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 igno∣rance is a great impediment to a godly life.

The speciall impediments which the flesh vseth, to hinder vs in the du∣ties of a godly life, arise either from the corruptions of nature, or from those manifold obiections, whereby it discourageth vs from entring into, or proceeding in it. The impediments of the former kind are internall in the soule, or externall in our workes and actions. Concerning the first; the soule is so generally corrupted in all the powers and faculties of it, that it wholly disableth vs vnto all the duties of a godly life. The which corruptions are either in the mind and vnderstanding, or in the heart and affections. The mind and vnderstanding doe hinder vs in the practice of all Christan duties, both by ignorance, which hindreth and disableth vs from knowing those things which are necessary to saluation, and to the practice of all holy duties, and by curiosity, which maketh vs to affect the knowledge of such things as are needlesse and vnprofitable. For first, we are hindred in the duties of a godly life, by our naturall ignorance of God, who is to be worshipped and serued by them, especially when wee doe not vnderstand and know his sauing attributes; as that hee is omni∣scient to take notice of all our thoughts, words and actions; and omni∣potent to reward them, if they be good; or to punish them, if they bee euill; that he is iust, and will call all we doe, to account; and mercifull, to pardon our infirmities and imperfections, if wee labour and indeuour to doe vnto him the best seruice we are able; that he is all-sufficient and infinite in all goodnesse, most bountifull and gracious, and a rich rewar∣der

of all those who seeke and serue him. All which being singular mo∣tiues and incouragements vnto all Christian duties, the ignorance of them must needs be a notable impediment to hinder vs in them. For who can with cheerfulnesse serue such a master as he knoweth not? or be faith∣full and diligent in his duty, when as he cannot, vpon any well-grounded knowledge, be assured that his seruice is accepted, or shall be rewarded? Who can performe duties agreeable to Gods nature, when he vnderstan∣deth not what it is, or performe any spirituall seruice, if he know not that he is spirituall vnto whom it is performed? Thus also wee are hindred in the duties of a godly life, by being ignorant of Gods reuealed will; for seeing no seruice is acceptable, which is not agreeable vnto it, all deuotion not guided by it, meere superstition, and all will-worship inuented by our owne braine, though with neuer so good intention, odious and abomi∣nable; who seeth not, that he who is ignorant of Gods will, is no more able to walke in the way of his Commandements, then hee who wanteth his bodily eyes, to goe in a strange and difficult way, without a guide? Yea, suppose that we were set in this way, and led (as it were by the hand) by the directions of others, yet if we doe not see with our owne eyes, and be not able of our selues to discerne the right way, by the light of Gods Word shining vnto vs; how easily (if our guides doe but a little leaue vs) shall we, through the malice of the diuell and our owne corruption, erre and goe astray? And if we be not able to try the spirits of our Teachers, and to examine their doctrines by the Touch-stone of Gods truth, how apt are wee to become a prey vnto seducers and false teachers, and to fall into sects, schismes, and damnable heresies? like blind men, who not seeing their way, doe stand wholly at the deuotion of their guides, to goe with them whithersoeuer they shall be pleased to leade them. A∣gaine, ignorance of Gods speciall prouidence, is a notable pulbacke from pious duties, whereby in a gracious and iust maner, he doth euen in this life administer & dispense his rewards to those that serue him, preseruing them from all dangers, and from the malice and fury of all enemies who oppose them in their Christian conuersation, and prouiding for them all things necessary for their soules and bodies, in such a competency and sufficiency, as is most fit for his owne glory, and their saluation: and also his iudgements and punishments to them who neglect his seruice, and spend their dayes in the workes of darknesse, performing ready seruice vnto sinne and Satan. For when we doe obserue no profit accruing vnto them, who are carefull to please God by doing his will; nor any discom∣modity or punishment accompanying those, who walke in the sinful ima∣ginations of their owne hearts, we are much hindred thereby in all Chri∣stian duties, and ready to take any course which may further our worldly and wicked ends, seeing wee are neither restrained from euill by Gods feare, nor stirred vp vnto any good duty by his loue; neither terrified from sinne by his affrighting iudgements, nor incouraged vnto vertuous actions, by the expectation of his gracious rewards. Finally, ignorance is a notable impediment to a godly life, because if we doe not know the du∣ties which are required vnto it, nor the chiefe things wherein it consisteth, it is not possible that we should performe them. If we doe not know what

is pleasing, and what displeasing vnto God, what he requireth in our ser∣uice of him, and what he forbiddeth and condemneth, as odious and abo∣minable, we shall mistake the one for the other, yea, be much more ready to doe such things as he hateth, then such as are pleasing vnto him, be∣cause our corrupt nature is prone to the one, and auerse and backeward to the other. Besides, if we be ignorant, wee cannot see the excellency, profit, and necessity of all Christian duties belonging to a godly life, which as they are singular motiues to perswade vs vnto the imbracing and practising of them; so the ignorance of them doth make vs vtterly carelesse and negligent. In all which respects (if we would remooue this impediment) it is most necessary, that we labour after the sauing know∣ledge of God and his attributes, his will and prouidence, and of all those duties of holinesse and righteousnesse which he requireth of vs; and to this end, carefully and conscionably vse all good meanes whereby we may at∣taine vnto it; of which I haue spoken in the beginning of this Treatise. For be wee well assured, that so long as wee continue ignorant of these things, it is not possible to performe any duty acceptable vnto God. Nei∣ther let vs content our selues with a speculatiue, idle, and fruitlesse know∣ledge swimming in the braine, in which, though we excell all others, we shall not become more godly and religious; but rather more proud and vaine-glorious; but let vs labour after that sauing and experimentall knowledge of God and his attributes, his will and works, whereby we find and feele the things wee know, effectuall for the sanctifying our hearts and affections, and for the renewing of our liues in all holy obedience vn∣to Gods will.

Notes

• 1. Joh. 4. 1. Act. 17. 11.