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. 1 That it is not enough to liue harmlesly, vn∣lesse we per∣forme religi∣ous duties.

ANother obiection which the flesh maketh against the strict performances of Christian duties, is, that it is vnnecessary, seeing if we be harmlesse, and not guilty of hainous sinnes; as idolatry, blasphemy, murther, adultery, drunkennesse, theft, and such like, but liue honestly amongst our neigh∣bours, doing no man any hurt, and in good fame and name in the world, the Lord will accept of vs, and beare with our infirmities, though wee be not so precise as many others, in performing the duties of a godly life, as they haue been before described. To which I answere, that the Lord will neuer accept of vs as his seruants and children, if wee doe not at least de∣sire, resolue and indeuour to yeeld vnto him intire obedience to his whole Law, as well by doing the duties which he hath commanded, as in leauing vndone the vices which he hath forbidden; and that this obedi∣ence chiefly consisteth rather in performance of that which is good, then in abstinence from that which is euil; & that if to be harmelesse and inno∣cent,

were all that is required to Christianity, then were wee best Christi∣ans when we sit idly still, rather then when wee are in action, yea though we should sleepe out our whole liues, because then wee are furthest off from doing any hurt. But let vs consider that God requireth seruice at our hands, and he is counted but a sorry seruant, who receiuing meate, drinke, and wages, doth content himselfe if he doe his Master no harme, though he neuer indeuour to doe him any good. That the axe is set to the root of the tree, to cut it downe, that it may be cast into the fire, if it bring∣eth not forth good fruit, though it should beare none that is euill; and the barren tree must be hewne downe and cast out of the Lords Vineyard, because it doth but cumber the ground. That we must be, not onely trees of innocency, but trees of righteousnesse, if we be of Gods planting, which are distinguished from euill trees destinated to the fire, not by bearing nothing, but by bringing forth good fruit. Let vs remember, that the Fig∣tree was cursed by our Sauiour, not because it had vpon it figs, like those in one of Ieremies baskets, which were so very naughty, that they could not be eaten they were so bad; but because it had none at all, when Christ purposely came to finde some vpon it. That the vnprofitable seruant is by his Lord reputed an euill seruant, and adiudged to punishment, for not in∣creasing his Masters Talent, though he had not mis-spent it in riotous li∣uing. And that the sentence of condemnation shall passe against those, who neglect to doe the workes of mercy to Christs poore members, though they neuer oppressed or wronged them. Finally, let vs know that they deceiue themselues, who dreame of a meane betweene not doing good, and doing euill; for if we be not on Gods side, wee are against him; if we gather not with Christ, we scatter abroad: neither can wee sooner cease to doe euill, but presently we begin to doe that which is good.

Notes

• Math. 3. 10.
• Luk. 13. 7.
• Esa. 61. 3. Luk. 8. 44.
• Ier. 24. 2. Math. 21. 19.
• Math. 25. 30.
• Mat. 25. 41, 42.
• Luk. 11. 23.
• Esa. 1. 16.