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.

§. 12 The eight signe, is con∣tempt of Gods Ministers.

Lastly, it is a signe of carnall securitie, when as in our hearts we doe not reuerence his Ministers and Ambassadors, who in the worke of their ministerie represent his Maiestie, and in an especiall manner beare in them his Image. For as he that truely feareth his King, doth in the execution of their Office reuerence not onely the Lord Chan∣celor and Chiefe Iustice, but euen the meanest Major or Bayliffe, who represent his person, and come in his name, to inioyne that which he hath commanded; so he that feareth the King of Kings, reuerenceth also not onely the person of Kings and Princes, because they beare in them the Image of his Power and Soueraigntie, but also his Ambas∣sadors, who bring vnto vs his Word of Truth, which hath no lesse power in spirituall and heauenly things, then the word of the greatest Monarch, speaking on Gods behalfe about things that are earthly and temporall; for they haue authoritie giuen them to iudge the people, as the Lord speaketh to the Prophet; and they haue a large Commis∣sion giuen them for the execution of their Office and ministeriall Fun∣ction, both for absoluing the penitent Beleeuer, and condemning the vnbeleeuing and impenitent sinner; not in their owne authoritie (which the Popes challenge as belonging inseparably to their Sea and Place, which inableth them to binde and loose absolutely without re∣spect of persons, penitent or impenitent, or any condition to be ob∣serued by the partie, sauing such as respect the Popes profit;) but de∣claratiuely as Gods Messengers, speaking in his Name; according to that of our Sauiour: Whose soeuer sinnes ye remit, they are remitted vnto them; and whose soeuer sinnes ye retayne, they are retayned. In which respect it is an euident signe of a secure sinner, whose heart is

destitute of Gods feare, when as he sheweth no reuerence and respect to his Ambassadour, sent vnto them on so waightie a message, which concerneth them as much as their eternall life or death. Besides, it ar∣gueth plainly, that their heart is still possessed with carnall securitie, who shew no reuerence vnto the Preachers of the Gospell; for they are the onely meanes of awakning and rowsing men vp out of this spi∣rituall Lethargie, wherein otherwise they would sleepe to their euer∣lasting perdition; and therefore it is not possible that any, who haue receiued this great benefit by their meanes and ministerie, but that for euer after they should respect and reuerence them, who vnder God were and are the alone instruments and meanes of conferring and pre∣seruing this benefit vpon them. And so much for the signes of carnall securitie, according vnto which if we carefully examine our selues, we may cleerly know in what case wee stand, and whether our hearts are possessed with the true feare of God; or being quite destitute of it, they be wholly taken vp with carnall securitie. To the end, that if we find our selues infected with this dangerous poyson, wee may vse the meanes following as spirituall Antidotes, to ouer-come and driue it from our hearts; or if we find our hearts purged alreadie in some mea∣sure from it, and indued with Gods feare, wee may vse them notwith∣standing, that we may be more and more cleansed from this securitie, and that the feare of God may be still preserued and increased in vs.

Notes

• Ezech. 20. 4.
• Ioh. 20. 23.