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.

§. Sect. 6 The second meanes is to preserue them from all sinne.

Secondly, if we would preserue our hearts in puritie, we must labour to keepe them from all sinne; not onely those raigning and raging lusts, which waste the conscience, and extinguish the vitall spirits, like strong poysons; but euen from those lesser corruptions which most men regard not, thinking no sinne so small that wee may liue in it, nor giuing allow∣ance to the least carnall and worldly lusts. For these also will defile the heart themselues, and make way for the pollution of fouler sinnes, whilest they lessen our care to keepe them out; euen as when the house is already somewhat fouled, men care not greatly though it be fouled more, where∣as when they see it cleane, they more carefully keepe it so from all annoy∣ance. But most especially wee must labour to preserue our hearts pure from those sinnes, with which they haue formerly beene most tainted, and vnto which they are still most naturally inclined. And as men take most care to preuent hereditary diseases; and that they doe not by relapse fall into that sicknesse, out of which they haue newly recouered, because they are more prone vnto them then any other: so also must vve doe in keeping our hearts pure from those speciall corruptions, vvhich haue made them sicke to the death, and haue fearefully hazarded their euerlasting saluation. In time of vvarre vve most strongly man that part of the vvall, vvhich be∣ing vveakest, hath most often beene attempted by the enemie; and if a breach be made, vve keepe it vvith a narrovv vvatch and strong gard, till it bee againe repaired. So the experience of our enemies policie and povver in putting vs often to the vvorst, doth make vs more vigilant and

diligent in our warlike preparations, that we may be able to make resi∣stance. But if our friends, whom we haue formerly loued, and are acquain∣ted with all our secrets, knowing our outgoings and commings in, doe become our enemies, with what care and circumspection doe we preuent their mischiefes, because we know that by their ancient familiarity with vs, they are acquainted with all aduantages? And thus must wee doe in warring with our corruptions, if euer we meane to get victory, and to pre∣serue our hearts from being surprized by them.