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. 5 Of worldly contempt, vnto which the godly are liable.

The other impediment, whereby the world laboureth to discou∣rage all that in the sincerity of their hearts feare and serue God, is, to haue them aboue all other men in greatest contempt and basest esteeme. For whom God prizeth as his choysest Iewels, the world vi∣lifieth as abiects and the refuse of all things; whom the Lord honou∣reth with the glorious titles and priuiledges of his owne children, and heires apparant to his heauenly Kingdome, the world despiseth as men vnworthy to liue in any humane society. And no sooner are they admitted into that holy and happy communion with God, and fellowship of his Saints, but presently worldly and wicked men shunne them as vnworthy their company. For as the vniust man is an abomina∣tion to the iust, so he that is vpright in his way, is abomination to the wicked. And this was that stumbling blocke, which being cast into the way, hindred many of the Rulers from following Christ, and from imbra∣cing and professing that truth, of which their consciences were con∣uinced, because they feared, lest hereby they should impeach their

reputation, and expose themselues to the contempt of their consorts, louing the praise of men, more then the praise of God. This kept the parents of the blinde man from confessing Christ, and iustifying his miracle, because the Iewes had decreed, that if any man did confesse that Ie∣sus was Christ, he should be put out of their Synagogue, and banished from their societies and publique assemblies. Which impediment if we would remoue, wee must learne to esteeme basely of the worlds estimate, and neither to thinke better of our selues, when it honou∣reth vs, nor worse, when it vilifieth and despiseth vs. To which pur∣pose let vs consider, that when wee are for righteousnesse sake most contemned in the eyes of the world, wee are most magnified in the eyes of God; and contrariwise, when we haue most the applause of men in our euill courses, we are esteemed of God most vile and abiect, according to that of our Sauiour, That which is highly esteemed amongst men, is abominable in the sight of God. Let vs remember, that we cannot immoderately affect the applause of men, and maintaine faith and a good conscience. For as our Sauiour demandeth: How can yee beleeue, which receiue honour one of another, and seel: not the honour that commeth from God onely? That we can neuer hold out constantly in our course of Christianity, vnlesse we can with the Apostle, esteeme it a very small thing to be iudged of mans iudgement; and can be content with him, by honour and dishonour, euill report and good report, to goe forward in the du∣ties of a godly life, which if wee performe with neuer so much dili∣gence & zeale, yet if therein we doe not ayme chiefely to please God more then men, we shall not be the seruants of Christ, but of the world, seeing we will be willing to lay aside our profession and holy practice, when the world censureth and condemneth them. Let vs know, that it will little auaile vs at the day of death or iudgement, to haue had the approbation and applause of men, when as God and our owne con∣sciences shal condemne vs; nor be any cause of griefe at that day, when we call to minde, that for the pleasing and honouring God in all Chri∣stian duties, we haue displeased the world, and brought our selues into contempt with men, when as the Lord & our own consciences shal ap∣proue & iustifie vs. Let vs consider, that as the praise & applause of men is mutable and momentary, so likewise their contempt, disprayses and false censures; of which wee within a while shall be acquitted, and they being repayed according to their owne measure, shall be iudged and condemned. The which argument the Prophet vseth to incou∣rage vs in this case: Harken vnto me, ye that know righteousnesse, the people in whose heart is my Law; feare yee not the reproch of men, neither be afraide of their reuilings; for the Moth shall eate them vp, as a garment, and the Worme shall eate them vp like wooll: but my righteousnesse shall be for euer, and my saluation from generation to generation. Finally, let vs remember, that it hath beene alwaies the lot of the Righteous, who haue truely fea∣red God, and made conscience of all their waies, to be vilified and basely esteemed amongst wicked worldlings. Thus the Israelites, because they serued God according to his will, by offring vnto him such sacrifices as he required, were so contemned and despised of the

idolatrous Egyptians, that they accounted it an abomination to eate with them. Of this, the true Church complayneth, and against this it pray∣eth: Haue mercy vpon vs, O Lord, haue mercie vpon vs, for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soule is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud. So likewise Dauid complayneth; I am small and despised; yet doe I not forget thy precepts. And the Apostle Paul speaking of himselfe, and of other Gods faith∣full Ministers, saith, that they were made and reputed as the filth of the world, and the off-scowring of all things. Which Saints and seruants of God wee must be contented to accompany in their contempt and vile esteeme, when by the profession and practice of the truth we fall in∣to it, if euer wee meane to accompany them in glory. Yea, our Saui∣our Christ himselfe was content for our sakes to be contemned and despised amongst men, as it was foretold by the Prophet, and whilest he performed the duties of his calling, to be accounted a friend and companion of Publicanes and sinners, yea, to be himselfe esteemed a notorious sinner; a prophaner of the Sabbaths, whilest hee healed on them; a Sorcerer, whilest he did miracles; a Wine-bibber, whilest he consorted with sinners after a familiar manner, that he might call them to repentance: and lastly, after a despised life, to die a contemptible and reprochfull death, euen the death of the Crosse, and thereby to be numbred amongst the wicked. And therefore why should the members looke for honour and high esteeme, where the Head was so scorned and contemned? Why should wee not for his sake deny our selues and our owne credit and reputation amongst men, who therefore despise vs, because wee deuote our selues vnto his seruice? Why should wee not thinke such contempt our chiefest glory, and the base esteeme of the world sufficiently recompenced, when wee are dignified with the title of Gods seruants and sonnes, and with that precious account which he maketh of vs? Why should we not with patience and ioy, follow our Head in the same way, by which he ascended vnto glorie, comforting our selues, according to his example, against all contempt and reproch, by looking vpon the ioy which is set before vs?

Notes

• Mal. 3. 17.
• Pro. 29. 27.
• Ioh. 12. 43. Joh. 9. 23.
• Luk. 16. 15.
• Ioh. 5. 44.
• 1. Cor. 4. 3.
• 2. Cor. 6. 8.
• Gal. 1. 10.
• Matth. 7. 1, 2.
• Esay 51. 7, 8.
• Gen. 43. 32.
• Gen. 43. 32.
• Psal. 123. 3, 4.
• Psal. 119. 141.
• 1. Cor. 4. 13.
• Esay 53. 2, 3.
• Heb. 12. 2.