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 The second meanes is, to labour to be in the number of Christ Dis∣ciples, and of his flocke.

Secondly, if wee would haue this Legacie of spirituall securitie which Christ hath left vs, we must labour to be in the number of his Disciples, vnto whom alone it is bequeathed; to bee sheepe of his flocke and fold, ouer whom he watcheth and taketh care, to protect them from all enemies, and to preserue them from all dangers; and then we may be secure, seeing wee haue his promise, that he will giue vnto vs eternall life, that wee shall neuer perish, and that no man shall plucke vs out of his hand. And if we haue the Lord for our shepheard, then may we with Dauid rest securely vpon his prouidence, assuring our selues that if we liue at his finding, we shall want nothing. Then may we safely lie downe in the greene pastures, and be led by him by those still waters of peace and securitie; yea, though he lead vs into places of feare and danger, euen through the valley of the shadow of death, yet may we be secure and feare no euill, seeing hee is with vs, and with his rod and staffe doth comfort vs. Yea, wee must labour after a neerer vnion with Christ, and to be espoused vnto him, and then wee being his Spouse, and hee being our Bridegroome, wee may rest se∣curely vnder his powerfull protection, seeing by the institution and law of marriage, he is bound both to defend and prouide for vs; and because hee that toucheth vs, toucheth him; hee that offereth any in∣iurie vnto vs, doth offer it (as it were) to his owne person: then may

we with the Spouse in the Canticles, sit downe securely vnder his sha∣dow with great delight, and sleepe in safetie, when his left hand is vnder our head, and his right hand doth embrace vs. Or if we would be nee∣rer vnto him for our greater safetie and securitie, let vs labour to be∣come members of his blessed body, vnited vnto him by his holy Spirit and a liuely faith; seeing then there will be no place for feare, because hee that toucheth vs, toucheth the apple of his eye; hee that doth vs any hurt, hurteth and offereth violence against his owne bodie; and he that seeketh to plucke vs from him, shall goe about an impossi∣ble worke, euen to plucke a member from the bodie of Christ, which he tenderly loueth, seeing he hath all power in heauen and earth com∣mitted vnto him, so as no creature is able to preuaile against him.

Notes

• Ioh. 10. 28.
• Psal. 23. 1. & 34. 10.
• Cant. 2. 3, 6.
• Zach. 2. 8.