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.

§. 9 The ninth re∣medie is, to meditate often on the last iudgement.

The ninth meanes to shun carnall securitie is, often to meditate on the day of Iudgement, the all-seeing Wisedome, omnipotent Power, * 1.1 and the exact Iustice of our Iudge, the greatnesse of our reckonings, and strictnesse of that account which will then bee required; and will be impossible for vs to set euen, if wee seldome or neuer thinke of them here, but passe our time in sloth and securitie. Let vs remem∣ber how happy their condition will bee, who like faithfull seruants haue beene carefull to performe their dutie, watching daily for the comming of their Lord, when they shall be reputed blessed, and bee made Ruler of their Masters substance; and the miserable plight of those who haue not expected his comming nor prepared for it, but haue spent their dayes in riot and pleasure, in oppression and cruel∣tie; when comming suddenly hee shall take them at vnawares, cut them off, and giue them their portion with Hypocrites, where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth. Let vs thinke with what ioy wee shall heare that happy sentence; Well done, good and faithfull seruant, * 1.2 thou hast beene faithfull ouer a few things, I will make thee Ruler ouer many things, enter thou into the ioy of thy Lord; and with what tor∣menting griefe and bitter anguish, those who haue beene vnprofi∣table and vnfruitfull, shall heare that fearefull saying; Thou wicked and slothfull seruant, &c. Take the talent from him, and giue it vnto him that hath ten talents, &c. And cast the vnprofitable seruant into outer darknesse; there shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth. Let vs consider, with what cheerfulnesse and ioy wee shall meete the Bride∣groome, the Lord of glorie and happinesse, if wee haue watched for his comming, and are found in readinesse, hauing our Lamps of Faith and a godly life cleerly burning, when wee shall enter with him into the bridall Chamber of eternall blessednesse, to bee feasted with vn∣speakable * 1.3 pleasures, and to solace our selues perpetually in his loue; and with what terror and dismayednesse they shall be possessed, who by his comming shall be awakned out of their sleepe of carnall securi∣tie, and being vnreadie shall be shut out of dores, and when they de∣sire to enter shall heare that fearefull and dreadfull speech; Goe your wayes, I know you not. Finally, let vs remember with what inestimable ioy and reioycing, we shall heare that happy sentence; Come yee bles∣sed Children of my Father, inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the World; and with what horror and howling the Wicked shall heare their last doome; Depart from mee, yee cursed, into euerlasting fire, prepared for the Deuill and his angels. And withall, let

vs set before vs the execution of this righteous sentence, which shall be, not the momentanie or onely long continuance of these rewards and punishments, but eternall life and happinesse to the godly and * 1.4 faithfull, and euerlasting death and condemnation to the wicked and vnbeleeuers.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Siue Comedam, siue bibam, siue aliud aliquid faciam, semper vox illa terribi∣lis auribus meis insonare videtur. Surgite mortui, & venite ad iu∣dicium. Hieron. in Matth. Matth. 24. 46, 47, 48, 51.
• * 1.2

  Matth. 25. 21, 26, 27, 30.
• * 1.3

  Matth. 25. 1, 2, &c.
• * 1.4

  Matth. 5. 46.