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.

§. 7 That carnall securitie is the cause of all sinne.

But as this securitie is in it selfe euill and sinfull, so is it the cause of all euill, and that both the euill of sinne, and also the euill of punish∣ment. For as the feare of God restrayneth those who are indued with it from all wickednesse, and as the wise Man speaketh, is like the Well∣springs of life to make vs flee from, and escape the snares of death; so this carnall securitie keepeth open house for all impietie and sinne, whilest the secure person presumeth not onely of impunitie, notwithstanding that he fatteth himselfe with the pleasures of sinne, but also promiseth vnto his soule the long fruition of his present prosperitie, and after∣wards the perpetuall possession of euerlasting happinesse. So the Psal∣mist saith, that the workers of iniquitie boasted themselues in their wic∣kednesse, broke in pieces the Lords people, and afflicted his heritage, murthered the Widdow, Stranger and Fatherlesse, saying, the Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Iacob regard it. And the Prophet tel∣leth vs, that Babylon liued in all voluptuousnesse, securely presuming that shee should be a Queene for euer and see no euill. Thus Abraham concludeth, that the Egyptians were fit for Rapes, Murther, and all outragious wickednesse, because there was no feare of God in the Land. And the Apostle hauing set downe a Catalogue of many grieuous sinnes; setteth downe this as the mother sinne and cause of all the rest, that there was no feare of God before their eyes.

Notes

• Pro. 13. 14.
• Psal. 94. 4, 5, 6.
• Esa. 49.
• Gen. 20. 11.
• Rom. 3. 18.