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.

§. 8 The eighth re∣medie is, to consider that securitie in this life is vnseaso∣nable.

The eighth meanes is, to remember and consider, that in this life there is no time nor place for securitie, but we are then to expect true securitie when we are come safe to our heauenly home. For wee are now Pilgrims and Trauellours, that continually are in danger to fall into the hands of Theeues, who will robbe and spoile vs, not only of temporall blessings, but of the rich treasures of spirituall graces. Wee are not yet in the Hauen but in a dangerous Sea, tossed and turmoiled with the tempests of trouble, and therefore wee must not giue our selues to securitie and rest, but bee alway preparing against a storme. Wee are now Exiles among strangers that loue vs not, and therefore are readie to spie all aduantages to doe vs hurt; in which regard wee had need not to sleepe in securitie, but to keepe a good watch, and to stand vpon our guard, that we be not surprized at vnawares. Wee are in the Christian warfare, sighting against the many and mightie poli∣tique and malicious enemies of our saluation, and therefore in the putting on of our Armour, wee must not take vnto vs that securitie which is onely fit and seasonable when we put it off, wee must not car∣rie our selues in the day of battaile as in the day of triumph; nor blesse our selues as though we were free from all dangers, when as wee are on all sides encompassed with them. There is no place to sleepe in se∣curitie, when the old Serpent is so neere vnto vs; for, in this case, the greater securitie the greater danger. And though, as one sayth, wee haue by our conuersion passed the Red-sea, yet in the Wildernesse of this present life, wee shall not want enemies to set vpon vs. Wee haue left behind vs our sinnes past, as it were the Egyptians drowned vpon the Shoare; but yet, hurtfull vices and corruptions (as it were) other enemies encounter vs, and seeke to stop our passage, as wee are tra∣uelling towards the Land of Canaan. Now our former faults, like pursuing enemies, onely by the Diuine vertue assisting vs are slaugh∣tered, but the prickes of tentations, as it were, other enemies come in the front, which cannot be vanquished without our diligence and labour. No man (sayth Austine) ought to be secure in this life which wholly is called a tentation: lest hee, which of worse might become better, of better become worse. There is but one hope, one trust, one firme promise and assurance, euen thy mercies. And againe, Where (sayth he) is securitie? no where in this life, but onely in the hope of Gods promises: but when wee shall attaine to heauenly hap∣pinesse, there shall we enioy perfect securitie; when the Gates of the new Ierusalem shall be shut and made sure with strong barres, there shall be full reioycing and exsulting with great ioy. And therefore, let vs not by a false securitie, which is an abortiue brat, and borne be∣fore

the time, expose our selues to greater danger, especially to the ha∣zard and losse of that heauenly securitie, which shall bee disturbed with no trouble; but let vs stay our time; and watch till the Bride∣groome doth come, and open the dore for vs to enter into the wed∣ding Chamber; and now prepare our selues to fight against our spi∣rituall Enemies, that hauing gotten the victorie in this life, wee may triumph ouer them with ioy, peace, and endlesse securitie in the life to come.

Notes

• 2. King. 2. 11. Quousque vici∣no serpente tua malè secura dor∣mitat industria? Bernard. Epist. Nulla est securi∣tas vicino ser∣pente dormire. Hieronym. Vbi est maxima securitas, ibi maximum est periculum. Au∣gust. in Psal. 99 Iam quidem per conuersionem rubrum mare transitum est. &c. Gregor. lib. 24. cap. 7. August. confes. lib. 10. cap. 32. col. 178. Ʋbi est securitas? Hic nusquam, i•• ista vita, nusquam, &c. in Psal. 99. cap. 8. c. 1116.