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 That world∣lings take more paines about earthly vanities, and in the seruice of sinne and Satan, then is required to a godly life.

Now if any, notwithstanding of all these helpes and comforts, still complaine of the difficulties which he findeth in the course of Christiani∣ty, and vse it as an excuse for his neglect of all the duties of a godly life; let such a man know, that the fault is not in the hardnesse and crookednes of the way, but in his own negligence, who will not vse the meanes which God offereth vnto him for the ouercomming of these difficulties, and neither take any paines to be truly informed, nor to trauell in it after hee knoweth it. For because they are lazie, and haue no list to worke; there∣fore they sit in the house and complaine, that there is a Lion in the way, a Li∣on in the streets. Because they would sit still by the flesh-pots of Egypt, and glut themselues with carnall pleasures, therefore they cauill against their entring into, and proceeding in that way which leadeth to the holy Land, as though the difficulties were so many and great which affront vs in it, that it is vnpassible and impossible to be trauelled by them. Their affecti∣ons are so strong, that they cannot master and mortifie them; their bo∣dies tender and delicate, and not inured to take that paines which is re∣quired to the well performing of Christian duties, and their natures are so easie and flexible, that they cannot withstand the allurements and im∣portunity of their old companions, drawing and perswading them to ac∣company them in their sinfull courses. All which excuses, what doe they argue but their sloth and negligence; yea rather, their want of loue, and contempt of spirituall grace and heauenly glory? Seeing the same men

who pretend these difficulties, are ready to vndertake farre greater paines, for the obtaining of those worldly vanities, whereupon they haue fixed their hearts (and euen delight themselues in these toylesome labours) then is required for the attaining of heauenly happinesse; and goe wil∣lingly thorow many more and greater difficulties in those wayes that leade to hell and destruction, then they should euer finde in the way that would bring them to life and saluation? For first, consider the paines which worldly men are content to indure for the compassing of honours, riches and pleasures, how they carke and care, toyle and moyle, watch and labour, trauell by sea and land, and runne into many desperate dangers, for the getting of these worthlesse vanities, which are alike vncertaine in the possession, as in the pursuit and acquisition. How they tire their thoughts in the restlesse night, about plots and policies, for the preuent∣ing or circumuenting one another. How their hearts are continually vp∣on the racke of their owne passions, being diuersly distracted betweene hopes and feares; false ioyes, and true griefes; loue, and dislike; longing desires, and lothing auersation. Consider also what paines and care they take about their fraile and mortall bodies, and for the preseruing of their flitting and fading health and strength, and the prolonging of their vn∣certaine and momentany life. What paines they take in tricking and trimming, decking and adorning, clothing and beautifying, nourishing and feeding, pampering and pleasing, physicking and dyeting their cor∣ruptible carcases, though they are assured, that by all their care and cost they can but for a short time adiourne diseases and infirmities, and for a small and vncertaine while procure a repriuall from approching death. Finally, consider that there is much more toyle and difficulty in the waies of vice and sinne, then in the way of vertue and godlinesse, although carnall loue so sweeteneth it to a corrupt appetite, that it is either not dis∣cerned, or not much abhorred. For example, what rackes and torments are in couetousnesse and ambition, and what comfort and sweetnesse in contentation, and submission of our estates to the will of God? What pangs and pulls of an euill conscience accompany vice and sinne, and what peace and quietnesse, ioy and delight haue wee in the conscience of our innocency and well-doing? Vnto what stormes and tempests doth pride expose vs, from all which we are secured by lowlinesse and humility? What vexation and griefe is there in malice, enuie, anger, and desire of reuenge; and what ioy and sweet delight to be found in brotherly loue, reioycing in one anothers good, peaceablenesse, passing by and pardon∣ing of offences, and making friends of enemies, by our kind vsage and sweet conuersation? What trouble and discontent in discord, contention and wrangling suits of Law; and what sweetnesse and contentment in amity, friendship, mutuall agreement, and euen in departing from some part of our right, that we may thereby purchase Iewels of farre greater price, peace and loue? Finally, what anxiety and vexation is there in carking care about worldly things, and what ioy and pleasure in the life of faith, whereby we securely rely vpon Gods promises and prouidence, and goe boldly vnto him, as vnto our gracious Father, when we are in any want, with confidence that it shall be supplyed in that manner and mea∣sure,

as will best stand with his glory and our owne good. In all which re∣spects, and innumerable others, as wicked worldlings, after all their la∣bours about worldly vanities, and the vaine and vnfruitfull works of darke∣nesse, haue iust cause to complaine with those in the Booke of Wisedome; Wee haue wearied our selues in the way of wickednesse and destruction, yea, wee haue gone thorow desarts, where there lay no way; but as for the way of the Lord, we haue not knowne it; what hath pride profited vs? or what good hath riches with our vaunting brought vs? All these things are passed away as a shaddow, and as a Poast that hasted by: So on the other side, the faithfull, who haue spent their time and strength in the duties of a godly life, haue iust cause to comfort themselues in their happy choyce, when leauing the world, and the pleasures of sinne, and imbracing the loue and feare of God, they haue deuoted themselues wholly to Gods seruice, seeing they may with Augustine reioyce in God and praise him, saying, Let my heart praise thee, and let my tongue and all my bones say, O Lord, who is like vnto thee, &c? How sweet and pleasant is it now become, to want the sweetnesse of world∣ly vanities? That which I feared to lose, what ioy is it to haue lost? For thou, O most true and supreme sweetnesse, didst cast them out of me; thou didst cast them out, and didst enter in their stead, who art sweeter then pleasure, but not to flesh and blood; cleerer and brighter then all light, but to the inner man onely; and then all honour, much more high and honourable, but not to those who are exalted in themselues. Now was my mind free from the biting and eating cares of ambition, couetousnesse, vo∣luptuousnesse, and from scratching the itching scab of lust, and did freely talke with thee, my beauty, riches, saluation, and my Lord and God. And after a painefull warfare, they may with the Apostle make that comfortable conclusion, when death approcheth; I haue fought a good fight, I haue finished my course, I haue kept the faith; Hencefoorth there is laid vp for me a Crowne of righteousnesse, which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue vnto me at that day. And therefore let not those seeming difficulties any longer discourage vs from resoluing to serue God in the duties of a godly life, seeing thereby we shun and escape much greater difficulties in the wayes of sin, then we shall euer find in the way of a Christian and holy conuersation.

Notes

• Pro. 26. 13.
• Wisd. 5. 7, 8.
• Confess. l. 9. c. 1.
• 2. Tim. 4. 8.