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.

§. 7 The seuenth remedie is, to meditate on the tentations and sufferings of Christ.

The seuenth meanes is, to remember and meditate often on the ten∣tations, afflictions, and sufferings of Christ. For what place is there for carnall securitie, if wee consider that the spirituall enemies of our saluation, durst set vpon Christ our Head, in whom there was no matter of corruption to worke vpon, and from whom they receiued so many foiles? If they spared not to cast their darts of tentations against this impregnable Fort and Pillar of strength, how much more against vs, who are but flesh and blood, and apt to be pierced, through our weakenesse and corruption? And if they presumed to cast their hellish wild-fire against him, whose pure nature it could not touch nor taint, but was presently exstinguished, as if it had fallen into the sea; what are wee to expect, whose corruption like vnto touch-wood or tinder is easily set on fire? what assaults, what wounds and foiles, are * 1.1 we to feare if we be not alwaies prepared, strengthening our selues in the Lord, and in the power of his might, and keeping the Christian Armour close buckled vnto vs? Besides, meditation vpon Christs Passion and Sufferings is a notable meanes to preserue vs from secu∣ritie. For if Gods Iustice be so exact, and if his most pure nature so abhorred sinne, that he punished it thus seuerely in his onely begot∣ten and dearely beloued Sonne; how shall wee escape, if by a liuely faith wee be not vnited vnto Christ, and so made partakers of his sa∣tisfaction and obedience, bringing forth the fruits of this faith in hearty repentance and amendment of life? Againe, if Chsist our Head were exposed to so many dangers, and in his whole life indu∣red so many and grieuous afflictions, what place of securitie is there vnto vs who are members of his bodie? For, if they haue done these * 1.2 things to the greene tree, what shall be done to the drie? If they haue thus vsed our Lord and Master, they will not spare the poore seruants of his familie; for, as our Sauiour sayth, The Disciple is not aboue his * 1.3 Master, nor the Seruant is not better then his Lord. Yea, what securitie can we haue, as though we were in no danger of crosses and troubles, when as the Scriptures plainly teach vs, that as Christ our Head hath thus suffered, so likewise we his members must suffer with him: That wee are predestinate by God to be conformed to the image of his Sonne, first * 1.4 in his sufferings, and then in his glorie. That by many tribulattons we * 1.5 must enter into the Kingdome of God. That if we will liue Godly in Christ, * 1.6 we must suffer persecution. That if we will reigne with Christ, we must first suffer with him. That whom the Lord loueth, hee chasteneth, and * 1.7 scourgeth euery sonne whom he receiueth; and if we be without chastise∣ments, whereof all are partakers, wee are bastards and no sonnes. In which regard we haue no reason, no not in our greatest prosperitie to be se∣cure, seeing wee are daily in danger of these crosses and afflictions; which if wee altogether escape, and passe all our dayes in peace and

ease, plentie and prosperitie, then haue wee least cause of all to be se∣cure, * 1.8 for it is the greatest affliction not at all to be afflicted, seeing wee * 1.9 may iustly feare, that wee are bastards and no sonnes, in that our hea∣uenly Father correcteth vs not; that with the wicked wee haue our portion in this life, and with the well fed Oxe are fatted for the slaughter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eph. 6. 10, 11.
• * 1.2

  Luk. 22 31.
• * 1.3

  Math. 10. 24, 25. Ioh. 13. 16.
• * 1.4

  Rom. 8. 29.
• * 1.5

  Act. 14. 22.
• * 1.6

  2. Tim. 3. 12. & 2. 12.
• * 1.7

  Heb. 12. 6, 8.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 17. 14.
• * 1.9

  Luk. 16. 25.