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.

§. 2 Of the diffe∣rēces between the carnall se∣curitie of the vnregenerate, and that which is in the rege∣nerate in the highest degree.

But yet howsoeuer in many things they agree, notwithstanding in some things they differ. For the securitie of a Christian, though in the highest degree, springeth from the flesh, as it is in part mortified, and so together with it hath receiued a deadly wound by the Spirit of God, of which it shall neuer recouer, although like a Man mortally woun∣ded, it may for a while performe some actions in as great strength, as when it was in perfect health and vigour, and like a Candle giue as great a blaze, when it is ready to goe out, as euer it did before: but the securitie of a Worldling is a fruit of the Flesh in its full vigour, and as it were the child of his strength, and therefore like the Father, vigo∣rous and long liued, and daily increasing and growing in force and might, as it increaseth in age. The securitie of a Christian is the fruit of his worst part, euen of the old Man and part vnregenerate, and so like an old mans child, decrepit with age, hauing almost quite spent his naturall heate and moysture, it is weaker in his constitution, and shorter of life, though for a while it may seeme in all things to match a child gotten in maturitie of age and full strength; but the securitie of a Worldling is the fruit of the whole Man, and in his full vigour, with∣out any abatement. That like Esau, is but a Twin in the wound, resi∣sted by one that is stronger then he, and will preuayle, and howsoe∣uer it hath the prioritie of Birth and Age, and for a time may seeme stronger, and to carry all before it with force and violence; yet it is matched and resisted by the true feare of God, which (like Iacob) in wrastling with it will preuayle, and in the end supplant it and get the vpper hand. In the Christian, euen in the height of his securitie, there is the roote of Gods feare, though in the winter of tentation it lyeth hid and bringeth forth no fruits; and there is a seed of Gods grace and holy Spirit euer remayning in him, though hidden vnder the clods of sinne and corruption, which being watred with the dew and fruitfull showres of Gods Word and Spirit, will sprout vp and bring forth plentifull fruits: But in the Worldling there is a roote of bitternesse, and his heart had neuer the seeds of Gods grace and holy feare sowen in it; and therefore nothing is to bee expected to spring out of it, but the Thornes and Thistles of carnall and sinfull acti∣ons. The carnall securitie of the Faithfull, doth but take away from them the comfort of their present condition, but not of times past, when as they haue had the sweet feelings of Gods loue, shed abroad in their hearts, and working them to his feare, vpon

which grounds they may bee recouered out of this sleepe with some comfort, when as they know that their state is not desperate. But the securitie of Worldlings depriueth them of all true consolation, past and present, and abuseth them with false comforts, which will end in Horror and Despaire. The securitie of the regenerate is at the worst but a syncope, and casteth them for a time into a swound or trance, leauing no apparance of spirituall life in respect of motion and outward actions, but it will not be long ere they recouer, and shew that life was onely hid, but not quite taken away, by the functions and operations of it in holy and Christian duties: But the securitie of the vnregenerate is the swound of death, out of which they neuer reco∣uer, till by their last summons they are awakned to come vnto iudge∣ment. The securitie of Beleeuers in the highest degree, is but like the frost, which worketh them for the time to a stony hardnesse, but the Sunne-shine of the Word, heate of Gods Anger, and fire of Afflicti∣ons thaweth them, bringeth them againe to their wonted softnesse, and causeth them to resolue and melt in the teares of true Repentance; but the securitie of the wicked maketh them (like Bricke-bats) the more hard the more they are heate by the former meanes, yea, of more then adamantine hardnesse, so as nothing will soften them, and cause them to relent. Finally, the securitie of Gods Children, when it is at the worst, doth onely like ashes hide and couer vnder it the true feare of God, so as it yeeldeth for the time no light or heate; and yet it li∣ueth in them, and will reuiue when Gods Spirit bloweth vpon it, and giueth a fresh supply of grace, as it were, of more fuell. But the secu∣ritie of the vngodly, like water doth quite extinguish it, or rather it could neuer bee kindled in them, because there is contayned in their hearts a mayne Flood or Sea of carnall corruption.

Notes

• 1. Ioh. 3. 9.