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 That Christ hath giuen vs speciall war∣ning to flee securitie.

The danger of this disease hereby appeareth, in that Christ the great and chiefe Physician of our soules, doth so carefully giue warning of it; vsing all meanes to let all those that are his to see the danger, and to take such courses as they may preuent it, or being tainted and ouer-ta∣ken with it, may be awakned and rowsed vp out of this sweet, yet per∣nicious slumber. And this he doth both by Parables, Examples, and Admonitions, and Exhortations, which he presseth and enforceth from them. For first, this is the mayne scope of the Parable of the wise and foolish Virgins, of which, they being possessed with the true feare of * 1.1 God, stood carefully vpon their watch, expecting the vncertaine com∣ming of the Bridegroome, and so when hee came, were receiued with him into the bridall Chamber of eternall blessednesse; but the other being secure and retchlesse, spent their time in ease and sloth, not vsing any meanes to bee prepared against the time of his approching, who being taken vpon the sudden, vnprouided and vnfurnished of the oile of sauing grace, and the light of an holy life, were excluded from the marriage feast, and depriued of the fruition of heauenly happines. To this end also tendeth the Parable of the wise and faithfull, and the euill and vnfaithfull Seruant; the one expecting daily his Masters cōming, carrieth himselfe in all his affaires, and towards his fellowes, so wisely and honestly, as if his Master were alreadie present, and he is for his * 1.2 reward pronounced blessed, and made Ruler of all his Master hath, for his fidelitie and care at his comming. The other being made secure, be∣cause his Lord delayeth his comming, behaueth himselfe so as though he thought he would neuer come, smiting his fellow seruants, and eating and drinking with the drunken, who is taken vpon a sudden by his Ma∣ster, and in a day when he looketh not for him, and for his reward is

cut off and appointed to haue his portion with the Hypocrites, where shall * 1.3 be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Finally, at this our Sauiour also ay∣meth in the Parable of the rich Man, who abounding in all prouision, and hauing more Corne and Fruits then roome to bestow them in, gi∣ueth himselfe to secure rest and ease, saying to his Soule, Thou hast much goods laid vp for many yeeres, take thine ease, eate, drinke, and be merry. But out of this secure slumber hee is quickly awakned with Gods voyce, saying; Thou Foole, this night thy soule shall be required of thee, and then whose shall those things be which thou hast prouided?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Matth. 25.
• * 1.2

  Matth 24. 45. Luk. 12. 42.
• * 1.3

  Luk. 12. 18, 19.