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.

CAP. I.

Of those impediments which are cast into our way, to hinder vs in the duties of a godly life, by Satan the Arch-enemie of our saluation.

§. Sect. 1 That Satan bendeth all his forces against vs, to hinder vs in the duties of a godly life.

HAuing spoken of the duties of a godly life, and of the meanes whereby we may be inabled to performe them; it now followeth, according to the order which we haue propounded in the beginning of this Treatise, that we in the last place set downe the impediments, which vsual∣ly hinder vs from entring into this Christian course, and from proceeding, when we haue re∣solued to begin and go forward in it. For as there is nothing excellent & of great moment, wherein we meete not with some mighty opposi∣tion and notable hinderances, which, if we be not well armed and pre∣pared, will discourage vs from attempting it, or disable vs in atchie∣uing it: so nothing in the world findeth more lets and discourage∣ments, then our entrance into the course of Christianity, and our pro∣gresse in the wayes of godlinesse. For whereas all the promises of this life, and the life to come, doe infallibly belong vnto all those who serue the Lord in the duties of holinesse and righteousnesse (from whence there ariseth an impossibility that they should miscarry, who conscionably performe them, or not attaine vnto euerlasting happinesse, who walke constantly in the way that leadeth vnto it) hereof it is, that the enemies of our saluation bend all their might and malice, to keepe vs from entring into this way, or to diuert vs out of it, if wee haue already begun to runne this race. These enemies are the deuill (who is the chiefe and principall) the world and the flesh, which are his two chiefe captaines that vnder their conduct lead all his forces. How mighty and dangerous these enemies are, I haue

shewed at large in another place; onely let it here suffice to know, that the great red Dragon, as he is ready to spit out his venome against vs at all times and vpon all occasions, that he may shew his malice and spite against God by seeking our destruction, who were created accor∣ding to his Image; so he disgorgeth against vs whole flouds of hellish poison, when we set our selues to serue God in the duties of a godly life, that hee may, by making our wayes slippery, cause vs to fall. And though he suffer vs quietly to goe on in our owne wayes which leade to perdition, without stoppe or checke, yea laboureth all he can to make them easie and pleasant to our corrupt flesh; yet when wee set our face towards the heauenly Canaan, hee pursueth vs with all malice and fury, encountreth vs with an huge host of hellish tentati∣ons, and stoppeth our course with innumerable impediments and dis∣couragements, which he casteth in our way, that wee may returne a∣gaine into the Egyptian slauery, and glut our selues with sensuall and sinfull pleasures. Yea, no sooner doe wee conceiue a good thought or godly motion, but hee watcheth vs that he may take al opportunities of killing it in the wombe, and to make it an abor∣tiue birth, or of strangling it as soone as it is borne and seeth the light, that so he may disharten vs by many discouragements, from procee∣ding in well doing. Let vs know, that as hee is a malicious Dra∣gon, so a strong and mighty Lyon, who still standeth in our way, armed with sufficient power to destroy and deuoure vs, if wee were left to his furie. That hee is a crafty old Serpent, excelling in naturall subtilty, and through long and great experience, able by a thousand cunning deuices to supplant and stop vs in the wayes of godlinesse, being well able through his deepe policy, to vse and imploy all his forces for his best aduantage. Finally, that hee is most vigilant and neuer sleepeth, most diligent and neuer resteth, but night and day goeth about seeking to deuoure vs, by en∣ticing vs to come within the reach of his cruell pawes, whilst wee wander and goe astray out of the wayes of Godlinesse, and so are out of the protection of our great and gracious Shep∣heard.

§. Sect. 2 How we may remoue the former im∣pediments.

But that this may not discourage vs from entring into, and procee∣ding in the waies of godlinesse, let vs consider, that whilst wee study and indeuour to serue and please God in all holy and Christian duties, wee are in his grace and fauour, and vnder his protection, and hauing him on our side, we neede not to feare, though Satan and all the po∣wer of hell bandy themselues against vs. And therefore let vs encou∣rage our selues against the malice of the deuill, by setting against it Gods infinite and inestimable loue towards all that feare and serue him, which is more powerfull to saue and defend vs, then Satans ma∣lice to hurt and destroy vs. Let vs remember, that the Lord hath loued vs with an euerlasting loue, yea so loued vs, that he hath giuen vnto vs his only begotten and dearly beloued Sonne to the death, that we thereby might attaine to life and happinesse. That he thus loued vs when wee were strangers and enemies, and out of this inestimable loue redeemed

vs out of the hands of all our spirituall enemies, that we might serue him in holinesse and righteousnesse, and therfore much more will this loue moue him to saue and deliuer vs from their malice and fury, when we haue wholy consecrated our selues to his worship and seruice. That this loue maketh him so iealous of our safety, that hee who toucheth vs, toucheth the apple of his eye; and therefore as well will he suffer Satans malice to impeach his own Maiestie, as to hurt vs who are so deare vn∣to him. And though he hath such a spight and spleene against vs, that he willeth and desireth aboue all things, that God might be dishonoured in our destruction, yet let vs cheerefully go on in the waies of godli∣nesse, seeing Gods Almightie and All-ruling will opposeth and ouer∣swayeth his, and with no lesse earnestnesse seeketh our preseruation and saluation. According to that of our Sauiour; This is the will of him that sent me, that euery one which seeth the Sonne, and beleeueth on him, may haue euerlasting life, and I will rayse him vp at the last day.

§. Sect. 3 That Satans might & ma∣lice compared with our weakenesse and simplicity, must not dis∣courage vs, and the reasons hereof.

Neither let Satans power consisting in his might and strength, and in his craft and policy, compared with our weakenesse and simplicity, discourage vs from seruing God in the duties of holinesse and righte∣ousnesse. But when wee haue set our faces towards the heauenly Ca∣naan, and are trauailing vnto it in the wayes of godlinesse, though wee see mountainous difficulties, impossible in respect of our owne strength to be ouerpassed, on either hand, a sea of troubles and dangers before vs, and an huge host of spirituall enemies armed at all points with hellish tentations, pursuing vs at our backes; let vs goe on in our course without dread, seeing those which are on our side are more, and more mighty, then those which are against vs. And first, when wee see our owne wants and weakenesses opposed with such malicious might and hellish furie, let not this dismay vs, seeing it is a great part of our strength to see our weakenesse, and we are best armed, when wee see, acknowledge and bewaile our owne nakednesse. For this will make vs more carefull to prouide and put on the sprituall Armour, especial∣ly the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, whereby we shall bee enabled to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one, and to stand fast and firme against all his tentations in the euill day, wherewith if wee be thorowly armed, we can neuer be foiled. Or if through our frailties and infirmities, we finde herein many wants and imperfections, this must not discourage vs, seeing our armour hath not so much suffici∣ency to defend vs in its own strength, as from the Author that made it, and gaue it for our vse, who being Almighty, to make good his owne worke, and to be of high proofe against all tentations, will neuer suf∣fer those to be vanquished, who are of his arming, but will manifest his power in their infirmities, and glorify himselfe in their victory. A∣gaine, the sight and sense of our weakenesse, and our enemies power, must not so dismay vs, as that wee should desist in our course, but driue vs vnto the God of our strength, crying with Moses vnto him for helpe and deliuerance, when we are pursued by our spirituall enemies. And acknowledging with Asa our owne impotency to resist them, let vs make it our ground, to implore Gods helpe. Let vs bee as

children in the hand of our heauenly Father, and the more we finde and feele our owne weakenesse and pronenesse to fall, let vs take so much the surer hold of him by a liuely faith, and implore his helpe with the more feruency, who is able and willing to support vs, and by the assistance of his holy Spirit to doe all our workes for vs, as the Pro∣phet speaketh. Finally, when we are most weake in our selues, this is no hinderance vnto vs, but that wee may be so strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, as that we may bee able to withstand and ouer∣come all Satans tentations, whereby he laboureth to hinder vs in the wayes of godlinesse. For though this strong armed man is able to keepe in safety all that hee possesseth, against weaker opposition, yet God, who is stronger then he, is able to disarme him, and to set vs at liberty from vnder his tyranny. Though our aduersarie bee mighty, yet our Sauiour, who hath redeemed and deliuered vs, is almighty, and no power of earth or hell is able to pull vs out of his hand. And there∣fore when we see our owne weakenesse, let vs labour also to see the exceeding greatnesse of Gods power, not onely in himselfe, but also towards vs who beleeue in him; and pray for our selues, as the Apostle for the Co∣lossians, not onely that wee may walke worthy of the Lord vnto all pleasing, being fruitfull in euery good worke, but also that we may be strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, and ouercome all difficulties, which our spirituall aduersaries cast in our way, to stoppe and hinder vs in this course of godlinesse. The like comforts we may haue in the performance of all good duties, when as wee consider Satans craft and policy, and compare it with our ignorance and simplicity, seeing this need not to discourage vs, if we deny our owne wisedome as in∣sufficient to guide vs, and suffer our selues to be wholy directed by the light of Gods truth, which is sufficient to discouer and defeate all his subtilties and hellish stratagems whereby hee indeuoureth to cir∣cumuent vs; and giue our selues ouer to bee guided in all our waies by the good Spirit of God, who being infinite in wisedome, is able to turne this Achitophels policies into foolishnesse, to fustrate all his cunning plots and proiects, and so to direct vs in all our courses, that wee shall easily auoid all the snares and secret ambushments of this subtill enemie. And finally, his vigilancy and diligence, in seeking to turne vs out of the right way, that wee may fall into his snares, cannot discourage vs, if denying our owne prouidence and watch∣fulnesse, wee commit and commend our selues vnto Gods protecti∣on, seeing hee is that great Watch-man of Israel, who neuer slumbreth or sleepeth, but continually keepeth vs vnder the all-seeing eye of his prouidence, that he may preserue vs safe from the malice and might of Satan and all the enemies of our saluation.

§. Sect. 4 Satans tentati∣ons, whereby he impugneth our faith.

And thus wee see, how wee may generally incourage our selues in the duties of a godly life, against those impediments which arise from the nature of this grand enemy, who opposeth vs in them. Ma∣ny others there are which are cast in our way by his tentations, which either respect our faith, or the fruits of it in a godly life. Con∣cerning the former; this wily and experienced enemie mainely ben∣deth

all his forces and engines of battery against our faith, because hee well knoweth, that if he can destroy the roote, the branches and fruites which spring from it, will wither and faile of their owne accord. And therefore sometime taking aduantage of our wants and vnworthinesse, our falls, frailties, and infirmities, hee perswadeth vs that wee haue no faith at all, when as wee haue it; and sometimes laboureth to make vs neglect all meanes of getting faith when it is wanting, by causing vs to rest vpon that shew and shaddow of it, carnall security and fond presumption. Yea, hee assaulteth our faith diuersly, in respect of all the causes and meanes of our saluation, that so hee may hinder vs in the wayes of godlinesse. For first, hee mooueth vs either falsly to beleeue, that all men are beloued of God, and so wee among the rest, because wee inioy testimonies of his fauour in worldly prosperity, though these outward gifts are giuen in common to the good and bad; or to doubt of Gods loue, in respect of our afflictions, and so to neglect all duties of his seruice, because wee know not whether wee or our workes are ac∣cepted of him. Secondly, hee perswadeth vs either to thinke that all are elected to saluation, and so wee among others, liue as wee list; or if some be elected, and some reprobated, that this Decree is vnchangeable; and therefore if wee be elected, wee shall be saued, though wee take our pleasure and neglect all good duties; or if we be reiected, wee shall bee condemned, though wee take neuer so much paines in the wayes of god∣linesse. Finally, that wee can haue no assurance that wee are elected, and therefore it is in vaine to labour after it, but rather, that it is our wisest course to leaue it to the venter, and take the benefit of present pleasures. Thirdly, hee will tell vs that all are redeemed by Christ, and wee with others, and therefore wee may liue in our sinnes, seeing he hath satisfied for them; or that if he haue redeemed but some onely, that we cannot be assured that we are in this number, though wee be neuer so diligent in Gods seruice. Fourthly, hee will suggest that all are vniuersally called, and yet seeing many fall away, few are chosen, and consequently, that it is a matter impossible to be assured that we are in Christs little flocke, because when we haue done all we can, we may become Apostates, and no better then Wolues and Goats; and therfore it were best to spare our paines, and to inioy our pleasures when we may haue them. Fifthly, he will tell vs that we are iustified by faith alone, and therefore by that faith which is alone, and that good workes are not required to the act of iustification, and therefore are needlesse to the party iustified; that they are not the causes of our saluation, and therefore wee neede not to walke in them, but may easily goe to heauen by another way. Sixthly, that none vpon earth can be perfectly sanctified, and therefore seeing we cannot be Saints heere, we must liue like other men, and not tire our selues in vaine, by labouring af∣ter impossibilities. Finally, that though wee haue neuer so much grace, and be as forward as any in the duties of godlinesse, yet we may fall from this state, and become as wicked as any other; and therefore seeing when we haue done our best in seruing God, and haue with much paines sto∣red our selues with all spirituall graces, wee may lose all our labour, and become, notwithstanding all our care and diligence, vtter brankrupts in

all goodnesse, it were our best course to giue ouer this doubtfull paines in the seruice of God, and to satisfie our owne lusts with the present frui∣tion of worldly delights. Of all which tentations, which Satan as im∣pediments casteth in our way, to discourage vs in the course of godli∣nesse, I haue largely spoken in the first part of my Christian War∣fare, and therefore heere thus briefly passe them ouer, referring the Christian Reader to that Booke, for his more full satisfaction in these points.

§. Sect. 5 Satans tenta∣tions, whereby he seeketh to hinder vs from entring into the wayes of godlinesse, or from procee∣ding in them.

In respect of the godly life it selfe, Satan raiseth against vs many lets and impediments, either to hinder vs from entring into the course of Christianity, or to make vs performe the duties required in it superficial∣ly and vnprofitably. In respect of the former, he vseth many deuices, to stop our entrance into the wayes of godlinesse. And first, he laboureth to keepe our eyes blinded with ignorance, that wee may not see the wayes of godlinesse wherein we should walke; or if they be discouered by the light of the Gospel shining vnto vs, hee will indeuour to keepe vs from seeing the profit and necessity of walking in them. The former whereof we may auoyd, by remembring and considering, that sauing knowledge is one of the chiefe grounds of a godly life, without which, it is no more possible that we should performe the duties of Christianity, then to walke in difficult wayes, hauing no eyes to guide vs, nor light to direct vs in them. And therefore we must not content our selues with our good mea∣ning and ignorant deuotion, which can bring foorth no better fruits, then blind superstition and will-worship, which are odious vnto God, but vse all good meanes, whereby our minds may be inlightened with the sauing knowledge of Gods truth, and carefully inquire after the good and old wayes (as the Prophet speaketh) that wee may walke therein, and finde rest to our soules. And for the auoyding of the other, wee must know and re∣member, that nothing in the world is so profitable and necessary, as to walk in the wayes of godlinesse, after that by the light of truth they are discouered vnto vs, seeing this alone, though all worldly things bee wan∣ting, will make vs happy and blessed in this life and the life to come; whereas if we haue all other things, and want this, wee shall be wretched and miserable. Secondly, Satan laboureth to hinder vs from entring into the wayes of Christianity, by alluring vs to continue in our sinful courses, with the baites of worldly vanities; and by causing vs to content our selues with the present possession of these earthly trifles, hee maketh vs to neglect our heauenly hopes, which are infinitely more excellent and per∣manent. For the escaping of which snare, wee must labour to contemne these inticing baites, by considering that these worldly things are, in re∣spect of spirituall grace and heauenly glory, vaine and vnprofitable, vncer∣taine, mutable and momentany, as elsewhere I haue plainely shewed. Thirdly, he hindreth vs frō all duties of godlinesse, by the deceitfulnesse of sin, which he secretly windeth into our hearts by degrees, till by many acts of wickednesse, he hath brought vs vnto a custome, which is like another nature, and hath in it the commanding force of an vnresistable Law. Which hindrance if we would auoyd, we must watch ouer our selues, that our hearts be not hardned, through the deceitfulnesse of sinne; to which pur∣pose,

we must shunne the first occasions, withstand the first motions of it, and plucke vp these cursed plants, before they be thorowly rooted, or if wee haue already loaded our consciences with these dead workes, our se∣cond care must bee to breake off our sinnes by vnfained repentance, offer∣ing heerein to our corrupt nature, an holy violence, and as the Apostle speaketh, We must lay aside euery waight, and the sinne that doth so easily beset vs, clinging (as it were) about our neckes, to hold vs backe, that wee may so runne with patience vnto the Race which is set before vs, making voyd, by degrees, the strong custome of sinne, by the acts of piety and righteous∣nesse, vntill wee haue confirmed in vs the contrary custome of godlinesse and new obedience. Finally, Satan laboureth to hinder vs from entring into the course of Christianity, by perswading vs to make delayes; and when he cannot any longer make vs beleeue that it is needlesse, or of small waight, but that seeing the profit and necessity of it, wee doe resolue to leaue our former sinfull liues, and to betake our selues vnto Gods seruice, he will perswade vs to deferre it for a time, as a thing vnpleasing to our corrupt nature, and vnprofitable to our worldly ends, vntill we may finde some fitter opportunity, and haue better settled our earthly businesse. The which impediment I shal haue fitter occasion to remoue in the following Discourse; Onely let vs here remember, that if we will be aduised by our Sauiours wise counsell, We must first seeke the Kingdome of God and his righ∣teousnesse, which being a matter of greatest waight, and (in comparison) onely necessary, we must not put it off till after-times, which are vncer∣taine, but secure our selues of it, whilest the day of saluation lasteth. And these are the common impediments which Satan casteth into our way, that he may stop vs from entring into the wayes of godlinesse; with which, if he cannot so farre preuaile, as to make vs neglect all holy duties altoge∣ther, hee will in the next place indeuour to make them vnprofitable for our saluation. To which purpose, amongst many other lets, he chiefly and most vsually vseth these two. The first is, to keepe vs from feeling in them any power of godlinesse, for the bettering of our spirituall estate, by cau∣sing vs to performe these duties in a cold and formall manner, more for custome then conscience sake. The other is, to make vs fickle and vncon∣stant in them, performing them by fits and flashes, when we haue least to doe, and haue some spare time from our worldly imployments. The for∣mer whereof wee may auoyd, by setting our selues about the duties of Christianity, as our mayne businesse, with all resolute diligence, and zea∣lous deuotion, knowing that it is impossible to trauaile in this way, so full of difficulties and dangers, without serious indeuour, or to performe du∣ties of so high a nature, and so contrary to naturall corruption, without diligent and painefull labour. The latter, by tying our selues vnto a settled course, in the performance of all Christian duties, knowing that hee who goeth sometime forward, and sometimes backeward, can neuer make any riddance of his iourney, nor come seasonably to the end of it. Both which waighty points I heere thus briefly passe ouer, because I haue already spo∣ken of them at large. And let this suffice to haue briefly mentioned those impediments, which Satan immediately by himselfe ordinarily vseth to hinder vs from entring into, or proceeding in the way of godlinesse; vnto

which, many more might be added, if I had not already handled the most of them in the first part of my Christian Warfare.

Notes

• Christian War∣fare.
• Apoc. 12. 4.
• 1. Pet. 5. 8.
• Rom. 8. 31.
• Ier. 31. 3.
• Ioh. 3. 16.
• Rom. 5. 8, 10.
• Zach. 2. 8.
• Joh. 6. 40.
• Eph. 6. 16.
• Exod. 14. 15.
• 2. Chro. 14. 11.
• Esa. 26. 12.
• Ephe. 6. 10.
• Luk. 11. 22.
• Ioh. 10. 28, 29. Ephe. 1. 18, 19.
• Col. 1. 10, 11.
• Psal. 121, 3. 4.
• Ier. 6. 16.
• Luk. 10. 42.
• Christ. Warf. 2. part.
• Heb. 3. 13.
• Heb. 12. 1.
• Math. 6. 33.