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.

§. 6 The fift signe, is customable sinning.

The fift signe, is customable sinning without renuing of repen∣tance; especially if these sinnes be committed, not through frailtie and infirmitie, but against knowledge and conscience. For howsoe∣uer, he that feareth God may fall into sinne; yet the secure person a∣lone committeth commonly knowne sinnes, which either wound or feare the Conscience. Though he may fall often, as the wise Man speaketh (for in many things we sinne all;) Yet he maketh not a cu∣stome of it, neither is it his way▪ but his slips and errors; but it is the secure man onely that maketh sinne his vsuall trade, that walketh in the counsatle of the vngodly, as his way, that standeth in the way of sinners, as his place of abode, that sitteth in the seate of the scornefull, as in the place of his rest and chiefe repose. Finally, though the faithfull through his owne wickednesse, and strength of Satans tentations, may grie∣uously fall into haynous sinnes; yet it is not his, but a propertie of a secure Worldling, to continue in such sinnes without repentance. It is a great signe of carnall securitie, to commit a knowne sinne, for the base hire of earthly vanities, seeing (if God take him with the manner and lay it to his charge) it is the bane of his Soule, the losse of Heauen, and purchase of euerlasting torments in Hell fire. And who not blin∣ded with securitie, could run these hazards for things of such small value? But how much more, if hauing often hardly escaped these dan∣gers, we make a common practise of thrusting our selues into them by our ordinary course of sinne; and by carelesse liuing in these sinnes without repentance? For who, not drowned in securitie, could ima∣gine himselfe to be in any safety, that hath the halter about his necke, and the knife at his throat, and is euery minute in danger of execu∣tion? yea, who can cast himselfe vpon the Pikes, and take deepe draughts of this deadly poyson of sinne, and yet presume of health and safetie?

Notes

• Eccles. 7. 20. Iam. 3. 2.
• Psal. 19. 1.