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 Christi∣an fortitude o∣uercommeth all difficulties, and maketh a godly life easy.

Sixthly, Christian fortitude and magnanimous resolution will ex∣ceedingly helpe vs to ouercome all oppositions, the which is not to bee grounded vpon our owne strength, nor vpon the vertues and graces which are inherent in vs, but vpon the power and promises of almighty God, the mediation and intercession of Iesus Christ, and our vnion and communion with him, and finally vpon the help and assistance of the holy Spirit, which in our greatest weakenesse are all∣sufficient to strengthen vs against al impedimēts that hinder vs in Chri∣stian duties. For if we be armed with this fortitude and Christian cou∣rage, we shall be the better able to withstand the tentations of Satan and the world, and subdue our own corrupt lusts and violent passions, which will not easily be mastred and ouercome, if we weakely & feare∣fully set vpon them. For as Nettles lightly and gently touched, retaine their venome and vigour, and sting the hand, but hurt not at all, if wee roughly graspe and gripe them in fast hold; And as the fire, if we reso∣lutely

rush vpon it and trample it vnder foote, is easily extinguished, but if it be gently handled, burneth that which toucheth it; and if there be plenty of combustible matter, increaseth to a great flame: so our corrupt flesh and tumultuous passions, if they be handled gently, and (as it were) with a fearefull touch, will but the more sting and burne vs, but if they be assaulted with vndaunted courage, and nought-dreading valour, they will soone be subdued, and giue vs the comfort of an easie victory. Besides, howsoeuer we haue many helpes from God, & sweete comforts of his Spirit, which may sufficiently encourage vs in our Christian courses, against all oppositions, yet it cannot be denyed, but that we shall meete with so many difficulties, in respect of the corrupti∣on of our nature, and encounters of our spirituall enemies, that we had great neede of courage and resolution for the ouercomming of them. The palace of vertue is not seated vpon the plaine, but vpon a rocke and steepe hill, which we cannot mount without some paines, nor continue this paynes without resolued courage. Wee must trauayle, like paine∣full pilgrims, before we can take our rest in our own countrey. Wee must laboriously work, before we can receiue our wages, mourne and weepe, before we can laugh and reioyce, bedewing our cheekes with teares, before we can haue them cleane wiped away; and both fight and ouercome our spirituall enemies, before we can obtaine full victory, or triumph in glory. All which, as on the one side they must not daunt and dismay vs, because our ioyes exceede our griefe; our comforts, our cros∣ses; and they which are on our part, those that are against vs: so on the other side, they should keepe vs, when we enter into the course of Chri∣stianity, from dreaming of ease, or pleasing our selues with a vaine con∣ceit, that we shall finde pleasures without paines, and vndertake such a worke as is so easy, that we may go about it betweene sleeping and wa∣king, & easily ouercome it, though we be neuer so negligent: And con∣trariwise make it appeare how necessary it is, that before we goe about this building, we cast vp our accounts, & when we haue resolued vpon it, that we arme our selues with courage & fortitude, that ouercōming all difficulties and oppositions, we may be able to perfect and finish it.

Notes

• Apoc. 2. 10.