and honour are with it, yea, durable riches and righteousnesse; and that the fruit thereof is better then gold, yea then fine gold, and its reuenew then choyce siluer. Yea, the duties of a godly life are not onely easie and profitable, but also sweet and pleasant. In which respect Dauid saith, that Gods Commandements were sweeter to his * 1.5 mouth then the honey, and the honey combe; that they were the reioycing of his heart, and that he reioyced in Gods testimonies, aboue all riches. So Salomon saith, that wisedome is pleasant vnto the soule, and that her wayes are wayes of pleasantnesse, and her paths are peace. And our Sauiour Christ found so much pleasure and comfort in doing his Fathers will, that he neglected his food, euen when he was hungry, in comparison of it. Now if the way of Gods Commandements was esteemed of the Saints so easie, profitable and pleasant in the time of the Law; how much more haue wee cause so to iudge of it in the time of the Gospell? seeing God hath reuealed his will much more cleerly, and affoorded vs farre greater helpes; and incouraged vs to serue him with much sweeter and more gracious promises, not now vailed with types and shadowes, but cleerly expressed to the vnderstan∣ding of the most simple, and certainly assured vnto vs by the seales, the Sacraments, to take away from vs all doubting and wauering. By all which, and many other meanes, our Sauiour Christ (as it was prophecied of him) maketh all crooked wayes straight, and all rough places plaine; that all * 1.6 difficulties being taken away and remoued, we may trauell in the wayes of godlinesse with much ease and comfort, ioy and delight. But aboue all other incouragements against all pretended difficulties, this is one of the greatest, in that the Lord, in the time of the Gospell, doth not exact of vs the rigorous and strict performances of seruants, who must not haue their wages, vnlesse they doe the will of their Lord, in that manner and mea∣sure as he requireth; but the duty and obedience of sonnes, passing by * 1.7 our infirmities, and accepting the will for the deed; the purpose and in∣deuour, for the act and performance. And that there may be no manner of discouragement, hath also promised to assist vs with his grace and holy Spirit, that we may be the better inabled to doe that which he requireth; so as we may say with the Apostle, I am able to doe all things through the * 1.8 power of Christ which strengtheneth me.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Joh. 5. 3. Mat. 11. 29, 30. Chrysost. in Mat. 11. Homil. 39.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 38. 4.
• * 1.3

  Zach. 5. 7.
• * 1.4

  Psal. 119. 72, 127 Psal. 19. 10. Pro. 8. 11, 18, 19
• * 1.5

  Psal. 19. 9. Psal. 119. 103, 111. Vers. 14. Prou. 2. 10. and 3. 17. Ioh. 4. 34.
• * 1.6

  Esa. 40. 4.
• * 1.7

  Mal. 3. 17. 2. Cor. 8. 12.
• * 1.8

  Phil. 4. 13.