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.

§. 1 That the car∣nall securitie of the vnrege∣nerate and re∣generate, are in many things alike.

WE haue shewed diuers kinds of carnall securitie, as they are distinguished by their diuers Subiects and Degrees. Now, because those who are possessed with these diuers kinds, are apt to mistake the one for the other, the Re∣generate being ready, especially in the time of tentati∣on, to make their state worse, and the Vnregenerate better then it is; It is necessary in the next place, that we set downe the differences, whereby the one may be knowne from the other, for the comfort of the godly, and humiliation of such as are lifted vp in their owne con∣ceits. The which, I confesse, is a thing hard to doe, if we consider the securitie of the Faithfull, as it is in them in the highest degree, and that which is in the Vnregenerate, somewhat abated and weakned with the accusations of conscience, and the common motions of Gods restrayning Spirit, stirred vp in them at sometimes by the ministerie of the Word and afflictions; especially if in this case we iudge ac∣cording to present sense and feeling. For they are for the time both a∣like destitute of the operations of the spirituall Life of grace, and so both alike dead in outward appearance. Both alike without the ver∣tue and vigour of the sauing Knowledge, Remembrance, and conside∣ration of those sauing Attributes, which worke in our hearts the true feare of God, both taken vp alike with selfe-confidence, and drunken with worldly prosperitie. Both vsually sinning, and abusing Gods Patience and Mercy, vnto presumption and deferring of repentance, and both alike neglecting, yea, loathing the meanes of saluation. Both neglecting to apply by Faith, or misse-applying the Word which they heare preached vnto them; and delighting rather in a flattering Mini∣sterie which will soothe them, then in a faithfull Ministerie which will reproue and checke them in their euill courses. Both abusing as well

the Mercies as the Iudgements of God, and neither profiting by his benefits nor corrections. Both alike negligent in the seruice of God, and in obseruing his Commandements, or in formalitie and outward shew only. Finally, both alike senselesse and without all feeling of their miserable estate, and so without any desire or indeauour to come out of it, because they thinke themselues well, and that they haue need of no∣thing, as wee see in the example of the Angell of the Church of Lao∣dicea, and of Sardis; who had a name that she liued, but was dead, that is, in * 1.1 a deadly swound, as appeareth in the Epistle sent by Christ vnto him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Apoc. 3. 1, 2. 17, 18.