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 it is not sufficient to serue God in some things, and at some times.

Againe, it is ready to obiect, that if it be not sufficient to abstaine from euill, and from grosse and hainous sinnes, but that wee must also performe the contrary duties, yet at least it is not necessary that we should be tyed so strictly vnto all duties of holinesse and righteousnesse which God re∣quireth; or if to all, yet not at all times, but that it is enough, if wee per∣forme some good duties, either towards God, or our neighbours, though wee neglect others, and that wee bee at some times zealous and deuout, though at other times we take our liberty, and ease our selues of this hard taske, by taking our pleasures, seeing as long as wee liue in this world wee cannot be Saints, but must liue like other men, as being alike fraile and full of infirmities. To which I answere, that euen in this life, we must be of the communion of Saints, if euer we meane to communicate with them in glory and happinesse; and howsoeuer corruption of nature and hu∣mane frailties hang vpon vs, yet we must not willingly nourish them, and cheerfully obey the flesh in the lusts thereof; for if we liue after the flesh, we shall dye; but we must labour through the Spirit, to mortifie the deeds of this body of sinne, that we may liue, as the Apostle teacheth vs. And although we cannot, by reason of the law of the members, and the sinne that hang∣eth vpon vs, yeeld vnto the Law that perfect and strict obedience which it requireth: for in many things we sinne all; yet if euer we would haue any sound comfort in the gracious promises of the Gospell, wee must yeeld

vnto God the obedience of sonnes, which consisteth in an earnest desire, full resolution, and diligent indeuour to please our heauenly Father, by framing our liues according vnto his will in all things, and at all times. We must put off (as much as in vs lieth) the whole old man, with all his corrupt and deceitfull lusts; and being renewed in the spirit of our mindes, we must put on the New man, which after God, is created both in righteousnesse and true ho∣linesse. Wee must haue with Dauid, respect vnto all Gods Commandements, and leade our liues both in godlinesse and in honestie. For though wee be neuer so deuoute and zealous in religious duties, yet if we doe not ioyne with them the duties of charity and righteousnesse, God will reiect vs, as being no better then hypocrites; according to that of the Prophet; I hate, I despise your feast dayes, and I will not smell in your solemne assemblies. Though yee offer me burnt offerings, and meate offerings, I will not accept them, &c. But let iudgement run downe as waters, and righteousnesse as a mighty streame. So the Lord professeth, that hee would not be pleased with thousands of Rams, or ten thousand riuers of oyle, no, not with the first borne of their body, for the sinne of their soules, vnlesse also they would doe iustly, and loue mercy. And though we be neuer so iust in our dealings, and so bountifull, that wee could bee content to giue all our goods to the poore, yet if it bee not ioyned with piety and charity, and doe not proceed from sauing knowledge and a liuely faith, true obedience, and a good conscience, it is all worth no∣thing, and no better then glorious sins in Gods sight. And therefore if we would haue our seruice accepted, we must, according to the Apostles ex∣ample, liue both holily towards God, and iustly and vnblameably towards men. If we would approoue our selues to be the redeemed of the Lord, we must serue him in holinesse and righteousnesse before him; and that not by fits and flashes, but all the dayes of our liues. But of these points I haue spoken before at large, when I intreated of integrity and constancy, the insepara∣ble properties of a godly life; and therefore referre the Reader to that place.

Notes

• Rom. 8. 13.
• Iam. 3. 2.
• Eph. 4. 22, 23, 24
• Psal. 119. 6, 20.
• 1. Tim. 2. 2.
• Amos 5. 21, 22, 24.
• Micah 6. 6, 8.
• 1. Cor. 13. 3.
• 1. Thes. 2. 10.
• Luk. 1. 74, 75.