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. 2 That a godly life is made ea∣sie, through the power of God the Father assisting vs.

Secondly, the duties of a godly life, which are so difficult, in respect of our frailty and corruption, become easie and familiar vnto vs, not one∣ly in respect of this grace, whereby our natures are changed and re∣newed; but also in respect of those fresh supplies which wee daily haue from God himselfe, euen the Father, Sonne, and holy Spirit. For first, God the Father doeth not content himselfe to haue regenera∣ted vs, and renewed our nature, and so to leaue vs, but hee daily re∣paireth our decayed strength; hee doeth not onely infuse some spiritu∣all graces into vs, and so leaue vs to be vpheld by their inherent strength, but hee still standeth by vs, and continually assisteth vs by his power and prouidence, out of his rich Treasury supplying what is wanting, strengthening vs when wee are ready to faint; raysing vs, when wee slip and fall; repairing his graces with new supplies, when they are spent and wasted, and (as it were) re-inforcing his spirituall Bands and Troupes, when as they are enfeebled and wearied in the con∣flict of tentations. Hee not onely commandeth the duties of his ser∣uice, but also that wee may bee both incouraged and inabled to doe them; hee promiseth his assistance, and that hee will ioyne with vs, supplying by his all-sufficient power, what is wanting through our weakenesse. Thus hee willeth vs to a 1.1 repent and turne vnto him, and b 1.2 worketh also this conuersion and repentance, exhorteth vs to c 1.3 cir∣cumcize our hearts, and withall, d 1.4 promiseth that hee will circumcize them, inioyneth vs to e 1.5 loue and feare him, and f 1.6 sheadeth abroad his loue in our hearts by his holy Spirit, whereby hee inflameth them with loue towards him, and g 1.7 putteth his feare into them, that wee dare not depart from him, by doing wilfully any thing that is displeasing in his sight. Though then wee bee naturally barren in the fruits of new obedience, yet this must not discourage vs, seeing the Lord hath pro∣mised, that hee will make vs trees of righteousnesse planted by his owne * 1.8 right hand, which shall bring foorth fruit in due season, like trees plan∣ted by the riuers of waters, and that he will powre the sweet dewes of his grace vpon him that is thirsty, and floods vpon the dry ground. If we be fee∣ble * 1.9 and weake in our owne strength; yet the Lord himselfe will streng∣then and incourage vs in euery good worke by his gracious presence; saying, Feare thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismaid, for I am thy God, * 1.10 I will strengthen thee, yea, I will helpe thee; yea, I will vphold thee with the right hand of my righteousnesse. I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying vnto thee, Feare not, I will helpe thee. When wee finde and feele our faintnes and feeblenes in holy duties, let not this make vs to desist & giue them ouer, as impossible to bee atchieued; but let vs remember, that the euerlasting God, the Lord, the Creatour of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, nei∣ther * 1.11 is weary; who giueth power to the faint, and to them that haue no might, in∣creaseth strength. So that though those who are in their youth and prime age, be weary, faint, and vtterly fall, yet if being humbled in the sense of our owne weakenesse, we doe deny our selues, and waite vpon the Lord, he will re∣new * 1.12 our strength, and we shall mount vp with wings as Eagles; we shal run, and not be weary; and walke, and not be faint. This worke of regeneration is not our own, but the Lords, who is as able & willing to perfect a work, as to begin

it; for not to finish what he hath vndertaken and begun, were a signe either of inconstancie, or want of power, whereas he is immutable and omnipo∣tent; according to that of the Prophet, Shall I bring to the birth, and not * 1.13 cause to bring foorth, saith the Lord? shall I cause to bring foorth, and shut the wombe, saith thy God? Though then the duties of a godly life seeme vnto vs hard, difficult, and euen vnpossible; yet let not this discourage vs, seeing nothing is impossible with God; though they bee so farre aboue our abilities, * 1.14 that they also exceed our hopes, so as we scarce dare sue and seeke after that power of performance which God requireth, and we desire; let vs remem∣ber, that the Lord is able to doe exceeding abundantly, aboue all that we aske or * 1.15 thinke, according to the power that worketh in vs. And though we are ready to stumble at euery stone of offence, and to sinke in euery tentation, let vs goe on cheerfully for all this, seeing our God is able to keepe vs from falling, and to * 1.16 present vs faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding ioy. Yea, he is ready to preuent vs with his grace, and not only to worke in vs (as in the Prodigall son) some good desires of returning vnto our heauenly Father, * 1.17 that we may serue him; but euen when he seeth vs afarre off, he will run to meet vs, giue vs kind intertainment, and feast vs so with a banket of his graces, that we shall be inabled with cheerfulnesse to doe his worke. And therefore, though we find neuer so mighty opposition, as soone as we are entred into the course of Christianity, yet being assured of Gods presence and assistance, let not this dismay vs; For if God be with vs, who can be against * 1.18 vs? Pharaoh may wel frowne and storme against vs, but his ruine shalbe our safety. The deuill may rage, and (as it were) rend vs with his tentations, but out he must come & leaue his hold, when God commandeth him. Though we apprehend the greatnesse and difficulty of the worke, and our owne weakenesse and insufficiency to goe thorow with it; let not this discourage vs from vndertaking it: for the Lord is with vs, his grace is all-sufficient, and his power is manifested and glorified in our infirmities. Though we are weake * 1.19 in our owne strength, and able to doe nothing, yet we are strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, & (with the Apostle) able to do all things, through the power of Christ, which strengtheneth vs. Though we through our corrup∣tion, are prone to fall into any sinne; the Lord shall deliuer vs from euery euill * 1.20 worke, and preserue vs vnto his heauenly Kingdome: and finally, though we are so fettred and gauled with our naturall corruptions, that wee can scarce creepe in the wayes of Gods Commandements, yet we may resolue to run * 1.21 in them with great agility and swiftnesse, when he shall be pleased to inlarge our hearts. They (saith an ancient Father) who resolue to passe from the loue of worldly pleasure, vnto an honest and vertuous life, finde it at the * 1.22 first a rough and vncouth way, which is hardly passable. For the sweetnesse of a long settled and confirmed custome, opposeth and hindreth them, and lothnesse to breake it, doth much intoxicate and disturbe their mindes. Neither can our carnall affections be easily shunned or subdued, nor is the way of vertue plaine and easie to euery one who offereth to run in it. But yet, God prospering and helping vs forward, and smoothing and leuelling these rough and vnpassable wayes, a man may easily escape, or ouercome the assaults of his owne carnall affections, and couragiously mount vnto the top of the hill of vertue.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Joel. 2. 12.
• b 1.2

  Jer. 31. 18.
• c 1.3

  Jer. 4. 4.
• d 1.4

  Deut. 30. 6.
• e 1.5

  Deut. 10. 12.
• f 1.6

  Rom. 5. ••.
• g 1.7

  Ier. 32. 40.
• * 1.8

  Esa. 61. 3. Psal. 1. 3.
• * 1.9

  Esa. 44. 3, 4.
• * 1.10

  Esa. 41. 10, 11, 14.
• * 1.11

  Esa. 40. 28, 29, 30, 31.
• * 1.12

  Phil. 1. 6.
• * 1.13

  Esa. 66. 9.
• * 1.14

  Luk. 1. 37.
• * 1.15

  Eph. 3. 20.
• * 1.16

  Iude vers. 24.
• * 1.17

  Luk. 15.
• * 1.18

  Rom. 8. 31.
• * 1.19

  2. Cor. 12. 9. Eph. 6. 10, 13.
• * 1.20

  2. Tim. 4. 18.
• * 1.21

  Psal. 119. 32.
• * 1.22

  Cyr. in Hesaiam. lib. 4. cap. 55.